Bandwidth and its types. Unlimited. Unmetered. Metered.
So you’re looking to host your first website. You’ve likely encountered various hosting plans with names that sound like car models (Sport, Turbo, Maxi, etc.). These plans often include details about RAM, CPU, storage, and, of course, bandwidth. It can be challenging to understand the nuances between different types of bandwidth at a glance.
The BlueVPS team will explain the different types of bandwidth and how to distinguish them.
What is Bandwidth and how to calculate it?
Bandwidth is essentially the amount of data your server can transfer within a specific time period, typically a month. This includes both sending and receiving data. Data transfer is measured in Mbps (megabits per second). For example, a 100 Mbps connection allows data to be transferred at 100 megabits per second. Multiplying this speed by the number of seconds in a month equates to approximately 33 TB of data per month, which would be your monthly traffic allowance.
How much bandwidth do you need for a new website? Generally, 100 Mbps should be sufficient for most new websites, with the exception of media-heavy sites that stream content.
How does bandwidth affect your website’s performance? Imagine a bottle with a 10cm bottleneck. When you pour water slowly, it flows smoothly. But if someone uses a firehose, the bottleneck can’t handle the volume, and water spills over. Bandwidth works similarly. Users are the water, and if they consume more traffic than your bandwidth allows, they will experience lags and performance issues, potentially leading them to abandon your site for a more responsive one.
Bandwidth and its types
Metered
Metered bandwidth often operates on a pay-as-you-go basis. The provider monitors your traffic usage, regardless of its destination, and charges you accordingly. This model was once common but is now primarily found in regions with high traffic costs, such as Hong Kong, Japan, and East Asia. Unless you specifically need to host your website there, there are many alternative locations to consider.
Unmetered
To simplify things for clients, hosting companies introduced bandwidth packages, leading to unmetered hosting. The key feature here is unlimited data transfer, but the speed is capped. This fixed-rate approach makes it easier for customers to understand and predict their hosting expenses. A trade-off exists: many servers don’t fully utilize the 100 Mbps speed potential, but users find this more convenient and cost-effective than paying for metered traffic.
Unlimited
Unlimited bandwidth is a popular marketing tactic employed by many hosting providers. It appeals to customers on a psychological level. Which is more appealing: unlimited or fixed-price food? You might not eat the entire fixed-price steak, but unlimited may offer the same steak with the allure of unlimitedness. The same principle applies here. However, hosting providers cannot realistically offer truly unlimited bandwidth without going bankrupt. Some companies use this term deceptively, so it’s crucial to carefully review what you’re actually paying for.
Identify the catch. This could include data transfer restrictions or limitations on the plugins or software you can install on your server.
What to choose Unmetered or Unlimited
The ideal choice hinges on your project and its requirements. If the terms of unlimited bandwidth are favorable after close reading, then proceed.. Otherwise, opt for unmetered bandwidth, as its conditions are generally more transparent. BlueVPS provides unlimited bandwidth for its VPS services, and we assure you there are no hidden constraints. We have no secret trade-offs, and you have the freedom to install any software you require on your server. This is made possible by our company’s expertise. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our team via LiveChat. We are available 24/7 and happy to assist. Cheers!
Blog
