VPS Hosting vs Shared Hosting in Canada: Which One in 2024?

Last updated on March 13th, 2024 at 12:39 pm

If you are torn between VPS and shared hosting in Canada, this article is for you.

See, when you are trying to figure out which type of hosting is right for your website, it is important to understand the difference between VPS hosting and shared hosting.

In a nutshell, VPS hosting is a type of virtual private server that gives you more control over your server and your resources.

On the other hand, shared hosting is a type of web hosting where your site is on a server with other sites.

Both have their own advantages and disadvantages, so it is important to understand which one will work better for your needs.

VPS Hosting vs Shared Hosting in Canada: Advantages of VPS

a). More control and flexibility

VPS hosting provides users with more control and flexibility than shared hosting in Canada.

With a VPS server, users have their own virtual server, which gives them full control over the server’s resources.

This allows users to install any software they want, and customize their server to their specific needs.

Additionally, VPS hosting provides greater scalability than shared hosting, meaning that users can easily upgrade their service as their needs change.

b). Better performance

With VPS hosting in Canada, your site will be hosted on its own server, which means that you will have more control over the resources that are being used. This can lead to a faster loading time for your pages and a better overall experience for your visitors.

c). Scalable

Another advantage of a VPS server is that it can be more scalable than other types of hosting.

If you need to add more resources to your site in order to accommodate increased traffic, you can do so without having to switch to a new host or upgrade your plan.

You can simply add more resources to your existing server as needed.

d). Increased security

While VPS hosting offers many advantages over shared hosting, one of the most significant is increased security.

Because each VPS partition operates independently, with its own operating system and applications, there is much less risk that a security breach in one account will affect the others.

In addition, because a VPS is not part of a shared server, it is much less likely to be affected by attacks that target servers with known vulnerabilities.

So, for businesses that require high levels of security, such as those in the financial or healthcare industries, VPS hosting in Canada can provide an extra layer of protection.

And when combined with data encryption and other security measures, a VPS can ensure that sensitive information is safe from hackers and other malicious actors.

VPS Hosting vs Shared Hosting in Canada: Disadvantages of VPS

Virtual private servers (VPS) offer many advantages over other hosting options, but they also come with some disadvantages.

x). Requires more technical knowledge

One of the biggest disadvantages is that VPS hosting requires more technical knowledge than other options. This can be a problem for businesses that don’t have in-house IT staff or that don’t want to invest in hiring someone with the necessary skills.

x). More expensive than shared hosting

Another downside to VPS hosting is that it can be more expensive than other options, such as shared hosting.

Remember you are paying for the added flexibility and resources that come with a VPS plan. While this can be worth it for some businesses, it’s not always necessary or affordable for others.

x). Might not be scalable in the future

Yes, we mentioned that VPS is scalable. But as your business grows, you may find that VPS hosting is no longer scalable. This can be a big problem if you are relying on your website to generate revenue.

You may need to upgrade to a dedicated server, which can be expensive.

x). Can be less secure than dedicated hosting

Because VPSes share physical resources with other VPSes on the same server, if one VPS is compromised, the others may be as well.

In contrast, dedicated servers are isolated from one another, so a security breach on one will not affect the others.

Another potential security issue with VPSes is that they allow root access to the server. This means that the server’s administrator has full control over all of its settings and can make any changes he or she desires.

While this can be convenient, it also means that the administrator could accidentally make changes that render the server insecure.

x). Not suitable for very large websites

If you have a huge website, VPS might not be for you.

This is because VPS hosting does not offer the same level of scalability as other types of hosting, such as dedicated server hosting.

Dedicated servers can be scaled up to accommodate more traffic and data, but VPS servers are limited in this regard.

Additionally, VPS hosting is more expensive than shared hosting, so it may not be the best option for small businesses or individual website owners on a budget.

Who should use VPS hosting in Canada?

a). Outgrown the shared hosting environment

Shared hosting is a great option when your website first starts out.

Once you start receiving more traffic, though, shared resources can become strained and cause your site to run slowly or even go offline during peak hours. If this happens frequently, it’s time to consider upgrading to VPS hosting.

b). Want more control over the server environment

With VPS hosting, you have more control over the server environment than you do with shared hosting. This means that you can install custom applications and make configuration changes that are not possible in a shared hosting environment.

c). Have specific compliance requirements

If your website is subject to certain industry regulations (such as PCI DSS), then you will need to have a VPS in order to meet those compliance requirements. A VPS provides an isolated, secure environment for your website so that sensitive data cannot be compromised.

d). Online stores with high-traffic

If you have an online store that is getting a lot of traffic, then you will need to upgrade to VPS hosting in order to ensure that your website can handle the increased traffic without going offline.

VPS Hosting vs Shared Hosting in Canada: Advantages of shared hosting

There are many reasons to choose shared hosting:

a). Cost-effective

Shared hosting plans are much cheaper than VPS servers, making them a great option for small businesses and individuals on a budget.

While you may have to share server space with other customers, you will still have your own domain name and control over your website.

