Shared hosting vs a private cloud server: what is the difference?

What shared hosting is

On shared hosting, hundreds of customers' sites run on the same server and share its CPU, memory and disk. It is inexpensive because the cost is split, and the host manages everything.

The catch

• Noisy neighbours: if another site on the server gets a traffic spike or runs heavy code, your site slows down too.
• Tight limits: plans cap visits, storage, processes or the number of sites, and going over can mean throttling or extra charges.
• Renewal prices: low introductory prices often jump sharply at renewal.
• Less control: you usually cannot choose the PHP setup, install server software or tune caching.

What a private server changes

A VPS (virtual private server) gives you resources that are yours alone. Nobody else's traffic slows your site down, you can put many sites on it without per-site fees, and you can grow it when you need more power.

The traditional downside is work: someone has to install, secure, update and monitor the server. That is the gap managed hosting on a private server fills. You get the dedicated resources of a VPS, and the host does the server work.

When to switch

• your site is slow even though your own traffic has not changed;
• you run several sites and pay for each one;
• you sell online and every second of loading time costs sales;
• you have hit a plan limit or a renewal price you do not like.

How Netkeel does it

Every Netkeel customer gets a private cloud server in the region they choose. We set up and look after the stack, backups and security, and you pay for the server by the hour, with as many sites on it as it can carry. See pricing, or how we compare with other hosts.