Todd Terwillegar When choosing VPS hosting for your website, one of the most important decisions you’ll face is between managed and unmanaged VPS. While both options provide the same basic VPS infrastructure, they differ significantly in terms of support, control, and responsibility.
With managed VPS, your provider handles the technical details. With unmanaged VPS, you take full control. This guide breaks down what each option offers to help you choose the right VPS hosting for your needs.
Key points
- VPS hosting offers more control than shared hosting and is ideal for growing businesses that need to upgrade their hosting solution.
- Managed VPS provides a hands-off approach where the provider handles technical management, security, and support, which is ideal for businesses focusing on growth rather than server administration.
- Unmanaged VPS costs less but requires technical expertise, making it suitable for businesses with IT teams or technical knowledge who want complete server control.
What is managed VPS hosting?
Managed VPS is a virtual server where the hosting provider handles server setup, maintenance, security, and support. It essentially lets you take more of a hands-off approach. The hosting provider applies security patches and OS updates automatically, and you get 24/7 monitoring and automated backups.
The VPS is available for whatever functionality you require. You use it, and we take care of the technical side of things. This style is an ideal choice if you are not tech-savvy or don’t have a team to manage on a regular basis. For example, VPS hosting for an eCommerce site that’s planning to significantly scale just makes sense.
Managed VPS allows you to focus on growing your business without having to manage the core of the server. When things like maintenance, troubleshooting, or software installation come up, you can stay focused on what’s important.
Pros and cons of managed VPS
Pros:
- Saves you and your team time.
- Requires no IT expertise on your side.
- Ensures OS updates are made, keeping you secure and current.
- Ensures all changes are made correctly.
Cons:
- Costs more than unmanaged.
- Gives more control to an outside party.
What is unmanaged VPS?
Unmanaged VPS is a hosting solution where you handle all server management tasks including setup, software installation, security, and maintenance.
If you’re tech-savvy or have a decent-sized IT department, an unmanaged plan can be an option for you. There are no tickets or calls; just jump in and get to work with things like:
- Installing the operating system and control panel.
- Configuring firewalls and monitoring for threats.
- Tuning server settings and resource allocation.
- Creating and managing data recovery systems
Pros and cons of unmanaged VPS
Pros:
- Cost savings over managed VPS.
- Gives you more control.
Cons:
- Takes time away from core business functions.
- Requires 24/7 IT support from your business on the clock.
- Difficult to keep up with OS updates and patches.
- Potentially decreases security and reliability if updates are not performed regularly.
Managed vs. unmanaged VPS hosting: How do they compare?
| Feature | Managed VPS | Unmanaged VPS |
| Responsibilities | Handled by provider | Self-managed |
| Performance | Handled by provider | Self-managed |
| Technical expertise | Minimal | Advanced |
| Support level | Comprehensive, typically 24/7 | Basic/limited |
| Cost factors | Higher | Lower |
| Control and flexibility | Moderate | Complete |
| Server setup | Provider installs OS and software | You install everything manually |
Responsibilities
The main difference between managed and unmanaged VPS lies in who handles server maintenance. With managed VPS, your provider handles all system updates, security patches, and performance optimization. They monitor your server 24/7 and address issues proactively, often before you notice them. They also implement DDoS protection and malware scanning.
Backup systems are another important consideration. Managed VPS includes automated backups with easy restoration options, while unmanaged VPS requires you to implement and maintain your own backup solution. This responsibility includes creating backup schedules and ensuring proper storage procedures. Unmanaged VPS also requires manual configuration of firewall rules and intrusion detection.
Security management also differs significantly. Managed VPS providers implement comprehensive security measures, including firewalls, DDoS protection, and malware scanning. With unmanaged VPS, you’ll need to configure and maintain all security measures yourself, from firewall rules to intrusion detection.
| Winner: Managed VPS The comprehensive management of critical server responsibilities and professional oversight provides more peace of mind and reliability. |
Performance
Both managed and unmanaged VPS hosting offer dedicated resources that can deliver strong speed and reliability for your applications. The difference lies in how performance is optimized and maintained over time.
With managed VPS, your hosting provider proactively tunes server settings, implements caching, and monitors resource usage to ensure consistent, high-level performance. This expert oversight means performance bottlenecks are often identified and resolved before they impact your users, resulting in a smoother, more stable experience.
Unmanaged VPS hosting puts the responsibility for performance squarely on your shoulders. While you have the freedom to customize every aspect of your server, achieving and maintaining optimal performance requires some technical expertise. Without proper configuration and ongoing maintenance, unmanaged VPS can underperform compared to a well-optimized managed solution, especially as your site grows or traffic surges.
| Winner: Managed VPSManaged VPS offers reliable, consistent results. Unmanaged VPS demands constant attention and expertise to achieve the same levels as a managed service. |
Technical expertise
VPS management typically includes a control panel (like cPanel or Plesk) for easier server management. While this simplifies administration, it may limit some configuration options.
