WordPress Hosting: How to Compare the Best WordPress Hosting Plans
You want to create a blog? Great! But which WordPress hosting plan should you go for? Not all web hosts are made equal. Some offer greater functionality than others, and it’s up to you to find the one that’s right for your needs.
Here’s a quick guide to comparing the best WordPress hosting plans so you can find the one that suits you best. Read on, and you’ll become an expert.
Functionality
When you’re choosing a web host, you need to consider how much functionality you need. There are plenty of free blogs hosted on WordPress.com, but if you want to use advanced features like email marketing, you’ll need to pay a small amount for a dedicated IP address.
The best web hosts offer a wide variety of functionality and tools that can make your life as a blogger much easier. They’ll also provide you with top-notch customer support if you ever need it.
You’ll find four major areas of functionality that you need to consider:
Cloud Server
A cloud server is a virtual machine operated by a web host that you connect to via the internet. You’ll need to decide whether or not you want to use one because of the additional security and functionality they offer. Typically, you’ll need to pay more for a cloud server than you would for just a regular dedicated server, but the convenience is worth it.
Dedicated Server
A dedicated server is just what it says on the tin. You’ll be renting a whole server that has nothing but your blog on it. The price is usually determined via a one-month discount, so it’s a great option if you’re looking for a temporary solution.
The downside is that you have zero functionality. You get what you pay for.
Secure Socket Layer (SSL)
SSL is short for Secure Socket Layer. It’s a protocol that was first introduced in 1991 that allows for secure communication between a customer’s browser and a merchant’s web server. Since then, it’s become an industry standard for ensuring the security and authenticity of web traffic. Most web hosts offer some type of SSL support built into their plans. That way, you can feel secure knowing your personal information won’t be vulnerable while on their website.
Multiple Domain Support
Just because you have a single blog doesn’t mean that you have to limit yourself to hosting your website on just one domain. With a little planning and research, you can host multiple domains on a single server with the help of a third-party service called a domain-in-a-box. With this service, you can purchase a single domain name and quickly set up a complete website with a custom-designed web host using one of their many pre-built templates.
The advantage of this method is that you can have total control over the look and feel of your site without needing to know how to code. You can also choose from a variety of hosting plans from the convenience of your computer or phone, making the decision easy.
Caching
Caching is a feature that allows your web host to store and serve frequently-requested pages so they’re available to visitors faster. It’s a great option for those who use their blogs for marketing or those who have lots of video content that people want to see immediately after posting.
Some web hosts offer static caching, meaning their servers will store copies of your site’s pages so that when a user requests one, it will be served without having to go through the blog’s content (e.g., WordPress.com).
If you’re using a free blog hosted on WordPress.com, WordPress itself will serve cached versions of your blog posts to users when they visit your site. However, if you’re using a custom-built blog with a third-party web host, you’ll need to enable static caching manually.
Bandwidth
Every year, Internet service providers (ISPs) increase the price for bandwidth (data transfer speed). For the past couple of years, this price increase has been extremely modest, but it’s still there. The good news is that most web hosts offer generous amounts of bandwidth, so you won’t likely notice any difference in terms of overall performance.
ISPs only increase the price for bandwidth when you exceed your monthly limit. They’ll typically offer a sufficient amount of bandwidth for free, which should satisfy most users’ needs. If you do find yourself with extra demand, you can contact the ISP directly to request a higher limit. Many ISPs offer a money-back guarantee if you meet the right conditions, so you have nothing to lose by trying.
Security
Security is always a major consideration whenever you’re choosing a web host. It’s not only about the safety of your personal information, but also the safety of the services you utilize while on the site (like email).
The most basic security precaution you can take is to ensure your computer is protected from viruses and malware. You should also look at your web host’s security policy before providing any personal information. Finally, make sure to keep your computer’s software up-to-date and secure.
While the safety of your personal information is a major concern, it’s not the only one. Your blog’s security is also important because if hackers get access to your account, they can potentially alter your content or steal your intellectual property (e.g., blog posts, photos, videos, and more).
Since security is such a key issue, you’ll find a variety of security controls available on most web hosts. For example, you can choose from several different security protocols, including TLS (Transport Layer Security), SSH (Secure Shell), and IP (Internet Protocol) address validation. Some hosts offer anti-spam measures as well (e.g., SpamAssassin). If you use a free blog hosted on WordPress.com, their security measures are already enabled, so you don’t need to do anything special to use them.
On the flip side, if you’re using a custom-built blog with a third-party host, make sure to check their support pages for detailed information on how to install and configure their security protocols.
Account Creation
All web hosts require you to create an account with them before you can use their services. While this might not seem like a major inconvenience, it can be because it needs to be done manually. Luckily, this process is quite simple and doesn’t take long. Just make sure you read their terms of service before providing any personal information.
Most web hosts will allow you to create an account without needing to know who you are. However, if you use a free blog hosted on WordPress.com, you’ll need an email address because that’s how they’ll contact you if you have questions about your account or need more information. Once you have an account with them, you can access all their essential WordPress tools like installing WordPress itself, setting up email notifications, and more.
Security is a common concern whenever you’re choosing a web host, so it’s good to see a variety of controls available for controlling access to your blog. It also helps if you can look at other customers’ reviews to get an idea of how others feel about their services. This way, you can be sure that you’re not wasting your time with a web host that has a bad reputation.
Additional Considerations
There are a few other factors that you need to consider whenever you’re choosing a web host. For example, do you need a dedicated IP address? What type of encryption do you want used for your account? Are you hosting multiple domains or just a single one?
If you do need a dedicated IP address, you’ll have to decide whether or not to pay for one. Another important consideration is how you want your blog to look. Do you need professional graphics? Are you using a content management system (CMS) like WordPress to create and maintain your blog?
The type of encryption you use for your account is also important and can be either a basic or a reinforced approach. A basic encryption allows anyone with the decryption key to access your account information. A reinforced encryption adds an additional layer of security by using a one-time password (OTP) or a security code (e.g., Google Authenticator) instead of a decryption key. Many web hosts support both basic and reinforced encryption, so it’s up to you which one you want to use.