Shared hosting is where most websites start, and for many it is all they ever need. But what does sharing actually mean, and how do you choose a good plan? Here is a straightforward explanation.

What is shared hosting?

A web server is a powerful computer that stores websites and serves them to visitors. With shared hosting, many customers have accounts on the same server and share its resources, such as processing power, memory and storage.

Each customer has their own hosting account, files and settings, and the hosting provider takes care of the server itself: the hardware, the operating system, security updates and the web server software.

An everyday comparison

Think of it like renting a flat in a well-run building. You have your own front door and your own space, but the building’s maintenance, security and utilities are handled for you. You get somewhere good to live without having to look after the whole building.

Why it is popular

Cost. Because the server’s cost is shared, plans are affordable. Our plans start at £3.99 a month.

No server admin. You do not need to install or update server software. That is our job.

Easy to use. A control panel, one-click WordPress installer and free SSL make it quick to get a site online.

Room to grow. You can usually upgrade to a bigger plan as your website grows.

Who is it for?

Shared hosting suits personal websites, blogs, portfolios, small business sites, community groups and many small online shops. If your site runs on WordPress or another common platform and gets a typical amount of traffic, shared hosting is likely to be a good fit.

Very busy sites, applications with unusual software requirements or projects that need full control of the server may be better suited to other types of hosting.

What about the neighbours?

The usual worry with shared hosting is that a busy neighbour could slow your site down. A well-run provider manages this with sensible resource limits, monitoring and efficient software, and by keeping accounts separate from one another.

Fair use is part of the deal. Plans described as unlimited still rely on everyone using the shared server reasonably, so check the provider’s acceptable use policy.

What to look for in a plan

Storage type. NVMe storage is quicker than older SATA SSDs or hard drives.

Web server. LiteSpeed is efficient and pairs well with caching for WordPress.

Security. Look for free SSL, malware protection and a firewall included as standard.

Backups. Daily backups give you a safety net when something goes wrong.

Location. If your visitors are in the UK, UK hosting keeps things close.

Support. Check how you can reach the team and when.

Shared hosting compared with other options

WordPress hosting is shared hosting tuned and sized around WordPress sites.

Reseller hosting lets agencies and freelancers create separate hosting accounts for their clients.

Virtual and dedicated servers give you reserved resources and more control, but usually need more technical know-how to manage.

For most new websites, shared hosting is the simplest and most cost-effective place to begin. You can always move up later.

Getting started

Once you have chosen a plan, setting up is usually quick. You register or connect a domain, log in to your control panel and install WordPress or upload your website. Free SSL means your site can use HTTPS from day one. If you already have a site elsewhere, free migration help can bring it across for you.

Shared hosting at RapidLayer

Our three shared plans, Launch, Accelerate and Velocity, all include NVMe storage, LiteSpeed, unlimited bandwidth, free SSL, daily backups, malware and firewall protection, a WordPress installer and UK hosting. The difference is how many websites you can host and how much storage you get.

Compare them on our web hosting page, or ask us which plan suits you.