Balancing performance with affordability is a constant challenge in the cloud hosting space. Does Shapehost offer the right mix of features and pricing to stand out in a competitive market?

From my initial impression, Shapehost stands out for its flexibility, user-friendliness, and strong customer ratings.

Shapehost is a cloud hosting service that offers flexible cloud infrastructure for hosting applications and websites with no usability limitations. It provides fast deployment of cloud instances, industry-leading DDoS mitigation and firewall solutions for network security, and a reliable online presence for businesses of all sizes.

Its ease of use and responsive customer support have earned it an impressive 4.9 out of 5 rating on HostAdvice. For example, creating an instance in Shapehost is incredibly easy and efficient. You can go live in seconds.

So, if you prioritize speed, reliability, and a customizable hosting environment, you should explore Shapehost.

Shapehost Pros and Cons

With their powerful features, attentive support, and affordable pricing, they provide an ideal platform for hosting your workloads.

Rating Breakdown

At HostAdvice, we created a rating methodology that guides us in how to evaluate cloud hosting providers.

This methodology considers several crucial factors, including price, features, performance, ease of use, and support.

You can find a detailed explanation of our rating methodology here.

Shapehost Prices & Plans – 2024

Shapehost offers flexible and affordable cloud hosting solutions to cater to the diverse needs of businesses.

They provide three main types of cloud instances:

• Standard
• vCPU-Optimized
• Memory-Optimized

Shapehost doesn’t offer a free trial but provides a 7-day money-back guarantee if you’re unsatisfied with its service.

It accepts various payment methods, including credit cards, PayPal, and cryptocurrencies. Once you make a payment, your custom cloud server will be set up within 60 seconds.

Cloud Hosting

Standard Instances

This plan is a cost-effective solution for small and medium-sized businesses, offering a balanced ratio of CPU and RAM resources.

• S-1 is the most affordable plan for small websites, offering 512 MB RAM, 1 vCPU, 10 GB SSD, and 500 GB transfer.
• S-2 is the recommended plan for most users. It provides 1024 MB RAM, 1 vCPU, 25 GB SSD, and a 1,000 GB transfer.
• S-3 offers 2048 MB RAM, 1 vCPU, 50 GB SSD, and 2,000 GB transfer.
• S-4 is ideal for users who need more resources. It offers 2048 MB RAM, 2 vCPUs, 60 GB SSD, and 3,000 GB transfer.
• S-5 offers 4096 MB RAM, 2 vCPUs, 80 GB SSD, and a 4,000 GB transfer.
• S-6 is perfect for resource-intensive websites, providing 8192 MB RAM, 4 vCPUs, 160 GB SSD, and a 5,000 GB transfer.
• S-7 offers 16384 MB RAM, 6 vCPUs, 320 GB SSD, and 6,000 GB transfer.
• S-8 is the most powerful standard instance, offering 32768 MB RAM, 8 vCPUs, 640 GB SSD, and a 7,000 GB transfer. It’s suitable for large-scale projects.

vCPU-Optimized Instances

vCPU-Optimized instances are designed for businesses that require more computing power and performance for their workloads.

• C-1 offers 2048 MB RAM, 2 vCPUs, 30 GB SSD, and a 4,000 GB transfer.
• C-2 provides 4096 MB RAM, 2 vCPUs, 50 GB SSD, and a 4,000 GB transfer.
• C-3 offers 8192 MB RAM, 4 vCPUs, 80 GB SSD, and 5,000 GB transfer.
• C-4 provides 16384 MB RAM, 8 vCPUs, 150 GB SSD, and a 6,000 GB transfer.
• C-5 offers 32768 MB RAM, 16 vCPUs, 300 GB SSD, and 6,000 GB transfer.
• C-6 provides 32768 MB RAM, 16 vCPUs, 500 GB SSD, and a 7,000 GB transfer.
• C-7 offers 65536 MB RAM, 32 vCPUs, 500 GB SSD, and 9,000 GB transfer.
• C-8 is the most powerful vCPU-optimized instance, offering 65536 MB RAM, 32 vCPUs, 1000 GB SSD, and 9,000 GB transfer.

Memory-Optimized Instances

Memory-optimized instances are ideal for businesses that need to support large projects and memory-intensive workloads.

• M-1 offers 8192 MB RAM, 1 vCPU, 50 GB SSD, and a 4,000 GB transfer.
• M-2 provides 16384 MB RAM, 2 vCPUs, 100 GB SSD, and a 4,000 GB transfer.
• M-3 offers 32768 MB RAM, 4 vCPUs, 200 GB SSD, and a 6,000 GB transfer.
• M-4 provides 65536 MB RAM, 8 vCPUs, 400 GB SSD, and a 7,000 GB transfer.
• M-5 offers 65536 MB RAM, 8 vCPUs, 800 GB SSD, and a 7,000 GB transfer.
• M-6 provides 131072 MB RAM, 16 vCPUs, 800 GB SSD, and 8,000 GB transfer
• M-7 offers 131072 MB RAM, 16 vCPUs, 1600 GB SSD, and 8,000 GB transfer.
• M-8 is the most powerful memory-optimized instance, offering 196608 MB RAM, 24 vCPUs, 2000 GB SSD, and 9,000 GB transfer.

