What’s the Difference Between Dedicated Server and Shared Hosting?
In case you’re wondering, a shared hosting plan and a dedicated server plan have almost exactly the same features, so you might wonder, what is the difference between these two server plans? Let’s dive into it and find out. The main differences between these two server plans are:
Dedicated Server
A dedicated server is essentially a physical server that is wholly owned by you. This means that you are the only one who can access it, and no one else can have shared access to it. You are given complete control over the server, which means you can install any program or server-based application you wish – there are no restrictions.
Dedicated servers are also typically very highly secure, as there’s no one else accessing it or trying to access it apart from you. This makes it a great choice for people who need a very secure and stable environment for their websites or applications. They are also great if you’re looking for a place to host multiple websites (i.e. a content management system like WordPress), as you can host multiple sites on a single machine. You won’t need to worry about server overload or performance issues due to overpopulation.
Dedicated servers are also the most expensive of the three server plans we’ll discuss, mainly due to the fact that you need to purchase a physical server – as previously stated, this is your own physical server, which you must provide yourself with. It typically costs hundreds of dollars to purchase a high-quality dedicated server.
Shared Hosting
Shared hosting is the middle ground between a dedicated server and a free hosting plan. With this type of hosting, you will have access to a physical server which is shared among several websites or applications. You will not own the machine, but you will be given complete control over it and be able to install whatever applications you wish. The advantage of this type of hosting is that you don’t need to concern yourself with overloading or performance issues, as it’s highly unlikely that your application or site will cause the server to crash. This form of hosting is also relatively inexpensive, typically costing you just a few dollars a month.
However, shared hosting comes with several disadvantages. First of all, as the name suggests, this form of hosting is shared by several websites or applications. Therefore, if you’re looking for a stable and secure environment for your site or application, you might want to consider a dedicated server instead. Secondly, as stated by WordPress itself, shared hosting is generally less secure than dedicated hosting, as you will have full access to the server which means any hacker could potentially gain access to your data. Third, due to the fact that this is a shared environment, you will need to be very careful about how much server power you’re using, as you don’t want to cause performance issues for the sites or applications sharing the server with you. If you’re using too much power, you might even end up causing the host to burst into flames before your very eyes!
To summarize, if you’re looking for a robust, highly secure environment where you can install any program or software you wish, a dedicated server is the best option. On the other hand, if you’re just looking for a cheap and stable hosting solution, shared hosting should suffice. It’s always a good idea to opt for the higher end dedicated server plan, as you’ll have the advantage of being in full control of your server environment and be able to install whatever applications you wish without having to worry about server overload or performance issues. Hope this helped clarify the considerable differences between these two server plans!