Start with what you are running
The first question is not "how much hosting do I need" but "what software will run on it". That decides the type of hosting before anything else.
| What you are building | Usual starting point |
|---|---|
| Business website, blog or portfolio on WordPress, Joomla or plain HTML | Linux shared hosting with a control panel |
| WooCommerce shop with a modest catalogue | Linux shared hosting, higher tier, with a plan to move up |
| Classic ASP.NET application (Web Forms, MVC 5, .NET Framework) | Windows shared hosting with Plesk |
| ASP.NET Core, Node.js, Python (Django, Flask) or a custom stack | A VPS, unless the shared host explicitly supports it |
| Software that needs its own background services, custom ports or system packages | A VPS |
| Large database, very high traffic or strict isolation requirements | A dedicated server, or a large VPS |
WordPress publishes its own server requirements: PHP, MySQL or MariaDB and HTTPS support. Any reasonable Linux shared plan meets them.
A common mistake is choosing Windows hosting because the office computers run Windows. The operating system on your laptop has nothing to do with the server. Choose Windows hosting only when your application needs Windows on the server. The Linux vs Windows hosting comparison explains the difference, including the point that ASP.NET Core also runs on Linux.
The six questions
1. How many websites?
Count every domain you will host, including small ones: a second brand, a landing page, a staging copy. Shared plans set a hard number of websites. Agencies and freelancers should count client sites they expect to add in the next year, not only today's.
2. How many email accounts?
Count people and roles. A ten person office with sales@, accounts@ and info@ addresses needs at least thirteen mailboxes. This number decides the plan more often than storage does. Also decide whether email will run on your hosting at all or on a separate service such as Google Workspace or Zoho Mail. Our guide on creating a business email compares the options.
3. Linux or Windows?
Settled by your software, as above. If you do not know, it is almost certainly Linux.
4. How much storage?
Most small business sites use far less than people expect. The bulk of storage goes to images, email and backups kept inside the account. Our hosting terms guide has worked examples. Choose a plan with room for roughly double your current usage.
5. How much traffic?
Shared hosting plans rarely state a visitor limit, and you should be wary of any plan that promises a specific number, because the real limit depends on how heavy each page is. A brochure site with mostly cached pages can serve far more visitors than a WooCommerce shop running database queries on every page. Useful signals that you should look beyond shared hosting:
- You run paid campaigns or TV or newspaper ads that send sudden traffic spikes.
- Your shop has thousands of products with filters and search.
- Your application runs scheduled jobs or long processes.
6. What is your real budget over three years?
Compare the total you will pay over two or three years, including renewals and GST, not the headline monthly figure. A plan advertised at ₹69 a month on a four year prepaid term and renewing at a higher rate can cost more over time than a plan with a steady monthly price. Our guide to hosting renewal prices shows the maths.
Plan for growth before you buy
A good plan choice includes the next step. Ask yourself:
- Can I move up a tier inside the same family without migrating?
- What is the next family up? Usually shared, then VPS, then dedicated.
- Who will manage a VPS if I need one? A VPS gives control, but someone has to install updates and secure it.
The shared vs VPS comparison lists clear signals for when to make that move.
Worked examples using ODHOST plans
These examples use ODHOST's published plans as of October 2026 to show how the questions translate into a choice. Prices are monthly; yearly billing is exactly 12 times the monthly price. Applicable taxes are shown at checkout.
| Shared plan | Websites | NVMe storage | Email accounts | Databases | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spark | 1 | 10 GB | 5 | 5 | ₹99 |
| Boost | 3 | 25 GB | 25 | 25 | ₹199 |
| Thrive | 5 | 50 GB | 40 | 40 | ₹399 |
| Turbo | 10 | 100 GB | 80 | 80 | ₹499 |
| Elite | Unlimited | 200 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | ₹799 |
Example 1: a CA practice in Nagpur
One WordPress site, eight staff and three role addresses, so eleven mailboxes. Spark covers the site but only has 5 email accounts. Boost (3 sites, 25 email accounts, ₹199 a month) fits with room for a second site later.
Example 2: a freelance designer in Kochi
Seven small client sites today, more expected. Thrive's 5 sites is too few. Turbo (10 sites, 100 GB, ₹499 a month) fits. If the client list may pass ten, Elite removes the site limit. Agencies should also read our page on hosting for agencies.
Example 3: a distributor with an older ASP.NET order portal
The portal was built on .NET Framework and needs Windows and IIS, so the Spark to Elite plans above are not the right fit. Write down the .NET version, the database engine (often Microsoft SQL Server) and the number of users, then contact ODHOST with those details. Customers who need Windows or ASP.NET hosting are advised directly rather than through a standard plan.
Example 4: a startup building a Django API
Django needs a Python runtime and long running processes, which shared hosting is not designed for. A Linux VPS fits: ODHOST's VPS plans run on servers located in India and start with Nano (2 GB RAM, 1 vCore, 40 GB storage) at ₹699 a month, with Micro (4 GB, 2 vCores, 80 GB) at ₹1,349 for more headroom. See VPS hosting.
Example 5: a home baker's single page site
One site, two email addresses, a few photos. Spark at ₹99 a month is enough. If the business adds an online ordering system later, Boost or Thrive gives more databases and room.
A quick checklist before you pay
- Write down your site count, mailbox count and software stack.
- Pick the operating system your software needs.
- Choose the smallest plan that covers today's needs with some headroom.
- Check the renewal price and whether the advertised price needs a multi year prepayment.
- Check how support works and how to raise a ticket.
- Confirm any technical detail your site depends on (PHP version, .NET version, SSH) with the host before ordering.
If you prefer a guided answer, the hosting plan finder asks the same questions and suggests a plan.
Frequently asked questions
Should a beginner start with shared hosting or a VPS?
Shared hosting, in almost every case. It is cheaper, the provider looks after the server, and you can move to a VPS later when you have a specific reason.
Can I upgrade my hosting plan later?
Most providers let you move to a larger plan within the same family. Ask before buying how upgrades work and whether moving between Linux and Windows, or from shared to VPS, needs a migration.
How do I know if my site has outgrown shared hosting?
Typical signs are pages slowing down at busy times while the site's own code is unchanged, resource limit warnings from your host, or needing software the shared environment does not allow.
Does a more expensive plan make my website faster?
Not by itself. Higher shared tiers mainly add sites, storage and mailboxes. Speed depends more on your site's code, images, caching and plugins than on the tier name.