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WordPress Hosting

by Ken Morris on January 1, 2019

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In recent years, WordPress has become one of the most favorite platforms globally with reputable Companies such as Bloomberg, Sony, and TechCrunch running their websites on the platform. This makes WordPress Hosting arguably one of the most reliable hosting services you will find taking more than 32% of the market share. This shift from traditional web design to WordPress has catalyzed the influx of many beginners to opt for WordPress hosting services. There is a myriad of WordPress hosting Companies with different price models. Whatever plan you choose for your website or blog, all WordPress hosting promises are powerful plans starting at $0 for life, and as you grow your business, you can choose the $4, $8, and the $25 per month plans billed at the end of every year. Godaddy WordPress managed hosting is super-fast due to the handling of background activities such as daily backups and software updates for you.

What is WordPress Hosting?

In simple terms, WordPress hosting is the kind of hosting which is tailored or optimized for WordPress’ functionality, performance and security requirements. In most cases, it includes a one-click WordPress Install option to make it easy to get started with the installation instead of downloading the WordPress package, uploading it to your cPanel on your domain account which can be quite an uphill task to a non-technical person. Some WordPress hosts will even go the extra mile and automatically update WordPress to the latest version as is often recommended for better features and enhanced security.

There exist two main categories of WordPress Hosting:

Shared WordPress hosting
Managed WordPress hosting

Shared WordPress Hosting

In shared WordPress hosting, your site sits on a Physical server which is partitioned into several other virtual servers each hosting a website. In other Words, your server “shares” the hosting platform with other domains. Even so, your server will be optimized for WordPress even though you won’t have the whole server to yourself. Most shared platforms will come with a one-click install WordPress installation. Some shared WordPress hosts will offer to automatically upgrade your WordPress version. In addition, they will even upgrade the plugin and themes as well! This is a crucial point because keeping your WordPress installation up to date beefs up your WordPress security and keep malware at bay and protects against any exploits and vulnerabilities in older versions.

Shared WordPress hosts give huge discounts for the first billing cycles but later, the plans revert to normal. Usually, you will part with as little as $3-$4 monthly. Thereafter,. For high tier WordPress plans, you will pay quite expensively.

Managed WordPress Hosting

In addition to everything offered by shared hosting, managed WordPress hosting typically offers:

Faster speeds. With Managed WordPress hosting you will get better hardware specification implying, a fast and stable WordPress site.
Enhanced security. Managed WordPress hosting give you add-ons such as specific firewalls, in addition to periodic malware & virus scans and intrusion detection. All this means a power secure and safe site
Server-side caching. Caching is one of the most useful things you can do to speed up your WordPress site. Typically, a plugin is needed to handle this, however, managed WordPress hosting provides you with better caching without any heavy lifting on your part
Staging sites. Most managed hosts offer staging sites which enable you to seamlessly test changes on your site before deployment or making them live.

From what we have so far seen, Managed WordPress hosting is more expensive than Shared hosting. With a few exceptions, you will generally be required to dig deeper into your pockets and fork out from $25 per month for top class managed WordPress hosting.

So, what should you go for, Shared or Managed WordPress Hosting?

The standard refrain is that beginners should choose cheap shared WordPress hosting and high-traffic sites should choose managed WordPress hosting. I generally agree with that analysis, but I think it overlooks one fact:

If you are looking into making a foray in WordPress as a beginner, refrain from opting for the expensive Managed Hosting option and start small with shared WordPress hosting which can allow you to scale up once you outgrow the shared hosting plan. For high traffic sites, managed WordPress hosting is preferred.

WordPress Hosting Compatibility

Installing and operating your favorite servers should have some prerequisites. The servers must be running PHP version4.3 or later and MySQL version 4.1.2 or later. Other than these software installations, experts recommend the use of either Apache or NGINX web servers. The two servers should have the Apache mod_rewrite module.

