What Hosting Do I Need for a WordPress Website?
WordPress is the most popular content management system (CMS) used on the web. Because it is open source, anyone can use it to build a website. This makes it a very popular choice for beginners who are looking to build their first website but don’t want to spend a large amount of money on expensive tools or services.
WordPress is free to download and use, but requires a web host to be functional. Different web hosts offer various features and functionalities, so it is important to choose a hosting plan that meets your specific needs. In this article, we will discuss the various hosting options available and what features they offer so you can choose the right one for your needs.
Basic, Shared, and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)
If you are just getting started and don’t have a large amount of money to spend on a hosting plan, then the simpler the better. There are three basic types of web hosts that you can choose from:
Shared Hosting
Shared hosting is the most basic type of hosting available and gives you access to a single shared server which is used by multiple customers (websites). The number of websites that can be hosted on a single server is limited by the bandwidth and storage space that is available on the server. In addition, you will need to purchase additional licenses (if any) to use a shared host.
Shared hosting is the most cost-effective option and is the least preferred choice for serious bloggers and web businesses because it has several drawbacks. First, you will only have a limited amount of storage space and bandwidth. Second, as a shared host you will have to share the server with other users. Third, as the host’s storage space and bandwidth are shared, any type of infringement (including copyright infringement) is also shared and could lead to legal issues. Finally, since shared hosting is the most cost-effective option, it is often the target of spam and hacking attacks. As a result, you might experience downtime and lose important website content.
Virtual Private Network (VPN)
A VPN is a type of network connection that allows you to securely connect to a server located in the U.S. or another server in a different country. Using a VPN allows you to access your account information on online banking websites and buy items on Amazon without being charged extra by credit cards because of their location. You can find plenty of information about VPNs online, so we won’t go into much detail here. Suffice it to say that a VPN allows you to connect to a server located in a different country which is in turn connected to the Internet.
VPNs are considered to be private networks because only the people on the network can access the content that is hosted on the server. When you connect to a VPN, your computer behaves as if it is directly connected to the Internet instead of the public network, enabling you to access all sorts of content without limits. This is why VPNs are frequently used by bloggers and journalists who need to access blocked websites or download content that is not available in their country of residence. Unfortunately, this does not mean that all VPNs are created equal. Some VPNs are created with fewer restrictions and have fewer drawbacks than others. Always make sure that you read the reviews of any VPN that you are thinking about using because not all of them are created equal. For the best possible experience, you should opt for either a VPN specially designed for bloggers or journalists (more information below) or a VPN that is compatible with WordPress.
Cloud Hosting
Cloud hosting is the preferred choice of experienced WordPress users because it has several advantages over traditional (shared and virtual private network) hosting. First and foremost, you don’t need to purchase or set up any hardware to use cloud hosting. Second, you don’t need to depend on third parties (i.e., Internet service providers) to provide you with Internet access. Third, you can easily scale your site’s capacity (i.e., the amount of storage space and bandwidth) as your needs grow.
Although cloud hosting is the preferred choice of experienced blog owners and site managers, it comes with a few drawbacks. First, not all cloud hosts are created equal. Some cloud hosts are more stable and offer better performance than others. Second, you will need to ensure that your web host (i.e., the company that provides you with the infrastructure to run your website) is legally authorized to host websites in the U.S. Third, if you are a small business owner or sole trader who is looking to sell your products online, then you will need to establish accounts on at least three different e-commerce platforms (i.e., retailers like Shopify, DropBox, and Google Wallet) in order to ensure that your products are available to the public when they search for them online.
Managed Hosting
Managed (or virtual) hosting is when a company provides you with a dedicated server which is installed and configured inside their data center. They then take care of all the tasks required to keep your site online, such as installing and updating the software that you need, monitoring virus activity, and providing you with additional storage space and bandwidth. Managed hosting is similar to cloud hosting, with the exception that you don’t need to depend on the Internet service provider (i.e., your web host) to provide you with Internet access. As a result, your site will always be available when you need it (unless you deliberately want to go offline).
There are several benefits to using managed hosting. First, the company that provides you with the dedicated server will ensure that your site is always available (unless you deliberately want your site to be offline). Second, since managed hosting is a more advanced form of hosting, it usually offers better performance than shared or virtual private network hosting. Third, many companies that provide managed hosting offer additional perks, such as free backups, free domain privacy, and free site security (i.e., protection from attacks and hacking).
The primary downside to managed hosting is the costs associated with it. First, since you are paying for the privilege of using their services, you will need to decide whether or not the benefits that you receive are worth the cost. Second, since you are using their services, you may need to meet certain requirements (i.e., have enough storage space and bandwidth) in order to take advantage of their perks.
What Type of Storage Do I Need?
One of the most important factors to consider when choosing a web host is the storage space that they provide. The more storage space that you have, the more content that you can save, upload, and download without running up against limitations imposed by the web host. You will need somewhere to store all the content (i.e., text, photos, videos, and other media) that you create or find online that is associated with your website. This can be difficult to determine because it depends on how much content you will be creating. For example, if you are just getting started and will only need a small amount of storage space, then you may not need anything more than 5GB. If, however, you are a large blog with a lot of content, then you may need to consider purchasing a larger storage plan.
Bandwidth
Bandwidth is the amount of data (i.e., the amount of content) that can be transferred through the Internet or a similar network connection in a given period of time. The faster your bandwidth, the more content that you can download and/or upload to your site without experiencing delays or glitches. When choosing a web host, make sure that their service offers sufficient bandwidth so that you do not run into problems when uploading or downloading content to your site. In most cases, 1GB is enough for most personal websites. However, if you are a business that is looking to increase traffic or sales online, then you may need to consider paying for more bandwidth.
Should I Go With Linux- or Windows-Based Hosting?
This is a debatable topic because not all web hosts are created equal, and not all Linux-based hosts are made equal. As a general rule of thumb, always go with what your heart desires. If you are a true beginner who is just getting started, then you may not want to go with Linux- or Windows-based hosting because it can be a bit of a pain to set up and learn how to use. As a result, you may end up having to spend several hours (or more) every week fixing problems and working through configuration issues. On the other hand, if you are a power user who is looking for a platform that is completely open source and has a friendly community of developers who can help you out when you run into problems, then you may want to consider Linux or Windows-based hosting because it can be relatively easy to setup and doesn’t require a lot of training (once you have learned enough basic computer functions to operate your site successfully).