Shared hosting allows several customers to share the same server, making the service more affordable. It is the most popular web hosting on the internet due to its low cost and high efficiency.
In this context, shared hosting is, in general, a space that concentrates several websites, from different clients, on the same server.
As mentioned above, the virtual medium has expanded and evolved a lot over time. And shared hosting is an example of this evolution, because if it was difficult to create a website and make it work, now it can be done in a simplified, cheap and practical way.
In this way, shared hosting ends up being a content democratization tool , since it is accessible, simple and does not require high technological knowledge, considering that the server itself helps the hosted site moderator in the main functions.
It is the possibility for many content creators, brands, companies and other users to place their product in the world in an uncomplicated way, thus providing the mass sharing of products that, otherwise, would reach a potential consumer in an uncomplicated way. longer.
Shared hosting is, therefore, an alternative that offers the user a greater reach to their content.
Shared Hosting vs VPS Hosting: Comparison
Shared hosting, as already mentioned, shares the same server with countless other sites, a fact that can overload the site if there is more intense traffic on the server.
In this way, although the handling of the site is simpler when behaved in a shared server, it runs the risk of presenting instability when this same server is accessed by many people.
On the other hand, there is another type of shared hosting, which we call Virtual Private Servers (VPS or Virtual Private Servers).
In this category, the user's site will still share the same server with several others, but each owner is entitled to dedicated resources. In this way, VPS hosting allows the website to load faster .
This means that unlike common shared hosting, even when there is heavy traffic on the server, the VPS website will not be affected. That is, it will not present the same weaknesses that shared hosting presents.
By opting for the VPS, the user is entitled to a “compartment” of his own on the server, which assures the user that he will have all the resources of the server where he is hosted always available to him and will not have problems with a slow site caused by other users on the same server .
The VPS also guarantees greater security in relation to the site, since as it is private, if problems occur with the other hosted sites, it will not be affected.
A little more about divergences
In addition to the differences already mentioned, there are other aspects that differ between shared and VPS hosting. Financial investment is one of them.
Shared hosting tends to be more affordable because it's a popular hosting option. VPS, however, requires a higher investment due to the benefits it offers.
Furthermore, unlike shared hosting, in which the user does not necessarily need to have a high level of technological knowledge, VPS may require the site owner to be more experienced with regard to handling technological resources.
If, on the one hand, shared hosting limits the user to the server's own settings, VPS, on the other hand, guarantees greater autonomy to the website owner, as he can install his own operating system and make the changes he wants to his website, customizing -in the way that works best for you.
In general, the VPS is especially suitable for users who aim to grow their site in the long term, since it allows intense traffic without compromising the performance of the site.
In addition, it is aimed at people who already have some familiarity with the platform, being ideal for those who manage this type of hosting well , unlike shared hosting, which is recommended for beginners.
Who is shared hosting suitable for?
Shared hosting is ideal for small and medium-sized companies, which do not have a large volume of simultaneous accesses , due to the instances of instability that we mentioned earlier.
It is the perfect modality for those who are starting their website, as it gives the user the possibility of placing their product/content in the world and having a greater reach.
In addition to the lower cost-effectiveness, which counts as a great advantage for beginner entrepreneurs, shared hosting is also interesting because its degree of difficulty is small , making it unnecessary, therefore, to have a technical team to handle the site.
Thus, the shared server appears in the market as the most popular website hosting on the internet, being sought after by this specific niche and guaranteeing great results for those who hire this service.
In general, the shared hosting modality is aimed at those looking for practicality, security and support to manage the progress of the website, especially when it is not yet very large.
How does shared hosting work?
Shared hosting works as a kind of “hotel” that hosts several websites. It has a disk storage space that indicates how much space it has to store the many sites that are integrated into it.
This space depends on the contracted plan, but is generally quite large, considering that you need to have space to store images, videos, documents, files, among other elements of each site.
Like any product, shared hosting has advantages and disadvantages. It is up to the contractor to evaluate each point and decide which plan is best for the goals he has with his website.
Benefits
The biggest advantage of shared hosting is precisely the cost-effectiveness. We reiterate that the shared server is naturally cheaper than the other modalities, as it is a popular product and made to be democratic and accessible.
This accommodation is affordable and ideal for those who cannot yet invest so much in their venture.
Another advantage of shared hosting that we have already mentioned, and which is very much taken into account when a user decides to hire a hosting plan, is the ease of management .
The hosting company manages all technical issues of website maintenance. Therefore, the user does not need to have advanced technological literacy, which makes this type of hosting the most accessible in this regard.
Although it is a shared server, this does not represent any type of insecurity for the customer, as the host does not allow data from one guest to be passed on to another . Thus, there is security, credibility and trust in the service provided.
In addition, the contractor has all the necessary support to maintain your site, in case it presents difficulties.
Thus, having a qualified team willing to meet all user demands is a huge advantage for anyone who is starting the process of creating and developing a domain.
Therefore, without a doubt, shared hosting is an instrument that can make several people's dreams come true.
For many, starting an e-commerce, a blog or some other type of enterprise represents the possibility of realizing a dream, goal or life project. Thus, this type of hosting is, without a doubt, a facilitating tool.
Disadvantages
If, on the one hand, shared hosting offers expressive benefits, on the other hand, there are also some disadvantages that must be considered before joining a plan.
One of these points is that, although it has a good storage limit, shared hosting may not be enough, depending on the objectives that the user has with their website.
Thus, if he intends to have a “big” site in terms of resources, perhaps the shared server is not interesting for his projects.
Furthermore, if the site was once very popular and has a large volume of hits, the site owner will certainly have some headaches, given that heavy traffic can cause instability on the sites.
Another disadvantage of shared hosting is that it does not offer root access to the user, therefore limiting their autonomy on the site. Thus, the website owner is unable to perform some actions that are restricted to the user with administrator access.