Your website is hosted on a server, hardware that supports all the data related to your site. Every element of it is accessed through your web hosting provider. This includes video, images, text, files, and more.
Data centers house servers, and different web hosting firms run and manage these centers.
Web hosts provide the space and platform you need so people can access your website. They enable users to find your website online and view it.
There are different kinds of websites with different types of web hosting to meet their needs.
Without further ado, the four main types of web hosting are dedicated hosting, VPS web hosting, shared hosting, and cloud hosting. This article will explore each type in detail.
1. Dedicated Hosting
Dedicated hosting is usually the best choice because only you have access to the server. This results in benefits like higher speed and better uptime. However, it’s also the most expensive kind because you don’t share any resources with other users.
You will maintain full control over your server. You choose configurations and everything else. You don’t need to be concerned with traffic from other websites affecting your performance.
Having this type of server is not unlike owning a house. You can decide to add a patio, plant bushes in your yard, or erect a fence.
Enterprises usually opt for dedicated hosting as they can afford the plans. These websites can support hundreds of thousands of visits per month. Another reason enterprises and large e-commerce sites opt for dedicated hosting is the full control over their server’s functions. Dedicated servers are also suitable for financial websites, medical websites, and others that require exceptionally high security.
The management levels of dedicated servers differ. You can manage your server yourself or hire a hosting provider. Unfortunately, you’ll need to monitor for errors and glitches and have to install updates on your own if you choose the first option.
Pros of dedicated hosting:
- Not sharing resources with any other websites.
- Fast load times.
- Optimal performance.
- Complete control over the server.
- High uptimes.
- High security.
Cons of dedicated hosting:
- Requires prior technical skills
- Most expensive type of web hosting
- You are responsible for everything
2. VPS
VPS web hosting (using virtual private servers) is an improvement on shared hosting, the cheapest hosting type. Your website will share a server with others, but not very many. With this type of hosting, you have the main server split into multiple virtual ones, which separate sites can customize.
It’s possible to get root access with a hosting plan if you want to add custom configurations. You have plenty of resources at your disposal, so your site will perform well. Your website won’t crash because of excessive bandwidth used by another one on the server.
A VPS does provide some of the pluses of dedicated hosting at a far lower cost. It’s a bit like having your own apartment. You don’t share it with anyone, but you share the common areas, so you’re not entirely independent.
VPS hosting is best for an average-size or small business which can’t afford downtime. It can benefit website owners who want to customize their configurations and are tech-savvy.
If your site has a lot of images and videos, do consider this hosting. It will perform far better than it would on a shared server.
Pros:
- Ability to make custom configurations
- Faster loading
- Dedicated server resources
- Higher uptime
- Better price
Cons:
- Not as easy to set up as a shared server
- Sharing the main server with other users
- Limitations in terms of what you can control
3. Shared Hosting
This is the most cost-effective and primary type of web hosting. It’s best for startups and micro-businesses. With this type, your website shares resources with other websites on the same server. The reason it’s so cheap is that you split resources. This works both ways, as you can expect. Your website will have limited resources. If another user experiences a spike in traffic, you’ll have performance issues, which you can’t do much about.
Shared hosting won’t deliver the best user experience, but it’s a great option if you’re on a shoestring budget. It also doesn’t require much technical knowledge.
Small business owners and bloggers are the ultimate candidates for shared hosting.
Pros:
- Easy to set up.
- Most cost-effective type of web hosting.
- Great for beginners and small websites.
- No technical knowledge is required.
Cons:
- Sharing server resources with other websites.
- Slower loading times and lower uptime rates.
- Performance issues are out of your control.
- Not scalable.
4. Cloud Hosting
Cloud hosting is a cost-effective option that involves a number of remote servers, each of which has different tasks. If one experiences a problem, the others have to take over. Cloud hosting typically comes with high uptime and minimal downtime due to server errors. Your website will continue to perform well and remain fluid.
Scalability is the best thing about cloud hosting. The best plans let users scale their resources as needed.
Large and medium, rapidly growing business websites will find cloud hosting a feasible option. You should consider such a plan if you have unpredictable traffic and you intend it to scale at a steady rate in the future.
It’s also a good choice if the site has 50,000 or more monthly visits. Cloud hosting is an alternative to a VPS if you want to upgrade.
Pros:
- Scale resources on demand.
- High security.
- Less unexpected downtime.
Cons:
- Unpredictable traffic can increase costs.
- Pricing isn’t always fixed.
- Limited customization.