Shared web hosting allows multiple websites to utilize a single server. Usually, you’ll have no idea who or what websites you’re sharing the resources of a server with. Each customer will usually have a limit on the total amount of server resources they can use, but this will be defined by your web hosting package.

Shared web hosting is easily the cheapest and most economical option for your needs. However, the cheap price comes with limitations, which we’ll get to below. Since most web hosting companies will offer the same amount of space and storage it’s important to choose a company you can trust.

1. It’s by far the cheapest web hosting option you’re going to have available.
2. Most web hosting companies have multiple levels of hosting available, so you can upgrade your web hosting package with time. This makes shared web hosting a great place to start.
3. Shared web hosting usually comes equipped with a built-in cPanel, which makes it easy to manage your site.
4. No technical maintenance needs to be done on your end to the server, as this is usually included in part of your web hosting package.

Put simply, shared web hosting can be a great option for website owners with a small budget, or those just getting started online. You can always upgrade to another web hosting package with time, as your budget allows, so you’re not stuck with this level of web hosting forever.

Shared web hosting sounds pretty good: it’s affordable, has a solid uptime, and is easy to manage. But, it does come with certain drawbacks.

1. The load time can be a lot slower than dedicated servers.
2. The server can become overburdened by other sites that are sharing the server.
3. As your site begins to receive higher levels of traffic you’ll begin to notice that your site might begin to perform much worse.
4. You never quite know who your neighbors are. Although rare, it is possible for other sites on the server to pose a risk to your own site.
5. There’s a lack of customization options to truly get the highest level of performance from your website.

For most people just getting started online the advantages of shared web hosting will greatly outweigh the disadvantages, especially if you’re trying to get a site up and running as quickly as possible and have little tech skills. It’s also important to note that a responsible web host will let you know when your traffic hits a level that it’s time to upgrade, and will monitor and shut down any sites that pose a risk to the others on the server.