Shared hosting services are a great choice for individuals or businesses on a tight budget. Not only are they typically much more affordable than virtual private server (VPS) or dedicated hosting plans, but they also offer comparable service and performance levels.
When starting a new website from scratch, shared hosting is the most practical and cost-effective option 99% of the time. While there are other types of hosting that cater to larger websites with higher levels of traffic, shared hosting plans offer excellent value with the least amount of maintenance required on your end.
To ensure that you’re selecting a dependable shared hosting service from a reputable provider, there are several top recommendations available. These options are designed to provide you with reliable service and prevent you from getting scammed or experiencing a sluggish website.
To help you find the best shared hosting service for your specific needs, a short buyer’s guide has been included after the reviews. This guide covers features and extras, pricing, support, and more. Consider these factors carefully to select the best option for your website.
Read more: How to Create a Website
Best Shared Hosting Services of 2023
DreamHost – Best for building a new website
Hostinger – Best shared hosting for tight budgets
SiteGround – Best shared host for WordPress sites
iPage – Best for small websites on a budget
A2 Hosting – Best shared host for blazing fast server speeds
GreenGeeks – Best eco-friendly hosting solution
InMotion – Best shared hosting for small business website
HostGator – Best for unmetered bandwidth
Bluehost – Best for smaller websites
#1. DreamHost – Best for building a new website
Why We Picked It
If you're in search of an affordable shared web hosting provider, DreamHost is an excellent choice. Not only does it offer low-cost plans, but it also provides everything you need to create a new WordPress website.
From a free domain and free SSL certificate to one-click WordPress installation and 24/7 top-notch support, DreamHost's plans are packed with features that make it a fantastic option for beginners.
For just $2.59 with a 36-month commitment, you can enjoy 50 GB of storage, unlimited bandwidth, a free domain name with private registration, free WordPress migrations, a user-friendly control panel, and a free SSL certificate. With 24/7 support, an 100% uptime guarantee, and a 97-day money-back guarantee, you can try DreamHost risk-free.
DreamHost is an ideal option for small businesses and bloggers seeking a reliable, feature-rich, and affordable shared hosting plan. With its impressive array of features and low-cost plans, DreamHost has everything you need to get started and take your website to the next level.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
Month-to-month plans available
Free SSL certificate
Free domain name
Free WordPress migrations
One-click WordPress installation
Automated daily backups
97-day money-back guarantee
Cons:
Live chat available from 3 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Pacific Time (PT)
Price increases upon renewal to $5.99 per month
Email costs extra
#2. Hostinger – Best shared hosting for tight budgets
Why We Picked It
If you're searching for a shared hosting provider with an excellent backup system, Hostinger is an excellent choice.
Hostinger's automated backups allow you to get 30GB of backup space on the cheapest plan, which means you won't have to worry about saving versions of your site in case something goes wrong. In comparison, Bluehost's cheapest plan does not provide backups.
At just $1.99/month, Hostinger's cheapest shared hosting plan is a budget-friendly option. Even after the promotional period is over, you can still get a plan for a reasonable $3.99/month as a renewal rate. Hostinger has a wide range of data centers located worldwide, ensuring that global audiences receive optimal loading speeds.
Hostinger's cheapest plan offers a free SSL, 30GB of automated backup, 50GB of storage, 100GB of bandwidth, and free migration, with an excellent uptime rate of 99.99%.
Read our full Hostinger review.
While Hostinger is a good choice for a small site on a tight budget, we wouldn't recommend it for businesses or high-traffic sites. All things considered, Hostinger is a great option if you're after an affordable shared hosting plan with an excellent backup system.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
Top-quality, low-cost plans
Helpful customer service
99.99% uptime in testing
- Includes the company's own website builder
Optional Minecraft servers
Cons:
Single shared hosting plan offers one email account
Lacks help and phone support
Not all plan has a Windows option
#3. SiteGround – Best for WordPress sites
Why We Picked It
Looking for a dependable web hosting provider that offers a range of shared hosting plans? Look no further than SiteGround!
Their hosting plans start at an affordable price of $2.99 per month, making it an ideal option for small businesses and individuals.
SiteGround stands out from the rest with their 30-day money-back guarantee and refund policy if their uptime rate falls below 99.9%. This demonstrates their confidence in their fully managed service, powerful hosting stack, and fast platform.
Their shared hosting plans come with free domain, free CDN, free SSL, and unmetered traffic. You can choose to host one website or unlimited websites, depending on your requirements.
SiteGround is highly recommended by the WordPress community due to their in-house speed and security solutions. Their 24/7 technical support is also among the best in the industry. SiteGround offers all the features you need, including built-in WP caching, daily backups, automatic upgrades, free CDN, one-click staging, and more.
