Web hosting is a service through which you can activate your website on the internet. This is done via web servers which allocate space on the internet for you to store your files in. Web hosting services can be taken from hosting providers or it can be done on your own — but such hosting service is very much necessary for you to run your website. There are several types but two of them- Cloud Web Hosting and Shared Web Hosting which will be highlighted in our discussion today along with their key comparisons!
Cloud Hosting
As mentioned previously, website hosting is done with the help of web servers. On that note, Cloud hosting is a service that involves using a network of cloud servers to host your website.
The resources used to activate and keep your website running smoothly are all cloud computing-based which has its own perks. There are 3 major types of cloud computing — IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS; cloud hosting is usually seen to be done using IaaS and SaaS.
It supports SQL ( both MySQL and NoSQL) and can be operated using web portals, mobile applications as well as APIs. Thus the method is super versatile and reliable, giving users freedom with a strong sense of security.
Pros And Cons Of Cloud Hosting
Cloud web hosting has both benefits and drawbacks like any other hosting solution and we will be diving deeper into those right below.
Let us start with the advantages of cloud hosting :
- Better scalability
- Less downtime
- Strong security
- Reliable data recovery
- Speedy performance
- User flexibility
Better scalability
Scalability is the measure through which you can control your hosting resources for better growth and cost-effectiveness of your website. Cloud hosting allows you to have better scalability and most providers offer a pay-as-you-go subscription plan which helps you scratch out all the unnecessary costs and use your resources to their full potential.
Less Downtime
Downtime is the time your website stays inaccessible to its audience due to maintenance or server crashes. Unlike traditional hosting methods, since cloud hosting is carried out using a network of physical and virtual cloud servers, if one server crashes, another server in the network can easily take up its place and keep your website running. This means that you will face fewer crashes and your website’s downtime can be reduced.
Strong Security
Web security is a large factor when managing a website. One may often end up investing loads of their precious fundings behind website security. With cloud web hosting, your SSL is sure to be of high quality and up-to-date, so even if one server’s security is breached or attacked by malware, you can still salvage your website’s data and files by working fast enough against it. It wouldn’t create any downtime for your website and so the security you receive from such hosting is topnotch.
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Reliable data recovery
While on the topic of security, you must be aware that your data makes or breaks your website. Most cloud hosting providers ensure that your web content stays intact even if your website crashes and they offer you regular backup plans and web plug-ins to help you with reliable data recovery.
Speedy performance
Cloud hosting also comes with excellent performance and reduced loading time for your website since multiple servers work simultaneously to finish a task in a smaller period. Your website’s loading time directly affects your business’s bottom line since more than 70% of audiences are seen to leave sites before they finish loading if they are slow! And hence, a speedy performance means better web traffic.
User flexibility
The cloud hosting solutions also offer you full control over your website’s files and configurations, meaning that you can install any script or application you desire for your website. Your resources are completely your responsibility and thus user flexibility is fully available!
That said, let’s review some cloud hosting disadvantages :
- Expensive maintenance
- Complicated management
- Deceitful providers
- Not beginner-friendly
Expensive maintenance
The maintenance cost of your cloud hosting is expensive compared to other hosting methods. But the expense is completely valid when you consider the greater number of equipment and all the extra hassle it all comes with.
Complicated management
If you are handling all of your hosting needs on your own, you’ll come to terms that cloud hosting is indeed complicated to manage. You may find yourself giving more time behind the servers and less time on your goal of growing your website or running your business. So, it is better to avoid the unnecessary hassle by leaving the work to experts!
Deceitful providers
But not all experts are people whom you can trust blindly! Sometimes behind the friendly facade, hosting providers may end up taking away from your promised bandwidth and resources while still charging you for them. This is rather frustrating when you realize the fraudulent activities and hence you must do your research well and stick with well-known hosting companies if you are new to the cloud hosting crew.
Not beginner-friendly
While the advantages may allure you as a beginner, this hosting solution is just not for you. It is incompatible with your website compared to the amount of traffic you have and is more of a hassle than necessary. But you can surely upgrade to cloud hosting once your website starts to pick up the much-welcomed traffic growth! Till then, keep reading because our next hosting option is just for you.
Shared Hosting
Shared hosting is a type of web hosting service where the hosting server used is shared with multiple people.
It is the hosting method used by the vast majority of people who are just starting. The affordable and user-friendly approach to shared hosting is what makes this hosting solution so popular.
Shared hosting does not support SQL services and is mostly handled by your hosting provider.
Pros And Cons Of Shared Hosting
We have discussed the pros and cons of cloud hosting previously and since this is a comparison article to help you choose between shared hosting and cloud hosting, it is only fair that we discuss the shared hosting pros and cons as well.
