Hosting platforms provide the physical space on the server where your website gets to reside on the internet. In the world of web hosting, there are different options that can get your site up on the web. Each option (type of platform) differs from the other in its features and resources. Choosing the wrong type of platform could cause your website to fail to perform functions at optimum levels. Therefore, the right hosting plan can make all the difference for a website. However, comparing options to choose the right hosting plan can be confusing, especially if it is your first time.
Before you compare hosting plans, it is necessary to understand each one.
Types of hosting plans
- Shared Hosting plan
If you are not sure about investing a lot for your website, shared hosting is what you should go for. Shared hosting runs multiple websites on one physical web server. Due to this, you will be sharing hosting space, and other resources and tools with other website owners. Hence, the cost gets shared too.
Opt for a shared hosting plan to:
- create a small personal website
- host a website at a lower cost
2.VPS Hosting plan
VPS or Virtual Private Server hosting is an upgrade to shared hosting. VPS hosting will have you sharing a server, but at the same time, will let you enjoy a dedicated space. When compared to shared hosting plans, you get a much higher level of control with VPS hosting. It is significantly robust and offers many features one wouldn’t get with shared hosting.
Compare hosting plans, and you will see that VPS hosting lets you customise different aspects of the configuration, such as the OS and the amount of power needed.
Opt for a VPS hosting plan to:
- enjoy the benefits of dedicated hosting at prices closer to shared hosting
- avoid sharing resources with other customers
- Dedicated server plans
A dedicated server ensures that you’re the only one using all the resources allocated to you. In dedicated hosting, the entire server will be allocated solely to your domains. It offers maximum control, letting you implement customisations as you see fit. The resources available with a dedicated server are usually capable of keeping a website in the best of shape, even after expansions.
Dedicated server plans are best suited for large websites that experience high traffic.
Opt for a dedicated hosting plan to:
- ensure the best features for your hosting requirements
- use robust hardware for hosting your website
- handle huge volumes of traffic
Bluehost offers several plans for Shared Hosting, VPS Hosting, and Dedicated Hosting. Here’s a quick comparison of some of our premium hosting plans:
When comparing hosting plans, you must take into consideration your website requirements. They will define what features of the plan will suit you best. Considering the three plans mentioned above, let’s look at how they can be compared based on certain features –
Storage: You will have to calculate the expected SSD space you will need and then choose the plan that offers it. While the shared and dedicated plan offers 50 GB SSD storage, the VPS plan offers 30 GB SSD storage.
Number of websites: Our shared plan lets you host a single website. For more websites, you will have to go for the VPS or Dedicated Plan.
Bandwidth: It is the amount of data your website will be able to transfer to your users in a given amount of time. If you want unmetered bandwidth, you will have to opt for the shared hosting plan.
IP address: This is a premium feature you will usually find on most VPS and dedicated plans. With a shared plan, your website will have a shared IP address. This means that your IP will also be used by multiple other domains. Therefore, if you want exclusivity, you will have to go for VPS or dedicated plans.
Microsoft Office: This premium feature lets you avail a Microsoft 365 Business Plus license, free for 30 days. If you’re looking to use Microsoft Office for your business, but want to try it out first, this feature can be availed with a VPS or a dedicated plan.
On comparing features of the hosting plans above, the shared plan would seem best. However, Bluehost offers different tiers of shared, VPS, and dedicated plans. All the plans come with their own set of features and pricing. Therefore, you would need to compare all the different tiers to come to a decision. One way to simplify this is to decide on a hosting type. You can then choose from only those plans offered under the hosting type.
To get the best for your website, follow these steps to choose the hosting plan:
– Chalk out your website requirements
– Determine the type of hosting that would suit your requirements
– Compare different plans under the same hosting type
If the plans don’t fit your budget or website requirements, check out other hosting types and their respective plans
Choosing the right hosting plan is important as it will determine your website’s performance. Understand all the options well and compare different parameters to know which hosting plan will best fit your needs.
We would be delighted to connect with you and help resolve your queries. Get in touch with us to know more.
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