VPS vs VPN: What’s the difference?

A very similar acronym for two really different pieces of tech

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The IT world is complicated, almost intimidating at times. So much technical jargon and endless abbreviations make it quite hard to understand for everyday users.

Choosing the right software for your needs can then be daunting work. Particularly, the name of the technology itself can be pretty confusing much of the time.

If you came across aVirtual Private Server(VPS) and aVirtual Private Network(VPN), you might be puzzled about the difference between these two software types and what they can actually do. Even though their acronyms differ just by one letter, they aretwo distinct pieces of tech with a very different end goal.

Let’s have a look at the differences, advantages and disadvantages of VPS and VPN to help you choose the right service according to your needs.

What is a Virtual Private Server (VPS)?

A VPS is the piece of tech you want if you are interested in setting up your own website. As the name suggests, it is ahosting servicethat enables you to host your siteon a virtual server environment.

Aservercan be seen as the home for all the data and files that make up your website. Every time you add some elements or make some changes, that information is all stored in this space.

It isprivatebecause the server is reserved for you. You don’t have to share RAM, bandwidth or any other data with other accounts. A VPS separates your files from other users connected to the sameoperating system(OS).

Finally, it isvirtualas its technologies are able to divide your physical server in multiple virtual components that support several accounts simultaneously. A VPS is built on top of the server’s OS using virtualization methods similar to Virtual Machines (VM) software. Check ourvirtual machines guideto know more.

What’s special about a VPS?

VPS services are not the onlyweb hostingsolutions out there. To truly understand where this software sits among those, we should first have a look to the other available methods to set up your website.

When usingshared hosting, its key elements like RAM and cloud space are split between all the users. This solution is really popular mainly for its simplicity - you don’t need great IT skills to set it up - as well as its cheaper rates.

If you are expecting huge traffic volumes coming through your website, it might not be the right host for you, though. The sharing of resources could indeed affect the overall site performance.

On the other hand,dedicated hostingis exactly the opposite. In this case, you will be allocated a server just for you to use. That means that all the resources will be entirely yours. You will also have the freedom to customize the software to best meet your own needs.

A VPS lays exactly in between these two. If the same hardware hosts several websites at the same time, its virtualization technology creates a virtual space that will support only your domain. That means that you will have your own operating system, a dedicated storage space, a powerful processor, scalable RAM and unlimited bandwidth solely supporting your activities.

The positives of VPS

Using a VPS brings then several advantages. These include:

The downsides of VPS

VPS hosts are not perfect though. They have a few downsides that you should keep in mind before subscribing.

VPS are not easy to install and maintain. If you are an inexperienced user or your business lacks a dedicated IT team, this software may bring you more troubles than comforts.

The price, even though cheaper than a dedicated hosting server, might be still too much for small businesses or start-ups that are looking to save money.

Plus, the allocation of resources can be problematic at times. For instance, if another website linked to the same physical server is running at huge traffic, you may see your site performance slowing down.

What is a Virtual Private Network (VPN)?

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a completely different tool. You can think of it as anencrypted tunnel over your internet connectionthat makes your online activities secure and anonymous.

When browsing the web through a VPN, you choose a server among anetworkof available ones. Some of the best providers offer a huge choice across several locations worldwide.

Your activities areprivateas the VPNhides your IP address whilst encrypting your data. In this way your sensitive information is protected from snoopers - whether it’s your ISP or authorities - and other malicious intents. The top services all use the bestencryption protocols, likeOpenVPNandWireGuardto name just a couple.

Lastly, it isvirtualas everything happens in cyberspace - without the need for a physical hardware.

Why use a VPN?

Beside protecting your privacy, hiding your IP address can have several advantages. That’s why VPNs can be really handy for different purposes.

Masking your real location will allow you tobypass geo-restrictionsthat streaming platforms apply on their content. This feature have provoked a spike in popularity ofstreaming VPNs.

This security service also enables you toavoid ISP throttling and torrenting restrictions. Atorrenting VPNis essential for downloading torrents securely - check our guide on how this software can protect you from thedangers of torrentingif you want to know more.

It is also worth mentioning that a VPN cannot shield you from every risk of the online world, but it can certainly lessen those threats considerably. Head on our explainer to check yourservice’s security.

VPS vs VPN: Choose the best for your needs

As we have seen, VPS and VPN do not have much in common - except for the name, at least. The first is a technology meant for those looking for a secure and reliable website hosting solution, whilst the latter improves the security of your online connections.

Being that they serve very different purposes, you would never have to choose one software over the other. You can actually use the two together to boost even more your overall online experience.

While VPS use is specific to those who want to set up their own website,a VPN is a much more popular software for supporting everyone browsing onlinein many different ways.

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Chiara is a multimedia journalist committed to covering stories to help promote the rights and denounce the abuses of the digital side of life—wherever cybersecurity, markets and politics tangle up.She mainly writes news, interviews and analysis on data privacy, online censorship, digital rights, cybercrime, and security software, with a special focus on VPNs, for TechRadar Pro, TechRadar and Tom’s Guide. Got a story, tip-off or something tech-interesting to say? Reach out to chiara.castro@futurenet.com

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