Most websites run happily on web hosting. But as a site gets busier, or you need software that shared hosting can't run, a VPS (virtual private server) gives you your own share of a server's resources. This guide explains the signs you've outgrown web hosting, and how our options compare, so you can choose the right one.
Signs you've outgrown web hosting
- You keep reaching your resource limits. Your site or WordPress dashboard is slow, or you see resource limit errors. See What are resource limits?
- Your site slows down when it's busy, such as during sales, campaigns or peak times, even with caching turned on.
- You need software or access that shared hosting doesn't allow, such as Docker, background services, a particular database, or root access.
- You host lots of websites, for example as a web designer or agency, and want resources you don't share with other customers.
Before you move, check whether something is using more than it should. Out-of-date plugins, backup plugins and malware can push any site to its limits, and a bigger server won't fix them. What are resource limits? lists the common causes. Sometimes upgrading to a Business Hosting plan is all you need.
Your options
- Web hosting (including Business and Reseller hosting): your sites live in a cPanel account on a server shared with other customers, with limits on CPU, memory and disk speed.
- Managed cPanel VPS: your own VPS running cPanel, managed by us. Plans run from CPVPS100 to CPVPS300.
- Cloud VPS: your own self-managed VPS with full root access and your choice of Ubuntu, Debian, AlmaLinux or Rocky Linux. Plans run from START to APEX.
How they compare
Who manages the server
- Web hosting: we do.
- Managed cPanel VPS: we do.
- Cloud VPS: you do. We look after the hardware, the network and your VPS management page.
Root access
- Web hosting: no.
- Managed cPanel VPS: you manage your sites and accounts through cPanel and WHM, and we look after the server underneath. Talk to us if you need root access.
- Cloud VPS: yes, full root access.
Control panel
- Web hosting: cPanel, with tools such as Softaculous, WP Toolkit and JetBackup.
- Managed cPanel VPS: cPanel, plus WHM for creating and managing cPanel accounts. The number of cPanel accounts depends on the plan.
- Cloud VPS: none, unless you install one. Popular choices are Webmin, Coolify, or cPanel with a licence you add to your plan.
Software freedom
- Web hosting: PHP websites such as WordPress, plus Node.js and Python apps set up through cPanel.
- Managed cPanel VPS: the same cPanel-based software, with the server's resources to yourself. If you need software outside cPanel, ask us first.
- Cloud VPS: anything that runs on Linux, such as Docker, Node.js, databases, VPNs, game servers, AI tools or your own apps.
Security and updates
- Web hosting: we keep the server secure and up to date. You keep your websites, plugins and themes updated.
- Managed cPanel VPS: we look after the server, including operating system and cPanel updates. You keep your websites, plugins and themes updated.
- Cloud VPS: it's all up to you: operating system updates, firewall, SSH security and every app you install.
Backups
- Web hosting: we back up your account every day, and you can restore or download backups from the last 14 days yourself with JetBackup. See Download a full backup of your hosting account.
- Managed cPanel VPS: check the backup options for your plan, or ask us before you order.
- Cloud VPS: not included. You can add VPS backups as an optional extra with Upgrade/Downgrade on your VPS's management page, and you should also keep your own backups off the server.
- Web hosting and Managed cPanel VPS: email accounts and webmail are built into cPanel.
- Cloud VPS: no email is set up. Keep your email on web hosting, use a service such as Microsoft 365, or run your own mail server, which is real ongoing work. See our guide Send email from your VPS: port 25, reverse DNS, SPF, DKIM and testing.
Skills needed
- Web hosting: none beyond looking after your website.
- Managed cPanel VPS: comfortable using cPanel, and WHM if you host several accounts.
- Cloud VPS: confident with the Linux command line, SSH, and keeping a server secure.
Best for
- Web hosting: most business websites, WordPress sites and email.
- Managed cPanel VPS: busy WordPress and WooCommerce sites, and web designers or agencies hosting many client sites.
- Cloud VPS: developers, self-hosters, and anyone running custom apps or software that doesn't fit cPanel.
So which should I choose?
- Managed cPanel VPS suits you if you want more power without becoming a system administrator. Your sites keep working in cPanel the way they do now, and we look after the server.
- Cloud VPS suits developers and self-hosters who are comfortable on the command line and want full control. For a busy WordPress or WooCommerce site, start with EMBER or larger. You can move to a bigger plan later with Upgrade/Downgrade.
- A dedicated server gives you a whole physical server for the biggest workloads. See What is a dedicated server compared to a virtual private server?
Ready to move? Our guide Move your websites from shared or reseller hosting to a VPS walks you through it. New to Cloud VPS? See the Cloud VPS Getting Started Guide.
Not sure?
Open a ticket or email sales@hooplahosting.com and tell us what you run.