Unmanaged VPS provides full root access to the server. It provides complete freedom in server setup but requires technical expertise to configure and maintain. System administration tasks that are automated in managed environments must be manually handled in unmanaged setups.
| Winner: Unmanaged VPS While requiring more expertise, unmanaged VPS provides maximum technical flexibility and control for those with the necessary skills. |
Support level
Managed VPS comes with comprehensive technical support, including assistance with server optimization, troubleshooting, and application issues. The learning curve is gentler since experts handle complex tasks.
Unmanaged VPS typically only includes basic infrastructure support, requiring significant technical knowledge and a steeper learning curve.
| Winner: Managed VPS The combination of comprehensive support and lower technical requirements makes managed VPS the better choice for most users seeking reliable assistance. |
Cost factors
Managed VPS typically costs more than unmanaged VPS. However, the true cost comparison isn’t that simple. Unmanaged VPS requires additional investments in control panel licenses, security tools, and backup solutions.
Time costs also factor in significantly. Managed VPS saves valuable hours that would otherwise go to server administration and troubleshooting. With unmanaged VPS, you’ll either need to invest your own time or hire technical staff to manage the server.
| Winner: Tie The value proposition here depends on your situation. If you have technical expertise and time available, unmanaged VPS offers cost savings. If you value time and reliability over price, managed VPS provides better overall value. |
Control and flexibility
Unmanaged VPS offers complete control over your environment, letting you install any software, modify any configuration, and optimize resources however you choose. This flexibility is perfect for unique or complex hosting needs.
Managed VPS trades some flexibility for convenience and reliability. While you can still customize your environment, providers may limit certain options to maintain security and stability. Common restrictions include specific PHP versions or server configurations.
In terms of resource management, managed VPS providers optimize your resources based on best practices, while unmanaged VPS lets you fine-tune every aspect of resource allocation. This control can lead to better performance but requires expertise to implement correctly.
| Winner: Unmanaged VPS The unlimited freedom to customize and control every aspect of the server environment makes unmanaged VPS the clear winner for flexibility. This includes the ability to configure custom software stacks, modify server settings, and implement specialized security protocols based on your specific requirements. |
Server setup
Server setup defines who installs and configures the operating system and core software when your VPS is created.
With Managed VPS, the hosting provider installs the operating system, applies initial security patches, and configures essential software and control panels so the server is production-ready on day one.
However, with unmanaged VPS, you install the operating system, select and configure all software, and create your own security and optimization settings before the server can be used.
| Winner: Managed VPS Managed VPS eliminates the need for complex initial configuration, providing a ready-to-use environment and reducing the risk of setup errors. |
Managed vs. unmanaged VPS hosting: Which should I choose?
With fully managed VPS, you’ll have a dedicated support team handling all aspects of VPS hosting, saving your team valuable time. Choosing managed hosting allows you to:
- Reduce your risks. You can effectively reduce your exposure to online risks with a managed hosting provider that offers a high level of oversight and constant maintenance on the backend.
- Keep up with the speed of business. Your hosting provider will work with you to adjust your hosting resources when you need them to ensure your IT scales with your business. If you’re moving beyond shared hosting, see our guide on when to upgrade for additional tips.
- Stay up to date with technology. You’ll get access to the latest technology without having to invest a lot of capital.
- Stay compliant. Your managed hosting provider will take care of ongoing compliance requirements, freeing up time to focus on other tasks.
- Get access to skilled experts. Your provider can help keep team members educated and up to date on the latest IT threats and opportunities.
Liquid Web’s managed servers are protected by its proprietary server protection technology, which helps ensure your systems remain secure while they’re being used. Liquid Web’s Support Team, meanwhile, will help you deal with everything from software compatibility to VPS security.
Whether you choose managed or unmanaged VPS, a Liquid Web VPS has you covered.
Try Liquid Web’s VPS hosting
VPS Hosting at Liquid Web is flexible, scalable, and cost-effective for growing businesses and startups with web applications. You get root access to configure your server, the option to use a control panel, and the freedom to customize hardware to your site’s specific needs.
As your requirements grow, a VPS lets you scale quickly with minimal downtime, delivering reliability and performance for critical applications.
With Liquid Web, the Managed Support Team is available 24/7 to answer questions and provide expert assistance whenever you need it.
Get started with Liquid Web VPS hosting and choose the managed or unmanaged plan that fits your business today!