Furthermore, with six data centers located in the USA, Europe, Australia, and Asia, they offer location-specific hosting, making them a top choice for businesses around the globe.
Read our full SiteGround review.
So, if you prioritize speed, reliability, and security, sign up for SiteGround today and experience hassle-free web hosting!
Pros & Cons
Pros:
Fully managed shared hosting services
- Officially Recommended by WordPress
SG Optimizer plug-in to improve Woo and WordPress site speed
- Free Domain, Free SSL, CDN, and Website Backups
Includes staging tools for site development
30-day money-back guarantee
Cons:
Pricey plans upon renewal
Low storage capacity compared to other providers
#4. iPage – Best for small websites on a budget
Why We Picked It
Do you seek economical web hosting with a surplus of features? Let me introduce you to iPage! Their shared hosting plans start at a meager $1.99/month and are replete with several top-notch features, catering to small businesses, personal websites, and the like.
With unlimited disk space, bandwidth, and email accounts, you'll have all the necessary resources to embark on your online journey. What's more, iPage offers a free domain name for the first year and a drag-and-drop website builder, which eliminates the complexities of website creation.
iPage's 24/7 customer support team and a 30-day money-back guarantee can also bring you much-needed solace and support. Furthermore, their easy-to-use control panel enables you to manage your website and account effortlessly.
Now is the time to seize the opportunity! Register for iPage and get a taste of pocket-friendly and feature-laden web hosting!
Pros & Cons
Pros:
Unmetered bandwidth & storage
Good performance
30 day money-back guarantee!
Cons:
Not as scalable
No VPS or dedicated plans
No email support
#5. A2 Hosting – Fastest shared web hosting
Why We Picked It
If you're a small business owner, you understand how even a minor issue with your website can lead to immense stress. Fortunately, A2 Hosting offers round-the-clock customer support and a comprehensive knowledge base to help you address any concerns that may arise while setting up or upgrading your website.
A2 Hosting's Startup shared hosting plan provides you with the option of either upfront payments or monthly payments. You can choose from the following plans:
$11.99 per month if you opt for month-to-month payments
$2.99 per month if you commit to a one-year plan
$4.99 per month if you choose a three-year plan
Although the monthly plan may seem pricey compared to other hosting services, the longer-term plans offer significant savings.
One area where A2 Hosting truly shines is in its speed. The company's Turbo Boost and Turbo Max options are impressively speedy, with speeds up to 20 times faster than their basic plan. While these plans have higher monthly fees - $19.99 for the Turbo Boost - opting for a one-year plan can reduce cost to as low as $6.99 per month.
Pros & Cons
Pros:
Robust hosting packages, particularly WordPress
Excellent customer service
99.9% uptime commitment
100% 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons:
No Windows server options
Expensive short term plans
#6. GreenGeeks – Best eco-friendly hosting solution
Why We Picked It
Are you in the market for a dependable and green web hosting provider? Look no further than GreenGeeks!
GreenGeeks shared hosting plans not only come with wallet-friendly prices, but they also make it a priority to help the environment by using renewable energy credits to counter their carbon footprint.
Their shared hosting plans start at only $2.49/month, which sounds like a steal, right? Plus, you'll get unlimited web space, data transfer, and email accounts, as well as a free domain name and website builder. Sounds too good to be true? It gets even better!
GreenGeeks also brags about their 99.9% uptime guarantee and offers 24/7 support to ensure your website stays up and running like clockwork. And with their user-friendly control panel, you can manage your website and account without breaking a sweat. How is this all possible?
Read our full GreenGeeks review.
So, if you want a web hosting provider that can cater to your every need and help save the environment, why not go with GreenGeeks?
Don't hesitate, sign up today, and revel in reliable and eco-friendly web hosting!
Pros & Cons
Pros:
Offsetting carbon footprint by 300%
Free nightly backups
Unlimited bandwidth
Free Domain Name for 1st Year
Cons:
Lackluster storage for basic hosting plan
No 24/7 phone support
#7. InMotion – Best shared hosting for small business website
Why We Picked It
If you're on the hunt for a trustworthy shared hosting provider with a cornucopia of features, look no further than InMotion Hosting! Starting at an affordable $2.49/month, their shared hosting plans are jam-packed with a plethora of top-of-the-line features, such as infinite bandwidth, disk space, and email accounts, alongside a complimentary domain name and website builder.
For those who require a dependable and secure web hosting provider, InMotion Hosting is an outstanding choice for small businesses, personal websites, and bloggers. If you need any help or support, you can rest easy knowing that their 24/7 customer support team and 90-day money-back guarantee have got you covered.
