Managed VPS vs Unmanaged – Which Is Better?

This article will show you a comparison between Managed VPS vs Unmanaged and what are the main specifics behind both choices.

VPS web hosting has been showing very good signs of growth, especially the last couple of years. This has pushed companies into developing new services, such as managed VPS as they better address customer demands in high volume and pull more clients. In this article we will explain to you what is managed VPS, how does it work and compare traditional VPS against it to show you what are the pros and cons of both.

What Is Managed VPS?

Managed VPS is the kind of Virtual Private Server, in which the hosting company gives you trained pros, who set up your virtual server and also take care of software installations, answering questions, security and updates. You could say that they are tasked with managing all of the technical aspects of your services.

How Does Managed VPS Work?

Managed VPS is probably the best choice if you are responsible for a new company project and do not have the time, experience and resources of a professional technical team to help with that. This is why companies provide well-trained employees, who will take care of all of the parts of your project that require such technical know-how.

Managed VPS vs Unmanaged – Which Is Better?

Pros and Cons of Unmanaged VPS

When you have an unmanaged VPS (Virtual Private Server), typically what happens is the web hosting company provides you with a Virtual Server. This server is somewhere on their machine and it will have a pre-installed OS based on what you have chosen.

Pros:

• Greater Flexibility: Users have full control over the server, allowing for custom configurations and software installations.
• Cost-Effective: Typically cheaper than managed VPS as it doesn’t include management services.
• Full Root Access: Users have full administrative rights, allowing for more granular control and deeper modifications.

Cons:

• Requires Technical Knowledge: Managing a server requires a good understanding of server operations, security measures, and troubleshooting techniques.
• Time-Consuming: All tasks, from updates to security patches, need to be handled manually, consuming valuable time.
• Potential for Errors: Without expert oversight, there’s a higher risk of making errors during configuration or maintenance.
• No Direct Support: While some basic support might be available, users are generally on their own for most issues.

After the company sets up the VPS, their job is done and you get full control over all of the operations of your server, meaning that it is up to you to handle everything. And by that we mean that you have to set up your whole project details, security, updates, software and even hard coding all by yourself.

Pros and Cons of Managed VPS

In contrast to that, with managed VPS, the situation is exactly the opposite – you not only get the server set up, but also a professionally trained expert is employed by the hosting company to be at your disposal. This means handling all of the before-mentioned processes for you.

Pros:

• Expert Support: Hosting providers typically offer 24/7 customer support, ensuring that any issues are addressed promptly.
• Maintenance & Updates: The hosting provider handles regular maintenance, updates, and patches, ensuring the server remains secure.
• Time-Saving: Businesses can focus on core activities without being bogged down by server management tasks.
• Enhanced Security: Managed services usually come with security enhancements and regular monitoring to detect and mitigate threats.
• Backup Services: Many providers offer automatic backups, ensuring data safety and easy recovery.

Cons:

• Higher Costs: Managed VPS hosting tends to be more expensive due to the additional services provided.
• Less Control: Users might have limited control over server configurations and software installations, as the provider manages most aspects.
• Potential for Vendor Lock-In: Some hosting services might use custom configurations, making it difficult to migrate elsewhere.

Managed VPS vs Unmanaged – Which One To Choose?

It really depends on the situation. Generally, more companies with resources and technical experts at their disposal go for the unmanaged option, while beginner startups who want a professionally handled service, but do not have technical know how go for managed VPS.

If we had to compare them head to head to show you in detail the strengths and weaknesses of both, you can see the pros and cons of each type of VPS below:

Managed VPS Specifics

Unmanaged VPS Specifics

When put together, the activities that it takes to set up the same project using managed versus unmanaged VPS appear like the following:

These are the main key points showing where managed VPS is more appropriate than having unmanaged service.

Why Is VPS More and More Used?

According to the HTH.guide’s published research on VPS hosting user statistics, there is a growing trend of using this type of service:

Conclusion

In order to best summarise these web hosting preferences for Virtual Servers, we would conclude that both are appropriate in specific circumstances.

If your project has resources and human power in terms of technical know-how, then save yourself the money and choose unmanaged VPS. This way, you will get more control over your project and peace of mind.

If however you are not so fluent in technical topics, go the extra mile and select managed VPS. It will guarantee that your project is professionally managed by well-trained experts, as long as the web hosting company you chose satisfies you.