What hosting is
Hosting is the computer, always switched on and connected to the internet, where your website or software lives. The type of hosting decides how fast the site loads, how many visitors it can handle and how much control you have.
The three common types
Shared hosting
Many websites share one server. It is the cheapest option and is managed for you. The drawback is that a busy neighbour can slow your site down, and you can install only what the provider allows.
VPS (virtual private server)
You get a reserved portion of a server with your own memory and processor share. It is faster and more flexible, but someone has to manage security updates and backups.
Cloud hosting
Your site runs on a large provider's network of servers. You can add capacity when traffic grows and pay for what you use. It is the most flexible option and needs the most technical knowledge to set up well.
Comparison
| Factor | Shared | VPS | Cloud |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Lowest | Medium | Depends on usage |
| Speed under load | Limited | Good | Very good |
| Control | Low | High | High |
| Management needed | Very little | Regular | Regular |
| Suits | Small brochure websites | Busy sites, custom software | Apps and systems that must grow |
Which one do you need?
- A small business or school website: good shared hosting is enough.
- An online store or news site: a VPS, so that sale days and busy hours do not bring the site down.
- ERP, LMS or a mobile app backend: a VPS or cloud server with daily backups.
Does the server location matter?
Yes. The closer the server is to your visitors, the faster pages load. For visitors in Nepal, servers in South Asia or Singapore usually respond faster than servers in Europe or America. A content delivery network (CDN) also helps by keeping copies of your pages near the visitor.
What to check before paying
- Automatic daily backups, and how to restore one.
- A free SSL certificate for HTTPS.
- Support hours and response time.
- The renewal price, not only the first-year offer.
- That the account is in your business's name.
We plan, set up and manage hosting as part of our cloud and hosting solutions, including backups and monitoring. If you have not registered a domain yet, start with our guide to registering a .com.np domain.
