When you wish to host your website, you are provided with four hosting options namely, shared, dedicated, VPS, and cloud. Each hosting type presents its own benefits and limitations. Mostly new websites or those that don’t require a lot of hosting resources opt for shared hosting. New businesses mostly go for shared hosting as it is affordable and requires easy maintenance. However, as website grows, it is better to upgrade from shared hosting to either dedicated, VPS, or cloud hosting.
You might be wondering about the differences between the three. However, to keep things simple and avoid any unnecessary confusion, in this article, we will only tell you about the difference between VPS hosting vs dedicated hosting. So, keep on reading to discover more about the two.
Dedicated Server: An Overview
As the name suggests, a dedicated server is a kind of hosting where the entire server is dedicated to the usage of one client. Only a single client has a claim over the resources such as CPU, memory, and bandwidth of the server. Dedicated hosting is an ideal choice for websites that receive a high volume of traffic. The major downside of this hosting is its price. Despite the need, not many people can afford to purchase dedicated hosting.
Advantages
Performance
If you value high performance, then dedicated hosting is the way to go. As all the server resources are dedicated to one website, the speed, and functionality of the website improves drastically. With the entire server at your disposal, your website does not slow down even in times of high traffic. Due to its optimized speed, your website will not only convert more visitors but will also rank high on search engines.
Robust Security
If you have a website that harbours sensitive customer data, then a dedicated server is your best hosting option. As unlike shared hosting your website does not share physical server space and is therefore protected from all kinds of viruses and malware. Moreover, those who opt for dedicated hosting are given the freedom to fully configure their security settings.
Control
If you desire complete and utter control over your server, then opt for dedicated hosting. With dedicated hosting, you can tweak the architecture of your server to improve the performance of your website. Or you can install a firewall to enhance security. With Bluehost’s dedicated servers, you get an improved cPanel as well as full control of your server operating system.
Disadvantages
Price
Dedicated hosting is a pricey option. Some web hosts price it so heavily that it becomes very difficult for website owners to purchase it. If you wish to upgrade from shared hosting and dedicated hosting doesn’t fall within your budget, then opt for VPS. VPS offers more benefits than shared hosting and is cost-effective.
Scalability
Even though with dedicated hosting you get extensive resources for your website, it is not as scalable as cloud or VPS hosting. However, you can scale up dedicated servers by creating server clusters.
Technical Skill Requirements
With dedicated hosting, you have to manage the server’s resources yourself. If you have no idea how to do it and lack any personnel at your business who have the expertise required to handle server resources, then you will have to go for managed dedicated hosting. Managed dedicated hosting is a lot more expensive than unmanaged dedicated hosting.
VPS Hosting: An Overview
VPS hosting lies between shared hosting and dedicated hosting, combining some of their aspects. With VPS hosting you don’t get an entire server However, you do get to enjoy some benefits of dedicated hosting all the while evading the drawbacks of shared hosting. VPS hosting uses the virtualization principle and spits server resources into multiple virtual machines.
Hypervisor is an application that not only manages but also connects each virtualized environment with the server. With VPS hosting resource allocation is guaranteed due to account isolation. Moreover, the performance of every virtual server is independent of other websites.
Advantages
Price
VPS hosting is a lot cheaper than dedicated hosting. Therefore, for those who are on a limited budget but wish to upgrade from shared hosting, the best option is VPS hosting. At Bluehost, you can get a standard VPS plan for $29.99.
Scalability
VPS hosting is without a doubt more scalable than shared hosting. Moreover, even though dedicated hosting can be scalable, scaling with VPS hosting is much more straightforward.
Setup
Even though some technical expertise is involved, you need less technical experience to configure VPS hosting as compared to dedicated hosting.
Disadvantages
Limited Control
Despite providing more control than shared hosting, VPS hosting does not come near the level of control that is offered by dedicated hosting.
Security Vulnerabilities
Even though VPS hosting provides more security than shared hosting, security breaches do happen sometimes. However, the risk is significantly lower.
VPS Hosting vs Dedicated Hosting
VPS Hosting vs Dedicated Hosting: Architecture
VPS hosting is regarded as the affordable version of dedicated hosting. VPS very efficiently mimics the environment of a dedicated server on a smaller scale. In VPS hosting, clients are provided with a virtual server that gets fixed allocated resources. Whereas, in dedicated hosting, clients get an entire physical server with all of its resources dedicated for the use of that one client.
VPS Hosting vs Dedicated Hosting: Resource Allocation
In the case of a VPS server, the resources of the physical server are divided into multiple virtual environments. Each of these environments works in isolation and hypervisors maintain the communication between the virtual and physical server. Whereas, when it comes to dedicated hosting, a single user has all the resources of the server at their resources.
VPS Hosting vs Dedicated Hosting: Website Performance
By utilizing the allocated number of resources provided by VPS hosting, you can improve the loading time of your website and boost user experience. However, when it comes to website performance, dedicated hosting is the best option. With the entire server and its resources at your disposal, you can easily optimize the performance of your website and improve user experience.
VPS Hosting vs Dedicated Hosting: Security
Security is a major concern of most website owners. It is especially a headache for those who store the personal information of users, for example, an e-commerce website, harboring credit card details. When it comes to security, both hosting options offer a high level of security by providing their clients with private or isolated server space.
Moreover, as both offer root access, clients can install security features on servers that can provide a barrier against cyber threats. However, due to its shared nature, some people might not prefer to opt for VPS hosting.
VPS Hosting vs Dedicated Hosting: Configuration and Customisation
As both hosting solutions give root access to their clients, this allows them to tweak the server to their benefit. However, to do that you require prior technical knowledge as any misstep might lock your website. T
o avoid such issues, you can always go for the managed plans that come with both hosting types. In the managed plans, all the technical responsibilities are handled by the hosting provider.
VPS Hosting vs Dedicated Hosting: Cost and Suitability
VPS is a budget-friendly option suitable for those who require more resources for their website but don’t have enough budget. On the other hand, dedicated hosting is more on the pricey side and is ideal for those who have an established, resource-intensive website.