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The Price Of Web Hosting | Why Is There Such a Price Range?

Posted on by Phil Romeril

 

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The Price Of Web HostingWhat Is Hosting

A website host is a company or business that stores and manages your website on their server or servers. The most basic way to think of a server is as a specialized computer that stores, processes, and serves website content to users over the internet. When someone types your website address into their browser, the web server receives that request, retrieves the necessary files, and sends them back to the users browser so that they can view your website. Web servers can also handle other tasks like managing security, load balancing, so your website runs smoothly, and storing additional data such as files you offer for purchase and/or download.

 

The Price Of Web Hosting

When it comes to hosting a website, there are plenty of different options, each with its own benefits, downsides and price points. The most common types are:

  1. Shared Hosting

    • The price of shared web hosting is definitely the most affordable, generally ranging from $3 to $30 per month.
    • Share hosting means that multiple websites share the same server resources.

  2. web serversVPS (Virtual Private Server) Hosting

    • A virtual server means you have your own section on a server with dedicated resources, this option provides more control and stability than shared hosting.
    • The price of VPS web hosting ranges from $30 to $80 per month.

  3. Dedicated Hosting

    • Dedicated hosting as the name suggests means you have an entire server dedicated to your website, offering the maximum performance and control.
    • The price of dedicated web hosting generally start at around $80 and can go well over $300 per month, depending on the specs of the server.

Shared Hosting Conclusion

Shared hosting is definitely cost-effective and beginner-friendly, but it does come with a number of pretty notable downsides.

  1. Limited Resources: Because you share server resources with many other websites, possibly 100’s, your site’s performance can be heavily affected by the traffic and resource usage of others. If another site on the same server experiences a spike in traffic, it could slow your website down to a crawl. On some occasions the website may not even load.
  2. Shared hosting environments can be less secure because a vulnerability in one site can potentially affect others on the same server. This makes it a less ideal choice for websites that handle sensitive data.
  3. Share servers offer less customisation meaning you have less control over the server environment, this limits your ability to install custom software or make advanced configurations.
  4. Shared hosting typically comes with fixed resources. If your website grows or experiences traffic spikes, you might face performance issues.

Benefits of VPS Hosting | The Price Of Web Hosting

A VPS, or Virtual Private Server, offers a nice middle ground between shared hosting and dedicated hosting. One of the key benefits is that you get dedicated resources, such as CPU, RAM, and storage, this means your website’s performance is much more stable and reliable compared to shared hosting.

web hostingAnother advantage is the level of control and customization you have. With a VPS, you can install custom software, configure server settings, and even choose your operating system. This flexibility is perfect for businesses that need specific configurations or anticipate growth.

A VPS also provides improved security over shared hosting. Since you have isolated resources, the risk of other sites affecting your performance or security is minimized. 

Benefits of dedicated hosting

The benefits of a dedicated server are probably pretty obvious. You have complete control over the server and with most hosts you can add additional resources as your site grows.

I hope this has cleared up some confusion. If you need any advice or support with your site and/or hosting don’t hesitate to get in touch. 

 

Key Takeaways

  • Web hosting refers to a service where companies store and manage website files on servers, delivering content to users over the internet while handling tasks like security, load balancing, and data storage.

  • Hosting costs vary by type: shared hosting is the cheapest ($3–$30/month) but offers limited resources and control; VPS hosting ($30–$80/month) provides dedicated resources and better performance; dedicated hosting ($80–$300+/month) gives full control and maximum power.

  • Shared hosting is beginner-friendly but limited, VPS hosting balances performance and flexibility, and dedicated hosting offers full customization and scalability for growing or high-traffic websites.

 

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Phil Romeril

With over two decades of experience in business, marketing, photography, and videography, Phil has pretty much seen (and done) it all. He’s built and run several successful ventures and now channels that experience into helping other small businesses thrive. Before diving into the world of business, Phil was rocking stages as a musician. His first band, 2 Litre Dolby, gained a loyal following with three releases and a reputation for their electric live shows. When the group wrapped up in the early 2000s, Phil and bandmate Leo went on to form The Small Knives, sharing stages with legends like Nick Cave, The Dirty Three, Iron and Wine, Bill Callahan, and Evan Dando — to name just a few. These days, Phil’s creativity still shines through everything he does. As the founder of Marcadet, he brings together design, branding, photography, videography, and coaching to help businesses tell their stories with style and substance. Whether it’s a website, a visual campaign, or a full brand refresh, Phil’s all about helping businesses look good — and grow.