Shared Hosting: The Ultimate Guide for 2023

Shared hosting is a web hosting service where multiple websites are hosted on the same physical server and share the same resources, such as CPU, memory, and storage etc. In shared hosting, all the websites on the server share the same IP address as well.

Shared hosting is an affordable and popular option for small businesses and personal websites that do not have high traffic or require a lot of resources. It is also a good choice for those who are new to website hosting and want to get started with a low-cost option.

However, shared hosting does have some limitations, such as lower performance and less control over the server. If your website grows and gets a lot of traffic, you may need to upgrade to a more robust hosting solution, such as a virtual private server (VPS) or a dedicated server.

Why Shared Hosting is an Excellent Choice for Beginners

Shared hosting is a good option for beginners because it is typically most affordable and easier to use than other hosting types. 

Shared hosting is also easy to set up because the hosting provider typically handles all the website’s technical aspects. It includes installing and maintaining the applications, web server software, and other necessary components.

As a result, beginners need no technical expertise to get started with shared hosting.

Essential Things to Know Before Buying Shared Hosting Plan

Resource Allocation (CPU/RAM etc)

Resource allocation refers to the number of resources (such as CPU, RAM, and storage) allocated to a hosting account. These resources are used by the server to process and store data and can affect the performance and capacity of your website.

When choosing a shared hosting plan, it’s essential to consider the number of resources included. If you have a small, simple website with low traffic, you can get a hosting plan with lower resource limits. 

However, if you have a more extensive, more complex website with high traffic, you may need a hosting plan with higher resource limits to ensure your website performs well. It’s also worth noting that some hosting providers allow you to upgrade your resource allocation as needed. This can be a good option if you anticipate your website’s resource needs will increase in the future.

Performance

A shared hosting provider with good performance will help ensure that your website loads quickly and consistently for your visitors.

Here are a few things to consider when evaluating a hosting provider’s performance:

• Server Uptime: Always check that hosting provider must have a high uptime percentage, which refers to the amount of time the server is available and able to serve content to visitors.
• Page Load Speed: Check how fast the hosting provider’s servers can load pages. This can be influenced by factors such as the hardware and software used by the hosting provider. You can use some testing tools like GTMetrix, Pingdom, Google PageInsights etc.
• Caching: Look for a hosting provider that has caching in place to speed up your website’s loading.
• CDN: Make sure your shared hosting provider offers free CDN like (Cloudflare).

Many other things are on the list that needs to be checked.

Scalability

Scalability is an important consideration when choosing a shared hosting service, especially if you anticipate your website will grow in the future. Scalability refers to the ability of a hosting provider to accommodate an increase in traffic or resources without affecting the performance or availability of your website.

Here are a few things to consider when evaluating a hosting scalability:

• Upgrade Options: Look for a hosting provider that offers scalable hosting plans or can easily upgrade your existing plan as your website grows.
• Resource Allocation: Consider whether the hosting provider has the resources to accommodate an increase in traffic or the needs of your website.
• Load Balancing: Check to see if the hosting provider has load balancing in place to distribute traffic across multiple servers and ensure the performance of your website.
• Monitoring: Make sure the hosting provider has monitoring in place to track the performance of your website and identify any potential issues that may arise as it grows.

Infrastructure

It is crucial to consider the infrastructure you will use to host your website. A hosting provider with a reliable and well-maintained infrastructure can ensure your website’s good performance and maximum uptime.

Here are a few things to consider when evaluating a shared hosting infrastructure:

• Server Hardware: Ensure the hosting provider uses high-quality servers with fast processors, plenty of memory, and sufficient storage.
• Network Infrastructure: Look for a hosting provider with a fast and reliable network with multiple redundant connections to ensure the availability of your website.
• Data Centres: Check where the hosting provider’s data centres are located and what security and redundancy measures are in place.
• Software/Apps and Platform: Consider Always check which software and platform the hosting provider uses to host your website. Make sure it is compatible with your needs and will support the features and functionality of your website.

