Can I run WordPress on shared hosting?

Can WordPress Run on Shared Hosting?

Yes, WordPress runs on shared hosting. At HostingDuty, we configure our shared plans with PHP 8.1+, MySQL/MariaDB, and caching to support WordPress out of the box. This makes shared hosting a cost-effective entry point for blogs, small business sites, and portfolios.

Technical Requirements

WordPress requires:

• PHP 7.4 or higher (8.1+ recommended)
• MySQL 5.7+ or MariaDB 10.3+
• HTTPS support via Let's Encrypt
• File permissions set correctly (755 for directories, 644 for files)

Our shared hosting includes all these by default. You can verify your environment at /kb/php-version-check or /kb/mysql-requirements.

Performance Considerations

Shared hosting shares CPU and RAM with other accounts. For low-to-medium traffic sites, this is fine. For high traffic, consider our managed WordPress hosting at /compare/shared-vs-wordpress-hosting. We recommend:

• Using a caching plugin like WP Super Cache
• Optimizing images before upload
• Limiting plugins to essential ones

Installation Steps

We offer one-click WordPress installs via our control panel. Alternatively, follow our /tutorials/install-wordpress-manually guide for manual setup. Key steps include:

1. Create a MySQL database 2. Configure wp-config.php 3. Upload WordPress files via FTP or File Manager 4. Run the installation wizard

When to Upgrade

Consider upgrading if you experience:

• Frequent downtime during peak hours
• Slow page loads (>3 seconds)
• Security breaches due to shared resources

Our /glossary/managed-wordpress-hosting term explains the differences. For migration, see /tutorials/migrate-wordpress-to-managed-hosting.

Security Best Practices

Shared hosting requires extra security measures:

• Enable automatic updates for WordPress core and plugins
• Use strong passwords and 2FA
• Install a security plugin like Wordfence
• Regular backups via our /kb/backup-solutions

External Resources

For official WordPress requirements, see https://wordpress.org/download/releases/.

HostingDuty supports WordPress on shared hosting with optimized configurations. For detailed setup, visit /tutorials/install-wordpress-on-shared-hosting.