What is Shared Hosting?

Introduction

The selection of the right web hosting plan can be challenging especially if you are just at the beginning stage of owning your website. Numerous options are available and it can be overwhelming. This blog discusses the most popular, beginner-friendly, and cheap hosting type ‘shared hosting’. It is highly suitable for small and personal websites.

We will further answer ‘What is shared hosting?’ and cover its various aspects. We will know who uses shared hosting and how to find the ideal shared hosting provider. Also, have a look at other hosting types as alternatives to shared hosting and Cantech’s Shared hosting plans to give you further clarity.

What is Shared Hosting?

This section will cover Shared hosting meaning, working, and pros & cons. Let us first start with the definition:

Shared Hosting Definition

Shared hosting service offers shared server resources because multiple websites reside on a single server. Due to shared resources (CPU, memory, and bandwidth), it significantly reduces costs.

Thus, it is an excellent choice for individuals and small businesses looking for an affordable way to establish their website.  When you have a small-scale website, you need not pay for extra features that you do not need. Thus, shared hosting is a cost-effective way with basic features. Also, it is easy to use even for non-technical users.

With the best shared hosting company and ideal plans, you will face no problem with present needs and future growth. Also, it provides easy-to-use control panels for shared hosting environments to simplify website management for beginners.

How Does Shared Hosting Work

Now that we have discussed Shared hosting meaning, we know that it operates by placing numerous websites on a single server. This setup allows websites to utilize shared resources such as memory, bandwidth, and databases. Below are some of the aspects of how shared hosting works smoothly –

• Resource Allocation

Shared hosting provider sets specific limits on disk space and bandwidth for each website on the server to ensure fair usage. An efficient hosting environment is very much possible when no website consumes excessive resources

• Maintenance Support

Hosting providers manage and maintain the shared hosting servers so you can focus on your website operations.

• Basic Security Measures

Shared hosting plans usually include basic security features to protect against common threats. Your selected shared hosting company prevents malware and protects all websites on the server.

Pros and Cons of Shared Hosting

So, what is shared hosting? Well, as discussed in the meaning and working, it is the most basic plan that you can get to host your site. Shared hosting packages include all of the standard features sufficient for your small-scale site.

However, it is important to compare both the advantages and disadvantages of shared hosting before you finalize it for your website.

Advantages of Shared Hosting

The below benefits of shared hosting further enhance its meaning and give an overview of why should you choose this hosting type.

Cost-Effective Solution

• Cheap shared hosting is highly cost-effective compared to dedicated or VPS hosting. Its affordable web hosting cost is ideal for individuals, startups, and small businesses.

User-Friendly

• Shared hosting packages simplify the website creation process with intuitive control panels, one-click installations, etc. These tools require no technical expertise to set up and manage websites.

Enhanced Security

• A reputable shared hosting company will always prioritize security. They implement robust measures like firewalls, malware scanning, regular updates, etc to protect websites from potential threats. Many plans also provide free SSL certificates for secure data transmission and visitor trust.

Scalability

• Upgrading from a shared hosting plan to a more advanced plan like VPS, cloud hosting or dedicated server is easy as their websites grow. This feature allows businesses to start with basic required resources and grow further as their traffic increases.

Excellent Customer Support

• You get 24/7 support with various shared hosting providers through multiple channels like live chat, email, and phone. So, if you need any assistance or have any issues, you can contact them and get it resolved quickly.

Multiple Domain Hosting

• Shared hosting server plans allow multiple domains within one hosting account. Thus, it becomes simpler to manage several projects or websites simultaneously for individuals or businesses.

Suitable for Small Projects

• Shared hosting is economical and well-suited for small projects like personal blogs, portfolios, or startup websites as they do not require extensive resources.

Minimal Technical Expertise Required

• You do not need advanced technical skills to maintain your websites. Shared hosting server updates and maintenance are managed by the hosting provider. Setting up shared hosting accounts is also mostly easy. Hosting providers like Cantech provide user-friendly instructions and automated tools to make the process smooth for new users.

Ongoing Maintenance Management

• The hosting provider manages shared hosting server maintenance tasks like software updates and hardware management. So, you can avoid the complexities of server maintenance and save time & effort.

Disadvantages of Shared Hosting

A few disadvantages of shared hosting make it necessary to reconsider if it is the right choice for your website. Check them out below –

Technical Limitations

• The shared hosting platform does not come with root access. So, you cannot modify server configurations or install custom software. This limitation can be a drawback if you want greater control over the server.
• Lack of customization choices makes it challenging to tailor performance settings according to your unique requirements so if you need this feature, considering VPS or cloud hosting options is advisable.
• Also, it often imposes restrictions on server-side scripting and configuration files that can limit you from running custom applications or optimizing performance for specific needs.

