Why shared hosting is very slow?

April 9, 2024

Shared hosting servers share the physical hardware and resources with multiple customer websites. When the activity of a website(s) overwhelms the resources on the server, then there is a load spike that will slow website performance.

Shared hosting can sometimes be slow due to several factors inherent in its setup:

Resource Sharing:

Shared hosting means multiple websites are hosted on the same server and share its resources like CPU, RAM, and disk space. If one website experiences a sudden spike in traffic or resource usage, it can impact the performance of other websites on the same server.

Overloaded Servers:

Hosting providers may oversell server resources on shared hosting plans to maximize profits. If too many websites are hosted on a single server or if the server hardware is outdated or insufficient, it can lead to performance issues and slow loading times.

Limited Resources:

Shared hosting plans often come with limited resources, such as CPU cores, RAM, and disk space. If a website exceeds its allocated resources or if multiple websites on the same server compete for resources, it can result in sluggish performance.

No Control Over Server Configuration:

The users have limited control over server configuration settings. They cannot customize server settings or install performance optimization tools like caching modules or content delivery networks (CDNs) that could improve website speed.

Server Location:

The physical location of the server hosting the website can impact loading times. If the server is located far away from the website visitors, it can increase latency and result in slower page load times.

Software Limitations in shared hosting:

Shared hosting environments often impose restrictions on the use of certain software or scripts that could improve website performance. For example, some hosting providers may limit access to PHP settings or prevent the installation of certain performance optimization plugins.

Traffic Spikes:

Shared hosting plans may struggle to handle sudden spikes in traffic, such as during promotional events or marketing campaigns. If the server becomes overloaded with requests, it can lead to slow response times or website downtime.

 Improperly Written Scripts:

Occasionally, a slow website can result from a poorly-written script. A script is a list or series of commands that can be used to execute tasks within applications. If the script is improperly written, the site might get stuck trying to execute the commands, thus delaying the loading of other page elements. 

Lack of Image or Video Optimization:

While it is tempting to use high-resolution images or videos on your website, it is important to remember that these demanding page elements will impact your server’s load by using more memory and bandwidth. As a result, these elements will take longer to load when a web page is loading. This can be due to the size of the media file.  Generally, the higher the quality of the image or video, the larger it will be.  

Too Many Plugins:

Even though plugins can turn a simple website into a feature-rich, dynamic online space, there are unseen costs associated with them. The more plugins you install, the more the server has to handle whenever the page loads. This is particularly true for plugins that create public-facing page elements that load for all visitors to the website. It is also possible for plugins to draw resources even when they are not in use.

Social media plugins are often used in excess. Websites with multiple social media badges that also include the number of hits going to those sites can affect the performance of a site.  These buttons continually access data in order to keep their button counts updated.  Having more than one will increase that effect as they will be simultaneously making connections to their associated social media accounts.

Poor Network Optimization:

Sometimes a website loads slowly due to network-related issues within the hosting provider’s network, not issues with the website or server. This can be the result of unexpected spikes in traffic. There may also simply be caused by problematic hardware in the network that needs to be replaced.

To mitigate these issues, website owners can consider upgrading to a higher-tier hosting plan, such as VPS hosting or dedicated hosting, which offer dedicated resources and better performance. Additionally, implementing performance optimization techniques like caching, content delivery networks (CDNs), and code optimization can help improve website speed on shared hosting.