The short answer
For a normal website, WordPress site, PHP/MySQL project, static site or compatible lightweight application, shared hosting is usually the correct first test. KVM VPS is the stronger choice when the software—not marketing language—requires root or unrestricted server behavior.
What shared hosting gives you
A managed environment with GreatHosts CP for files, domains, databases, email, PHP/Python configuration, backups and related website operations. You do not administer the host operating system.
- Lower operational burden.
- No root access.
- Plan-defined resource limits.
- Entry shared plans document CPU allowance starting around 5%, with higher allowances on some plans.
- 30-day limited-functionality trial applies to shared hosting.
What KVM VPS changes
KVM gives you root-level server control and dedicated virtual resources. That freedom also means more responsibility for the operating system, packages, service configuration and security unless the selected administration option covers the task.
- Suitable for custom system packages and services.
- Better fit for persistent workers/daemons.
- Useful when application isolation or sustained resource control is required.
- Do not assume every application becomes faster merely because it is on VPS.
Do not use CPU percentage alone
A short CPU spike is not the same as sustained resource pressure. Optimize inefficient queries, caching, image processing and bot traffic first. Move tiers when measured usage, timeouts or required services show that the existing environment is the constraint.
Expand the managed plan before you replace it
A missing application service is not automatically a reason to move the whole site to VPS. The live GreatHosts CP shows NodeJS instances and application services such as Redis, Memcached, Varnish and Supervisor as capabilities that can be included by plan or ordered as add-ons on a shared-hosting plan when not included. This creates an intermediate growth step between entry shared hosting and server administration.
- First check the live product table: some plans already include the capability.
- If it is not included, GreatHosts CP can expose it under Add/Upgrade Services when available for the account.
- The CP shows the current monthly rate and the amount due for the remaining plan term before the order is placed.
- Move to KVM when the workload needs root, custom operating-system packages, stronger isolation or sustained resources—not merely because one add-on became necessary.
Decision matrix
Choose based on requirements: managed website stack → shared; more managed headroom → semi-dedicated; root/custom OS services → KVM; dedicated physical resources → dedicated. OpenVZ remains another VPS family with plan-specific capabilities and should be compared from the live catalogue.
Migration should be reversible
Before moving to VPS, capture files, databases, DNS state and application configuration. Plan a rollback window. Moving infrastructure does not fix an application-level defect automatically.
Common questions
Is VPS always faster than shared hosting?
No. It can provide more controllable resources, but application performance still depends on configuration, code, database behavior and the actual VPS size.
When is root access a real requirement?
When you must install/configure system-level packages or services that the managed hosting environment does not expose.
What sits between shared and VPS?
Semi-dedicated hosting can provide more managed resources without moving immediately to full server administration.