Shared Hosting vs Reseller Hosting

Both are web hosting where you get an account on a server run by the provider, with a control panel and no server administration. They suit different jobs.

Shared hosting

Many customers' websites sit on one server and share its CPU, memory and disk. The provider looks after the server, security updates and the control panel, so you only manage your website.

• Cheap and simple. A good fit for a personal site, a blog or a small business site.
• Limits apply. Accounts have caps on CPU, memory, disk and processes, so a busy site can hit them.
• Less control. You cannot install your own server software.

Reseller hosting

A reseller account is a bigger shared account that you divide into separate hosting accounts for your own customers or projects. You manage those accounts through a control panel, and you can usually brand them as your own.

• Several sites, kept apart. Each client or project gets its own account and login.
• Resale. You set your own prices, so it can earn money if you build hosting into a web design or agency business.
• Still shared. The accounts share the underlying server's resources, so it is not a replacement for a VPS.

Which should you pick?

For one or two websites, shared hosting is enough. For many client sites, or to sell hosting, choose reseller. If you want full control or need to run your own software, look at a VPS instead.