Short answer: Usually not. You run your site by domain name, not by IP address, and shared hosting works perfectly well without one. The exception is a dedicated SSL certificate, which does require a dedicated IP. They are $12/year, or included if you buy an SSL certificate from us, or with VPS and dedicated hosting.
Applies to: Infosaic shared web hosting · e-commerce, VPS and dedicated hosting
This question usually arrives with the assumption that a dedicated IP is a better class of service. In general it is not — it is a technical requirement that a small number of situations create, and outside those it changes nothing you can see.
Your site is reached by domain name. Visitors type the name, DNS turns it into an address, and whether that address is yours alone or shared with other sites makes no difference to them.
When you do need one
The one that matters: a dedicated SSL certificate for secure transactions requires a dedicated IP address. If you are taking payments or logins with your own certificate, you need one.
If you buy the certificate from us, the dedicated IP is included — there is nothing separate to arrange or pay for. If you bring your own certificate, the IP is $12/year.
VPS and dedicated hosting include a dedicated IP as part of the package, so the question does not arise there.
When you do not
For an ordinary website on shared hosting, a dedicated IP adds nothing. You manage the site with your domain name, visitors reach it by domain name, and the shared address serves it exactly as well.
You can buy one if you want — they are $12/year — but it is worth being clear about what you are buying. It will not make the site faster, and on its own it will not change how the site is found.
A dedicated IP is not a search ranking tool. That idea has circulated for years and it is not a reason to buy one. Buy it because a certificate requires it, or because your hosting package includes it — not on the assumption that it improves how the site performs.
How to get one
- Open a support ticket from controlpanel.infosaic.com.
- Say what it is for — usually an SSL certificate.
- If you need a dedicated certificate as well, we can sell you that and include the dedicated IP with it.
If the certificate is the reason, it is generally simpler and cheaper to buy the certificate from us: the IP comes with it, and we handle the installation. There is more on our SSL certificates page.
Questions and answers
Do I need a dedicated IP address for my website?
In general, no. You manage and reach your site by domain name, and shared hosting works without one.
When is a dedicated IP required?
For a dedicated SSL certificate used for secure transactions.
How much does a dedicated IP cost?
$12/year, or included if you purchase an SSL certificate from us, or with VPS and dedicated hosting.
Is a dedicated IP included with an SSL certificate?
Yes, if you buy the certificate from Infosaic.
Do VPS and dedicated hosting include one?
Yes.
Will a dedicated IP make my site faster?
No.
Will a dedicated IP improve my search rankings?
No. That is a persistent myth and not a reason to buy one.
How do I request one?
Open a support ticket from your control panel and say what it is for.
Related articles
- How do I set up an SSL certificate?
- SSL certificate site seal graphics
- How do I manage or point my domain name to Infosaic?
- Home folder, redirects and site security settings
- How do I manage my account and access my control panel?
- How do I contact tech support?
Still stuck?
Open a support ticket from your hosting control panel at controlpanel.infosaic.com — that is the fastest route, because it reaches the team who can already see your account. You can also email [email protected].