So, finally you have decided to set up your WordPress website and most people have recommended you to start your website on a shared hosting. But, you want to know What is shared hosting ? and whether it is good for your WordPress website or not. If these are the questions for which you are finding answers then you have visited the right place.
In this post i am going to answer all of your possible questions like what is shared hosting ? How it works ? How much it costs ? and whether it is good for your website or not.
In addition to that i will also share its all possible advantages and disadvantages with you. I will also tell you what are its alternatives ? and lastly, i will recommend you some best shared hosting providers for your website. So, keep on reading this post till the end to get all the necessary details about shared hosting.
As its name suggests, a shared hosting is a kind of hosting where multiple websites are hosted on a single server. All of these websites share the same resources and hence, it is called as Shared Hosting. In such hosting, usually hundreds or thousands of websites are hosted on a single server. The number of websites depend upon the availability of hard drive space, RAM and processing speed.
Each user on a shared server is allocated some amount of bandwidth, power and memory. This means that they get limited resources to use. If they overuse them then the hosting provider may ask them to upgrade their plans. Alternatively, they may put a cap on the amount of traffic a website can have to keep it within their allocated limits.
You can consider a Shared hosting as an Uber car where you choose a shared ride to reduce the cost. In the similar way, hosting providers also offer shared hosting to reduce the price for you.
As shared hosting is quite inexpensive and provides a great value for money, most start ups, bloggers and small businesses use it to host their websites. However, it has its own advantages and disadvantages which i will discuss later in this article. For now let’s understand,
You can consider a shared server as a computer which has a hard drive, CPU and RAM. All of these resources are allocated to some users. Say, you are a user and you have an allocated space on the shared server. This means that all your website files will be stored on your allocated space.
So, whenever a person tries to visit your website by typing your domain name in the address bar of his browser, the server responds to his request by sending the required files to his computer which are presented in the form of your website.
Though, thousands of website are hosted on a single server but data of a website is not shared with any other website. This means that the other users on the shared server are not able to access your website files. They even don’t know about your website.
For Hindi Speaking Visitors:
अगर आप यह जानकारी हिंदी में पाना चाहते हो तो आप मेरी नयी वेबसाइट पर विजिट कर सकते हैं :
- शेयर्ड होस्टिंग क्या है ? सम्पूर्ण जानकारी हिंदी में। (Recommended)
As i have already explained above Shared Hosting is a kind of hosting where multiple websites are hosted on a single server to reduce the cost. So, it is quite inexpensive as compared to any other type of hosting. Typically a shared hosting plan costs you around $3-$10 per month, sometimes even lower.
Many hosting providers run some promotional campaigns to attract more users. This makes a quite competitive environment and you get the benefit of it. These promotional campaigns also allow starters to set up their websites easily at a low cost for the promotional period and when it ends they have to pay the standard rates for their hosting. This way company gets a client and you get the time to set things up for your newly created website.
At the moment Hostinger is offering one of the cheapest hosting plans where you get hosting at just $0.80 per month. Hostinger is a good hosting provider so you can go for it. Or, you can opt for a officially WordPress recommended host (Bluehost, SiteGround and DreamHost) to host your WordPress website.
Shared hosting has lots of advantages and that is the reason why it is the most popular type of hosting. Some of these advantages are:
It’s Inexpensive:
As i have already discussed above, Shared hosting is the cheapest hosting that you can get to host your website. It is that cheap that you can get it for just $3 to $10 per month. You can even get more discounts on longer duration plans. In addition to that many hosting companies offer different plans under this hosting. So, when your website grows you can upgrade your plan for more resources.
The inexpensive nature of shared hosting makes it popular among all starters, small and medium traffic website owners.
It is User-Friendly:
Setting up a website on a shared server is quick and easy. Most shared hosting providers offer a control panel to users which is easy to use. These control panels are designed in a way that even a person with no experience in website design and development can build his/her website easily.
They offer all popular CMSs (Content Management Systems) like WordPress, Joomla etc and other apps in their control panels. In addition to that most providers offer one click installers which make it easier to install apps like WordPress in few clicks.
On a shared hosting you can set up your WordPress website in few minutes.
No Technical Maintenance Required:
On a shared hosting you are not required to perform any server administrative tasks as they are usually included in part of your hosting package. All the technical maintenance on server side is done by your host so you are not required to worry about anything. You just need to maintain your website.
It is Flexible:
Shared hosting is flexible. Many hosting providers offer different kind of plans which can meet up the requirements of different users. So, basically you can start your website with a basic plan and upgrade it anytime if you need more resources.
Say for an example, most basic plan let you host only one website and if you need to host another one then you can upgrade your plan easily. They provide a hassle free upgrade option. You can even move on to high level plans like VPS and dedicated servers easily.
