Beginner's Guide to Shared Hosting: What You Need to Know Before Signing Up
If you’re new to website hosting, shared hosting is a great place to start. In this blog post, we provide a beginner’s guide to shared hosting. We explain what shared hosting is, how it works, and what you need to know before signing up. We also provide tips for choosing a shared hosting provider.
When you decide to launch your website, one of the first things you need to consider is web hosting. Web hosting is essentially the service that allows you to make your website available to the world. One of the most popular options for web hosting is shared hosting. In this blog post, we’ll explore what shared hosting is, how it works, and what to consider when choosing a shared web hosting company.
Firstly, let’s understand what web hosting is. Web hosting is a service that provides storage space and access websites to be accessed on the internet. When someone types your website address in a web browser, the browser sends a request to the server where your website is hosted. The server then sends the website files back to the browser, and the website is displayed on the screen.
There are different types of web hosting options available in the market, including shared hosting, VPS hosting, dedicated hosting, and cloud hosting. Let’s take a closer look at shared hosting.
What is Shared Hosting?
Shared hosting is one of the most affordable options for web hosting. It’s where multiple websites are hosted on a single server, with each website sharing the server’s resources. When you choose this hosting, your website is stored on a server that is shared with many other websites, and the resources like RAM, CPU, and bandwidth are divided among all the websites on that server.
How is the space measured?
Shared hosting plans offer a certain amount of disk space for storing website files, images, and other media. The space is measured in megabytes (MB) or gigabytes (GB), depending on the hosting plan. Some hosting providers also offer unlimited storage, but it’s important to note that “unlimited” doesn’t mean infinite; it means that the hosting company won’t impose a limit on the amount of storage space you can use.
What are the benefits of shared hosting?
There are several benefits of shared hosting, including affordability, ease of use, and convenience.
Affordability: Shared hosting plans are typically the most affordable option for web hosting. Since multiple websites are hosted on a single server, the cost of maintenance and upkeep is shared among all the users, making it a cost-effective option for small businesses or individuals who want to launch their websites.
Ease of Use: Shared hosting is very easy to use, as the hosting company manages the server and takes care of all the technical details. This means that you don’t need to have the technical expertise to set up and run your website. The hosting company typically provides a user-friendly control panel, which allows you to manage your website, email, and other features.
Convenience: Shared hosting providers typically offer a variety of features, such as website builders, email, and one-click app installations, which make it easy to create and manage your website.
What should be considered when choosing a shared web hosting company?
When choosing a shared web hosting company, there are several factors you need to consider to ensure that you get the best value for your money. Here are a few key things to keep in mind:
Bandwidth: Bandwidth refers to the amount of data that can be transferred between your website and your visitors. Shared hosting plans typically offer limited bandwidth, which means that your website may become slow or unavailable if you exceed your limit. It’s important to choose a hosting provider that offers enough bandwidth to accommodate your website traffic.
Downtime: Downtime refers to the period when your website is unavailable to visitors. This can happen due to server maintenance, technical issues, or other reasons. When choosing the right provider, make sure that they have a good uptime guarantee and that they provide adequate support to resolve any issues that may arise.
Security: Security is a critical factor to consider when choosing a web hosting company. Since multiple websites are hosted on a shared server, there is a risk of your website being compromised if another website on the server gets hacked. Choose a hosting provider that offers robust security features such as malware scans, firewalls, and regular backups to keep your website safe.
Customer Support: Good customer support is essential when it comes to web hosting. Look for a hosting provider that offers 24/7 customer support through multiple channels such as phone, email, and live chat. Make sure that they have a knowledgeable and responsive support team that can help you resolve any issues that you may encounter.
Scalability: Your website needs may grow over time, and it’s essential to choose a hosting provider that can accommodate your changing needs. Look for a hosting provider that offers scalable plans, so you can easily upgrade your hosting plan as your website grows.
Shared hosting is an excellent option for beginners, individuals, and small businesses who want to launch their websites without breaking the bank. It’s affordable, easy to use, and convenient. When choosing a provider, make sure to consider factors such as bandwidth, downtime, security, customer support, and scalability. With the right hosting provider, you can launch your website with confidence, knowing that your website is in good hands.
However, as your website grows, you may need to consider more powerful hosting options such as VPS hosting, dedicated hosting, or cloud hosting. Choose a hosting provider that can accommodate your current and future needs and provides reliable customer support, security features, and scalability.
There are several shared hosting providers in the market, and it can be challenging to choose the right one. However, based on my research and experience, I would recommend two hosting providers that offer good prices and excellent service:
Bluehost: Bluehost is a popular hosting provider that offers affordable shared hosting plans with excellent features. Their basic plan starts at just $2.95/month, and it includes a free domain name, unlimited bandwidth, and a free SSL certificate. They also offer 24/7 customer support, a user-friendly control panel, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
HostGator: HostGator is another reliable hosting provider that offers affordable shared hosting plans. Their basic shared hosting plan starts at just $2.75/month, and it includes unlimited bandwidth, a free SSL certificate, and a user-friendly control panel. They also offer 24/7 customer support, a 45-day money-back guarantee, and a free website builder.
Namecheap is another well-known hosting provider that offers affordable shared hosting plans. They are known for their competitive pricing and user-friendly interface. Their basic shared hosting plan starts at just $1.58/month, which includes 20GB of SSD storage, unmetered bandwidth, and a free domain name for the first year. They also offer a user-friendly control panel, 24/7 customer support, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Both Bluehost and HostGator are known for their excellent service, reliability, and affordability. They offer easy-to-use control panels, user-friendly interfaces, and reliable uptime. Additionally, they both offer various hosting plans to choose from, making it easy to scale your hosting as your website grows.
Namecheap also offers other hosting services such as VPS hosting, dedicated servers, and WordPress hosting. They also provide a range of domain registration and management services, which can be convenient if you need to purchase or manage multiple domains.
One potential downside of Namecheap’s shared hosting is that they do not offer unlimited storage, which may be a limitation for users who need more space. Additionally, some advanced features such as staging sites and automatic backups are only available on their more expensive plans.
Overall, Namecheap offers an affordable shared hosting solution with reliable uptime and good customer support. They are a good option for individuals or small businesses who need an easy-to-use hosting solution and do not require unlimited storage or advanced features.
In conclusion, when it comes to choosing a shared hosting provider, it’s important to consider factors such as pricing, features, uptime, customer support, and scalability. Based on my research and experience, Bluehost, HostGator, and Namecheap are excellent choices for individuals and small businesses who want an affordable, reliable, and easy-to-use hosting solution.