Having a business website without hosting is like a body without a soul! You may find it a bit exaggerating, but the truth is no website can run without a hosting platform. Today, as tech-savvy customers prefer getting services and purchasing products online, cloud technology can remain handy. You can either opt for cloud hosting or shared hosting. In this post, we will see the difference between cloud hosting vs. sharing hosting.
Let’s start with the overview of both shared hosting and cloud hosting.
What is Shared Hosting?
Shared hosting is a budget-friendly way to make your website online. In shared hosting, your website shares resources like storage space and processing power with other websites on the same server. This makes it very affordable, especially for small websites like blogs or company profiles that don't expect a lot of traffic. Shared hosting is also convenient because the hosting company takes care of everything including server maintenance, security updates, and software installations.
However, shared hosting has limitations. Since resources are on a shared basis, they can affect your website's performance due to the activity of other websites on the server. Additionally, shared hosting may not be suitable for complex websites that require specific software or databases.
What is Cloud Hosting?
Cloud hosting is a robust and flexible cloud hosting solution that utilizes a network of servers instead of a single physical server. This "cloud" of servers provides several advantages. First, it distributes your website's data across various servers, offering increased reliability and protection against downtime. If one server experiences an issue, your website can be seamlessly transferred to another server within the network, minimizing disruption. Second, cloud hosting offers high scalability for websites.
Unlike VPS hosting with limited resources, cloud hosting enables you to adjust your server capacity based on your website's traffic demands. This makes it ideal for businesses that experience traffic spikes or expect to grow in the future. Scalability, reliability, and other advanced features make cloud hosting a popular choice for businesses of all sizes.
Breaking Down the Differences- Comparing Cloud Hosting vs Shared Hosting
Shared hosting and cloud hosting are two popular web hosting options, but they cater to different requirements. Here's a breakdown of cloud hosting vs. shared hosting.
Shared Hosting
- Cost- The most affordable option
- Resources- Shared resources (CPU, memory, disk space) with other websites on the same server
- Performance- Can be affected by traffic spikes on other websites sharing the server
- Scalability- Limited scalability - difficult to increase resources as your website grows
- Security- Less secure as vulnerabilities on one website can impact others
- Suitability- Ideal for small websites, blogs, or personal portfolios with low to moderate traffic
Cloud Hosting
- Cost- More expensive than shared hosting, but typically scales with resource usage
- Resources- On-demand resources allocated from a network of servers
- Performance- Consistent performance as resources are not shared with other websites
- Scalability- Highly scalable - easily adjusts resources up or down as needed
- Security- Improved security due to isolation and redundancy within the server network
- Suitability- Ideal for growing businesses, e-commerce websites, or websites with unpredictable traffic spikes
Here is a table showing cloud vs. shared hosting for quick reference.
| Feature/Aspect | Cloud Hosting | Shared Hosting |
| Cost | More expensive than shared hosting | Less expensive than cloud hosting |
| Resources | Dedicated (On-demand) | Shared |
| Scalability | High | Limited |
| Security | Improved | Reduced |
| Performance | Consistent | Variable (Impacted by other websites) |
| Suitability | E-Commerce websites, growing businesses with unpredictable traffic | Small websites with low traffic |
If you are still confused about cloud hosting vs shared hosting, here we give a detailed explanation of when you should opt for cloud or shared hosting.
Which One is Better for Your Business- Cloud or Shared Hosting?
The selection of cloud and shared hosting depends on your business's specific needs. If you're a startup or run a small website with predictable traffic, shared hosting is an ideal option. It is very affordable and easy to set up, perfect for getting your website up and running. The hosting provider manages server maintenance and security, allowing you to focus on your content.
However, if your business is growing or you anticipate traffic spikes, cloud hosting offers significant advantages. Cloud hosting's scalability facilitates you to adjust resources as needed, ensuring smooth operation during peak times. Moreover, cloud hosting provides better performance and security, crucial factors for businesses that rely heavily on their website. Though it has a higher upfront cost, cloud hosting's reliability and flexibility can be worth the investment for businesses seeking a stable and secure online presence.
Let's go through some real-life examples of shared and cloud hosting.
Shared Hosting for Budding Businesses
Local Bakery
A local bakery with a beautiful website showcasing their cakes and pastries can thrive on shared hosting. Their website traffic is likely predictable and moderate, making the affordability of shared hosting ideal. They can utilize the user-friendly interface to manage menus, online ordering (if applicable), and update photos without needing extensive technical knowledge.
Freelance Photographer
A freelance photographer just starting out can establish a professional online presence with a shared hosting plan. They can showcase their portfolio, offer contact information, and potentially even sell prints directly through their website. Shared hosting provides a cost-effective way to build their brand and attract clients without worrying about complex server management.
Cloud Hosting for Businesses on the Rise
E-commerce Startup
A new e-commerce company selling handcrafted jewellery experiences seasonal traffic spikes during holidays. Cloud hosting allows them to easily scale their server resources up during peak times to handle increased traffic and purchase volume. This ensures a smooth shopping experience for customers and avoids website crashes that could hurt sales.
Online Fitness Coaching Platform
An online fitness coaching platform with a growing subscriber base can benefit from the reliability and security of cloud hosting. As the number of users and video content increases, cloud hosting allows them to scale storage and processing power seamlessly. Additionally, cloud hosting's enhanced security features protect sensitive client data like payment information.
Concluding Remarks
Knowing the difference between Cloud vs. shared hosting is necessary to decide for your business website. Though shared hosting is a more affordable option, it is better to opt for cloud hosting for more scalability and security for your growing business. Hope this concise guide of the difference between cloud hosting and shared hosting will make your decision easy. You can consult a reliable cloud hosting services provider to know more about these options and their different aspects.
Silver Cloud is a reputed cloud hosting services provider. We offer the most suitable cloud hosting options to meet your diverse business needs effectively. Contact us to learn more about our services and discuss the scope of cloud hosting for your business.
