A Guide to Shared Hosting: Is It The Right Choice for a Beginner?

If you are planning to set up your website, then the first step would be to get web hosting solutions. As a newbie, a shared hosting service is one of the most predictable solutions. Linux Shared Hosting and Windows Shared Hosting are some of the popular services. However, the main question is, is a shared web hosting service the right step for a novice?

In this post, we will be looking at the definition of shared hosting, who it is ideal for, its features, its disadvantages, and who it is ideal for.

Shared Web Hosting Defined

Shared hosting, in simple words, hosts numerous websites on one server. As the name suggests, everything is shared. CPU, storage, RAM; everything is equally distributed among the users.

Most websites have their own domain name and are independent of one another in terms of user accounts and file folders.

A shared hosting server’s upkeep, including hardware updates, security, and server administration, is managed by the hosting company. A control panel is available to users, through which they may administer their websites, create email accounts, set up applications, or upload files.

The price of shared hosting, however, is one of the key benefits. It is a pretty budget-friendly solution, especially for small enterprises, bloggers, personal websites, and websites with moderate traffic, because the server resources are shared among numerous users, therefore, the expenses are also distributed among them.

Although, shared hosting does have a major disadvantage. Since everything is shared, it is possible that the performance of other websites housed on the same server will be impacted if one website on the server suddenly receives a spike in traffic or users an excessive amount of resources.

Compared to alternative hosting options like Virtual Private Servers or dedicated servers, consumers have less control over server configurations and personalization possibilities.

Features of Shared Hosting

1. Economical Out of all the web hosting solutions available, shared hosting is typically the most affordable of the lot due to the fact that the costs are distributed among several users on the server.
2. Ease of use Shared hosting is hands down the easiest hosting solution. Most shared hosting providers provide extremely easy-to-use control panels, like cPanel or Plesk, which enable individuals to smoothly operate and handle their websites, email accounts, domains, and other hosting features.
3. Server management Generally, a web hosting provider manages the technical server management tasks, along with security patches, software updates, and hardware upgrades. A user is set free from technical details of the server maintenance.
4. Resource allocation As stated above, the resources are shared among all the users on a single server. However, everything is allocated equally as per the hosting plan that has been chosen by users on the server.
5. Multi-domain hosting With shared hosting, you can generally host several websites and domains on one hosting account, therefore, making it suitable and appropriate for handling numerous online businesses and projects.
6. Email services Shared hosting services mostly come with email services, enabling you to set up and manage email accounts linked to the domain name. Emails can be easily accessed through webmail interfaces or configured with email clientele.
7. Database support Well-known databases such as MySQL or PostgreSQL are supported by shared hosting solutions. This allows you to set up and handle databases for website applications or CMS (Content Management Systems) such as WordPress.
8. Script installers Several web hosting providers provide 1-click application installers like Softaculous or Fantastico, therefore enabling a user to implement well-known applications, like Joomla, Drupal, WordPress, and much more, without requiring technical assistance.
9. Technical support Most hosting providers provide technical assistance with shared hosting plans. If you are facing any server-related issues or if you have any other queries, you can get in touch with the customer support team.
10. Scalability Although shared hosting has certain limitations, many web hosts provide the option to upgrade to better-advanced hosting options. Additionally, as and when your website grows, you can switch to higher hosting options like VPS or a dedicated server.

Limitations of Shared Website Hosting

1. Limited resources There is a limited amount of CPU, RAM, and disk space available due to the fact that resources are shared among numerous websites running on the same server. It is possible that the performance of other websites housed on the server will be impacted if one website suddenly receives a spike in traffic or uses an excessive amount of resources. This may cause occasionally occurring downtime or slower page loading times.
2. Security concerns There are some security issues in shared hosting setups. It’s possible for malware to spread to other websites housed on the same server if one website on it becomes compromised or infected. Although hosting companies apply security precautions and isolate accounts, the shared nature of the server makes it more vulnerable than options for dedicated hosting.
3. Restricted control and customization Users have restricted control over customization and configuration options. The fact that the server is looked after by the web host, a user will not have access to a few advanced configurations or be able to implement specific software or application. This can be restrictive for users with specific requirements or those users who require the option to customize.

Who is Shared Hosting Best Suited For?

1. Beginners For those starting their online journey and lacking technical expertise, shared hosting is a great choice. Without having to deal with complicated server configurations, beginners can easily set up and administer their websites thanks to the easy-to-use control panels and pre-installed software.
2. Small businesses and startups Shared hosting is an economical option, especially for businesses and startups with limited capital. It enables them to set up an internet presence without having to compromise on cost.
3. Personal Websites and blogs For a website that does not need extensive resources or features, shared hosting is the perfect option. It offers a cost-effective hosting option to share your content and creativity with a wider audience.
4. Static or low-traffic websites For static websites or websites with little to moderate traffic, shared hosting is a good option. Shared hosting can successfully meet your hosting needs if your website primarily consists of informational content and does not entail complicated dynamic functionalities or eCommerce transactions.
5. Testing and development For the development and testing phase, shared hosting can be a practical choice. Before publishing them on a more sophisticated hosting platform, it enables developers to operate website projects and test out various configurations.

Conclusion

Shared hosting is the best step for a new beginner. Not only does shared hosting offer economical solutions, but it also offers features that are much more than sufficient for a newbie. With features like technical support and server management, a user can focus completely on the business and the website without having to worry about the technical aspect. And, of course, as the website grows, a user can scale to advanced options like VPS hosting.

At bodHOST, we provide hosting solutions to boost your online presence. You can experience an aligned, fast, and secure hosting solution with technical support that is available 24×7.