Shared vs VPS vs Cloud Hosting: Which Do You Need?

On a shared plan, your site sits on a server alongside many others and shares its CPU, memory and storage. The host handles all server maintenance. It is the cheapest option and is plenty for blogs, portfolios and small business sites. The downside: a traffic spike on another site can occasionally affect yours.

A virtual private server splits a physical server into isolated virtual machines, each with guaranteed resources. You get root access to install custom software. Managed VPS includes server administration; unmanaged VPS is cheaper but you handle updates and security yourself.

Cloud plans run your site on a cluster of servers, with dedicated resource allocations and easier scaling. Hostinger's Cloud plans, for example, sit between shared and VPS - more power than shared with the simplicity of a managed panel.

A dedicated server gives one customer an entire physical machine. It is the most powerful and most expensive option, suited to large sites and heavy workloads.

Start with shared or managed WordPress hosting unless you already know you need more. Move to cloud or VPS when your site slows under regular traffic, you run a busy store, or you need custom software. Compare providers on our rankings page.

This article is general information. Prices, features and renewal terms vary by provider, plan, term length and region and change often - always confirm current pricing on the provider's site before you buy.