Shared Hosting, VPS, or Cloud Hosting: Here’s How to Choose the Right One For Your Website

The choice of hosting ultimately depends on what your website requires: performance, security, scalability, budget, or ease of server management. With a clear understanding of these factors, you can make an informed decision without needing extensive technical expertise.

In this article, I’ll break down how each hosting option works, weigh their pros and cons, and compare them to help you decide which one best aligns with your goals. Let’s dive in!

Table of Contents

• Web Hosting Explained Simply
• Shared Hosting
• VPS Hosting
• Cloud Hosting
• Shared Hosting vs. VPS Hosting
• Cloud Hosting vs. Shared Hosting
• Cloud Hosting vs. VPS Hosting
• Web Hosting Comparison
• 4 Web Hosting Provider Examples

Web Hosting Explained Simply

Imagine you want to run your own website, like a cool blog or an online store. To make your site available to everyone on the internet, you need a server.

A server is like a big, powerful computer that stores all the files and information for your website and sends it to people when they visit. Now, there are different ways to “host” your website on these servers. You need to choose a web hosting solution that fits your website's needs, budget, and expected traffic.

The three most common types of web hosting are:

• Shared hosting.
• VPS hosting.
• Cloud hosting.

Let’s break these down to help you understand which might be the best fit for your project.

Shared Hosting

Think of shared hosting as renting an apartment with roommates: I like to think of it as having one room within the larger apartment space. Access to key resources, such as the kitchen, bathroom, and living room, is shared among all residents.

With a shared hosting approach, the website server and its resources, including bandwidth and storage, are shared with all other hosted sites. Typically, a website owner won’t know who or which websites will be sharing the hosting platform with them.

Each customer on the platform has a server resource limit determined by the hosting platform’s package. While many shared hosting providers have multiple packages with differing resource access levels, all customers ultimately occupy the same space.

What are the benefits of shared hosting?

• It’s the most common method of hosting. 42.5% of all websites globally make use of shared hosting.
• It’s the most affordable.

What are the disadvantages of shared hosting?

• Server resources may not be robust enough to handle multiple users.
• Websites may experience slow loading times.
• Accessibility issues may arise.
• Websites could be at risk of compromise if security controls are lacking.

VPS Hosting

VPS stands for virtual private server. I like to think of VPS as like renting an apartment in a huge building.

With virtual private server (VPS) hosting, users still share the same physical server space but the hosting provider installs a virtual layer on top of the server’s operating system. This layer separates the server into partitions and allows users to install their own operating systems and software.

Even though other people live in the same building (the server), your apartment (your website space) is private. You get your own resources — like your own rooms and electricity — but you’re still subject to the larger resource limits of the building itself.

For example, if everyone turns their hot water taps on full blast, the entire complex will quickly run out. In the same way, if all sites are using maximum bandwidth space, everyone will experience a slowdown.

What are the benefits of VPS hosting?

• VPS hosting is ideal for consumer-focused sites, including online stores and small businesses.
• Faster loading times.
• Improved security.
• Boosted overall site performance.
• It’s affordable and gives you a decent amount of control.

What are the disadvantages of VPS hosting?

• VPS requires more technical knowledge to manage the server.
• First-time website builders may find it challenging compared to shared hosting.
• Greater responsibility for website protection falls on the user.
• An improperly configured VPS server can create critical security vulnerabilities.
• If the building has problems (like the server crashes), everyone in it is affected.
• Your resources are limited to what you rented, so if your website suddenly gets super popular, it might slow down.

Cloud Hosting

A cloud server is essentially a virtual server that runs in a cloud computing environment. It’s built, hosted, and delivered through a cloud computing platform accessed remotely via the internet.

To continue my analogy, with cloud hosting, you’re renting out the entire apartment building. There are other buildings on the same block using power and water resources from the city, but there’s no physical connection.

Cloud servers give website owners a sense of stability and security because any possible software is isolated from your website environment.

Any other cloud server won’t have an impact on your cloud server, and your cloud server won’t affect any other servers. With physical servers, an overload from another user could possibly affect your site.

What are the benefits of cloud hosting?

• It’s super scalable. Tou can get extra features such as additional memory and processing power as needed.
• It’s reliable. Due to its distributed nature, if one server has issues, another can take over, so your site almost never goes down.
• Unlike physical servers, cloud hosting allows for growth without requiring the purchase of pricey new hardware.

What are the disadvantages of cloud hosting?

• Lack of complete control.
• It’s expensive. Without a clear plan for website deployment and optimization, you may find yourself using (and paying for) — more resources than you need.

With the basics covered, now I’m going to get into a more detailed comparison of these hosting types.

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• Fully managed hosting
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Shared Hosting vs. VPS Hosting

I’ll start by speaking to some of the key similarities and differences between shared hosting and VPS deployments.

Is VPS faster than shared hosting?

While VPS and shared hosting rely on the basic principle — multiple users sharing the same physical server — VPS solutions provide greater access to server resources. As a result, VPS hosting delivers better performance than shared hosting options with decreased loading times and improved bandwidth.

Is VPS or shared hosting more secure?

By implementing a virtual layer on top of server operating systems, VPS instances are logically separate from other server “pieces,” allowing you to implement your own security controls.

In shared hosting environments, meanwhile, all users rely on the same set of security best practices — and if your digital neighbors make a mistake, your data may also be at risk.

Are VPS or shared hosting solutions more expensive?

Shared hosting solutions are typically cheaper than their VPS counterparts, and for good reason — you don’t get the same level of server access, performance, or security. Worth noting? Compare features, options, and prices for each before buying in.

