Web development
What Web Hosting Is and How It Works: Servers, Types and Guide
What hosting is, its types (shared, VPS, dedicated and edge) and how much it costs to host a website in 2026.
By Keyner Trillos· Updated
In short
- Hosting is the service that stores your website's files, code and database on servers connected to the internet 24 hours a day.
- There are four types: shared, VPS, dedicated and global network (edge), which serves your site from the server closest to each visitor.
- Basic traditional hosting costs between USD 4 and 15 a month; a corporate site on a global network can cost between USD 0 and 20 a month.
If the domain is your business's address, hosting is the shop where the goods are kept. Choosing the right type of hosting determines how fast and stable your site will be.
Types of hosting
| Type | How it works | Ideal for | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared | Hundreds of sites share one server | Small sites with little traffic | Slow and unstable during spikes |
| VPS | Reserved resources on a virtual server | Mid-sized applications | Requires technical administration |
| Dedicated | A whole physical server for you | High enterprise demand | Expensive |
| Global network (edge) | Copies of the site in data centers worldwide | Fast sites with variable traffic | Requires a site built for it |
Why we use global networks
Traditional hosting depends on a single server: if a lot of traffic arrives, it gets overloaded. On a global network, your site is replicated across many data centers and each visitor receives it from the nearest one, in milliseconds. It also scales automatically during spikes, for example during a campaign.
What it costs
- Basic shared hosting: USD 4 to 15 a month.
- Corporate site on a global network: USD 0 to 20 a month, depending on traffic.
- VPS or dedicated: from tens to hundreds of dollars a month.
Continue with what a domain is and how to choose one or how much website maintenance costs.
Frequently asked questions
What is global network (edge) hosting?
Instead of a single server, your site is replicated across many data centers around the world and delivered from the one closest to the visitor, which makes it faster and more stable.
How much does website hosting cost?
Basic traditional hosting costs between USD 4 and 15 a month. A corporate site on a global network can cost between USD 0 and 20 a month.
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