It may be very hard to decide what hosting plan will best fit the requirements of your website. Depending on what the website needs to do and how many people are expected to visit each day, week, or month, what one person needs to host his website may differ significantly from what another person needs. In this article we will expain the difference between a virtual private server (VPS) and a semi-dedicated server (SDX). Learning the differences between the two plans will make it easier to make a smart purchasing decision.

What is a VPS About?

A VPS is a virtual private server. It works in the same way as a traditional dedicated server, in that no accounts are shared, but since it uses less resources than an actual dedicated server, is a more cost effective option for most users. With a VPS, customers are given a small section of a larger server. With this smaller section, they are able to control the server environment and adjust it as necessary. For instance, users can control which operating system is installed on their server, as well as other specifications, designed to fit their needs.

What is a SDX?

An SDX is a semi-dedicated server, which means it is basically one shared hosting account on a large server. Where standard shared hosting usually has somewhere around 150 users, the typical SDX only has 15 or 20 users per server. This option combines the service and flexibility of a dedicated server with the economy of a shared hosting plan. With a semi-dedicated server, there is no additional control from one shared user account to the next.

Make Your Decision

Depending on the size of the website and what it is intended to do for users, it may be difficult to choose a plan. Generally, a VPS is recommended for larger websites with higher requirements concerning resources and flexibility. Those who sell web hosting
space to other customers for example, will most definitely need to use a VPS. Smaller websites that do not need more individualized control but do not want the hassle of sharing server space with so many other accounts will do well with a semi-dedicated server.

For anyone who is having trouble deciding which plan to choose, take a closer look at the price per month or year and determine if there is a setup fee. While price shouldn’t be the only factor, representatives from the top vps hosting company itself will help you walk though the specs on each of the available plans to determine which one will be best for the website you intend to host.