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WordPress, the leading website creation tool worldwide, powers over half of the web’s content. But what exactly is WordPress hosting? It is more than just a place to store your website’s data and content. WordPress hosting is a specialized form of web hosting optimized to support the WordPress platform. It ensures optimal performance and security for your WordPress site. There are many aspects to WordPress hosting, so in Part 1, we are going to cover the basics of what WordPress hosting is, what you get when you sign up for it and what to look for in a hosting plan. (Read Hosted.com Blog: A Beginner’s Guide to WordPress Hosting – Part 2)
WordPress Hosting vs. Web Hosting
Web hosting is an umbrella term encompassing several types of website hosting services. When you opt in for web hosting, you’re securing a space on a server where your website’s information, databases, and applications reside.
It’s suitable for any type of website, regardless of the platform or CMS (Content Management System) it is created on. However, web hosting resources are usually not specifically optimized for a certain CMS like WordPress, offering flexibility but generally lacking CMS-specific features.
On the other hand, WordPress hosting is a specialized subset of web hosting tailored specifically for websites built using the WordPress CMS. Unlike generic web hosting, WordPress hosting servers and resources are optimized to enhance the performance, security, and overall experience of WordPress sites.
WordPress was originally designed for bloggers, but, as of 2023, WordPress powers approximately 43% of all active websites around the world from small personal sites to large businesses. The reason for WordPress’s popularity is that it balances simplicity for beginners with functionality and features for web developers. Click here to find out more about the WordPress CMS
WordPress hosting helps make sure that when someone visits your website, the pages load quickly and smoothly. This makes for a better user experience and can make visitors more likely to stick around and explore your site.
WordPress hosting comes with platform-specific resources like themes, extensions, and plugins to help simplify creating and running a WordPress site.
What is Included in a WordPress Hosting Plan?
Good WordPress hosting plans will generally include the following free features:
Free SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) Certificate
A free SSL certificate is provided with all Hosted.com WordPress Hosting plans so your visitors will know your website is secure. It means that the padlock will show up in the browser when people visit your website. This is especially important if you are running an eCommerce store.
WordPress Toolkit
The WordPress Toolkit provides a user-friendly interface that allows you to efficiently manage all aspects of your WordPress website with just a few clicks.
Free Domain Registration*
Hosted.com’s WordPress Hosting plan includes a domain name registration for free. This means that you will have a website up and running faster without having to register a domain separately.
Automatic Updates*
As your WordPress site matures, your plugins will mature with it, having automatic updates saves the hassle of manually updating them. Additionally, outdated plugins can pose a security risk for a website. Hosted.com uses a Smart Update tool to ensure that every plugin is updated automatically when it becomes available. The same tool will compare pages afterwards to make sure there are no breaks on your website.
Backups and Site Restoration
Sometimes, sites crash, get broken by updates or even get hacked. Hosted.com offers daily automated Acronis Backups, that enable you to restore your website instantly if needed.
Website Migration
Site owners moving to a WordPress-specific host will commonly have to move their site over to the server themselves, which can be incredibly time-consuming. Having the option for a website migration to be done for you is an enormous time-saver. Hosted.com offers free website migration, so you won’t have to worry about moving your site by yourself.
WordPress Security
Hosted.com is vigilant about platform security with malware scans, firewalls, DDoS prevention, and regular backups. Additionally, we monitor our servers 24/7 to help with site uptime.
Speed and Reliability
WordPress hosting should deliver speed and reliability without the sudden need to upgrade when you get a spike in traffic. WordPress-specific hosts optimize their servers for the best possible performance. Hosted.com uses LiteSpeed, the fastest web server technology available for hosting WordPress websites, along with LiteSpeed Caching, the ultimate optimization plugin that covers everything you need to enhance the performance of your site.
For more information on Hosted.com’s WordPress Hosting Plans, please go to our website WordPress Hosting page.
Types of WordPress Hosting Solutions
Just like web hosting there are a range of WordPress hosting options, offering solutions for various needs.
Shared Self-Hosted WordPress hosting is the entry point, economical and suitable for smaller sites.
But as your site grows, it’s going to need more power and resources, as well as more time and effort to manage the site. That’s where Managed WordPress hosting comes in.
Managed hosting is having WordPress experts run your website for you. A managed hosting service will optimize your website for performance, backup your data, and ensure your website is secure, among many other services that take all the hassle out of managing your own website.
Managed WordPress hosting offers a nice balance between flexibility and reassurance. You have the freedom to dictate how you want your website to run, but at the same time, you don’t have to worry about the technical aspects.
Free vs Paid WordPress Hosting
Starting with free WordPress hosting can be a great way to learn the platform, but as your site grows, switching to a paid hosting plan is often unavoidable.
Paid WordPress hosting offers more resources, better support, and a professional domain name, all of which contribute to a more credible online presence.
