VPS hosting is one of the various possible hosting solutions for your website. However, to see whether it’s the right choice for you, you need to understand what it is and how it works.
Through this article, we will take a deeper look at VPS hosting and how to use it to your full advantage. We will also list out five key factors to look for when choosing your new VPS hosting provider. And once you go over everything, you can visit hostadvice to check out the best VPS hosting providers.
Let’s begin.
Contents
What is VPS Hosting, and How Does It Work?
VPS stands for Virtual Private Server, which is a form of cloud hosting. It provides a server for multiple users but dedicates resources independently.
VPS hosting uses one physical server to host multiple virtual servers separated from each other. Your web hosting provider installs a virtual layer on top of the operating system. Therefore, you’ll have your dedicated space.
The pricing of VPS hosting is lower than dedicated hosting. It also usually provides more resources, privacy, and server capabilities.
VPS hosting works best for medium to large websites. It’s also perfect for growing websites, hosting multiple sites, and installing custom modules or applications not supported by your current hosting provider.
There are plenty of hosting providers out there that offer VPS hosting, like Hostinger.
5 Key Factors to Look For in VPS Hosting
Here are the five key factors to help you choose the best VPS hosting plan for your needs.
1. Server Uptime
Server uptime indicates how often your site will be accessible online. It is measured in percentage, with the ideal amount of 99.9% of the time.
In contrast, downtime is when your website is inaccessible for visitors. There are plenty of reasons why downtime happens, like network outages, application errors, or server failures.
Therefore, it’s always best to choose a VPS hosting provider that can guarantee server uptime of 99.9%. Anything lower than this is below the industry standards and should be considered inadequate.
2. Speed and Performance
The speed and performance of the VPS hosting are crucial because they affect how fast your website will load and how well it will function. Speed and performance also have an impact on SEO ranking, which directly affects organic traffic.
Pay attention to the disk space and bandwidth as they affect your hosting speed and performance. To know how much bandwidth you need, do the following calculation:
Monthly website visitors x average pageviews x average web page size.
Also, check the operating system that the web host provides. Some of the popular options are Linux-based or Microsoft frameworks, like ASP.NET.
Although not always necessary, you can also check the server location as that can affect both speed and performance.
3. Root Access for Managed VPS
Root access provides you more control over your site, including editing your files virtually. However, not all hosting providers offer root access, as not all website owners need it.
There are two things to look for in root access for managed VPS:
- Pricing. VPS hosting plans with root access tend to cost more. See if having root access is worth the investment.
- Technical skills. Managing root access requires advanced IT skills. If you’re a beginner and don’t have the skills, there’s no point in having root access.
If you don’t require custom codes or server-wide software, like Apache or MySQL, you might not need root access. That’s why it’s optional yet still recommended in most cases.
4. Value for Money
The price of your VPS hosting should provide worthy features. More features can cost you more money, which is why it’s essential to look at the actual benefits.
When deciding on the budget, start by checking the prices and the features of your preferred hosting providers. Compare the average VPS hosting costs and adjust your budget.
Look for long-term benefits within the features, like upgrading options or scalability. Additionally, consider the upfront payment and the recurring costs.
5. Customer Support
Customer support is a valuable factor as it helps solve technical problems. Check the level of customer support hosting providers offer before you make your decision.
Also, look for 24/7 customer support with a multi-channel presence. You should be able to contact the provider’s customer support team easily.
At the bare minimum, customer support should direct you to helpful tutorials or user communities to help solve any issues you may have.
Pros and Cons of Managed VPS Hosting
Let’s discuss the pros and cons of managed VPS hosting:
First, here are the pros:
- Full control. VPS hosting provides more control, including having full root access. This control allows for better website customization.
- Dedicated resources. Compared to other hosting types, choosing VPS hosting allows you to have dedicated resources.
- Enhanced security. VPS has better security because it’s a private server, even if the separation is virtual.
The cons of managed VPS hosting are as follows:
- Higher price. Compared to other hosting types, VPS is more expensive. That’s why VPS hosting is more suitable for established businesses.
- Demands more technical experience. With more resources and functionalities, VPS hosting demands more technical knowledge.
Conclusion
VPS hosting costs higher yet provides more possibilities, making it perfect if you want to scale your website.
To summarize, here are the main factors you need to look at when choosing your next VPS hosting plan:
- Uptime guarantee
- Speed and performance
- Root access
- Value for money
- Customer support
Make sure to compare different hosting providers and choose the VPS plan that will suit your needs best.
