How to Easily Free Hosting on WordPress with WP Engine
I have recently moved my blog to WordPress as it is one of the most popular content management systems around. I decided to move to WordPress after struggling to make my blog stand out in a sea of similar content. While there are many benefits to using WordPress, I found the setup process a little complicated and costly. So if you are looking for a free hosting solution that comes with all the features you need, then you should check out what WP Engine has to offer.
Why WordPress?
WordPress is the number one choice for content management systems because of its flexibility and huge community of developers who are constantly improving the platform. For example, the WP REST API allows third-party applications to connect with your WordPress site. Additionally, the WordPress community has released hundreds of plugins to extend functionality beyond what is included with the platform. One drawback to using WordPress is that it does require a bit of technical knowledge to set up and maintain. But if you are willing to learn, the benefits of a content management system are worth it.
What Is WP Engine?
WP Engine is a proprietary content management system owned by WordPress itself. It was designed to help WordPress users avoid the hassles of setting up and running a fully-fledged blog. To start up a blog using WP Engine, you only need to fill in a single form and provide a bit of personal information. This form will then automatically import all of your blog’s content into a fully-fledged WordPress installation. With WordPress, you will typically also need to manually install some plugins to get your blog up and running. But with WP Engine, all you need to do is click a button and your blog will be live.
While WP Engine is a great solution for those who want a hosted blog, it’s functionality is very limited compared to WordPress itself. As mentioned above, all you need to do to get started is click a button and you’ll have a fully-fledged WordPress site with all the features you need. WordPress does a whole lot more than just host your blog, including but not limited to installing themes, plugins, and building your blog from the ground up. With WordPress, you can also choose from a massive library of free themes and plugins. So if you are looking for a hosted blog with a bit more functionality, then you should check out what WordPress has to offer. It’s also a good idea to download the WordPress software and try it yourself before committing to a paid plan.
Features of a WordPress Hosting Plan
Now let’s take a look at the features you get with a typical WordPress hosting plan. These features are automatically activated upon sign-up and work on all plans. So you don’t have to worry about anything extra when you sign up for a WordPress hosting plan.
WordPress runs on a LEMP stack which is Linux, MySQL, and PHP. So practically all the software you need to run a blog is already installed on your server. If you are using a shared hosting plan, then you will also need to install a WordPress MU or a WordPress VIP on your server to create multiple blogs on a single instance of WordPress. For more information on how to do this, please read the following articles:
- How to Install WordPress MU on a LEMP Server
- How to Install WordPress VIP on a LEMP Server
- Running Multiple WordPress Sites on a Small Server
Additionally, if you are using free web hosting providers, then you should check with them directly as to whether or not they support PHP 7.0+ as well as WordPress MU/VIP. Many free hosts do not support these features and won’t permit you to install and set up WordPress if they don’t officially support it.
Pricing of a WordPress Hosting Plan
WordPress itself is completely free, as is the hosting service that comes with it. However, you should know that there are different tiers of hosting plans offered by some companies. While you will have access to all the features described above, the costs vary from free to affordable. The good news is that the prices are rather low for a quality product.
As a general rule of thumb, the greater the features you need, the more expensive the product. So if you are looking for a free WordPress hosting service with limited features, then you should look for a smaller website or just use WordPress itself. However, if you want a fully-fledged blog with all the bells and whistles, then you should consider going with a premium plan as they offer exceptional value for money. You should also check out what type of discounts they offer as some host providers will offer you special deals if you are signing up for a paid plan.
Why Do You Need a SSL Certificate For Your Blog?
If you are selling your products online, then you should consider getting a SSL certificate for your Blog. An SSL (secure socket layer) is a protocol that encrypts information that is transmitted between your computer and a website or server you are connecting to. This is especially beneficial if you are storing personal or financial information on the site as this information is more secure. Additionally, some credit card companies also require that your site use an SSL certificate when they process transactions.
There are many benefits to getting an SSL certificate for your blog, so it’s worth the investment. But if you are wondering how to get started, then you should contact an SSL certificate provider as they will walk you step-by-step through the entire process. One of the most popular and widely-used SSL certificates is the Let’s Encrypt certificate, which is why most large websites use it as it is extremely easy to use and sets up. To get started with Let’s Encrypt, all you need to do is follow their easy to understand steps and in no time you will have an SSL certificate installed and active on your site. After that, you can proceed to the next step.
The last thing you want to do is go through the setup process for an SSL certificate, get it installed, and then find out that it is incompatible with a particular blog or website builder you are using.
Hopefully, this article gave you enough information to make the right decision about your next move regarding hosting. With the right tool, you can automate the whole process of setting up and running a successful blog. So if you are looking to create a blog but don’t know where to start, then you should look no further as WP engine has you covered with their top-notch hosting services.