- Shared hosting is budget-friendly with shared resources; cloud hosting offers scalable, dedicated resources.
- The choice between shared and cloud hosting depends on factors such as budget, website traffic, and the need for customisation and control.
Web hosting services are becoming increasingly important. Choosing the right hosting service is not only related to the performance and stability of the website, but also directly affects the user experience of the visitors. In this article, we will discuss the two mainstream website hosting methods: shared hosting and cloud hosting. By comparing their features, advantages and limitations, it will help you make an informed choice based on your needs. Whether you’re new to web development or an entrepreneur looking to expand your existing online presence, understanding the difference between shared hosting and cloud hosting will provide valuable guidance for your online journey.
Shared hosting
Shared hosting is the most affordable and basic type of web hosting. With this service, a large number of websites are hosted on a single server, sharing its resources such as RAM, CPU, and storage. It’s like living in an apartment building where multiple families live in different apartments but share common facilities.
- Cost-effectiveness: Being the most budget-friendly option, shared hosting is ideal for individuals and small businesses with limited budgets.
- Ease of use: It’s straightforward to set up and manage, making it a good choice for beginners.
- Resource sharing: However, the downside is that resources are shared, which can lead to slower performance if other websites on the server experience high traffic.
- Limited customisation: Users have less control over the server environment and configurations.
Cloud hosting
Cloud hosting, on the other hand, is a more advanced and scalable option. It involves hosting websites on cloud servers that are connected to form a large network. It’s akin to having a virtual, infinitely expandable server that adjusts to your needs.
- Scalability: Cloud hosting allows for easy scaling of resources up or down based on the website’s traffic and demand.
- Reliability: With multiple servers, if one goes down, others can take over, ensuring high availability and uptime.
- Performance: Websites hosted on the cloud can handle more traffic and load faster due to the dedicated resources.
- Customisation: Users have greater control over their server environment and can customise it to meet specific needs.
Also read: Hitachi and Cisco launch new hybrid cloud hosting services
Key differences
Shared hosting and cloud hosting are two common ways of hosting websites that differ significantly in terms of resource allocation, performance, scalability, cost, and control and customisation.
Resource allocation
In shared hosting, multiple websites are hosted on the same physical server and share the resources of that server, including CPU, memory and storage space. This means that all users use the limited resources on the same server, and if one of them experiences a large increase in activity, it may have an impact on the others, leading to a drop in overall performance.
Cloud hosting, on the other hand, avoids the problem of competing resources by clustering multiple servers into a single computing unit through virtualisation technology, where each customer can have exclusive access to some or all of the resources.
Performance and reliability
Since the resources in shared hosting are limited and fixed, its performance may not be as stable as cloud hosting. When there is a surge in traffic to one website on a shared server, it may drag down other websites on the entire server.
Cloud hosting usually offers higher reliability and better performance due to its dynamic allocation of resources and redundant design.
Scalability
Shared hosting is less scalable because all customers share the same server, and once the resource limit is reached, no more resources can be added. Cloud hosting is highly scalable.
Cloud hosting, on the other hand, is highly scalable and resources can be adjusted at any time according to demand, such as adding computing power or storage space to cope with different loads.
Cost
The cost of shared hosting is relatively low, which is suitable for small websites or startups with limited budgets. However, as your business grows and traffic increases, shared hosting may no longer meet the demand and you need to upgrade to a more advanced hosting solution.
Cloud hosting has a higher initial investment, but its pay-as-you-go model makes it potentially more economical in the long run.
Control and customisation
Shared hosting offers fewer control and customisation options, as all customers share the same system and configuration.
Cloud hosting, on the other hand, allows customers to manage resources and configure them in detail according to their needs, providing greater flexibility and customisation.
Also read: Unlocking the potential of colocation data centres for internet users
Who should use what
- Shared hosting: Best for small personal blogs, portfolios, or websites with low to moderate traffic that do not require high levels of customisation or resources.
- Cloud hosting: Ideal for businesses and websites with high traffic, those that require scalability, and those that need a high level of control and security.
Choosing between shared and cloud hosting depends on your website’s needs, your technical expertise, and your budget. Shared hosting is a good starting point for beginners or those on a tight budget, while cloud hosting is a scalable solution for growing businesses and high-traffic websites.
