Best shared hosting services for April 2025
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Shared hosting is a popular choice for hosting small to medium-sized websites. It’s cheap, easy to maintain, and flexible. However, with so many options available, selecting a worthwhile provider can be challenging.
At Cybernews, we’ve been regularly testing various hosting providers for over three years. To find the top shared hosting options, I teamed up with the research team, tested various providers, and picked 9 best shared hosting providers for 2025. Keep reading to discover the best option for top-tier performance, reliability, and the perfect fit for your needs.
Best shared hosting services for 2025
- Hostinger – overall best shared hosting
- IONOS – best option with scalable solutions
- Bluehost – best shared hosting for WordPress
- GoDaddy – best all-in-one hosting solution
- DreamHost – best shared hosting with top-notch support
- SiteGround – best high-performance hosting
- HostGator – best web hosting for the US
- A2 Hosting – best reliable shared hosting
- Namecheap – best affordable shared hosting
Our in-house research team and expert writers work hand in hand to regularly test hosting services and provide accurate and fact-checked information. Discover the ins and outs of how we test and evaluate website hosting providers.
Best shared hosting – detailed list
When I curated this list of the best shared hosting providers, I prioritized affordability and reliability. I also tested each provider, assessing ease of use and the range of features offered.
1. Hostinger – best shared hosting overall
| Price: | From $2.69/month |
| Money back guarantee: | 30 day |
| Storage: | From 100GB to 200GB |
| Free SSL: | ✅ Yes |
| Free domain: | ✅ Yes |
| Uptime guarantee: | 99.9% |
| Best deal: | Get up to 78% OFF Hostinger + free months |
Hostinger is my #1 shared hosting provider, thanks to its affordable pricing and feature-packed plans. It includes a website builder, free domain, automated backups, and maintains excellent performance.
My experience with Hostinger shared hosting – excellent 5/5
I found Hostinger very easy to use. The setup process was straightforward, and I received clear instructions every step of the way. I really enjoyed Hostinger's custom control panel – hPanel. It’s intuitive and well-organized. I actually preferred it much more than the commonly used cPanel, which is used by providers such as Bluehost or A2Hosting. Everything was easy to find without unnecessary sub-menus – this made managing my website much simpler.
In terms of security, Hostinger didn’t disappoint. With features like a malware scanner, DDoS protection, and automatic WordPress updates, I felt confident that my website was safe. It also includes performance boosters like LiteSpeed and Object Cache, which ensured my site ran smoothly at all times. Our review of Hostinger’s features covers its security features in more detail.
2. IONOS – best for growing businesses
| Price: | From $1.00/month |
| Money back guarantee: | 30 day |
| Storage: | From 10GB to unlimited |
| Free SSL: | ✅ Yes |
| Free domain: | ✅ Yes |
| Uptime guarantee: | 99.99% |
| Best deal: | Get up to 91% OFF IONOS |
IONOS offers affordable shared hosting options with excellent performance and uptime. It allows seamless scalability, with plenty of options to upgrade for more resources if needed.
My experience with IONOS shared hosting – excellent 5/5
Similarly to Hostinger, IONOS hosting setup was easy and intuitive. IONOS uses a custom control panel that’s simple and efficient. The dashboard includes essentials like backups, updates, project settings, and analytics. That said, most of the website management happens directly in the WordPress admin panel.
Security-wise, IONOS provides great protection with SSL certificates, DDoS protection, Site Scans, and regular backups. I also appreciated that IONOS keeps your data in two separate data centers, ensuring your website stays online even if a server goes down. Plus, our IONOS review showed that it’s great for WordPress since it offers one-click WordPress installation.
3. Bluehost – best option for beginner WordPress hosting
| Price: | From $1.99/month |
| Money back guarantee: | 30 day |
| Storage: | From 10GB to 100GB |
| Free SSL: | ✅ Yes |
| Free domain: | ✅ Yes |
| Uptime guarantee: | 99.9% |
| Best deal: | Get up to 83% OFF Bluehost |
Bluehost offers optimized shared hosting for WordPress websites and is officially recommended by WordPress.org. It offers easy installation, automatic updates, and excellent uptime, making it ideal for those running WordPress websites.
