VPS hosting vs cloud hosting: What's the difference?
With the normalisation of remote and hybrid working models, the continual growth of the internet and the role technology plays in our lives have placed increasing demands on business tech. Many people – especially those new to servers and hosting – find it difficult to distinguish between VPS and cloud-based hosting, and which would be best for their project.
It’s an easy mistake to make – and there are certainly some similarities – but virtual private servers and cloud servers operate very differently, and are managed differently too. Each has its own benefits and limitations, making them especially suited to a range of projects. So, what's the difference between VPS and cloud hosting? If you're torn between the two, keep reading to find out which would work best for your venture.
Learn more: Ultimate Guide to Virtual Private Servers and What is a Cloud Server?
What is VPS hosting?
Just what is a VPS? A VPS (virtual private server) is a type of hosting service that effectively spreads resources over several virtual machines contained inside a single physical server. This gives you many of the same advantages as a dedicated server, but at a more affordable price.
With a VPS, your sites won’t be affected by another user and what they do, essentially providing a happy medium between shared and dedicated hosting.
How does VPS hosting work?
Simply put, a VPS uses advanced virtualisation technology to break up one physical server into multiple virtual ones, which can then be used individually in a similar way to a dedicated server. While the physical server you’re using is technically shared, your virtual portion of it is secure, with your own dedicated resources.
So what does this mean? With a VPS, you’re allocated CPU, RAM, and storage for exclusive use. These resources are reserved for your virtual server alone and aren’t shared with others. This guarantees that your website or application maintains a dependable and steady performance. Because as we know, shared hosting can wreak havoc if there was an unexpected demand, causing your sites to experience downtime!
Benefits of VPS hosting
Interested in VPS hosting? It's important to understand the advantages and what to expect. Here are several benefits of VPS hosting you should know:
1. Cost-effectiveness
In terms of cost, VPS hosting is pricier than shared hosting but far more affordable than a dedicated or cloud server. For the additional security and resources, it’s well worth it. Some of these security and resource features include:
- Full root access
- Fast provisions
- Unlimited bandwidth
- ISO 27001-certified security
- The ability to get add-ons as and when required
2. Control and customisation
With an unmanaged VPS hosting package, you’ll have root access, giving you total autonomy over the server. That means any installations, applications and even the operating system are at your discretion.
3. Speed
With shared hosting, your project’s performance can be directly impacted by the activity of other users on the server, whereas a VPS needn’t share bandwidth – particularly since it's unlimited too!
4. Scalability
When you opt for a VPS, you’ll have the option to upgrade your server to one with more resources as your project grows. This can include adding more CPU or SSD space to your VPS, depending on what you need for your project.
Plus, you can host many sites with VPS (within your resource limit), which is great if you plan on having various websites for different functions.
5. Security
The virtualisation tech used in a VPS isolates your data from other users, so while you’re on a shared physical server, your information is protected. At Fasthosts, you can purchase an add-on known as Cyber Protect, which gives your VPS additional redundancy and security. Plus, our data centres are ISO 27001-certified and housed locally in the UK.
Tip: You can configure your VPS with a VPN (Virtual Private Network) for added security and peace of mind.
6. Dedicated resources
VPS hosting gives you access to a pool of dedicated resources, so your project won’t need to share RAM, storage, CPU or bandwidth with any other users.
The disadvantages of using a VPS
Every hosting option has its pros and cons. Here are the disadvantages of a VPS to be aware of.
1. Not as flexible
Although upgrading your VPS' resources is quick and straightforward, it still doesn't have the capability to flex in an instant like a cloud server. If you know demand may fluctuate frequently, you may be better off choosing cloud.
2. Cost concerns
Pricing can be an issue for some too, especially for those less versed in how a VPS works, or those who are unsure what resources they actually need to function a server, business or the like. Plus, if not enough resources are anticipated for website traffic, then your existing package may not be enough to accommodate this.
3. Technical knowledge
If you want to manage your own VPS, it can require a fair bit of technical knowledge. This is especially true if you opt for an unmanaged VPS. While it has its advantages, you’ll have to configure everything yourself, including patches and updates.
4. Scalability limits
To contradict our advantage of scalability previously, there are some limitations involved with scaling your VPS. If you completely max out a VPS, despite upgrading it, you’ll need to consider migrating to something more powerful like a dedicated server. This can cost money, time and can be a hassle if you don’t have the expertise.
What is cloud hosting?
Now that we have a well-rounded idea of what a VPS is, let’s discover what cloud hosting is.
Cloud hosting is a premium hosting solution that allows you to access websites and applications over the internet through a network of virtual and physical server infrastructure. There are several types of cloud computing, but the main crux of it is – instead of being hosted on a solitary physical server, cloud hosting solutions are typically provided by cloud providers who handle the configuration, security, and upkeep of the servers. Generally, computing and storage resources are distributed across a vast network of virtual machines (VMs), which are then leased out to users who require cloud hosting.
Cloud computing is used for a variety of applications such as:
- Websites
- File sharing
- Software testing
- Streaming
- Data analysis and collection
- …and much more!
Plus, there are four types of cloud hosting solutions: Public Clouds, Private Clouds, Hybrid Clouds, and Multi-clouds.
Learn more: Private Cloud vs Public Cloud
How does cloud hosting work?
A cloud hosting service uses a network made up of many interconnected virtual servers, which work together as a single server would. In simple terms, it makes the use of apps and websites possible on the internet via the cloud.
Ultimately, this means that any hosting resources for your project are replicated across every server in the network – so if one server goes down, there’s no disruption to your service.
The type of cloud hosting solution you choose will depend on how it can be used. For example, if you choose an infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS), you can build your own infrastructure. A platform-as-a-service (PaaS) allows you to develop and deploy cloud-based applications. And finally, a software-as-a-service (SaaS) simply acts as a software solution for the day-to-day running of all or part of your business operations.
