The best shared hosting provider is Hostinger. Their entry-level plans start at just $1.99/mo for a 48-month term and renew at an affordable $3.99/mo. Hostinger provides a beginner-friendly hPanel control panel, fast servers that scored a top A+ rank on our speed tests, and a global server network across 4 continents. Their Pro plan includes 100GB of fast SSD storage, free SSL and a free domain.
Shared hosting is a type of web hosting where the resources of a single physical server (CPU, RAM, storage, and bandwidth) are divided between multiple websites.
When choosing the best shared hosting plan, the most important criteria are fast and sufficient SSD storage, a user-friendly control panel, an uptime guarantee of at least 99.9%, free SSL, and free domain inclusion. These hosting essentials guarantee your website loads fast, stays online and remains secure. Always check the renewal pricing because most shared hosts advertise low promotional rates that increase after the first term. Opting for annual or multi-year contracts also lowers prices compared to monthly contracts.
TMDHosting, GreenGeeks, and A2 Hosting follow Hostinger as the best shared hosting providers. TMDHosting starts at $2.99/mo (renews at $9.99). GreenGeeks starts at $2.95/mo (renews at $10.95). A2 Hosting starts at $2.99/mo (renews at $7.99). This article focuses on Linux shared hosting since this is the cheaper operating system, but TMDHosting also offers Windows shared hosting.
The 4 pros of shared hosting include affordability, easy setup, user-friendly control panels, and hassle-free upkeep since server maintenance is managed by the hosting provider. The 3 cons of shared hosting are limited resources, no dedicated IP, and lack of root access. Reputable shared hosts reduce the inherent risks of shared infrastructure by using account isolation technologies and offering fair usage policies. Buyers must understand that shared hosting offers the best value for low-traffic or static websites but provides limited scalability compared to VPS (Virtual Private Server) or cloud hosting solutions.
1. Hostinger
https://www.hostinger.com
Hostinger is our #1 choice of best shared hosting service. They offer extremely affordable shared hosting plans to suit both businesses and beginners. Their Pro shared hosting plan costs a very low $2.59 and can be used to host 100 websites. It also includes 100GB storage on fast SSD drives and free unlimited SSL. Hostinger offers a huge global network of 8 data centers that are spread out across 4 continents. This lets you easily find a server close to your website audience and increase the loading speed of your website for them. Read our full Hostinger review to learn more.
What are the pros and cons of Hostinger’s shared hosting?
Pros
- 100 free email accounts
- Intuitive custom hPanel control panel
- Free domain included
- Option to pay on a monthly basis
Cons
- You need to purchase a 4 year plan to enjoy the lowest costs
- They only offer weekly free automatic backups, not daily
2. TMDHosting
https://www.tmdhosting.com
TMDHosting is a highly competitive option for users seeking performance and value. Their Starter shared hosting plan costs just $2.99 per month. It includes 50 GB SSD storage, a free domain and SSL. Unlimited bandwidth and unlimited email accounts are included. Users also benefit from TMD’s CloudLinux powered servers and a data center network spread across 4 continents for fast loading times globally. Check our official TMDHosting review for more details.
What are the pros and cons of TMDHosting’s shared hosting?
Pros
- Unlimited email accounts
- Free domain included
- Free SSL certificate
- 6 data center locations worldwide
Cons
- Cheapest price requires annual payment
- Backups included in higher tier plans only
3. GreenGeeks
https://www.greengeeks.com
GreenGeeks is a Canadian web host that stands out for its eco-friendly shared hosting plans. They offset 300% of all the energy they consume by buying green energy credits. Their Lite shared hosting plan offers 50 free email accounts, free daily backups, free domains, and free SSL. Read our in-depth GreenGeeks review for additional details.
What are the pros and cons of GreenGeeks’ shared hosting?
Pros
- Their cheapest plans only require a 1 year commitment
- 50GB SSD storage included in an affordably priced plan
- Option to pay on a monthly basis
Cons
- No 24/7 phone support
- Higher renewal price
4. A2 Hosting
https://www.a2hosting.com
A2 Hosting offers a range of Shared Hosting plans that offer very generous resource allocations. Their Startup plan costs just $2.99/mo but gives 100GB SSD storage, unlimited emails and free SSL. Those looking for the fastest shared hosting plans should opt for one of their Turbo-server shared hosting plans. Read our full A2 Hosting review for more details.
What are the pros and cons of A2’s shared hosting?
Pros
- Their cheapest plans only require a 1 year commitment
- Option to pay on a monthly basis
Cons
- No free backups included
- No free domain included
5. SiteGround
https://world.siteground.com
SiteGround offers very high-quality Shared Hosting plans that are built on the Google Cloud platform. The result is that their servers are extremely fast and reliable. SiteGround Shared Hosting customers choose from 11 data center locations that are spread out across the US, Europe, Asia and Oceania. Their StartUp plan even includes free backup and free SSL. Read our SiteGround hosting review for more information.