Performance Issues

• With multiple sites on the same server, traffic surges can lead to performance problems and slower website speeds. This is because other sites may be drawing more resources. The load from multiple websites on a shared server can lead to crashes or downtime. A solid uptime guarantee and proactive server management can help mitigate this risk.

Shared Environment

• Shared server websites also share an IP address. Thus, it may cause security risks and affect SEO and email deliverability if any site engages in spammy practices or malicious activity.

Limited Resources

• CPU usage, memory allocation, and storage limits are limited with shared hosting plans. You must regularly monitor resource usage and consider upgrading if you encounter restricted resources that are no longer enough for you.

Limited Customization Options

• You often face a lack of customization choices in shared hosting, making it challenging to tailor performance settings according to their unique requirements. For those needing flexibility, exploring VPS or cloud hosting options is advisable.

Who Should Use Shared Hosting?

The above ‘What is Shared Hosting?’ section explains how shared hosting is a popular choice for individuals and small businesses looking to establish an online presence without major financial investment. Also, it is an ideal choice if your website does not demand extensive resources or advanced features. Below is the list of ideal users –

Ideal Users for Shared Hosting

• Personal Websites and Portfolios that do not require advanced technical skills.
• Small Businesses and Startups use shared hosting to manage their online presence.
• Static Content Websites with text and images run efficiently on shared hosting.
• Low-traffic websites like blogs and informational sites benefit from shared hosting’s limited resources.
• Cost-sensitive users get economical solutions if they do not need high-tier features or vast server resources.
• Simple management needs with minimal technical knowledge get user-friendly control panels like cPanel or Plesk with Shared Hosting
• WordPress Hosting is one of the types of shared hosting specialized and optimized for WordPress-based websites.

How to Choose the Right Shared Hosting Provider

The decision of a hosting provider is essential because it impacts your site’s performance, reliability, and growth potential. The following important factors can help you make an informed choice for the provider and plan:

Key Factors to Consider When Choosing Shared Hosting Service For You

• Reliability & Performance

A reliable hosting provider offers the best uptime guarantees. For this, they further ensure effective 24/7 customer support through various channels like live chat, phone, or email. Also, they include basic maintenance and updates. Overall, they must facilitate faster load times and user satisfaction as per the shared hosting plan that you choose.

• User-Friendly Control Panel

A hosting plan should offer an easy-to-use control panel like cPanel or Plesk. This tool allows you to manage your website and associated services without advanced technical skills.

• Bandwidth & Storage Space

Sufficient bandwidth is necessary to meet your expected website traffic. A plan with limited bandwidth may lead to slow loading times or unexpected charges. Also, your website’s storage needs are important to consider. A good hosting provider should offer enough disk space for your content like images and videos that can scale with your needs.

• Security and Compatibility

Hosting providers must offer robust security measures, including firewalls, malware scanning, and SSL certificates.

You must check if the hosting provider supports the necessary database systems and programming languages required by your website. Compatibility with platforms like WordPress or other web applications you plan to use is essential.

• Scalability

Shared hosting is the starting point. You will want more resources and advanced features with your website growth to avoid disruptions. So, choose a hosting provider that allows easy upgrades as your website grows with increased traffic and resource demands.

• Disk Type

SSD storage is better than traditional HDD as it provides faster data access and improved overall performance.

• One-Click Installations and Other Tools

Easy installation of popular applications and content management systems (CMS) with a single click simplifies the setup process for your website. Also, look for other tools and features like easy migration, upgrades, backups, etc.

• Pricing

Evaluate different shared hosting plans to find one that balances cost, features, and support effectively.

Cantech’s Shared Hosting Plans

Cantech offers a variety of web hosting plans from basic shared hosting to dedicated servers with 99.97% uptime using the most advanced technology and features. We provide 24/7 customer support with all our plans.

Our shared hosting plans offer options tailored to meet diverse needs. You can choose from Linux shared hosting and Windows shared hosting options. Each plan further provides essential features to ensure a reliable hosting experience.

Linux Shared Hosting Plans

Cantech provides Linux hosting with both Plesk shared hosting and cPanel shared hosting plan options. Each plan includes a free SSL certificate for secure connections. Also, they offer unlimited bandwidth and regular backups. Moreover, the plans are optimized for WordPress hosting to ensure fast loading times and smooth operation.

