Ideal for Single Website Hosting and New Website Owners
Shared web hosting is one of the most common packages people go for. On shared plans, your website is stored on one single server, along with multiple other websites.
The reason we recommend this type of hosting for entry-level website owners is because you may not initially know how much storage or space you need, and you don’t want to end up paying more for resources that you later realize are unnecessary!
This way, you can dip your toes in before diving off the deep end!
How Does Shared Hosting Work?
Just like the other websites on the server, your site will be allocated space when you pay a monthly fee. Resources are shared between all of the sites on this single server but, depending on the provider, you’ll likely have access to your own maintenance, support and security.
Shared House Analogy
A great way to make sense of shared hosting is to think of it like living in a shared house. You have your own room (i.e. your website) with allocated storage space, while the living resources, such as the milk and toilet roll, are shared between all of the people living in that one house.
Essentially, your room is your website, and the house is your server!
Shared Hosting Features
Now that you know how this type of hosting works, let’s dive into the features you can usually expect from shared hosting:
- Free backups (generally weekly backups)
- Free domain
- One site included
- Minimum of 25 subdomains
- Free SSL certificate
- Minimum of five email accounts (generally unlimited across providers)
- Web design assistance
Shared Hosting Pricing
The starter prices for shared hosting range from $1-$6.99 per month (billed annually). As you upgrade plans or opt for a different subscription length, pricing will differ. For example, if we look at the most advanced shared hosting plans across providers, prices range from $2.95 to $21.99 per month (billed annually).
Most hosting providers also provide generous introductory discounts to new customers, as well as a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Through our in-house research, we found that DreamHost, iPage, and IONOS were the best options if value for money is an important factor for you.
HostGator, our top-ranked shared hosting provider with a score of 4.7 out of 5, offers three plans, ranging from $3.95 to $7.25 per month (billed annually).
Not Sure if Shared Hosting Is Right for You?
Remember, shared hosting is great if you’re just looking to get started with the world of web hosting. Shared hosting works well for personal websites, as well as for small business owners looking to build a site on a tighter budget. The low costs and impressive amount of storage and resources involved also make shared hosting an ideal choice for entry-level site owners.
If you feel like you need a larger storage capacity, and want to explore plans with more individual resources, this guide can help you with that, too!
Pros and Cons of Shared Web Hosting
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Most cost-effective type of hosting | Multiple websites utilizing one server means greater chances of website crashes |
| Easy to manage features, such as uploading images and files | Security is more limited compared to other types of hosting |
| Some customization is still available | Website can run slower, because resources are being distributed |
| Ideal for small businesses and personal blogs | Generally limited to one site – particularly if you choose a more basic shared plan |
| No need for an administrator because of the cPanel (control panel) interface, which makes it easier to manage your site | |
| You’ll have your own email domain, even though the server is shared | |
| In most cases, you’ll have access to more than one database |
Overall, shared hosting is the most affordable type of hosting, and it’s perfect for small business owners and personal bloggers who want to get on the internet without digging deep into their pockets.
It’s important to note that security is more limited with shared hosting, and crashes can happen because of the split between resources across multiple sites.
That being said, shared hosting is a great option to choose if you’re looking to get your site off the ground with a fair amount of storage space, too!
https://www.websitebuilderexpert.com/web-hosting/types-of-web-hosting/
