Choosing a web hosting provider can be just as important as choosing a web designer or a web developer. Two of the most popular options for web hosting are Shared Hosting and Virtual Private Server (VPS) Hosting. Each type environment has its benefits and disadvantages which can vary depending on the type of site that is being hosted.

Shared Hosting 101

As the name implies, a shared hosting environment has several users (web sites) share a single web server. The number of users can vary from hundreds to thousands. An analogy for shared hosting would be a company that rents out office space. The company has a large amount of space available which it provisions out in small portions to customers. Similarly, a shared hosting server is normally a very powerful machine with small portions provisioned for individual customers.

Pros and Cons of Shared Hosting

The most obvious benefits of a shared environment are the cost and ease of use. Many shared environments offer hosting for less than $10 per month. A shared hosting provider offers low rates because they deal in high quantities of users on a single system. Businesses just starting out often look to shared hosting because it doesn’t require a large start-up investment - be it time or money. The host handles the server configuration and management for them. To continue with the previous office space analogy, imagine that the space provided for rent is already furnished. Individual tenants who are renting space do not need to worry about bringing in their own furniture or equipment because it is already included. For companies that don’t require huge amounts of bandwidth, space or special security features, shared hosting is a logical choice.

There are disadvantages a company might experience in return for the lower cost and ease of use. Since many websites are on a single server, resources on the server are shared between many different users. Because of this it is possible to experience slowdowns or brief outages when there is a high server load. Since the shared servers are geared towards efficient handling of many different websites, many custom programs or settings may not be compatible with the settings on the shared server. For example, if a host offers a specific version of PHP on their servers, it may not be possible to use a different version on one particular website. To go back to the office rental analogy, while the office is furnished for you, you do not have a choice in the furniture that is supplied.

In addition, a business might also have fewer resources available to host a website on a shared system. As a website grows and receives greater traffic, it is possible to outgrow the resources available on a shared system. When this occurs it is time to consider Virtual Private Server hosting.

Virtual Private Server Hosting 101

A VPS provider offers many of the benefits of a dedicated server, yet actually remains in a semi-shared server environment. VPS systems rely on a software technology called ‘virtualization’. Virtualization allows for multiple independent server environments to exist on a single physical machine. This allows for each customer to have root administrative access to their own environment, which is isolated from other customers on the same physical server. Again going back to the office space analogy, a VPS system would be like renting an entire floor of an office building.

Pros and Cons of Virtual Private Server Hosting

Like with shared hosting, most providers include some technical support with VPS hosting plans; however since each customer has access to customize their own server, not every technical issue can easily be resolved. The virtualization software completely isolates one customer from another, which provides a higher level of security than a shared environment. Plus, individual users can customize their security settings with custom firewall settings or custom security measures. VPS systems also allow for multiple websites to be hosted on a single plan, which can be especially beneficial if multiple website are sharing the same data. VPS systems also provide customers the ability to run private mail and database servers, which allow for greater performance of their website and less chance of their email messages being marked as SPAM.

VPS systems do have some downsides to them as well. The most obvious downside is the cost of the service. Even lower-end VPS services can cost more than 3 times as much as a shared service. VPS systems also require the user to have more knowledge and responsibility when maintaining their service. Since each customer is running their own custom server, there are many different options and settings that can be used. Many shared plans allow a customer to begin uploading a website within minutes of the account becoming active. With a VPS system a customer may need to configure the server before uploading files.

Ultimately, both shared and virtual private server environments have their pros and cons. The best choice will depend on the particular needs of each individual website. Small businesses which are creating their first web presence may be attracted to the low cost and ease of use of a shared environment, while a large business may be attracted to the power and customization possible with a VPS system.

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