> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.freakhosting.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # VPS vs Dedicated Server: What's the Difference? > VPS vs dedicated server: a VPS is a virtual machine sharing a physical host; a dedicated server is a whole physical machine for you. Compare cost and uses. A VPS (virtual private server) is a virtual machine: a share of one physical server, with its own operating system, root access and a fixed amount of CPU, RAM and storage. A dedicated server is a whole physical machine that only you use. A VPS is cheaper, starts in minutes and can be resized; a dedicated server gives you all of the hardware's performance and full control over it. | | VPS | Dedicated server | | - | - | - | | What you get | A virtual machine on a shared physical host | An entire physical server | | Root / Administrator access | Yes | Yes | | Performance | Your allocated vCPUs, RAM and disk; shares the host's hardware | All CPU cores, RAM, disks and network port of the machine | | Set-up time | Minutes, automated | Longer, because physical hardware is prepared | | Resizing | Usually a move to a larger plan | Hardware change or a new server | | Management tools | VPS Control Panel: console, reinstall, backups, rescue mode | Provider-assisted for hardware, console and reinstalls | | Cost | Lower | Higher | | Best for | Websites, bots, small game servers, development, VPNs | Large game networks, databases, heavy CPU work, many VMs | ## Before you start This page explains the difference so you can choose. The guides in this section are for servers where you run the operating system yourself. Read [what an unmanaged VPS is](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/what-is-an-unmanaged-vps.md) if you are new to running servers. ## What is a VPS? A VPS runs on a physical host computer with a hypervisor, software that pools the machine's CPU, memory and storage and shares them between isolated virtual machines (KVM, which is built into the Linux kernel, is a common one). Each VPS has: * its own operating system, which you choose and can reinstall, * its own IP address and root (Linux) or Administrator (Windows) login, * a set number of virtual CPU cores (vCPUs), RAM and disk space. Other customers on the same host can't see your files or processes. You do share the physical CPUs, disks and network with them, which is why a VPS costs less. On a FREAKHOSTING VPS you manage the machine in the [VPS Control Panel](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/vps-panel/vps-control-panel-dashboard-overview.md): power, [reinstall](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/vps-panel/how-to-rebuild-and-reinstall-your-vps.md), [VNC console](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/vps-panel/how-to-enable-and-use-vnc-console-access.md), [backups](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/vps-panel/how-to-schedule-and-restore-backups.md) and [resource graphs](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/vps-panel/how-to-monitor-vps-resource-usage.md). ## What is a dedicated server? A dedicated server (sometimes called bare metal) is a physical machine in a data centre that is rented to one customer. Nothing else runs on it unless you put it there. You get: * every CPU core and all the RAM in the machine, * direct access to the physical disks, including RAID if the server has it, * the full network port of the machine. Because there is no hypervisor between you and the hardware, you can also run your own virtualisation (for example Proxmox VE) and split the server into VMs yourself. For tasks that need the provider, such as a hardware check, remote console access or an OS reinstall, [open a ticket](https://freakhosting.com/clientarea/submitticket.php). ## Which should I choose? **1. Start with a VPS if you are unsure** Most websites, Discord bots, small game servers, VPNs and test environments run comfortably on a VPS. It is cheaper and you can move to a larger plan as you grow. **2. Move to dedicated when you hit the limits** Consider a dedicated server when your VPS is constantly at 100% CPU, you need more RAM or disk than VPS plans offer, your workload is sensitive to sharing (very busy databases, large game networks, CPU-heavy rendering or compiling), or you want to run your own virtualisation. **3. Check your measurements** Look at real usage before you upgrade. See [monitor VPS resource usage](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/vps-panel/how-to-monitor-vps-resource-usage.md), [what is load average](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/what-is-load-average-on-linux.md) and [what is using CPU](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/how-to-find-what-is-using-cpu-on-linux.md). Sometimes a configuration change fixes the problem. ## Is a VPS the same as shared web hosting? No. On shared web hosting many websites run under one operating system that the host manages; you get a control panel but no root access. On a VPS you have your own operating system and full root access, and you install and maintain everything yourself. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is a VPS as secure as a dedicated server? The hypervisor isolates each VPS from the others, so other customers can't reach your files. How secure your server really is depends mostly on how you configure it: updates, firewall, SSH keys and backups. Start with the [Linux security checklist](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/linux-server-security-checklist.md). ### Can I run Windows on a VPS or dedicated server? Windows Server runs on both kinds of server. On a VPS you choose it when you [set up](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/vps-panel/how-to-set-up-your-new-vps.md) or reinstall the server. See [which operating system to choose](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/which-operating-system-should-i-choose-for-my-vps.md). ### Can I move from a VPS to a dedicated server later? Yes, but it is a migration, not a button: you set up the new server and copy your data across, for example with [rsync](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/how-to-copy-files-with-scp-and-rsync.md) and a [database dump](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/how-to-back-up-and-restore-mysql-databases.md). ### What does "unmanaged" mean for these servers? You are responsible for the operating system and software. See [what is an unmanaged VPS](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/what-is-an-unmanaged-vps.md). ## Related guides > [card] [VPS and dedicated server guides](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/vps-and-dedicated-server-guides.md) > > Every guide in this section. > [card] [What is an unmanaged VPS?](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/what-is-an-unmanaged-vps.md) > > What you look after yourself. > [card] [Choose an operating system](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/which-operating-system-should-i-choose-for-my-vps.md) > > Linux or Windows Server. > [card] [Benchmark your VPS](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/how-to-benchmark-your-vps.md) > > Measure CPU, disk and network. > [card] [VPS Control Panel overview](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/vps-panel/vps-control-panel-dashboard-overview.md) > > Manage your VPS. *** > [!NOTE] > > **Checked against [Red Hat: What is a hypervisor?](https://www.redhat.com/en/topics/virtualization/what-is-a-hypervisor)** on 4 November 2026. Plan specifications and prices change; see the [client area](https://freakhosting.com/clientarea) for current details. > [!NOTE] > > ### Need Extra Help? > > If you encounter any issues, our support team is ready to assist: > > * **Live Chat:** Quick assistance via our website. > * **Support Ticket:** [Open a Ticket](https://freakhosting.com/clientarea/submitticket.php) > * **Discord:** [Join our Community](https://discord.gg/freakhosting) > * **Email:** [support@freakhosting.com](mailto:support@freakhosting.com) > [!TIP] > > ### Save on Your Hosting > > Ready to upgrade your hosting? Use code **KB20** at checkout for **20% off** your first order! *** **Last Updated:** November 2026 This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.