The Best VPS Hosting of 2021

Best VPS Hosting Reviews

A2 Hosting

Users of all skill levels can find something to suit their needs with A2 Hosting. This company offers three different VPS hosting options — Core, which is managed hosting with root access; Managed, which doesn’t grant root access, and Unmanaged, for developers.

The Core and Managed plans include cPanel; 24/7 support; and a free SSL certificate. Disk space on A2 Hosting’s solid-state drives ranges from 75 GB to 150 GB, and they offer up to 8 GB of RAM.

For users who want complete control over their servers, A2 Hosting has three tiers of Unmanaged plans. Users can choose their operating system, and customize their server with administrative level root access.

All A2 Hosting customers get the benefit of an anytime money-back guarantee, and the option to upgrade to TurboBoost servers. A2 Hosting promises that these servers increase load speeds up to twenty times faster than standard servers.

Pros & Cons of A2 Hosting VPS Hosting

Whether you want managed or unmanaged, A2 Hosting does it all. Although their server speeds are good, they give users the option to increase them even more with their TurboBoost feature. Users should be aware that, while A2 Hosting boasts about 99.9% uptime, independent audits find they fall a little bit short of that, with a 99.835% uptime.

What Customers Are Saying

A2 Hosting customers praise the company for their attentive customer support. “The entire team at A2 Hosting has been incredibly supportive since I was referred to them by my web designer,” writes one user. “We both feel confident knowing we can reach out with any trouble-shooting issues or questions.”

AccuWeb Hosting

For users who like options, AccuWeb Hosting has you covered. AccuWeb offers an almost dizzying array of options, including managed and unmanaged hosting for both Linux and Windows operating systems. They also offer more specialized types of VPS hosting, including Mean.js, Node.js, and Forex Trading VPS hosting.

AccuWeb’s standard managed Linux VPS hosting packages start with 20 GB of SSD storage, 2 vCPU cores, 1 GB guaranteed RAM, and one IP address. Users can host unlimited websites, and choose between cPanel, Plesk, or DirectAdmin administration tools. With servers located throughout the U.S., Europe, Africa, Australia, and Asia, AccuWeb also gives users a wide selection of servers to choose from, guaranteeing fast response times for your website’s visitors.

Other features include weekly backups, 24/7 customer support, physical hardware monitoring, replacement, and management. AccuWeb also makes it easy to scale up your plan as your website grows.

Pros & Cons of AccuWeb Hosting VPS Hosting

AccuWeb’s biggest perk — or con, depending on the user — is how many options they offer. For some users, it may be good to know they can opt between managed or unmanaged hosting, or Linux or Windows, but for less experienced customers, it can be overwhelming. Additionally, independent audits find that AccuWeb has a less-than-ideal 96.9% uptime.

What Customers Are Saying

Customers give AccuWeb Hosting high marks for affordability, performance, and service. “I’ve had an overall great experience so far,” writes one customer. “Support is super-fast. It doesn’t matter when you send a message, they will help you. They have a fair price system, and performance is top-notch.”

Bluehost

While BlueHost is primarily known for their shared hosting plans, they also offer three solid VPS plan options.

Their basic Standard plan is great for small businesses, with 2 cores, 30 GB of SSD storage, 1 TB of bandwidth, 2 GB of RAM, and one IP address. Upgrading to Bluehost’s Enhanced or Ultimate plans will get users more storage, and bandwidth, although they do cap IP addresses at two. However, considering their reasonable prices for VPS hosting, Bluehost may still be a viable solution for a small business site that needs more power without breaking the bank.

Other standard features Bluehost offers include a free domain name for one year (after which it can be renewed at market price); a free SSL certificate; 24/7 customer support via phone, and an enhanced cPanel with tools specifically for VPS management. Bluehost also gives VPS customers root access, for maximum control.

Pros & Cons of Bluehost VPS Hosting

Bluehost’s servers are designed to provision immediately, so you don’t have to wait to get your website up and running. Additionally, their enhanced cPanel allows users to add more storage on the fly, as needed, without requiring administrative assistance. One potential drawback is that, among all of the picks on our list, Bluehost’s server response times are on the slower end.

What Customers Are Saying

Bluehost has built a loyal customer base by being intuitive and user-friendly. “Bluehost is the best hosting company I’ve used,” says one user. “It’s easy to navigate and looks beautiful, and customer service helps me in a flash on the rare occasion I need help.”

