- VPS -hosting attracts lean teams prioritize cost -effectiveness and flexible scalability
- Dedicated servers provide stronger performance and safety of heavy workloads and compliance
- Selection of infrastructures increasingly shaped by costs, support and sustainability
A new study from one of the best web hosting providers reveals how IT leaders weigh the exchange between virtual private servers and dedicated servers, with decisions shaped by both cost pressure and long-term infrastructure planning.
The fluid web study of 1,000 leaders shows that hosting elections in 2025 is done as much for growth and resilience as they are for technical performance.
Performance remains the leading driver, but with 36% of respondents who said it was their top consideration, a little ahead of costs to 35%.
Support an important factor
Dedicated server users were more likely to mention service and security, while VPS users are leaning towards affordable prices and scalability.
VPS users were also more likely than dedicated users to predict growing out of their current environments of 71% against 64%.
Not surprisingly, support remains an important factor in elections. Nearly 80% said 24/7 Technical Support was either extremely important or a strong consideration.
Carrie Wheeler, President of Liquid Web, told Techradar Pro, “Don’t underestimate the value of support around the clock, it is the protection that transforms technological challenges into uptime victories.”
More than one -third reported business interruption breaks due to delayed or inadequate support.
Two out of five leaders admitted to having delayed product launches because their infrastructure was not ready.
Live chat and phone support remains the most preferred response channels, while only 15% would first turn to AI-Chatbots or self-service portals.
Differences in workload also play a factor. Dedicated servers were more likely to host databases and E trading platforms, while VPS implementations leaned against web applications, test environments and game servers.
Almost half of dedicated server upenters pointed to stronger, more stable performance as the cause of their choices.
Sustainability and compliance are growing concerns. 39% said the environmental impact had an impact on the choice of infrastructure, with 75% prepared to pay more for a certified low-carbon hosting solution.
85% of the respondents also cited compliance preparedness as essential.
The overall takeaway seems to suggest that VPS-Hosting continues to appeal to slimmer teams and budget-conscious organizations, while dedicated servers are selected for workload that requires control, stability and security.
“Choosing infrastructures clearly reflects business priorities. Whether you use VPS or dedicated servers, the data proves that infrastructure is not just a technical decision, it is a strategic decision.” Added Ryan MacDonald, Chief Technology Officer on Liquid Web.
With almost half planning infrastructure changes within the year, the balance between costs, performance and support seems to remain a defining factor.
