About to rent a server, but torn between a VPS and a dedicated server? You're definitely not the only one: it's one of the questions we at Etheron get most often. Both options give you complete freedom over your own server environment, but they differ considerably in performance, price, and scalability.
In this blog post, we lay out the differences clearly. By the end, you'll know exactly which server best fits your project, whether that's a website, an application, or a game server.
What is a VPS
A VPS (Virtual Private Server) is a virtual server that runs on a powerful physical machine. You share that machine with other users, but your environment is fully isolated: you get your own operating system, full root access, and reserved resources.
With our VPS hosting, your virtual server runs on AMD EPYC processors with blazing-fast NVMe SSDs in RAID10, connected to a redundant 10 Gbit network. You choose your own operating system, from Ubuntu and Debian to Windows Server, and manage everything easily via the VirtFusion control panel. You can get started from as little as €2.95 per month.
What is a dedicated server
A dedicated server is a complete physical machine that's entirely yours. No virtualization and no neighbors: all CPU power, RAM, and storage are 100% yours. That makes a dedicated server the most powerful and most predictable form of hosting.
Our dedicated servers come in two flavors: the Enterprise line from €40 per month with high multi-core performance, and the Game line from €60 per month with high single-core performance, ideal for game servers. IPMI access gives you control over your machine at all times, even if the operating system isn't responding.
VPS or dedicated server: the key differences
In the end, the choice comes down to a few core points. These are the differences that really matter:
- Performance: a VPS gets a fixed share of a physical server, while a dedicated server gives you all of the machine's computing power. For heavy databases, busy applications, or large game servers, dedicated is the safest choice.
- Isolation: on a dedicated server, you're the only user of the hardware. A VPS is neatly isolated, but does share the underlying machine with others.
- Cost: a VPS is considerably cheaper. With us, you can start from as little as €2.95 per month, while dedicated servers start at €40 per month.
- Scalability: a VPS can be upgraded to more cores, RAM, or storage in a few clicks, without data loss, and you only pay the difference. With a dedicated server, you're tied to the physical hardware.
- Delivery: a VPS is ready for you immediately after payment. Most dedicated configurations are also delivered right away, although that depends on the available hardware.
When to choose a VPS
A VPS is the smart choice if you want to stay flexible. Think of websites, webshops, development environments, VPNs, or smaller game servers. You start small and easily scale up when your project calls for it.
Another plus: our VPSes include free daily backups with 14 days of retention, plus a dedicated IPv4 address and a /112 IPv6 subnet. Running out of room? Then you can upgrade to a bigger plan without any hassle.
When to choose a dedicated server
Go for a dedicated server when maximum performance and full isolation are important. Think of large game communities, high-traffic platforms, heavy databases, or situations where you want to be certain no one else is using your hardware.
A dedicated server is also ideal if you want to run your own virtualization or host multiple services on a single machine. You decide how to use the full capacity.
Renting a VPS or dedicated server at Etheron
Whichever you choose, with us your server is always located in the Netherlands. Our servers run in the ISO-certified datacenters NorthC and Databarn in Amsterdam, with low latency across all of Europe thanks to hundreds of connected networks.
On top of that, both options come with the same guarantees:
- DDoS protection: your server is protected against attacks as standard, and we're continuously improving our protection.
- Flexibility: no long-term contracts — you can cancel monthly and pay no hidden fees.
- Freedom: full root access and a wide range of operating systems to choose from.
- Sustainability: our servers run on green energy in Dutch datacenters.
Still torn between a VPS and a dedicated server, or would you like advice on the best configuration for your project? Feel free to get in touch via our Discord community or create a ticket. We're happy to think along with you, so your project gets off to a flying start!