Shared hosting
Shared hosting is a hosting model where multiple customer websites use a provider-managed server platform.
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Definition
Shared hosting is a hosting model where multiple customer websites use a provider-managed server platform.
How it works
On shared hosting, the provider runs the server and you get an account on it: defined space for your files, databases, email, and software, usually managed through a control panel. It is the lowest-effort, lowest-cost way to put a site online — the trade-off is that root access and custom system services sit outside your account's boundary.
Example: A small WordPress site can run in a shared hosting account without its owner ever touching the operating system.
Often confused: Shared hosting is a managed account on the provider's platform; a VPS hands you a whole virtual server and the responsibility that comes with it.
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Last reviewed 2026-07-19.