Choosing the Best WordPress Hosting Provider

If you are going for an ideal WordPress Hosting provider, be sure to consider the following factors:

Reliability

The host should at least guarantee 99.99% uptime and page-loading time should be fast enough for all browsers

Ease of Use

You should be able to access your website remotely via a control panel application.

Customer Support

All your queries should find a solution and solve problems every day and anytime. Customer support should use multiple channels such as phones, email, and online chat.

Available Packages

Identify a package(s) that closely matches your needs.

The Cost

The price of hosting can vary widely between different platforms. As you look for credible WordPress host look at the features that you need and how they relate to your budget. Take advantage of the pricing comparison tools that allow for quick evaluation of what is on offer. We will look at Managed WordPress Hosting plans shortly.

Shared Hosting

Shared platforms could be the lowest tier available and still be all that is available. The package uses a server with partitions that every client uses the available resources. The configuration is less secure and less reliable but in most cases very affordable.

E-commerce Hosting

Look for a host that will support the sale of goods or services through your WordPress website. The chosen host should have something like an electronic shopping cart and payment processing.

Virtual Private Server (VPS) Hosting

A VPS server is a shared server that has its resources shared between two or more clients. The partitioning ensures that all your resources are available at all times and no other person or client has access what belongs to you. This system works well for business, heavy traffic websites, and websites with unique software requirements.

Dedicated Hosting

Dedicated hosting is high in the hierarchy of hosting packages that allow clients to commission an entire server for their individual use. Your IT staff may locally manage the server or lease its management to the hosting provider at an additional fee. This is an expensive undertaking yet the most flexible.

Comparing WordPress Hosting and Regular Shared Hosting Plans

Choosing a hosting plan to suit your specific project goals and is something that leads to a lot of confusion. Your features may not be what the plans cover yet it is the best that you have. Technology is another point of difference, and of course, pricing plans vary.

With the increasing popularity of WordPress hosting plans, the regular web hosts are also lining up to offer a special WordPress hosting platform. These plans may show up in different alternatives such an increase in costs and additional services in line with what WordPress supports. However, you should never get worried because WordPress installs will run in any typical host without a glitch. All that you need to have WordPress hosting to work is a Linux based server as long as it supports PHP and MySQL.

A WordPress host should offer the following features:

Have a wider global reach than the one you have now
Provide consistency
High availability
Remarkable security
Have better pricing plans that suit individual companies or people

It may not be a wise idea to base all your conclusions based on the price of the hosting but the features of the plan

The five elements above are the basics of what to expect from a WordPress host to ensure that additional features are working as expected. The many features that a web host sells as a bundle should include some if not all of the following:

Speed and Performance

WordPress Hosting means that you can understand how the following features work and account for them.

The resources in the server are predictable
The server configurations are feature specific
Upgrading your website should be faster if the performances of the two (above) are optimal

Different hosts always show that they can go further regarding these configurations but telling what feature is responsible for which action is not easy. For example, when you see a hosting company stating things like increase PHP performance capacity, updated server technology, etc., then you need to consider the possibility of the host taking into consideration WordPress configurations.

Do not be surprised when other hosts companies like GoDaddy and the rest show a strong bias towards WordPress in their basic hosting platforms. Lastly, some hosting companies only do WordPress installations and can give a customized approach to enhance things like server speed and level of access they can provide to the clients.

Trying to Achieve Speed and Performance with Standard Web Hosting

There is no debate that you can handle many specific WordPress features on a good hosting platform. Most of these hosting companies will allow changes to the PHP version and even allow for extra memory allocation. If you have a server that has good uptime, you can use a plugin to handle all the caches. If you dig down on the differences in website loading time, you will realize that all you need is a standard and affordable shared hosting plan. If you have a budget or get a good host that, provide Nginx and VPS account configurations.

All these conveniences for a WordPress hosting plan are bundled as features that you can put together on a host of your choice.

