# Fixing 503 and 508 "Resource Limit Is Reached" errors

> Your website shows 503 Service Unavailable or 508 Resource Limit Is Reached. Here's what uses up your plan's resources and how to bring usage down.

Source: https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/getting-started/website-troubleshooting/fixing-503-and-508-errors/

Every hosting plan has its own share of the server's **CPU**, **memory (RAM)** and **processes**. This keeps one busy website from slowing down everyone else. When your account reaches one of these limits, new visitors see:

- **508 Resource Limit Is Reached**, or
- **503 Service Unavailable**

The error usually clears by itself within a few minutes, once the busy moment passes. If it keeps coming back, something on your site is using more than your plan allows.

## 1. See which limit you're hitting

In cPanel, open **Resource Usage** under **Metrics**. It shows when your account reached its limits and which one:

| Limit | What it usually means |
| --- | --- |
| **CPU** | Pages are slow to build: heavy plugins, no caching, or a lot of bot traffic |
| **Physical memory** | Scripts use a lot of memory, often imports, backups or page builders |
| **Entry processes** | Too many visitors or requests at the same moment, often bots or an attack |
| **Number of processes** | Too many scripts running at once, such as overlapping cron jobs |

See [Monitoring resource limits in cPanel](https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/cpanel/logs-and-statistics/monitoring-resource-limits-in-cpanel/).

## 2. Bring usage down

- **Turn on caching.** For WordPress, use [LiteSpeed Cache](https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/wordpress/guides/installing-and-configuring-the-litespeed-cache-for-wordpress-plugin/). Cached pages need almost no CPU or memory.
- **Block bad bots.** Check cPanel's **Awstats** or **Visitors** for unusual traffic. Protect your login page with [limited login attempts](https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/wordpress/guides/limiting-login-attempts-on-wordpress-using-a-plugin/), and consider [Cloudflare](https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/add-ons/cloudflare/cloudflare-content-delivery-network-cdn/) to filter traffic before it reaches your site.
- **Remove heavy or unused plugins.** Plugins for statistics, related posts, broken-link checks and backups are common culprits.
- **Move heavy jobs to quiet times.** Run imports, backups and reports as [cron jobs](https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/cpanel/advanced/setting-up-cron-jobs-in-cpanel/) at night, and make sure they don't overlap.
- **Replace WordPress's built-in cron** with a real cron job so it doesn't run on every page view.
- **Clean malware.** Hacked sites often send spam or attack other sites, using all your resources. See [Scanning for malware with Imunify360 and Monarx](https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/ssl-security/website-security/scanning-for-malware-with-imunify360-and-monarx/).

## 3. Upgrade if your site has grown

If your site is simply busier than your plan was built for, move to a bigger plan or a [Managed VPS](https://ruachost.com/vps). Upgrade from the [client area](https://dashboard.ruachost.com/clientarea.php) under **Services → Upgrade/Downgrade**. Your files, email and settings stay as they are.

## Related articles

- [Help! Resource limit has been reached](https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/getting-started/website-troubleshooting/help-resource-limit-has-been-reached/)
- [Why is my website slow?](https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/getting-started/website-troubleshooting/why-is-my-website-slow/)