Shared hosting

On shared hosting you rent space on a server, not the server. The provider handles the operating system, security updates and hardware, and you get a control panel such as cPanel to manage files, databases and email. The trade-off is that resources are pooled: a busy or badly behaved neighbour can slow your site down, and you cannot install custom server software. Compared with a VPS, you give up control and guaranteed resources in exchange for price and simplicity.

Plans advertised as unlimited are not literally unlimited. The terms of service usually include fair-use limits on processor time, memory or file counts, and those limits, not the headline storage number, decide how the site behaves under load. Read them before choosing, and ask the host what happens when an account goes over.

How it works

The provider divides one powerful server between hundreds of accounts, each with limits on processor time, memory, storage and simultaneous processes. Each account has its own folder for website files, its own databases and usually its own email accounts.

Most shared hosts run common technology such as PHP and MySQL, which suits WordPress and most small business sites, and the provider chooses the server software, the PHP versions on offer and which features are switched on. Good providers isolate accounts so one compromised site cannot read another's files, but the level of isolation varies by host.

When an account hits its limits, the host typically slows its processes or briefly refuses new requests, and visitors may see an error page saying a resource limit has been reached. Sites on the same server also often share one IP address, which is fine for websites because certificates work per domain name, but outgoing email from a shared server can inherit a poor reputation if a neighbour sends spam.

Example

An association with an events page, a member contact form and a few hundred visitors a week runs on shared hosting with free certificates and daily backups. When its yearly congress brings a surge of registrations, the site slows during the busiest hours, and the team weighs a bigger shared plan against moving to a VPS.

Before deciding, the team opens the resource usage page in the hosting panel. It shows the account hitting its processor and entry-process limits for about an hour after registration emails go out each day, and almost never otherwise. Turning on page caching for the public event pages, so most visitors receive a ready-made copy instead of making the server run PHP and query the database, fixes the slowdown without changing plans.

Why it matters for your business

For most small brochure sites, shared hosting is the sensible choice: low cost, no server administration and enough performance when the site is well built. It becomes a problem when traffic grows, when the site needs custom software, or when slow responses during peaks start losing enquiries. Plan limits also matter more than storage figures; processor and memory limits are what usually cause slowdowns. A sensible path is to start on a good shared plan, watch the resource graphs and move up only when they show a real limit, rather than paying in advance for capacity the site may never need.

Common mistakes

• Comparing plans by storage and bandwidth claims rather than by processor and memory limits.
• Running an online shop with heavy traffic on the cheapest shared tier.
• Never updating the CMS and plugins because the host handles the server.
• Assuming the host will warn you before suspending a site that exceeds its limits.

Questions people ask

Is shared hosting good enough for a small business?

Usually yes. A brochure site with a contact form and modest traffic runs well on decent shared hosting, especially if it is built to be light. Consider moving up when the site regularly slows down, needs custom software, or handles payments and traffic peaks that cost you sales.

Is shared hosting safe?

It can be, if the provider isolates accounts properly and you keep your own software updated. Most hacks on shared hosting come from outdated plugins or weak passwords rather than neighbouring sites. Choose a host with account isolation, firewalls and backups, and use two-factor authentication on the panel.

What is the difference between shared hosting and a VPS?

Shared hosting splits one server between many accounts with pooled resources and no server access. A VPS gives you a virtual server with reserved resources and full control of its software, which is more powerful and flexible but needs more technical management or a managed plan.