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When it comes to e-commerce, business experience is crucial. Choosing the right type of website hosting is crucial for ensuring speed, performance, and overall customer satisfaction for your audience. Usually, when a business is just starting out, the most common choices they encounter are shared and VPS hosting.
In this blog, we will compare shared and VPS hosting, which will help you make an informed decision for your eCommerce business.
What is Shared and VPS Server: How it Works?
In shared hosting, one physical server is divided among multiple users. They share resources such as RAM, CPU, disk space and operating system, among others. However, with a virtual private server, the physical server is divided using virtualization technology and hypervisor software.
That means even though all users share the same server space, there is no neighbouring effect. All users enjoy their independent resources from each other. Every user has their own RAM, CPU, disk space, and even a choice of operating systems.
Comparative Analysis: VPS Hosting vs Shared Hosting for eCommerce
| Features | VPS Server | Shared Server | Verdict |
| Resource Efficiency | A VPS server environment is divided using virtualization technology. This ensures independent resources for each user on it. | In shared hosting, one physical web server is shared among several users. It includes RAM, CPU, disk space, etc. Users must compete for shared resources. | As there is no competition for resources in a virtual private server. VPS wins in resource efficiency. |
| Performance and Speed | With virtual server resources that are independent for each user, it facilitates performance and speed. | With shared hosting, resources are shared, so users compete for these resources, which can affect performance and speed. | In terms of performance and speed, a virtual server is the winner. |
| Traffic Volume | Due to independent resource support, a VPS server can handle fluctuating to high-volume traffic. | In shared hosting, as resources are shared, it can only support a low volume of traffic. | As a virtual server offers better traffic support, it also wins this category. |
| Security | In VPS, although server resources are shared, they are still independent. Furthermore, VPS offers root access up to a certain limit, allowing you to customize resources. | In shared hosting, you share web resources with other users, creating a security risk. If one user is affected, others are also at risk. | A VPS server offers resource independence and root access, which allows you to customize security based on your needs. |
| Customisation and Control | A VPS server offers root access, which allows high-level control and customisation for an eCommerce website. | In shared hosting, the host handles the server environment, so there is no control or scope for customisation. | An eCommerce website needs control and customisation for its environment, which VPS provides. |
| Scalability | VPS offers an immense level of scalability. | Shared hosting has no scalability. | As VPS offers scalability, VPS wins here. |
| Cost | The VPS server is shared, yet it still offers independent resources, making it a value-for-money option. | Shared hosting, which utilises shared resources, makes it affordable but does not support eCommerce growth. | In terms of cost, a VPS server is a value for money. |
Conclusion
Although shared hosting is a beginner-friendly hosting option, it doesn’t provide the powerful resource support an e-commerce website needs. That can impact the website’s performance, speed, and security.
On the other hand, even if you opt for a free VPS, you can also upgrade your plan to enjoy scalability, strong resource support, speed, and uptime. For an e-commerce website, a VPS private server seems to be an effective solution.