Managed Linux
Managed
WindowsHostwinds has two types of virtual private servers (VPS) available for purchase from our main website: Cloud and VPS. Due to this, you may find yourself asking “what is the difference?” or “which one is best for me?”. This guide will answer those questions.
Cloud vs VPS
At its core, a Hostwinds Cloud server and a VPS are identical. They are the same product, with the same sort of technical specs available, and with the same features available.
Regardless of whether you order a Cloud server or a VPS, it will appear on your account as a Managed or Unmanaged “SSD Cloud X” (where X is the tier of your server). This means that you have a Virtual Private Server built within Hostwinds Cloud infrastructure, and have access to all the features of our Cloud Portal.
More specifically, the Cloud servers found on our Cloud store page, are identical to our Unmanaged VPSs.
Billing
You may notice that the Cloud page on our storefront displays the pricing on the different tiers of servers in an hourly format. However, this is primarily to make it easier to compare our servers to those found elsewhere which handle their servers’ billing as hourly instances.
Our servers are not directly available as hourly instances, and instead when ordering a Cloud server, you are presented with the same standard billing cycle options as you would get with any of our other services and may choose from 1 Months, 3 Months, 6 Months, 12 Months, 24 Months or 36 Months when placing your order.
Hostwinds does offer VPS instances under hourly billing and you may want to know more about how hourly billing works if this is a service that interests you.
You can find more details about creating hourly instances here.