The Best WordPress Hosting for 2017
Every year, websites get abandoned, deleted, or turned into ghost towns. Some go viral and become famous, while others just stay small blogs. Regardless, when the dust settles, we’re left with a wealth of knowledge that lives on the internet – and the sites that went viral as a result of the pandemic are arguably the greatest sources of information relating to the subject.
In the middle of 2020, when things started getting bad, a lot of people turned to their favorite websites for answers. Whether you were looking for information on how to get your kids to sleep through the night or how to make your sweet potato pie taste better, the internet is full of resources that could help you out.
1⇒2. Shared Hosting
If you’re looking for a one-stop-shop for hosting solutions, then shared hosting is the way to go. The concept behind shared hosting is pretty simple. You purchase a hosting package from a reputable company like Bluehost or WPEngine.com, and you get to use their specialized servers to power your website. Essentially, they take care of the web programming for you.
What’s great about this type of hosting is that you only need to purchase one package to get started. You don’t have to worry about scalability because the company behind the hosting service is taking care of it. You only need to focus on building your audience.
That being said, shared hosting does have its downsides. First, it’s incredibly expensive. According to Bluehost, a package that allows you to launch a basic website with around 500 visits per day costs around $13 per month. If you have a steady stream of traffic, this could quickly add up.
3⇒4. VPS Hosting
If you’re looking for more flexibility, then you should try out a virtual private server (VPS) hosting plan. With VPS hosting, you have access to a dedicated server that is entirely built and controlled by the company you’re contracting with. This means you get to choose the hardware and software that runs your site. You can purchase additional storage as well as monitor RAM and CPU usage with the click of a button.
This could be a great option for those who are looking for a simple yet robust hosting solution. While it’s not cheap, it does provide you with a lot of flexibility. You won’t have to worry about the platform your site is built on because the company takes care of updating it for you. You’ll only have to focus on growing your audience.
5⇒6. Dedicated Server Hosting
Dedicated server hosting is the ultimate in terms of flexibility and control. With a dedicated server, you have access to a single server that is fully managed by the company you’re contracting with. This means you get to choose the hardware and software that runs your site, as well as configure it as you see fit. You can purchase additional storage as well as monitor RAM and CPU usage with the click of a button.
Dedicated server hosting is, essentially, the opposite of shared hosting. Instead of renting out a portion of a large server, you’re taking ownership of a smaller, more specialized server. This can be a great option for those who are looking for a highly secure and robust hosting solution. It also comes with the bonus of complete control and flexibility. You’ll have to pay for this level of service, however. It costs around $1300 per month to run a dedicated server.
7⇒8. Cloud Hosting
Cloud hosting is, in a way, the perfect hybrid solution. This type of hosting allows you to have the benefits of both shared hosting and dedicated server hosting. You have access to a large number of servers, which are shared across a number of customers. This way, you get the benefits of having your own dedicated server without all of the cost of ownership. You’ll have a lot of flexibility with this type of hosting.
This is a fairly new type of hosting, and it’s seen a lot of growth in 2020. What is Cloud hosting? Essentially, the hosting company takes care of all the technicalities related to keeping your website online. In exchange, you have to follow a few simple steps to enable their services. Once you’ve followed those simple steps, you get to enjoy the benefits of a dedicated or shared hosting plan. As a Cloud host, you get to pick the hardware and software that runs your website, as well as configure it as you see fit. You also get the flexibility to launch multiple sites or use the included domain shortening service to create short URLs for your audience.
9⇒10. Free Hosting
Finally, we have the humble free hosting plan. With free hosting, you don’t get to configure anything related to your site. You only have to provide them with a link to your S3 bucket (a cloud storage system), and they’ll take care of everything else. The benefit of this type of hosting is that you don’t have to worry about upgrading your hosting solution or securing additional resources to grow your audience. You don’t even have to create an account to use their services. Essentially, all you need to do is point a domain name to your storage space and leave it at that. Your audience will then be able to download your content directly from Amazon’s servers.
What Kind of Site Do You Create?
Every website is different, and that’s a beautiful thing. It’s a direct reflection of the people who make up the audience for your site. For example, if your site is about fashion, you might want to explore Shopify’s fashion-related products or take a look at BigCommerce’s online store platform.
Ultimately, it’s all about what works best for you. If you have an existing brand or a clear idea of what you want to achieve with your site, then it’s fairly easy to choose the right web host. Otherwise, it’s a crapshoot and can be a lot of work. In the grand scheme of things, though, nothing is more important than your audience and what they want. You can never have too much flexibility when it comes to choosing a hosting solution that suits your needs.