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How to Choose the Best Shared WordPress Hosting

April 3, 2023 By WP Helpline Off

When you decide to create a website, the first thing that comes to mind is most likely – “What platform should I use?” There are plenty of choices when it comes to website platforms, and selecting the right one can be a daunting task. If you’re not familiar with the terminology, a platform is a piece of software that allows you to build a website. The most popular platforms are WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal. Each one has a unique set of perks that makes it ideal for certain uses. In this article, we will discuss how to choose the best shared WordPress hosting for your needs.

Features Of A Good Hosting Service

Before you decide to opt for a certain hosting service, it’s important to understand what they offer. A good shared WordPress hosting service should have a few key features. Here’s a rundown of the essential ones:

  • Free daily backups
  • Free domain privacy
  • Free caching (for static content)
  • Free security updates
  • Free SSL (Secure Sockets Layer)
  • Free dedicated IP
  • User-friendly dashboard
  • A one-click installer for WordPress
  • SSD (Solid State Drive)
  • Multiplier support (for shared hosting plans)
  • Round-the-clock online documentation and support
  • A refund policy (in case you encounter any problems)
  • Fully-managed hosting (for people who don’t want to mess with server settings)
  • Geo-targeted (country-specific) hosting

Shared Hosting Vs. VPS (Virtual Private Server)

Shared hosting and virtual private server (VPS) hosting are two different types of hosting services that are used for the same purpose – to host websites. The primary difference between the two is in terms of the scalability and the amount of resources that they offer. With shared hosting, your web host offers a single physical server that is shared between multiple users. Each person who visits your website is assigned a certain amount of resources that they can use. These resources can be measured in terms of bandwidth (how much data can be transferred per second) or storage (how much free space you have on the server). If you need to upgrade your resource allocation (which you frequently do if your site appreciates a large amount of traffic), then you have to contact your web host and request a larger package. With VPS hosting, you get a dedicated physical server that you can use to host your website. VPS hosting provides you with a great deal of flexibility in terms of the resources that you can allocate to your site. For example, you can set aside a certain amount of storage and assign more bandwidth.

Although shared hosting and VPS hosting are both viable options when it comes to web hosting, you should opt for the former if you’re looking for a cost-effective solution. Why? It’s simple – shared hosting is much less expensive than VPS hosting. Furthermore, if you plan on using WordPress as your website content management system (CMS) – a common choice among bloggers and website owners – then shared hosting is the way to go. Keep in mind that if you have a sizable audience, then you may want to consider paying for a VPS hosting service so that you can assure yourself of sufficient resources when you need them.

Solid State Drive Or Hard Drive?

This is a question that you need to ask yourself – Do you need a solid state drive (SSD) or a hard drive (HDD) for your website’s hosting? Your answer to this question will largely depend on how much content you have and how much traffic you get. If you have a large number of images (slides, graphics, etc.) that you need to store for your website, then you should opt for an SSD. Why? An SSD provides you with faster speeds and less overhead when compared to an HDD. When it comes to hosting websites, it’s essential to have a fast and reliable server. If your site gets a decent amount of traffic, then you should opt for an SSD as it will make a significant difference in terms of how your website performs. In terms of cost, SSDs are often cheaper than HDDs when purchased in bulk.

If, however, you have a smaller site that you’re looking to host and don’t have much content, then you should opt for an HDD. Why? HDDs are more reliable than SSDs and provide you with greater data storage capacity which you may need. When choosing a hard drive, it is also important to consider the interface that it uses – most hard drives use a relatively old interface called the Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA). These days, the majority of new computers come with the newer General Purpose Input/Output (GPIO) interface, which is much faster and more reliable. If you have an option available to you, then opt for the newer HDD interface rather than the older SATA one.

Size Of The Data That You Need To Upload

The next thing to consider is how much data do you need to upload to your website? Your hosting service will dictate the amount of space that you have to work with. Keep in mind that the larger the file, the more likely it is to slow down your website. For instance, if you’re hosting a video, you may want to consider opting for a larger plan so that you have enough space to work with. Alternatively, you could rent a virtual private server and host your video there. If you don’t have the budget for a VPS, then consider opting for a larger shared hosting plan so that you have more storage available. Remember, the amount of storage that you have will determine how much content you can upload to your website without worrying about running out of space. A good host should have a generous amount of storage available for you so that you don’t have to worry about running out of room.

The Amount Of Traffic That You Get

Traffic is all about how many people are going to your site. It can be determined by searching for your website URL (for example, “https://wordpress.com”) within a search engine. The number of pages that you get when you search for your website will indicate the quality and popularity of your site. When choosing a host, you should look for one with a high search engine rating as it will make a significant difference in terms of how well your site does in search engines. If you have a medium-sized site with 1,000 monthly visits, then you should look for a host with a high search engine rating because most likely, you’ll have a large amount of competition. When choosing a host, you should also consider looking for one that offers an “uptime guarantee” as well as “money back guarantee.” Why? It’s simple – if you’re not comfortable with experimenting with different server settings and don’t want to deal with any downtime, then you should opt for a host that offers an “uptime guarantee.” Most hosts will attempt to keep their servers up and running as often as possible so that they can keep their customers as well as attract more. A reliable and affordable host should also have a “money back guarantee” which states that if you meet the right conditions, you’ll get your money back.

Bandwidth

This is how fast your website content is delivered to your visitors. The more bandwidth that you have, the faster your site can load. Keep in mind that the amount of bandwidth available to you will depend on your hosting plan – the larger the plan, the greater the amount of bandwidth that you have access to. When choosing a host, you should look for one that offers high bandwidth so that you can handle a significant amount of traffic. Most websites that are popular and have lots of content (images, videos, etc.) use a lot of bandwidth. To prevent your site from slowing down due to too much traffic, consider opting for a host that offers high bandwidth.

Additional Considerations

When choosing a host, you need to look at various other factors as well. For example, you should try to find a host that has a great community of users. If you’re not comfortable with experimenting with different server settings, then you should opt for a host that has a great support team available when you need them. You should also consider looking for a host that is located in a fast-paced and tech-savvy country like the US or UK so that you can expect fast speeds for both your website and email. If you have a business website that you’re looking to promote, then you should opt for a host that provides you with geo-targeted (country-specific) websites so that you can target potential customers in the country or region that you’re operating in.

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