Websites are hosted on servers that support all of the data on the sites, including text, images, files, and video. Your web host keeps your site online and accessible to visitors.
The main types of web hosting are Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting, shared hosting, cloud hosting, and dedicated hosting. This article will explain what they are and list their pluses and minuses.
Shared Hosting
Shared hosting is the most affordable, entry-level web hosting on the market. Your site shares resources with other users on the same server. These include bandwidth, RAM, etc. As all of these resources are split, everyone pays less.
Regrettably, one downside of this is that you get limited resources. If traffic to another site on the server spikes, your site will have performance issues. There is no remedy to this problem except for upgrading to one of the other types of hosting. Shared hosting also isn’t the most secure web hosting out there.
It’s not without its pluses. If your business is just getting started, it’s a good, budget-friendly option. Bloggers are also good candidates for shared hosting.
Pros
- No technical knowledge is needed.
- Great for beginners and small websites.
- Most cost-effective type of web hosting.
- Easy to set up.
Cons
- Performance issues are out of your control.
- Not scalable.
- Slower loading times and lower uptime rates.
- Sharing server resources with other websites.
Dedicated Hosting
We jump into the deep end with dedicated hosting – it’s literally at the other end of the specter. Website owners or admins who use dedicated hosting have sole access to the server and enjoy high speed and excellent uptime. You don’t share any resources with other users, and you have full control over website configurations.
However, dedicated hosting is decidedly budget-unfriendly. The best candidates for this hosting type are enterprises. Sites hosted on dedicated servers can support hundreds of thousands of visitors. Big ecommerce sites also opt for this hosting type because the provider gives them full control over the server’s functions. Sites that require high security, like medical and financial ones, often opt for dedicated hosting as well.
You have two options for managing a dedicated server: do it yourself or have the hosting provider do it. If you go the first route, you’ll be responsible for monitoring for errors, installing updates, etc.
Pros
- Fast load times.
- Optimal performance.
- Not sharing resources with any other websites.
- High uptimes.
- High security.
- Complete control over the server.
Cons
- You might have to be responsible for everything.
- Requires prior technical skills
- Most expensive type of web hosting
VPS hosting
VPS hosting is like the middle ground between the first two types. You still share resources with other users, but there are fewer than shared hosting users. Each user gets a portion of the main server to themselves. Different users can customize these server portions. Your hosting plan can include root access if you want to add custom configurations.
Performance is very satisfactory. If another user’s traffic spikes, you won’t need to worry about your own site crashing.
VPS hosting is most suitable for small to medium-sized enterprises that can’t afford downtime. It’s a good option for website owners who have the knowledge needed to customize their configurations.
If your site has a lot of videos or heavy images, VPS hosting won’t let you down. It’s a logical upgrade from shared hosting when you outgrow it.
Pros
- Higher uptime
- Faster loading
- Dedicated server resources
- Ability to make custom configurations
- Better price
Cons
- Limited control
- Harder to set up than a shared server
- Still sharing the main server with other users
Cloud Hosting
Cloud hosting makes use of several remote servers. Downtime is minimal, if it exists at all, because one server takes over when another goes down. Scalability is probably the biggest advantage of cloud hosting. Users have full freedom to scale their resources.
Medium to large, growing enterprises will find cloud hosting a feasible option. If your traffic is unpredictable, you won’t go wrong with this type of hosting.
A website currently on VPS but getting more than 50,000 visits a month will appreciate this hosting option.
Pros
- Scale resources on demand.
- High security.
- Less unexpected downtime.
Cons
- Unpredictable traffic can increase costs.
- Limited customization.