DreamHost

DreamHost offers affordable yet powerful VPS web hosting solutions for websites of all sizes. Customers can choose from four different plans — Basic, Business, Professional and Enterprise.

The Basic plan gives users the ability to host unlimited websites (one free domain is included), with 1 GB RAM, 30 GB SSD storage, and unmetered bandwidth. A free SSL certificate, and unlimited email addresses at your domain are also included. As your website grows, you can easily scale up to one of DreamHost’s other VPS hosting plans for more storage and RAM. DreamHost advertises that you can scale up as needed in less than 10 seconds.

Unlike most other VPS hosting providers, which use common admin tools like cPanel or Plesk, DreamHost has its own customized control panel. DreamHost also lets users set up and create unlimited MySQL databases, and offers 24/7 technical support in case users run into trouble.

Pros & Cons of DreamHost VPS Hosting

DreamHost gives users a lot for an affordable price. They are among the few hosting service providers that let users host unlimited websites, without metering traffic. However, in order to get the best pricing, users must sign up for three years, although they have three months to request a refund if they are not satisfied.

What Customers Are Saying

DreamHost customers praise the web hosting service provider for its reliability and customer support. “I’ve been a customer for seven years, and I’ve received great customer support when needed,” writes one user. Adds another customer, “I personally haven’t seen this quality of service anywhere else.”

FatCow

FatCow’s mission is to help customers get their website up and running as quickly as possible. To that end, they offer an easy-to-use drag-and-drop website builder, simple installation wizards that let users quickly add applications, and instantly deployable VPS hosting services.

Customers can choose from three different tiers of FatCow plans — Basic, Business, and Optimum. Those who are just starting out with websites can select the Basic plan, and get 1 GB RAM, 40 GB of storage, and 1 TB of bandwidth. As your website grows, it’s easy to scale up to the Business or Optimum plans for more storage, RAM, and bandwidth. FatCow will also help you grow your website with free marketing tools.

All FatCow plans come with the afore-mentioned website builder, as well as cPanel (with optional root access), a free domain name and email address, and 24/7 support via phone, email, and live chat.

Pros & Cons of Fatcow VPS Hosting

FatCow includes some nice perks with their VPS hosting packages, including $200 worth of advertising credits for Google and Microsoft, and a website builder with dozens of customizable templates. An independent audit found that FatCow’s server response time is 548ms. However, while FatCow advertises a 99.9% uptime, an independent audit found that their uptime is well below that.

What Customers Are Saying

Among customers, Fatcow has built a reputation as being a user-friendly and dependable web host. “My friend referred me to this company, and to my pleasant surprise, the service matched the hype,” writes one customer. “Now I’ll be the one referring Fatcow to other friends.”

GreenGeeks

As their name implies, GreenGeeks calling card is their commitment to the environment. By putting three times the power they consume into the grid in the form of renewable energy, they have become the industry’s leading eco-friendly green web hosting provider.

GreenGeeks also promises a better hosting experience, thanks to their multiple server locations in North America and Europe; SSD storage, and latest speed technologies, including LiteSpeed, LSCache, MariaDB, PHP 7, and more.

With three VPS hosting plans to choose from, customers can easily find the resources that fit their needs best. All plans come with 10 TB of bandwidth, SSD disk space, a free SSL certificate and Softaculous license, and GreenGeeks managed support. For those who already have a website on another host, GreenGeeks makes it easy to move with free website transfer services. Customers can get support 24/7 via phone, live chat, or email.

Pros & Cons of GreenGeeks VPS Hosting

For environmentally-conscious customers, GreenGeeks is the obvious choice. Customers will have the peace of mind of knowing they are having a positive impact on the environment, while benefiting from an independently confirmed 99.975% uptime. One potential drawback is that GreenGeeks is among the more expensive options on our list, with their basic package starting at $39.95.

What Customers Are Saying

GreenGeeks gets strong reviews from customers for consistently providing strong hosting services, as well as customer support. “GreenGeeks is a great web hosting company,” writes one user. “They have a full slate of services, their customer service is outstanding, and their fees are competitive.”

HostGator

HostGator has long been a leader in the web hosting industry, offering a variety of hosting options, including VPS hosting.

