Website speed is a huge part of the user experience, and if people are faced with delays when they arrive at your site, they may end up clicking straight back off again. This is why choosing the right hosting plan is a decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly.
India has seen a huge digital transformation over recent years. Governmental programs like Startup India and Digital India have promoted cloud technologies, and this has seen cloud-based hosting become a more common solution for businesses of all sizes.
This growth is only expected to continue, and by 2033, it is looking to show a compound annual growth rate of 11.6%.
But what is VPS hosting, and is it actually better than the other options available? Virtual private server hosting, also known as VPS hosting, is becoming a go-to solution for small and medium-sized businesses as it offers more reliability and better performance than shared hosting.
In this article, we’ll help you understand exactly what VPS hosting has to offer and how you can choose the top VPS hosting provider to suit your business needs.
What is VPS Hosting?
VPS hosting provides users with a dedicated set of resources that are stored within a shared server. Since it sits somewhere between shared hosting and dedicated hosting, VPS hosting is a popular solution for many businesses. In fact, over 24 million websites are using it globally. The physical server is split into different spaces which each operate independently, all having their own allocated CPU, RAM, disk space, and bandwidth. Each website on the server shares the same physical hardware, but this is managed by the provider.
In comparison to shared hosting, VPS offers a more reliable solution since the performance of your website isn’t impacted by others using the same resources. Since you have allocated space, your site speed will be consistent and downtime is less likely to occur if another site on the server faces an issue.
This also means that you have more control over your security protection and software configurations if you choose to. Alternatively, you can opt for a managed VPS hosting package where the provider manages security, maintenance, and updates.
Why should you choose VPS?
The hosting plan you choose can directly impact the performance of your website and futureproof your online presence, so making the right choice the first time round can save a lot of hassle down the line.
Let’s discuss some of the benefits of VPS hosting:
- Website speed. When people arrive at a website, a delay while the page loads can be incredibly frustrating, and 53% of mobile visitors leave a website if it takes more than three seconds to load. A reliable speed is one of the key differences between shared hosting and VPS hosting. Since your site speed is not impacted by other sites on the server when using VPS hosting, it guarantees a consistent user experience.
- Avoid downtime. If your website goes down, it is not a good look when customers arrive at your site to find it is not working. Shared hosting brings a higher element of risk since the performance of other websites can have a knock-on impact, but with VPS hosting, downtime is minimal since backup servers are in place.
- Growth potential. As your business grows, you want your hosting plan to be able to grow alongside you. This is another instance in which VPS hosting wins the shared hosting and VPS hosting debate as it allows you to increase your CPU, RAM, and storage without having to move over to a new server.
- Security protection. India reported over 1.4 million cybersecurity incidents in 2024, and now that security threats are becoming more advanced than ever, you need to make sure that your website is as protected as possible. Many hosting providers offer added protection and security settings, giving an added level of safety against external threats.
Finding the Best VPS Hosting Providers for Your Site
If you’ve decided that VPS hosting is the right choice for your website and now you’re looking into the best VPS hosting providers, we’ll help you narrow down your options and find the best plan. There are countless VPS hosting providers out there, each offering different types of packages, so it can be overwhelming when faced with so many choices. Many people opt for well-known providers, such as Hostinger, since they offer a reliable service with a wide range of options, but knowing how to choose the perfect plan for your site can help you ensure you’ve made the best choice.
Here are some of the key features you should look out for when choosing a hosting plan…
SSD storage
Standing for solid state drive, SSD storage uses flash memory rather than traditional hard drives, ultimately allowing data to be processed much more quickly. This is often used by the best VPS hosting providers as it improves page load speeds and responsiveness when a user is browsing your website.
Local data centres
If your business primarily operates in India, finding a local VPS hosting provider is likely to result in better page load speeds for your target audience. This is because the data has less distance to travel between the user and the server.
For businesses that operate globally, this is not going to be as effective since your website users will be based all over. Instead, look for a hosting provider that has servers located in different locations across the world.
Backup servers
If there were to be an unexpected issue, whether that be a cyber attack, faulty hardware, or even human error, this can result in a big loss of data and can leave your site facing long periods of downtime.
Your VPS hosting provider should have separate servers in place which run automated backups. This means that if an issue were to arise, data can quickly be recovered from the other server and get your site back up and running as normal.
24/7 customer support
Issues can occur at any time of day, so having technical support available whenever you need it will help prevent downtime. The best VPS hosting providers offer 24/7 customer support so you can speak to experts if your website is having performance issues.
Some of the top VPS hosting providers will have an emergency out-of-hours phone line, whereas others may use a live chat feature, so finding the option that works best for you will help ensure you’re prepared for unexpected issues.
Transparent pricing
Cost is one of the main dilemmas for people when deciding between shared hosting and VPS hosting. Shared hosting is obviously a cheaper option, but the performance benefits of VPS hosting often make it the best option for growing businesses.
There are endless price packages on offer, but transparency is key. Many providers may seem to be offering a bargain, but you will likely encounter hidden fees and expensive upgrades once you’ve committed. Finding a reputable provider who clearly lays out their pricing is likely to mean they are a more trustworthy option.
Choosing a Hosting Plan That Grows With Your Business
Many business owners don’t initially realise how important a decision choosing a hosting plan is, but it can have a big impact on overall website speed and user experience. VPS hosting offers small and medium businesses a good middle ground between shared and dedicated hosting, offering allocated server resources at an affordable price. Knowing exactly what to look out for when you are looking to find a top VPS hosting provider means you can make an informed decision that will offer a long-lasting and reliable solution for your business. By picking a plan that can grow alongside you, you don’t have to worry about switching over when demand rises.
There are many reputable providers out there, so partnering with a trusted VPS hosting provider means your online presence can remain consistent, secure, and fast.