Configuration and Resource Allocation

The main difference between a WordPress host and standard host is that the hosting company know what will run on a particular server and prepare the right configurations and resources that WordPress installation requires. Such an approach may not yield good results because some of the auto-installation taking place in the background may not all be useful.

Using a WordPress hosting plan means such features are already pre-configured to work with web technologies when running WordPress for the first time. For instance, using an SSL with WordPress is not as complex only that it needs many configurations to work. Very few WordPress installations offer a pre-configured SSL.

The content delivery network (CDN) speeds up content reach throughout the world. Setting up a CDN needs some steps, but with a WordPress hosting plan, an auto-installation works fine. The same applies to a staging site, which handles the tests synchronizations within your site before the official launch.

Resource allocation on a standard web host means that you will be paying to get a convenient service. When looking for convenience because a marketing plan may not sound straightforward unless the promise can reproduce a standard feature in WordPress hosting plan.

Most of these hosting companies have a cap limit on memory allocation. However, clients have an option of increasing the size if you know how to access the wp-config.php file. This level of advance access is still beyond the reach of many clients who only need enough hosting and storage space.

WordPress hosting and security

WordPress is stable and therefore secure. The reason behind this security goes with its popularity as a brand, and it is a big target. The most obvious points of threats to the installation are through plugin installations, which open up points of possible attacks.

You cannot leave your house at the mercy of burglars, but that does not mean that even with enough security apparatus, you have eliminated the possibility of burglary attempts. There are some necessary precautions that if you take, your WordPress installation will be secure against most attacks.

Security, like resource allocation standard hosting companies, also tries to offer some solutions based on predictability for clients to have an opportunity to provide custom maintenance to their sites. They have the resources to secure WordPress servers against direct threats through bulk upgrades and security patches, which help identify possible vulnerabilities on their accounts. Working on a routine maintenance plan can also help secure WordPress accounts.

Having a WordPress hosting plan does not mean all matters relating to web security is okay, use strong passwords and minimize the number of plugins to reduce vulnerabilities. Routine maintenance is something that WordPress does on its own, which is something that you can handle.

The key security difference is once more convenience, which translates to your clients' habits. If your security needs keep changing and you are on a standard web host, then you have no choice but to keep updating them to sustain security.

There are instances where you can use third-party plugins or the ones maintained by WordPress such as JetPack that scans backs up, and synchronize automatic updates. Remember that your security needs depend on what you want.

Comparing Top 7 Popular WordPress Hosting Providers

Here is a quick overview of the popular web hosts:

HostGator WordPress Hosting

HostGator is a well-known host and works within most budgetary expectations. Their WordPress Hosting platform looks like its cloud hosting giving access to Amazon and Google for the same rate, and you get to enjoy a usable dashboard. HostGator scores highly on handling high network traffic and would be very ideal for startup businesses. In addition, it’s fast and reliable with impeccable 24/7 customer support. As your business grows, you may need to opt for VPS hosting or Managed WordPress hosting. Check out the pricing below:

HostGator Pricing plans

InMotion WordPress Hosting

InMotion Hosting platform has been a well renowned and fast-growing WordPress hosting Company. They offer remarkable 24/7 customer support with high server times across numerous geographical regions. It scores highly on great customer support and server uptime and response time. In addition, it offers free site migration and free SSL. You also get back a 30-day money-back guarantee in case you find that their services are not satisfactory. On the flipside, the hosting company does not come with a free domain and people living outside the US do not get instant activation. InMotion hosting is an ideal option for businesses in the US. Their WordPress plan has a drag and drop builder which comes in handy to a newbie in the world of WordPress.

InMotion Pricing Plans

Inmotion WordPress Hosting

SiteGround WordPress Hosting

SiteGround is one of the highest rated and most popular WordPress hosting hosts. The Company has unique security solutions which are why they are one of the highly recommended hosting platforms by WordPress. They are also updating their WordPress pricing plans. What they have at the moment include free CDN and NGINX settings. They also have a one-click setup page for WordPress.