There are three different VPS hosting packages available from HostGator. Snappy 2000 is their basic package, giving customers 2 GB RAM, 120 GB disk space, and unlimited bandwidth. For customers who need more RAM and disk space, HostGator offers the Snappy 4000 and Snappy 8000 packages.

All HostGator VPS hosting services include a free domain, cPanel (with full root access), weekly off-site backups, and 24/7 customer support via email and live chat. HostGator also helps users create the website of their dreams with development tools like an easy-to-use website builder, thousands of customizable templates, and a powerful script installer. If you already have a website on another host, you can easily migrate it to HostGator, with their unlimited free cPanel to cPanel migrations.

Pros & Cons of HostGator VPS Hosting

HostGator offers customers a lot of features for an affordable price. All packages include two IP addresses. They also offer unmetered bandwidth, and protect websites with multiple layers of security, including centralized DDOS protection, and secured VPS firewall. One downside is that HostGator has slower server response times than many other picks on our list.

What Customers Are Saying

Hostgator customers report high levels of satisfaction with the company’s response times and pricing. “The features of Hostgator are perfect, with good customer support and reasonable fees,” says one user. “My site has never faced any downtime in two years, and server speed is awesome.”

Hostinger

Hostinger is a leader among web hosting services providers for offering easily scalable VPS hosting for an affordable price.

Hostinger’s base plan starts at $3.95, and comes with one vCPU, 1 GB RAM, 20 GB SSD storage, and 1 TB bandwidth. Users can increase their resources incrementally, as needed, up to 8 GB RAM, 160 GB SSD storage, and 8 TB bandwidth.

All users get a dedicated IP address with IPv4 and IPv6 Internet protocols, full root access through Hostinger’s custom control panel, and an auto installer that allows users to install just about any Linux operating system.

Hostinger also has users that prefer using the Windows operating system covered, with competitively priced Windows VPS hosting available as well. Windows hosting packages start with 4 cores, 2 GB RAM, 50 GB of SSD storage, and 4 TB of bandwidth.

Both types of hosting come with 24/7 live chat customer support.

Pros & Cons of Hostinger VPS Hosting

One of Hostinger’s key perks is that they offer both Windows and Linux hosting, at a relatively low price point. According to an independent audit, Hostinger’s server response time is 459ms, making it one of the fastest web hosting service providers on our list. This may offset concerns about their uptime, which an independent audit found to be 98.79%.

What Customers Are Saying

Users praise Hostinger for being a good value while providing strong customer service and performance. After doing thorough research about all the hosting options available I realized that Hostinger is a market leader in hosting,” writes one user. “They have cutting-edge technology backed by a friendly cool team.”

HostPapa

HostPapa’s web hosting services are specifically geared towards small businesses, with scalable VPS hosting that can easily grow as your needs change.

There are five different VPS hosting plans to choose from with HostPapa. Their basic Mercury plan gives users 4 core CPUs, 2 GB RAM, 60 GB SSD storage, and 1 TB data transfer. HostPapa’s maximum VPS plan, Jupiter, offers 12 core CPUs, 32 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD storage, and 8 TB data transfer.

Users can host an unlimited number of domains and websites with their HostPapa account. The company gives all VPS subscribers two free domain names to help get them started. HostPapa also makes it easy to add more resources, like CPUs, memory, and even additional servers, as necessary. They are also an ideal choice for users of all skill levels, as they offer fully managed, limited management, and self-managed hosting options.

Pros & Cons of HostPapa VPS Hosting

Most hosting plans will let users register one free domain, but HostPapa gives users two free registrations. Customers can also choose between self-managed, fully-managed, or in-between hosting, depending on their needs and skill level. While an independent audit found that HostPapa has an excellent 99.954% uptime, their server response times are a bit slower than industry standards.

What Customers Are Saying

HostPapa users say that the company delivers on its promises for service and support. “The superb service from the always courteous and professional staff at HostPapa is in a class of its own,” writes one customer. “HostPapa certainly gets my endorsement as a service provider that really walks the walk.”

Hostwinds

Hostwinds is another web hosting service provider that gives users a wide variety of options for different types of hosting and operating systems. Their packages include managed and unmanaged hosting for both Linux and Windows.

