In short: Choose the least complex service that comfortably meets your technical and operational needs. Shared hosting suits most websites; reseller hosting separates multiple client accounts; VPS and dedicated services provide progressively more control; colocation is for hardware you own.
| Service | Best for | You manage |
|---|---|---|
| Shared hosting | WordPress, brochure sites, smaller shops and everyday email | Your website, applications and mailboxes; we manage the server platform |
| Reseller hosting | Agencies and developers hosting several customers or isolated sites | Client SiteWorx accounts, packages and websites; we manage the server platform |
| VPS hosting | Applications needing dedicated resources, custom software or root access | The operating system, security, software, backups and applications unless separately agreed |
| Dedicated server | High, predictable workloads; virtualisation; specialist or compliance-led deployments | The complete software stack and service configuration unless separately agreed |
| Colocation | Organisations that own hardware and want datacentre power and connectivity | Your hardware, operating systems and applications |
Choose shared hosting when
- You want to publish a website without administering a server.
- InterWorx, email, databases, SSL certificates and backups cover your needs.
- Your application works with the PHP and database options offered in SiteWorx.
Choose reseller hosting when
- You manage websites for several customers and want each in a separate SiteWorx account.
- You need NodeWorx, branded nameservers or billing-system integration.
- You do not need root access or custom server-wide software.
Choose a VPS when
- You need root access, a custom operating-system configuration or dedicated CPU and memory.
- You are comfortable maintaining and securing a Linux or Windows server.
- You need more isolation and control than shared hosting provides.
Choose a dedicated server or colocation when
A dedicated server gives you an entire physical machine supplied by Virgo Networks, including out-of-band IPMI access. Colocation instead houses hardware that you supply. Both are appropriate when hardware-level control, sustained performance or a specialist architecture is important.
Not sure? Tell us what you are running, its expected traffic, storage, memory, operating system, availability requirements and your preferred level of management. We will recommend an appropriate starting point without forcing you into a larger service than you need.
Compare services: Hosting overview, Shared hosting, Reseller hosting, VPS hosting, and Dedicated servers.
