Shared hosting, if you’re not familiar with the category, is a type of web hosting that sees multiple sites living on a single server. In this setup, sites share the server resources (hence the name), so a large traffic surge on Site A can, unfortunately, impact Site B’s performance in a negative fashion. Shared hosting is a good option if you’re looking for cheap hosting; if you want more server resources devoted to your site, you need to go the VPS or dedicated hosting routes. HostGator offers month-to-month shared web hosting plans, but it pushes you hard to sign up for longer terms, starting at six months. We don’t like that during the signup process HostGator defaults to a three-year term, like many other web hosts. It’s one thing to encourage users to skip month-to-month service, but pushing them into three years from the start is a bit much. That said, HostGator offers Linux and Windows-based shared hosting packages that give small- and medium-sized businesses room to grow. For Linux services, HostGator offers the Hatchling plan (starting at $11.95 per month, or $9.99 per month with an annual plan) that includes unlimited disk space, monthly data transfers, and email addresses. It also features a free SSL (secure socket layer), plus support for one domain and third-party applications such as content management systems and e-commerce platforms. The Baby plan (starting at $12.95 per month, or $14.99 per month with an annual plan) builds on the Hatchling offering by adding unlimited domains. The top-tier Business plan (starting at $17.95 per month, or $18.99 per month with an annual plan) includes highly specialized options, such as free dedicated IP, SEO tools for your business, and the speedy Cloudflare CDN (content delivery network).

For Windows-based shared hosting, Hostgator offers the Personal Plan (starting at $9.95 per month, or $14.99 per month with an annual commitment). This features unlimited disk space, unlimited monthly data transfers, a free SSL, and support for a single domain. The more robust Enterprise plan (starting at $19.95 per month) includes the above features, as well as support for five domains. Note that HostGator’s annual commitments aren’t always cheaper than their monthly counterparts, which is unusual. Generally, you receive a discount when paying for servers in 12-month (or more) blocks. With HostGator, some annual, biennial, and triennial plans actually cost more than the per-month renewal subscription. For example, you’ll pay $12.95 per month for the Baby Plan, but the price increases to $14.99 per month with an annual commitment. This is the case for several HostGator’s WordPress plans as well, not just the shared hosting packages. In fact, we spoke with a customer service rep who was seemingly surprised and confused by the price structure. Use this pricing table to help make an informed decision before committing to a package. Still, HostGator’s rich shared hosting packages offer unlimited storage, email, and monthly databases that give business plenty of room to grow. In short, it’s a great service for shared hosting packages.