Choosing hosting
Shared hosting, VPS or managed hosting: what is the difference?
Key takeaway
Shared hosting and a VPS describe how server resources are arranged. Managed hosting describes who looks after agreed parts of the service. More control can bring more maintenance work. Choose around your website’s features and clear responsibilities, rather than assuming every business needs its own server.
In this guide
Server space and management are different choices
Shared hosting and a virtual private server describe how server resources are arranged. Managed hosting describes who looks after the agreed parts of that setup. A service can therefore be shared and managed, or use a virtual server and still leave the maintenance to you.
For a business owner, the useful starting point is the website’s functions and who is responsible for it. You do not need to buy your own server simply because the website is important to your business.
Start with the web hosting basicsCan shared hosting slow a website down?
Shared hosting
With shared hosting, several websites use a hosting environment together. The provider runs that environment and each website uses part of its capacity. It can suit a straightforward site without the work of managing a server yourself.
Check the website limits, resource policies and software support. Sharing resources is not automatically a problem, but the provider should manage capacity and separate customers’ access. A cheap plan is less useful if it cannot run your site or leaves maintenance you expected someone else to do.
Sources: AWS explanation of web hosting types (opens in a new tab)
A virtual private server
A VPS gives you a virtual server with its own allocated resources and more control over its configuration. It may be useful for specific software or workloads. It also brings decisions about the operating system, patches, backups and access.
Check whether someone manages those parts for you. Renting a server is not the same as buying a managed business website. If a developer needs a particular server setup, have them explain the requirement and ongoing responsibilities in the quote.
Managed hosting
Managed hosting means the provider takes responsibility for an agreed set of operational jobs. The exact scope varies. One package may maintain the server while another also handles application updates or helps with the website itself.
Ask who deals with a software vulnerability, a failed backup, an expired certificate and a broken form. Also ask whether changing a photograph or heading is included. Those answers are more useful than the word “managed” on its own.
Where WordPress and website builders fit
WordPress is website software. It can run on different kinds of hosting, but its themes, plugins and maintenance still need an agreed owner. A website builder may combine editing and hosting in one service, with its own limits on what can be exported elsewhere.
If you are moving, start with your existing website address. We check the platform and special features before confirming whether a transfer or rebuild is suitable. A booking app, shop or customer portal needs more assessment than a collection of public information pages.
Compare WordPress and a custom websiteCheck your provider’s export options
What Lightning provides
Our standard hosting service is a managed website platform on AWS, rather than a separate server handed to each customer. It uses AWS servers with CloudFront delivery. We agree compatibility and setup for the website, and both plans include SSL, platform security, daily AWS website backups, free domain registration and DNS.
Thunder is NZ$55 + GST a month per website. Lightning is NZ$99 + GST and adds Arc for everyday text, uploaded image and simple layout changes, subject to fair use. Those plans describe the service we provide; a special server, application or larger project needs its own assessment.
Compare the plansSee the full cost comparisonSecurity included with Lightning hosting