VPS vs shared hosting: when do you need your own server?

Shared web hosting means your website lives on a server that the host runs and maintains. You get a control panel such as cPanel, email accounts and databases, and the host takes care of the operating system, security updates and server software. You manage your website, not the server.

A VPS (virtual private server) is your own virtual machine with a fixed amount of CPU, memory and storage. You get full root access and choose the operating system. You can install anything, but you are also responsible for keeping it updated and secure.

A simple rule: if everything you need runs in cPanel, shared hosting is usually the better choice. If you need to install your own software or change server settings, you need a VPS.

• You run software that shared hosting does not support: Node.js or Python applications, Docker containers, a custom database or a background worker that runs all the time.
• You need root access to install packages, change PHP or web server settings, or open your own ports.
• You want to run a service, not a website: a VPN, a game server, a mail server or a monitoring tool.
• Your site has outgrown shared resources. Steady high traffic or heavy database work needs CPU and memory that are reserved for you.
• You host projects for clients and want each one isolated in its own environment.

For a company website, a blog, a portfolio or a small online shop built on WordPress, shared hosting is simpler and cheaper. You get one-click WordPress, email accounts, free SSL and daily backups, and you never have to think about operating system updates. Read more in our guide to hosting for a small business.

Most VPS plans, including ours, are self-managed. The host keeps the hardware, network and virtualisation running. Everything inside the server is yours to run:

• installing operating system and security updates
• configuring a firewall and SSH access
• setting up and maintaining your web server, database and applications
• checking that your own backups or snapshots cover what you need

If you would rather not do this yourself, ask about managed VPS. It is offered as a separate service.

Start with what your project uses today, not what it might need in two years. A VPS can be moved to a bigger plan later.

• 2 vCPU and 4 GB RAM is enough for a personal project, a development environment, a VPN or a light production site.
• 4 vCPU and 8 GB RAM suits production web applications, small business workloads and container hosts.
• 6 to 8 vCPU with 16 to 32 GB RAM is for high-traffic sites, database servers and heavy application workloads.

Memory is usually the first limit you hit. If your application and database together use more than about three quarters of the RAM most of the time, it is time to move up.

Our VPS plans range from 2 vCPU with 4 GB RAM to 8 vCPU with 32 GB RAM, all on NVMe storage in a Tier-3 datacenter in the EU. Every plan includes full root access, one IPv4 address plus IPv6, a choice of operating system templates, a web console in your browser and daily snapshot backups. Moving to a bigger plan takes a support ticket and a short restart, and your data stays in place.

Not sure you need a server at all? Our web hosting handles the server for you. Both come with a 14-day money-back guarantee and support in English, Swedish and Arabic.