Dedicated IP vs Shared IP: What are the differences?

In this blog post, we'll explore the meaning and differences between Dedicated and Shared IP, plus, how IP works, and how to select the optimal IP solution for your business. This will allow you to understand both IP types better and make an informed decision best suited to your business case.

An IP address, short for Internet Protocol address, is like a digital label for devices connected to a network. It helps identify and tell apart devices and computers in various parts of the world.

IP addresses are integral to the Domain Name System (DNS), a system that translates and associates domain names with their designated IP addresses. The DNS essentially functions as a network address book, storing various connections.

As a result, when users want to visit a website, they only need to input the website's domain name instead of grappling with hard-to-recall IP addresses.

When a visitor enters a website's domain name, their Internet service provider (ISP) checks if its domain name resolution server contains the IP address record for the domain. If not, the ISP requests a higher-level domain name resolution server to fetch the IP address linked to the domain name.

As long as a website's domain name boasts a corresponding domain name resolution record, its IP address can always be located on the vast expanse of the Internet.

Without the DNS system, we would be forced to enter complex IP addresses into our browsers instead of user-friendly domain names.

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Shared IP refers to multiple VPS instances sharing the same external IP address. While each VPS shares this IP address, it is an independent virtual server.

In some cases, a shared IP is sufficient, but in others, separate IP addresses may be required. For instance, applications needing SSL certificates or specific port access typically require separate IP addresses.

A dedicated IP address refers to a unique IP address assigned to each VPS instance within a VPS server environment. Unlike shared IP addresses, a dedicated IP address is specifically reserved for a single VPS instance and is not shared with other users.

While a dedicated IP address may incur some additional costs, it is often a preferable choice for users who have higher demands for network performance, security, and flexibility.

Normally, the difference between a Dedicated IP address and a Shared IP address is one that you’re likely to encounter when looking for an IP address. In this part, we will explore the detailed category of Dedicated IP vs Shared IP.

Dedicated IP addresses provide unique identification for each VPS instance, while shared IP addresses are utilized by multiple instances simultaneously.

Dedicated IP offers heightened security by shielding users from potential malicious activities that may impact IP addresses.

Dedicated IPs provide enhanced flexibility, including easy SSL setup, specific port support, custom security configurations, hosting multiple unique websites, and ensuring reliable email delivery.

Dedicated IPs often come with higher costs because they require separate allocation for each user, increasing expenses.

Dedicated IPs impact only their VPS instance due to their exclusive usage.

Both Dedicated IP and Shared IP addresses ensure stable performance by remaining unaffected by other users' activities, despite their differences in allocation and usage.

When choosing between a dedicated IP address and a shared IP address, it is important to consider your specific requirements, such as budget, and the nature of your online activities. Dedicated IPs are generally recommended for people those requiring reliability, performance, and reduced blockage risk, while shared IPs can be suitable for more cost-sensitive situations. Ultimately, the selection depends on your individual needs and priorities.