SiteGround Pricing Plans

Siteground WordPress Hosting

Bluehost WordPress Hosting

Bluehost comes recommended as the best WordPress Hosting provider by WordPress in the world of the WordPress Hosting business. Bluehost is one of the largest hosting providers in the world and has been around for quite some time. Their hosting plans begin at $2.95 per month. As a beginner, you get 63% off on WordPress hosting plus a free domain, free site migration, and SSL certificate. It’s officially recommended by WordPress and you can rest assured that all will be well, and nothing can go wrong as you get started with your site.

Bluehost Pricing Plans

Bluehost wordpress hosting

iPage WordPress Hosting

If you are running on a tight budget, iPage is another host that you can try out. They have already had a pre-installed WordPress package awaiting your activation. One of iPage’s biggest advantage is the provision of unlimited domains and databases on their disk space.

iPage Pricing Plans

iPage wordpress hosting

DreamHost WordPress hosting

DreamHost hosting has been around for about 18 years now in the Hosting space and well known for its fast and stable hosting services coupled with high speeds. It’s ideal for business who value their privacy and those handling high traffic in the US. However, speeds from other regions are slightly lower, but satisfactory nevertheless. Some of the Pros include fast speeds, free SSL certificate, and a free web application firewall to ward off suspicious traffic and attacks such as DDoS. On the downside, it is one of the most expensive WordPress hosting providers in comparison with the rest on this list.

Check out their Hosting plans

Dreamhost wordpress hosting

GoDaddy WordPress Hosting

Although GoDaddy was founded as a domain registrar, they have managed to find their niche in WordPress hosting. It’s one of the World’s largest WordPress hosting Companies offering a myriad of services ranging from Web hosting, domain registration to website builders. As with any hosting Company it has its pros and cons. It scores highly on its pros which include

Godaddy wordpress hosting

Top-Notch Customer Service
With a dedicated 24/7 customer service on telephone and live web chat support, their response time is assured within the first few minutes. The web chat service provides answers from a detailed library that has all the solutions you are looking for adding to its prompt and reliable customer service label.

With a money back guarantee of 45-days, we can say it better than hosts that offer the standard 30-day refund period. Nevertheless, they still have to do a lot of work from the 97-day money back guarantee from DreamHost.

Excellent Uptime
Website availability is one feature that defines the important aspects of hosting service. A site that is down means your clients will be unable to find or access your products or services. Nobody wants that kind of shoddy services. You are lucky if you choose GoDaddy because of its stability.

Since the introduction of Microsoft 365 replacing the older Cpanel email for email services, GoDaddy can now guarantee the Microsoft 99.9% uptime for its mail services. You need to know that GoDaddy has replaced the Office 365 health service with an internally branded version but with the same kind of information carrying the same information similar to what the regular Office 365 dashboard.

Security
GoDaddy uses a security feature called the Sucuri with a price tag of $7 per month. The service offers a site verification certificate, application scanning, malware reporting, and spam monitoring. Sucuri is available in different packages that guarantee scanning websites subpages to identify possible vulnerabilities and isolate malware.

Who is Your Host?

The WordPress Hosting plans gives you exciting options when looking to build a WordPress Website. With WordPress in place, you enjoy stability in the brand name, core WordPress features, and affordable pricing.

You can build a single site that will save lots of money and yet enjoy the simplicity that comes with WordPress. Widen the support features and performance by using the WordPress Dedicated hosting plans.

WordPress Hosting services are keen to make sure that you get the best service in whichever platform you want to embrace. You still have a choice of purchasing a cheap WordPress Hosting option if you do not need advanced hosting features.

Reviews

ProWeb365 web design says:

March 1, 2021 at 8:48 am

Hosting is the service of hosting websites so that they are accessible from the internet. Therefore, WordPress Hosting is a web hosting service specialized in WordPress. Thanks for guide.

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