Picking The Right Server Size

When deploying your first server, selecting the right server size might be the most important decision.

If you pick a server that is too small, your site might throttle – causing visitors to get HTTP 500 errors. On the other hand, if you pick a very big server, you’ll be constantly paying more than you actually need to.

While selecting a server, it’s essential to strike a balance between cost and server capacity. You are not limited to the cloud providers displayed in the dashboard; RunCloud supports all cloud providers that provide an Ubuntu server, so you can shop around to find the best deals.

When looking for an ideal server, keep the following points in mind:

  1. Hobbyist/Test Server: If your site is unlikely to receive traffic from any real users, then you can probably get away with the cheapest offering from your VPS provider.
  2. Small Business: If you expect your site to receive intermittent traffic and want to maintain an online presence, we recommend starting out with 1 GB of RAM and scaling it up as you grow.
  3. Medium Business/Agency: If you plan to deploy multiple sites on your server and expect a lot of traffic, then you should pick a server with at least 2 GB RAM. Depending upon your needs, it might even be appropriate to deploy a server with 4 or 8 GB RAM.
  4. Large Businesses: If you run a very popular website that receives a large amount of traffic throughout the day, you should consider using a group of smaller servers scattered across the globe rather than one very big server. This provides better fault tolerance and reduces your website’s loading times. Contact our customer support to talk to an expert about this.

Our Recommendations

RunCloud can run on any x86 or ARM server with at least 512 MB of RAM and a public IP address. However, we recommend using a server with at least 2 GB RAM and 2 CPU cores if you plan to deploy more than 1-2 websites on your server.

CPU-Optimized Servers

CPU-Optimized Servers are designed to handle high-performance applications that require a lot of processing power and memory. They are usually more expensive than standard servers, but they can deliver a faster and more consistent performance.

WordPress sites that rely heavily on caching (such as using a cache plugin or a CDN) may not need CPU-optimized servers, as caching reduces the server’s load by serving static files instead of dynamic requests.

WordPress sites using plugins that create background tasks, collect data, scan the site, or integrate with external services may benefit from CPU-optimized servers, as these plugins can increase CPU usage and slow down the site. 

WordPress sites that serve a lot of un-cached requests (such as WooCommerce, BuddyPress, or membership sites) may also require CPU-optimized servers, as these requests require more processing power.

How Do I Know If I Need To Upgrade My Server? 

We encourage you to read our knowledgebase article about improving performance on RunCloud. If you are still unsatisfied with your server’s responsiveness after applying the optimizations, then it is likely time to upgrade.

What is the Right Server Size for WordPress?

The right server size for WordPress depends on several factors, including:

  • Traffic and Visitors: How much traffic does your WordPress site receive? Higher traffic generally requires more server resources.
  • Content and Features: Does your WordPress site have a lot of dynamic content, multimedia, plugins, or other resource-intensive elements? These will impact server requirements.
  • Concurrent Users: How many users will be accessing your WordPress site at the same time? More concurrent users means more server power is needed.
  • Database Size: How large is your WordPress database? Larger databases require more server memory and storage.
  • Caching and Optimization: Have you implemented caching and other performance optimization techniques? This can reduce server load.

As a general guideline, a WordPress site with moderate traffic (up to 50,000 monthly visitors) and a standard plugin/theme setup can typically run well on a server with:

  • 2-4 CPU cores
  • 4-6 GB of RAM
  • 50-100 GB of storage

However, it’s recommended to monitor your site’s performance and resource usage to determine the optimal server configuration for your specific needs.

How Do I Choose Between ARM and x86 Processors for a WordPress Server?

When selecting a server for your WordPress site, you’ll need to decide between ARM or x86 processor architectures. Here are some factors to consider:

ARM Processors:

  • Generally more energy-efficient and cost-effective
  • Good for low-to-medium traffic WordPress sites
  • May have limited plugin/theme compatibility compared to x86

x86 Processors:

  • Offer more processing power and better performance for high-traffic WordPress sites
  • Wider compatibility with WordPress plugins, themes, and other software
  • Typically more expensive and power-hungry than ARM

The choice between ARM and x86 largely depends on the specific needs of your WordPress site. If you have a low-to-medium traffic site with a standard plugin/theme setup, an ARM-based server may be a cost-effective option. However, if you have a high-traffic WordPress site with resource-intensive plugins or features, an x86-based server will likely provide better performance.