Unlike managed hosting where you can host a specific type of website, Shared hosting lets you host multiple kinds of websites. This means that you can start a WordPress website, a Joomla website or any other custom made website on your shared hosting which is not possible on managed hosting. However, this feature has its own disadvantages which i will discuss in disadvantages section.
Secure:
Shared hosting is quite secure. Though, you share the resources with other websites on the same server but they are not able to access your website data. Also, as server side maintenance is done by your host so they keep your website safe from any kind of cyber security threats.
Though, shared hosting has lots of advantages, it has some disadvantages too.
Speed:
Speed could be an issue for a website hosted on shared servers. As a server hosts multiple websites so it may be possible that some websites start getting more traffic than usual, this will overburden the server and your website will start loading slow or go down.
Though, good shared hosting providers like Bluehost and SiteGround provide a good speed for your website but it will always lack the speed of a dedicated, VPS or a managed server.
Potential Risks:
Though, most providers apply all security measures on the server itself but shared nature of the hosting can make it possible for a malicious activity and malware to leak from one site to another.
Limited Customization:
To maintain the server security, the back-end of the shared servers are locked down. This means that you cannot make any changes on the back-end of your server. You will be limited to what your host offers to you. So, if you have any specific requirements like running an alternative operating system, then shared hosting is not for you. However, if you are not a tech savvy or you just want to start a simple website with WordPress, Joomla etc then it is a great option for you.
As on shared hosting different types of websites are hosted like WordPress, Weebly etc so it is not possible to optimize the server for a specific software. This may reduce the performance of your website. In such case if you want to launch your WordPress website then you can go for a managed hosting to get optimized performance. However, in managed hosting you are not allowed to run different types of websites.
Also, a managed hosting is quite expensive for a starter where a plan usually start from $25 to $50 per month.
Shared hosting is a great option for a starter or a low or medium traffic website. But, if your website receives huge amount of traffic then it is not for you. When your website start getting high volumes of traffic then your website’s performance decreases. Usually, at this point a good host asks you to upgrade your plan but some hosting providers may put a cap on your traffic to keep it within their allocated resources limit.
In such scenario, you must upgrade your plan to managed hosting, VPS or dedicated hosting.
Now, we know all the possible pros and cons of a Shared hosting, so, it’s time to understand its plans before jumping on to our recommendations.
Most of the hosting providers offer different plans to meet the requirements of all kinds of users. Typically a starter plan is offered for users who are building their first websites. And, plus or pro plans are offered for experienced users. All of these plans include some features which you must check before purchasing them.
Websites:
If your primary goal is to start a single website then you can go for the cheapest and most basic plan as it lets you host only one website. But, if you want to start more than one websites then you can go for higher level plans. There is no need to purchase separate hosting for building more websites. You can upgrade your plan anytime from your hosting account.
Big hosting companies like Bluehost allow you to host only a single website on its basic plan whereas the competing companies like Namecheap may offer you a better deal at the same price.
Namecheap lets you host up to three websites on its basic plan.
Disk Space:
Disk space is the hard drive space that your hosting provider provides you on its servers. Usually, all providers provide enough space for a small or medium website. But, it may create a problem if you have large images and audio files. However, you can always overcome this issue by upgrading your plan but checking it beforehand is a good idea.
So, while purchasing a hosting plan always check the disk space that the company is offering to you. Also, check the plan upgrades so that you may not run into the problems if you are on a tight budget.
Bandwidth:
Bandwidth can be defined as the amount of traffic and data a website can process. A website with low bandwidth can experience slower load times if the traffic is high on the shared servers. Bandwidth is consumed when data is retrieved from the server and delivered to the end user. It is also consumed when an end user uploads the data to the web server.
Usually, most hosting providers offer enough bandwidth even with their basic plans so you are not required to worry about it. But, looking it beforehand is not a bad idea.
Email Addresses:
Professional email addresses are good for representing your website as a brand. People trust those emails more which come to their inbox with a company specific domain. So, it is always beneficial to check whether your host is offering you professional emails for your website or not.
These days almost all host provide professional emails to their users. So, you can create a domain like support@yourdomain.com, contact@yourdomain.com etc which look more genuine and represent your website as a brand.
FTP Users:
FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol. Actually, it is a way of transmitting information between a server and client. Am i getting more technical so let’s ease the things for you.
A FTP is something which connects you with your website files. Your website files are stored on your hosting servers and a FTP let you make changes to these files directly from your computer. This means that you are not required to access your hosting dashboard again and again to make changes to your website files. With an FTP account, you can directly add, remove or edit your website files.
Any changes that you make through your FTP account are directly implemented on your website’s servers.