What are the pros and cons of SiteGround’s shared hosting?
Pros
- Their cheapest plans only require a 1 year commitment
- Free unlimited email accounts included
- Excellent Sitetool control panel
- Option to pay on a monthly basis
Cons
- No free domains included
- High increase on renewal pricing
6. DreamHost
https://www.dreamhost.com
DreamHost’s Shared Hosting plans offer generous resources and reliable features. Their Shared Starter plan offers unlimited SSD disk space and a free domain. DreamHost also offers an unusual 100% uptime guarantee and 97-day money back guarantee. Both of these are superior to the industry standard and provide website owners extra peace of mind. They’re particularly great for WordPress websites and have earned an official WordPress endorsement. Read our full DreamHost review for more details.
What are the pros and cons of DreamHost’s shared hosting?
Pros
- Daily free backups included
- Easy to use custom panel
- Free SSL included
- Option to pay monthly plans
Cons
- They only offer 2 data center locations which are both in the US
- Higher renewal price
7. HostPapa
https://www.hostpapa.com
HostPapa’s Shared Hosting plans offer excellent value for money. Their Start plan offers 100GB SSD storage, a free domain and free SSL. They also offer outstanding customer support via their award-winning PapaSquad team. Beginners who are starting their first website will rest assured they’re in safe hands. Read our complete HostPapa review for more information.
What are the pros and cons of HostPapa’s shared hosting?
Pros
- Option to pay on a monthly basis
- Award-winning PapaSquad support team
- Environmentally-friendly
- Canadian-based with strict privacy features
Cons
- You need to purchase a 3 year plan to enjoy the lowest costs
- No free backups included
8. InMotion Hosting
https://www.inmotionhosting.com
Inmotion Hosting’s Shared Hosting plans offer the lowest introductory prices on this list and start from just $2.49. This very budget-friendly price unlocks 100GB SSD storage and free SSL. Inmotion Hosting also offers an excellent 99.99% uptime guarantee. It’s a shame they don’t have data centers beyond the US or Europe. Read our full InMotion Hosting review to learn more.
What are the pros and cons of InMotion’s shared hosting?
Pros
- Option to pay on a monthly basis
Cons
- You need to purchase a 3 year plan to enjoy the lowest costs
- No free backups included
- No free domain included
9. ScalaHosting
https://www.scalahosting.com
ScalaHosting’s Shared Hosting plans come in many tiers which allow users to find the perfect plan for them without needing to pay more. Their cheapest plan is the Mini which provides just 10GB SSD storage with a free domain and SSL. This makes it ideal for beginners. You even get daily backups included. They also offer the best money-back guarantee which is not restricted to a specific time period but can be claimed at any time. Read our complete ScalaHosting review to gain more details.
What are the pros and cons of ScalaHosting’s shared hosting?
Pros
- Unlimited free email accounts included
- Option to pay on a monthly basis
Cons
- You need to purchase a 3 year plan to enjoy the lowest costs
- Only 3 data servers in the USA and Europe – not ideal for Australia/Asia
10. HostGator
https://www.hostgator.com
HostGator is a web host from Texas, USA. Their Shared Hosting plans come with free unlimited email accounts which is great news for small businesses. Their Hatchling plan also includes free domain and SSL. All their Shared Hosting plans come with access to free cPanel. Read our HostGator host review to find out more.
What are the pros and cons of HostGator’s shared hosting?
Pros
- Option to pay on a monthly basis
- One-click WordPress installs
Cons
- You need to purchase a 3 year plan to enjoy the lowest costs
- No free weekly backups
- Only 2 data center locations that are both in the US
- No uptime guarantee
11. Bluehost
https://www.bluehost.com/
BlueHost’s Shared Hosting plans are great for WordPress blogs and small business sites that are targeting the US region. They have an official WordPress endorsement and 20+ years of industry experience. Their Basic Shared Hosting plan comes with unlimited bandwidth, free domain and free SSL. Read our comprehensive Bluehost review for more details.
What are the pros and cons of Bluehost’s shared hosting?
Pros
- Their cheapest plans only require a 1 year commitment
- Official WordPress-endorsed
- 1-click WordPress install
Cons
- No free email accounts included
- No free backups
- No option to pay on a monthly basis
- Only 1 data center location (in the US)
- No uptime guarantee
12. GoDaddy Hosting
https://www.godaddy.com/
GoDaddy Hosting offers Shared Hosting plans that start from $2.99. They are the world’s largest I-CANN accredited domain registrar so it makes sense that they include a free domain in their Starter Shared Hosting Plan. You also get free daily backups and free SSL thrown in. Read our full GoDaddy Hosting review for a deeper understanding.
What are the pros and cons of GoDaddy’s shared hosting?
Pros
- Option to pay on a monthly basis
- Their cheapest plans only require a 1 year commitment
Cons
- High increase on renewal pricing
- You only get 2 free email accounts and for the first year only
What Are The Criteria For Choosing The Best Shared Hosting?
