How does shared hosting work? To put it another way, it’s a hosting arrangement in which numerous websites share server space.

Shared hosting is the most popular type of hosting, especially among novices, because hosts can offer lower pricing because you’re sharing space with other accounts.

We’ll go through the fundamentals of shared hosting in this article to help you decide whether it’s right for you.

What is shared web hosting?

Despite the wide range of hosting options available, shared hosting, especially entry-level hosting, is the most popular option for most websites.

In addition to server space, your website shares shared server resources such as RAM and CPU with a large number of other customers. This solution saves money on hosting and requires users to have little technical skills.

Shared hosting, on the other hand, has certain disadvantages: depending on your hosting package, your website may not be able to handle high traffic efficiently, and you may not have root access. Overcrowding on the server may affect the performance of your website.

If you’re starting a small blog with low traffic or simply establishing a new site and don’t know how to host a website, entry-level shared hosting services may be the most cost-effective option.

Other types of web hosting

Shared hosting is one of the most common ways to get your website online. There are, however, other possibilities, such as:

• Dedicated hosting: You can rent the full server for your personal use. As a result, website performance is increased, and you have complete server control. It’s great for websites that need a lot of resources. Needless to say, this is not a low-cost option.
• Virtual private server (VPS): Is an excellent choice for individuals seeking a hosting solution that falls somewhere between shared and dedicated hosting. It partitions the server into numerous virtual servers, each of which functions as a standalone server. Users will have root access to the server and will be able to access a secure hosting environment.
• Managed hosting: Some hosting companies manage the hardware, operating systems, and common applications on a regular basis. So you can focus on your content, they handle software installation, configuration, management, updating, monitoring, technical assistance, and maintenance. There are, in fact, companies that specialise in WordPress hosting (the hosting server is optimised to run WordPress websites only).
• Reseller hosting: If you’re thinking of creating your own hosting firm, this one is for you. It has an unique control panel for each of your websites that you can use to manage them.
• Cloud hosting: This isn’t a new sort of hosting; rather, it refers to a group of servers (cloud) that work together to host a large number of websites. It has the advantage of being highly scalable, allowing for both massive traffic volumes and sudden traffic spikes. The majority of fees are based on how much you use.

What should you check for when choosing a shared hosting provider?

Now that we’ve covered what shared hosting is, let’s look at how to find a good hosting services provider. It has a major impact on the security of your data, as well as the performance and traffic to your website. Some of the parameters to consider are as follows:

• Storage space: The amount of physical disc space allotted to you for storing databases, files, and other media. It all depends on the size of your site.
• Bandwidth: The maximum amount of data that visitors to your website can upload to/download from it. If you exceed this limit, you may be charged additional fees in addition to your plan charges. Even while most hosting services offer unlimited bandwidth, data transfer speeds can suffer if the proper infrastructure isn’t in place.
• Uptime: Your website must be accessible at all times to visitors. Although most service providers guarantee 99.9% uptime, you should aim for 99.9% or higher. Uptime monitoring can be used to check this.
• Customer support: This might be at the top of your list, especially if you’re new to hosting and don’t have much technical understanding. The majority of hosts nowadays offer assistance 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Security: Your data must be kept private and secure. Low-cost hosting services usually leave out security features.
• Easy to use dashboard: It’s more convenient if the control panel has a user-friendly interface that allows you to execute the bulk of actions. Apps that come pre-installed and the ability to shop online are also intriguing. Examine the dashboard to see whether any apps that are relevant to your website are included.
• Database and programming language: The server must support a variety of databases (MySQL) and programming languages (PHP). This enables upgrading to newer technologies or switching languages in the future much easier.
• Domain name: Domain name registration is also available as an add-on service from some hosting firms. If you want to set up and manage your website from a single location, this is a good option.

Pros and cons of shared hosting

The cost savings are the most obvious advantage of shared hosting. There are monthly fees as little as $3. Not only that, but it’s practical as well: you won’t have to worry about server maintenance. It also has the advantage of being able to scale up as needed without having to get into technical details. Several hosts provide customisable packages at the upper end.

With so much going for it, what could possibly be the downside? For starters, there is safety. Any website on the server that is hacked has the ability to affect all other websites on the server (though some shared hosts implement strong security isolation). Increases in traffic to other websites can slow down yours. Finally, you might have to wait a long time for help.

Final thoughts on shared hosting

Now that we’ve defined shared hosting, it’s clear that it’s almost always the most cost-effective alternative for newcomers. Even the most basic plans come with a user-friendly interface and a choice of customizable features to match your individual needs.

Hostnats presents you with low-cost Shared Hosting plans along with 24/7 support.