Which type of hosting is right for you? Here we'll compare the available options according to your needs.
(Don't forget to use coupon codes below to get hosted at a great price!)Shared Hosting Typical Bandwidth: 0-20 GB
With shared hosting, you share a server with other sites. This is the most common form of hosting, allowing you to get a web page running for a few dollars per month. You are able to use a portion of the server's resources, and this is enough for the vast majority of web sites, so if you're new to hosting and don't expect a traffic explosion right away, this is probably where you want to be.
Here is a selection of companies providing shared hosting:
Of course, with a number of accounts sharing one server, there is a limit on how much you can do with shared hosting according to how much the server can handle. It's difficult to put an exact number on it, but if you need more than 20 to 50 GB in actual ongoing monthly traffic or use intensive features, you will need to move beyond the $5 and $10 budget hosting plans.
Some hosts offer a range of shared plans at graduated prices, allowing you to step up according to your needs. Beyond that, between shared and dedicated (your very own server) hosting, there are several middle options.
Reseller hosting Typical Bandwidth: 0-200 GBReseller hosting is originally designed as a business opportunity for small web hosts. They purchase an account and then resell portions of it to multiple customers. Web page designers also frequently use reseller hosting to hold the sites of their clients. Reseller accounts are often larger than standard accounts, so they can also serve a similar purpose to larger shared plans, along with advanced features for managing multiple accounts.
VPS hostingTypical Bandwidth: 0-200 GBVirtual Private Servers offer strict division and control of resources so that no account on a server can use more than its fair share. This arrangement ensures that you can fully use the portion of the server you pay for without having other accounts get in your way. However, that means your account also can't step outside its boundaries, so be sure to get a big enough slice of server according to the needs of your site. This is also a good type of hosting for those who need more customization and access. (Don't forget that having enough resources such as memory in your slice is crucial for performance.)
Clustered hostingTypical Bandwidth: 0-500 GBRather than dividing a single server into portions, clustered hosting uses special setups to make the resources of multiple servers available to the web sites in the system. This gives accounts the flexibility to burst beyond the capabilities of a single server. There's still an ultimate limit to any network of servers, of course, but this type of hosting offers increased potential and value.
Semi-dedicated hostingTypical Bandwidth: 0-500 GBDespite the impressive name, semi-dedicated just means that there are even fewer accounts per server, resulting in more power and resources for each account. Just as with cutting a pie or cake, the fewer recipients, the bigger the portions. With this hosting, the expectation is that you'll be sharing a server with only a small number of other accounts.
Dedicated hostingTypical Bandwidth: 0-4,000 GBWith dedicated hosting you get a whole server for yourself, and you don't need to share it with anyone. These come in two varieties: managed and unmanaged. Unless you're a techie, you may want a managed server so that the tedious aspects are handled by the hosting company. Servers also come in all price ranges, from very low to very high. Remember, servers are computers, and much of the price range depends on how powerful, fast, and spacious they are, just like the computers we use at home.
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