There are many challenges you would face when starting a new website. You would be on a shoestring budget when you start a website and hence you will have very limited options at your disposal to choose from. You would most probably go for shared hosting. But, as your business grows, you will need to shift from shared hosting to a cheap virtual private server hosting to enjoy better security, more and high end resources and many other features.
Why use VPS?
Every vps is hosted on a more powerful server in a VPS hosting solution. In simple terms, you can just think that it is a server in a bigger dedicated server. Technically speaking, a VPS server is a shared hosting as well as a dedicated hosting server. It is very difficult for normal people like you to set up and manage a web server to host your website. This is where VPS hosting services come into the picture. You can purchase the web hosting package so that you can rent space on the dedicated web server and thereby host your website online. You will just need to upload your web files online and your website will be up and running on the internet.
VPS benefits
The following are the benefits that you can enjoy when you opt for VPS service.
- You get dedicated resources available for you at any time. You can make use of the entire RAM available as your website is the only one on the server.
- You can enjoy the best privacy because your website is the only one accessing the VPS server.
- You will have full control of the server and can restart it at any time you want to install the server applications.
- You will be able to make use of any of the customized services to make changes to the server to suit your website.
- A cheap linux vps will also provide economical relief to your newly started business.
Choosing the right VPS hosting provider
The following are some of the important factors you need to consider when you are taking the decision of choosing an affordable VPS hosting service provider.
RAM
One of the most important factors that you need to concentrate on while picking the VPS hosting provider is the amount of RAM you need to run the server and the operating system. A minimum of 512 MB RAM, to start with, must be there to offer better loading speed and also to offer hassle free service when your website grows. Once your website flourishes on the web, you should move over to 1GB RAM with at least 20GB storage space.
Linux or Windows
You should also keep a watch on the OS on the VPS hosting server. The two main options on offer are Windows and Linux OS. Linux is less costly than Windows, as it is open source software. It offers a host of applications and is also user friendly. But, Windows is the OS that supports all kinds of applications, even those that Linux does not support. So, pick your OS depending on the applications that you intend to use.
Managed or unmanaged plans
Managed VPS and unmanaged VPS are the two popular VPS plans. Unmanaged VPS would be a cheaper and an ideal option for affordable VPS hosting if you have a professional to manage the server. Managed VPS is a better option for normal users as there is a system administrator who manages the server round the clock. But this option comes at a higher price than the unmanaged VPS plan.
Bandwidth / Data Transfer
Many cheap VPS providers will limit the amount of data transfer allowed per month on your VPS account. This is a resource you want to verify carefuly. Some hosting companies will provided an cheap unmetered VPS plan, however is it in fact limited by the speed of the port. So in practice the amount of data your VPS can transfer in a month is indeed limited.
Uptime
Any VPS hosting service that you come across will guarantee you an uptime of 99.9%. This will not be true in practice. It is vital for you to check out the customer reviews and testimonials to check out the downtime and latency of the VPS servers. You should opt for those VPS hosting services that has the least downtime and has got the maximum positive reviews from the previous customers.
Customer support
There are many VPS service providers who offer quality features. But, there are a few problems that might arise at unexpected times when using the VPS servers. This is where a customer support team comes into the picture. You should opt for services that offer quality and quick customer support to solve the issues you face in no time. They must also be ready to offer you 24 hour service.
Price
You should check out the prices of various packages on offer from at least three to five popular cheap VPS hosting services. Opt for one that offers better features for an affordable price. It is ideal to choose for services that offers money back guarantee as well.
With the above mentioned tips, you will be on the right track to choose the ideal VPS hosting service for your website.