What's more, InMotion Hosting brags about its 99.9% uptime guarantee, guaranteeing that your website is accessible and runs smoothly. Managing your website and account is also a breeze with their user-friendly control panel.
What are you waiting for? Don't let this opportunity pass you by; sign up for InMotion Hosting today and experience dependable and feature-packed web hosting like never before!
Pros & Cons
Pros:
Excellent uptime
Free website builder
One-click installs of 400+ apps
The base plan comes with just 10 email address
90-day money-back guarantee
24/7/365 Live chat support
Cons:
Minimum 12-month term on most plans
Must pay for automated backups
#8. HostGator – Best for unmetered bandwidth
Why We Picked It
Are you bewildered about finding a reliable and economical web hosting provider? Rest your search at HostGator!
Their shared hosting plans commence at a mere $2.75/month and come with an assortment of superlative features, rendering it a magnificent option for small to medium-sized businesses, personal websites, and the like.
With unrestricted disk space, bandwidth, and email accounts, you will possess all the essential resources to construct your website. Moreover, HostGator provides a free domain name, website builder, and one-click installations for renowned applications like WordPress.
HostGator assures a 99.9% uptime guarantee and 24/7 customer support to guarantee uninterrupted and seamless website functioning. With their user-friendly control panel, you can manage your website and account with aplomb.
Read our full HostGator Review.
Who should opt for HostGator? Anyone yearning for economical and feature-laden web hosting, specifically small to medium-sized businesses and personal websites. Why squander time? Sign up for HostGator today and get the taste of reliable and budget-friendly web hosting!
Pros & Cons
Pros:
Free domain name
Free SSL certificate
Low introductory pricing with long-term commitment
$500 Google Ads + $100 Microsoft Advertising
45-day money-back guarantee
24/7/365 support
Cons:
Pricing increases upon renewal to $7.99 per month
No parked domains on (Hatchling) cheapest plan
Poor server response time
#9. Bluehost – Best for smaller websites
Why We Picked It
If you're struggling to find a reliable and multifarious web hosting provider, your quest ends here at Bluehost!
Their shared hosting plans starts at a trifling $2.95/month and contain a plethora of avant-garde features, ideal for personal websites, small businesses, and the like.
With disk space from 10GB to 100GB, bandwidth, and email accounts, you'll possess all the indispensable resources to establish and maintain your website. Besides, Bluehost proffers a free domain name and website builder, along with one-click installations for popular applications like WordPress.
Bluehost also touts a 99.9% uptime guarantee and 24/7 customer support to assure seamless and uninterrupted website performance. Their user-friendly control panel enables you to handle your website and account with poise.
Read our full Bluehost review.
Who should elect Bluehost? Anyone pursuing a versatile and dependable web hosting provider, particularly personal websites, small businesses, and online stores. So, don't delay! Enlist for Bluehost now and delve into unparalleled web hosting at an economical cost!
Pros & Cons
Pros:
One-click WordPress installation
Free domain name
Free SSL certificate
Unmetered bandwidth
Free business email
Free CDN
24/7 support
Cons:
Pricing increases upon renewal to $9.99 per month
Storage limits with all plans
No backups
Compare the 9 Best Shared Hosting Services
| COMPANY Trustpilot RATING | STARTING PRICE | STORAGE LIMIT | TOP FEATURES |
|---|---|---|---|
| DreamHost: 4.7 | $2.59/mo (with 36-month term) | 50GB to Unlimited | Free Domain, WordPress Pre-Installed, Free SSL Certificate |
| Hostinger: 4.6 | $1.99/mo (with 48 months-term) | 50GB to 200GB, Unlimited Bandwidth | Free Domain starting with (Premium Web Hosting) plan, Free SSL, Weekly Backups |
| SiteGround: 4.6 | $2.99 per month (with 12 months-term) | 10GB to 40GB | Free Domain, Free CDN, Free SSL, Managed WordPress, Daily Backup |
| iPage: 4.5 | $1.99/mo (with 36-month term) | Unmetered Bandwidth & Storage | Free Domain for 1st Year, Free SSL, Free Website Builder |
| A2 Hosting: 4.5 | $2.99/mo (with 12-month term) | 100GB SSD to Unlimited NVMe SSD | Free Domain, Free SSL, 99.90% Uptime, 20X faster page load times |
| GreenGeeks: 4.2 | from $2.99/month to $8.95/mo | 50GB to Unlimited | Free Domain, Free SSL, Free CDN, Managed WordPress, Offsetting carbon footprint by 300% |
| InMotion: 4.1 | $2.29/mo (with 36-month term) | 100GB SSD to Unlimited NVMe SSD | Free Domain, Free SSL, Marketing Tools, Unlimited Bandwidth |
| HostGator: 3.9 | $2.75 per month (with 36-month term) | 10GB to 40GB (Unlimited for eCommerce Plan) | Free Domain, Free SSL, 99.90% Uptime, One-click WordPress installs, Unmetered Bandwidth |
| Bluehost: 3.8 | $2.95 per month (with 12-month term) | 10GB SSD to 100GB SSD Storage | Free Domain 1st Year, Free SSL, Free CDN |
What Is Shared Hosting?
