When launching a new website, choosing the right web hosting solution is the most significant factor. No matter if you're a blogger, small business owner, or running a large e-commerce site, you should be careful while choosing the right hosting.
However, people mostly need clarification about the two popular options, cloud hosting and shared hosting. They come with different set of advantages and that make things difficult for people to choose the right hosting.
Here, we’ll discuss everything about Cloud Hosting vs Shared Hosting. The discussion must help you figure out which one suits your needs the most.
Cloud Hosting vs Shared Hosting: At A Glance
Here, I’m sharing a quick table that will help you understand the core differences of cloud hosting and shared hosting at a glance.
| Feature | Cloud Hosting | Shared Hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Scalability | Highly scalable | Limited scalability |
| Performance | High performance | Moderate to low performance |
| Cost | Pay-as-you-go pricing | Generally lower cost |
| Reliability | Very reliable | Less reliable |
| Security | High security | Basic security |
| Resource Allocation | Dedicated resources | Shared resources |
| Customization Options | High | Limited |
| Technical Support | Premium support | Standard support |
Related Read: Domain Hosting Vs Web Hosting
What Is Cloud Hosting?
Cloud hosting is currently the most demanding hosting type. It utilizes multiple servers at the same time so that it can balance the load and maximize uptime. For that, it doesn't host on a single server but on a cluster of servers. They work together to provide resources like processing power, memory, and storage.
In this process, when one server goes down, it keeps the other servers ready to pick up the slack immediately. So, there is no chance of missing anything at all. As a result, there is almost no risk of website failure.
Usually, cloud hosting provides unlimited expansion so that you can use heavy-traffic sites. However, a larger part of hosting users depend on Cloud hosting as it is pretty safe and reliable.
Dorik AI, for example, provides multi-cloud hosting by combining AWS & DigitalOcean and serves static content from its Global CDN.
Related Read: How to Host a Website
Pros of Cloud Hosting
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Offers excellent uptime and reliability.
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Ensure optimal performance during traffic spikes.
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No need to invest in expensive hardware.
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Let you use powerful servers as needed.
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Enhance data security and recovery capabilities.
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Reducing latency for international users.
Cons of Cloud Hosting
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Sometimes, it causes unpredictable costs.
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Requiring more technical expertise.
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Need strong security measures.
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Can affect access to cloud-hosted resources.
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Lots of data transfer complexities.
What Is Shared Hosting?
As the name says, shared hosting utilizes multiple websites to share the same physical server. It also shares the resources, like CPU, RAM, and disk space among the websites. Each website on a shared hosting server operates independently. It's because they share the same resources.
For the same reason, the performance and stability of one website can potentially affect the others. Still, shared hosting is a cost-saving option that millions of website owners are using.
Usually, this type of hosting is a better option for small blog websites and startup business sites. Also, it's a pretty beginner-friendly hosting type that people love to use. Still, it comes with some flaws that users often have to face.
Pros of Shared Hosting
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Easy to use even for users without technical skills.
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Reduce the complexity of getting started.
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Support easy server maintenance, updates, security, and backups.
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Can be used with limited CPU usage, memory, and bandwidth.
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Comes with email hosting, databases, and scripting language support.
Cons of Shared Hosting
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The activities of other sites can impact the server easily.
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Vulnerable to security breaches.
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Offer less control over server settings and configurations.
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Not ideal for websites expecting significant growth or high traffic.
Cloud Hosting vs Shared Hosting: Detailed Comparison
As you just see, there are many facts to discuss about Cloud hosting vs shared hosting. You should understand them well to choose the right one for your website.
1. Scalability
Cloud hosting offers high scalability compared to shared hosting. You can easily increase or decrease the resources like CPU, RAM, and storage according to your needs. This is definitely helpful for websites that experience variable traffic patterns, as it ensures that performance remains optimal even during traffic spikes.
However, for the shared one, there's a cap on the amount of traffic and resource usage each site can handle. It's because the resources are shared among multiple users on a single server. In this case, if your website outgrows the available resources, you'll need to upgrade to a different hosting plan or service.
2. Performance
If you are thinking about performance, Cloud hosting will be the winner as well. Performance in cloud hosting is generally high because it utilizes multiple servers to distribute the load.
The combination of multiple servers helps maintain fast loading times and reliable performance even under high-traffic conditions. The redundancy of multiple servers also means that performance can be maintained even if one server fails.
On the contrary, performance in shared hosting can be moderate to low. It's because this one depends on the overall server load and the number of users sharing the resources. High traffic on one site can affect the performance of all other sites on the same server. As a result, it becomes less reliable for websites requiring consistent performance.
3. Price Facts
The cost structure of cloud hosting is usually pay-as-you-go. This means you only pay for the resources you actually use. This system can be cost-effective for websites with fluctuating resource needs. That means if you need fewer resources, it costs less. For more resource needs, you may have to pay more.
