VPS from WiredTree. Go to WHT and search for a discount code - there are some killer deals available. Their support is amazing (5 min ticket response times, etc).

VPS from hostgator are not too bad, although they can be quite expensive, hostgator support is also a little slow and sloppy. It never used to be though.

So breaking down the difference of the 2 might help to do a fair compare and contract:

Here are a few articles you might want to review:
Compare Shared Hosting to VPS Hosting
Shared Web Hosting vs. VPS Hosting, Part 1 | Web Hosting Geeks' Blog
VPS Hosting Vs Shared Hosting

Generally speaking if you are just starting out, a shared hosting account would do the trick, but long term, as you are expecting more traffic, you don't want to get caught one day when people cant access your site.

Presently, I use both... as a site progresses and starts to gain traffic I move it to a VPS to avoid any issues.

Hope that helps.

I use wiredtree as well and can highly recommend them for their support.

Holla, VPS or shared, for me VPS is fine as I have guys working on development & putting apps for testing.

Here VPS helps me to attend features easily & provide me easy access to credible features of private issues of web apps.

Share hosting not mostly offers such a variable operating activity but also many server holders work on it. There are some security issues which are felt most of the time.

I use KnownHost and love them. It seems that both WiredTree and KnownHost are at the top of their game. Both great providers.

I use a VPS from bitfolk, its a small but absolutly amazing service based in the UK

I use MOCHAHOST lateef, great guys and they have both VPS and shared at affordable rates, depends on what you're looking for !