A shared IP means your website uses the same public IP address as other websites on the same server, while a dedicated IP assigns a unique IP address that’s reserved only for your hosting account.
In plain terms, an IP address is the numeric “street address” the internet uses to find a server. Sharing an IP is normal for modern hosting and is usually the default because it’s efficient and keeps costs down. If you’re on WordPress and you just want a fast, stable site, you can usually stay on a shared IP and focus on higher-impact hosting factors like server resources, caching, uptime, and support (that’s exactly what we build into our WordPress hosting setups for Orlando businesses).
Most people ask about IPs because they’ve heard it affects SSL or Google rankings. For SSL, the short answer is that modern TLS with SNI lets multiple sites share one IP and still have their own certificates, so a dedicated IP is rarely required for HTTPS. For SEO, IP type is not a ranking shortcut; what matters more is performance, crawlability, and a clean HTTPS setup, which we break down in our FAQ on whether HTTPS affects SEO.
| Topic | Shared IP | Dedicated IP |
|---|---|---|
| Who uses the IP | Many sites/accounts share one IP | Only your account uses the IP |
| Typical cost | Included in most plans | Often an add-on fee |
| HTTPS (SSL/TLS) | Works for almost all sites with SNI | Works, but usually not necessary for SSL |
| Email reputation risk | Higher if email is sent from that shared IP and a “neighbor” gets flagged | Lower because the sending reputation is tied to your IP alone |
| Whitelisting and integrations | Harder if a vendor requires a single fixed IP for allowlists | Easier for allowlists, payment gateways, and locked-down vendor portals |
| Troubleshooting | Some issues can be shared (rate limits, blacklists) | Cleaner separation when diagnosing IP-based blocks |
| Best fit | Most small business websites, including Orlando dental, law, and home services sites | Businesses running a mail server, needing IP allowlisting, or sending high-volume transactional email from the server |
So when should you pay for a dedicated IP? We usually recommend it only when there’s a concrete requirement: (1) you send email directly from your hosting server and want tighter control over deliverability, (2) a vendor asks you for a single IP to add to an allowlist, (3) you need custom reverse DNS for mail, or (4) you’re hosting a system where IP-based access controls matter. If you use Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 for email (common for Florida offices), your website’s hosting IP typically isn’t your email-sending IP anyway, so a dedicated IP won’t move your inbox placement.
If you’re rebuilding a site or migrating hosts, we can bake these choices into the build so you’re not paying for extras you don’t need, and your site stays quick and reliable, which is a big part of what we do in web design projects for local service businesses.
A practical way to decide: ask your host two questions, “Do we send email from this server’s IP?” and “Do any of our vendors require IP allowlisting?” If both answers are no, a shared IP is usually the right call, and your time is better spent on speed and stability, including the basics in our FAQ on the 3-second rule for website speed.