1. Solo Plan
   This plan includes one website with features like 1GB SSD storage, ten email accounts, and ten MySQL databases. Pricing ₹70 per month (Plesk) and ₹100 per month (cPanel).
2. Business Plan
   The Business plan supports one website with 20GB SSD storage. You can create unlimited email accounts and MySQL databases. This plan costs ₹125 per month (Plesk) and ₹155 per month (cPanel).
3. Deluxe Plan
   Get unlimited websites and 50GB SSD storage. Also, it includes unlimited email accounts and MySQL databases at ₹749 per month (Plesk) and ₹788 per month (cPanel).

Windows Shared Hosting Plans

Cantech also offers Windows hosting with similar benefits. Each plan includes free SSL, unlimited bandwidth, and weekly backups. This ensures users receive optimal performance and security.

1. Solo Plan
   Includes one website with 1GB SSD storage, 10 MySQL databases, and one hundred email accounts. It costs ₹114 per month.
2. Business Plan
   Includes one website and 20GB SSD storage with unlimited email accounts and MySQL databases. This plan costs ₹156 per month.
3. Deluxe Plan
   10 websites, 50GB SSD storage, unlimited email accounts and databases. This plan costs ₹527 per month.

Other Types of Web Hosting – Alternatives to Shared Hosting

Each hosting type meets specific needs so you must consider all and choose one that aligns with your requirements. Here are some common hosting types:WordPress Hosting

WordPress hosting is tailored to provide the optimal performance and security for WordPress websites. It provides optimizations that enhance its speed and uptime. Other features include daily backups, a user-friendly customized control panel for easy management, etc. Generally, it costs more than standard hosting plans.

eCommerce Hosting

As the name suggests, eCommerce hosting is designed to host online stores. It includes features that facilitate online sales and transactions. Key benefits include:

• Performance optimization tailored to handle transactions
• Payment gateway integration for secure payments
• SEO tools for improving search engine visibility and ranking
• SSL certificate and other advanced security features

VPS Hosting

Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting is the middle option for shared and dedicated hosting. It provides dedicated virtual resources within a shared physical server so it offers better stability and reliability due to dedicated resources. Also, you get greater control over server settings compared to shared hosting. However, the costs and technical expertise needed are more than shared hosting.

Dedicated Hosting

Dedicated hosting is suitable for high-traffic and resource-intensive sites or apps because it offers dedicated use of an entire server. Thus, you get full control over server configurations and settings. Also, the performance and security are at its best. As a result, the costs are higher compared to other hosting options.

Cloud Hosting

Cloud hosting is a type that uses a network of virtual servers to host websites. This type offers scalability and flexibility. Features include:

• Scalable and on-demand resources
• Reliable uptime because of interconnected cloud infrastructure
• Cost-effective pay-as-you-go pricing models
• Data redundancy and backup capabilities

Conclusion

This comprehensive blog on ‘What is Shared Hosting?’ makes it clear that different hosting types offer unique benefits tailored to specific needs. Shared web hosting hosting service is meant for beginners or small sites that have lesser resource requirements.

However, if your website needs are higher or if you need specialized features, you must go through other web hosting types. You should carefully assess your requirements and other factors like traffic, budget, features, etc before making a decision. Each hosting option has its advantages and disadvantages.

A reliable hosting service ensures that your website remains online and secure. Visitors will appreciate a fast and responsive website. Cantech has various options for you with quality services, get in touch to decide the best web hosting type for you.

FAQs

What does shared hosting mean?

Shared hosting is a service that offers your website shared server resources with multiple websites on the same server. This is a cost-effective hosting option for beginners and small websites.

How does dedicated hosting differ from shared hosting?

Dedicated hosting offers a full server for one user. Whereas, shared hosting can have dozens of websites on one server. Thus, dedicated hosting is high in cost and suitable for high-traffic sites or the ones that require more resources and specialized features. It is quite the opposite for shared web hosting services, it is cheap and ideal for small sites.

Is shared hosting right for you?

Shared web hosting is suitable if you are looking for a budget-friendly and easy-to-set-up option. It is ideal if your resource needs are limited.

How do I know if shared hosting is right for me?

To know if shared hosting is ideal for your needs, consider the below factors –

• Resource Requirements – Shared hosting is for smaller websites. High-traffic sites or complex applications need more resources than shared plans offer.
• Technical Requirements – It does not provide advanced access or custom configurations but for beginners, it is an ideal option.
• Security Considerations – Shared hosting can bring security risks as multiple sites share the same server. So, an ideal shared hosting provider is one that prioritizes strong security measures to minimize risks.

Keep in mind that you will need to upgrade as your website grows so scalability is an essential aspect to consider.

 

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Shared Hosting vs Dedicated Hosting

Shared Hosting vs VPS