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Fair Usage Policy

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Updated on August 27, 2026
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At HostNil we aim to deliver fast, stable and secure hosting to every customer. On shared platforms that only works if resources are used fairly, so this Fair Usage Policy applies equally to all accounts, whatever the plan.

1. The same rules for everyone #

Every account on a shared server draws on the same finite resources — CPU, memory, disk I/O and storage. One account consuming far more than its share slows the server down for everyone else on it. We therefore expect all customers to use their allocation responsibly.

2. What your hosting account is for #

A hosting account is for running websites and email. The following are not permitted unless they are genuinely part of an active website on the account:

  • large media files such as video and audio libraries;
  • backup files, whether created manually or by a plugin, including site, database and email backups;
  • archives such as .zip, .rar and .7z;
  • ISO files and disk images;
  • software installers and personal file storage;
  • file hosting or file-sharing services.

Using hosting as a storage or distribution service rather than to run a website is a breach of this policy.

Please note this also affects your backups: files that are not part of the website are excluded from our automatic backup system, so storing them here gives you neither performance nor protection. See what is auto backup.

3. Fair resource consumption #

We monitor accounts for resource usage. If an account is using an excessive amount, or is affecting the stability of the server for others, we will take the least disruptive step that solves the problem:

  1. we contact you to explain what we are seeing;
  2. we ask you to remove or optimise the files or scripts responsible, and help where we can;
  3. if the problem continues, we apply temporary limits;
  4. in severe cases, or where a customer will not co-operate, we suspend or terminate the account.

In practice we start with a conversation. Suspension is a last resort, not an opening move.

4. If you have outgrown shared hosting #

Consistently high usage is usually a sign of success rather than misuse. If your site genuinely needs more than a shared plan can give, we will tell you and help you move to a VPS or a dedicated server rather than throttling you and leaving you to work out why the site feels slow. See switching to another hosting plan.

5. Why this policy exists #

Shared hosting only works when usage stays balanced across accounts. This policy exists to keep the platform fair and predictable for everyone on it. It is not intended to restrict normal website activity, and ordinary sites never come near these limits.

Note: using our hosting services means you accept this Fair Usage Policy. Breaches may lead to restrictions on your service in line with our Terms of Service.