Shared hosting suits most websites. Reseller hosting is for selling hosting to clients. A VPS or cloud server is a server of your own that you run.
The short answer
| Type | What you get | Who looks after the server | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared hosting | A cPanel account on a server shared with other customers | We do | Business sites, blogs, WordPress, small shops |
| Reseller hosting | WHM, where you create separate cPanel accounts | We do; you manage your clients' accounts | Web designers and agencies hosting client sites |
| VPS | A virtual server with its own CPU, RAM and storage, and root access | You do, unless you choose a managed plan | Custom software, apps, higher traffic |
| Cloud server | A virtual server whose size you choose and can scale up | You do, unless you choose a managed plan | Projects that grow, test and production servers |
Shared hosting
Your website runs in a cPanel account on one of our servers, next to other customers' accounts. We keep the server, its software and security up to date. You manage your site, email and databases in cPanel, without any server knowledge.
In the store this is Web Hosting, WordPress Hosting and Business Hosting. The plans differ in how many websites you can host and in the resources they include. To choose a plan, see Which hosting plan is right for you?
Choose it if you want to put one or a few websites online and don't want to look after a server.
Reseller hosting
With Reseller Hosting you get WHM (WebHost Manager) together with cPanel. In WHM you create a separate cPanel account for each client, each with its own login, files and email. The store lists how many cPanel accounts each plan includes. The server itself is still looked after by us.
Choose it if you build websites for clients and want to host them yourself, or you want to keep many unrelated sites apart. Start with Reseller hosting: log in to WHM and create a cPanel account.
VPS
A VPS (virtual private server) is a virtual machine with its own share of CPU, RAM and storage. Other customers' traffic doesn't take your resources. You get root access and can install any software, which also means you're responsible for updates, security and backups.
In the store: VPS Hosting. If you want a VPS but not the server work, Managed VPS plans are looked after by us.
Choose it if you need software that shared hosting doesn't allow, full control of the server, or guaranteed resources. You'll mostly work over SSH: Connect to your server with SSH.
Cloud server
A cloud server is also a virtual server with root access. In the Cloud Servers store you pick a ready-made size or set the CPU, RAM and storage you need yourself. It's a good fit when you expect to grow or want to start small and add resources later. Managed Cloud Servers are the managed version.
Choose it if you want your own server and flexible sizing.
How to decide
- Do you want to manage a server? If not, choose shared hosting, or a managed VPS or managed cloud server if you need more power.
- Are the websites for clients? Then reseller hosting keeps each client in their own cPanel account.
- Does your software run on cPanel hosting? Most PHP websites such as WordPress do. Software that needs its own services or root access needs a VPS or cloud server.
- Start small. You can move to a bigger hosting plan later without moving your files: Upgrade or downgrade your hosting plan.
Still unsure? Tell us what you're putting online in a ticket to Sales Support or in the chat, and we'll suggest a product. An overview of everything we sell is in ElySpace products and services explained.
Related articles
- Which hosting plan is right for you?
- ElySpace products and services explained
- Reseller hosting: log in to WHM and create a cPanel account
- Web hosting terms explained (glossary)
Still stuck? Open a support ticket and we'll help.
