Web Hosting vs. Cloud Hosting: How They Are Different?
If you wish to have a functioning website for your business then having a clear idea of the kind of hosting services you may require is essential. Consider your website as a grocery store. The number of resources and staff you may require will entirely depend on the size of your store. Similarly, whether to opt for a cloud hosting platform or web hosting, will entirely depend on the server space and the bandwidth that you’ll require along with your company’s budget. Furthermore, other factors such as the complexity of the website, the level of customization required, as well as together with privacy and security features for your website are taken into account.
To decide which is the best hosting platform for you let’s start with a basic introduction of the two:
What is Web Hosting?
As the name suggests ‘Web Hosting’ allows your customers to post a website, webpage, or content on the internet. A typical web hosting service provider offers the technology and services required for the website to be posted on the internet. All the data that is created, visible, or transferred on the website is saved on special computers called servers that when required deliver the information through browsers.
Majorly there are four types of web hosting:
1. Shared:
This is the most popular and the cheapest style of hosting in which a single hosting server is offered to hundreds of businesses on a rental basis. It is best suited for beginners or start-ups as it’s quick, cheap, and cost-effective.
2. Dedicated:
In this style, an entire server is allotted to your business only. This increases the performance of your website as it gives you complete control over your server.
3. VPS:
In the case of VPS you are still using a shared server but with added benefits. This time you have a virtual server on top which means you have a significant amount of memory and space allotted to your business which can lead to improved website performance.
4. Managed:
This server provides a higher-performing server that’s entirely managed by you. Such kind of servers is technically optimized for a certain kind of website. It can be more expensive as compared to regular servers.
Read More: Why UI/UX is an important part of the app development process
What is Cloud Hosting?
The process of outsourcing an organization’s computing, functional, and storage solutions to an external service provider is called cloud hosting. The provider in this case helps set up the infrastructure and gives services for the security and maintenance of their servers online. What’s interesting to know is that in the case of cloud hosting you do not host a single physical server. All the data that you collect is on virtual platforms that give unlimited scalability and flexibility options to your business.
Some specific reasons why cloud hosting is becoming the most popular option for large scale or fast-growing businesses is because:
- The pricing options are flexible and you pay for what you use.
- It gives higher performance
- It has super scalability options
So what is the primary difference between cloud hosting and web hosting?
| WEB HOSTING | CLOUD HOSTING |
| There is a single server that is used for hosting | Hosting is done virtually over clouds |
| Web hosting is less scalable because of the limited space available on servers | Cloud hosting is more scalable as it offers unlimited storage space that can be increased or reduced at any point in time. |
| Payments depend on the package we choose on a per-month/annual billing model | Payments depend on our usage or a pay-as-you-go model so you pay for the services that you use. |
| The companies providing this service will supply with computers that are used for storing data | The entire company data is saved on the cloud |
| In case of a server breakdown, a web-hosted website will not function until the issues are resolved. | In the case of cloud hosting, servers can be migrated to another physical server without any hassle. As a result, your website can keep running while bugs are being fixed laterally. |
| Security plans for traditional web hosting typically include automated malware scans, security plugins, SSL certificates, anti-spam, and anti-virus protection. | Cloud hosting offers additional security packages that include the installation of web application firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and other monitoring tools to ensure top-notch security. |
| All servers and security related setting are managed by the service provider | All servers and security-related settings have to be managed by yourself unless you use a managed cloud service solution. |
What should You Choose?
Whether to choose a cloud hosting service provider or a web hosting service provider depends on the usage of your company.
In case if you are an individual or a beginner then the traditional web hosting options are a better choice as they are convenient, cheap and low-entry hosting solutions. This will ensure your site’s files to be saved on a single server.
On the other hand, if you get a lot of traffic on your website like in the case of an e-commerce business website then cloud hosting is a better business option available.
The better way to get an idea is by getting in touch with a website or software development company. The developers can review the website/application beforehand to make sure you pick the suitable hosting service.