Let’s face it, nobody wants to pay more than they need to for web hosting. With so many different types of hosting to choose from these days, it can be difficult to know when you’re getting the most bang for your buck.
Get a better understanding of the two most popular hosting types (dedicated and cloud), the pros and cons of each, and which one offers the best return on investment (ROI) to make the right decision for your website.
Dedicated vs. Cloud Hosting
What’s the difference between dedicated server hosting and cloud-based hosting, anyway?
With a dedicated server, you have access to your server hardware. All the hardware you’re paying for as part of your hosting plan is 100% allocated to your website and needs. For your convenience, this hardware is hosted at a third-party data center, owned by your hosting company.
With a cloud-based web host, on the other hand, you are essentially sharing your server with other users. This means that your costs are split — and so are your resources (bandwidth, storage, RAM, etc.). With a cloud-based hosting plan, there could be several dozens of other users sharing your server’s resources at any given time.
Which Is More Expensive?
As you can probably imagine, a dedicated server that does not require you to share resources with any other users is almost always more expensive than a cloud-based server. This is because, unlike with a cloud-based server, you’re not sharing the costs of your hosting with any other users.
Dedicated hosting companies often have robust data centers with features like 24/7 surveillance, backup generators, and other redundancies to enhance performance. Understandably, these features are also going to cost you more money.
Which Hosting Plan Offers the Best ROI?
When shopping for a hosting plan, it’s important not to just look at the overall cost, but total value and ROI. While it’s true that you will spend more money each month on a dedicated hosting plan than a cloud hosting plan, the reality is that you’re getting a lot more out of a dedicated server.
Consider, for example, that many dedicated hosting companies offer service-level agreements for things like cooling and electricity, meaning that your server is essentially guaranteed to not have any unplanned downtime. Taking into account the amount of money that unplanned downtime can cost your business site, it’s easy to see why paying a little extra for dedicated hosting can be worth the added reliability and peace of mind.
From a security standpoint, dedicated servers are also unrivaled. With a cloud-based hosting plan, you need to remember that you are sharing your server with any number of other users at any given time, opening you up to security vulnerabilities. With a dedicated server, you’ll enjoy enhanced safety features that can keep your site safe and reduce your risk of falling victim to an attack. Some hosting companies even offer free protection for common web threats, such as DDoS attacks, for added reassurance.
Lastly, dedicated servers offer the best speeds. If you’re looking to optimize your site’s page-loading times to reduce bounce rates and keep people on your site longer, then upgrading to a dedicated server is a must. With a slow site, you could lose out on a lot of business.
What to Look for in a Hosting Plan
When it comes to ROI and performance, spending a little more money on a dedicated hosting plan instead of a cloud-based web host often makes the most sense. Still, it’s important to know what to look for in a hosting plan to get the best value.
Start by looking for customization options; ideally, you should be able to choose exactly how much bandwidth, RAM, and storage you need for your hosting plan. You’ll also want to look for security features to give you added protection, such as remote backup, DDoS protection, and more. And of course, choose a hosting company that offers around-the-clock technical support and customer service.
The Bottom Line on Server ROI
There are many reasons to choose a dedicated server over a cloud-based server for your website. From enhanced security to better overall performance and reliability, a dedicated hosting plan can help your business succeed. Meanwhile, when you take the time to shop around and find a hosting plan that truly meets your needs, you can be sure to maximize your ROI. You might be surprised by how affordable a dedicated hosting plan can be when you find a customizable plan from a reputable hosting company.