Shared hosting is a type of web hosting where multiple websites are stored on and share the resources of a single physical server. Think of it like renting an apartment in a building — you share the building's electricity, water, and internet with other tenants, but you have your own private space.
How Does Shared Hosting Work?
When you purchase a shared hosting plan, your website files, databases, and emails are stored on a powerful server alongside hundreds of other websites. The server's CPU processing power, RAM memory, and disk storage are divided among all tenants. A web server software (like LiteSpeed, Nginx, or Apache) manages incoming traffic requests and routes visitors to the correct website.
Who Is Shared Hosting Best For?
- New bloggers launching their first website
- Small businesses with under 25,000 monthly visitors
- Portfolio sites for freelancers and creatives
- Students learning web development
If you are just getting started, see our best hosting for beginners guide for specific recommendations.
Shared Hosting vs VPS vs Cloud
For a detailed comparison of how shared hosting stacks up against VPS and cloud options, read our Shared Hosting vs VPS comparison and Cloud vs Shared Hosting guide.
