Shared Server Hosting: the Pros and Cons

Shared server hosting: an economical choice for entry-level websites

Shared server hosting is ideal for small websites and beginners, it is affordable, easy to use and offers a range of pre-installed technologies. It is competent enough for a website with hundreds of daily visits. You can also easily upgrade when more resources are needed.

However, there are some limitations for shared servers: software installation options, disk space, processing power, and bandwidth may all be limited. The activity of other websites may also affect performance and may even be turned off if your website exceeds the set maximum.

While shared servers are generally reliable and secure, they are also vulnerable to denial of service (DoS) attacks. Users are responsible for maintaining strong passwords and do not publish credentials publicly.

This article is part of a series of articles created in collaboration with SiteGround. Thank you for supporting the partners who made SitePoint possible.

In recent years, there has been a wide variety of hosting options, which is dazzling. The basic principle is simple: a computing device has software installed to respond to network events, such as web page requests. The way these hardware and software are installed, configured, organized, packaged, promoted and sold is the main difference between all hosting options.

Users running large websites or applications can choose a dedicated server. This will provide them with a device in their data center that can handle thousands of visitors and heavy processing tasks every day. But for most websites with only a few dozen pages and only a few hundred visitors a day, dedicated servers are too powerful. The cost will be too high and the device will be idle most of the time. Shared hosting becomes a more viable option. Web hosting providers like SiteGround provide shared servers where you can rent dedicated space for your website. Many other companies will also lease space on the same device, so processing, storage and costs will be shared accordingly. Essentially, it is a dedicated server with multiple users.

Easy to use

Shared servers are probably the easiest hosting option as you will get a set of pre-installed technologies such as PHP, MySQL, email, website builder, WordPress, free templates, and more. Systems such as cPanel also provide simple configuration through graphical web interfaces. Hosts usually offer a variety of software because once the software is configured and tested, each client on the system can benefit from it.

Flexibility

There are a wide variety of software available on shared servers, but you can only get the software provided. If your needs are fairly typical, this may be everything you need. However, you usually cannot install your own software. Options such as Git, Node.js, and NoSQL databases are rarely available because they have less demand or are more difficult to lock. You may need to search around to find the exact service you need.

Function

Shared hosts usually limit disk space, processing power, and bandwidth. This rarely becomes a problem, but if your website exceeds these maximums, it may be shut down. Due to successful SEO activity, your website receives thousands of requests, and the host cannot provide lower service to other clients. However, if you need better support, more frequent backups, extra disk space, or migration to a more powerful server, the host will usually offer upgrades. These upgrades are usually seamless so you can upgrade as you like.

Performance

Performance depends on the functionality of the server and what others do on the same device. Resources are shared, so if other people’s websites are busy, your performance will be affected. As mentioned earlier, hosts may limit or close busy sites to ensure performance remains stable. Hosts are also different. A host that provides free hosting can distribute thousands of clients to a server with underperformance. A better host will usually assign dozens of clients to a faster machine. You get what you pay for.

Reliability

Like dedicated servers, the reliability of shared servers depends only on the hardware. It will eventually fail. That is, most shared servers have good reliability. A failure can mean dozens of angry customers, so the host has good reason to monitor devices and backups regularly.

Safety

Security is the responsibility of the host, so the server will be able to resist attacks. But:

• Don't-service (DoS) attacks on a client website will affect your website. The host should react quickly, but you should expect some downtime.
• No host can prevent you from using weak passwords or publicly publishing credentials!

Cost

Shared servers are one of the most cost-effective hosting options. Essentially, the cost of a dedicated server is distributed among multiple clients. Prices are usually a few dollars a month and rarely rise. Some hosts even offer free shared space in exchange for ads on your website.

Who should choose a shared server?

Shared hosting is perfect for beginners or small websites with typical needs and fewer than a few hundred daily visitors. You can easily find services that match your needs, and most hosts offer easy (usually free) migration services in case you want to change providers. SiteGround offers up to 65% off SitePoint readers.

FAQs about shared server hosting

What are the main differences between shared hosting and other types of hosting?

Shared hosting is a type of web hosting where multiple websites share the same server and its resources. This is different from dedicated hosting, where servers are dedicated to a single website, and VPS hosting, where servers are divided into virtual servers, each serving as a separate entity. Shared hosting is usually cheaper and easier to manage, but it may not provide the same level of performance and security as other types of hosting.

How does shared hosting affect website performance?

Shared hosting can affect website performance in a variety of ways. Because multiple websites share the same server resources, if traffic on one website surges, it may slow down the performance of other websites on the same server. However, most shared hosting providers have taken steps to prevent this from happening.

Is shared hosting suitable for all types of websites?

Shared hosting is usually suitable for small and medium-sized websites that do not require a large number of server resources. It is a cost-effective solution for personal blogs, small businesses and startups. However, for larger sites with larger traffic, a more powerful hosting solution, such as VPS or dedicated hosting, may be more appropriate.

What are the security risks associated with shared hosting?

Shared hosting may pose certain security risks. Since multiple websites share the same server, if one website is infected with malware, it may spread to other websites on the same server. However, most shared hosting providers have taken security measures to prevent this from happening.

How to make sure my website is running well on shared servers?

To ensure your website runs well on shared servers, be sure to optimize the speed and efficiency of your website. This includes using lightweight themes, optimizing images, minimizing plug-ins usage, and implementing caching.

Can I upgrade from shared hosting to a more powerful hosting solution?

Yes, most hosting providers offer the flexibility to upgrade from shared hosting to more powerful hosting solutions like VPS or dedicated hosting as your website continues to grow and requires more resources.

What technical knowledge level is required to manage a shared hosting account?

Shared hosting is usually user-friendly and does not require very high technical knowledge. Most shared hosting providers offer control panels like cPanel, which makes it easy to manage your website, email, and other hosting features.

How does shared hosting affect SEO?

Shared hosting may affect SEO if your site performance is affected by sharing server resources with other sites. Slow website speed and downtime can negatively affect your website's search engine rankings. However, using a reliable shared hosting provider can minimize these problems.

What kind of customer support can you expect with shared hosting?

Most shared hosting providers offer 24/7 customer support and can be contacted by phone, email or live chat. They can help solve problems related to your hosting account, including technical issues, billing inquiries, and more.

What factors should be considered when choosing a shared hosting provider?

When choosing a shared hosting provider, consider the following factors: provider's reputation, the level of customer support provided, hosting features included in the plan, provider's uptime guarantee, and price.

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