Key takeaways
- Shared hosting puts many sites on one server; it suits small sites with modest traffic.
- Managed hosting tunes, secures and maintains the environment for your site, with expert support.
- Slow pages, resource limits and security worries are signs you have outgrown shared hosting.
- Node.js and Next.js apps usually need VPS, cloud or platform hosting rather than classic shared plans.
- Whatever you choose, keep the hosting account and domain registered in your name.
Hosting is where your website lives. The cheapest plans and the managed ones can look similar on a pricing page, but they behave very differently when traffic grows or something goes wrong.
What is shared hosting?
On shared hosting, your site sits on a server with many others, sharing its CPU, memory and storage. It is inexpensive and easy to start with, often with a control panel and one-click installs. The trade-off: a busy neighbour can slow your site, resources are capped, and security and performance tuning are largely up to you.
What is managed hosting?
Managed hosting gives your site a properly configured environment — on a VPS, a dedicated server or cloud infrastructure — with someone looking after it: caching, security hardening, updates, backups and monitoring. Managed WordPress hosting is the most common form, but managed hosting exists for Node.js, Next.js and other stacks too.
Managed vs shared hosting compared
- Speed: Shared: varies with neighbours and limits. Managed: tuned caching and dedicated resources for consistent speed.
- Security: Shared: basic protection; much is up to you. Managed: hardening, firewalls, monitoring and malware clean-up.
- Backups: Shared: often basic or extra. Managed: automatic, off-site and tested.
- Support: Shared: general support. Managed: experts who know the platform you run.
- Scalability: Shared: limited. Managed: resources grow with your traffic.
- Cost: Shared: low. Managed: higher, reflecting the work done for you.
Signs you have outgrown shared hosting
- Pages are slow even after optimising images and plugins.
- Your host warns about resource limits or suspends the site during traffic spikes.
- You have had malware or security incidents.
- The site earns enough that an hour of downtime costs more than better hosting.
Hosting for Next.js and Node.js
Classic shared hosting is built for PHP sites such as WordPress. Node.js and Next.js applications need a server that runs Node — a VPS, a cloud platform or a provider such as Vercel. Some hosts now offer Node.js app support in their control panels, which works well for smaller apps when set up properly.
What about Shopify?
Shopify includes its own hosting, so there is nothing to choose. Domains, DNS and business email still need managing.
Frequently asked questions
Is shared hosting bad for SEO?
Not in itself, but slow pages and downtime on overloaded servers hurt both rankings and conversions.
Can I move from shared to managed hosting without downtime?
Yes. The site is copied and tested on the new hosting first, then DNS is switched at a quiet time.
Do I need managed hosting for WordPress?
For business sites that earn money, managed WordPress hosting usually pays for itself in speed, security and support.
Our hosting and server management service sets up the right hosting for your site, in your name, and looks after it every month.
Filed under
Jay Patel