What is Shared Hosting and Who is it For?

Shared hosting is an easy and affordable way to host a website, making it the best option for entry-level users. Before signing up for shared hosting for your site, consider these 7 important factors to ensure you’re getting what you need from your web host. We'll also discuss other types of hosting, including dedicated and VPS hosts, and answer some common questions about shared hosting as well.

Shared hosting is a single server that multiple websites use at the same time. The cost of hosting is distributed among these users, which makes it an affordable option.

Shared hosting is just one of the many kinds of web hosting plans available. What makes it different from other options is that multiple sites are stored on a single server. This setup enables you to share resources with other customers and make use of frequently updated software in an efficient manner. In this article, we’ll look at what exactly shared hosting means, how it compares to other types of web hosting, and what features you should consider when deciding between these options.

With shared hosting, the same server serves all websites hosted by a provider. This is opposed to dedicated server hosting, where one server hosts just one site and has relatively little demand placed on it, leaving plenty of resources for rapid responses when users access the website

When it comes to hosting your website, you have a few options. The first step is to pick an Internet service provider (ISPs) with a reliable uptime and customer service track record. After that, you can opt for shared hosting, a cost-effective solution which lets you share the same server with many other websites.

When a user types your website’s URL into their browser, their request is routed to the server that hosts your website. In return, the server will transmit the requested data, enabling customers to view your web pages.

As more and more people look online for information and purchase products online, many companies have moved to services that host a number of websites on a single server. These so-called "shared hosting environments" are typically less expensive than other options because multiple sites share the costs of data storage and maintenance with one another.

The shared hosting service provided by the website owner's provider allows the website owner to focus on other aspects of e-commerce site development. Additionally, using a shared hosting plan does not require any technical knowledge.

However, purchasing a shared hosting plan also means no control over server configuration. For that reason, it is more suitable for small to medium-sized businesses who do not have an in-house IT team or those with a limited budget.

Beginners too often rely on price alone when choosing a web hosting provider. However, the quality of the service one receives is just as important as the cost. In order to make an informed purchase decision, consider what the host offers in terms of uptime, traffic, speed, and features.

Uptime

Web hosting providers with a 99.9% uptime guarantee ensure that users can always access your site. Look for such a guarantee when choosing a host, and use review platforms like HostScore to check the performance of current providers.

Traffic

In shared hosting, bandwidth limits the number of pages that can be hosted on a server. Thus, before signing up for a plan, potential buyers should check the resources provided by each web host and plan. These include bandwidth and storage among others.

Speed

A slow website will cause consumers to abandon your page, even before they get to see what you have to offer. Less than two seconds can make a big difference in page abandonment rates, so web hosting companies should strive for maximum speed. By offering the latest Web hosting technologies, businesses can help their pages load quicker and keep customers engaged longer.

Features

Select a hosting provider that offers you the core services you need: domain name registration, email accounts, unlimited bandwidth, third-party app integrations and a money-back guarantee.

• Security.Since the internet is loaded with malicious hackers and fraudsters, protecting your website from cyberattacks has never been more important. Firewalls and SSL certificates protect against cyber intrusions, while software updates and file backups provide a safety net in case something goes wrong.

• User-friendly. With its user-friendly interface, you'll be able to manage your website with ease. From one central place, you can edit layouts, change images and text, and update products in seconds.

• Customer support. Reputable e-commerce platforms should offer 24/7 customer service. In addition, these companies may also host a comprehensive resource or tutorial page for reference.

• Data management. A web hosting company may provide a robust suite of data-management tools in its advanced plan, making it more affordable and efficient for small businesses to manage their data.

The advantage of shared web hosting is that the cost is divided among many users, making it the most affordable option.

• Being affordable. Available for a few dollars per month, shared hosting gives companies everything they need to start their website or blog and grow as needed. The main advantages of shared web hosting are affordability and scalability.
• User-friendly. Setting up and managing a website doesn't have to be difficult. Many shared hosting providers come with a control panel for easy access to the most popular features that site owners need, including DNS management, account settings, file transfer protocol (FTP)
• Easy maintenance. No hassle. With shared hosting, the web host handles the technical aspects of server maintenance, including software installation and updates. You can focus on designing a great website, optimizing your website for search engines, marketing your business online, and creating content to showcase.

Shared hosting – which is a service that allows you to rent server space from a company – has its own set of drawbacks, including:

• Limited resources. Your website shares server space with other websites and will often be impacted by sudden traffic spikes on your neighbors' sites.
• Root access. Having root access means you can administer the server and perform tasks like setting up new accounts, creating databases, and installing server-side software. It is a requirement on virtual private servers (VPS) and dedicated servers.
• Shared IP. You’ll share an IP address with other users, but the fact that you can access your website when experiencing domain name issues is a big plus.

When you're hosting websites that get a lot of traffic, you'll want to make sure your hosting plan has enough resources.

VPS Hosting

For those who have the technical know-how, virtual private server hosting is a great way to invest in website performance. While you still essentially share a physical server with other businesses on the same network, as opposed to shared hosting, VPS gives each business an allocated space on the server so that traffic surges from one source do not affect the operation of another. Though it does cost more than its competitor plan, it allows for more flexibility and control for your site's success.

Cloud Hosting

Cloud hosting is a reliable, affordable hosting solution that combines the openness of shared hosting with the reliability of VPS. Rather than a single host running your website, cloud hosts use a network of servers to provide optimal performance and uptime. This type of hosting is best suited to eCommerce stores and medium-to-large businesses who expect maximum uptime from their web host.

Cloud hosting combines shared web host’s ease-of-use with VPS' stability. Instead of a single server, cloud based web servers host your site.

Dedicated Hosting

Dedicated hosting offers a great way to host websites that are both large and require high-traffic volumes in a virtual private server (VPS). By having full control by the end user, they can install any operating system, software or have the resources available to them to make sure their site is performing at its best.

A shared hosting service is an affordable option that hosts multiple sites on a single server, and the administration of the server is handled by the host. This type of web hosting service may be a good solution for someone who doesn't have much technical knowledge but wants to get their site up and running with little to no time investment.

Shared hosting services allow multiple websites to share one server, which lowers costs for those individuals who cannot afford more expensive hosting packages.