Shared Web Hosting is the most affordable hosting service. When you buy a Shared Hosting plan, your website resides on a server shared between multiple users. Hence, the server’s resources and processing power are used by many websites.
You can choose between Windows and Linux Web Hosting on a Shared Server based on your needs. While Linux Website Hosting is more popular, Windows is also gaining popularity as a reliable server OS.
This article will answer the top five frequently asked questions (FAQs) about Shared Hosting.
Q1. How does Shared Hosting work?
For a website to be available online, it needs to be stored on a webserver. Since buying a server can be costly, many site owners opt for web hosting services where a hosting provider offers space on the server and adequate resources to allow the site to be accessible online.
In Shared Hosting, the host stores multiple websites on a single server. Therefore, the websites share the server’s resources, like the RAM, CPU, etc. To ensure this, the host offers a common platform to all websites.
Hence, the OS is the same for all users, and so are various applications and pre-installed scripts.
Q2. When should I opt for Shared Hosting?
Two of the most popular benefits of Shared Hosting are affordability and ease of use. If you are looking for an inexpensive hosting plan, then Shared Hosting is the best option. Since the server is shared between many users, the host offers highly affordable plans.
Also, the shared environment requires all users to have a common platform and applications. Therefore, these plans are standard, with little or no customization options.
Hence, you can upload your site and make it ‘live’ in no time. These features make Shared Hosting ideal for small and new-business websites.
Q3. What are the disadvantages of using Shared Hosting?
- Shared Hosting plans are not designed for websites with heavy traffic. Hence, if you are receiving 500+ site visitors every day, then a Shared Hosting plan will not suffice.
- Since the server is shared, users do not get customization options.
- If you buy a Shared Hosting plan from a provider who crams a lot of users on the shared server, then your site can face performance issues.
Q4. How does Shared Hosting differ from other types of hosting?
- Shared vs. Dedicated Server: In Dedicated Server Hosting, the entire web server is used by the website. On the other hand, in Shared Hosting, the webserver is shared between multiple users.
- Shared vs. VPS Hosting: While in both hosting plans, the server is shared, in VPS Hosting, virtualization allows the host to offer dedicated resources, account isolation, and full root access to the website. This is not available in Shared Hosting.
Q5. Why is Shared Hosting ideal for beginners?
Here are some features that make Shared Website Hosting ideal for beginners:
- Many websites prefer Linux hosting as Linux offers many benefits for web hosting. With Shared Hosting, you don’t have to be a Linux expert. Most plans come with an intuitive dashboard that allows you to maintain your site without writing a single line of code.
- Most Shared Hosting plans come with pre-configured templates that can help you get started in no time.
- It is the most economical type of web hosting.
Summing Up
Shared Hosting is one of the most popular hosting services and offers a quick and reliable way to get your site online. However, it is critical to remember that not all shared plans are identical.
Hence, before you buy Shared Hosting, research the provider and ensure that your site gets all the features it needs. Good Luck!
