How to Run Multiple Websites on One VPS with Virtual Hosts

Meta Description: Want to host multiple websites on a single VPS? Learn how virtual hosts work, why they save money, and how freelancers and agencies can manage multiple domains from one server efficiently.

Why Host Multiple Sites on One VPS?

As a freelancer or agency, managing several client websites can get expensive fast — especially if you’re paying for separate hosting accounts for each domain.

With a VPS (Virtual Private Server), you can:

• Run multiple websites

• Save money

• Centralize your resources

• Scale flexibly without added hosting costs

The magic trick? Virtual hosts.

What Are Virtual Hosts?

Virtual hosts (or vhosts) are a feature in web servers like Apache and NGINX that allow one server to serve multiple websites or applications — each with its own domain name, configuration, and files.

Think of it like renting multiple apartments in the same building. Each unit has its own key (domain), furniture (content), and rules (configuration), but they all share the same structure (server).

⚙️ How Virtual Hosts Work (Conceptual Overview)

Let’s say you own a VPS with a single IP address and want to host:

• client1.com

• client2.com

• youragency.com

With virtual hosts:

• You point each domain’s DNS to the same IP address

• The web server (Apache or NGINX) reads the request’s Host header

• It serves content based on which domain was requested

✅ One server, one IP, multiple websites.

What You Need to Run Multiple Sites on One VPS

• A Linux-based VPS (Ubuntu/Debian preferred for simplicity)

• Root or sudo access

• Apache or NGINX installed

• Multiple domain names

• Basic server knowledge (SSH, config files)

No need for cPanel or paid panels — this is lean, efficient hosting.

️ Apache Virtual Hosts vs. NGINX Server Blocks

Both Apache and NGINX support virtual hosting, but with different config files.

Apache (VirtualHost)

• Config located in /etc/apache2/sites-available/

• Use <VirtualHost *:80> blocks

• Enable with a2ensite and reload Apache

NGINX (Server Blocks)

• Config located in /etc/nginx/sites-available/

• Use server {} blocks with domain-specific root paths

• Enable with symbolic link to sites-enabled and reload NGINX

Pro Tip: Create a consistent folder structure like /var/www/domain.com/public_html for each site.

Benefits of Running Multiple Sites on One VPS

✔️ Save Money

• One VPS, one hosting bill — host 5, 10, or more sites.

✔️ Use Fewer Resources

• Avoid the overhead of multiple control panels

• Share the same server resources (RAM, CPU, disk)

✔️ Centralized Management

• Manage all websites via one SSH connection

• Central log monitoring, backup automation, and updates

✔️ Scalable Infrastructure

• Upgrade VPS specs (CPU, RAM) as your portfolio grows

• Add domains or subdomains anytime

Security Considerations

Running multiple websites on one server increases your surface area — but you can stay safe with:

• Separate site directories and permissions

• Unique databases per project

• Free SSL for each domain (via Let’s Encrypt)

• Firewalls and Fail2Ban for brute-force protection

• Regular backups

Bonus: Use tools like UFW, CSF, or Imunify360 for added security layers.

Ideal Use Cases

Running multiple websites from one VPS is great for:

• Freelancers building or managing multiple client sites

• Agencies hosting WordPress, Joomla, or custom PHP apps

• Developers managing subdomains for staging vs production

• SEO professionals running microsites

• Portfolio sites with different TLDs

Sample VPS Hosting Setup (for 5 websites)

✅ Final Thoughts: One VPS, Many Possibilities

Running multiple websites on a single VPS isn’t just possible — it’s practical. Virtual hosts unlock serious flexibility and cost savings, especially for developers, freelancers, and small agencies.

With just one server and a bit of configuration, you can manage a growing portfolio of sites without adding complexity — and without breaking the bank.