Let’s Get This Straight: What Is Shared Web Hosting?

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When you want to launch your website, you need to decide which hosting company to host with. A quick Google search of web hosting companies will show you top hosting services. You will have loads of options to choose from, but aside from deciding your hosting provider, you must also consider what package suits you best.

As you continue your research, you will come upon shared hosting. It is a very popular hosting option, and all hosting companies offer this.

Many people are on wit's end when it comes to understanding shared hosting, but the truth is if you break it down into chunks, it's not that difficult as it first seems to be.

In just a bit, I will explain to you what shared web hosting is, why it's cheap, and when to select it.

What Is Shared Hosting (And How Exactly Does It Work)

Shared hosting refers to the type of web host service where you and other websites reside on one web server connected to the internet. The hosting provider will provide you with other essential services and technical support should you need help.

Your website won't just magically appear on the internet. You need to have a server where your files, content, and software applications will reside. Your server connects to the internet, so when people want to access your site, they will see your website content.

Now, you have many options to get your website on the internet.

You can host your own server in your facility, which means you have to purchase everything on your own, from hardware, operating system, to a powerful computer. You will also need a stable internet connection. The average cost of building your own server can go up to $1000 or more, depending on your needs.
The other option is to get a dedicated hosting. A physical server(s) will be dedicated to you, and you will get full control over the machine.
The third option is to get a shared web hosting. This explains why a shared hosting plan is way cheaper than other hosting plans. Although you are in a shared server, you will get complete access to your account and a set amount of features and resources.

Learn more about Hipaa Compliant Web Hosting here.

The Advantages of Shared Web Hosting

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Shared hosting does offer a generous amount of advantages:

Budget-friendly

One of the advantages of shared hosting is its affordability. It is actually the cheapest hosting package you will get, costing from $1 to $10, on average.

Most companies offer promotional web hosting prices, which means you can take advantage of shared hosting at a much lower price, usually 50% less than the regular price. For example, NameCheap offers shared hosting for as low as $1.44 per month, that's half the price of your Starbucks coffee!

Ease of Use

Another thing that many people love about shared hosting is that it is beginner-friendly, making it a perfect hosting package for those who are not as geeks as the guys on Apple and Google. Most shared hosting providers offer lots of amazing features, such as free domain name, intuitive control panel, and one-click site management.

Scalability

A low-priced product is priced that way for a reason: they are limited in features. The cheapest shared hosting service usually has very low bandwidth allotments, minimal or zero security features, and very little web storage. The good thing is that there are graduating packages that include better features at a higher price range.

So, if your website is growing, you can upgrade your shared hosting plan and use a better package.

When Should You Pick Shared Web Hosting?

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You have many options when it comes to selecting your server. There's WordPress hosting, dedicated hosting, VPS hosting, and more. So, you might be wondering, when should you pick shared hosting as your package?

When you are a newbie

Shared hosting is not necessarily just for beginners. Even veteran webmasters can benefit from this low-cost hosting. But we recommend shared hosting for those who are new to launching websites and dealing with hosting providers.

They're cheap (more of this in just a bit), so it won't hurt you so badly if in case you come up with problems. Also, as mentioned above, shared hosting offers a bunch of beginner-friendly features.

When on a budget

If you're on a tight budget or perhaps, just trying out web hosting and do not want to spend a hundred bucks for a trial, shared hosting is the way to go. Most companies offer shared hosting below $5 a month. Remember, you can upgrade your plan anytime as your site grows.

When you want an easy yet reliable hosting plan

Shared hosting is simple, secure, and reliable. Most packages include features that allow you to set up and run your website in just minutes! Furthermore, many hosting services add robust security features, such as CodeGuard or SiteLock, even when you choose the cheapest plan.

Such features are very critical for keeping your website free from malware. They can also keep your site safe from hackers and other online threats.

Closing

If you want to run your site without spending big bucks, shared hosting is the best option. It's affordable and can keep your site running efficiently and smoothly.

What hosting plan do you use to run your site? Read our comparisons and reviews, or share your thoughts in the comments below!