A VPS is a virtual private server that people can rent for a fixed monthly price. A VPS provider takes a large, powerful computer and splits it into smaller less powerful virtual computers. People can customize their computers based on the needs of the node network.
It is often more cost-effective to rent a VPS, rather than spending the money to buy a dedicated machine for each Node. Pricing can vary based on provider, but a reputable provider can offer much better uptime than hosting at home. Many providers guarantee 99% uptime, some as much as 100% uptime. This is because there’s a large infrastructure in place to keep the servers running, even during a power outage. Some Node owners may have a bad internet connection or inconsistent power, so using a VPS may be the best option for them.