Is Amazon Lightsail Good for Hosting a WordPress Blog?
With the growth of SaaS applications and content marketing in general, more and more businesses are considering a hosted WordPress solution. Launching a bespoke WordPress website can be costly and time-consuming. By hosting your blog or website on a commercial platform, you essentially get a “mini-version” of a complex software package without needing to worry about any hosting-related technicalities.
Amongst the various SaaS-based hosting solutions available, there’s Amazon Lightsail. Is it a good option for hosting a WordPress blog? Read on to learn more.
Why Choose Amazon Lightsail for Your Blog?
Whether you’re a seasoned blogger or a first-time content creator, choosing a hosted WordPress solution is something you should consider. Reaching a broader audience and having the ability to post whenever you want are among the many benefits of blogging in 2019. It is generally accepted that content will continue to be created and consumed in some fashion for the foreseeable future.
With the world shifting to digital, online marketing has become indispensable for any business. One of the major platforms that has gained popularity in the last few years is WordPress. Being open-source software, it is a cinch to install and maintain. Also, being a content-based platform, any business will find the content they create invaluable in gaining new clients and expanding their reach.
One of the major players in the SaaS-based hosted WordPress solution market is amazon. Launching in 2012, Amazon Lightsail takes the complexity out of setting up a traditional WordPress hosting plan. Meaning, all you need to have to do is purchase a license, install the software and you’re good to go. No complicated processes or additional charges.
Additionally, Amazon Lightsail includes all the common features that one would need in a functional blogging platform. Being a fully-managed service, you don’t need to worry about any technicalities involved with your blog or website. Simply install the software and enjoy the benefits of a hosted WordPress solution.
Features Of Amazon Lightsail
When it comes to hosting a WordPress blog on amazon.com, you’ll see that the platform scores high in several categories. First off, the storage is excellent. With the default plan being 10GB of disk space and the biggest plan being 20GB, you’re certain to have more than enough room for all your content. Additionally, you have the option to purchase additional storage as needed. There is also an excellent flexibility when it comes to the bandwidth. While the standard plan only offers 1GB per month, you can scale up your bandwidth as needed with no extra charge.
As mentioned, you don’t need to be a tech-savvy individual to set up a WordPress blog on amazon.com. Simply browse the documentation that comes with the software or look up the tutorials online. Even if you’re not experienced, you’ll find the process very straightforward and understandable. Additionally, the platform is completely automated, meaning you don’t need to worry about anything other than installing and configuring your blog.
The Pros
As with any other product or service, there are both good and bad aspects to consider when evaluating amazon.com as a blogging host. Let’s discuss the pluses first:
- Easy To Use
- SEO Friendly
- Robust Storage Space
- Secure (HTTPS)
- Flexibility When It Comes To Bandwidth
- Managed Plans Available
- Free Bloggerships For Limited Plans
- Continuous Integration and Deployment
- Free Weekly Backups
- Choice Of Dedicated IPs Or Shared IPs
The first point to make is that amazon.com is quite easy to use. Even if you’re not familiar with WordPress or web design in general, you’ll find the platform nicely designed and intuitive to use. Additionally, the documentation is top-notch and makes it possible for anyone to use the platform even without prior experience. Finally, concerning security, all traffic on your blog is encrypted and secure using 256-bit encryption, offering excellent security to your users. This protects all content uploaded to your site including posts, comments and images.
The final point to make is that you can’t beat the price. At $5 per month, you’ll have a robust platform to host your blog and reach a global audience. Additionally, the price is completely stable, meaning you’ll never need to worry about additional charges. Also, as mentioned, the pricing plans are very affordable and even the smallest plan will suffice for most small blogs.
The Cons
As with any other product or service, there are also drawbacks to consider when evaluating amazon.com as a blogging host. First off, like any other product, amazon.com is not without its flaws. To begin with, the storage space is not unlimited. As you may have guessed, the more you use the service, the more you’ll need to purchase. In fact, the 1TB plan will only cost you $11.95 per month.
Additionally, depending on where you host your blog, you may incur additional costs. If you’re based in the US, you won’t need to worry about this as amazon.com is a wholly owned subsidiary of Amazon Inc. But if you’re located internationally, you’ll need to take this into consideration. You may be looking at paying monthly hosting fees to run your blog.
Also, since you’re not technically in control of the hosting environment, you have no choice but to entrust the security of your blog to Amazon. While the company has a team of security experts that monitor for suspicious activity and keep your site secure, this still comes at a price. For example, if a hacker were to obtain your login credentials, they’d also have access to your blog. In this case, you’d need to revoke the credentials and reset the account. This is something you should not have to deal with.
Key Takeaways
The fact that amazon.com is so affordable makes it a good option for first-time bloggers and those with smaller budgets. Also, for those looking for a robust solution to host their blog, the company offers a fully-managed service with all the tools and features you need to get started.
Overall, amazon.com is a good choice for anyone looking to host a WordPress blog. The excellent price coupled with the various features make this a no-brainer. Additionally, for those looking for a managed solution, the company offers a fully-functional platform at an excellent price point.