Bandwidth

Bandwidth refers to the amount of data transferred between a server and the devices that access it, such as a computer or mobile device. In web hosting, bandwidth is often used to refer to the amount of data a website can transfer to its visitors each month.

When choosing a shared hosting plan, it is essential to consider the amount of bandwidth included. If you expect your website to receive a lot of traffic or if you plan to host large files such as videos or high-resolution images, you will need a hosting plan with higher bandwidth.

Server Location

The location of the server that hosts the website can affect performance of your website and the speed at which it loads for visitors.

In general, it’s best to choose a server that is physically close to most of your website’s visitors. For example, if most of your visitors are in the United States, choose a server located in the US. Server location will help ensure that your website loads quickly for the users.

Security

Here are a few things to look for when considering the security of a shared hosting:

• Firewall: A firewall is a security system that controls the incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules. Look for a hosting provider with a firewall to protect your website.
• SSL Certificates: SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificates encrypt data transmitted between your website and its visitors. Look for a hosting provider that offers SSL certificates to help protect your website and its users.
• Security Monitoring: A hosting provider should have security monitoring to detect and prevent potential threats. This can include things like scanning for malware and monitoring for suspicious activity.
• Security Updates: Ensure the hosting provider keeps their servers and software updated with the latest security patches and updates. This can help protect against vulnerabilities and potential attacks.
• Daily/Weekly Backups: A hosting provider should have a plan for backing up your website data in case of a disaster. This will help you recover your website if something goes wrong.

Well Build Control Panel

A control panel is a web-based interface that allows you to manage your hosting account and website. It typically includes various tools and features that make it easy to perform everyday tasks such as setting up email accounts, creating databases, and installing software applications.

Several control panels are available, and the specific one used by a hosting provider may vary. Some popular control panels include cPanel, Plesk, and Webmin.

Pricing

Compare the pricing of different shared hosting plans and ensure you get good value for your money. Note that cheaper plans may have lower resource limits or fewer features.

Customer Support

Customer support is an essential consideration when buying a shared hosting. Choosing a provider with good customer support is essential, as you may need help setting up your hosting account, configuring your website, or troubleshooting issues.

Here are a few things to consider when evaluating a hosting provider’s customer support:

• Availability: Look for a hosting provider that offers 24/7 customer support.
• Communication Channels: Consider what communication channels are available for contacting customer support. Options may include phone, email, live chat, and tickets.
• Response Time: Check to see how long it typically takes for the hosting provider to respond to customer inquiries. A hosting provider with a fast response time is generally preferred.
• Knowledgeable Staff: Ensure the hosting provider has knowledgeable and helpful customer support staff who can assist you with your questions and issues.
• Resources: Check if the hosting provider offers FAQs, tutorials, and documentation to help you troubleshoot issues and learn how to use their services.

Free Yearly domain

A hosting provider that includes a free yearly domain as part of their hosting plan can be a good value for those who are just starting their website and still need a domain. However, it’s essential to remember that the domain is typically only free for the first year. After that, you will need to pay a fee to renew the domain or choose a different one.

Be sure to carefully read the terms and conditions of the hosting plan to understand what is included with the free yearly domain. It’s also worth noting that some hosting providers may have restrictions on the types of domains that are eligible for the free yearly domain offer.

For example, they may only offer certain top-level domains (such as .com or .net) or require you to purchase additional services to qualify for the free domain.

Other Factors

Apart from the above, here are a few things you can check while selecting a shared hosting plan:

1. No. of websites you can host
2. Available storage space
3. Prebuilt Templates
4. Drag-n-drop builder
5. Auto Site Optimization
6. Marketing Tools
7. Free website migration tool
8. WordPress themes
9. Malware scanner etc

Pros and Cons of Shared Hosting

Shared Hosting can be the cheapest solution for new websites that do not require a lot of resources, but it has some pros and cons that are necessary to be mentioned as follows:

Pros:

• Cost: Shared hosting is generally the least expensive type of hosting, making it a good option for those on a budget.
• Ease of Use: Shared hosting is typically easy to set up and manage, making it a good choice for those who could be more technically proficient.
• Shared Resources: With shared hosting, you can take advantage of shared resources such as CPU, RAM, and storage, which can help reduce costs.

