The Real Truth About Sharеd WordPrеss Hosting

The Truth About Shared WordPress Web Hosting

In today’s day and age, creating a website is incredibly easy. One of the most sought-after platforms for website building is WordPress – the world’s most popular content management system (CMS). But, while creating a WordPress website is free, people need to sign up for web hosting services to share the website online. Nowadays, several web hosting plans are available, including free versions. However, shared web hosting is highly preferred by newbies.

Despite its ubiquity, many people do not know the ‘truth’ about shared web hosting. Usually, the perception is limited to the fact that shared web hosting is unlimited, easy and budget-friendly. However, shared web hosting is much more than that and before making any decisions, it is essential to have comprehensive knowledge about the same. Interested to know more? Read ahead!

 

What is Shared WordPress Web Hosting?

Shared web hosting involves numerous websites and domains sharing a big physical web server. Along with server space, all websites on the server also share common resources, such as disk space and bandwidth. The sharing setup enables web hosting companies to offer more affordable plans to clients. Moreover, the clients or users of shared web hosting also split the cost of website server maintenance.

Shred web hosting is by far the most budget-friendly option. For instance, the cost of a dedicated web server starts at around USD 150 per month and can go up to thousands of dollars per month. On the other hand, shared web hosting costs USD 3.95 per month to USD 9.95 per month. So, you see, the price difference is quite jarring. Thus, shared web hosting is perfect for new bloggers, small businesses and other low-traffic websites that do not need extensive resources. Likewise, shared hosting mandates very little technical know-how.

 

The Truth about Shared Web Hosting for WordPress

Shared web hosting is renowned for ‘unlimited disk space,’ ‘unlimited bandwidth’ and ‘unlimited domains.’ However, in the real world, nothing is unlimited and the only unlimited thing we have is the amount of deceit thrown at us. To begin with, there is nothing unlimited in shared web hosting. The marketing claims of shared web hosting platforms usually skew the truth to create a facade of infinite and unlimited benefits at a bare minimum.

But, the truth is that shared web hosting is a great choice for smaller sites, such as startups and bloggers. If every user begins to utilize their space, the shared web hosting will crash and fail to work. But, because very few users of shared web hosting platforms utilize their full quotas, its clients get an affordable deal and the web hosting platform is able to make a profit.

So, long story short, shared web hosting is most suitable for people just starting out. But, if your website starts to get popular and use up gargantuan server space, the web hosting company will ask you to upgrade. Many shared hosting platforms are infamous for simply suspending the accounts of their users and sending a notification for upgrade. Some simply suspend the site and let the user find it on their own. So, it is crucial to opt for a shared hosting company with a good reputation.

Also read: Royal Clouds Review, cheapest web hosting provider

So, the point to remember is that if your WordPress website starts garnering massive traction and popularity and is using up a lot of space, you should get an upgrade as soon as possible.

Now that we know about the truth of shared web hosting, let us check out its pros and cons.

 

Pros of Shared WordPress Web Hosting

The top 3 benefits of shared web hosting are –

  • Budget-friendly

Quite understandably, shared web hosting is very cheap because the server maintenance costs are divided among multiple users.

  • Convenient

Shared web hosting typically targets beginnings, and hence, the platforms often come with features like built-in control panels, website builders and email hosting services. So, you do not have to install the basics on your own.

  • No Technical Complexities

Last but not least, the hosting company manages the server in shared hosting plans. So, you do not have to worry about technical requirements and know-how.

 

Cons of Shared WordPress Web Hosting

The pertinent cons of shared web hosting are –

  • Security Problems

Multiple websites share one single server in shared web hosting, which makes it vulnerable to cybersecurity threats. If hackers get access to one website, they can access every other website on the hosting server.

  • Slower Speed

In shared hosting, multiple users share server resources. So, if a popular website on the server needs and uses up more resources than they are allotted, other websites on the server will be affected.

  • Hidden Costs

The third and most despicable disadvantage of shared website hosting is the hidden costs. As we have already mentioned, the cost of shared web hosting plans usually start at USD 3. No matter how you do the math, a company does not generate any revenue. Thus, upselling and hidden costs generate large profits for a shared host. Migrations, renewal costs, SSF certifications, domain registrations, and other things are examples of these upsells.

  • Long Downtimes

Excessive usage of server resources by websites increases the likelihood of server crashes. While some hosting providers take swift action to fix the problems, others do not.

  • Hidden Throttling

Last, but not least, most hosts will throttle their clients who use up a lot of server space. Thus, the clients get angry and leave and there is room for more clients that do not use a lot of resources.

Also read: Difference Between Domain Name and Web Hosting

So, a vicious cycle starts, wherein web hosting companies push cheap plans, sign up customers who they hope will not use a lot of resources, and will purchase upsells.

 

Wrapping It Up

So, there we have it, a comprehensive overview of the truth about shared WordPress web hosting. The catch in the phenomenon is that there is unlimited shared hosting, as promoted by companies. It is ideal for bloggers and businesses who are just starting out and have websites with low traffic and minimum resource requirements.