What Is Shared IP? [Differences with Dedicated IP]

Shared IP

When setting up a network, one of the most important things you need to do is choose the right IP address. There are two main types of IP addresses, including the shared IP and dedicated IP. However, you may not be familiar with these terms. Don’t panic. This article will explain their definitions and present the pros and cons of using a shared IP. Also, you can have a clear understanding of the differences between them.

What Is IP Address?

Before explaining what a shared IP means, you need to know the definition of IP (Internet Protocol) address. It is a unique identifier for identifying and locating specific devices in the network. In simple terms, it works similarly to your home address or postal address.

IP addresses are the basis for enabling network connection, making your devices achieve information exchange. Through IP addresses, the devices can get efficient connection and communication, ensuring that data is accurately transmitted to the intended devices.

Here are two main versions of IP addresses:

  1. IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4): Its common format is x.x.x.x. Each number is between 0 and 255, separated by dots.
  2. IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6): It consists of eight groups of hexadecimal digits, each group containing four hexadecimal numbers separated by colons.

Related: IPv4 vs IPv6 – Which One is Better and Faster?

What Is Shared IP?

A shared IP allows multiple users and websites to use a single IP address. It is usually used for web hosting plans such as shared hosting and WordPress hosting. The internet service provider assigns an IP to host multiple websites. It means these websites are hosted on the same server and share a common IP address. Thus, they rely on the same bandwidth, CPU, and storage space resources.

As a cost-effective form, a shared IP is suitable for small websites or users with limited budgets.

What Is Dedicated IP?

Another type of IP address is dedicated IP. It is different from the shared IP because it assigns exclusively IP address to a single user, organization, or domain name. This means only one user or organization uses this IP address and does not share it with others. If you use a dedicated IP, you can have complete control over the use and reputation of the IP address.

Sometimes, businesses or individuals may use a dedicated IP for remote access. Also, it can improve the VPN connection and enhance security.

Tip:

Although shared IP costs are lower and used frequently, a dedicated IP is safer for VPN users. On the other hand, a reliable VPN is also important. LightningX VPN is a fast and secure VPN service that offers 2000+ servers in 50+ countries. It hides your real IP address, making your online browsing anonymous. In addition, LightningX VPN has strong encryption protocols. With it, you access global content freely and safely.

The Pros and Cons of Using a Shared IP

Pros of Shared IP Address

Reduce costs: Shared IP allows multiple users or websites to share the same IP address, thus reducing the cost of assigning. It also reduces the cost of IP address maintenance for ISPs. This is an affordable option for small businesses and personal websites.

Optimize resources: Some hosting service providers can host multiple clients on the same server, thus increasing the efficiency of resource utilization.

Protect privacy: Shared IP makes it more difficult to track online activities. Because the same IP may be used by more than one user.

Easy to set: Typically, a shared IP can also mean the hosting is shared. With shared hosting, users have access to software that has been installed for their businesses and websites.

Cons of Shared IP Address

SSL certificate limitations: While modern technologies (e.g. SNI, Server Name Indication) allow the use of SSL certificates on shared IPs, compatibility issues may arise on some older systems or browsers. They may not be compatible with SSL.

Security risks: Vulnerabilities in one site may be exploited maliciously, which in turn may affect other sites on the same server. In addition, one website being hacked can lead to increased vulnerability in other websites, too.

IP reputation damage: If a certain website on the same IP is involved in forbidden activities (e.g., email spamming), the IP may be blacklisted or blocked. This could affect email delivery and the normal operation of other legitimate websites.

Shared IP vs Dedicated IP

As we mentioned before, a shared IP is easy to use and less expensive. However, a dedicated IP is needed if you want a higher level of security. If you are not sure of the differences between these two types of IP addresses, you can check out the comparison table below.

 Shared IPDedicated IP
CostLowerHigher
AvailabilityMore generalMore suitable for large sites
PerformanceAffected by traffic from other shared usersIndependent traffic management for more stable performance
SecurityAffected by other shared usersProvides increased security and privacy protection
ManagementManaged by the service providerUsers need to manage the IP address by themselves

FAQs about Shared IP

Will my website slow down due to shared IP?

A shared IP does not usually cause your websites to slow down. However, if other websites on the same server use a lot of server resources (e.g. CPU, memory) may affect performance and cause the load slower.

Is a shared IP secure?

The security of a shared IP mainly depends on the security measures of the hosting provider. In addition, your websites should follow the rules of operation. Choosing a reputable hosting provider and taking appropriate security measures can improve security.

Conclusion

This post introduced shared IP and dedicated IP, including their definition, main features, differences, and more. How to choose the right IP address is related to your site’s needs. If you are more concerned about security, you can use dedicated IP.

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