My experience with Bluehost shared hosting – excellent 4.5/5
Bluehost didn’t offer as much step-by-step guidance as Hostinger or IONOS. However, I found its dashboard fairly intuitive, so I was able to figure it out myself. Bluehost uses the popular cPanel interface, which can feel too technical at first and takes time to get used to. That said, most site management happened in the WordPress admin panel, which worked fine for my needs. Our in-depth look at Bluehost's user experience covers its interface in more detail.
In terms of features, Bluehost offers essentials like backups, marketing tools, staging, site migrator, DDoS protection, and firewalls. It also has an AI website builder and integrated email manager for handling emails.
4. GoDaddy – best comprehensive shared hosting
| Price: | From $6.99/month |
| Money back guarantee: | 30 day |
| Storage: | From 25GB to 75GB |
| Free SSL: | ✅ Yes |
| Free domain: | ✅ Yes |
| Uptime guarantee: | 99.9% |
| Best deal: | GoDaddy coupon 30% OFF |
GoDaddy is best known as a domain registrar, but it also offers comprehensive hosting services. This makes it a great option for those seeking an all-in-one solution.
My experience with GoDaddy shared hosting – good 4/5
I enjoyed the ease of setting up shared hosting with GoDaddy. I found it very convenient that I could get a domain, host, and build my website all on one platform. The dashboard included statistics, settings, optimization tools, marketing, social, store, and customer sections. As for hosting management, it uses cPanel, just like Bluehost.
GoDaddy also offers a variety of security features, including SSL certificates, malware scanning, and firewalls, which we cover in our GoDaddy review. I particularly liked its website staging feature, which allowed me to test changes before publishing them live. GoDaddy’s website builder also made creating a professional-looking website quick and straightforward.
5. DreamHost – best for simple and reliable WordPress hosting
| Price: | From $2.59/month |
| Money back guarantee: | 97 day |
| Storage: | From 50GB to unlimited |
| Free SSL: | ✅ Yes |
| Free domain: | ✅ Yes |
| Uptime guarantee: | 100% |
| Best deal: | Get DreamHost, now 72% OFF |
DreamHost offers shared hosting optimized for WordPress. It provides robust performance, security features, and a user-friendly control panel, making it ideal for businesses that want to focus on content creation without worrying about server management.
My experience with DreamHost shared hosting – good 4/5
DreamHost’s dashboard is well put together, making it perfect for those looking for simplicity. A feature that I appreciated was traffic metrics, which can indicate if you’re having increased traffic from bots. As for more advanced management, most customizations are available in WordPress.
It also offers great security features such as SSL certificates, firewalls, automated backups, and domain privacy protection. DreamHost monitors its servers 24/7, giving you peace of mind that your website is secure. Plus, a website builder is included with all shared hosting plans. Our complete guide to DreamHost’s performance and customization options covers its features in full.
6. SiteGround – best reliable shared hosting
| Price: | From $2.99/month |
| Money back guarantee: | 30 day |
| Storage: | From 10GB to 40GB |
| Free SSL: | ✅ Yes |
| Free domain: | ✅ Yes |
| Uptime guarantee: | 99.9% |
| Best deal: | Get up to 83% OFF SiteGround + FREE TRANSFER |
SiteGround provides high-performing shared hosting powered by Google Cloud infrastructure. This ensures high speed and excellent uptime, making it a great choice for growing businesses and high-traffic websites.
My experience with SiteGround shared hosting – good 3.5/5
I found SiteGround’s panel slightly less intuitive than others, with some settings being difficult to locate. However, each section includes explanations, which helped me better understand where to find specific features. The site metrics are limited, mostly focusing on visitor statistics and bandwidth usage.
That said, SiteGround offers great security with SSL certificates, firewalls, and automatic backups. It also includes email hosting with every plan and offers website staging, which is particularly useful when testing new updates.
7. HostGator – best shared hosting with US servers
| Price: | From $2.29/month |
| Money back guarantee: | 30 day |
| Storage: | From 10GB to 50GB |
| Free SSL: | ✅ Yes |
| Free domain: | ✅ Yes |
| Uptime guarantee: | 99.9% |
| Best deal: | Get up to 81% OFF HostGator |
HostGator offers shared hosting with unmetered bandwidth, making it ideal for users who anticipate high traffic or hosting larger websites. It’s best suited for those familiar with cPanel, as most of the management happens there.
