What this choice changes
Choose by responsibility and application fit. A VPS exposes the operating system and its maintenance work; a platform exposes a documented deployment contract whose limits must be checked for the actual runtime.
Compare the decision factors
| Factor | Self-managed VPS | Managed app platform |
|---|---|---|
| Runtime control | Install and configure the supported Linux runtime yourself. | Use runtimes, build steps and limits the platform documents. |
| Deployments | Own artifact transfer, process supervision, migrations and return steps. | Use the platform release model; verify rollback and migration behavior in its contract. |
| Database | Operate it on the VPS or contract a separate service. | A database may be integrated or separate; check engine, version, connection and export limits. |
| Scaling | Resize or redesign from measurements; no automatic scaling is included here. | Scaling may be automated within documented triggers, ceilings and billing. |
| Recovery and exit | Hold application-aware backups, credentials and a tested restore path. | Verify data export, artifact portability and recovery evidence before dependency. |
| Cost to compare | Hosting total plus the team time for OS and application operations. | Platform bill plus add-ons, usage charges and remaining application work. |
When each option earns its place
Choose the VPS when the team needs OS-level control and can own patching, monitoring and recovery. Evaluate a managed platform when its supported runtime and recovery/export contract reduce work the team cannot reliably staff.