Cloud Hosting vs Shared Hosting: Explore Key Differences

Introduction

Are you looking for a perfect hosting plan? You need to remember that your chosen plan must meet your required website or application needs. Choosing the right hosting service is essential for your site or app to perform well and give the best user experience. This blog compares Cloud Hosting vs Shared Hosting – the two popular hosting options.

Well, the primary difference between the two lies in the server-sharing aspect of its resources. With an understanding of the key differences, benefits, and disadvantages, it is possible to make an informed decision about the right hosting type that would benefit your business operations.

First, let us understand the basics of cloud hosting and shared hosting with their meaning.

Table of Content

What Is Cloud Hosting?

Cloud hosting is a modern web hosting system that uses multiple virtual servers on a physical server to balance the load and offer high uptime. Thus, it does not rely on a single server. It is used to host your website on a cluster of servers and they are often referred to as ‘the cloud servers’.

The benefits of cloud hosting are many, but the primary one is that this setup ensures that if one server fails, another will take over. Thus, it helps minimize downtime and gives higher reliability.

Moreover, cloud computing offers storage, servers, networking, databases, etc and they come with the benefits of cloud computing including flexibility, scalability, and cost-efficiency.

Cloud Hosting uses these benefits to offer hosting solutions for websites and applications and uses a network of virtual servers for robust and adaptable hosting services.

As the resources are distributed across multiple cloud servers, the cloud hosting solution can easily handle traffic fluctuations and grow without major changes to the infrastructure. It has the ability to scale resources up or down based on demand.

Related: What is Cloud Hosting?

Pros and Cons of Cloud Hosting

Here’s a list of several advantages to cloud hosting that would explain scalability, improved reliability, and cost-efficiency. Let us point out the same to show how it is an ideal choice for businesses that need flexible and robust hosting solutions.

Also, check out the drawbacks of cloud hosting to ensure that your resolutions are ready for its few disadvantages.

Pros of Cloud Hosting

Cons of Cloud Hosting

Scale server resources easily such as bandwidth, storage, and processing power to manage traffic fluctuations up or down as per the changing demand.
Avoid any performance issues even during sudden traffic increases due to the load balancing feature. It distributes traffic across multiple servers to maintain site performance and speed.
High uptime and reliability assurance so your site or app remains accessible as multiple cloud hosting servers are the backup.
High flexibility due to scaling of resources; thus suitable for websites having seasonal traffic spikes or unpredictable growth.
The pros of cloud hosting include robust security measures including firewalls, encryption, regular security updates, DDoS protection, etc.
Backup and recovery options such as automated backups and disaster recovery plans protect and quickly restore data in case of an emergency.
Cloud hosting helps with SEO rankings by increasing the speed and accessibility of the websites.

Cost is higher than shared hosting (specifically for small websites) but comparatively, it is also cost-effective because of the scalability that it offers. You can decrease the cost by lowering the resources in case of lower traffic.
Technical knowledge requirements are higher as they need management and configuration. You may need to hire IT professionals for the same.
It works on the concept of multiple connected virtual servers over the Internet. Thus, you need a stable connection for smooth access and management.
It may create a risk of paying for unused resources if not managed properly. You might end up purchasing more resources than needed.

What Is Shared Hosting?

Now, let us discuss the basics of shared hosting. The hosting type in which multiple websites share a single server resource such as CPU, RAM, disk space and all is called Shared hosting. Each website on a shared hosting plan gets its allotted portion of resources at a lower cost. That is one of the primary benefits of shared hosting and so it is an excellent choice for beginners and small websites with low to moderate traffic.

Shared hosting is cheap and its setup process is easy. Also, the shared hosting provider is responsible for server maintenance and management.

Personal blogs, small business websites, small e-commerce sites, etc prefer shared hosting type. If you want to get your websites online quickly and do not have high traffic volumes, you may opt for shared hosting.

Pros and Cons of Shared Hosting

In this comparison of Cloud hosting vs Shared hosting, this section shows how the benefits of shared hosting make it a preferred choice for certain user categories. Also, understand the disadvantages of shared hosting for better clarity in the comparison:

Pros of Shared Hosting

Cons of Shared Hosting

Highly suitable for beginners, personal blogs and websites, small sites, and low-traffic sites.
Budget-friendly web hosting type so suitable for individuals and small businesses with limited funds.
Simple and easy to set up and manage. The hosting provider handles the server maintenance, updates, and security; so, you can concentrate on other business operations and need not worry about technical issues.
It offers user-friendly control panels like cPanel and customer support that simplify website management for users with little technical knowledge.

When a shared environment is used that hosts multiple websites, it can lead to performance issues because of the limited resource allotment.
Other websites’ high traffic can cause slower performance due to the sharing of the same server; means, if other site uses more resources, it can affect your website or app.
Security risks may occur in case of any breach or compromised security on other websites of the same server.
Flexibility and control over the server configurations and software installations are limited.

Cloud Hosting VS Shared Hosting: How do they differ?

In this section, get to know the key differences between cloud hosting and shared hosting as a summary of the above details so that you can choose the right hosting solution:

Performance

Cloud hosting is known to give better performance due to the pooling of resources such as processing power, storage, bandwidth, etc from multiple cloud servers.
That is not the case in shared hosting so it might experience slowdowns if other websites on the same server use more resources. Also, your website or app has limited server resources and limitations in handling traffic on shared hosting.

Your website can tap into the resources of multiple servers in cloud hosting. This means one server’s heavy load of visitor traffic can be borne by another server to handle the traffic and give consistent performance. Whereas, shared hosting places multiple websites on a single server, and other websites can affect your website’s or app’s performance.