All of Hostwinds’ basic packages, regardless of management level and OS, come with 1 core CPU, 1 GB RAM, 30 GB SSD storage, and 1 TB data transfer. Managed plan subscribers can scale up to 2 core CPUs, 6 GB RAM, 100 GB SSD storage, and 2 TB data transfer. Meanwhile, unmanaged Linux and Windows users can increase their resources up to 16 CPUs, 96 GB RAM, 750 GB SSD storage, and 9 TB data transfer.

Standard features of all Hostwinds’ plans include free website transfer, snapshot back-ups, multiple server locations to choose from, and enterprise firewalls to protect your site and server. Customers can get support 24/7 via phone, live chat, and email.

Pros & Cons of Hostwinds VPS Hosting

An independent audit found that Hostwinds has an uptime of 99.722%, and a server response time of 547ms. All this comes with a relatively low price point, even for their Windows hosting. Although they offer a 60 day money-back guarantee, they do make customers jump through some hurdles to get their money back.

What Customers Are Saying

Customers recommend Hostwinds to other users who want to create and publish their sites as quickly and painlessly as possible. Writes one customer, “Hostwinds has a nice overall base plan. It was easy to sign up, create a site, and get up and running.”

InMotion Hosting

The three VPS hosting plans offered by InMotion Hosting are reasonably priced, and come with a lot of great features, including SSD storage, and free SSL certificates offered through AutoSSL in cPanel. InMotion Hosting also has fantastic support documentation, and a well-regarded U.S.-based support team.

InMotion Hosting gives customers the choice between managed and unmanaged hosting. Managed hosting comes with two free hours of assistance to help with the on-boarding process, including website migration, software installs and configurations, server security, and more. For those who are more experienced, InMotion Hosting’s unmanaged VPS hosting offers complete control, with full root access with SSH keys.

One thing to keep in mind is that all of InMotion Hosting’s operations, including their data centers, are based in the U.S. If you have customers that are spread out around the globe, this could result in slower than optimal load times.

Pros & Cons of InMotion Hosting VPS Hosting

Besides giving users the choice between managed and unmanaged hosting, InMotion also gives customers two free domains. InMotion also allows users to schedule regular backups, so there is always a rollback point when making changes to your site or server. Users should be aware that, among our picks, InMotion’s server response times are on the slower end.

What Customers Are Saying

InMotion Hosting has built a loyal customer base by being easy to use and attentive to customers’ needs. “I have been with InMotion for over a year on a VPS,” writes one customer. “My experience with this company has been extremely great thus far and hopefully it stays that way.”

InterServer

When it comes to web hosting, InterServer is a developer’s dream, with enough optionality to support just about any preference for operating system, database, admin panel, and more.

Let’s start with operating systems. InterServer’s VPS hosting supports 16 of them, including Centos 7, Ubuntu 14.4, Cern Linux, ArchLinux, Windows 2012 R2, Windows 2016, and more. For administration purposes, users can choose between cPanel or the Webuzo control panel, which comes integrated with a full roster of scripts, including PHP, Python, Java, and Perl. InterServer also supports multiple SQL databases, including MySQL, SQLite, MongoDB, MarinaDB, PostGreSQL, and more.

They’re basic offering gives users 1 core CPU, 2048 MB RAM, 30 GB SSD storage, and 1 TB of data transfer, and scales up to 16 core CPUs, 32768 MB RAM, 480 GB SSD storage, and 16 TB of data transfer. InterServer also offers specially designed WordPress VPS hosting, specifically for WordPress users.

Pros & Cons of InterServer VPS Hosting

InterServer’s primary perk is that they give users 25 free domain names. Users will also appreciate the flexibility to choose between several Linux or Windows operating systems. One thing to keep in mind is that managed hosting is not automatically included, and some tasks fall outside the purview of managed hosting.

What Customers Are Saying

According to users, InterServer is a great choice for small businesses for offering good services at competitive prices. “We moved from one of the biggest names in hosting to Interserver a few years ago and the difference is night and day,” writes one customer.

Ionos

Customer support is top priority for Ionos. All VPS hosting packages include a Personal Consultant to act as a single point-of-contact and server expert during regular business hours. This is in addition to Ionos’ 24/7 standard support, and helps to ensure that any issues are resolved as quickly as possible.

There are five tiers of VPS hosting plans available through Ionos, appropriately ranked Small through XXL. The entry-level S plan comes with 1 core CPU, 512 MB RAM, and 10 GB of SSD storage. Users who outgrow their resources can quickly upgrade directly from their control panel, and access up to 6 core CPUs, 12 GB RAM, and 240 GB of SSD storage with Ionos’ XXL plan.

