Managed VPS and unmanaged VPS are 2 distinct types of VPS hosting that differ in how server resources and maintenance responsibilities are handled. VPS hosting is a type of hosting that provides a virtualized server environment with dedicated resources. Managed VPS hosting includes provider-managed updates and support. Unmanaged VPS grants full control over server configuration but requires users to manage all maintenance, security, and troubleshooting.
Managed VPS costs more as it includes 24/7 support, security updates, and provider-managed maintenance. Unmanaged VPS offers greater flexibility and customization while managed VPS is more user friendly. Both excel performance-wise with managed VPS benefiting from provider optimizations and unmanaged VPS allowing for manual performance tuning.
Support, flexibility, and cost are the 3 areas where differences between managed and unmanaged VPS are most evident. Choose managed VPS if you need a reliable, hassle-free hosting experience with provider-managed security, updates, and support. Choose unmanaged VPS if you have the technical expertise to handle configurations, maintenance, and security independently.
The table below summarizes the differences between managed VPS and unmanaged VPS in terms of cost, support, security, flexibility, maintenance, user-friendliness, and performance.
| Attribute | Managed VPS | Unmanaged VPS |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Higher, includes server management and support | Lower, host provides infrastructure only |
| Support | 24/7 technical assistance available | Limited or no support beyond hardware and network issues |
| Security | Provider manages security, patches, and backups | Users responsible for security configurations |
| Flexibility | Limited customization due to provider settings | Root access give full control over software and configurations |
| Maintenance | Provider handles updates and troubleshooting | Users responsible for all maintenance |
| User-Friendliness | Easier to use, no technical expertise required | Requires advanced server management skills |
| Performance | Optimized by the provider for stability | Fully customizable but requires manual tuning |
What Is Managed VPS?
Managed VPS refers to VPS (Virtual Private Server) hosting that includes convenient managed services within its plan. VPS hosting is a type of hosting that provides a virtualized server environment within a physical server. It allocates dedicated resources such as CPU, RAM, and storage to each user while maintaining isolation between accounts. This ensures better performance and flexibility than shared forms of hosting.
Managed VPS therefore combines the power of VPS hosting with expert server management handled by the provider. Customers have access to a team of trained professionals who manage technically complex tasks like software installation, operating system (OS) updates, monitoring, backups, security patches and performance optimization. The host takes care of the core of the server and ensures it is running smoothly. This frees up the website owner to focus on their core business functions.
What Is Unmanaged VPS?
Unmanaged VPS (also called Self-managed VPS) refers to VPS hosting that gives users complete control over their server environment. The hosting provider supplies the virtual server and basic infrastructure but does not add in server management services.
This means users are fully responsible for maintaining their servers on a regular basis. This includes taking care of software updates, routine maintenance tasks and taking backups. Unmanaged VPS is best suited for tech-savvy users who have prior expertise in server management.
What Is the Difference Between Managed and Unmanaged VPS?
The difference between managed and unmanaged VPS refers to their variations across 7 areas: cost, support, security, flexibility, maintenance, user-friendliness and performance.
Managed VPS is pricier because it includes more extensive support, security, and ongoing maintenance for the length of the contract. Unmanaged VPS is cheaper and offers greater flexibility, but users need to handle security, maintenance, and optimizations of the VPS themselves. Managed VPS is easier to use, while unmanaged VPS provides full customization and root access for experienced users. Performance is high on both. Managed VPS benefits from provider performance optimizations while unmanaged VPS allows advanced users to fine-tune configurations themselves.
Cost
Managed VPS is more expensive than unmanaged VPS due to the additional management services and support it includes. Costs of reputable VPS hosting range from $6.99 – $69.99 per month, while reputable unmanaged VPS hosting costs between $4.99 – $20 per month. Unmanaged VPS is cheaper because it only provides the server infrastructure. However, unmanaged VPS may not include a control panel which requires users to purchase their own license. The cost of unmanaged VPS increases further if businesses need to hire IT staff.
Support
Managed VPS provides more comprehensive support. Managed VPS users have 24/7 access to experts who help with hardware and software issue resolution. Premium technical support is particularly valuable for VPS hosting given its inherently technical nature. In contrast, unmanaged VPS offers little to no support beyond hardware or network-related issues. Unmanaged VPS users must rely on their own knowledge when performing complex tasks like monitoring resource usage or working with command line (CLI).
Security
Managed VPS offers higher security because it typically includes built-in features such as firewalls, malware scanning, automated updates, and automated backups. Unmanaged VPS requires users to properly configure security measures themselves and monitor logs. Forgetting to install security patches or misconfiguring firewalls exposes the VPS to exploits, unauthorized access, and DDoS attacks.
Flexibility
Managed VPS has limited flexibility due to provider-imposed settings and restrictions designed to maintain server stability. Unmanaged VPS provides high flexibility. Users have unrestricted root access. This allows them to make unlimited server configurations and install the OS version of their choice.
Maintenance
Managed VPS hosting significantly reduces the user’s maintenance efforts. The web host covers server maintenance and monitoring tasks for the length of your contract, giving you peace of mind. Unmanaged VPS requires ongoing maintenance from the user on a regular basis. The technical nature of VPS hosting means this requires higher involvement and technical complexity. Routine tasks like OS updates and monitoring logs require considerable time, effort, and expertise.
User-Friendliness
Managed VPS is much more user-friendly since server-related tasks are handled by the provider. It makes VPS hosting accessible even to beginners or business owners who don’t have time or technical teams. Unmanaged VPS is more complex since it requires advanced knowledge of server administration.
Performance
Both managed and unmanaged VPS offer high performance, but unmanaged VPS requires proper configuration to achieve optimal speed and stability. Managed VPS benefits from provider optimizations like caching, load balancing, and database tuning. This ensures performance is stable out of the box. Unmanaged VPS enables advanced users to fine-tune server settings such as PHP limits, Nginx or Apache configurations, and MySQL optimization. However, without proper tuning, an unmanaged VPS may underperform compared to a well-optimized managed VPS.
How Do I Choose Between Managed and Unmanaged VPS?
Choose managed VPS if you need a powerful VPS that doesn’t require you to handle server management yourself. It is ideal for businesses without IT teams and who prefer to focus on creating content and growing their site. Choose unmanaged VPS if you want a cheaper VPS option and have the technical expertise to manage a server. This option suits experienced businesses with in-house IT teams who require full customization and control over their hosting environment. Whichever your choice, ensure you opt for a good hosting provider that provides reliable plans of that web hosting type.
What Makes a Good Managed VPS Provider?
A good managed VPS provider offers expert management and support, enhanced security measures, optimized performance, and time-saving services. Consult our shortlist of the best managed VPS hosting providers to get started.
What Makes a Good Unmanaged VPS Provider?
A good unmanaged VPS provider offers full control and customization, generous resources, and excellent affordability. Consult our shortlist of the best unmanaged VPS hosting providers to get started.