My experience with HostGator shared hosting – good 3.5/5
In the HostGator review I found that the dashboard and control panel are pretty similar to Bluehost's. From HostGator’s dashboard, I was able to control hosting settings, email, and domains, while most website-related settings can be found in the cPanel. All settings and options are well categorized and organized, so I didn’t experience any difficulties navigating.
HostGator provides basic security features like SSL certificates, SiteLock, firewalls, and automatic backups. I also appreciated the one-month trial of email hosting, which made it easy to get started with professional email management. Plus, the unmetered bandwidth is a nice addition for larger sites.
8. A2 Hosting – best shared hosting for speed
| Price: | From $1.99/month |
| Money back guarantee: | 30 day |
| Storage: | From 10GB to unlimited |
| Free SSL: | ✅ Yes |
| Free domain: | ❌ No |
| Uptime guarantee: | 99.9% |
| Best deal: | Get A2 Hosting, now up to 84% OFF |
A2 Hosting is all about speed. Its servers are optimized for fast performance, making it perfect for websites that need to load quickly, such as eCommerce sites or content-rich blogs.
My experience with A2 Hosting shared hosting – average 3/5
Setting up A2 Hosting was slightly more complicated than I expected. There wasn’t clear guidance for first-time users, but the knowledge base provided helpful resources for navigating through the process. The dashboard is minimalistic and includes all necessary tools for website management. However, I did find that it was a bit slow at times.
Our A2 Hosting review with expert insights showed that it excels in hosting speeds and security. It offers a range of security features like SSL certificates, DDoS protection, a patchman security tool, automatic backups, and firewalls. Plus, it offers 1-click WordPress installation and a website builder.
9. Namecheap – best budget-friendly hosting
| Price: | From $1.58/month |
| Money back guarantee: | 30 day |
| Storage: | From 20GB to 50GB |
| Free SSL: | ✅ Yes |
| Free domain: | ✅ Yes |
| Uptime guarantee: | 100% |
| Best deal: | Get Namecheap, now 70% OFF |
Namecheap, similarly to GoDaddy, is a well-known domain registrar that also offers shared hosting. It provides budget-friendly plans while maintaining essential features like unlimited bandwidth, free SSL, and reliable uptime.
My experience with Namecheap shared hosting – average 3/5
I found that Namecheap’s dashboard is quite minimalistic. Most management happens via cPanel, which can be tricky to navigate for beginners compared to more intuitive custom control panels like Hostinger’s or DreamHost’s.
Despite this, Namecheap makes it easy to manage domains, hosting, and websites on a single platform. It also provides robust security features, including SSL certificates, domain privacy protection, DDoS protection, firewalls, automatic backups, and SiteLock. Our in-depth look at Namecheap’s user experience and tools covers its features in further detail.
Compare shared hosting
To help you pick the best shared hosting provider, I’ve included key information about each provider in a table so you can compare them side by side.
| Provider | Price | Storage | Bandwidth | Uptime results | Control panel | 24/7 customer support | Freebies |
| Hostinger | From $2.69/month | From 100 GB SSD | Unlimited | 100% | hPanel | ✅ Yes | Free domain (first year), SSL, up to 100 email accounts, automated backups, web builder |
| IONOS | From $1.00/month | From 10 GB SSD | Unmetered | 100% | Custom | ✅ Yes | Free domain (first year), SSL, email account, automated backups, web builder |
| Bluehost | From $1.99/month | From 10 GB SSD | Unmetered | 100% | Custom and cPanel | ✅ Yes | Free domain (first year), SSL, 5 email accounts, automated backups, web builder |
| GoDaddy | From $6.99/month | From 25 GB SSD | Unmetered | 100% | cPanel | ✅ Yes | Free domain (first year), SSL, automated backups |
| DreamHost | From $2.59/month | From 50 GB SSD | Unmetered | 100% | Custom | ✅ Yes | Free domain (first year), SSL, unlimited email accounts, automated backups, web builder |
| SiteGround | From $2.99/month | From 10 GB SSD | Unmetered | 100% | Site Tools | ✅ Yes | Free domain (first year), SSL, unlimited email accounts, automated backups, web builder |
| HostGator | From $2.29/month | From 10 GB SSD | Unmetered | 100% | cPanel | ✅ Yes | Free domain (first year), SSL, unlimited email accounts |
| A2 Hosting | From $1.99/month | From 100 GB SSD | Unlimited | 100% | cPanel | ✅ Yes | Free SSL, unlimited email accounts, automated backups, web builder |
| Namecheap | From $1.58/month | From 20 GB SSD | Unmetered | 100% | cPanel | ✅ Yes | Free domain (first year), SSL, 30 email accounts, automated backups, web builder |
Our testing methodology
When testing products at Cybernews, we follow a clear testing methodology, which you can check out on our how we test website hosting page. When selecting the best shared hosting providers, I started with 58 providers and chose the ones that offer shared hosting. I selected 9 providers that I tested based on the following criteria:
- Pricing (30%). Since the main benefit of shared hosting is affordability, I selected options with competitive pricing. I also assessed the price-to-value ratio, taking the features offered by each provider into account.