Ionos offers both Linux and Windows hosting, and customers can also select their server location from Ionos’ four data centers in the U.S., the U.K., Germany, and Spain.

Pros & Cons of Ionos VPS Hosting

Among all of our picks, Ionos is a standout for having one of the fastest server response times (444ms, according to an independent audit) and most reliable uptimes (99.991%). This may compensate for the fact that they don’t provide free domains, and they only have server locations in the U.S. and Europe.

What Customers Are Saying

Customers praise Ionos for being intuitive, especially for beginners. “I’m not good at technology, but I was able to navigate through with ease,” writes one customer. Adds another user, “Simple to order and set up, with the flexibility to customize to whatever my imagination can come up with.”

iPage

iPage specializes in scalable VPS hosting, making it a simple solution for those who are new web hosting and want to get online quickly.

There are three tiers of plans customers can choose from — Basic, Business, and Optimum. The Basic package includes 1 core CPU, 1 GB RAM, 40 GB of disk space, and 1 TB of bandwidth. As your website grows, you can increase your resources, up to 4 core CPUs, 8 GB RAM, 120 GB of disk space, and 4 TB of bandwidth, available with the Optimum plan.

All of iPage’s VPS hosting plans offer managed support, and include a free domain name registration for one year, and cPanel with root access, for maximum customization. Customers can design their website right in iPage using the company’s drag-and-drop website builder, which is optimized for e-commerce. Customer support is available any time via phone and live chat.

Pros & Cons of iPage VPS Hosting

iPage is an ideal choice for e-commerce websites, as they offer tools like PayPal integration and several shopping cart options. They also have one of the most reliable uptimes on our list, according to an independent audit. Potential downsides include their lack of SSD storage, and the fact that they do not offer an unmanaged hosting option.

What Customers Are Saying

Among those who praise iPage are longtime users who find the company to be a reliable and high-quality web hosting platform. “I have been with them for a number of years, and they have always been outstanding,” writes one customer. “Keep up the great work!”

Liquid Web

Liquid Web specializes in cloud computing plans (like VPS) and dedicated servers, so users know that all of this company’s resources and attention are devoted to these types of hosting. They are also notable for offering both Linux and Windows servers.

Users can select a basic, VPS hosting only plan, or bundle their hosting with other services, like site remediation and protection, premium business email service, and daily backups. All plans come with 10 TB of bandwidth, and multiple administration options, including cPanel, Plesk, and Interworx. Liquid Web uses only SSD storage, with disk space ranging from 40 GB to 200 GB.

Liquid Web’s support team assists customers with managed hosting by monitoring servers, mitigating risk, and optimizing performance, Customers can reach out for support 24/7 via live chat, phone, and email. Security features include an integrated firewall, ServerSecure protections, and DDos attack protection.

Pros & Cons of Liquid Web VPS Hosting

Liquid Web stands out among VPS hosts because it offers Linux and Windows hosting, making it an ideal choice for customers, regardless of which operating system they prefer. For Linux users, there are also a few different admin panel options. All of this optionality comes at a price, though. Liquid Web is among the more expensive options on our list.

What Customers Are Saying

LiquidWeb has curated loyalty among customers for providing reliable service and support.
“I have been using Liquid Web for over three years, and have never had a single interruption,” writes one user. “The services are reasonably priced, and on the occasion we need technical support, they respond within minutes.”

Media Temple

Media Temple offers VPS hosting services for experienced developers and hosting newcomers alike.

Their self-managed plans start with 2 GB RAM, 20 GB of SSD storage, and 2 TB of bandwidth, and give users SSH access, as well as the freedom to choose their Linux operating system, creating a completely customizable environment.

Meanwhile, Media Temple’s entry-level managed plan includes 2 GB RAM, 30 GB of SSD storage, and 2 TB of bandwidth. Users have the option of using Plesk or cPanel/WHM for admin control, and they get the latest versions of PHP, MySQL, Perl, and Python pre-installed. Media Temple makes it easy to scale up resources on-demand through your Account Center.

All of Media Temple’s servers come equipped with SSD storage, and customers can feel secure about their data, thanks to Media Temple’s robust security features, including redundant power, fire suppression, and raised floors.

