The pros and cons of different forms of web hosting

What is web hosting?

Before diving into the pros and cons of each web hosting form, let’s first answer the following: what is web hosting?

In short, web hosting is the service that makes it possible for any website to be viewed over the internet. A website consists of many files (like HTML, CSS, images, etc.) that need to be stored on a server. Web hosting providers offer the server space for those files to be stored, along with the necessary technologies and services to make the site accessible and viewable online.

Different types of web hosting

• Shared Hosting
• VPS (Virtual Private Server) Hosting
• Dedicated Hosting
• Cloud Hosting
• Managed Hosting
• Colocation Hosting

Now, let's go through each type’s pros and cons in detail.

Pros and cons of different web hosting forms

Shared Hosting

With shared web hosting, one server is home to multiple websites, all sharing common resources like CPU, RAM and storage.

Pros:

• This approach not only maximizes server efficiency but also offers a cost-effective solution for website owners. It is the most affordable way to get your website hosted.
• Perfect for beginners, shared servers usually come with a user-friendly control panel to manage one’s site.
• Website owners do not have to worry about the server maintenance and management, which the hosting provider handles.

Cons:

• Because the resources are shared among multiple websites, it can lead to slower performance if one site uses them excessively.
• If one site gets hacked, the security of other websites on the same server can be compromised.
• You have less control over the less customizable server settings.

VPS Hosting

One physical server is split into several virtual servers, each having its exclusive resources. With this web hosting form, each website has its own personal server space.

Pros:

• Every VPS server comes with its own set of dedicated resources, which enhances performance, compared for instance to shared servers.
• You have full control over the server settings and configurations.
• As your business needs evolve, VPS hosting allows you to scale resources very easily, which is perfect if you already have a Minimum Scalable Product (MSP). Cons:
• While cheaper than other options, VPS web hosting is pricier than shared hosting.
• Some technical knowledge is required to manage your virtual private server.

Dedicated Hosting

As the name suggests, with dedicated web hosting, you rent an entire physical server dedicated solely to your website.

Pros:

• With a dedicated server, you get to enjoy maximum performance for your website with all the server resources dedicated solely to your site.
• You have full control over the server configuration and settings, giving you the freedom to customize it as per your needs.
• Dedicated hosting offers heightened security measures as no other users share the same server.

Cons:

• Having a dedicated server is the most expensive option.
• To manage and maintain the server, you will need advanced technical skills.
• Unless you opt for managed services (which we will go over in a little bit), with dedicated hosting, you are responsible for server maintenance.

Cloud Hosting

Cloud web hosting uses a network of virtual servers (the cloud) to host websites.

Pros:

• With a cloud server, you enjoy a lot of flexibility and get to easily scale resources based on your needs or to handle traffic spikes.
• Because it uses multiple servers, cloud hosting is extremely reliable and offers high uptime and redundancy. In other words, if one server fails, another one can take over right away.
• This form of web hosting is very cost-efficient. You simply pay for what you use.
• Everything is on the cloud, so your data is easy to back up and restore in case of any issue.

Cons:

• While paying as you go can be considered a pro, the costs of cloud servers can be unpredictable as they are based on actual usage.
• Cloud hosting relies on the internet. If you lose connection, you cannot access your information.
• The distributed nature of this form of web hosting requires diligent security measures.

Managed Hosting

With a managed server, the hosting provider handles most management tasks, including setup, maintenance, updates and security.

Pros:

• With the provider handling technical tasks, managed hosting is a great solution for people who aren’t tech-savvy.
• Similarly, you get access to expert support, which can be very convenient.
• You don’t have to worry about the security aspect of things, as your provider takes care of that for you.

Cons:

• Due to the additional work required by the provider, managed servers are usually more expensive than unmanaged ones.
• Because the server isn’t yours, you have limited control over certain server aspects and depend on the provider for management and support.

Colocation Hosting

With colocation hosting, you own the physical server but rent space in a data center where the server is located, maintained and provided with the necessary infrastructure.

Pros:

• The data center that houses your server provides you with high levels of security and infrastructure reliability. Plus, you get access to quality equipment that guarantees better performance.
• Colocation hosting gives you the flexibility to scale up or down very easily.

Cons:

• This form of web hosting represents a high initial investment for purchasing hardware and ongoing rental costs.
• You are the one in charge of hardware maintenance and updates. So, some advanced technical skills are required.

The best web hosting for you

The right web hosting type for you will depend on a variety of factors, such as your budget, technical know-how, expected traffic and the unique needs of your website. Beginners or small websites may find shared hosting or managed hosting to be a good fit. For growing businesses or sites with higher traffic volumes, VPS or cloud hosting could be a better choice. Similarly, dedicated and colocation hostings are ideal for large enterprises that demand high performance and control.

But, if you are still left wondering what kind of server or web hosting form is best for you, we have your back! Send us an email and let’s discuss your needs for your platform or next custom software. Our team would love to help you out!