VPS vs shared hosting vs cloud: which to choose

When looking for somewhere to host a site or app, you meet three terms: shared hosting, VPS and cloud. Here is what each means, with real pros and cons.

Shared hosting

You share one physical server with hundreds of other customers. It is the cheapest and simplest option (you manage nothing), but you have limited resources, no root access, and your performance depends on the other users on the same server. Fine for a small blog or a brochure site.

VPS (virtual private server)

You get a guaranteed slice of a server, with dedicated resources (CPU, RAM, disk) and full root access. You can install anything, control everything, and the performance is yours. A little more administration responsibility, but total freedom. Right for apps, online stores, multiple sites or anything that needs control.

Cloud

The word "cloud" describes the delivery model more than the product: virtual servers created instantly, scalable, billed flexibly. A Cloud VPS is a VPS delivered in the cloud model: you boot it in minutes, resize it when needed and pay by the hour.

How to choose

• Personal blog, brochure site: shared hosting or the smallest VPS.
• Online store, app, multiple projects: a VPS, for control and performance.
• A project that grows unpredictably: a Cloud VPS, so you scale and pay only for what you use.

On cloudlinux.ro every plan is a Cloud VPS with hourly billing, so you start small and grow without paying a full year up front.