However, for small sites with minimal traffic, this system can sometimes be more expensive compared to fixed-price plans like Shared hosting. Here, the fixed price is comparatively lower which makes it suitable as a budget-friendly option for small websites and beginners.
The shared hosting option comes with different plans that often include basic features sufficient for small to medium-sized websites. It provides them with a predictable monthly or annual expense.
Here, you can minimize your cost by using Dorik as it offers free cloud hosting for every website you create. Not only this, you will also enjoy unlimited storage and bandwidth.
4. Reliability & Uptime
Now, think about which will be more reliable. I guess you can already predict. Yes, Cloud hosting is the most reliable one in this battle of Cloud hosting vs. Shared hosting. The sole reason is its distributed nature.
Data and resources are replicated across multiple servers and data centers to minimize the risk of downtime. If one server fails, another can take over, to ensure continuous uptime.
However, reliability and uptime in shared hosting can be an issue since all websites depend on the performance and uptime of a single server. If that server goes down or experiences issues, all the websites on it will be affected. As a result, they might face potential downtime.
Dorik AI guarantees 99.99% uptime. Your site will never go down!
5. Security
Even though you can compromise with any factors like performance or cost, there is no way you should go with an uncertain level of website security. Well, once again, Cloud hosting gets the crown. In terms of security, cloud hosting is undoubtedly robust.
Advanced security features like DDoS protection, regular backups, and isolated environments for each user are standard. This system reduces the risk of one compromised site affecting others.
As you are expecting, security in shared hosting is more basic. Since multiple websites share the same server, if one site is compromised, it can pose a security risk to all others on the same server.
Hosting providers do offer security measures, but they are generally not as advanced as those in cloud hosting. But fear not if you are planning to use shared hosting. You can use different third-party security encryptions to back up your data.
If you use Dorik AI to create your website, you don't have to think about the security of your site. Dorik AI provides the highest security level to protect your site from any sort of cyber attacks. Dorik AI meets all the security standards.
6. Resource Allocation
In cloud hosting, resources are allocated in a better way. Each user gets dedicated resources, and allocation can be adjusted on the fly based on current needs. As a result, websites have the resources they need at any given time without interference from others.
On the other hand, resource allocation in shared hosting is fixed and shared among all users on the server. This means that high resource usage by one site can impact the performance of others, as everyone is competing for the same set of resources.
7. Customization Options
No matter what type of hosting you're buying, never forget to check the customizing options. Well, if you need more options, you should go for cloud hosting. It offers extensive customization options in comparison to the shared one.
Users of Cloud hosting have more control over server settings and configurations. Also, they can install custom software as needed. This flexibility is ideal for businesses with specific technical requirements.
However, customization options in shared hosting are limited. Users have restricted access to server settings and configurations because of the shared environment. This can be a limitation for advanced users who need specific server-side changes.
8. Technical Support
Alongside the customizing features, you should also check the provided technical support if you don't want to face problems with no clue of solutions at all. Cloud hosting providers usually offer premium technical support.
You'll get offers like 24/7 access to support teams, dedicated account managers, and faster response times. This level of support is essential for businesses that require immediate assistance to resolve critical issues.
However, shared hosting usually includes standard support, which may have slower response times and limited access to advanced technical assistance. Support is usually sufficient for basic issues, but complex problems may require more time to resolve.
So, this is how cloud hosting and shared hosting differ in terms of the most significant factors. You must notice that cloud hosting is more reliable, secure, and better in almost all differentiating factors. As usual, the price is higher in this case. So, you need to think carefully about these two when choosing one.
Which is Better: Shared or Cloud Hosting?
Cloud hosting is better than shared hosting in almost any perspective like performance, security, reliability, customization, and support. However, shared hosting is comparatively affordable with limited options. That’s why cloud hosting is considered a better option for high-profile websites while shared one is suitable for small business and blog sites.
Can I Transfer My Site from Shared to Cloud Hosting?
Yes, you can transfer your site from shared to cloud hosting. This process is all about migrating your website files, databases, and settings. Many cloud hosting providers offer migration services or tools to simplify this transition and ensure minimal downtime and data loss.
Is Dedicated Hosting Better than Shared and Cloud Hosting?
Dedicated hosting provides exclusive server resources, with superior performance, security, and customization compared to shared hosting. It is generally more powerful and reliable than cloud hosting for high-traffic sites, though it can be more expensive and less scalable than cloud solutions.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you get things clear about Cloud hosting vs. shared hosting. Now, the question is which is suitable for you, right? Well, the ball is now in your court and you are to choose between cloud hosting and shared hosting.
In this case, you should consider your website's specific needs and future growth plans. If you're just starting out or running a small website with low to moderate traffic, shared hosting is a cost-effective and straightforward option.
However, cloud hosting is the better choice if you anticipate significant traffic growth with high performance, high scalability, reliability, and enhanced security.
So, think about your current requirements, budget, and future plans to decide which hosting solution aligns best with your goals. Best wishes for you.
