Cloud Server: Should You Choose Domestic or Overseas Hosting?
1.Introduction
In recent years, many people have asked me a common question: "Should I choose a domestic or overseas server for my website?" or "Is it necessary to use an overseas server for an independent site?" And "Can AI interfaces be deployed in China?" These questions have always been hot topics, and since I started working with website building, foreign trade independent sites, AI interface forwarding, and other services in 2016, I’ve been through plenty of pitfalls. Now, I have some experience to share.
First, regarding the question of whether to choose a domestic or overseas server, I’ve experimented with many domestic and international providers over the years, and I’ve encountered many challenges. I’ve now summarized some key takeaways, which I hope will be helpful.
2.Domestic Servers: Fast, Stable, but with Many Restrictions
The biggest advantage of domestic servers is speed. Especially when your users are located in mainland China, the access speed is incredibly fast, with ping values usually under 50ms, providing an almost instantaneous experience. Stability is also relatively good.
However, domestic servers have two significant drawbacks:
Complicated Registration Process: This is a major issue with domestic servers. You need to have your domain name registered, ideally with a business license attached, and sometimes even need to go through a public security registration process. For personal sites or foreign trade sites, this process can often be more complicated than setting up the site itself.
Numerous Restrictions: Many domestic servers cannot host content that bypasses the Great Firewall, and accessing foreign platforms (such as Google, YouTube) can be slow or blocked. In some cases, cross-border projects may get mistakenly flagged. I once had a project that deployed an AI interface on a domestic server, and the service provider identified it as suspicious and shut it down.
3.Overseas Servers: Flexible and Free, But with Several Pitfalls
In contrast, overseas servers are much more flexible and offer more freedom. Once you purchase an overseas server, you can immediately start using it, without the tedious registration process required for domestic servers. You can deploy AI, crawlers, APIs, and other "sensitive content" without any issues, and accessing platforms like Google, Facebook, and TikTok is smooth.
However, overseas servers also have their own drawbacks:
Slow Access to China: If you choose cheap nodes in the US West or East, accessing the site from mainland China is often slow, with ping values over 200ms. This can result in website lag and SSH connection problems.
Poor IP Quality: Some cheap overseas servers use recycled IPs, which may have been previously used for malicious purposes. As a result, Google might blacklist the IP, affecting your SEO rankings.
Solutions:
Choose Asian-optimized nodes, such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Japan, etc.
Avoid choosing obscure data centers or services with shared bandwidth.
Opt for platforms that support dedicated IPs and CN2-optimized routes, such as VMRack and YGH Cloud.
4.Scenarios Where Domestic Servers Are Suitable
If your website primarily targets users in mainland China or you don’t want to deal with the registration process, domestic servers are a more stable choice. It is suitable for the following scenarios:
The website mainly serves domestic users.
You don’t want to go through the hassle of registration.
No cross-border content or sensitive services are involved.
High requirements for speed and stability.
You have a business license and are willing to provide it.
Recommended Use Cases:
Government websites, corporate websites, e-commerce platforms, etc.
5.Scenarios Where Overseas Servers Are Suitable
If you are running an independent site (like Shopify, WordPress for foreign trade), need to deploy AI interfaces like ChatGPT or Claude, or your platform primarily targets overseas users, an overseas server is essential.
Recommended Use Cases:
Running a foreign trade website.
Deploying AI interfaces or API intermediaries.
Building content platforms for overseas audiences.
Using Google Ads or doing SEO for ranking.
Quick testing and launching without the hassle of registration.
Recommended Nodes:
Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, the US, etc.
Recommended Platforms:
6.My Server Selection Logic
After years of experimenting, I deploy my websites in the following manner:
Main Site (Independent Site + Blog): I use VMRack’s Los Angeles data center. Why? Because it’s cost-effective, fast, supports SSL deployment, and allows API reverse proxy.
Testing Projects and Script Services: I use VMRack’s pay-as-you-go nodes for short-term testing projects and delete them after use to avoid wasting money.
Domestic Landing Pages: I use major domestic cloud providers (with registration) for running domestic ad traffic and static content.
Overall, if flexibility and cross-border access are important, go with overseas servers. If compliance and speed are critical, and your site targets domestic users, choose domestic servers.
7.Common User Questions
Q: Do overseas servers need to be registered?
No, no registration is required; you can directly point your domain.Q: Can China access overseas servers?
Yes, but make sure to choose Asian-optimized routes and avoid cheap nodes in Europe or the US.Q: How stable are overseas servers?
As long as you choose a good platform, stability won’t be an issue. Many platforms offer 99.9% uptime guarantees.Q: Can domestic servers deploy GPT interfaces?
No, domestic ISPs will identify it as "illegal access to foreign services" and block it.Q: Should I use overseas servers for SEO?
If you’re running an English-language site or an independent site, overseas servers are highly recommended for smoother Google indexing.
8.Conclusion
There is no absolute "best" answer when choosing a cloud server. The key is to choose the one that best suits your needs for the website, business, and interface deployment. The right region, node, and billing model are more important than blindly going for the most expensive or largest provider. I hope this article helps you avoid common pitfalls and make the right choice!