What Is Shared Web Hosting? 2024 Beginner’s Guide
If you are looking for a way to create and host your own website, you might have come across the term “shared web hosting”. But what does it mean and how does it work? In this comprehensive article, we will explain the basics of shared web hosting, its benefits and drawbacks, and how to choose the best shared hosting plan for your needs.
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What is Shared Web Hosting?
Shared web hosting is a type of web hosting service where multiple websites share the same server and its resources, such as disk space, bandwidth, CPU, and memory. This means that you are not renting a whole server for yourself, but rather a portion of it, along with other users.
The main advantage of shared web hosting is that it is very affordable and easy to use. You don’t have to worry about managing or maintaining the server, as the web hosting provider takes care of that for you.
You also get access to various features and tools, such as a control panel, email accounts, databases, security, and more.
The main drawback of shared web hosting is that it has some limitations and risks. Since you are sharing the server with other users, you may experience slower performance, lower security, and less flexibility. You may also face issues such as downtime, resource overuse, or conflicts with other users.
You have to abide by the rules and policies of the web hosting provider, which may restrict some aspects of your website.
How to Choose the Best Shared Web Hosting Plan
There are many factors to consider when choosing a shared web hosting plan, such as:
Price: Shared web hosting plans vary in price, depending on the features and resources they offer. You should look for a plan that fits your budget and offers the best value for your money. You should also check the renewal rates, as some web hosting providers may increase the price after the initial term.
Features: Shared web hosting plans come with different features and tools, such as a control panel, email accounts, databases, security, backups, and more. You should look for a plan that offers the features and tools that you need for your website.
You should also check the compatibility and support of the web hosting provider for the software and applications that you want to use, such as WordPress, WooCommerce, Joomla, etc.
Resources: Shared web hosting plans offer different amounts of resources, such as disk space, bandwidth, CPU, and memory. You should look for a plan that offers enough resources for your website to run smoothly and handle the expected traffic.
You should also check the scalability and upgrade options of the web hosting provider, in case you need more resources in the future.
Reliability: Shared web hosting plans depend on the reliability and performance of the server and the web hosting provider. You should look for a plan that offers high uptime, fast speed, and low latency. You should also check the reviews and ratings of the web hosting provider, as well as their customer service and technical support.
Some Examples of Shared Web Hosting Plans
To give you an idea of what shared web hosting plans look like, here are some examples from popular web hosting providers:
Hostinger
Hostinger offers three shared hosting plans: Premium, Business, and Cloud Startup. The Premium plan starts at $2.99 per month and includes 100 websites, 100 GB SSD storage, unlimited bandwidth, free domain, free SSL, WordPress pre-installed, and malware scanning.
The Business plan starts at $3.99 per month and includes 200 GB NVMe storage, daily backups, increased performance, and enhanced security. The Cloud Startup plan starts at $9.99 per month and includes 300 websites, 200 GB NVMe storage, maximum performance, and dedicated resources.
DreamHost
DreamHost offers two shared hosting plans: Shared Starter and Shared Unlimited. The Shared Starter plan starts at $2.59 per month and includes one website, 50 GB SSD storage, unlimited bandwidth, free domain, free SSL, and WordPress installer.
The Shared Unlimited plan starts at $3.95 per month and includes unlimited websites, unlimited SSD storage, unlimited bandwidth, free domain, free SSL, WordPress installer, and email hosting.
HostGator
HostGator offers three shared hosting plans: Hatchling, Baby, and Business. The Hatchling plan starts at $3.75 per month and includes one website, 10 GB SSD storage, unmetered bandwidth, free domain, free SSL, WordPress pre-installed, and malware scanning.
The Baby plan starts at $4.50 per month and includes two websites, 20 GB SSD storage, unmetered bandwidth, free domain, free SSL, WordPress pre-installed, malware scanning, and Cloudflare CDN.
The Business plan starts at $6.25 per month and includes three websites, 40 GB SSD storage, unmetered bandwidth, free domain, free SSL, WordPress pre-installed, malware scanning, Cloudflare CDN, and dedicated IP address.
A2 Hosting
A2 Hosting offers four shared hosting plans: Startup, Drive, Turbo Boost, and Turbo Max. The Startup plan starts at $2.99 per month and includes one website, 100 GB SSD storage, unlimited bandwidth, free SSL, and free site migration.
The Drive plan starts at $5.99 per month and includes unlimited websites, unlimited SSD storage, unlimited bandwidth, free SSL, free site migration, and automatic backups.
The Turbo Boost plan starts at $6.99 per month and includes unlimited websites, unlimited NVMe storage, unlimited bandwidth, free SSL, free site migration, automatic backups, and up to 20x faster speed.
The Turbo Max plan starts at $14.99 per month and includes unlimited websites, unlimited NVMe storage, unlimited bandwidth, free SSL, free site migration, automatic backups, up to 20x faster speed, and 5x more resources.
