Have you ever looked at VPS options and thought to yourself—“KVM or OpenVZ… which one should I choose?” Trust me, I’ve been there, feeling confused and reading countless forum posts. It can definitely be confusing, but don’t worry, I’ll keep things simple like we’re chatting over some coffee.
OpenVZ is container-based. Think of it like an apartment building: everyone shares the same building (the kernel), but you each have your own apartment (Linux container). There is your own space, but it is still not completely separate.
KVM is my favorite VPS approach when running resource-intensive applications or want that little more control. Here's what I like about KVM:
• Guaranteed resources (CPU, RAM, and storage) are exclusively allocated to you.
• Complete control - install whatever OS and software you want.
• No exposure to neighbor danger - your VPS is completely isolated from other VPS users.
In my experience, heavy apps performance is considerably better on KVM than OpenVZ.
• Fast speed: Less overhead work for the server as the main OS is shared.
• Cheaper: Typically costs less.
• Easy to get going: You can build new containers in quick time.
However, you do not get to change the main OS — meaning it cannot handle any heavy customization.
• Do you value full control and safety? Go KVM.
• Do you need to run smaller applications and like speed? OpenVZ is an option.
• Are you looking for something cheaper but still reliable? OpenVZ.
I utilize KVM and OpenVZ based on my preferences and the projects I'm working on. For a small blog, I would use OpenVZ for sure. For projects of size or experimenting with a different OS, there's no question that KVM is far better.
What They Are
KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) is full virtualization. It allows you to have your own complete and separate server with its own OS. This means you can do just about anything on it.OpenVZ is container-based. Think of it like an apartment building: everyone shares the same building (the kernel), but you each have your own apartment (Linux container). There is your own space, but it is still not completely separate.
Speed and Power
KVM: Robust and DynamicKVM is my favorite VPS approach when running resource-intensive applications or want that little more control. Here's what I like about KVM:
• Guaranteed resources (CPU, RAM, and storage) are exclusively allocated to you.
• Complete control - install whatever OS and software you want.
• No exposure to neighbor danger - your VPS is completely isolated from other VPS users.
In my experience, heavy apps performance is considerably better on KVM than OpenVZ.
OpenVZ: Lightweight and Quick
If you have modestly-sized projects, or you need something fast, OpenVZ is good:• Fast speed: Less overhead work for the server as the main OS is shared.
• Cheaper: Typically costs less.
• Easy to get going: You can build new containers in quick time.
However, you do not get to change the main OS — meaning it cannot handle any heavy customization.
Security
Because KVM is entirely separate from the other virtual private servers (VPS), KVM is much more secure. OpenVZ shares the kernel, so if there is an issue in one container, it can affect the others in a function of severity.How to Decide
Ask yourself:• Do you value full control and safety? Go KVM.
• Do you need to run smaller applications and like speed? OpenVZ is an option.
• Are you looking for something cheaper but still reliable? OpenVZ.
I utilize KVM and OpenVZ based on my preferences and the projects I'm working on. For a small blog, I would use OpenVZ for sure. For projects of size or experimenting with a different OS, there's no question that KVM is far better.