Web hosting vs VPS: which one do you need?

By the serverserv team · 5 min read · Updated 15 October 2026

Web hosting and a VPS can both put your website online, but they work in different ways and suit different people. This guide explains the difference in plain terms, what each one costs at serverserv, and how to tell which one fits your project today.

The short answer

If you want to run a website, a blog or an online store and you do not want to look after a server, start with web hosting. It is the simplest and cheapest way to get online.

If you need to install your own software, run apps that are not websites, or you want resources that are reserved for you, choose a VPS. If you want a VPS but do not want to manage it, choose Managed VPS.

How web hosting works

With web hosting, your website lives on a server that is shared with other customers' websites. The server, its operating system and its security updates are looked after for you. You manage your sites through a control panel: you upload files, install WordPress, create databases and set up email accounts on your domain.

What you get at serverserv:

• NVMe storage on every plan, from 10 GB on Starter to 500 GB on Enterprise.
• Free SSL certificates for your websites.
• Email accounts on your own domain: 5 on Starter and 25 on Business.
• Staging sites from the Growth plan, and Git deployment on Agency.

The trade-off is control. You cannot install system software, and because the server's resources are shared, a site that uses a very large amount of CPU or memory may be asked to move to a bigger plan.

How a VPS works

A VPS (virtual private server) is a virtual machine with its own operating system and its own share of CPU, RAM and storage. serverserv VPS plans use KVM virtualization, so your server runs its own kernel rather than sharing a container with others.

With full root access you can install almost anything: Docker, databases such as PostgreSQL, MySQL or Redis, web servers, control panels, game servers, APIs and background workers. You can choose your Linux system at checkout and reinstall it later from your client area.

The trade-off is responsibility. On an unmanaged VPS you install updates, set up a firewall, take backups and fix things when they break. You also choose and configure the web server, database and any control panel yourself. If you enjoy that kind of work, a VPS gives you a lot of freedom for the price. If it sounds like work you do not want, look at Managed VPS below.

Two more options: Managed VPS and Windows

Managed VPS sits between the two. You get a KVM server with NVMe storage, while our team handles operating system updates, security hardening and monitoring, and can help install or configure software. It suits busy websites that have outgrown shared hosting, business apps and teams without a system administrator.

Windows RDP is a VPS running Windows Server instead of Linux, with the licence included. Choose it when you need Windows software, such as accounting apps or trading platforms. Our guide to Windows RDP hosting explains more.

Signs you have outgrown web hosting

• You need software that a control panel cannot install, such as Node.js services, Docker containers or a specific database version.
• You run tasks that are not web pages, like bots, queues, automation tools or game servers.
• Your site slows down under traffic even after you have added caching and optimised images.
• You have been asked to reduce resource usage on a shared plan.
• You need full control over server settings for security or compliance reasons.

If none of these apply, web hosting is usually the better value. Many sites never need more. Before you move, it is also worth checking whether a bigger web hosting plan solves the problem: Growth adds a CDN and staging sites, and Enterprise adds dedicated resources, while you keep the convenience of a control panel.

What each option costs

All prices below are per month. Longer terms are paid upfront for the whole term, and every plan is also available monthly with no contract.

• Web hosting: from $3.99/mo on a 3 year term with Starter, or $9.99 monthly.
• Linux KVM VPS: from $6.29/mo on a 3 year term with KVM Mini (1 vCPU, 2 GB RAM), or $8.99 monthly.
• Managed VPS: from $19.99/mo on a 3 year term with Managed VPS 1 (1 vCPU, 4 GB RAM), or $27.99 monthly plus a one-time $10 setup fee.
• Windows RDP: from $15.49/mo on a 3 year term with Windows RDP 1, or $21.99 monthly.

See every plan side by side on the pricing page.

How to decide

1. List what you need to run: just websites, or other software too?
2. Decide who will look after the server: our team, or you.
3. Estimate your traffic and data, then pick the smallest plan that fits with some room to spare.
4. Remember that you can request an upgrade from your client area later.

Still unsure? Tell our team what you want to run and we will suggest a plan.

Questions