Cloud hosting and shared hosting are 2 types of web hosting that cater to different needs and offer unique infrastructure setups. Cloud hosting uses multiple interconnected servers to dynamically allocate resources. Shared hosting hosts multiple websites on a single server, and divides its resources among users to deliver an affordable, beginner-friendly option.
Shared hosting is more cost-effective. Cloud hosting outperforms shared hosting with faster speeds and superior uptime reliability. Shared hosting is easier to use, while cloud hosting provides greater flexibility. Maintenance is simpler with shared hosting, but cloud hosting offers better security. Cloud hosting is also more scalable and adaptive to traffic surges.
Cost, performance, and scalability are the 3 areas where the differences between these hosting types are most significant. These distinctions help define which hosting type best fits your needs. Choose shared hosting for small, low-traffic websites with predictable resource needs. Choose cloud hosting if your website demands scalability, advanced performance, or handles variable traffic.
What Is Cloud Hosting?
Cloud hosting is a type of hosting that uses a network of interconnected servers, “the Cloud,” to distribute resources for websites and applications dynamically. It works by allocating resources like CPU, RAM, and storage across multiple virtual machines. Resource demand shifts between servers in the event that one fails. The core advantages of cloud hosting are its scalability, flexibility, and reliability.
What Is Shared Hosting?
Shared hosting is a type of hosting that hosts multiple websites on a single server. It shares resources like CPU, RAM, and storage among users. This setup allows affordable pricing by dividing server costs. The hosting provider manages server maintenance, updates, and security. The core advantages of shared hosting are that it is beginner-friendly, cost-effective, and maintenance-free.
What Is the Difference Between Cloud and Shared Hosting?
The difference between cloud hosting and shared hosting refers to the distinct characteristics that separate these hosting types for different use cases. Cloud hosting is more expensive, but also often offers a pay-as-you-go model. Cloud hosting offers superior performance by using multiple servers. Shared hosting is more simple and user-friendly, but this limits its flexibility since environments are pre-configured. Cloud hosting is more flexible but requires more maintenance. Cloud hosting is also more secure and scalable due to its inherent set-up.
Cost
Cloud hosting is more expensive than shared hosting. Cloud hosting often provides a pay-as-you-go model which charges for actual resource use. This ensures cost efficiency but introduces unpredictability during traffic spikes. Cloud hosting prices range from RM45 – RM675/month. Shared hosting uses fixed pricing, with plans being affordable and predictable at RM9 – RM68/month.
Performance
Cloud hosting offers better performance by leveraging multiple servers to ensure high uptime and reliability. Resource pooling eliminates single points of failure, and allows the host to deliver consistent speed even during high demand. Shared hosting’s performance depends on the capacity of a single server shared by multiple users. High traffic on one website degrades the performance of others, which results in slower speeds for your site.
User-Friendliness
Cloud hosting is less user-friendly than shared hosting, though the extent of which varies by plan type. Managed cloud hosting simplifies the experience by providing easy control panels and offloading technical tasks to the web host. Unmanaged cloud hosting offers advanced control but requires a much steeper learning curve and technical expertise. Shared hosting by default is beginner friendly and provides pre-configured settings and provider-managed maintenance.
Flexibility
Cloud hosting provides superior flexibility by allowing users to customize plans to meet specific resource requirements. Many cloud hosts partner with multiple leading cloud providers, such as Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, and Digital Ocean, and allow users to choose their preference. Certain cloud providers offer root access. In contrast, shared hosting offers very little flexibility. These constraints are due to its standardized setup and limited server access.
Maintenance
Cloud hosting requires more maintenance than shared hosting but the extent of which depends on whether it’s managed or unmanaged cloud hosting. Managed cloud hosting involves the web host handling updates and server maintenance. Unmanaged cloud plans require complex maintenance. Shared hosting is inherently managed by the provider and minimal maintenance is required.
Security
Cloud hosting provides stronger security because it offers high redundancy across multiple servers. This safeguards website data during outages or breaches. It often includes advanced features like firewalls and DDoS protection for enhanced protection. Shared hosting carries higher risks as shared resources mean that one compromised site impacts others on the same server.
Scalability
Scalability is a major advantage of cloud hosting since users are able to easily add CPU cores, RAM, and storage space with a few clicks. Cloud hosting also offers dynamic scalability which adjusts resources in real-time as loads increase. Shared hosting offers limited scalability since users need to upgrade to higher plans or more powerful types of hosting when their site grows.
How Do I Choose Between Cloud and Shared Hosting?
Choose between cloud and shared hosting by evaluating your site’s traffic patterns and resource needs. Choose cloud hosting if your website experiences fluctuating traffic. It’s a popular choice with eCommerce websites that experience heavy loads during sales seasons. Also choose cloud hosting if you require high performance and scalability. Choose shared hosting for small, low-traffic websites needing cost-effective and beginner-friendly solutions. Whichever your choice, ensure you opt for a good hosting provider that provides reliable plans of that web hosting type.
Cloud vs Shared Hosting: Which Is More Suitable for Websites with Unpredictable Traffic?
Cloud hosting is more suitable for websites with unpredictable traffic due to its dynamic scalability. This means it automatically scales up or down resources to accommodate the surge and allows your website to stay online and continue performing optimally. Sites on shared hosting plans commonly experience slowdowns or downtime during unexpected surges.
What Makes a Good Cloud Hosting Provider?
A good cloud hosting provider ensures generous resources (CPU, RAM and storage) and provides auto-scaling features. Get started with our shortlist of the best cloud hosting providers that meet this criteria.
What Makes a Good Shared Hosting Provider?
A good shared hosting provider ensures sufficient storage, beginner-friendly control panels like cPanel and transparent renewal fees. Get started with our shortlist of the best shared hosting providers that meet this criteria.
Cloud Hosting vs Shared Hosting: Difference Summary
The difference between cloud and shared hosting is most significant in cost, performance, and scalability. This is due to the difference in how server resources are allocated and managed. The differences between cloud and shared hosting are presented in the table below.
| Aspect | Cloud Hosting | Shared Hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Pay-as-you-go, variable costs | Fixed, affordable pricing |
| Performance | High uptime and reliability | Variable, dependent on shared resources |
| User-Friendliness | Requires technical knowledge for unmanaged cloud hosting | Beginner-friendly and provider-managed |
| Flexibility | High, supports custom configurations | Limited, standardized setup |
| Maintenance | Maintenance effort depends on managed/unmanaged plans | Low maintenance and fully-managed by the provider |
| Security | Enhanced security with redundancy | Higher risk due to shared resources |
| Scalability | Dynamically adjusts resources | Limited, plan upgrades required |
| Use case | Dynamic websites with variable or unpredictable traffic | Small, static websites with steady, low traffic |
Shared hosting is more budget-friendly but cloud hosting’s pay-as-you go models allows you to only pay for what you need. Cloud hosting offers superior speed and uptime performance. Cloud hosting is also fantastically scalable and is the best choice for dealing with unexpected traffic surges. Cloud hosting suits dynamic websites or businesses with unpredictable traffic. Shared hosting fits static or low-traffic websites needing simple, cost-effective solutions.