Shared hosting and a VPS both put your website online. The difference is how much of the server is yours and how much of it you have to look after.
Shared hosting: simple and cheap
On shared hosting, many sites live on one server that we run for you. You get a control panel, email, databases and SSL, and you never touch the operating system. Our Linux hosting starts from $1.71 a month and is delivered instantly.
It is the right choice for most new sites, company sites, blogs and small shops.
VPS: a server of your own
A VPS gives you your own operating system with fixed CPU cores, RAM and disk, and full root or administrator access. You can install any software and configure the server however you like. In exchange, you are responsible for running it, unless you choose a managed VPS.
VPS plans start from $8.00 a month.
Signs you have outgrown shared hosting
- Your site keeps hitting resource limits. Slow pages at busy hours, or "resource limit reached" errors, mean the site needs more CPU or RAM than a shared plan gives it.
- You need software the host does not offer. A specific PHP extension, Node.js, Python services, Redis, a game server or a VPN all need a server of your own.
- You run several sites that matter. Putting them on one VPS keeps them under your control and can cost less than many separate plans.
- You need a dedicated IP and your own firewall rules. Every VPS comes with its own IPv4 address.
Before you move: try a bigger plan
If the only problem is resources, a larger shared plan may be enough. Our Pro web hosting plans add more resources for busier sites, and you can move to a bigger plan at any time.
What changes when you move to a VPS
| Shared hosting | VPS | |
|---|---|---|
| Who runs the server | We do | You, or us on a managed VPS |
| Resources | Shared, with limits per account | Fixed cores, RAM and disk for you |
| Software | What the host provides | Anything you install |
| Control panel | Included | Optional licence (cPanel, DirectAdmin, Plesk) |
| Delivery | Instant | 1 to 6 hours |
Make the move easy
Choose a VPS in the location closest to your users. Our location guide helps you pick one. If you want the same cPanel you know from shared hosting, add a cPanel licence. And if you would rather not manage a server at all, a managed SSD VPS gives you the resources without the administration.
Questions before you decide? Open a presales ticket.