The Advantages Of Shared, Cloud, VPS & Dedicated Hosting

Shared hosting is probably the best hosting package to go for if you are just a beginner and your core preference is affordability. However, what plan is best for accessing premium tools at a budget-friendly rate? Also, is cloud hosting better for accessibility than VPS hosting?

Read on to find out the key differences between these four types of hosting plans so you can make the most informed decisions.

The Differences

Whether you are a beginner or pro, the right hosting package has wide implications for your online business.

Here is an overview of the four types and the differences between them.

• What Is Shared Hosting? Your website shares its resources like bandwidth, disk, and space with multiple other websites on a single server
• What Is Cloud Hosting? Instead of using one server, cloud hosting uses a group of multiple servers from around the world to keep your data up and active at all times
• What Is VPS Hosting? One physical server houses multiple virtual servers with its own OS and apps
• What Is Dedicated Hosting? One physical server is being used to host your website alone

Shared Hosting

Before you decide whether shared hosting is right for your business, take a look at the advantages and disadvantages below.

Pros Of Shared Hosting

• Cheap - The affordability of the best shared hosting plans makes this an ideal option for small businesses and freelancers, and a great place to start
• Convenient - The ease of using shared web hosting makes it ideal for beginners without any coding or technical knowledge

Cons of Shared Hosting

• Limited Resources - Your business will be sharing its resources with other businesses
• Lack Of Control - Shared plans allow minimal admin control or root access
• Minimal Tools And Customization - Due to the shared environment, tools available, and customization, options are extremely limited
• Security Issues - As you share the server with other websites, you are under the potential threat of security breaches

Cloud Hosting

To get to know the option of cloud hosting, check out the advantages and disadvantages.

Pros Of Cloud Hosting

• Affordable - This hosting solution is cheaper than a dedicated server, especially because you pay as you go, according to your needs
• Flexible - Cloud hosting is a convenient way to scale up quickly when your business is growing
• Accessibility - You can restore or back up your data from anywhere, every 15 minutes
• Reliable - As cloud hosting is maintained by a cluster of servers, it is better insured against natural and manmade disasters

Cons of Cloud Hosting

• Not For Beginners - Cloud hosting might not be ideal for those without programming knowledge

VPS Hosting

VPS hosting is arguably the best hosting option for small businesses, striking a balance between affordability and functionality. Find out why below.

Pros Of VPS Hosting

• Budget-Friendly - You get access to premium tools at low costs with VPS hosting

• Safe - It is more secure than shared hosting plans, as it allots a section of the server exclusively to your website

• Fast - Loading time for your website will be fast as the resources are on the higher tier

• More Control - You get root access to the server, which makes it easy to customize features

• Easy To Upgrade: You can scale up a VPS hosting package as your micro-enterprise grows

Cons of VPS Hosting

• Unmanaged VPS: This option is hard for beginners to use and customize without coding expertise

Dedicated Hosting

For businesses and startups that need more resources and features, dedicated hosting offers total control. Here is a breakdown of both sides of the coin.

Pros Of Dedicated Hosting

• Most secure - You minimize your security risks and vulnerabilities when your website is hosted on one dedicated server
• Fastest - When you have complete hosting resources at your disposal, your website can handle surges in traffic efficiently
• Personalizable - Enterprises can customize the software and hardware features seamlessly with dedicated hosting plans
• Reliable - Always expect premium customer support with dedicated server packages

Cons of Dedicated Hosting

• Pricey - Dedicated hosting is the costliest hosting plan because it contains the complete set of functionalities needed for any business in a dedicated environment
• Not For Beginners - You will need technical knowledge to optimize the dedicated server settings and configurations according to your business needs

Summing Up

For cheap web hosting, shared solutions might sound like the answer, but it is important to note that it is not as secure as VPS or cloud hosting. While dedicated hosting is the best for a complete tool set of features, small businesses might find VPS plans to be sufficient for their needs. The best way to make a decision is balancing between your budget, the functionality you need right now, and how you plan to scale in the near future.