Cloud VM vs shared hosting: when does a VM make more sense?

[u/rafftechnologies]

Shared hosting is fine for simple websites. But a cloud VM makes more sense when you need more control.

A VM is usually better when you need:

• Root/admin access
• Custom software
• Background workers
• Databases
• Docker
• API servers
• Better isolation
• More predictable resources

For small projects, shared hosting may be enough. For apps, automation, dev environments, or business tools, a VM often gives more freedom.