VPS

A VPS (virtual private server) is a virtual machine that runs on shared physical hardware but is allocated dedicated CPU, RAM and storage as if it were its own server. It sits between shared hosting (where you share resources with many other tenants and have limited control) and dedicated hosting (where you rent a whole physical machine). VPS plans give you root access, your choice of operating system, and the ability to install anything from a web server to a database to a custom application, while costing far less than a dedicated server. Common providers include Hetzner, DigitalOcean, Linode, Vultr, OVHcloud and Kamatera.

How it works

Behind a VPS, a hypervisor (KVM, VMware, Xen) carves up one physical server into many isolated virtual machines, each with its own kernel and dedicated resources. The hosting provider manages the physical hardware; you manage the operating system and everything above it.

Why it matters

A VPS is the right next step when shared hosting starts to feel restrictive: when you need more reliable performance, custom software, more memory, or full control of the server. For most sites that have outgrown shared but do not need a whole physical machine, a VPS hits the sweet spot of price, control and performance.

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Frequently Asked Questions