Managed WordPress Hosting vs Shared Hosting

Choosing the best hosting option for your website needs

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ContentX

6 min readApr 27, 2023

Photo by Stephen Phillips — Hostreviews.co.uk on Unsplash

WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) on the internet, with millions of people using it worldwide. But, while the CMS is well-known, when it comes to getting your WordPress website out to the public, many people don’t know which web hosting option to go with. Basically, you have two main options: shared hosting and managed WordPress hosting.

Shared hosting is a popular choice for many website owners due to its affordability, while managed WordPress hosting is gaining popularity for its optimized performance and additional features. In this article, we will discuss the differences between managed WordPress hosting and shared hosting and take a closer look at some of the most popular hosting providers.

What Is Shared Hosting?

Shared hosting means that multiple websites share a single server and its resources. The hosting provider is responsible for maintaining the server, but the website owner is responsible for managing their own website, including security, updates, and backups.

It is the most affordable type of hosting available and is often the first choice for new website owners. Shared hosting plans typically offer a basic set of features, including a control panel to manage your website, email accounts, and basic security features.

However, the downside of shared hosting is that your website shares the server resources with other websites hosted on the same server. This means that if one website receives a lot of traffic, it can affect the performance of all the other websites on the server. Additionally, shared hosting plans often have limited resources, including storage, bandwidth, and CPU usage. This can limit the scalability of your website.

Pros of Shared Hosting

Lower Cost: Generally less expensive than managed WordPress hosting, making it a good choice for those on a budget.
Easy to Use: Often very easy to set up and use, making it a good choice for beginners.
Versatile: Can be used to host any type of website, not just WordPress sites.

Cons of Shared Hosting

Slower Performance: Can be slower than managed WordPress hosting, especially if the server is overloaded with too many websites.
Limited Support: Less specialized support than managed WordPress hosting options.
Security Risks: Greater risk of security breaches because multiple websites are hosted on the same server.

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Examples of Shared Hosting Providers

Bluehost: A popular shared hosting provider that offers affordable and reliable hosting solutions for individuals and small businesses. They provide a user-friendly interface, 24/7 support, and a range of features including one-click WordPress installation, free domain registration, and unlimited storage and bandwidth.
HostGator: Offers affordable and reliable hosting plans suitable for small to medium-sized websites. With a range of features such as unlimited bandwidth, disk space, and email accounts, along with a user-friendly control panel, HostGator is a great choice for those who want a budget-friendly and easy-to-use hosting solution.
GoDaddy: A well-known shared hosting provider that offers a range of hosting plans for individuals and small businesses. Their shared hosting plans come with features such as unlimited bandwidth and storage, website builder tools, and 24/7 customer support, making it an attractive option for those looking for a simple and affordable hosting solution.
DreamHost: Offers a variety of hosting plans to suit different needs and budgets. Their shared hosting plans are affordable and feature-rich, with unlimited storage and bandwidth, free domain registration, and a user-friendly control panel. DreamHost also provides excellent customer support and a 97-day money-back guarantee.

What Is Managed WordPress Hosting?

Managed WordPress hosting is a specialized type of hosting service that is specifically designed to host WordPress sites. The hosting provider takes care of all the technical aspects of running a WordPress site, including security, updates, backups, and performance optimization.

These providers typically offer automatic updates for WordPress core, themes, and plugins, daily backups, security monitoring, and optimized server configurations to improve website speed and performance. They also provide advanced caching technologies and Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) to ensure fast loading times, even for websites with high traffic.

Pros of Managed WordPress Hosting

Expert Support: Specialized teams are trained to provide expert support to WordPress users.
Automatic Updates: All updates and security patches are automatic, so you don’t have to worry about keeping your site up-to-date.
Faster Performance: Servers are optimized for WordPress, resulting in faster load times and better performance.
Enhanced Security: Advanced security features like malware scans and automatic backups keep your site secure.

Cons of Managed WordPress Hosting

Higher Cost: Generally more expensive than shared hosting, as it requires specialized infrastructure and support.

Examples of Managed WordPress Hosting Providers

Cloudways: Offers a user-friendly platform to help users easily manage their WordPress sites. Their platform is highly scalable and offers a variety of features, including multiple cloud server options, automatic backups, and optimized performance. Cloudways also provides 24/7 expert support and a pay-as-you-go pricing model.
WP Engine: One of the most popular managed WordPress hosting providers, offering a range of plans designed to meet the needs of websites of all sizes. Features include automatic updates, daily backups, advanced security features, and a global CDN to ensure fast loading times for your website. Additionally, WP Engine offers a range of developer tools, including staging environments, SSH access, and Git integration.
Kinsta: A premium managed WordPress hosting provider that offers top-notch performance, security, and support. Their hosting plans are fully managed, which means they take care of all technical aspects, including updates, backups, and security. Kinsta also uses the latest technologies, including Google Cloud Platform and a custom-built dashboard, to provide their customers with a reliable and efficient hosting experience.
Flywheel: Offers reliable and high-performance hosting for WordPress sites. They offer a range of hosting plans designed to suit different needs and budgets, with features like free site migration, automatic backups, and advanced security measures. Flywheel is also known for its excellent customer support and user-friendly dashboard.
SiteGround: A reputable managed WordPress hosting provider that offers fast and reliable hosting solutions for WordPress sites. Their managed WordPress hosting plans come with advanced features like automatic updates, daily backups, and free SSL certificates, as well as a user-friendly control panel and expert support from their WordPress experts. SiteGround also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Managed WordPress Hosting vs Shared Hosting: Which Is Better for Freelancers?

When choosing between managed WordPress hosting and shared hosting, it ultimately depends on your website’s needs and your budget. Shared hosting is a good option for new website owners or small websites with low traffic. Managed WordPress hosting is a better choice for websites with high traffic or those that require advanced features and services.

When it comes to freelancers like writers and editors, for example, shared hosting is typically good enough. If you just need a simple website to showcase your portfolio and contact information, you can easily get that with a shared hosting plan. Shared hosting is also more cost-effective, which is important for freelancers who may be operating on a tight budget.

That being said, if you expect to receive a high volume of traffic or want to add more advanced features to your website, you may want to opt for managed WordPress hosting. Managed WordPress hosting can provide faster load times, better performance, and more advanced security features, which can be important if you rely on your website to attract clients and showcase your work.

Originally published at https://www.jenniferberube.com on April 27, 2023.