In this article we will be looking at the three most popular types of website hosting: shared hosting, VPS hosting and reseller hosting. Each of the three has its own advantages and drawbacks and each is suitable for a different group of Internet users.
Shared Hosting
Shared hosting is the straightforward choice of the majority of budding website builders. This option makes it possible for several different websites to share one server. Thus, shared hosting is one of the most economical website hosting types.
These website hosting plans are as cheap as they are user-friendly. The starting package usually includes a built-in cPanel, which makes the day-to-day management of your website a piece of cake. The good news does not end here – you do not have to worry about any technical maintenance either.
The drawbacks of using shared hosting for your website are much like the ones of sharing a flat with other people. First, the server can get overcrowded and slow down. Then, some of the other sites that share the same server may not get on very well with your own website. Finally, customization options are scarce or downright non-existent.
VPS Hosting
With this website hosting option, you get the best of dedicated and shared hosting. VPS stands for “Virtual Private Server”, meaning that when you sign up for such a plan, you “rent” the entire server for your website (or multiple websites). This hosting option works best for owners of high traffic websites or ones requiring highly customized server setup.
The technology of VPS hosting allows for several different virtualized OS to run simultaneously on one dedicated server. Not sharing your OS with anyone else is a great thing. You do not have to worry about other websites on the same server “accidentally” getting access to your content.
With VPS hosting you can rest assured that a certain amount of RAM will be available to you at any time. By contrast, shared hosting users are constantly worried that someone else might use up all the RAM, leaving them with none when they need it most.
Reseller Hosting
The main difference between reseller hosting and the two web hosting options described above is that the former enables you to act as a hosting company. This means that you not only get a place where you can upload and run your website, but you can also make a profit by selling hosting or creating websites for third parties.
The startup costs of this hosting type are relatively low, whereas the potential for profit is huge. Moreover, it allows you to create a unique control panel for each of your customers. That said, we must admit that even the cheapest reseller hosting packages cost more than the respective VPS and shared hosting plans.
The typical startup package includes disk space, bandwidth, domain hosting, white labeling and, most importantly, steady 24/7 support from the hosting provider. On the downside, becoming a website hosting reseller usually involves handling heaps of customer requests.