Cons:

• Limited Resources: Because multiple websites share the same resources, you may experience slower performance or have fewer resources available.
• Security Risks: Because multiple websites are hosted on the same server, there is a risk that one website’s security vulnerabilities could compromise the security of other websites.
• Lack of Control: With shared hosting, you may have less control over the server and its configuration compared to other types of hosting.

6 Best Shared Hosting Providers as Per our Research:

1. Hostinger

Most affordable shared hosting provider that offers a range of shared hosting plans for different needs and budgets. Here are some of the critical features of their shared hosting:

1. Price: Starts from $1.99/mo or ₹ 69/mo
2. Multiple Plans: Hostinger offers a range of shared hosting plans, including a basic plan, a premium plan, and a business plan. Each plan includes different features and resources to meet the needs of different websites.
3. Unlimited Bandwidth: Hostinger’s shared hosting plans include unlimited bandwidth, which refers to the amount of data transferred between the server and the devices that access it. This can be helpful for websites with high traffic.
4. Free Domain: Hostinger offers a free domain for the first year with all their shared hosting plans. After the first year, you will need to pay a fee to renew the domain or choose a different one.
5. User-Friendly Control Panel: Hostinger’s shared hosting plans include a user-friendly control panel that makes it easy to manage your hosting account and website.
6. Money-Back Guarantee: If not satisfied, you can claim your 30 days money back guarantee.

2. SiteGround

SiteGround offers a variety of shared hosting plans that cater to different needs and budgets. They have a range of features, such as unlimited bandwidth, free SSL certificates, and daily backups to ensure the security and reliability of your website. They also offer 24/7 support to help you with issues or questions about your hosting account.

Some features of SiteGround’s shared hosting plans include:

1. Price: Starts from $3.99/mo.
2. Free SSL: Helps protect your website and its visitors by encrypting data transmitted between the website and the user’s web browser. SiteGround offers a free SSL certificate with all of their shared hosting plans.
3. Daily Backup: SiteGround automatically backs up your website daily, so you can restore your website if anything goes wrong.
4. cPanel: All hosting plans come with a user-friendly control panel that makes it easy to manage your hosting account and website.
5. Customer Support: SiteGround offers 24/7 customer support to help you with any issues you may have.
6. Unlimited Email Accounts: SiteGround’s shared hosting plans allow you to create unlimited email accounts for your domain.
7. Unlimited Bandwidth: SiteGround’s shared hosting plans come with unlimited bandwidth, so you don’t have to worry about your website going offline due to high traffic.
8. Unlimited MySQL Databases: SiteGround’s shared hosting plans allow you to create unlimited MySQL databases to store your website’s data.
9. One-Click Installation: SiteGround’s shared hosting plans come with a one-click installation feature that makes it easy to install popular applications like WordPress, Joomla, and Magento.
10. Free Domain Name: SiteGround’s shared hosting plans include a free domain name for the first year.
11. Money-Back Guarantee: SiteGround offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for their shared hosting plans, so you can try their service risk-free.

3. Bluehost

Bluehost offers a variety of shared hosting plans that cater to different needs and budgets. They have a range of features.

Here are some features that Bluehost’s shared hosting plans may include:

1. Price: Starts form $2.95/mo or ₹ 169/mo
2. Unlimited Storage: This allows you to store as much content as you need on your website.
3. Unlimited Bandwidth: This feature allows you to serve as much traffic as your website receives without incurring additional charges.
4. Free SSL Certificate: SSL allows you to secure your website with a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate, which helps protect sensitive information, such as login credentials and credit card numbers, that is transmitted between your website and its users.
5. Free Domain Name: Register a domain name for your website at no additional cost. (Yearly Plan).
6. Unlimited Email Accounts: This allows you to create as many email accounts as you need for your website.
7. Daily Backups: This ensures that your website’s data is backed up regularly to protect against data loss.
8. 24/7 Support: This provides access to technical support at any time of day to help you with any issues or questions you may have about your hosting account.
9. Easy Website Builder: This allows you to easily create and customize a website without coding knowledge.
10. Money-Back Guarantee: 30-days money back guarantee.