Pros & Cons of Media Temple VPS Hosting

Media Temple guarantees a 99.9% uptime, promising to refund customers 20% of their monthly costs for every 20 minutes of downtime that month. They also make it easy for customers to resell hosting resources, with control panel tools designed for reseller hosting. These two pros may help offset Media Temple’s high monthly prices.

What Customers Are Saying

Customers cite Media Temple’s customer support and variety services as the reason they like this web host. “I have been a satisfied country for more than seven years,” says one customer. “The availability of services is incomparable to others, and tech support responds immediately.”

RoseHosting

RoseHosting’s key promise is to make VPS hosting as simple as possible, regardless of skill level. To that end, they offer fully managed support, with weekly back-ups, 24/7 customer support, and free website migration. Customers still have a lot of control over their server, as RoseHosting still gives users root access.

They also offer a broad range of scalable resources, starting at the basic level with 1 core CPU, 1 GB RAM, 30 GB of SSD storage, and 2 TB of data transfer. Their maximum option includes 12 core CPUs, 64 GB RAM, 400 GB of SSD storage, and unlimited data transfer, ensuring that their VPS hosting can meet the needs of websites of just about any size.

Other standard features that come with RoseHosting VPS hosting include a free Let’s Encrypt SSL certificate, a static IP address, and the ability to host unlimited websites and apps.

Pros & Cons of RoseHosting VPS Hosting

For a fully managed VPS hosting solution, RoseHosting still gives users a lot of control, including root access for their server. One potential con for RoseHosting is the fact that cPanel is not included for free in their entry- and mid-level plans, but must be paid for as an add-on.

What Customers Are Saying

RoseHosting has a devoted fanbase for its value, performance, and service. Switching to RoseHosting is “the best decision I’ve made in regards to this website,” writes one user. “The site is now substantially faster, at less than half the cost the company was paying a private firm to host.”

ScalaHosting

ScalaHosting lets users choose between managed or self-managed cloud VPS hosting, for a scalable solution to all their web hosting needs.

There are four managed hosting plans available — Start, Advanced, Business, and Enterprise. The entry-level Start plan comes with 1 CPU core, 2 GB RAM, and 20 GB of SSD storage. Those who prefer unmanaged hosting can build their own cloud VPS. ScalaHosting gives unmanaged hosting users the flexibility to choose their CPU, RAM, and SSD storage resources based on their needs.

Standard features of all ScalaHosting plans include free website migration, daily backups and free snapshots, a free domain, and a dedicated IP address. ScalaHosting protects users’ websites with SShield cybersecurity, which monitors websites 24/7, and blocks 99.9% of malicious web attacks. ScalaHosting uses its own proprietary control panel, sPanel, although users who choose unmanaged hosting can get cPanel accounts for an additional charge.

Pros & Cons of ScalaHosting VPS Hosting

An independent audit found that ScalaHosting has a very strong 99.798% uptime, making it one of the most reliable hosts on our list. This may compensate for their slower-than-average server response time. Another potential drawback of ScalaHosting is the fact that they use their own proprietary control panel, sPanel, instead of the more common cPanel.

What Customers Are Saying

Scala Hosting users are effusive in their praise of the company. “I could not be happier with their friendly service,” says one user. “[Scala] provided the best service I have experienced. They went above and beyond, giving fast and accurate advice, while being very friendly.”

6 Reasons to Use VPS Hosting

Most beginner website owners start off with a shared hosting plan. Shared hosting is designed for small sites that don’t demand too much. Once your site outgrows shared hosting, you’ll probably look at a VPS for the next step up.

Virtualization

The important part of VPS hosting is virtualization. The host divides one server into several smaller virtual servers, each with their own chunk of RAM and hard drive space.

When a customer takes on one of these virtual servers, they enjoy a more isolated experience, since their virtual server can’t be disrupted by other customers.

VPS for Business

VPS hosting is ideal for small businesses that want a little peace of mind and are willing to pay for it. If you need to know that your website won’t be dragged down by a bad neighbor, a VPS will be worth the extra spend.

Why VPS?

So let’s take a look at a brief recap of 6 reasons why one should use VPS hosting:

1. Greater private disk space
2. Higher availability of resources, without interruption
3. Ability to manage and intake high traffic demand and application configuration
4. Robust safety features and security measures
5. Customizability while maintaining security and performance
6. Scalability at it’s best.

