A website, a Telegram bot, a VPN or any other project will run on one of four types of server, which are shared hosting, VPS (VDS), cloud server and dedicated server. They differ in how the resources of the physical server are shared, how many rights you have, and how quickly you can get the server and change it. Below we look at each type and help you choose.
Four types of server
Shared hosting
Shared hosting is space for a website on a server where hundreds of other people's websites run at the same time. You get a folder for your files and a control panel, while the server settings are the same for everyone. It suits a simple website on a ready-made CMS, but not bots, VPNs or your own programs, because you have no access to the server itself.
VPS (VDS)
A VPS is a virtual server inside a physical one, with its own processor cores, memory, disk, IP address and full root access. You can install any system and any programs on it. It is the most versatile option for most projects. You can read more in the article about VPS hosting.
Cloud server
Strictly speaking, a cloud server is a virtual server that runs in a cluster of many physical servers. If one of them fails, the virtual machine automatically moves to a neighbouring one, and you can usually pay for the hours it runs. Many providers also call ordinary VPSs cloud servers, because they too are created automatically in minutes, but an ordinary VPS does not move automatically when hardware fails.
Dedicated server
A dedicated server is an entire physical server at your disposal, with no hypervisor and no neighbours. It gives maximum performance and freedom in choosing disks and RAID, but it takes longer to launch and costs more. You can read more in the article about dedicated servers.
Comparison in one table
| Shared hosting | VPS (VDS) | Cloud server | Dedicated server | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What you get | Space for a website on a shared server | Part of a physical server's resources | A virtual server in a cluster | The entire physical server |
| Root access | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Your own programs, Docker, VPN | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Neighbours on the hardware | Hundreds of websites | Other VPSs | Other virtual machines | None |
| Launch at F3 Cloud | – | Usually up to 2 minutes | – | Usually 24–72 hours |
| Changing resources | Switching plans | Upgrading to a higher plan in minutes | In minutes | Hardware replacement on request |
| If the hardware breaks | The host deals with it | The server is unavailable until the node is repaired or the server is moved | Automatic move to another node | The data centre replaces the component |
| Who configures the server | The host | You | You | You |
At F3 Cloud, you can rent VPS and dedicated servers.
How to choose in three questions
- Do you need your own programs, a bot, a VPN or Docker? If not, and all you need is a simple website, shared hosting is enough. If yes, go on to the second question.
- Are 16 vCPU and 32 GB of memory enough for you? That is our largest VPS plan, DE-RZ9-16. If it is enough, choose a VPS, which launches in a couple of minutes and scales easily. If not, you need a dedicated server.
- Do you need an automatic move when hardware fails? If even a few hours of downtime is unacceptable for your project, you need fault-tolerant cloud infrastructure or several servers with redundancy.
What to choose for your task
| Task | Server type |
|---|---|
| A simple business card website on a CMS | Shared hosting or the most basic VPS |
| A personal VPN or proxy | VPS, the DE-Promo plan is enough |
| A Telegram bot, a parser, scripts | VPS |
| An online shop, n8n, AI assistants | VPS from DE-RZ9-2 |
| A heavily loaded database, your own virtualisation on Proxmox | Dedicated server |
| Streaming and file distribution when 1 Gbit/s is not enough | Dedicated server |
A detailed table with recommended plans is in the article about VPS hosting.
Why server location matters
F3 Cloud servers are located in Europe, in Germany (connected in Frankfurt), the Netherlands (Amsterdam) and Finland (Helsinki).
The closer the server is to your users, the lower the ping and the faster the response. You can check the latency to the server with our guide on network diagnostics.
If you store personal data of Russian citizens, for example an online shop's customer database, check the requirements of Russian Federal Law No. 152-FZ on personal data localisation in advance.
For VPNs, proxies, bots and projects with an audience in different countries, hosting in Europe usually works well.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between VPS and VDS?
Today they are almost always the same thing. In the past, VDS meant servers with full virtualisation and VPS meant container-based ones.
The name alone guarantees nothing, so look at the type of virtualisation and the resource guarantees. Our servers run on KVM, and each vCPU is guaranteed at least 25% of a physical core's power.
Can I start with a VPS and move to a dedicated server later?
Yes, that is what people usually do. Starting with a VPS is cheaper, and when the resources of the largest plan are no longer enough, the project can be moved to a dedicated server.
Does F3 Cloud offer shared hosting?
No, we provide VPS and dedicated servers. For a simple website, our most affordable VPS will do, and you can install a control panel on it and host several websites.
Which is more reliable, a VPS or a dedicated server?
A dedicated server has no neighbours, and all its resources work only for you. But if the hardware breaks, both a VPS and a dedicated server will be unavailable until the node is repaired. If downtime is unacceptable, use several servers and make backups.
Our resources
Telegram channel: https://t.me/f3cloud_news
F3 Cloud: https://f3cloud.com