Cloud Hosting is when a website is virtually allocated space on multiple servers for maximum availability and can utilize this space at scale when needed, whereas VPS hosting is when a website is allocated a certain amount of space on one single, physical server.
Here are the main differences between Cloud Hosting vs VPS Hosting:
VPS Hosting is partitioned on one single physical server, whereas Cloud hosting is partitioned in a cluster of multiple physical servers in multiple physical locations (Data Centers).
Cloud hosting is not restricted to a single physical server, so its scalability is practically unlimited.
VPS Hosting has the advantage over Cloud Hosting in that you get complete root access to your virtual server, whereas with Cloud Hosting, you don’t.
Cloud Hosting is definitely a step up from Shared Hosting in the fact that if the physical server that your web files are on happens to run slower.
Perhaps there is too much traffic on the particular server where your web files are stored or it’s down for any reason, your web files are copied and merely transferred to another server within that data center or another.
VPS Hosting or “Virtual Private Server” Hosting is almost like a cross between Shared Hosting and Dedicated Server Hosting.
Your website’s files are stored on a portioned part of Dedicated Server. There may be other websites or accounts also hosted on this Dedicated Server, but each has their own portioned section and your website is guaranteed a certain amount of data space on that server that can’t be shared with other websites.
Having VPS Hosting also gives you access to the server that your website is on. This is similar to having a Dedicated Server in that not only do you have access to the server, but you can also upload and run any software, apps or any other tools that you like on your portion of that server.
This is where a VPS does differ from Shared Hosting and Cloud Hosting, both of which do not give you access to any server(s) and you cannot run software, apps or other tools from the server where your website is hosted on.
What is VPS Hosting used for?
VPS Hosting is used when you want to have your own predetermined portioned off space on a Dedicated Server. In addition, you may need access to a server if you want to install any specialized software, apps or run any tools from that server.
A VPS Hosting plan can basically give you many of the benefits of a Dedicated Server plan at much lower costs.
