Best VPS Hosting
When your business outgrows a shared web server, it’s then time to start looking into larger solutions to host your website. A website with more traffic is going to need better access to resources and often, a shared server is too limiting for businesses to grow. Virtual private servers, or VPS, are the best next step when businesses need to find a solution that will optimize their website. Finding the best VPS hosting solution for your business can take a lot of research, however.
In order for our valued members to get the most success out of their endeavors, StatCounter provides valuable insight in the search for VPS hosting. The information we share with our members will make the process of determining what solution is right for your business much easier. With that said, let’s take a look at the features of VPS and why it’s valuable for businesses.
Suggested Reading
Finding the right web hosting solution for your business is important, so we’ve provided some additional resources below to help you learn more about your options and choose the right plan for your company:
How To Determine The Right VPS Host for Your Business
There is a lot to consider when choosing VPS hosting and the final decision ultimately comes down to which host offers the right features for your business. There is a lot to servers and, depending on the amount of time you want to spend on management, you have different options. As such, we’ve detailed some common and necessary options businesses have for their servers and the VPS service itself.
Windows or Linux
Businesses typically have options to use either Windows or Linux servers. This means the VPS environment will run one of these operating systems (OS). In choosing your OS, be sure to go with whichever one you are most comfortable with, as you’ll be managing your website with it from then on out. It is also important to note that not all hosting providers are equipped to provide both operating systems on their servers. Be sure to see what VPS hosting providers offer the OS your business wants to utilize. For more information on each of these operating systems, view the articles below:
- Linux VPS Hosting
- Windows VPS Hosting
Managed or Unmanaged
If your business has the personnel in place to manage the server, then it might not be worth the extra money to have the web hosting provider manage it for you. However, the option for managed VPS is a great opportunity for businesses that don’t want to invest extra time into their server environment. Businesses are provided with expert staff that will monitor their technology and run the necessary updates. They will also keep up with your site security and maintain the overall health of your server.
Price
Pricing will range between providers. The price will also change depending on the options selected for each business. It is important to find the features your business is looking for at the right price. These features include, Operating System, Storage, Data Transfers, RAM, CPU Cores, and IP Addresses. Price plays an important role in your website and you need to be aware of the monthly or yearly price to run your website on a VPS server.
Web Hosting Companies For VPS Hosting
Finding a web hosting company that offers VPS hosting is an important step in the process. It also allows you to compare the features that each host offers for your server. This will ensure your business gets VPS hosting that fits your needs at the best possible price. Seeing as how research into VPS hosting providers can be time consuming, why we’ve provided a quick look into some of the top web hosts you can choose from.
HostGator
If you are looking into HostGator for VPS hosting, be aware that they only offer Linux-based servers. This is a great option for businesses who want to use Linux as their operating system. The pricing starts at $19.95 per month and users are equipped with 2 GB RAM, 2 Cores CPU, 120 GB Disk Space, and 1.5 TB of bandwidth. This is the basic plan offered by HostGator and they have two tiers that boost the RAM, Disk Space, and Bandwidth.
Unfortunately, the prices for HostGator rise significantly after the initial contract and the basic plan is $79.95 per month. That is quite an increase from the initial pricing. But your business can take advantage of the low pricing for the first 3 years. Also, for businesses looking to use Windows as their operating system, it isn’t an option on HostGator’s plans.
Bluehost
Bluehost offers four different VPS plans to choose from. Their basic plan starts at $19.99 per month but increases to $29.99 after the initial term. The basic package gives users 2GB of RAM, 2 CPU Cores, 30GB Storage, and 1TB of bandwidth. This package gives you a bit less than the HostGator package but the higher tiers do give more RAM than any of the HostGator packages. The biggest package gives users up to 8GB of RAM.
For businesses considering Bluehost, they’ll also find a steep increase in the price after the initial term. Their basic plan offers a reasonable change in price compared to HostGator, but their higher tiered packages all double in price after the promotional pricing. Bluehost also doesn’t offer Windows on their VPS hosting plans. The basic package also doesn’t offer as much storage space as other competitors.
GoDaddy
GoDaddy is different from Bluehost and HostGator because they offer both Linux and Windows plans for their users. Their Linux plans are set at a lower starting price of $16.99 for their basic plan. Users get 1GB RAM, 40GB Storage, Unmetered Bandwidth, and a free 1-year SSL Certificate. The prices increase after the first term. Windows plans start at $26.99 per month and offer users the same features as the Linux plan but with 2GB of RAM. The price of the Windows plans also increase after the initial term.
GoDaddy stands out by offering unmetered bandwidth on their hosting plans and a year of an SSL Certificate. Websites are able to have more security and handle more traffic. This is a good option for businesses that don’t want to limit their visitors and easily implement ecommerce platforms.
1&1
1&1 clocks in with the cheapest starting prices for their VPS hosting plans. They offer 5 different plans and their basic tier is set at $4.99 per month with no price increase. This plan gives users 512MB of RAM, 30GB of storage, and unlimited traffic. Their highest tier plan price is maxed out at $39.99 making 1&1 the most affordable option for businesses to host their website. Users also get their choice of Windows or Linux servers at the same price.
1&1 is the standout of the group because of the incredible pricing and providing unlimited traffic on each of their plans. They also offer great upgrades for RAM and storage that allow businesses to seamlessly scale up and use more resources. This is a great place for businesses to start using VPS hosting because they make it easy to upgrade their service as their business grows.
1&1 is StatCounter’s trusted domain and web hosting provider, offering a range of tools and resources to help businesses grow their websites and seamlessly upgrade when needed. If you’re seeking the best VPS hosting, we’d recommend 1&1.
Monitor Your Traffic With StatCounter Tools
Once you’ve picked the best VPS hosting package for your business, you’ll need to track your results. Moving to VPS is a good indicator that your traffic has increased and your website is finding a lot of success online. StatCounter provides the analytics and tools to monitor your site traffic. You will be able to see where your traffic is coming from and which pages are most popular. This insight will allow you to make the best decisions in regards to web design, architecture, and more.
If you are in need of assistance, you can contact StatCounter member support by completing the form below.
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