A FTP user is a user who has access to your website files. Usually one FTP user is sufficient for a personal blog but if you have a business website where you have other coordinating members then you will need more FTP users. So, before purchasing a hosting plan just check how many FTP users you can have in your hosting account.
Subdomains:
Subdomains are very important for a website. Basically they are divisions of your domain that are helpful in organizing your website’s content. You can use a subdomain to create a mobile or language version of your website. Even you can categorize many things with the subdomains. A subdomain looks like https://hindi.adnetsreview.com.
With this subdomain we have created a Hindi version of our website.
So, while purchasing a plan you must check how many subdomains a company is providing you. Usually, all hosting providers allow you to create some number of subdomains.
Support:
Lastly, you must check how good support a company offers to you. Usually, all big companies offer good support to their users. However, when you are choosing a small company for hosting your website then you must check their support before purchasing any plan from them.
All the below mentioned companies that i am recommending to you provide a top-notch support to their users. So, if anytime you get in trouble you can contact them for help and i am sure they will not disappoint you.
Now, we know all the basics of a Shared hosting, so, it’s time to check out some best shared hosting providers.
Bluehost:
Bluehost is an official partner of WordPress. You can check the wordpress.org site where they have recommended three hosting providers for hosting WordPress websites. Bluehost is one of those, the rest two are mentioned below. However, like any other shared hosting provider Bluehost is also not limited to WordPress only so you can host multiple types of websites with them.
The best part about Bluehost is, it provides a high quality service at much cheaper price. And, if you are looking to start your WordPress website on a budgeted price then nothing could be better than Bluehost. They are actually best shared hosting providers in the market.
You can purchase a basic plan from Bluehost for as low as $3.95 per month which is quite inexpensive for a starter. They also offer plus and pro plans for experienced users.
The thing that i like about Bluehost is its high quality support that you may lack on new or small hosting providers. That is the reason why most of the professional bloggers recommend you to purchase hosting from Bluehost.
Also, it offers lots of great features with its basic plan like:
- Free domain name for 1st year
- Free SSL certificate
- 1 Click WordPress install
- 50GB SSD storage
- Unmetered Bandwidth
- 5 Parked domains
- 25 Subdomains
- 24/7 support and much more.
So, if you are planning to start your WordPress website then Bluehost is one of the best options for you.
Buy A Hosting Plan From Bluehost
SiteGround:
SiteGround is another WordPress recommended host. It also provides a top-notch shared hosting for users. Like Bluehost, they have also kept the prices low so that starters can afford their hosting. Also, like Bluehost they offer shared hosting for both WordPress and other CMSs. However, if you only have plans to start a WordPress website then you must choose their WordPress hosting.
The plans for shared and WordPress hosting are same where you get hosting for as low as $3.95 per month. At the moment SiteGround is the toughest competitor of Bluehost in Shared hosting industry. Both of these companies have millions of users from all around the world. Also, both of these companies have good reviews about their service and support.
So, if you want to start a website on a low budget and want a high quality service then you can opt for SiteGround. Many of the professional blogger recommend SiteGround to start off your first website. They provide a great support. Some people say that their support is even better than Bluehost which makes them one of the best Shared hosting providers in the industry.
For a starter they offer a great budget friendly plan which come with lots of features like:
- 1 Website
- 10 GB web space
- Optimum for up to 10,000 monthly visits
- Free SSL
- Daily backups
- Free email
- Free WP installs and auto-updates
- 24/7 support
- 30 days money back guarantee and much more
You can check its all features by clicking the below button.
Buy A Hosting Plan From SiteGround
HostGator:
HostGator is also one of the most recommended hosting provider by users. You can host any kind of website with HostGator and it is also good for hosting WordPress websites. Like the above two providers, hostGator also offers shared hosting and WordPress hosting. However, its WordPress hosting plans are little expensive as compared to the above two.
A basic shared hosting plan on HostGator starts for as low as $2.75 per month whereas its basic WordPress hosting plan starts at $5.95 per month. But, its WordPress hosting plan is optimum for up to 100K visits per month, which is a great thing.
The company claims to offer 2.5 time faster speed for WordPress websites if you go for their WordPress hosting. Also, they offer free migration with their WordPress hosting, so, if you are already on any other host then you can shift your website to them easily.
The best part about HostGator is, it offers both annual and monthly billing plans. So, depending on your budget you can opt for a specific plan. Also, their monthly plan gives you the opportunity to test their service which is a great thing for any user.