Advantages of Shared Web Hosting
Shared web hosting is a popular choice for many website owners, especially beginners and small businesses.
Here are some of the benefits of using shared web hosting for your website:
Affordability
Shared web hosting is the most cost-effective hosting solution, as you only pay for a fraction of the server resources that you use. You can find shared hosting plans for as low as $1 per month, depending on the web hosting provider and the features they offer.
This makes shared web hosting ideal for those who have a limited budget or want to save money on web hosting.
Ease of use
Shared web hosting is easy to set up and manage, as you don’t have to worry about the technical aspects of running a server. The web hosting provider takes care of the server maintenance, security, updates, and backups for you.
You also get access to a user-friendly control panel, where you can manage your website, email accounts, databases, and other features. Most shared web hosting providers also offer one-click installers for popular software and applications, such as WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, etc.
Technical support
Shared web hosting providers usually offer 24/7 customer service and technical support, which can help you resolve any issues or questions that you may have regarding your website. You can contact them via phone, email, chat, or ticket system, depending on the web hosting provider.
Some web hosting providers also offer online resources, such as tutorials, guides, FAQs, and forums, where you can learn more about web hosting and get help from other users.
Disadvantages of Shared Web Hosting
Shared web hosting may seem like an attractive option for many website owners, especially those who are new to the online world or have a limited budget. However, shared web hosting also has some drawbacks that you should be aware of before you make your decision.
Here are some of the disadvantages of shared web hosting that you should consider:
Limited resources
When you use shared web hosting, you are sharing the server resources with many other websites. This means that you have a limited amount of disk space, bandwidth, CPU, and memory available for your website.
If your website grows in size or traffic, you may run out of resources and face issues such as slow loading, errors, or downtime. You may also have to compete with other websites for the same resources, which can affect your website’s performance and reliability.
Lack of security
Shared web hosting is not very secure, as you are sharing the server with many other websites that may have different security levels and standards. If one of the websites on the server gets hacked, infected, or compromised, it can affect the whole server and put your website at risk.
You may also have to deal with spam, malware, or phishing attacks from other websites on the server. You have less control over the security settings and features of the server, as they are determined by the web hosting provider.
Less flexibility
Shared web hosting does not offer much flexibility, as you have to follow the rules and policies of the web hosting provider. You may not be able to install or customize the software and applications that you want to use for your website, as they may not be compatible or allowed by the web hosting provider.
You also have no root access to the server, which means that you cannot make any changes or modifications to the server configuration or settings. You have to rely on the web hosting provider for the updates, backups, and maintenance of the server.
Alternatives to Shared Web Hosting
Shared web hosting is not the only option for hosting your website. Depending on your needs, budget, and preferences, you may want to consider other types of web hosting services that offer different advantages and disadvantages.
Here are some of the most common alternatives to shared web hosting that you should know about:
VPS Hosting
VPS stands for virtual private server, which is a type of web hosting service where you get a dedicated portion of a server that is isolated from other users. This means that you have more control, security, and flexibility over your server environment, as well as more resources and performance.
However, VPS hosting is also more expensive and complex than shared web hosting, as you have to manage and maintain your own server. You may need some technical skills or hire a professional to help you with VPS hosting.
Cloud Hosting
Cloud hosting is a type of web hosting service where your website is hosted on a network of servers that are connected via the internet.
This means that your website can scale up or down automatically according to the demand and traffic, as well as benefit from high availability and reliability. However, cloud hosting is also more difficult to predict and control than shared web hosting, as you have less visibility and customization over your server settings.
You may also have to pay more for the resources that you use, as cloud hosting is usually billed on a pay-as-you-go basis.
Dedicated Hosting
Dedicated hosting is a type of web hosting service where you rent an entire server for yourself, without sharing it with anyone else. This means that you have the maximum level of control, security, and performance over your server, as well as the ability to customize it to your exact needs.
However, dedicated hosting is also the most expensive and demanding type of web hosting, as you have to pay for the whole server and take full responsibility for its management and maintenance. You may need a lot of technical skills or hire a professional to help you with dedicated hosting.
WordPress Hosting
WordPress hosting is a type of web hosting service that is specifically designed for WordPress websites. WordPress is the most popular content management system (CMS) that powers millions of websites around the world.
WordPress hosting offers various features and benefits that optimize your WordPress website, such as faster speed, enhanced security, automatic updates, backups, and more.
However, WordPress hosting is also more limited and specialized than shared web hosting, as you can only use it for WordPress websites. You may also have to pay more for WordPress hosting, as it is usually more premium and exclusive than shared web hosting.
Conclusion
Shared web hosting is a great option for beginners and small businesses who want to create and host their own website without spending too much money or time. However, shared web hosting also has some limitations and risks that you should be aware of and prepared for.
By comparing different shared web hosting plans and providers, you can find the best one that suits your needs and goals.