Features

• Intuitive control panel
• 6+ operating systems
• Automatic backup
• Dedicated IP address
• DDoS protection
• Scalable cloud resources
• SSD storage
• Preset configurations
• Advanced networking

One feature I liked in Shapehost is remote support via WebEx or TeamViewer. This allows technicians to give you step-by-step guidance on issue resolution.

Remote support allows for screen sharing and remote control. Trainers can demonstrate procedures to you or your teams in real time.

Technicians can also remotely access your computer or device to diagnose and fix issues, saving time and potential frustration.

Windows Instances and Remote Desktop Experience

1. Installing Windows 11 and Windows Server on Shapehost

Installing Windows 11 and Windows Server on Shapehost is a simple process. To get started, follow the steps to create an instance.

Once you’ve selected your preferred location and plan, you’ll be prompted to choose your desired operating system distribution.

Shapehost offers a range of Windows options, including:

• Windows 11
• Windows 10
• Windows Server Standard 2022
• Windows Server Standard 2019
• Windows Server Standard 2016

To install Windows 11 or Windows Server, select your preferred version from the list of available distributions.

After choosing your Windows distribution, continue with the instance creation process by selecting your network type, authentication method, and the number of instances you wish to create.

2. Connecting with Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)

Shapehost offers multiple ways to connect to your Windows instances, providing flexibility to suit your preferences.

Most versions of Windows include a built-in Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) client. You can find it by searching for “Remote Desktop Connection” in the Start menu.

To connect, you’ll need these details from your Shapehost dashboard:

• IP Address: The public IP address of your instance.
• Username and Password: The credentials you get when you create your instance.

I was impressed by the responsiveness of the remote desktop experience. Even over my standard home internet connection, the remote desktop session was smooth, and I didn’t experience any significant lag or latency while interacting with the Windows instance.

You can also access a basic RDP-like view directly within the Shapehost dashboard console.

This can be useful for quick troubleshooting but might not offer the full functionality of a dedicated RDP client.

• Log in to your Shapehost account and navigate to the dashboard.
• Click on your Windows server instance to open its details page.
• Go to the “Access” section and click on “Launch Console.”

3. Possibilities with Windows Desktop Instances

After connecting with RDP, I was eager to explore what I could do with a Windows Desktop instance on Shapehost.

Using a Windows Desktop instance on Shapehost is an excellent solution for remote work. It allowed me to create a secure and accessible virtual workspace that I could use from anywhere with an internet connection. I was able to install and run all the necessary software and tools I needed for my work.

Also, if you’re a software developer, you often need to test applications in different environments and configurations.

You can use Shapehost’s Windows Desktop instances to set up multiple instances with various Windows versions and configurations to thoroughly test your software, and ensure compatibility across different setups.

Level Of Support

Shapehost provides 24/7 customer support for your cloud hosting needs via various channels, ensuring you can reach out for assistance anytime.

• Live Chat: Shapehost’s live chat support is available 24/7. During my tests, I found the live chat representatives knowledgeable and responsive.
• Email Support: Shapehost offers email support for less urgent inquiries. You should expect to receive a reply within 24 hours.
• Telephone Support: Shapehost offers only telephone support with its premium package.

In addition to the live support channels, Shapehost maintains a comprehensive knowledge base.

This self-help resource contains articles, tutorials, and FAQs covering common hosting topics and issues. The knowledge base is well-organized, and the articles are clear and easy to follow.

Ease of use

1. Registration

The onboarding process is easy and intuitive.

On the Shapehost dashboard, click “Get started.”

You will be prompted to create an account by entering your email and password. Then log in.

You will be directed to the dashboard, where you can easily create instances and configure load balancers or the network.

2. Shapehost Control Panel

To access the Shapehost control panel, log in through their user-friendly cloud panel at https://cloud.shape.host.

This interface lets you easily manage your cloud instances, create new ones, configure settings, and monitor performance.

3. How to Create an Instance with Shapehost

Creating an instance with Shapehost is straightforward. To begin, log in to your Shapehost account and click on the “Create” button.

Select “Instance” from the list of resources. Then, select your preferred location, such as New York, London, or Singapore.

Next, select a plan that suits your needs. Shapehost offers three main categories:

• Standard
• CPU Optimized
• Memory Optimized

After selecting a plan, choose your desired distribution, such as Fedora, CentOS, Ubuntu, or Windows.

Now, select a network type: basic or advanced. Basic assigns a public IP address, while advanced offers a private network with firewall and load balancer features. Then, choose an authentication type: SSH key or password.

For Linux-based instances, you can provide user-data scripts to be executed during deployment.

Finally, select the number of instances you want to create (1-10) and give them a name. Click “Create Instance” to start the deployment process. If you have sufficient credit, your instances will be ready shortly. If using a password, it will be displayed after creation.

Conclusion: Do We Recommend Shapehost?

After thoroughly testing and evaluating Shapehost’s cloud hosting services, I highly recommend this provider for businesses and individuals seeking a reliable, high-performance, and user-friendly cloud hosting solution.

One aspect that truly impressed me was Shapehost’s exceptional performance.

With its advanced technology and optimized server configurations, applications hosted on its platform consistently delivered fast loading speeds, reliable uptime, and excellent overall performance.

So, if you’re looking for a cloud hosting provider that combines flexibility, performance, user-friendliness, and excellent support, Shapehost is an outstanding choice.