Choose a shared hosting plan by evaluating 5 things. Firstly, check that the shared hosting plan includes fast SSD (Solid State Drive) storage or NVME storage in sufficient capacity for your needs. Secondly, check the plan provides an easy-to-use control panel for you to manage your hosting settings. Thirdly, ensure value for money. Do this by confirming the introductory pricing, renewal pricing, and resource sets that are provided. Fourthly, check whether the host offers unlimited features such as unlimited storage or unlimited bandwidth. Finally, ensure the host’s performance reliability. This means the host provides fast server response times and high uptime.
Which Is The Best Shared Hosting With SSD Storage?
The best shared hosting with SSD storage is Hostinger. Hostinger’s Pro plan provides 100GB SSD storage for just $2.59/mo. Their SSD-powered servers deliver faster speeds to improve page loading times. This is backed by a global network of 8 data centers. Check our shortlist of the best SSD hosts for more host options.
Which Is The Best Shared Hosting With Cpanel?
The best shared hosting with cPanel is TMDHosting. All TMDHosting plans include the cPanel control panel and managed services that simplify website and server maintenance. They also include CloudLinux servers, 50GB SSD storage, unlimited bandwidth, and unlimited email accounts. Check our shortlist of the best cPanel hosting for more host options.
Which Is The Best Affordable Shared Hosting?
The best affordable shared hosting is Hostinger. They offer a low introductory price of just $1.99 if you opt for their 48-month contract and the price doesn’t even jump much higher once you need to renew it ($3.99/mo). This affordable plan offers generous resources including free domain, free SSL, a free AI website builder. For more host options with plans under $5/mo, check our shortlist of the best cheap shared hosting.
Which Is The Best Shared Hosting With Unlimited Features?
The best shared hosting with unlimited features is Hostinger. Their Premium plan includes unlimited bandwidth and databases. The plan also provides 100 free email accounts, a free domain, and unlimited free SSL certificates. Check our shortlist of the best unlimited hosting for more host options.
Which Is The Best Shared Hosting For WordPress?
The best shared hosting for WordPress is Hostinger. It offers 1-click WordPress installation, generous storage, free SSL, and fast servers optimized to meet WordPress’s official requirements.
Which Is The Best Shared Hosting For Linux Servers?
The best shared hosting for Linux servers is Hostinger. Hostinger’s shared plans run on Linux OS and support PHP and MySQL. WordPress and Drupal. Hostinger’s plans are affordable and include 100GB SSD storage, free SSL, and a user-friendly custom control panel called hPanel.
Which Is The Best Shared Hosting For Windows Servers?
The best shared hosting for Windows servers is TMDHosting. TMD supports ASP.NET and MsSQL with 50GB SSD storage, Plesk control panel, free SSL, and servers in 6 global locations.
Which Are The Reliable Shared Hosting Providers?
The reliable shared hosting providers are Hostinger, TMDHosting, GreenGeeks and A2Hosting. All 3 hosts ensure high website performance. They delivered fast server response times below 180ms in our speed tests and uphold uptime guarantees of at least 99.9%.
How Do I Ensure The Reliability Of My Shared Hosting?
Ensure the reliability of your shared hosting by using a host tracker like UptimeRobot, Pingdom, Site24x7, or Bitcatcha Host Tracker. Bitcatcha host tracker monitors server response time and uptime at regular intervals to help you detect slowdowns or outages. This sort of monitoring is crucial for hosting plans that utilize shared infrastructure since other websites can consume excessive resources and trigger performance issues for your site.
| Features | Hostinger | TMDHosting | GreenGeeks | A2 Hosting | SiteGround | DreamHost | HostPapa | InMotion Hosting | ScalaHosting | HostGator | Bluehost | GoDaddy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plan | Premium | Starter | Lite | STARTUP | StartUp | Shared Unlimited | Start | Core | Mini | Hatchling | Basic | Starter |
| SSD storage | 100 GB | 50 GB | 50 GB | 100 GB | 10 GB | Unlimited | 100 GB | 100 GB | 10 GB | 10 GB | 10 GB | 25 GB |
| Bandwidth | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unmetered | Unlimited | Unmetered | Unmetered | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unmetered | Unmetered | Unlimited | Unmetered |
| Websites | 100 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Unlimited | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Free domain name | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Free email account | 100 accounts | Unlimited | 50 accounts | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | 10 accounts | 10 accounts | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | 2 accounts |
| Free backups | Weekly | No | Daily | No | Daily | Daily | No | No | Daily | Weekly | No | Daily |
| Money-back guarantee | 30-day | 30-day | 30-day | 30-day | 30-day | 97-day | 30-day | 90-day | Anytime | 30-day | 30-day | 30-day |
| Price /mo | $2.59 | $2.99 | $2.95 | $2.99 | $2.99 | $2.95 | $2.36 | $2.49 | $2.95 | $3.75 | $2.95 | $2.99 |
| See all features |