Shared Hosting

What is Shared Hosting?

Web Hosting / By / September 28, 2022 / / 4 minutes of reading

Shared hosting is a type of web hosting where a single physical server hosts multiple sites. Many users utilize the resources on a single server, which keeps the costs low.

This post walks through everything you need to know about shared web hosting, including how it works, the advantages & disadvantages, and who should use shared hosting.

How shared hosting works

Shared hosting is an arrangement in which multiple websites are hosted on one server. Resources such as disk space, CPU, and memory are shared, and costs are split between all the users on that server. This sharing of real estate and resources is why shared hosting is so affordable.

A shared server can accommodate hundreds of websites, but because resources are shared, it is an option best suited for smaller websites that don’t receive tons of traffic or require considerable space.

Advantages of using shared hosting

Shared hosting providers are a favorite option for many business owners — for good reason since these plans offer many advantages (like a lower price point) for small businesses and their web needs.

Budget-friendly

Shared domain hosting is by far the cheapest hosting option, running anywhere from under a dollar per month to usually no more than $9.99/month, thanks to it taking fewer resources.

Easy to upgrade

You’re not locked into a plan or shared hosting forever, as most servers have multiple levels of hosting available. You can start with shared hosting and upgrade as needed.

You can host multiple domains

You can install numerous websites in your user directory; you just need to make sure the domains you purchase are connected to it. An example would be one person having different domains for their personal website, their hobbyist blog, and their business. Shared hosting is perfect for this.

Great place to start learning

If you are brand new to the site creation and hosting world, shared hosting is an accessible way to dip your toe into the waters to learn more without being responsible for coding and other site management tasks yourself.

Easy to use

Shared hosting plans usually come readymade with built-in cPanels (control panels), making site management more intuitive.

Maintenance-free

There is typically no technical maintenance or knowledge required on your end, as that is part of the shared hosting package.

Disadvantages of using shared hosting

Of course, while there are many benefits to shared hosting, it does have its own set of disadvantages to take into consideration.

Performance caps

As your site receives more traffic or demands higher functionality, you may see performance and speed impacted because the host must regulate resources to stay equitable.

Slower load times

Since the server’s resources are spread across multiple sites, shared hosting will typically have slower load times than dedicated plans.

Customization limits

You simply won’t get the same amount of customization options as you do with dedicated hosting, meaning you’ll always be capped in website optimization.

Who should use shared hosting?

Shared hosting is best for small websites, blogs, and low-traffic websites that do not require advanced configurations or high bandwidth. Packages for shared hosting are typically minimum for features and support, but a lot of time, users can upgrade for additional costs.

  • Bloggers & Freelancers:
    If you are a freelancer, having blogging website, gaming websites, etc then this is your perfect match. It won’t go out of your budget as well as provide you with decent performance.
  • Students & Trainies:
    For projects & learning purposes, students should rely on this type of hosting. In minimum spend, this solution is perfect for you to learn about websites developments & making projects.
  • Small to Mid-Scale Businesses:
    Users with having small size businesses can also trust the shared hosting. However, if you fall between medium to large-scale business, it may not be sufficient for you.
 

For most websites, shared hosting offers a sound solution. It’s cheaper and doesn’t require Linux administration skills for anyone that’s keen to avoid dabbling in that. Since it’s super low maintenance, shared hosting is the preferred choice for smaller websites. Most people looking for their first web hosting package opt for a shared hosting plan which makes sense.

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