Websites are hosted on servers, which are hardware systems that support the sites’ data, including images, files, text, video, etc. The hosting provider gives visitors to your site access to it.
Servers are housed in data centers. They are managed and operated by different web hosting firms. Your visitors access your site because web hosts provide the platform and space necessary for this. Your host allows clients or fans – depending on the purpose of your site – to locate it and view it online.
There are four primary types of web hosting to meet websites’ different needs: shared hosting, Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting, dedicated hosting, and cloud hosting. This guide will look at the main types of hosting and their pluses and minuses.
Shared Hosting
The entry-level and cheapest type of web hosting is shared. With shared hosting, your site shares resources on the same server with other users. The bandwidth and other resources are split, costing everyone a lower price. A less positive consequence of this, regrettably, is that the resources available to your site are limited. You’ll suffer from performance problems if another user experiences a surge in traffic, and there’s little you can do about it apart from an upgrade to one of the other types of hosting discussed here.
Still, shared hosting has its advantages. It’s a good option for businesses just starting out. You also don’t need a technical background to use it. Bloggers and small business owners are the best candidates for shared hosting.
Pros
- Most cost-effective type of web hosting.
- No technical knowledge is needed.
- Easy to set up.
- Great for beginners and small websites.
Cons
- Slower loading times and lower uptime rates.
- Not scalable.
- Sharing server resources with other websites.
- Performance issues are out of your control.
VPS
VPS hosting is a step up from the previous type. Your website still shares a server with other users, but with far fewer. The main server is divided up into several with this type of hosting, and different sites can customize these multiple server portions as they wish. To add custom configurations, you can get root access with your hosting plan. Sufficient resources are available, so you can be sure your site will perform well. If another user’s traffic soars, your site will not crash because they expended too much bandwidth.
A VPS shares some advantages of the following website hosting type on this list, dedicated hosting. It’s best for a small or medium-sized enterprise that can’t afford downtime. Website operators with some technical expertise who want to customize their configurations will find it a good option.
This hosting type will also be a good choice if your site has a lot of heavy files, like images and videos. You’ll find it a great relief if you’re currently on a shared hosting plan.
Pros
- Faster loading
- Ability to make custom configurations
- Dedicated server resources
- Better price
- Higher uptime
Cons
- Limited control
- Still sharing the main server with other users
- Harder to set up than a shared server
Dedicated Hosting
Users of dedicated hosting have sole access to the server, enjoying great uptime and speed. You share no resources with other sites, which makes it the most budget-unfriendly kind.
The user has full control. They determine the configurations and don’t need to worry about other sites’ traffic impacting their site’s performance.
Since these hosting plans tend to be costly, enterprises are the best candidates for them. They can support hundreds of thousands of visits. Big e-commerce sites and enterprises also choose dedicated hosting because they want complete control over the functions of the server. Sites that require high security, like financial and medical websites, often turn to dedicated hosting.
Regarding managing a dedicated server, there are two options: hire a hosting provider to do it or do it yourself. If you choose the latter option, you’ll be responsible for installing updates and monitoring for errors and other issues.
Pros
• Fast load times.
• Not sharing resources with any other websites.
• Optimal performance.
• High uptimes.
• Complete control over the server.
• High security.
Cons
• Most expensive type of web hosting
• Requires prior technical skills
• You might have to be responsible for everything
Cloud Hosting
The final choice is an affordable option that involves several remote servers. They work according to this system: if one goes down, the others take over. This makes downtime minimal.
Cloud hosting guarantees good overall operation, but its biggest plus is perhaps scalability. The best cloud hosting providers give their users full freedom to scale their resources.
Again, this option is better for medium to large businesses that are enjoying dynamic growth. If your business is growing or expected to grow, scalability is key. Cloud hosting is also a feasible option if you have unpredictable traffic.
If your website has 50,000 visits a month or more, it’s a wise step up from VPS hosting.
Pros
- High security.
- Scale resources on demand.
- Less unexpected downtime.
Cons
- Pricing isn’t always fixed.
- Unpredictable traffic can increase costs.
- Limited customization.