VPS (virtual private server)

A VPS is a virtual machine. It has its own vCPUs, RAM and storage that other customers can't use, and usually root access so you can install what you like.

It sits between shared hosting and a dedicated server. You share the physical machine, but your resources are set aside for you, so a busy neighbour shouldn't slow your site.

Example: an online shop keeps slowing down on shared hosting at busy times. Moving it to a VPS with a set amount of RAM gives it memory no one else can use, and lets you tune the server for the shop.

Unmanaged VPS plans are cheap but make you responsible for updates and security. Managed plans cost more and the host does that work.

What it means for your price: the plan price is often only part of the bill. A control panel licence, backups or snapshots, extra IP addresses and a managed service can each add a monthly charge. Compare the full monthly cost over three years, renewal included.

How to check what you need: our server size calculator suggests a starting size, and many VPS plans can be resized later.