Shared hosting is a web hosting arrangement in which several websites share a single server and its resources, including CPU, memory, and storage.
This setup provides an economical solution for individuals who are launching their websites or receiving moderate traffic. It’s also expedient since the hosting provider is responsible for the server maintenance and security, enabling you to focus more on your website’s content and design.
While shared hosting offers several advantages, there are some potential drawbacks to consider. Since resources are shared, if one website on the server experiences a sudden surge in traffic or utilizes an excessive amount of resources, it can delay the other websites on the server.
Moreover, since multiple websites share the same server, the risk of security vulnerabilities and downtime is higher.
In summary, shared hosting is a cost-effective and low-maintenance web hosting solution. Nevertheless, before committing to this hosting option, it is critical to evaluate its benefits and drawbacks to determine whether it is suitable for your website’s requirements.
How To Choose the Best Shared Hosting Service
Opting for the finest and best shared hosting service for your website can be bewildering, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are some tips to simplify your decision-making:
Analyze your website’s needs: Assess your website’s demands regarding traffic, storage, and bandwidth. This will aid you in identifying which shared hosting plan is best suited for your website.
Look for consistent uptime and rapid loading speeds: Verify the hosting provider’s uptime guarantee and loading speed, as these aspects are vital for your website’s performance and user experience.
Scrutinize customer support: Select a hosting provider with commendable customer support available 24/7. This will ensure that any issues with your website can be resolved promptly.
Inspect security features: Verify that the hosting provider provides reliable security features such as firewalls, malware scanning, and SSL certificates to safeguard your website against cyber threats.
Peruse through reviews: Read reviews from other users to procure insights into the hosting provider’s reputation, service quality, and customer support.
By taking into consideration these factors, you can choose the best shared hosting service that caters to your website’s requirements. Do not hasten the decision-making process; allocate sufficient time to assess and compare various hosting providers to arrive at an informed decision.
Methodology
To select the best shared hosting options for this ranking, we had to evaluate numerous factors, such as ease of use, value, popularity, and variety of features offered by each service. We then rated each hosting service using a Trustpilot five-star rating system, with five stars being the highest score.
Our evaluation criteria included:
Customer support: A strong reputation for providing prompt, helpful, and hassle-free customer service is crucial for any hosting company.
Price: We scoured the market to identify solutions that deliver exceptional value, given the significance of price in making a shared hosting decision.
Uptime: Website downtime can result in financial loss and reader frustration. Thus, we considered host provider uptime statistics and guarantees.
Features: We scrutinized the quantity and quality of features each provider offers, such as bandwidth, free SSL certificates, SSD storage, and additional benefits, such as email addresses and a free domain.
Ease of use: We evaluated the simplicity of hosting a new website, learning the provider’s user interface and installing numerous plugins, and applications.
Guarantee: Does the hosting company offer a guarantee for its uptime? Will you get a refund if you are dissatisfied?
By analyzing these factors, we were able to determine the best shared hosting options available. We believe that by considering these criteria, you too can find the right shared hosting service for your website.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is shared hosting, and who should use it?
Shared hosting is a type of web hosting in which multiple websites share a single server and its resources. It is a cost-effective option for individuals or small businesses who are just starting out with their website or have low to moderate traffic.
How do I choose the best shared hosting service?
Consider your website's needs, evaluate customer support, look for reliable uptime and fast loading speeds, check for security features, and read reviews from other users.
How much does shared hosting cost?
Shared hosting plans can range from $2 to $15 per month, depending on the hosting provider and the features included in the plan.
Can I upgrade from shared hosting to a dedicated server later on?
Yes, most hosting providers offer the option to upgrade to a dedicated server as your website grows and requires more resources.
Is shared hosting secure?
Shared hosting can be secure if the hosting provider offers reliable security features such as firewalls, malware scanning, and SSL certificates. However, since multiple websites share the same server, there is a higher risk of security vulnerabilities and downtime.