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VPS vs Cloud Hosting

You may be wondering where cloud hosting fits into the hierarchy. In truth, cloud hosting and VPS hosting are very similar.

There’s no industry definition of the cloud, and in hosting, the word “cloud” might not mean what you expect it to mean. Hosts can also use the word “cloud” fairly loosely in their marketing blurb.

VPS on the Cloud

Normally, hosts will roll out a VPS on one server, which has a single disk. That disk might fail. If it does, you’ll need backups to restore your site.

Other hosts provide a similar service with the VPS hosted in the cloud. This means that multiple copies of your site are stored on a Storage Area Network (SAN). Often, this SAN will be connected to a single physical server.

Cloud VPS Pros and Cons

So while this kind of cloud VPS hosting sounds fancy, there are pros and cons.

Pros

• The VPS is saved as several instances across an array of storage devices, with any device ready to step in if the primary device fails
• It has the potential for more downtime.

Cons

• It’s more expensive
• It’s less secure
• All the storage devices are linked to one server.

Server Clusters

A different form of cloud hosting involves clustering servers together and linking them to a cloud platform. Your host can deploy its VPS servers on this platform and adjust resources assigned to your VPS instances.

With this method, you can also theoretically grow the VPS beyond the restraints of a single server, giving it much more RAM than a single machine could provide.

If you choose this method of cloud hosting, you will lose a lot of the control over your VPS, since some of its traditional server features will be bypassed.

Cloud Redundancy

There’s nothing wrong with traditional VPS hosting, although cloud hosting may provide some redundancy. The nature of that redundancy needs to be investigated so you know exactly what you’re getting.

And, in exchange for the extra cost, you should look for a host that’s offering a significant uptime boost.

How Do You Manage Sites on a VPS Hosting Plan?

If you’ve never used a virtual server before, you might not be sure what to expect.

On a typical web host, it’s almost identical to how you managed sites on shared hosting plans.

VPS cPanel

The majority of hosts will let you manage your site through cPanel. Everything will be the same, you’ll just have a few extra options.

Let’s look at the Bluehost cPanel front-end as a demonstration:

5 Key VPS Hosting Features to Look For

Before purchasing a web hosting service, you’ll want to look for a few other features aside from just cPanel.

Most Important Features

Here are the most important ones, in my opinion:

• Solid-state drive (SSD) — one common motivation for buying a VPS is speed. SSDs help speeds up your site in just about every way.
• Managed — there are different levels of server management that a host can provide. At the very least, look for managed VPS hosting that monitor and detects security issues.
• Linux or Windows — only some VPS host plans support Windows.
• Full Root Access — root access lets you install any software you’d like, or modify any files with no restrictions (just be careful!).
• Instant Reboot — while instant reboot capability is almost standard, it’s vital to know ‘instant’ really does mean instant.

VPS Is Perfect for Medium-Sized Sites

Where smaller sites will do just fine with shared hosting, and large, enterprise-level sites definitely need dedicated private server hosting, VPS hosting can work best for medium-sized sites that have a moderate amount of traffic.

Pros and Cons

Like all forms of hosting, VPS has its good and bad points. Below, we list the primary ones.

Pros

VPS hosting is a great compromise between shared and dedicated hosting.

• It’s affordable
• The VPS can be set up in a few minutes
• VPS hosting tends to be more reliable than shared hosting since your site can’t be affected by another resource-hogging customer
• This kind of hosting gives you more access to the server’s configuration
• You can create and remove sites from your VPS at will
• Each site can have its own control panel
• Software can be installed and modified
• It’s more secure than shared hosting.

Another advantage of VPS hosting is the ability to customize your operating system. You can do this with a dedicated server, of course, but at a much higher price.

Cons

There are a few downsides to VPS hosting too.

• You need to know a little more about server administration
• There’s quite a jump in cost
• An unmanaged VPS may look like a cheap option, but if you have a lot of experience
• Choosing a plan can be complicated.

Final Thoughts

VPS is a great choice if your website has grown beyond shared hosting but isn’t ready for a dedicated server or a full cloud-based solution.

But there are a lot of things to consider in choosing a host. Hopefully, the information here will help you make the right choice for your site.

Other features in Hosting Types

• Colocation
• Managed WordPress
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