Deciding on a VPS (Virtual Private Server) can be challenging. Do you go with a well-known, trusted company or risk a less know but cheaper company? I have been through this before, and it feels the same as deciding between a well-known shoe brand or a super cheap brand from an online store. Both will work, but the experience is different.
This is what you generally receive from them:
• A stable uptime (your site does not go offline very often).
• A pretty good level support, on nearly every hosting service, some even around the clock.
• Better security like firewalls and DDoS protection.
• Worldwide servers, so that your site can be faster wherever it is.
Yes, they cost more, but if your site is important, the extra money often feels worth it.
Here are the reasons people experiment with them:
• Very low prices (sometimes very low – < $5/month).
• New features – they are often trying to be innovative to gain market share.
• More bang for the buck – specs for less money.
Here is the risk with small businesses: they can shut the door if they run out of cash. They might not offer you fast support, and it may just be one or two people answering. If something breaks you may have to fix it yourself.
• Are you doing the project as an important business or money project? Go with a big provider.
• Are you doing the project as a hobby or testing project? Go with a budget newcomer.
• Do you need strong support or are you capable of handling problems alone?
• Do you care more about safety or saving money?
Think of it like cars: a Toyota is safe and reliable but perhaps, a cheap project car would be a lot of fun and an adventure (with risk) too.
In all honestly, I use both. My serious websites use reputable providers, then I jump on some of the budget VPS offerings to test fun projects. I get the best of both worlds.
Why We Rely on Big Datacenters
Big datacenters are the "sure bet" for us. They are a known entity. You don't have to worry about them shutting down--they've been around for a long time. I also used a big player for my website one time, and it just worked! No worry, no frills.This is what you generally receive from them:
• A stable uptime (your site does not go offline very often).
• A pretty good level support, on nearly every hosting service, some even around the clock.
• Better security like firewalls and DDoS protection.
• Worldwide servers, so that your site can be faster wherever it is.
Yes, they cost more, but if your site is important, the extra money often feels worth it.
Why New Budget VPS Providers Are Tempting
On the flipside, budget VPS promotions from newcomers are undeniably appealing. I used one for a side project last year, and it worked really well - to my surprise!Here are the reasons people experiment with them:
• Very low prices (sometimes very low – < $5/month).
• New features – they are often trying to be innovative to gain market share.
• More bang for the buck – specs for less money.
Here is the risk with small businesses: they can shut the door if they run out of cash. They might not offer you fast support, and it may just be one or two people answering. If something breaks you may have to fix it yourself.
How to Choose
Consider some quick questions to ask yourself:• Are you doing the project as an important business or money project? Go with a big provider.
• Are you doing the project as a hobby or testing project? Go with a budget newcomer.
• Do you need strong support or are you capable of handling problems alone?
• Do you care more about safety or saving money?
Think of it like cars: a Toyota is safe and reliable but perhaps, a cheap project car would be a lot of fun and an adventure (with risk) too.
Final Thoughts
There is no right answer in this VPS battle. If you prefer to sleep better at night you can go with the well established datacenters. If you want to experiment or just save a buck, the new kids on the block are worth a shot.In all honestly, I use both. My serious websites use reputable providers, then I jump on some of the budget VPS offerings to test fun projects. I get the best of both worlds.
