Does WordPress Have Hosting for its Business Websites?
WordPress is one of the most popular Content Management Systems (CMS) used for business websites. Launched in 2005, it became a massive hit in part due to the ease of use and customizability of the CMS. It has since been adopted by huge companies like LinkedIn and Modern Luxury, and boasts over 500 million active monthly users.
While WordPress is fantastic for creating a personal blog or a simple business website, it might not be the best choice for larger companies looking for a more professional appearance. Thankfully, there is an upgrade from WordPress to give large businesses the functionality and security of a much more reputable CMS.
In this article, we will discuss the differences between WordPress hosting and the more expensive and premium-rated equivalents, as well as the pros and cons of each. We’ll cover everything from hosting plans to security and performance, so you can make the right decision for your business.
What Is WordPress Hosting?
If you’re reading this, then you’ve probably already heard of WordPress. Launched in 2005, this content management system is incredibly popular among bloggers and businesses who need a simple way to create a website. WordPress is a free and open-source tool that can be downloaded and utilized by anyone. Its popularity comes from its simple setup and design, which makes it accessible for anyone. The best part? You don’t need any programming knowledge to use it.
WordPress has a variety of hosting vendors who offer various packages for businesses and individuals who want to run their own blogs or websites. The most popular and widely-used hosting providers for WordPress are Bluehost, WP Engine, and HostGator. Many of the larger web hosts offer these services as well, so you can rest assured that you’re not going to be lacking in options when it comes to choosing a web host.
WordPress hosting is basically just web space on a server where you can upload files and access the internet. It does not come with any extra features or tools, so you’ll need to acquire those separately.
Features of WordPress Hosting
When comparing different WordPress hosting providers, it’s important to look at the features that they offer. A few of the more prominent features that you can get with WordPress hosting include:
- Free backups
- Free domain registration
- Free websites
- Free parked/branded/custom domains
- Free content delivery
- 24/7 customer support
- Free WordPress installs
- Free plugins
- Free weekly newspaper articles
- Free SEO tools
- WP-CLI (command line interface)
- SSH access
- VPS (Virtual Private Server)
These are just some of the features that WordPress hosting offers. You can read our in-depth review of the best WordPress hosting providers here to learn more about the different features that each one offers.
WordPress hosting is pretty bare-boned when it comes to features, but for those who are looking for a simple and basic option, this might be appealing. You get what you pay for with WordPress hosting, meaning the more expensive the plan, the more features you get. For instance, the premium-priced WP Engine has a variety of features that the free and standard-priced versions do not. These include a free domain privacy policy, free backups, and free domain renewals. Similarly, Bluehost’s standard plan only allows for 10 websites and 1 database while their Plus plan allows for 15 websites and 2 databases. If you’re looking to have a professional-looking website, then premium-priced WordPress hosting is the way to go. Just make sure that you’re aware of the fact that you’re paying more money for these features.
Advantages of WordPress Hosting
When looking at the advantages of WordPress hosting, one of the first things that come to mind is security. It’s always a good idea to host your site on a dedicated server, which is where a VPS comes in. A VPS offers a higher level of security than shared hosting because it’s not accessible from the outside world. This means that hackers can’t access or damage your site through the VPS. Another advantage of WordPress hosting is that it’s extremely flexible. You can install various plugins to change the look and feel of your site. Plus, you can use various pre-installed plug-ins that make adding content easy.
Another advantage of WordPress hosting is that it’s very affordable. You can get a simple blog up and running for less than $2 a month with the right web host. This is in comparison to other web hosts that charge you upwards of $5-$10 a month just to get started. Finally, because WordPress is a free and open-source tool, you have access to the world’s largest online community. This is a great thing for bloggers and businesses who want to be able to quickly tap into a pool of users who can help them with their content. If you’re looking to start a blog or a business website, the best WordPress hosting is just one of the many CMSs out there. If you need help choosing a web host, check out our in-depth reviews page as we go over the best web hosts for blogging and business websites.