Shared, Cloud And VPS Hosting Explained

Web hosting is an essential component of the process, transforming your collection of files from your computer into a globally accessible website.

However, when you’re new to website creation and begin exploring web hosting options, you might encounter confusing terminology. How do you differentiate between various types of web hosting plans and determine which one suits your needs?

We’ve created a straightforward and potentially stress-free guide to assist you in making your decision.

You can select from 3 primary web hosting types:

● Shared Hosting
● Cloud Hosting
● Virtual Private Servers (VPS)

Understanding Shared Hosting

Shared hosting stands as the most fundamental and budget-friendly web hosting option available. Web hosting companies invest in servers to store the files of their customers’ websites. For those who choose a shared web hosting plan, their websites coexist on the same server alongside numerous other sites.

Shared hosting functions effectively because, for simple websites, the storage and bandwidth requirements are merely a fraction of what a complete server can offer. When multiple websites share a single server, they collectively cover the costs, with each paying a portion of the total expenses. This makes shared web hosting a practical and economical choice, particularly for new website owners, small businesses, and individuals, seeking to establish an online presence.

Disadvantages of Shared Hosting

Since shared hosting entails your website sharing a server with multiple others, the volume of their traffic and their security practices can impact your website. This could translate to your site slowing down due to another site experiencing unusually high traffic or ending up on an email blacklist because a different business employs spammy email tactics. With a responsible web host, these issues are infrequent but not impossible.

Best for:

Dipping your toes into the online world. Shared hosting is budget-friendly, making it a simple way to establish and run your website without significant expenses. Should the need arise, upgrading to your own server in the future is a straightforward process.

Understanding Cloud Hosting

Cloud hosting doesn’t rely on a single physical server; instead, it operates across interconnected servers that together form “the cloud.” Consequently, websites using cloud hosting are not dependent on a single server.

By linking multiple servers, cloud hosting benefits from increased power and storage capacity. If an issue arises that could affect one server, such as necessary repairs or a sudden surge in a website’s popularity causing bandwidth constraints, the remaining network servers step in to ensure your website remains unaffected.

Keep in mind that, if you go with a managed cloud hosting account, you will not have to worry about any of the technical aspects, because your provider will pay close attention to your network of servers.

Disadvantages of Cloud Hosting

For individuals inclined to construct their own custom hosting environment, cloud hosting may not be the ideal fit as it doesn’t provide root access for extensive customization. Additionally, it carries a higher price tag compared to shared hosting, potentially making it less suitable for new websites operating on limited budgets.

Best for:

New website owners and small business owners aim to impress visitors with rapid loading speeds and the ability to handle traffic spikes during peak seasons, all without necessitating extensive technical expertise.

Understanding VPS Hosting

VPS hosting, short for Virtual Private Server hosting, represents an advancement from shared hosting. While you still technically share a server with other websites, the portion you rent is divided and isolated from the other segments.

In practice, it operates much like having a private server—you needn’t concern yourself with the amount of traffic or any questionable activities occurring on other websites. Although you share the same physical server with other websites, there’s no overlap in resource usage. Consequently, you only pay for the portion of server space you require, without the need to foot the bill for the entire server’s capacity.

Disadvantages of VPS Hosting

Activity on the shared server can influence your experience, and you don’t have access to the entire server’s resources.

Best for:

Website owners seeking the cost-effective, low-maintenance benefits of shared hosting, coupled with the versatility, reliability, and guaranteed resources associated with a dedicated server.

Conclusion

Now that you know the 3 fundamental ways to host your website, you can choose the appropriate hosting solution that suits your website size and resource demand.