Web Hosting Versus WP Hosting – Which Should You Choose?
There are many reasons why you might want to host a WordPress site, from simply wanting to share your writing with the world to using the platform to launch your business. No matter what your reasons are, you’ll want to find the right web host for the job.
But what exactly is a web host, and how do you choose the right one? In this article, we’ll discuss the fundamental differences between web hosting and WordPress hosting, as well as the pros and the cons of each. We’ll also cover some of the most important things to consider before making a decision.
What Is Web Hosting?
When you visit a website, you’re typically taken to the company’s homepage. From there, you can click on links to other pages on the site or reach the site’s social media accounts to connect with the author and see what else they have to offer. Most often, your web host will provide you with a space on their servers where your website can live.
This is web hosting. When you contract with a web host to have a space on their servers, you’re giving them the ability to access your website and to make changes to it as needed. This might mean fixing bugs or adding features, so you need to be sure that you’re satisfied with their service before committing to it.
You might also want to consider offering your web host some form of engagement or loyalty, such as having a discount for annual plans or offering free domain privacy.*
What Is WordPress Hosting?
WordPress is a content management system (CMS) that’s widely used and very popular among bloggers and website owners. It was originally designed to be a simple way for people to create and maintain blogs, but it’s become much more than that over the years. Today, anyone who has a blog or website likely uses WordPress to some extent.
WordPress’ popularity makes it a bit more difficult to find a hosting plan that suits your needs. However, it’s not impossible. There are several options available, and we’ll discuss a few of them here.
First, you can choose an all-inclusive hosting plan from a reputable company like WP Engine or Bluehost. These companies take care of the technicalities of hosting your WordPress site for you, so you can focus on writing the content you want to promote and connecting with your audience.
Second, if you want to host a WordPress site on your own, you can use the DIY (Do It Yourself) approach. With this option, you’ll have complete control over the design and functionality of your site. You can install WordPress on a standalone computer and network it to the web, or you can use a VPS (Virtual Private Server). A VPS provides you with a dedicated IP address that connects you to the world wide web, as well as the ability to install additional applications (e.g., WordPress) on the server.
As you can see, there are several ways to host a WordPress site, and if you want to ensure you make the right choice, here are some of the most important factors to consider:
Security
One of the biggest differences between web hosting and WP hosting is security. When you host a WordPress site on a shared server, everyone else on the server has access to everything, so security is a primary concern. This is one reason why you should look for a company with a military-grade security suite and a reputation for taking care of their customers’ security.
On the other hand, when you use a dedicated IP address with a VPS, you’re adding an additional layer of security because only you have access to the server. You’ll also want to use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to ensure all of your confidential data is protected when connecting to public Wi-Fi.
For even more security, you can look for a VPN with a dedicated customer service line in case you have any questions or need support.
Speed
Another important consideration when choosing a web host is speed. How fast does your site load? If you’re not satisified with the speed of your current host, you should probably consider looking for a new one. Even if you’re not experiencing any problems now, you never know when something might go wrong. When that happens, you’ll be glad you have another option to fall back on.
The size of your site also affects how fast it can load. If you have a small site with a few articles, you may not have to worry about speed that much. However, if you have a large site that mostly consists of graphics or videos, then speed will likely be a big concern. The more multimedia in your content, the more likely you are to run into loading issues. Luckily, there are several hosting companies that handle all the heavy lifting for you, so you don’t have to worry about speed that much. For example, Bluehost and WP Engine come with free, dedicated hosting that’s extremely fast.
Support
As we mentioned above, security is a big issue when it comes to shared hosting, so it follows that customer support is also a major concern. While many hosts offer 24/7 customer support, you should still expect to contact the support team at some point. The last thing you want is to contact customer support when you’re already struggling with a malfunctioning site.
If you want to avoid this potential pitfall, then you should look for a host that offers dedicated support. As the name would suggest, a dedicated support team is available 24/7 to help you with any issue you might run into. You’re not alone in this world, and the people at your host company care about your site’s success.
If you’re looking for a WordPress hosting plan, then you should consider these factors to make the right decision. Keep in mind that while most hosts offer similar services, not all of them are made equal. Do your research and make sure you have everything you need before signing up.