+++
title = "Shared hosting is a scam"
publishDate = 2023-03-29T00:00:00+02:00
lastmod = 2024-11-18T18:10:46+01:00
tags = ["sharedhosting", "saas", "scam"]
categories = ["tech"]
draft = false
meta = true
type = "list"
[menu]
  [menu.posts]
    weight = 3003
    identifier = "shared-hosting-is-a-scam"
+++

This isn't the first, and won't be the last time I rant against shared hosting, SaaS, and all the other 'I want to be a landlord' scams out there.

This time in shared hosting: friend of mine wants to set up a tech stack for their new agency. Website, email, CRM, the works.

<!--more-->

Starting with the basics, we talked a bit, and arrived at the conclusion that, since they're not very tech literate, it would make the most sense to just buy a domain and set up with Google Workspace (easy!) and Google Sites (easy!). That's about $15/mth. The domain is about $20/yr, which gives us a total of $200/yr for that simple set-up.

A reasonably speedy VPS that would handle this load would be about $60/yr, plus domain we go up to $80-ish a year... but you only break even on this after two years of use (not including maintenance costs if you'd hire someone for that.) Note the amounts are cumulative.

| Year | Google | VPS  |
|------|--------|------|
| 1    | $200   | $280 |
| 2    | $400   | $360 |
| 3    | $600   | $440 |
| 4    | $800   | $520 |

This is based on a quick estimation that setting up a VPS, domain, website and email server (just the tech, no content or graphical design) would take a few hours of sysadmin time. Let's call it $200.

The actual figure is only mildly relevant, as we can clearly see that as time passes, renting a VPS is much more affordable and sane.

Plus, you get to grow and expand your tech stack at no additional cost. There is a [long list of available free alternatives to garbage software.](https://github.com/RunaCapital/awesome-oss-alternatives)

And it gets much worse...

When they asked their friendly neighbourhood web designer about setting a server up for them...

They got the following offer (verbatim):

-   SSL
-   5GB space
-   1TB bandwidth
-   3 emails
-   unlimited use
-   free FTP

All words which the average person doesn't understand. How do you even begin making sense of this if you don't grasp how the Internet works?

The price tag? A very not cool $50/mth. _For shared hosting with ridiculous limits._

I can't fathom how a person can justify having these restrictions on a $50/mth plan. For that money you can _easily_ rent a top of the line VPS that'll dance and sing to any tune you play.

**And how does it stack up? $600/yr makes for 600, 1200, 1800, 2400... you get the picture.**

For **the worst service** at the **highest price.**

This is right on par with SaaS and vendor lock in terms of how bad this is.

Be ethical. Don't give money to thieves.

[Join the FSF.](https://my.fsf.org/join)