MY VPS Journey: From Free Hosting to High-Quality VPS Web Hosting

Viru Salem

One of my hobbies is web development. I started by building websites using free web hosting. My first blog was on Blogger.com. As I explored more, I discovered WordPress and saw that many websites use it. Since WordPress needs standard web hosting (not like Blogger’s free hosting), I began looking for a good web hosting provider.


Discovering Shared Hosting

Being new to web hosting, I Googled “best web hosting”, and soon I was seeing many ads on Google and social media. The providers marketing the most were InterServer, Bluehost, Hostinger, and HostGator. I chose InterServer because they advertised “unlimited storage” on their cheapest shared hosting plan. I didn’t know much back then—just that it was affordable!

Until now, the Interserver offered unlimited storage for only $2.50 per month.

I felt so accomplished when I published my first self-hosted blog instead of keeping it on Blogspot. But after a few weeks, visitors complained the site was slow. That’s when I realized Blogger used Google’s powerful hosting—reliable and fast.

Related post: Affordable Web Hosting for Students in the Philippines


Learning About Hosting Types

I felt confused and considered moving back to Blogger. But while researching, I learned about the different types of web hosting:

VPS hosting stood out as what I needed, so I searched for “best VPS server”. Ads popped up again—but I was smarter this time. I stopped trusting affiliate blog reviews. I realized I needed a Managed VPS server, because I wasn’t ready to handle all the technical details alone, and I valued reliable customer support.


Choosing KnownHost VPS

I moved away from Google results and read forums, talked to developers, and learned about big VPS providers like DigitalOcean, Vultr, AWS, and Linode (now Akamai). I also discovered KnownHost, based on recommendations on LowEndTalk and Reddit.

Thanks to KnownHost’s support, I successfully migrated all my sites. Their team helped me whenever my sites went down—thanks to 24/7 support—so I felt confident and safe.

Using KnownHost taught me a lot about server management. Their service isn’t just high quality—their team explains what they do for your website. As a newbie, I really appreciated how they welcomed questions and supported me through every step.


Growing & Moving On

Now, I’ve learned enough to move to an unmanaged VPS from another provider. But overall, KnownHost offered me:

  • Exceptional service
  • Outstanding customer support
  • Top-level VPS hosting quality

Final Thoughts

If you’re new to web hosting and want to grow, start with a managed VPS—and consider KnownHost. They offer great support, teach you along the way, and deliver reliable performance. Once you’re comfortable, you can switch to an unmanaged VPS to save money—but the foundation they give you is worth it.

Thanks to KnownHost, I’ve taken my blog from a free platform to a fully managed, securely-hosted site with confidence.


Tips for You

  • Look beyond ads—check real advice from forums.
  • Choose managed VPS if server management is new to you.
  • Pick hosts with good support—they’re worth it.
  • Start managed, learn, then upgrade to unmanaged VPS.

One of my hobbies is web development. I started by building websites using free web hosting. My first blog was on Blogger.com. As I explored more, I discovered WordPress and saw that many websites use it. Since WordPress needs standard web hosting (not like Blogger’s free hosting), I began looking for a good web hosting provider.


Discovering Shared Hosting

Being new to web hosting, I Googled “best web hosting”, and soon I was seeing many ads on Google and social media. The providers marketing the most were InterServer, Bluehost, Hostinger, and HostGator. I chose InterServer because they advertised “unlimited storage” on their cheapest shared hosting plan. I didn’t know much back then—just that it was affordable!

Until now, the Interserver offered unlimited storage for only $2.50 per month.

I felt so accomplished when I published my first self-hosted blog instead of keeping it on Blogspot. But after a few weeks, visitors complained the site was slow. That’s when I realized Blogger used Google’s powerful hosting—reliable and fast.

Related post: Affordable Web Hosting for Students in the Philippines


Learning About Hosting Types

I felt confused and considered moving back to Blogger. But while researching, I learned about the different types of web hosting:

VPS hosting stood out as what I needed, so I searched for “best VPS server”. Ads popped up again—but I was smarter this time. I stopped trusting affiliate blog reviews. I realized I needed a Managed VPS server, because I wasn’t ready to handle all the technical details alone, and I valued reliable customer support.


Choosing KnownHost VPS

I moved away from Google results and read forums, talked to developers, and learned about big VPS providers like DigitalOcean, Vultr, AWS, and Linode (now Akamai). I also discovered KnownHost, based on recommendations on LowEndTalk and Reddit.

Thanks to KnownHost’s support, I successfully migrated all my sites. Their team helped me whenever my sites went down—thanks to 24/7 support—so I felt confident and safe.

Using KnownHost taught me a lot about server management. Their service isn’t just high quality—their team explains what they do for your website. As a newbie, I really appreciated how they welcomed questions and supported me through every step.


Growing & Moving On

Now, I’ve learned enough to move to an unmanaged VPS from another provider. But overall, KnownHost offered me:

  • Exceptional service
  • Outstanding customer support
  • Top-level VPS hosting quality

Final Thoughts

If you’re new to web hosting and want to grow, start with a managed VPS—and consider KnownHost. They offer great support, teach you along the way, and deliver reliable performance. Once you’re comfortable, you can switch to an unmanaged VPS to save money—but the foundation they give you is worth it.

Thanks to KnownHost, I’ve taken my blog from a free platform to a fully managed, securely-hosted site with confidence.


Tips for You

  • Look beyond ads—check real advice from forums.
  • Choose managed VPS if server management is new to you.
  • Pick hosts with good support—they’re worth it.
  • Start managed, learn, then upgrade to unmanaged VPS.