Advantages & Disadvantages of Shared Hosting

Anyone delving into the various web hosting products will sooner or later come across the term Shared Hosting. What exactly is behind it, who Shared Hosting is of interest to, and what should be considered when selecting a Shared Hosting package, you will find out here.

How does Shared Hosting work?

The term Shared Hosting originates from English and literally translates to "shared hosting". The term is used for traditional web space packages, where all customers are assigned a space for their website on a specific server of the web hosting provider. As multiple customers share the technical resources of a single server in this way, Shared Hosting is one of the cheapest and most cost-effective hosting options on the market.

To illustrate this, Shared Hosting can be best compared to an apartment building. Each tenant has their own large and fully equipped living space. However, all apartments are located in the same building, and infrastructure facilities such as electricity supply or the elevator are used by all tenants equally. This is the same with Shared Hosting. When opting for a corresponding web space package, a website is located on a specific server alongside hundreds or even thousands of other websites. The infrastructure such as system resources, power supply, or network connection is equally available to all websites. In addition to the cost advantage, this hosting option offers further conveniences for customers. Just like with an apartment building, as a tenant, you have nothing to do with the management and maintenance of the infrastructure. The provider takes care of all tasks such as repairs, maintenance, or compliance with security standards. This service is already included in the monthly costs by the provider. Similar to apartment buildings, Shared web space packages also come in different configurations. Some offers provide more space than others or come with additional features. The monthly costs for these offers are accordingly higher than for packages with basic features.

Web space packages with higher configurations naturally consume more server resources. This means that if your own Shared web space package has more features, less performance is available for other customers. However, this also applies in reverse. If other customers use more features, fewer resources are available for your own website. For those running smaller websites, they won't notice any difference and are well suited for affordable Shared Hosting packages. However, if your website is a more extensive online presence, such as an online shop with several thousand visitors per day, problems can quickly arise on Shared web space packages.

Possible Issues with Shared Hosting

As mentioned earlier, using Shared Hosting for extensive web projects can have a negative impact. The following issues may arise with Shared Hosting that website owners may need to address:
 

• A website consumes too many resources

The basic principle of Shared Hosting is the fair distribution of resources. When multiple customers share the available resources, each user must be aware that their own website can only use a fair share of bandwidth and performance. If a customer consumes too much, it can disadvantage the websites of other customers, leading to problems such as long loading times or technical issues. In such cases, hosting providers will notify the relevant consumer to adhere to fair resource usage. In case of repeated violations, the affected account may be suspended.

• The performance of a website is limited

Due to the limited resources for Shared Hosting customers, websites often cannot reach their full potential. If necessary resources for fast loading times or effective site operation cannot be utilised, this can result in a negative user experience for visitors. Particularly for online shops, valuable sales can be lost as customers may not be able to optimally use the website due to long loading times or technical limitations.

• An upgrade is necessary

If a website consumes too many resources and restricts other customers on the server, the web hosting provider will recommend migrating to another web hosting package. Those who do not want to risk having their website potentially suspended should follow such instructions. Therefore, customers should also consider upgrade options when selecting a Shared Hosting package. Migrating an extensive web presence can be very time-consuming, so ideally the host should offer support to their customers during this process.

Shared Hosting Features

In order to find the right web hosting package, it is important to compare the exact features and scope of services offered by various web hosting providers. It is crucial to ensure that the individual requirements for the planned website are met. If certain features are found to be missing later on, it can be difficult to cancel a contract. In our web space comparison, you can conveniently compare the numerous offers from different web hosts and filter them according to specific criteria relevant to your website.

When selecting a package, the following features should be considered for shared hosting:

• Storage Space

One of the most important criteria is storage space. The more space the hosting provider makes available on the server, the more data customers can upload to the web space. Especially image galleries with high-resolution photos and HD-quality videos require a lot of storage space.

• Programming Language Support

For more complex websites that are not just made up of HTML documents, support for certain programming languages is required. This is the case when the website is created using a content management system. Common programming languages include PHP, Python, or Ruby.

• Databases

Through a database system, software applications like content management systems can manage large amounts of data. They are also essential for operating extensive websites. Well-known database systems include MySQL, MSSQL, or MariaDB.

• Operating System

Web space packages can be set up on both Linux and Windows. While most users may not see a difference, certain applications may require a specific operating system. For example, .Net applications only run on a server with a Windows operating system.

• Management Software

The management software allows customers to easily make important settings for the web space, such as creating email addresses or assigning directories, with just a few mouse clicks. While some hosts use ready-made solutions like Confixx or Plesk, others use self-programmed solutions.

• Customer Support

Since shared web hosting packages do not provide access to the server itself, customers rely on the host's assistance for any questions regarding individual settings or issues that may arise. Therefore, customers should look for good availability of customer support through various communication channels such as email and telephone.

Limitations of Shared Web Hosting Packages

As shared hosting packages can be offered at very affordable prices by web hosts, customers need to accept certain limitations. These include the following points:

• No Root Access

Direct access to the server system is not possible. Individual settings in the server configuration can only be implemented with the help of the host.

• Limited Storage Space

Storage space on shared hosting packages is limited. Depending on the plan, only a certain amount of data can be stored on the server.

• Limited Bandwidth

All customer accounts on the server share the same network connection. If many visitors are on other websites, there is little bandwidth left for your own website. This can potentially lead to limited accessibility during peak times.

• Limited Performance

Not only the bandwidth, but also the entire server hardware is shared equally among all customers. The system's performance, such as memory and CPU, is therefore only available in a limited capacity to each individual account.

For those who do not wish to accept these limitations and are willing to invest more in hosting, there are numerous alternatives available. Virtual Private Servers or Dedicated Servers offer exclusive performance and the ability for individual configuration. Otherwise, shared hosting packages, especially for beginners, provide very good offers to obtain their own web space at low costs.