Last Updated on March 21, 2024
Stackable explains WordPress hosting in simple terms. If you’re confused whether to get shared or managed hosting, this article’s for you!
It’s very easy to get lost in translation when you’re trying to figure out how to start your own website and what you will need to do that. For most DIY-ers and beginners, web development and design terminology sometimes feels like it’s a completely different language and tends to be overwhelming.
One of the essential things you need to be able to start your website is a server. However, having your own server is very time consuming If you’re interested in learning about what type of web host plan would be best for your website, you’ve come to the right place!
A website host is basically a platform where all the files of your website will be stored. You keep all your website’s files (including stylesheets, html, assets, etc.) on a web host then when a visitor attempts to access your website, they fetch all of those files and display your website to the visitor.
TL;DR: You need a web host to get your website up and running.
What are the different types of web hosting?
There are different types of web hosting packages that will address the needs of your website, such as shared hosting, cloud hosting, managed hosting, and more. If you’d like to have a deeper understanding of these types, we recommend reading this article from Techradar.
In this article, we’d like to focus on the two most popular types of web hosting used with WordPress.
Shared hosting lets you share a server with other websites. All the resources such as hardware, server maintenance and support will be shared by the websites using the same server. Shared hosting plans are ideal for small businesses, blogs, and personal websites. Some web host providers include Bluehost, Site Ground, Dreamhost, and Hostgator.
Pros
- Affordability
Using shared hosting for your website is the most efficient and economical way to start a website. Some basic plans could go as low as $2.95 per month. - All-in-one package
Most shared hosting plans are already comprised of what you need to start a website, including a domain name, email hosting, SSL certification, etc. - Easy to set up multiple websites
A lot of shared hosting providers give you unlimited websites as part of their plan. You have the capability to easily whip up new websites and place them inside your shared hosting plan.
Cons
- Limited computing power
Since you’ll be sharing a server with other websites, this means all the resources of that server (the memory, file storage space, computational power, everything) is shared with all the other websites that are hosted in the same server. So your website will be competing for all these resources. In case there is a surge in usage for the other websites, it could cause yours to slow down. - Vulnerability to security risks
Websites that are using shared servers have higher incidents of hacking. This all boils down to shared resources, if one of the websites in the server gets some malicious running code in it, then there’s a chance that your website might be affected.
Here are some shared hosting providers you can look into:
Web hosts that offer managed WordPress hosting packages will completely manage the performance of your website making sure it’s always running at optimal speeds.
Instead of sharing with hundreds of other websites, dedicated hardware, technical support, and maintenance will be made exclusive for your use depending on your website’s needs. This is best for websites that have higher traffic or e-commerce websites.
This means though that managed hosting will cost more than shared hosting services. For example, WP Engine’s starter plan is around $25 per month as of writing, and on the higher end can reach around $240 per month. Managed hosting providers include Nexcess, Kinsta, WP Engine and Flywheel.
Pros
- Higher speeds
Since you get dedicated resources to your own website, you won’t have to compete against other websites for bandwidth. - Better maintenance
Managed hosting is somewhat like a concierge service. Your hosting provider will handle all the management, software and hardware maintenance, as well as technical support for your server. - Scales with Visitor Demand
Most managed hosting also provides automatic scaling of resources, so if you have a new sale and a large surge of traffic comes your way, you’ll be sure your website will still be running smoothly. - Higher security
Relative to the previous bullet point, your hosting provider will have all hands on deck to provide higher security for your website. Some providers like Kinsta even give you a Security Guarantee, so if your website gets hacked, they will fix it for you for free.
Cons
- Higher cost
Since the web host will be doing a lot of management and maintenance for your website, it will cost a lot more. - Inflexibility
Some web hosts have tried to provide a great package for their managed hosting plans. However, most still are a bit lacking in the sense that you’ll have to use other tools to start your website, such as domain registration, email hosting, and more.
Some notable managed hosting providers include:
What is the best web host for my website?
The answer to that is dependent on some factors that you need to consider for your website:
- How much are you willing to spend for a web hosting service?
Web hosting is no different from most services in the sense that there are different offerings at different price points. If you have a limited budget, you can opt to subscribe to shared hosting providers. There are actually many plans that packs many good features in one. Conversely, managed WordPress hosting may be the better choice if you have a bigger budget to expend. - How much storage will you need for your website?
Most shared hosting plans include high to unlimited storage. However, this of course entails a non-monetary cost. Since you’re sharing a server with many other websites, this may cause your website to slow down if it is heavy with assets. Managed WordPress hosting, on the other hand, actually has restrictions on storage and bandwidth despite its high price. Most web hosts that offer the latter give the option to add-on disk space for those that want to expand their website’s storage. - How much traffic are you expecting?
Gauge how much traffic your website will have. Are you only just starting out a website idea in which you estimate only a few visitors? Start with a shared hosting plan to kick things off. Alternatively, it would be best to get a managed hosting plan if you suppose your website will be garnering heavy traffic. - Are visitors purchasing from your website?
If you’re starting an eCommerce website, you will need to be able to scale up according to the number of your visitors–especially if you’re estimating huge traffic. Additionally, if you plan on holding sales and promotions, your website shouldn’t go down because of the number of people trying to purchase. Studies show that about 40% of people leave a website when it takes more than 3 seconds to load. What more if your website visitors can’t access your site at all?
It all boils down to what your website needs. It makes sense to use a shared hosting plan for those that are only starting. However, when your website starts growing in traffic, and transactions, you could consider migrating to a plan that would empower you to serve more people.
If you’re looking for a web host, we have some exciting deals to help you get started! We partnered with Nexcess that will give you 50% off for the first six months of their Managed WordPress hosting. In addition, we’ve also partnered with Cloudways that will give you 20% off for the first three months. On the other hand, if you’re looking to start out with a shared hosting plan, our partnership with Bluehost is giving Stackable users a special discounted price. In addition to these discounts, Stackable will be automatically installed for your site 😱 Sounds like a great deal, don’t you think?
Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
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Published by Alexandra Yap
Alex Yap is a Content Strategist and Copywriter who writes articles for Stackable - Page Builder Gutenberg Blocks. Combining her knack for writing with her interest in web design, she creates content that is not only engaging but also informative. Working for Stackable, she has developed content strategies and produced compelling written material for their blog, covering topics that would be helpful for both newbies and seasoned professionals. Show your appreciation for her work by sharing it if you find it helpful ♡ View all posts by Alexandra Yap
Great article 👍