The verdict in three sentences
Below 10,000 visits a month, shared hosting at 20,000-50,000 FCFA a year does the job perfectly. Beyond that, or if your site slows at peak hours, moving to a VPS (5,000-15,000 FCFA a month) restores power and stability. Pay-as-you-go cloud is only justified for highly variable traffic or a heavy application: for 90 % of Senegalese SMEs, the real debate is shared vs VPS.
Shared, VPS, cloud: the budget and power comparison
Shared hosting splits one server among hundreds of sites: cheap, but you suffer the neighbors. A VPS reserves dedicated resources for you. Cloud bills your actual consumption.
| Criterion | Shared | VPS | Pay-as-you-go cloud |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 cost | 20,000-50,000 FCFA/yr | 5,000-15,000 FCFA/mo | Variable (usage) |
| Resources | Shared | Dedicated | Elastic |
| Advised traffic | < 10,000 visits/mo | 10,000-200,000/mo | Unpredictable peaks |
| Peak-hour stability | Average | Good | Excellent |
| Technical skill required | Low | Medium | High |
| Ideal for | Showcase, blog, small shop | E-commerce, marketplace | High-load application |
The classic switch threshold sits around 10,000 monthly visits: below it, shared holds; above it, peak-hour slowdowns and errors justify a VPS.
Domain name, latency and SSL: the details that matter
Beyond the server, three choices weigh on performance and credibility.
| Element | 2026 benchmark | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| .sn domain | ~15,000-25,000 FCFA/yr | Local anchor, Senegal trust |
| .com domain | ~8,000-12,000 FCFA/yr | International reach |
| Server latency Europe → Dakar | 40 to 80 ms | Offset with a CDN |
| SSL certificate (HTTPS) | Free (Let's Encrypt) | Mandatory, never pay |
| Automatic backups | Daily advised | Include from the start |
Most hosts serve from Europe, hence a 40 to 80 ms latency to Dakar. A CDN neutralizes that delay by bringing files closer to the visitor. SSL is free via Let's Encrypt: never pay for a basic certificate, and require automatic backups from launch.
Mini case study
Moussa launches an online clothing shop in Dakar. At the start, 3,000 visits a month: shared hosting at 35,000 FCFA a year is more than enough, free SSL and a .com domain at 10,000 FCFA. Six months later, a successful Instagram campaign pushes him to 18,000 monthly visits, with slowdowns and two outages mid-promotion. He switches to a VPS at 12,000 FCFA a month (144,000 FCFA a year) and adds a CDN. The site now handles peaks without flinching. The math is simple: a single promo day lost to an outage cost him more than a full year of VPS.
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FAQ
When should I really move to a VPS?
When you consistently exceed 10,000 visits a month, or as soon as the site lags at peak hours despite optimization. An e-commerce or marketplace often benefits from starting directly on a VPS to avoid outages mid-campaign.
.sn or .com, which should I choose?
.sn anchors your brand in Senegal and reassures local customers, for 15,000-25,000 FCFA a year. .com reaches further internationally, around 8,000-12,000 FCFA. Many take both and redirect one to the other.
Is SSL really free?
Yes, via Let's Encrypt, renewed automatically. HTTPS is essential: Google rewards it in ranking and browsers show "not secure" without it. Never pay for a standard certificate.
Does hosting closer to Dakar speed up my site?
A little, but a well-configured CDN largely offsets the 40 to 80 ms latency from Europe. The priority stays optimizing the site itself: light images, caching, few scripts.
Are backups included?
Not always on shared hosting, often a paid add-on. Require automatic daily backups from the start: it is your insurance against an outage or a hack, for a modest extra cost.
Let's talk about your project. We size your hosting to your real traffic and peaks, without overpaying. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
