Shared Web hosting, Advantages, and Disadvantages

May 06, 2023

The information you need to evaluate if shared hosting is the right choice for you is covered in this article. We'll go over the specifics of shared hosting, including what it is, how it works, advantages and disadvantages, and a few shared hosting options. A physical web server's resources and the hosting of multiple domains on it are referred to as shared hosting.

Users can host websites together with other domains and share server resources, which have the same IP address as other domains from other users and is less expensive. They (users) receive a portion of a server that is shared with several users. Features including disc space, FTP accounts, monthly traffic, and any add-ons provided by the server are available to everyone utilizing shared hosting.

Who Should Use Shared Hosting

Small websites, blogs, and low-traffic websites that don't need sophisticated configurations or a lot of bandwidth are best suited for shared hosting. It's also beneficial for websites that don't require a high level of dependability and can tolerate some downtime due to server-related issues (we'll cover that later). 
The basic functionality and support are normally included with shared hosting packages, although frequently, users can upgrade for a fee.

For small websites, shared hosting is frequently all that is needed. However, an upgrade to managed or dedicated server hosting is frequently required if a website expands and begins to experience increased traffic.

As we mentioned, shared hosting can be an excellent option for novice website owners on a tight budget and anyone with a small, low-traffic website thanks to all the advantages (that we'll go into more depth about later in this post).

How Does Shared Hosting Work?

Shared hosting is the practice of hosting multiple websites on a single server, as we just explained earlier. The number of places can be anywhere between several hundred and thousands. It is based on the RAM, computational power, and hard drive space that is accessible. 

A system that functions similarly to a dedicated server provides hosting, but several customers use its resources.
The files and programs associated with a user account are located in separate folders on the server. Users cannot access the root or other files, and each has its own file directory tree.

The Benefits

You've probably already come up with a list of reasons why shared hosting might be advantageous. Having said that, there are several benefits to looking at in more detail.

1.    Cost-Effectiveness

The cost-effectiveness of shared hosting is a key benefit. Due to the fact that many people share the costs of the server and the hosting company, it is the most economical solution.
Depending on the terms and hosting company you choose, you might host a website for as little as a few dollars each month. This makes it the perfect solution for those interested in a cheap web hosting.

2.    Flexibility

If your website is new or small, you can start with shared hosting and upgrade easily as your site gets bigger.

3.    No Bandwidth Restrictions

Whatever web host you choose, they will typically give you unlimited monthly bandwidth for your website. To prevent your account from being suspended, take care not to overload the server.
In other cases, your hosting company might tell you that you need to upgrade your account if you use a lot of bandwidth and it impacts the other domains. It is relatively uncommon, though.

4.    Simple to Use Without Technical Knowledge

The setup process for shared hosting is simple. Many service providers provide a control panel for managing websites. It's easy to add FTP users, compress folders, change passwords, and other things, unlike VPS or dedicated servers. There are no difficult configurations or pricey instruments to learn.

5.    Run several domains

Shared hosting gives you the choice of hosting several domains. Numerous websites can be hosted on most web hosts. Nevertheless, there might be restrictions, like only allowing a few domains per account. However, some might not have any restrictions if your account doesn't receive a lot of traffic.

6.    Managed Professionally

Shared hosting is ideal for those that want less upkeep. Your hosting company looks after your server by making sure that the fundamental server management functions are running smoothly. For everything, including DDoS assaults, network outages, maintenance, and more, you should anticipate having access to qualified technical assistance.

7.    Hosting Dynamic Websites Capability

Dynamic websites (like Facebook) change their appearance based on the user who is viewing them. Programming languages (like PHP) are used by CMSs and dynamic websites, and they can all run on a shared server.

8.    Integrated cPanel 

You can manage your web hosting responsibilities because of cPanel. A built-in cPanel for shared hosting can make administration easier by making it simpler to set up emails, databases, add-on domains, and other things.

9.    Simple email setup and hosting

These days, having an email connected to your domain is essential. With shared hosting, you may easily add email accounts if your hosting package is inexpensive and has a cPanel. Additionally, you can forward emails to different services, like Gmail. Numerous shared hosting companies provide limitless email accounts.

Disadvantages of Shared Hosting

There are benefits and drawbacks, just like with anything else. That also applies to shared hosting. Here are some shared hosting features that are less appealing.

1.    Security Concerns

Due to the fact that hackers can use one domain to access the entire server and all of the other websites housed on it, shared hosting is unfortunately often the most vulnerable type of hosting.
Web hosts frequently ignore security precautions in their quest to host the most domains possible on a single server.
To prevent other domains from being impacted if one is compromised, some web providers, however, indicate that they use domain isolation. Many shared hosting providers also take greater security precautions than others.

2.    Speed

Speed is one of the main problems with shared hosting. It's because numerous users are utilizing the CPU, RAM, and resources of the server, which can cause delays. Additionally, due to the server resources and unique IP address, if there is a popular website on the server, it will have an impact on all of the other websites.
Although web hosts will differ on this, be ready for a slower website. However, if you don't get a lot of visitors or have a personal website where you don't care about speed, this might not be a big deal.

3.    Server Errors

Server crashes are a typical issue with shared hosting. When websites consume a lot of CPU and RAM, this happens.
The fact that hosting firms frequently take their time to fix problems is more important. They encounter it frequently, so it is not a top priority.
Naturally, some reputable hosting companies do resolve the issue and even block a website that consumes all the server resources. If a hosting company has positive customer reviews or responsive customer service for situations like these, it can be worthwhile to use them as opposed to a hosting company that takes a while to handle the problem.

4.    Fixing Issues Can Take More Time

This is related to server crashes because, as was previously said, faults can occasionally take a while to be identified, which is annoying for anyone concerned about uptime.

 

Even if a hosting provider has the staff to address any difficulties or outages, things can take some time to stabilize.
Once more, make sure to read reviews for the hosting provider and decide for yourself if it has a reputation for quick problem resolution. (And bear in mind that all of the hosting businesses we will mention in this article have excellent assistance.)