# What Is a VPS, and Should You Choose One Over Shared Hosting?

> Canonical: https://jethost.com/kb/what-is-a-vps-and-should-you-choose-one/ · Last modified: 2026-08-20T06:47:49+00:00

A VPS (Virtual Private Server) gives you a private slice of a physical machine - with dedicated CPU, RAM, storage and full root access. It sits between shared hosting and a dedicated server, giving you far more control and guaranteed resources without the cost of renting a whole machine.

## What makes a VPS different from shared hosting

On shared hosting, many websites live on one server and share its resources. It's simple and affordable, but you can't install custom software and a busy neighbour can affect your performance. A JetHost VPS reserves resources exclusively for you:

- **Dedicated CPU and RAM** - the performance you get on day one is what you can rely on every day
- **Full root / SSH access** - install any operating system, software or stack
- **NVMe SSD storage** - fast disks for applications, databases and sites
- **A dedicated IPv4 address** and your own firewall rules

## When should you choose a VPS?

A VPS is the right move when your site outgrows shared hosting, when you need software that shared plans don't allow, or when you're building anything beyond a plain website - an API backend, a game server, a VPN or a development environment.

## Is a JetHost VPS managed or self-managed?

Every JetHost VPS is **self-managed**: you get full root access and complete control, while we keep the hypervisor, network and power running underneath. You install and maintain the software; we make sure the infrastructure never lets you down, backed by a 99.99% uptime SLA.

## JetHost Experts Tip

If you've never managed a server before, start with the smallest plan (**VPS Mini**) and a familiar Linux distribution like Ubuntu. You can always upgrade later without reinstalling - and every plan comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee.

Ready to compare configurations? See our guide to the JetHost VPS plans and pick the one that fits your workload.

## Need More Help?

A VPS gives you dedicated power and full control - and it's easier to start than most people expect. If you get stuck, the JetHost team is available 24/7 and usually answers in under five minutes - just [contact us](https://jethost.com/contact-us/) and we'll help you sort it out. Explore our other [VPS tutorials](https://jethost.com/kb/category/vps/) to get the most out of your server.