Last Updated: May 23, 2012

October 15, 2010

The Difference Between VPS Hosting and Shared Hosting

With so many web hosting types and sub-types it can be difficult to understand the various aspects of different hosting plans. Many people confuse the capabilities and configurations of separate web hosting plans. A prime example of this is the confusion between shared hosting and VPS hosting. Although the two are priced similarly in many cases, and they are both based on shared server resources, there are some fundamental differences. If you're having trouble ascertaining the difference between then two then the following information may be of some assistance.

Server Configuration

The major difference between shared hosting and VPS hosting is the way the server is configured. Although both hosting plans involve a single web server being shared amongst many customers, virtual private servers are separated more efficiently to allow for maximum freedom and functionality. Shared web hosting plans operate on a single powerful web server, with hundreds of webmasters hosting their websites on different partitions with that server.

Server Limitations

When a lot of traffic comes through the network the server can be overloaded causing slow page loads and even site downtime. Virtual Private Servers are like the stepping stone to a dedicated server because the webmaster operates on several partitions that work in unison to offer server resources that are the equivalent to a private web server. This concept is taken even further with cloud hosting, which is an advanced form of VPS hosting. With cloud hosting your server resources are virtually unlimited because you have constant access to a network of servers that can allocate bandwidth and disk space as needed. Cloud hosting is the ideal VPS solution for corporation and medium to large online businesses.

Price

The most obvious difference between shared hosting and VPS hosting is the monthly price tag. Shared hosting is generally cheaper than VPS hosting, but not by much in many cases. However, it is important to note that the payment schedules are often different, depending upon the hosting provider. Many VPS hosting plans can be paid on a monthly basis for about $10 to $20 per month, whereas shared hosting accounts are usually paid on a yearly basis, which means you have to furnish 12 monthly payments in advance. Thus, even though VPS hosting accounts are more comprehensive the start up costs are often less.

Where to Start

Shared web hosting plans are some of the most popular in the industry, and most novice webmasters start their online endeavors with a shared hosting plan. However, with VPS hosting costing only a few dollars more per month, and startup costs that are generally less, it may be preferable to begin your online experience with a VPS hosting plan.

Conclusion

If you are struggling to select a suitable hosting plan for your online business you may want to consult a web hosting representative at a prospective hosting company. Many hosting companies such as Host Gator, BlueHost, InMotion and others have customer server teams that are more than willing to assist you with your decision.


Popular Links


Tags: hosting providercloud vps hostingdedicated web serverprivate dedicated web serverprivate web serverdisk space limitationspowerful hostingweb hosting companynetwork of serverscloud hosting planpopular web hostingshared hosting plansas spaceprivate cloud hostinghosting plantypes of hostingVPS hosting plansweb server resourcestraffic networkprivate serverserver downtimeserver configurationVPS servercloud hosting solutioncloud hostingprivate serversweb hosting plansprivateweb hosting networkunlimited web spaceIT resourcesunlimited bandwidthslow servershosting solutionshared spaceshared bandwidthonline businessesweb serversshared hosting planserver solutionvirtual private serverstypes of web hostingslow serverpaid hostingserver resourcesITdedicated hosting planIT hostingweb hosting typesunlimited hostingweb hosting industryweb host costsweb host providerhosting accountsDedicated Serversweb hosting solutionwebmastersweb hosting providerweb hosting companiesvirtual hostingdedicated web hostingcloudBlueHostweb hosting planserver spaceweb serverweb hosting businessonline businessshared hostshared web hostinghosting planswebmasterdedicated server hostingserversvirtual private networkshared serversweb hosthosting serverweb traffictrafficdedicated hostingdowntimeshared serverbusinessvirtualservershareddedicateddedicated serverweb hostingVPS hostingvpsvirtual private serverShared Hostingdisk spacebandwidth 

Post comment:

Items marked by * are required

Find your hosting

Can’t decide what hosting is right for you? Read our Guide on how to pick a Web Hosting Provider.

Read the Buying Guide

Latest reviews

May 21, 2012

Danny

+ 5 5

Hosthero Ltd
Hosthero Ltd

Read full review

May 20, 2012

Brandon Allin

+ 5 5

WebHostingBuzz
WebHostingBuzz

Read full review

May 20, 2012

Banjamin

+ 4.7 4.7

247 Host
247 Host

Read full review

Advertising

Calendar