WordPress runs well on a small VPS when it is set up properly. This guide shows when you need one, how to size it, and what to install.
When a VPS makes sense
- Your site has steady traffic and shared hosting has become slow or limits your plugins.
- You run an online shop, a membership site or several sites for clients.
- You want your own software, such as Redis for caching, or your own server settings.
- You want your data and your server under your control, with full root access.
Which size to start with
Do not buy the biggest plan on day one. The smallest plan is 1 vCPU, 1 GB RAM, 50 GB NVMe SSD at ₹899 a month, and the popular one is 2 vCPUs, 4 GB RAM, 80 GB NVMe SSD at ₹1,499 a month. Start with the one that fits a single site, watch the CPU and memory graphs for a week, and move up only if they stay high for most of the day. A shop with many products or several busy sites needs more memory first.
What to install
- An operating system. Pick a current Ubuntu or AlmaLinux when you order. The knowledge base has the first-login steps.
- A web server. Nginx or Apache, with HTTPS from a free certificate.
- PHP and a database. Use a PHP version that WordPress and your plugins support, and MariaDB or MySQL.
- WordPress itself, or a control panel if you prefer clicking to typing. A panel adds licence cost and uses memory, so check that before choosing one.
- Caching. A page cache plugin, and an object cache such as Redis for busy sites or shops.
Keep it safe and fast
- Turn on automatic updates for WordPress core and for the plugins you trust. Remove plugins and themes you do not use.
- Use SSH keys instead of a root password, and close ports you do not need with the firewall.
- Keep your own backups of the database and the uploads folder, and test a restore at least once. Do not rely on a single copy.
- Compress images before you upload them. Big images slow a site more than a small server does.
- Watch the graphs. Add memory or move up a plan when the server is busy for most of the day.
Moving an existing site
Copy the files and export the database, import them on the new server, and test the site through a temporary address or your hosts file. When it works, lower the DNS time-to-live a day before, then point the domain at the new IP. Keep the old host until you have checked forms, payments and email.
Next step
See the Cloud VPS plans and pay in rupees by UPI or card. Not sure which size? Ask us and we will help you choose. If you are still deciding between a VPS and a bigger machine, read VPS or dedicated server.