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Managed web hosting gives the webmaster the freedom to focus on their online business instead of worrying about the various headaches involved with managing and administrating a dedicated server. Normal dedicated hosting plans usually involve some sort of general server knowledge, especially if you are trying to use a cheaper plan which does not include support. Thus, dedicated hosting plans are usually abandoned in favor of VPS hosting plans by those that do not have the technical capabilities or patience to operate a dedicated server. Managed web hosting solves all of this by placing the administrative burden on the web hosting company rather than the webmaster. But how does a managed web hosting plan compare to VPS hosting?

Support

The support for VPS hosting and managed web hosting are very similar, however the support is more personalized in managed web hosting. This is because the needs of the webmaster are usually more specific if they require a dedicated server. The support needed to maintain a dedicated server is also somewhat more complex than that needed to administrate a VPS server, which means the staff needs to be more diligent in performing updates and monitoring server performance.

Performance

While a VPS server does provide optimal performance, and is suitable for most online businesses, it is simply not as powerful as a dedicated server. Dedicated servers are capable of operating up to 100 medium-sized websites or more without any problems. However, it is important to realize that the amount of sites that can be contained a single server depend entirely upon the size of the sites and the particular server. Some dedicated servers are more powerful than other, but in general all dedicated servers are more powerful than a VPS server.

Reliability

Along with the enhanced performance comes superb reliability. By having a dedicated server and a dedicated support staff to help you manage that server, you’re ensuring the uptime of your site and the overall reliability of your online business. While VPS servers are also known for being reliable, there are no comparisons in the web hosting world when it comes to fully managed dedicated hosting. Dedicated servers are only reliable if they are managed properly, so it is important to note that the reliability of a fully managed solution may not be the same as the reliability of a partially managed or unmanaged solution.

Cost

VPS server plans cost less than fully managed dedicated server plans, however you’ll be receiving a much more powerful dedicated server for the money, so many see it as a fair trade off. If there is one aspect that VPS hosting wins in, it is cost. A good VPS server is affordable for just about any small business, whereas a fully managed dedicated plan may be just outside of the budget boundaries of a newly established online business.

Conclusion

In the end, both plans have their advantages and disadvantages, and the final decision should depend upon your needs as a webmaster, rather than the specific features of each plan.

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