Lesson 6: Shared hosting vs VPS

The everyday picture

Shared hosting is a room in a well-managed hostel. It's cheap, and someone else handles the electricity, security and cleaning, but you can't change the wiring or install your own kitchen. A VPS is renting your own flat: you can install anything, but if the water heater breaks or the door lock is weak, that's yours to fix.

What it really is

• Shared hosting: your website sits on one server alongside hundreds of others. The company manages the server and gives you a simple control panel. It's usually set up for PHP and MySQL websites. It's cheap, but limited, and a busy neighbour can slow you down.
• VPS (Virtual Private Server): a slice of a powerful machine that behaves like your own computer. You get full control ("root access") and can install Node.js, PostgreSQL, anything you like.
• With control comes responsibility: security updates, firewall, backups, monitoring. If you don't do them, nobody does.

What it means for your idea

A simple website or WordPress site is happiest on shared hosting. A custom app with its own backend usually needs a VPS or a managed platform. Before choosing a VPS, be honest about whether you're ready to look after a server. That's what Level 6 teaches. Otherwise a managed platform (Lesson 7) may suit you better.

Pick this when...

• Shared hosting: simple websites, WordPress, lowest cost, no server skills.
• VPS: custom backends, full control, predictable monthly cost, and you're ready to maintain it.

Quick check

You moved to a VPS and stopped thinking about it. Six months later it's hacked. Whose job was the updates? Yours. On a VPS, security updates and backups are your responsibility.

Goes deeper in Modules 7, 63–67.