- Best monthly billed hosting providers (Recommended)
With its basic shared hosting plan, HostGator offers some great features, which include:
- One free domain on annual plans
- One website
- Unmetered bandwidth
- One click installs
- Unlimited free addresses
- Unmetered storage
- Free website transfer
- 52 Free scripts
- 24/7/365 premium support and much more
Buy A Hosting Plan From HostGator
A2 Hosting:
A2 Hosting is another very popular shared hosting provider which offers hosting for just $2.96 per month. With its shared hosting you can host your different kinds of websites. However, its servers are optimized for WordPress, Joomla and Drupal. Its turbo servers provide 20X faster speed.
Like HostGator it also offers free migration service, so, if you already have a website which you want to shift to a good host then you can shift it to A2 Hosting easily. The best part about A2 Hosting is, it gives you anytime money back guarantee, so, if you don’t find their service good then you can take your refund and shift your website to another host.
A2 Hosting has many good reviews all around the internet which you can read. They are in the market since 2001 and providing their great services to worldwide users.
With A2 Hosting basic plan, you get features like:
- 1 website
- Unlimited SSD storage and transfer
- Free and easy migration
- Anytime money back guarantee
- 25 email addresses
- Easy site builder+Themes
- 5 Databases
- Free SSL
- One Click optimized WordPress install and much more
Buy A Hosting Plan From A2 Hosting
DreamHost:
DreamHost is the third hosting provider that WordPress officially recommends for hosting WordPress websites. It is also one of the oldest players in this industry. DreamHost entered in the hosting market in 1997 and since then it is maintaining a good reputation in the hosting industry.
More than 1.5 million websites are hosted on their servers out of which 750k+ websites are WordPress websites. So, from these numbers you can understand that how good they are in their business. Also, they have 400k+ customers in 197 countries, which shows their popularity.
Like all of the other competitors, DreamHost also offers very affordable hosting to users. Their plans start for as low as $2.59 per month. They offer monthly, annual or three yearly plans so it’s up to you to select the plan that suits your budget and requirements.
It also offers managed WordPress hosting that you can purchase if you have a high traffic website. Like many others they also give you a 97 days money back guarantee so if you don’t find their service satisfactory then you can take your refund and shift to any other host.
With its basic shared hosting plan, it offers features like:
- 1 Website
- Free Domain
- Unlimited traffic
- Pre-installed WordPress on WordPress hosting
- WP website builder
- Fast SSD
- Free SSL
- 6 MySQL databases
- 50 GB storage
- 5 Subdomains
- 6 FTP users
- 24/7 Support and much more
Buy A Hosting Plan From DreamHost
Hostinger:
If you find all the above plans expensive for you budget then you can go for Hostinger. It is also a great hosting provider which offers a hosting for just $0.80 per month. Hostinger was started in 2004 and since then it has never looked back. It has 29 million users in 178 countries and on a daily average it gets 15k sign ups which is huge.
With its low cost hosting Hostinger provides many great features and its low cost upgrades make it a popular choice among starters.
So, if you are on a very tight budget then you can opt for Hostinger.
With its basic plan it offers features like:
- 1 Website
- 1 Free business mailbox for 6 months
- 100 GB bandwidth
- 10 GB disk space
- 1 MySQL database
- 2 Subdomains
- 1 Click installer
- Weekly backups
- 1 FTP user
- 256MB RAM
- 24/7/365 support and much more
Buy A Hosting Plan From Hostinger
Now we know some best shared hosting providers, so, it’s the time to know, whether a shared hosting is good for starting a website or not.
If you ask my opinion on this then i would say ‘Yes‘, it is good for starting a WordPress website. I am saying this because initially you don’t get much visitors on your website, so, wasting money on an expensive hosting plan is just wastage of money.
I recommend all the starters to start their websites with a shared hosting plan as it is cost effective. And, when your website start receiving huge amount of traffic then you can upgrade your plan. Usually, most hosting providers offer a hassle free plan upgrade option, so, you can upgrade your plan easily.
In addition to that as you can see above, nowadays most of the hosting providers have also started offering free migration services with their plans. So, anytime you want to switch your hosting provider then simply contact the new hosting support and ask them to migrate it for you.
What are Its Alternatives ?
Frankly speaking there are no alternatives of Shared Hosting. There are only upgrades. I am saying this because none of the hosting plan other than shared hosting which can offer you that cheaper rates for hosting. However, you can switch to a better hosting plans like managed hosting, VPS hosting and dedicated hosting when your website starts receiving huge amounts of traffic.
Final Words:
Shared hosting is the best option for anybody who is planning to start a website or have a low or medium traffic website. It is also good for hosting WordPress websites. Nowadays, many of the host offer WordPress hosting which is optimized for WordPress. So, if your plan is to start a WordPress website then shared hosting could be your one of the best options.
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Thank you for your visit and have a nice day 🙂
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Thanks Amit, always with well-elaborated reviews