How to choose a VPS: signs you need one and what matters

In short

• Get a VPS for applications, not for a slow website. The cause of a slow website is usually in the website itself, not in the type of hosting.
• Memory (RAM) is usually the first limit you hit. Then the processor, then the disk.
• Root means freedom and responsibility: updates, the firewall and backups are up to you.
• Backups don't come on their own with an unmanaged VPS. Factor them into the price from the start.

Signs you need a VPS

A VPS (virtual private server) is a virtual machine with its own operating system, which you log in to as root. It's a good fit when:

• you have programs that need to run around the clock: n8n automations, a Telegram or Discord bot, a task queue, a script that runs every night;
• you write applications in Node.js, Python, Go or Java that need their own processes and ports;
• you use Docker and want to run several applications side by side without them getting in each other's way;
• you want your own services: a PostgreSQL database, Redis, your own VPN, Nextcloud for your team's files;
• you need a test environment where you can safely break things before a change reaches your customers;
• a specific program requires Windows Server.

Signs you don't need one

• You have a business website or a WordPress online store and no one on your team manages Linux servers. Managed hosting gives you daily backups, system updates and an SSL certificate without you having to do anything.
• Your website is slow. A heavy plugin, large images or missing caching won't be fixed by a bigger server. The usual causes are covered in why your WordPress website is slow.
• You want business email. On a VPS, you install and maintain the mail server yourself, including the hard part: keeping your messages out of spam. The email included with a hosting plan is much simpler.
• You have many websites. A cloud hosting plan holds 30, 60 or 100 websites, fully managed, with the same panel.

The difference between the three types of hosting, in detail: shared hosting, cloud or VPS.

The specs that matter

Memory (RAM)

Every running program keeps part of the memory occupied: the system, the database, each container, each application. When memory runs out, the system starts using the disk instead, and everything slows down; if needed, it stops programs on its own to free up space. That's why memory is usually the first thing that limits a VPS.

How to estimate it: add up what runs at the same time, not one after another, and leave some headroom. Databases and Java applications are usually the biggest consumers.

Processor (vCPU)

vCPU means virtual cores. They determine how many things can happen in parallel: several requests at once, a build, a file conversion. On a standard-class VPS, the cores are shared with other servers on the same host machine, not reserved just for you. That's normal, but it's good to know: a VPS is not a dedicated server.

Disk

Besides your data, the disk holds the system, logs, Docker images and local backups. Logs and old images grow without you noticing. If you have large files or archives, separate object storage is a better fit than an ever-larger disk.

Network and location

• Port speed tells you how fast data can go out and come in. It matters for large files or lots of downloads.
• Traffic: check whether the gigabytes are counted. At NBT Host, traffic is unlimited.
• Location matters for speed to your users and for personal data: a data center in the European Union simplifies the GDPR discussion (servers in the EU and GDPR).

What comes with the server and what doesn't

Before you compare prices, compare what you get on top of the server:

• ready-made images: at NBT Host, the server can come with n8n, Docker, Nextcloud, GitLab, WireGuard, LAMP or Dokploy installed and running, included in the price;
• automatic backups: at NBT Host, this is a separate option, from €4 per month depending on the plan, keeping the last 10 versions of the server;
• snapshots: copies of the server taken before a major change; with us, you request them and we take them the same business day;
• management: an NBT Host VPS does not include management. Updates, the firewall, passwords and whatever runs on the server are up to you.

NBT Host VPS plans, with the monthly price:

All plans include root access, unlimited traffic, one IP address and a data center in the EU. For 1 year, you get 12 months for the price of 11. Access details arrive within 8 business hours of payment confirmation, because each server is set up by hand.

How to pick the size without guessing

1. Write down what you run, including everything that starts together: the application, the database, the cache, the queues.
2. Measure, if you already have something running. On a Linux server, free -h shows memory usage, df -h the disk, and htop the processes using the most resources.
3. Choose a plan with enough memory and some headroom. A server that always runs at its limit fails exactly when you need it most.
4. Count the full cost: the plan, backups and, if you need them, a control panel license or extra storage.

If you're not sure, write to us with what you want to run. We'll tell you honestly whether you need a VPS or whether a hosting plan is enough.

The first hours with your new server

A server with a weak password gets found by bots within the first few hours, wherever it's hosted. The right order:

1. log in over SSH and change the root password: first login over SSH;
2. create a regular user and log in with an SSH key only: user and SSH keys;
3. turn on security updates and the firewall: updates and firewall;
4. set up your backups and monitoring: backup and monitoring.

Frequently asked questions

Is a VPS faster than a hosting plan?

Not automatically. An unconfigured server, with no cache and no updates, can perform worse than a well-managed hosting plan. A VPS gives you control; the speed comes from how you configure it.

What does “managed VPS” mean?

A VPS where the hosting company also takes care of the system: updates, security, monitoring. NBT Host VPS servers are not managed. If you'd rather not deal with a server, choose cloud hosting or web hosting.

Can I put a hosting control panel on a VPS?

Yes, as a paid option: Enhance, Plesk or cPanel, only one per server. Installing and managing it is up to you. The differences are covered in cPanel, Plesk or Enhance.

Can I get a VPS with Windows?

Yes. Windows Server is a separate option, €33 per month on top of the plan, instead of a Linux system. When it makes sense: Windows or Linux hosting.

What happens if I break the server?

It stays broken until you fix it: management is not included. That's why automatic daily backups are worth having, along with a snapshot requested before any major change.