When looking at web hosting services, most companies think about two options: cheap shared hosting or expensive dedicated hosting. A virtual private server (VPS) hosting plan is in the middle. With VPS, you get more bandwidth than shared hosting, but you don't have to pay for a whole physical server like with dedicated hosting.

VPS hosting is a good balance of flexibility and affordability for businesses. The top VPS hosting services provide managed and unmanaged plans with plenty of storage, RAM, and bandwidth. Forbes Advisor looked at all the top VPS plans in the industry. Here's a list of the ones that stood out.

VPS hosting is like an upgraded version of shared hosting. With shared hosting, your website shares a server with many other websites, which is good for small and new websites. But if your site grows and needs more resources or has higher traffic, VPS hosting might be a better choice.

In VPS hosting, you still share the server with others, but you get your own dedicated resources like RAM, storage, and CPU power. It's like having your own space in a building where others live too. You can choose a VPS plan with more CPU cores, RAM, and storage based on your needs. However, you're still limited by the capabilities of the main server.

If your website continues to grow and the highest VPS plan isn't enough, you might have to consider cloud hosting or a dedicated server. In simple terms, if shared hosting is like living in a shared community where you share everything, VPS hosting is like having your own house in a neighborhood without sharing your things.

What Are the Benefits of VPS Hosting?

When you use a VPS server, it means you're getting more power for your website. This usually results in faster loading pages and better overall performance, but it also comes with a higher cost. Here are some not-so-obvious advantages of VPS hosting:

• More Control: With a VPS, you get special access to the core of your server and can choose how to manage it, including its security.
• Fully Managed Option: If you don't want to handle the technical stuff, there's fully managed VPS hosting. It's like having someone take care of updates and security for you, similar to shared hosting.
• More Stability: Since you're sharing server space with fewer people, your website is less likely to go down or experience slowdowns.
• Better Performance: While there's no guarantee of faster page loading, the extra resources and dedicated processing power in VPS hosting can significantly improve performance compared to shared hosting. Using a content delivery network (CDN) can help too.
• More Scalable: Starting your website on a VPS gives it more room to grow, especially when dealing with sudden increases in traffic. On a shared server, you might use up your resources quickly and be forced to upgrade sooner.

How To Choose the Best VPS Hosting Provider

Selecting the right Virtual Private Server (VPS) host is a critical decision contingent upon your specific hosting requirements and financial considerations. For instance, if your data storage needs are substantial, it is advisable to explore hosting plans that offer a generous amount of storage space at a reasonable cost. On the other hand, if the optimal performance of your website is a top priority, investing in premium plans equipped with dedicated CPU cores and RAM may be a prudent choice.

Key VPS Features to Consider:

• Root access: This provides direct control over your allocated server portion.
• Dedicated support: Swift assistance to your queries, typically available 24/7.
• Control panel choice: Flexibility to use popular options like cPanel, Plesk, or a proprietary control panel.
• Site migration: Smooth transition of your existing site to the new virtual server, either at no additional cost or for a fee.
• Enhanced security: Protection against potential threats such as malware and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks.

Uptime and Downtime Considerations:

While most hosting companies pledge 99% or higher uptime, it is crucial to understand the disparities between different uptime guarantees. Even a small percentage variance can significantly impact the duration your server may experience downtime. Additionally, it's important to ascertain whether compensation is available in cases where downtime exceeds the promised threshold.

Customer Support:

The availability of 24/7 customer support is vital, ensuring prompt assistance not only during server downtime but also for addressing any technical queries. Hosting providers that offer various support channels, including live chat, phone support, email, and comprehensive knowledge bases, are generally preferable.

Managed vs. Unmanaged VPS Hosting:

Managed Hosting: Ideal for individuals less tech-savvy. Hosting companies handle server maintenance, including security patches and updates.

Unmanaged Hosting: Suited for developers with technical expertise. Provides complete control over the server, including the responsibility for maintenance tasks. Unmanaged VPS plans are often more cost-effective due to their hands-on nature.

Dedicated Server Considerations:

While a dedicated server is a pricier option, it provides exclusive access to the entire server, offering advantages such as faster loading speeds, increased resources for handling larger files or content, and the ability to accommodate high traffic volumes. Small businesses may not need a dedicated server immediately, but evaluating website performance during peak traffic periods, such as Black Friday or holiday sales, can help determine whether an upgrade is warranted.

The selection of a VPS host should align with your specific needs and financial constraints. Assessing features, uptime guarantees, customer support options, and the suitability of managed or unmanaged hosting is crucial. If your website experiences growth, considering a dedicated server becomes relevant for enhanced performance and support.

How Much Does VPS Hosting Cost?

Most companies that provide VPS hosting have similar pricing. You can choose to pay every month or for a whole year. Some companies also offer plans for three months, six months, or multiple years. The cost usually falls between $10 and $75 per month. Some plans are cheaper, starting at $2 per month, while others can go up to $100 per month.

If you go for the really cheap plans, like $2 per month, you usually have to pay for the whole year or several years upfront. More expensive plans often allow you to pay on a month-to-month basis without a long-term contract. However, the cheaper plans usually come with fewer resources.

Basic plans restrict your resources, but they still offer more than shared hosting. You might get around 1GB of RAM, 10GB to 30GB of storage, and usually just one CPU core. The data transfer (bandwidth) might be around 1TB before your site slows down.

Upgrading to a more advanced plan gives you more resources for your site. Top-tier plans can provide up to 16 CPU cores, over 500GB of storage, and 30GB of RAM. The higher the payment, the more data transfer you get—some plans offer as much as 32TB of bandwidth.

To save money on VPS hosting, it's a good idea to choose an annual plan or pay for multiple years at once. You can start with a basic plan and upgrade later if needed. Paying a lump sum upfront often comes with a discount, usually around 25% to 50% off the regular price, or even more sometimes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which VPS hosting service is the best?
Forbes Advisor considers IONOS as the best VPS host due to its affordable plans, 24/7 support, and 99.99% uptime guarantee. Other good options include GoDaddy and DreamHost.

Do I need VPS hosting?
If your business is growing and your website traffic is increasing, upgrading from a shared server to a VPS may be necessary. Also, if you plan to build a more complex website, shared hosting might not be enough.

Why is VPS hosting expensive?
VPS plans allocate specific resources exclusively for your sites, making it costlier. Managed VPS is more expensive because it includes dedicated tech support, while unmanaged plans are cheaper but require you to handle technical details.

How many websites can I host with a VPS?
Technically, you can host as many websites as you want on a VPS, limited only by the total resources allocated to your VPS.

Is VPS hosting secure?
VPS hosting provides security measures like firewalls, backup software, DDoS attack protection, server hardening, and regular vulnerability scans, similar to other hosting services.

What is managed VPS hosting?
Managed VPS hosting is like shared hosting, where the provider helps with VPS configuration and maintenance. It's a bit more expensive than unmanaged hosting, as the host takes care of setup, security, and updates.

What's the difference between shared hosting and VPS hosting?
Shared hosting divides resources on a single server among many users, while VPS hosting creates virtual server space with dedicated resources for each user, reducing strain on the physical server.

What's the difference between cloud hosting and VPS?
The main difference is that VPS is set up on a single physical server, while cloud servers are spread across multiple networked physical servers. Cloud hosting allows you to adjust resources as needed.