VPS vs VPN: What are the Differences?

VPS is a Virtual Private Server on rent, ideal for hosting websites, blogs, and applications. VPN is a Virtual Private Network, a cybersecurity tool that hides IP addresses, protects privacy, eliminates cyber threats, and bypasses censorship. Today’s blog will critically examine VPS and VPN and the differences, purpose, use cases, and other important factors of VPS vs VPN. 

Let’s delve into the discussion on VPS vs VPN and find the suitable one for you.

VPS vs VPN: Quick Comparison

	VPS (Virtual Private Server)	VPN (Virtual Private Network)
What is it?	A virtual server for hosting	A virtual network for secure browsing
What is it used for?	Used for hosting websites, images, blogs, files, videos, etc.	Used for hiding IP address, protect from cyber threats, and censorship bypass
Security and encryption	Security depends on the VPS server provider and configuration	Premium VPNs offer robust security and encryption
Speed and Performance	Fast speed, load balancing, and dedicated traffic spike management	Depending on the server, protocol used, and network condition
Types/Services	Cloud hosting, shared hosting, managed hosting, dedicated hosting, etc.	Free VPN, Paid VPN, Lifetime VPN, Individual or Business VPN
Customizability	Highly customizable according to your requirements	Not customizable/low customization options

What is a VPS?

VPS or Virtual Private Server is a physical server but virtualized and shared with multiple people. Everyone on the server has root/admin access, and they can customize the server according to their needs.

Imagine VPS is like renting an apartment where you have your own dedicated place, and other places are shared with different tenants in the same apartment.

VPS servers are ideal for hosting websites, blogs, and apps and accessing remotely from anywhere.  Developers use VPS services to spin up temporary virtual servers for testing applications in different environments and configurations. 

Why do you need a VPS?

VPS servers offer several benefits, making them a valuable choice for individuals and businesses. Here are some major reasons you should consider using a VPS.

• Improved Performance: VPS can deliver improved performance for day-to-day operations and offer on-demand services and support. 

Dedicated servers are better than shared hosting servers for more traffic-heavy platforms like e-commerce.

• Enhanced Security: VPS offers better security than shared servers. You get your own environment. from the other users on the same server and prevent unauthorized access to your services. 
• Cost-effectiveness: Compared to shared hosting, VPS provides better services and support at a reduced cost, which is ideal for everyone.
• Scalability: VPS comes with great scalability as you can scale up your resources like SSD, RAM, and CPU to accommodate the growth of your site.

What are the Disadvantages of a VPS?

Despite many advantages, VPS comes with some potential disadvantages too.

• Server configuration: VPS servers must be configured manually per individual or business requirements. Configuring a server is highly technical and needs expert networking knowledge, which can be challenging for many.
• Costly than shared hosting: As VPS offers better security, privacy, and accessibility, it costs more than a shared hosting server.
• Increased dependency: VPS requires a certain level of dependency on the provider, as they are responsible for maintaining the physical server.
• Possible security risks: Even though VPS offers better security and encryption than shared hosting services, mismanagement of configuration can open up vulnerabilities, resulting in increased security risks.

Now that we’ve covered VPS let’s move on to VPN.

What is a VPN?

Virtual Private Network is a cybersecurity tool that connects you to a virtual server and encrypts your internet connection. It helps you to protect your privacy by hiding your real IP address and eliminates the risk of cyber attacks.

However, you need to be cautious of which VPN provide you choose. There are many free VPNs available that are not recommended to use. 

Free VPNs keep the log of your usage data (Real IP address, location data, device information) and sell it to the advertiser to keep the business running.

So, using a secure and trustworthy VPN that offers strong AES-256-bit encryption, no logs policy, and cutting-edge protocols is advised.

Why do you need a VPN?

VPNs have several potential benefits. In 2024, VPN tools will be a must-have item in everyone’s pocket to protect their privacy and security. Let’s check them out.

1. Enhanced Security

VPNs provide you with a complete 360-degree solution to privacy and security. It connects you to a secure virtual server to protect your internet connection from hackers, viruses, malwares, and prying eyes.

2. Geo-restriction bypass

VPNs help bypass content restrictions imposed by the government or your internet service provider (ISP). It allows you to unblock social media, restricted sites, directories, or streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, Disney+, etc.

3. Privacy Protection

VPNs protect your privacy by hiding your real IP address while you browse the internet. Thus, you can browse anything from anywhere securely without compromising your identity. It’s great while downloading torrent files anonymously.

4. Gaming and Streaming

VPNs offer excellent gaming and streaming support by providing low latency,  no speed limit, and unlimited bandwidth. Users can enjoy lag-free gaming and bufferless streaming using game-optimized VPN servers. 

Furthermore, VPNs can help you to unlock Steam games early.

5. Censorship Bypass

VPNs allow you to unblock the internet in countries with heavy internet censorship, like China, Russia, Korea etc. You can securely access any restricted content without compromising your real IP address, location, and identity.

6. Cyber threat prevention

VPNs can protect you from all kinds of cyber threats, such as hacking, phishing, viruses, and malwares. It also gives protection against DDOS attacks.

What are the Pros and Cons of VPN?

Here are the potential pros and cons of a VPN (Virtual Private Network)

Pros	Cons
Enhanced privacy and security.	Security may vary depending on the service provider.
Protects you from cyber threats.	Connection speed depends on the offered protocol, server speed, and stability.
It helps you to bypass geo-restriction.	Comes with a subscription fee.
Allows smooth gaming and streaming.

Verdict: VPS vs VPN, Which One to Choose?

Both VPS and VPN have a different purpose. Choose a VPS if you need a virtual server to host your website, blog, applications, etc. Choose a VPN if you need safe access to the internet, protect privacy, and unblock geo-restricted content.

FAQs

Are VPS Free?

No, VPS services are generally not free. There are several subscription plans to set up a virtual private service. Shared hosting services cost less than a fully private server but are not recommended for heavy-traffic-based sites or applications.

Are VPNs Free?

There are free VPNs, but they are not recommended for usage. Free VPNs have potential security risks as they sell user usage data to advertisers. Using a secure and trustworthy premium VPN is recommended for maximum security and privacy.

Can I use my VPS as a VPN?

Yes, you can use a VPS as a VPN by hosting a VPN server on your VPS. It allows you to route all your internet traffic through your VPN server. Remember that you must configure the VPS server on your own, giving you full control over your data.

Conclusion

VPS and VPN both have different purposes. VPS is used as a server for rent, mainly for hosting services, where a VPN is a tool that protects you from unsecured internet. So, choose the one that meets your needs the most.