The real differences between web hosting and a VPS, the signs your website has outgrown its plan, and what changes when you manage your own server.
Web hosting is the right home for most websites, and plenty of businesses never need anything else. But there comes a point for some websites where a virtual private server, or VPS, makes more sense. Here is how to tell.
What is the difference?
On web hosting, your account shares a well-managed server with other accounts. Each account has its own limits for CPU, memory and disk, and we look after the server, its security and its software. You manage your websites through HostPanel.
A Cloud VPS is a virtual server of your own, with resources reserved for you. You get full root access, choose your own operating system and software, and can run almost anything. In return, you are responsible for setting it up, securing it and keeping it updated.
Signs it may be time to move up
- Your website is regularly hitting its CPU or memory limits, even after caching and tidying up.
- You need software that web hosting does not offer, such as a specific database, Node.js service or background worker.
- You run an application, not just a website, and need control over how the server is configured.
- You need to host a large number of websites or users in one place.
Signs you probably do not need one yet
- Your website is slow, but you have not yet tried caching, image optimisation or a newer PHP version.
- Nobody on your team is comfortable working on a Linux server.
- You would like more power but still want someone else to manage the server for you. A larger web hosting plan may be the better step.
What changes with a VPS
With a VPS you can start, restart and reinstall your server, take snapshots before big changes and reset the root password, all from your Twerple client area. Our guide Managing your VPS or dedicated server shows what each control does.
And when even a VPS is not enough, a dedicated server gives you a whole physical machine to yourself.
Not sure which way to go? Tell us what you are running. We would rather recommend a bigger hosting plan than sell you a server you do not need.