Here are some of the advantages of using paid WordPress hosting:
Free Domain Name Registration*
With a paid WordPress hosting plan, you can have your domain name without the unwanted hostname (the name of your hosting provider). This can have a significant impact on how customers perceive your brand. If you use a free hosting account, you’ll be able to use your brand name in the domain name, but also must include the hostname. This can make your site look less professional.
Improved Performance
Paid WordPress hosting plans generally offer better performance than free plans. This is because they often include more resources such as RAM, CPU, and storage space. This can help your website load faster and handle more traffic.
Dedicated Customer Support
Most free WordPress hosting providers will offer some form of technical support, however, there can be a long response time. Additionally, a free hosting provider might not have the in-house expertise needed to solve WordPress specific issues. When you use a paid WordPress hosting service, you’ll be guaranteed that your provider knows the platform inside out and that they are available to help with any technical issues.
Better Security
Paid WordPress hosting plans usually offer better security features than free hosting plans. For example, paid hosting plans often include SSL certificates, which encrypt data sent between your website and your visitors’ browsers. This is important if you are collecting sensitive information such as credit card details or personal information.
More Customization
With a paid WordPress hosting plan, you have more control over your website’s design and functionality. You can install custom themes and plugins, which can help you create a unique website that stands out from the crowd. With free WordPress hosting, you are often limited to a small selection of themes and plugins, which can make it difficult to create a website that meets your needs.
The Cost of WordPress Hosting
The price of WordPress hosting varies widely, from free to budget-friendly options to premium plans. It’s important to understand what you are paying for and to find a balance between cost and the features you need. For example, if you want to host a basic blog, an entry level plan will most likely be enough to keep your site up and running smoothly.
On the other hand, if you are running a business site with multiple pages, contact forms and payment portals, you will need a plan that gives you access to more data storage, bandwidth, and other premium features.
Choosing a WordPress Hosting Plan
When choosing a WordPress hosting plan, the first things you should consider are your business goals and budget. If you are just starting out, then shared self-hosted plans are probably enough to get started. However, there are downsides of using a shared self-hosted WP plan.
First, you have limited server resources, and you may experience slower website speed due to sharing resources with other users.
Additionally, as your website grows, you’ll need access to more resources, memory, and technical support.
Hosted.com’s most trusted WordPress platform for your WordPress website, Our hosting plans are a great way to futureproof your site. With managed hosting, you get a dedicated team of experts who will manage your website for you.
They will take care of everything from security to backups, updates, and performance optimization. While they may cost more than shared self-hosted WordPress plans, they offer better performance, reliability, and security.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- WordPress hosting is optimized specifically to enhance the performance, security, and overall experience of WordPress sites.
- Most WordPress hosting plans come with platform-specific features as standard.
- There are a range of WordPress hosting options to suit a variety of user requirements.
- Managed WordPress hosting allows a team of experts to take care of the technical aspects, while still giving you full control.
- Free WordPress hosting plans are available for beginners but can be limited. Paid WordPress hosting offers more features, functionality, and scalability.
- The cost of a WordPress hosting plan varies depending on the needs of the user and website.
- Choosing the right WordPress hosting plan will make sure your website runs smoothly and stays up.
(Refer to our Blog: A Beginner’s Guide to WordPress Hosting – Part 2)
FAQs
How Much Does it Cost to Build a WordPress Website?
Do I Need to Know How to Code to Use WordPress?
What is the Difference Between WordPress.com and WordPress.org?
WordPress.com is a paid platform that offers a range of plans, including a free plan, to create a website without the need for technical knowledge.
Can I Use WordPress Hosting Without a WordPress Site?
Other Blogs of Interest:
– What Is WordPress Hosting? Definition, Features & Benefits
– 10 Top Free WordPress Themes for your Website
– A Beginner’s Guide to WordPress Hosting – Part 2
– How Long Does It Take To Build A Website With WordPress
– How To Create a Website for Affiliate Marketing
*Ts & Cs apply
Free Domain Registration applies to the following domain name extensions: .com, .online, and is only applicable at time of purchase.
Free Domain Registration depends on the selected hosting plan and only applies on 12, 24, and 36 month billing cycles.
All listed prices exclude Premium domain names.
DISCLAIMER: Any pricing reflected on images is for demonstration/reference purposes only and does not constitute actual pricing. E&OE.
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
Rhett isn’t just a writer at Hosted.com – he’s our resident WordPress content guru. With over 6 years of experience as a content writer, with a background in copywriting, journalism, research, and SEO, and a passion for websites.
Rhett authors informative blogs, articles, and Knowledgebase guides that simplify the complexities of WordPress, website builders, domains, and cPanel hosting. Rhett’s clear explanations and practical tips provide valuable resources for anyone wanting to own and build a website. Just don’t ask him about coding before he’s had coffee.