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VPS or shared hosting?

Shared hosting rents you space on someone else's server. A VPS gives you a server of your own, with root access and its own IP address, from $6.90 a month. Here is what actually changes, and when the cheaper option is still the right one.

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Side by side

The differences that matter day to day.

The VPS column is read from our catalogue. We do not sell shared hosting, so that column describes it in general terms and quotes no one's price.

  • What you get

    Shared hosting
    An account on a server that hosts many other customers' sites
    VPS
    Your own virtual machine, with its memory and processor time allocated to it

  • Access

    Shared hosting
    A control panel and file access; no root
    VPS
    Full root (or Administrator on Windows) from the first boot

  • IP address

    Shared hosting
    Usually shared with the other sites on the server
    VPS
    Its own public IPv4 address

  • Software

    Shared hosting
    What the host installed, usually PHP, MySQL and a panel
    VPS
    Any software you choose, on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, Debian 12, AlmaLinux 9, Rocky Linux 9, Ubuntu 24.04 + Docker, or Windows Server in the cities that offer it

  • Neighbours

    Shared hosting
    One busy site on the server can slow the others
    VPS
    Your memory is yours; the processor cores on the host are shared on most plans

  • Email

    Shared hosting
    Mailboxes are usually included
    VPS
    You run your own, and direct outgoing mail (port 25) is open only on our mail-server plans

  • Upkeep

    Shared hosting
    The host updates and secures the server
    VPS
    You do, on a self-managed VPS; managed hosting moves that work to us

  • Price

    Shared hosting
    Usually the cheapest way to put a small site online; check the renewal price, which is often higher than the first term
    VPS
    From $6.90 a month, the same price at every renewal, in 69 cities

Choosing

Which one fits what you are building.

Shared hosting is enough when

  • You run one small website or blog, and its traffic is modest.
  • You want mailboxes in the same place as the site.
  • You never want to log in to a server.

A VPS is the better fit when

  • You need software a shared host will not install: Node.js, Python, Docker, a bot, a game server, a VPN.
  • Your site has outgrown the limits of a shared account.
  • You want your own IP address and a server in a specific city.
  • You want the same price every month: from $6.90, or $8.90 with 2 GB of memory.

Want a server without running it? Our managed hosting puts your sites on a server we update, back up and watch for you, from $29.00 a month. It sits between the two: the control of your own server, without the upkeep.

Questions

Before you move.

Is a VPS faster than shared hosting?
Not automatically. A VPS gives you memory and processor time allocated to your machine, so a busy neighbour cannot take your memory away, and you choose the software stack. A well-tuned shared account can feel fast for a small site. The difference shows up under load and when you need something the shared host does not offer.
Do I need technical skills for a VPS?
For a self-managed VPS, yes: you install the software, apply updates and keep it secure. If you would rather not, our managed hosting does that work for you, from $29.00 a month.
Can I run WordPress on a VPS?
Yes, and many people move to a VPS for exactly that: their own PHP version, their own caching, no limits set by other customers on the machine. Plan on 2 GB of memory or more for a site with real traffic.
Does a VPS include email?
A VPS can run a mail server, but sending email directly to the internet (port 25) is open only on the plans listed on our mail-server page. Many people keep their mailboxes with a dedicated email provider and use the VPS for the website.
What does a VPS cost per month?
From $6.90 a month for 1 vCPU and 1 GB of memory, and $8.90 for the cheapest machine with 2 GB or more. The renewal is the same price, and there is no setup fee.

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