Please note that the specific features included in Bluehost’s shared hosting plans may vary depending on your chosen plan.

4. Hostgator

HostGator is a web hosting company that offers various hosting plans, including shared hosting.

Here are some of the features that HostGator’s shared hosting plans typically include:

1. Price: Starts from $2.79/mo or ₹ 79/mo
2. Unlimited Disk Space: HostGator’s shared hosting plans typically offer unlimited disk space.
3. Unlimited Bandwidth: HostGator’s shared hosting plans also typically offer unlimited bandwidth, which means you can have as much traffic as you need to your website without worrying about exceeding your limit.
4. Easy-to-Use Control Panel: HostGator provides a user-friendly control panel called cPanel that makes it easy to manage your website and host your account.
5. One-Click Installs: HostGator offers one-click installs for popular web applications like WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal etc.
6. 24/7 Support: HostGator provides 24/7 support via phone, email, and live chat, so you can get help whenever you need it.
7. Free SSL Certificate: HostGator includes a free SSL certificate with all shared hosting plans, which helps to secure your website and protect your visitors’ data.
8. Money-Back Guarantee: 45-day money back guarantee.

5. A2 Hosting

A2 Hosting is a web hosting company that offers a range of hosting options, including shared hosting. Some of the features of A2 Hosting’s shared hosting plans include:

1. Price: Starts from $2.99/mo
2. Unlimited Storage and Bandwidth: You can store as much data and traffic as you need on your website.
3. Free Site Migration: If you have an existing website, A2 Hosting’s experts will help you migrate it to their servers for free.
4. Free SSL Certificate: A2 Hosting includes a free SSL certificate with all of its hosting plans to help protect your website and its visitors’ data.
5. cPanel: A2 Hosting’s shared hosting plans include access to cPanel, a user-friendly control panel that makes it easy to manage your website and its features.
6. One-Click Installs: A2 Hosting’s shared hosting plans include access to over 400 one-click installs, which allow you to easily install popular applications like WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal.
7. 24/7/365 Customer Support: It offers customer support via phone, chat, and email, so you can get help anytime you need it.
8. 99.9% Uptime Guarantee: A2 Hosting guarantees that its servers will be up and running at least 99.9% of the time, so you can be confident that your website will be available to your visitors.
9. Money-Back Guarantee: If you’re not satisfied with A2 Hosting’s shared hosting plans, you can request a full refund within the first 30 days of your service.

6. FastComet

Here are some of the features that are typically included with FastComet’s shared hosting plans:

1. Price: Starts from $2.49/mo
2. Unlimited Bandwidth: Allows you to receive as much traffic as your website can handle without incurring additional charges.
3. Unlimited Email Accounts: You can create as many email accounts as you need for your business or personal use.
4. Free SSL Certificate: This helps to secure your website and protect your visitors’ personal information.
5. Daily Backups: Ensure your website’s data is backed up regularly in case of accidental changes or data loss.
6. 99.9% Uptime Guarantee: Ensures that your website will always be available to visitors.
7. 24/7 Customer Support: Allows you to get help with any issues or questions about your hosting account at any time.
8. Control Panel: Provides an easy-to-use interface for managing your hosting account and website.
9. One-Click Installation: This makes it easy to install popular applications like WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal with just a few clicks.
10. Cloud Infrastructure: Allows your website to scale up or down as needed to handle changing traffic levels.
11. Money-Back Guarantee: This offers a risk-free trial period during which you can test out the hosting service and receive a full refund within 45 days if unsatisfied.

Conclusion

It’s essential to carefully consider your hosting needs and budget when choosing a shared hosting provider. We have listed some of the leading shared hosting platforms, but many other options are also available. 

It’s a good idea to compare the features and pricing of different providers, read online reviews, and ask for recommendations from friends or colleagues to find the best one for your needs. Ultimately, the best-shared hosting provider for you will depend on your specific requirements and preferences.