That depends on what you mean by “better.”
1) VPS is “better” from the standpoint that it is more customizable, has faster performance, and can handle more traffic than a shared hosting plan. Shared hosting is better from the standpoint that it costs less and is easier to set up.
2) A better way of asking this question is: Which type of hosting is more appropriate for me?
There are a lot of variables, but the simple answer is:
1) Small, simple websites and blogs with a limited audience — shared hosting
2) Large and/or complicated websites and web applications with a large user base — VPS hosting