To begin, the advantages of shared hosting are :
Less expensive
We have said it before and we will say it again — shared hosting is super cheap! The shared server is the reason behind this since it works like dividing your rent between your roommates just like a shared apartment.
Supports multiple domains
While on the topic of shared servers, we must mention that one of its perks is allowing a user to host multiple domains on the same server. If you run multiple websites or different business websites, this lets you manage your sites very easily.
Though the cost for hosting multiple domains may be double what you pay for a single domain, the expenses are still very low compared to other hosting solutions and many providers often offer seasonal discounts.
Professionally managed
Shared hosting is a great hosting variety since it is super easy to manage. You do not have to manage it at all if you do not wish to. Most providers are responsible for managing everything without any extra charges and so you can give more time to growing your business or website instead.
Beginner-friendly
And so, shared web hosting is very beginner and user-friendly. There’s literally no better alternative for you due to its easy accessibility and low investment plans!
But there are some inevitable disadvantages of shared hosting which we must discuss immediately below :
Security risks
Right off the bat, we must address the security risks that come with shared hosting. As we mentioned previously that shared hosting is like a shared apartment, the security risks can be imagined in the same way — you can be as secure as possible, but if one of your roommates leaves the front gate open, an intruder may come in and rob you off anyway! Just like that, if one of the other users on the same server is not too careful and a hacker or malware attacks them, all other domains on the server are immediately at risk too as your security system is the same!
Limited resources
A shared server means shared resources, which also means that the amount of resources you will have is limited compared to a dedicated or private server.
Slow speed
Web traffic controls your website’s performance or loading speed in the case of shared hosting. If one domain starts attracting larger traffic, the other websites on the same server will have reduced performance and their loading speed will be reduced as well. This is sure to take away from your audience if it goes on for too long. And hence websites that attract heavy traffic are advised against using shared hosting.
More downtime
Again, as the web traffic directly affects your website’s performance, on particularly busy days, your website may even crash due to some other domain getting more audience. That is the reason why websites with shared hosting face more downtime than others.
No administration access
Since the providers manage your servers and there are several more domains on your server, you will not have admin access which includes access to your roots and script or application installations. If your website starts to pick up, these will be necessary and you will eventually need to upgrade inevitably.
Additional payment for SSL
Also, even though the cost is still low, unlike other hosting solutions, most shared hosting providers charge extra to provide you with an SSL certificate. So you will be paying more than what is necessary.
Cloud Hosting Vs Shared Hosting — How Do They Compare?
Buckle up because now comes the question of the day; How does Cloud hosting compare with Shared hosting? Well, let’s not wait any further and dive straight into some frequently asked questions to help you out.
1. Which is more secure — cloud hosting or shared hosting?
Answer: Definitely Cloud hosting is far superior in terms of security to Shared hosting. The shared servers cannot come even close to the security offered by cloud servers.
2. Is Cloud hosting faster than Shared hosting?
Answer: Yes, Cloud hosting is much faster compared to Shared hosting. The reason for the speed difference is that in shared hosting, multiple domains are existing within a single server and so resources are limited. Whereas, in cloud hosting, multiple servers host a single domain which in turn allows the website to have a speedy performance.
3. Which is more cost-effective: Cloud hosting or Shared hosting?
Answer: While cloud hosting provides a great deal for entry costs and its pay-as-you-go program, it is in no way cheaper than Shared web hosting which covers the basic needs of an entry-level website.
4. Does Cloud hosting provide better scalability than Shared hosting?
Answer: Yes, when it comes to scaling resources, the shared hosting services can never beat cloud web hosting.
5. Which to use — Cloud hosting or Shared hosting?
Answer: While this question may seem to be the highlight of our topic and even though our comparison may suggest that cloud hosting is better to use, the answer to this question may vary from person to person according to their own needs.
Which To Use And For What?
Shared hosting is great for beginners, small business websites, new e-commerce or blog sites, local startups, new online newspapers or magazines, etc.
Cloud hosting on the other hand is a brilliant fit for intermediate-level websites, big organizations, sites that attract heavy traffic, large businesses, reseller websites, and much more.
Providers And Plans
The three best cloud hosting providers in 2021 are — A2 Hosting, Cloudways, and Kamatera. The average cost range for cloud hosting may start at a minimum of $4.50 and can pile up to more than $200 every month.
The three best-shared hosting providers in 2021 are — Bluehost, Hostinger, and A2 Hosting. The average cost range for shared hosting starts from $0.99 and can go up to $7 per month overall.
Both are popular options for their own set of appeals and at the end of the day, it is up to you to choose wisely. Surely you can transition from shared hosting to cloud hosting or vice versa, but that is a topic for another day.
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