Scalability

The benefits of cloud hosting highlight its scalability. You can easily increase or decrease the server resources as per your needs.
Shared hosting has limitations in flexibility. It is difficult to upgrade resources and mostly requires you to move to another hosting plan.

Cloud hosting allows you to adjust the resources such as CPU, RAM, and storage as per your requirements. Even if your usage decreases, you can bring down the resource consumption and associated costs too. This advantage of cloud hosting helps websites with variable traffic. On the other hand, shared hosting is more rigid and if you need an upgrade, you will have to migrate to a more expensive plan or even a different hosting type.

Reliability

Reliability is one of the essential advantages of cloud hosting due to its redundancy. It has multiple servers to support and so in case of failure in one server another server in the cluster takes over.
Shared hosting does not offer redundancy so it can result in downtime.

Cloud hosting offers higher reliability as there are multiple servers to pool resources from in case of need. However, shared hosting has a single server and that one is also shared. If any hardware failure occurs, it can cause downtime for all websites on that server.

Cost

Cloud hosting is comparatively more expensive due to the benefits that it offers such as better performance and scalability.
Shared hosting costs less than cloud hosting because one server’s resources are shared among multiple users.

Cloud hosting uses advanced infrastructure and offers dedicated resources for your website or application. The added cost gives optimal performance and flexibility, unlike shared hosting which has one shared server resource. Its cheaper cost makes it preferable for small and personal websites.

Security

The benefits of cloud computing include multiple security layers. It also has firewalls and antivirus software like other types of hosting. It can allow extra security installations on the server.
A shared environment for server usage and database sharing can cause vulnerability to cyber-attacks. However, the hosting provider’s security features are strong and offer host protections.

Control

Cloud hosting offers custom application installation and source code alterations for site changes. Thus, it gives more control over the configuration and customization of the server.
The control is limited with shared hosting and has already installed software and plug-ins. It does not allow custom software installations.

Management

Cloud hosting server management is easy but may need technical knowledge for custom server configurations, software installations, and other technical settings. However, you can also opt for managed hosting plans.
Shared hosting is easy as the hosting provider handles maintenance and administration tasks. They handle all the technical issues too.

Both are easy to manage and user-friendly with the tools and control panel. However, shared hosting is more easy and quick to set up. It is a good option if you have limited technical knowledge and capabilities.

Support

Depending upon the hosting providers and the plans you choose, you would get customer support as per their specific offerings. For example, Cantech includes 24/7 support for any type of hosting plan you choose.

Related: What is Cloud Computing?

Shared Hosting vs Cloud Hosting: Comparison Table

Shared Hosting vs Cloud Hosting

Cloud Hosting vs Shared Hosting: Choosing the Best One with Cantech

Cantech offers both cloud hosting and shared hosting among other advanced web hosting types. Each one has its distinct advantages with us. Check out some of our respective features below:

Cloud Hosting with Cantech

Scale resources instantly to meet traffic demands.
Reliability with a high uptime guarantee
Advanced security features, advanced firewalls, anti-malware systems, etc.
Free SSL certificates
Load-balancing, fast load times, and powerful SSD storage
Unlimited storage space, bandwidth, emails, and databases
24/7/365 support, continuous monitoring, automated backups, etc.

Shared Hosting with Cantech

Cost-effective solution for small websites
Easy to manage with user-friendly control panels
Free website migration, weekly backups, and SSL certificates.
100% SSD hosting for fast page loading.
24/7/365 support and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Low latency servers, one-click installer for apps like WordPress, Magento, and Joomla.

Conclusion:

Evaluation of Cloud Hosting vs Shared Hosting is based on your specific needs, budget, and technical expertise. Shared hosting is suitable for small websites and beginners as it is affordable and easy to use. Whereas, cloud hosting provides scalability, reliability, and advanced security features. Growing businesses, fluctuating, and high-traffic websites must consider the benefits of cloud computing. By understanding the differences between cloud hosting and shared hosting with their meaning, benefits, and drawbacks, you can conclude a hosting plan with Cantech and meet your website or app requirements. Not able to decide? Contact us to discuss more.

FAQs

When to consider upgrading your hosting plan?

You may choose a hosting type suitable for your current requirements. However, you need to be well aware as to when is the right time to upgrade or migrate to a higher hosting plan.

You need to observe your website, if it is running slowly then it may be because of insufficient resources. In that case, you may need to upgrade.

If the traffic increases on your website or application, the growing traffic and increased website demands would need you to change your current plan.

Your present hosting plan may be suitable for one website, however, if you need to increase the number of your site or app, you may need to upgrade to host multiple websites.

What is the main difference between cloud hosting and shared hosting?

The main difference is based on the server and its resource sharing. Cloud hosting uses multiple virtual servers to pool resources for your website and offers redundancy and scalability. Shared hosting uses a single server that is shared by multiple websites.

Which hosting is better for small businesses?

Shared hosting is suitable for small businesses in most cases as it is affordable and offers resources ideal for low to moderate-traffic websites.

Can I switch from shared hosting to cloud hosting easily?

Yes, mostly the hosting providers would provide migration services to help you move from shared hosting to cloud hosting.

How do I know if my website needs cloud hosting?

You need to consider the website’s traffic, scalability, and resource needs. Cloud hosting is a modern hosting option and it offers high scalability and supports fluctuating traffic sites. Cloud hosting offers optimal performance for larger businesses or websites. However, you need to compare costs and see what is suitable for your budget while considering long-term value. Shared hosting is easier to manage for beginners and cloud hosting may require advanced technical knowledge or support.

What to consider when shifting to cloud hosting from shared hosting?

You need to evaluate factors such as optimal performance of the website, uptime guarantees, and better scalability. The migration process must be planned well for minimal downtime. You need to choose the hosting provider that offers free assisted migration services. Also, your cloud hosting plan should meet the traffic demands and resource needs.