And most importantly, shared hosting plans offer all the features and tools you need to create a successful website.

b). Easy to set up and use: no need for technical expertise

You don’t need any technical expertise to set up a shared hosting account and start using it to host your website.

And it comes with a simple control panel.

c). Flexible

Another advantage of shared hosting in Canada is its flexibility. This means that you can choose from a variety of different hosting plans, each with its own set of features. This allows you to find a plan that fits your needs and budget.

At the same time, it is easy to scale up or down.

If your website starts to get more traffic than your current plan can handle, you can simply upgrade to a higher-priced plan.

Conversely, if your website becomes less popular and you want to save money, you can downgrade to a lower-priced plan.

d). Reliable: companies who offer shared hosting have a good reputation

When you choose a shared hosting provider in Canada, you can be confident that your website will be up and running most of the time.

Often, the provider has a team of experts who monitor the servers and make sure they are running smoothly.

e). Good customer support: helpful in case you run into any problems

As we mentioned in this guide about choosing the best web hosting company in Canada, One of the most important things to look for in a web hosting service is good customer support.

This is especially helpful if you run into any problems.

Customer support can help you troubleshoot issues and get your website up and running again quickly.

Take Truehost Cloud, for example, we have a team in place 24/7 to attend to your questions and needs. This means you can reach out to us any time of the day and get answers!

VPS Hosting vs Shared Hosting in Canada: Disadvantages of shared hosting

While shared hosting boosts some of its upsides, there is a share of downsides as well.

x). Security concerns with shared hosting

As we’ve seen, shared hosting is a type of web hosting in which a server hosts multiple websites. This is usually the most economical option for small businesses and individuals.

However, this can stir up a security nightmare.

One concern is that your website may be affected by the activities of other websites on the same server.

If another website on the server is compromised, your website may also be at risk.

Additionally, if another website on the server is Blacklisted by search engines, your website may also suffer from reduced traffic and visibility.

Another security concern with shared hosting is that you typically do not have root access to the server. This means you cannot install certain security measures, such as a firewall.

Without root access, you are relying on the security measures put in place by the host.

x). Limited control and customization options

Talking of root access, if you are looking for complete control over your website and customization options, shared hosting is not the right choice.

With shared hosting in Canada, you are limited in terms of what you can and can’t do with your site.

For example, if you want to install a custom script or piece of software, you may not be able to do so because it could adversely affect other users on the shared server.

x). Resource constraints can impact website performance

Here is the thing: as the number of Internet users in Canada continues to grow, so does the demand for website hosting services.

Many businesses and individuals turn to shared hosting providers, where multiple websites are housed on a single server.

While shared hosting can be an economical option, there are some disadvantages that can impact website performance, including resource constraints.

Shared hosting providers in Canada typically allocate a certain amount of resources, such as CPU and memory, to each customer account.

If one account exceeds its allotted resources, it can cause the server to become overloaded and affect the performance of other websites on the same server.

In addition, most shared hosts do not offer unlimited storage space and bandwidth, which can also be a limiting factor if a website experiences a sudden spike in traffic or content.

x). Shared hosting can be less reliable than VPS hosting

This is for a number of reasons.

First, with shared hosting, your website is sharing a server with other websites. If one of those websites has a lot of traffic or a problem, it can affect the performance of your website.

Second, shared hosting can be less secure than VPS hosting. With VPS hosting, your website is on its own server and not sharing space with other websites. This means that if one of those websites is hacked, your website will not be affected.

Finally, VPS hosting generally provides better customer support than shared hosting because you are not competing for attention with other customers (see next point for clarity).

x). Support may be less comprehensive than with other hosting options

This happens thanks to one reason: shared hosting providers must divide their time and resources among all of their clients.

As such, they may not be able to provide the same level of support as a dedicated host.

If you encounter problems with your website, you may have to wait longer for assistance from customer service.

Others may even constrain you to either knowledgebase or email support only.

That sucks!

Who should use shared hosting?

1). Portfolio sites

If you’re a photographer, artist, or graphic designer and your website is mostly a portfolio for people to look at your work, shared hosting could be ideal.

2). Small business sites

If you have a small business with limited resources for technology, shared hosting can help keep costs down.

3). Personal blogs

A personal blog is a great way to share your thoughts and connect with others who share similar interests. Shared hosts typically offer easy-to-use tools for creating and maintaining a blog.

VPS Hosting vs Shared Hosting: Which type of hosting is right for you?

I understand the dilemma that comes with VPS Hosting vs Shared Hosting in Canada.

They are two of the most popular options, and each has its own benefits and drawbacks.

On this hand, shared hosting is often more affordable than VPS hosting, but it also comes with some risks.

Because your website will be sharing resources with other websites on the same server, your site could be affected by any problems that other sites experience.

Additionally, shared hosting can sometimes be slower than VPS because of the increased number of sites on the server.

On the other hand, VPS hosting provides more resources and privacy than shared hosting, but it can be more expensive. With VPS hosting, your website will have its own dedicated virtual server, meaning that you won’t have to share resources with other websites.