- Ease of use (25%). I examined each provider's dashboard and control panel for user-friendliness and ease of navigation to ensure they are suitable for beginners.
- Performance (20%). I evaluated each provider's speed, uptime, and ability to handle traffic to ensure that your website runs smoothly.
- Security features (15%). I reviewed the security measures provided, including SSL certificates, backups, firewalls, and DDoS protection.
- Customer support (10%). I checked how easy it was to access support and the variety of contact options available.
I then ranked each provider from 1 to 9 based on how well it performed.
What is shared hosting?
Shared hosting is a type of web hosting where multiple websites are hosted on the same server and share resources like CPU, bandwidth, and RAM. This cost-effective setup makes it ideal for those who don’t anticipate heavy website traffic and want an affordable hosting solution. Since the hosting provider takes care of the server maintenance, it’s perfect for beginners who don’t want to worry about server configurations. You get affordable hosting without the hassle of managing the server yourself, allowing you to focus on building your website.
Who should use shared hosting?
Shared hosting is an excellent choice for beginners, thanks to its simple maintenance. The hosting provider handles the server maintenance, so you can focus solely on your website’s content. Many providers include web builders with their plans, making it easy to build and host your site all in one place.
It’s also perfect if you’re testing ideas on a budget. Many providers offer plans under $5.00/month, which include essentials like a domain name, SSL certificate, and website builder. Plus, you can easily upgrade your plan if your site grows and needs to handle more traffic. Shared hosting works well for various websites, whether you're launching an online store, blog, business site, or portfolio.
What are the pros and cons of shared hosting?
Shared hosting is a popular choice for website hosting, but it's essential to weigh its pros and cons to see if it's suitable for your needs.
How much does shared hosting cost?
Shared hosting price typically ranges from $1.00/month to $10.00/month, depending on the features and resources included. Some providers offer plans that include extras like a free domain, SSL certificate, backups, and web builders, so it's worth considering an all-in-one package.
Prices also depend on the subscription length. Most hosting providers offer significant discounts for long-term plans. If you plan to host your website for longer, you can save up 80% with an annual subscription compared to monthly billing.
Final recommendations
Shared hosting is a quick and easy way to launch a blog, portfolio, eCommerce, or business website. It’s also the most affordable hosting solution, and it doesn’t require the technical expertise needed to host a website yourself. However, since server resources are shared with multiple users, performance and security can sometimes be compromised. That’s why choosing a reliable provider is crucial.
After extensive research, I found that Hostinger is the best shared hosting provider. It offers great resources, security, features, and is affordable. That said, all providers on this list have their own unique strengths, so it’s important to pick one that best suits your needs.
FAQ
Which is better: shared hosting or VPS hosting?
Both options are great, but shared hosting is more suitable for small and medium-sized websites, while VPS is more suitable for larger businesses. Shared hosting provides shared resources and is cheaper, while VPS hosting is more stable and pricier.
Can I run an online store on shared hosting?
Yes, you can run an online store on shared hosting. Shared hosting is great for hosting small and medium-sized eCommerce stores, making it a cost-effective solution.
Is WordPress compatible with shared hosting?
Yes, WordPress works with shared hosting. Many providers offer 1-click WordPress installation with its shared hosting plans, making it an easy and affordable option.
Can I host multiple websites on a shared hosting plan?
Yes, you can host multiple websites on a shared hosting plan. However, the number of websites you can host depends on your chosen provider. For example, Hostinger allows hosting up to 100 websites with one plan.
What happens if my site outgrows shared hosting?
If your site outgrows shared hosting, you may experience slowdowns and downtime. However, most providers offer seamless scaling options, so you can upgrade to VPS or dedicated server hosting to support your growing traffic.
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