Guide
Shared hosting vs VPS: which should you choose?
Choose shared hosting if you want a low price and no server management, and choose a VPS if you need dedicated resources or control of the server. A VPS gives you a reserved share of a server that you configure yourself, which suits developers and demanding applications. Most small business sites, blogs and shops run well on shared hosting, from 84p a month (£10.03 billed yearly) with us.
At a glance
The short version
Shared hosting
- Lowest cost
- Managed for you, no skills needed
- Resources shared with other accounts
- Limited server control
- Ideal for small sites, blogs and shops
VPS hosting
- Higher cost
- You, or your team, manage the server
- A reserved share of resources
- Full control of software and settings
- Ideal for developers and demanding apps
The difference
What a VPS actually is
A virtual private server, or VPS, is a physical server divided into several virtual machines. Each virtual machine behaves like its own small server, with a reserved amount of processor, memory and storage that other customers cannot use.
The key change from shared hosting is control. On a VPS you usually choose the operating system, install the software you need and set it up exactly as you want. That is powerful for developers, and a real burden for everyone else, because you are responsible for updates, security and keeping the server running.
With shared hosting the provider does all of that. You get a ready-made account, and you focus on your website.
The skills gap
How much work each one asks of you
A rough guide to the ongoing effort, from 1 (little) to 10 (a lot).
These are our own estimates, shown to illustrate the difference. They are not measured figures.
Examples
Three real-world decisions
A café with a menu site and a booking link. The site is a few pages and some photographs, with a few hundred visitors a day at most. Shared hosting is the clear fit. A VPS would add cost and work with no benefit.
A growing WooCommerce shop. The shop has a few hundred products and steady orders. A well-cached shared plan with Redis object caching handles it. If the shop later runs large sales that spike traffic, a VPS or a bigger plan becomes worth discussing.
A developer building a custom app. The app needs its own background workers and a particular database. Here a VPS makes sense, because shared hosting is built for web requests, not long-running services.
Managed or not
The middle option: a managed VPS
Some providers sell a managed VPS, where they look after the operating system, security patches and monitoring for a fee. It removes much of the skill barrier and keeps the reserved resources, at a higher price than shared hosting.
For a small business, a managed VPS is usually only worth it when a specific need rules out shared hosting. If you are choosing one, ask exactly what the management covers: updates, backups, monitoring, security and support hours.
Backups and recovery
Who does what when something fails
On shared hosting the provider monitors the server, replaces failed hardware and keeps backups for you. On an unmanaged VPS, you do these jobs. If a disk fails at midnight, the question of who fixes it matters a great deal, so check the answer before you choose.
Start simple, grow when you need to
Shared hosting from 84p a month (£10.03 billed yearly), with a 15-day money-back guarantee.
When to pick which
Matching the type to the project
A business brochure site
Shared hosting. There is no need to manage a server to show your services.
A WordPress blog or small shop
Shared hosting with caching. A VPS only helps once traffic is high.
A custom web application
Shared hosting for light apps, a VPS for anything that needs its own services or constant processes.
Many small client sites
Shared hosting with unlimited addon domains, such as Limitless.
Heavy, steady traffic
A VPS or dedicated server, where resources are reserved.
Special software or compliance needs
A VPS, where you control the stack.
Cost
The real cost of a VPS
The monthly price of a VPS is only part of it. If you manage it yourself, you pay in time: patching the operating system, configuring the web server, setting up backups, watching security and fixing things at inconvenient hours.
If you pay someone to manage it, you pay for that service on top. For a small business, that often costs more than the site earns in its early years. Shared hosting includes all of that work in a much smaller price.
A common mistake is buying a VPS "for speed". A well-cached site on good shared hosting is often faster than an unmanaged VPS that was never tuned.
Deciding
A simple way to choose
List what you run
A website, a shop, an app, or several client sites.
Check the limits
Compare disk space, bandwidth and addon domains with your needs.
Be honest about skills
If nobody can look after a server, choose shared or managed hosting.
Start small
You can move up later, and the 15-day guarantee covers your first order.
FAQ
Common questions
Is a VPS faster than shared hosting?
Not automatically. A VPS has reserved resources, which helps under steady heavy load. A well-cached site on good shared hosting can be just as fast for typical traffic.
Is a VPS more secure?
It is isolated, but you are responsible for securing it. Shared hosting with a managed security layer can be safer for people without server skills.
Can I run WordPress on shared hosting?
Yes. Most WordPress sites run well on shared hosting with caching.
Do you offer a VPS?
Our plans here are shared hosting. If your project needs a VPS, tell our live chat and we will advise.
When should I upgrade?
When you regularly hit limits, need custom software, or run constant heavy processes.
Keep reading
Related pages
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