Benefits of cloud hosting
Cloud hosting solutions allow businesses of all sizes to work faster from anywhere at any time. Let’s dive into more benefits of cloud hosting and why you may want to consider it.
1. Reliability
Cloud hosting should guarantee a high level of uptime. If one server in the network goes down, another will take over automatically, minimising any impact on performance.
2. Flexibility
While traditional hosting is quite rigid, cloud hosting is very flexible, and your resources can be easily scaled up or down in line with the development of your project.
3. No geographical ties
As cloud hosting is completely virtual, there’s no obligation for you to be based near the location of a specific physical server, giving you complete geographical freedom.
4. Economical
With cloud hosting, you only pay for what you use, which means you’ll never get tied into a contract where you’re paying for more than your project needs.
5. Collaboration
International or remote organisations with staff located in different countries can also benefit from cloud hosting, as the same files can be accessed and worked on simultaneously, from anywhere in the world.
6. Backups
The multi-server setup that cloud hosting uses means that data is automatically backed up in multiple places, so recovery and restorations are quick and easy.
The disadvantages of cloud hosting
Cloud hosting isn’t the right choice for everyone. Here are some of the key disadvantages to bear in mind.
1. It can be costly
When comparing cloud hosting vs VPS, the former tends to be slightly more expensive than VPS hosting. For some businesses, the expenses of cloud hosting may outweigh its many benefits, especially if your resource needs greatly increase over time as you scale.
This is because you pay based on resource usage, so whilst your cloud hosting may be very affordable initially, your costs can rapidly escalate if you need a lot more storage or other resources. And while your costs could increase with VPS hosting if you need to upgrade to a more powerful server, you know exactly what you’ll be paying each month and what you’re getting for your money, making it far easier to budget your hosting costs and make accurate cost predictions.
2. Connection problems
No internet connection? Unfortunately, you won’t be able to access your cloud! This can be troublesome if you’re experiencing site issues or need to access information quickly.
3. Less control
With cloud hosting, you have less control over the hardware and software settings because it's a shared system. This means you may not have as many options for customising the hosting environment to fit your needs, unlike with VPS hosting or dedicated hosting where you’ll have full root access to customise your server’s settings.
4. Vendor lock-in
Another key issue with cloud hosting is the potential for vendor lock-in. This is when it becomes very difficult for you to switch from one cloud provider to another, which may be necessary if you want to access better features or support elsewhere.
Vendor lock-in can often occur with cloud hosting because you’re very reliant on your cloud provider – after all, they’re in charge of the cloud infrastructure, including servers, resource allocation, provisioning and more. And if you’ve become dependent on some of their proprietary services and unique features, it could be very difficult, costly and time-consuming to migrate to another provider and find suitable alternative tools.
5. Data privacy
Cloud web hosting – and public clouds in particular – can come with data privacy and security concerns unless you create your own private cloud infrastructure. Although your cloud provider should implement comprehensive security measures in their cloud infrastructure to keep your data safe, there’s always a risk of breaches when you choose to store your data externally in the cloud. This is especially true when you choose a global cloud network rather than a totally private dedicated server or VPS that’s exclusive to your organisation.
VPS hosting vs cloud hosting: Which should I choose?
Ultimately, choosing between cloud web hosting vs VPS hosting will come down to preference, budget, and the nature of your project’s needs. For example, a VPS allocates a specific amount of resources, and if your project exceeds this before you have the chance to upgrade, you’ll run into performance issues. By contrast, cloud hosting can easily handle a sudden increase in resource requirements – another server in the network would simply take over to spread the load.
However, this also means that your cloud hosting costs can fluctuate and increase rapidly month-to-month, whereas you can more easily budget for a VPS. And if you start to exceed your VPS resource allocation, the virtual nature of this type of server hosting makes it super easy for you to add more resources to your plan or upgrade to a different server with just a few clicks.
Overall, you may prefer cloud hosting if you’re less sure of your monthly resource needs, but if you have a better idea of your requirements and would prefer the stability, control and privacy of a VPS.
Cloud hosting vs VPS: Which is better?
Again – this comes down to preference. If you want reassurance of the highest level of uptime, availability and flexibility, then cloud hosting could be right for you. However, if you want dedicated resources, more privacy, and more control over your server configuration – all for a fantastic fixed price – a VPS is your best bet.
Is VPS hosting cheaper than cloud hosting?
Typically, yes. Some providers may create packages with similar pricing, but you’ll have to weigh up the benefits against the costs associated with these two types of hosting. The additional security that comes with a VPS is often what sways many to opt for one, but the ease of a cloud hosting solution can also be a factor.
Cloud hosting vs VPS vs dedicated servers
We’ve already briefly touched on dedicated servers, but we haven’t gone into detail about how they compare to cloud hosting and VPS hosting.
While cloud servers and VPSs are generally regarded as being in a similar price range, dedicated servers are usually much more expensive – which is why they’re typically used by larger enterprises rather than small businesses or individuals. When you choose dedicated hosting, you get access to an entire server and all of its resources, giving you the best possible server performance, security, privacy and control. However, these amazing benefits come at a steep cost, so if you aren’t willing to potentially pay hundreds of pounds per month for hosting, your choice will mainly come down to VPS vs cloud.
Learn more: Ultimate Guide to Dedicated Servers
We hope we’ve helped clear up the difference between VPS hosting and cloud hosting, and helped you decide which type of service is best suited to your project. Make sure you take a look at our range of affordable VPS Hosting and other Web Hosting packages to find your perfect match!
Still not sure what you’re looking for? Get in touch with our sales team for further hosting advice.