Cloud Hosting vs. Shared Hosting

Now, I’ll break down the differences between cloud and shared hosting.

Source

Is cloud hosting faster than shared hosting?

Cloud hosting is significantly faster than shared hosting thanks to a different hosting model: Virtual servers replace physical stacks, making it possible for providers to optimize speed and performance.

While cloud and shared hosting both leverage a shared pool of resources, those in the cloud aren’t tied to specific physical hardware — instead, they can be scaled up on-demand.

Is cloud or shared hosting more secure?

Cloud hosting is more secure — so long as you implement the right security controls. While cloud solutions typically include basic security tools, customization at scale is left up to individual web hosts. The better your best practices, the better your security in the cloud.

Are cloud or shared hosting solutions more expensive?

Shared hosting solutions are cheaper than cloud options. While costs are scalable in the cloud — the more you use, the more you pay — they outpace basic shared options.

Cloud Hosting vs. VPS Hosting

Now, I’ll dig into a comparison of cloud hosting versus VPS solutions.

Is cloud hosting faster than VPS?

Provided your last-mile connection is speedy and secure, cloud hosting is faster than VPS alternatives. The sheer amount of resources available to cost-hosted websites means they outperform VPS offerings head-to-head.

If you purchase multiple VPS instances on the same physical server, however, performance is often comparable.

Is cloud hosting or VPS more secure?

It depends. Cloud providers typically offer pre-built security controls which limit the overall risk of attack or compromise. Basic VPS security isn’t as robust, but if you have the technical skill to deploy and manage advanced security controls you can effectively defend key assets.

The distributed nature of the cloud also plays a role in security. If physical hardware is hacked, your site can quickly be moved to other resource stacks. If VPS hardware is compromised, all sites — regardless of their individual security controls — are at risk.

Cloud hosting or VPS: Which one should I go for?

It depends on what you need. If you’re just starting out and don’t expect a ton of visitors right away, VPS is a great choice because it’s cheaper and gives you stable performance. But if you’re expecting lots of traffic and if you don’t want to worry about running out of resources, cloud hosting is the way to go.

Are cloud hosting or VPS solutions more expensive?

The costs of VPS and cloud hosting solutions are often comparable. Here’s why: You’re paying for different priorities. In the cloud, scalability and accessibility are paramount. In VPS environments, control and security are your top priority.

If you're a visual person or simply want to compare these hosting options side-by-side, I suggest checking out the following table below.

Web Hosting Comparison

Now let's review a few web hosting examples to see how all of these options and variables are applied and offered by real providers.

4 Web Hosting Provider Examples

Considering the move to a new hosting provider? Here are standout options I recommend looking into.

1. HubSpot's Content Hub

HubSpot can host your website on a fully managed and optimized infrastructure with the option of scaling as your business grows.

For me, the best part is that HubSpot allows websites to be set up and running without integrating any third-party hosting tools. This means that users can focus on creating content for the website without worrying about the technical aspects of the backend.

With HubSpot, your website is automatically protected by 24/7 security and threat detection, WAF, SSL. Also, HubSpot has a dedicated security team that continuously monitors for potential vulnerabilities.

Pricing: Free managed hosting. No setups are required. There are also no hosting fees based on storage, traffic, or usage.

2. SiteGround

SiteGround offers both shared and cloud hosting to help get your website up and running. This solution also comes with website building tools, free website transfer, and 24/7 service.

Pricing: Web hosting plans start at $2.99 per month, while cloud hosting packages get off the ground at $17.99 per month (if you opt for yearly payment).

3. Flywheel

Flywheel is a VPS solution designed for WordPress sites. It offers a scalable, powerful platform for everything from personal sites to freelancer pages to agency web offerings.

Pricing: The “Tiny” plan starts at $13 per month, while the Freelance and Agency plans cost $96 and $242 per month, respectively.

4. WP Engine

WordPress Hosting, perfected. That’s the tagline of VPS provider WP Engine, which relies on four key pillars — agility, performance, intelligence, and integration — to deliver top-tier Web hosting.

Pricing: For small websites, the $25 per month “Startup” plan is a solid choice, while the “Scale” plan offers substantial storage and bandwidth increases for $241 per month.

Choose the Right Type of Web Hosting

Shared hosting, VPS, and cloud hosting each offer unique benefits and drawbacks for your website. I encourage you to compare and contrast the options to weigh what’s best for your website and business needs.

The hosting type you choose directly impacts your website’s performance, security, and scalability.

• Shared hosting is a great entry point for smaller websites with lower traffic, offering affordability and simplicity.
• VPS hosting provides more control and dedicated resources, making it ideal for growing businesses that need enhanced performance.
• Cloud hosting is the go-to solution if you require flexibility and the ability to handle unpredictable traffic surges with ease.

Here’s my advice: Assess where you are right now and where you expect your website to be in the future. Choosing the right hosting type today can save you from headaches like slow performance or downtime later on.

To resolve the debate of cloud hosting versus VPS, I suggest going with a provider that offers reliable support and strong uptime guarantees. Remember, the right hosting isn’t just about keeping your website live — it’s about delivering a great experience for your audience and setting your business up for success.

Editor's note: This post was originally published in March 2020 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

Free Web Hosting with HubSpot

Host your website on a fully managed and optimized infrastructure that scales with your business.

• Fully managed hosting
• No setup required
• No storage, traffic, or usage hosting fees
• Keep your website secure

Get started free