How to Choose the Best Windows VPS Hosting Provider for Your WordPress Site
With WordPress being the most popular content management system currently available, it’s clear that people are looking for ways to host their websites on a budget. While there are free alternatives, such as Blogger and Medium, which many people are turning to, there is still a place for those who want to delve into the digital market and create a fully functioning, revenue-generating website.
If you’re looking to host a WordPress site, then you have plenty of virtual Private Servers (VPS) to choose between. The following will discuss which Windows-based VPS hosting provider is right for you.
Features
As the name would suggest, a Virtual Private Server provides a private server environment, similar to the ones hosted on expensive physical servers. The main difference is that rather than renting a dedicated physical server from a cloud provider, you can use the resources available on your own laptop or desktop to create a temporary, virtual, private server.
With a Virtual Private Server, you get the freedom to choose the CPU count, storage size and other similar features that a regular server offers. You can install and run any operating system you want on it, so long as you have the necessary tools to do so. While there are advantages to choosing a free solution, such as WordPress.com, which is run by the same company that owns GoDaddy, not all features are transferable to a self-hosted solution.
Security
Since you have full control over the server, you are able to install and use any security software you deem necessary to protect your data. Installing and using a VPN to secure your communication is highly recommended, especially if you’re planning on hosting a site that contains financial information or that deals with sensitive personal data.
If you’re looking for a secure way to host a WordPress site, then you need to look no further. Since your data is safely tucked away on your own server, rather than exposed to the public internet, you can be sure that any malicious actor trying to access your site will be identified and stopped. Your users will also benefit from a more secure connection, since phishing emails and malware are more likely to be tackled head-on rather than quietly lurking on a public server.
The only downside to choosing this option is the initial set-up process. In order to set up a secure VPN connection on your Windows computer, you’re going to need to know how to install and use a PPTP or OpenVPN client. If you’re not familiar, don’t worry—the experts at VPNProvider.com are available to help you out. Once you’ve got that hurdle out of the way, you can get to work enhancing your WordPress site’s performance.
Price
If you’re looking for a low-cost option, the best Windows VPS hosting provider offers great deals, especially if you’re looking to host a larger site. For example, DigitalOcean’s shared hosting plan costs just $5 per month, which is significantly cheaper than the average cost for a dedicated server from a traditional hosting provider. This is largely thanks to the fact that they use a combination of virtualization and dedicated servers to provide the cheapest possible solution.
This is great if you’re looking for a cost-effective hosting provider that offers a bare-bones package, but if you’re looking for a more feature-rich solution, then you might want to consider other options.
Scalability
Scalability is a relative term, but it generally refers to the ability of a web server to accommodate more visitors/users. If you’ve ever visited a popular blog or a large, multi-cultural social media platform, such as TikTok, then you know that the server can’t handle the increased load. This leads to sluggish page loads and a lower quality of service for everyone, including the site’s current users.
Hosting a WordPress site on a Virtual Private Server provides several advantages, including the ability to quickly and easily scale up/down as needed. If you’re looking for a solution that can quickly and easily scale to meet the demands of your website, then you should look no further. While this might not be the cheapest or most cost-effective solution for all websites, it’s undoubtedly the best choice for those that want to be able to quickly grow their website and keep up with the increasing demands placed upon it.
The downside is that you’re going to have to monitor and maintain the server yourself. If this is something you’re not comfortable with, or if you simply want the security of a managed service, then the next best option is to choose an affordable, managed hosting solution.
Managed Service
A managed service is one where the provider takes care of all the technical details required to host your website. These are the responsibilities that would normally go into a traditional hosting service, such as setting up the server and installing WordPress, as well as maintaining it all for you. The advantage of a managed service is that since they take care of all the details, all you have to do is focus on your content.
The downside is that often times, these solutions are more expensive than a standard shared hosting solution. However, if you’re looking for a secure and reliable hosting solution that can quickly scale to accommodate your needs, then managed services are undoubtedly the way to go.
Summary
Choosing the right Windows VPS hosting provider for your WordPress site can be a daunting task. There are a few things to keep in mind, however, including the price, features, security and scalability. To help you make the right decision, we’ve compiled a detailed guide that will discuss the various factors to consider when looking for a provider. To start, read through the following overview of the differences between traditional and virtual private servers, as well as what makes each solution unique.
After that, you can move on to learn more about the different types of plans offered by the various providers, as well as the different features/benefits of each plan. With so much information to take in, it’s easy to become overwhelmed, so we’ve also included a Resources section at the end of the guide, which lists valuable websites, blogs and other online resources that you might find helpful.