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The Difference Between WordPress Hosting and Web Hosting

March 30, 2023 By WP Helpline Off

WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) used today. Whether you are a professional blogger or a hobbyist, WordPress can help you build a blog that suits your needs.

While WordPress is free to download and use, there are premium versions that provide additional functionalities and hosting benefits. These additional features are what make WordPress so popular and powerful. The most popular and well-known premium WordPress version is WordPress Plus.

The main difference between the free version of WordPress and the premium versions is the amount of storage space and bandwidth they provide. The free version of WordPress only offers limited storage and bandwidth. The premium versions provide much more storage and bandwidth. While the free version of WordPress is designed for personal use, the premium versions are for commercial use. For more information on the differences, keep reading.

Features Of WordPress

Let’s take a quick look at the key features of WordPress.

  • Secure Publishing (HTTPS) – This is one of the most important features of WordPress as it provides a safe and secure way to publish content online. When you install and activate the WordPress HTTPS plugin, all of your content will be transmitted securely via HTTPS. This ensures that your content is safe from eavesdroppers and tampering.
  • Caching (Cache) – WordPress caches your content to generate faster page loads for your readers. When a user visits your WordPress site, the browser will request and refresh a cached version of a page rather than connecting to the internet and requesting that page again. This caching feature is enabled by default but you can easily disable it if you run into problems.
  • Akismet Anti-Spam (Free) – This free anti-spam plugin from Akismet provides a wealth of features to combat spam. You can configure the plugin to work with your existing WordPress account or you can create a new one. Once you have setup the account and activated the plugin, all you have to do is visit the WordPress Dashboard and click the “Spam” link to view a list of recent spam messages.
  • Gravity Forms (Free) – This is a popular and free form builder plugin for WordPress. With Gravity Forms, you can dynamically create and send out forms without having to write a single line of code. For example, you can have a form that collects names and contact details of people who sign up for your weekly newsletter.
  • Custom Web Fonts (Free) – To add a touch of style to your blog, you can use a CSS web font. However, if you would like to use web fonts for all of your content, you can do so for free with this plugin. Simply activate the plugin and then visit the Settings page to add fonts that you have installed on your computer.
  • Single Image Button (Free) – If you use social media platforms like Twitter to engage with your readers, you can use this single image button plugin to quickly post whatever image you are currently viewing.
  • Social Sharing (Free)– With this plugin, you can share any post or page on your site through social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Google Plus.
  • SEO Optimized (Free) – With this plugin, you can easily and quickly create SEO optimized pages that will improve your site’s organic search rankings in the search engines.
  • Retina Ready (Free) – This plugin provides a sleek and modern look to your site that will make your readers feel like you have upgraded your web hosting service.
  • WPML (Free) – This is a free plugin that makes it simple to create bilingual (English/Spanish) WordPress sites. While the plugin is free, you must have a WordPress account to use it.

Features Of WordPress Plus

Now let’s take a look at the key features of WordPress Plus.

  • Secure Publishing (HTTPS) – This is one of the most important features of WordPress Plus as it provides a safe and secure way to publish content online. When you install and activate the WordPress Plus HTTPS plugin, all of your content will be transmitted securely via HTTPS. This ensures that your content is safe from eavesdroppers and tampering.
  • Caching (Cache) – WordPress Plus caches your content to generate faster page loads for your readers. When a user visits your WordPress Plus site, the browser will request and refresh a cached version of a page rather than connecting to the internet and requesting that page again. This caching feature is enabled by default but you can easily disable it if you run into problems.
  • Akismet Anti-Spam (Free) – This free anti-spam plugin from Akismet provides a wealth of features to combat spam. You can configure the plugin to work with your existing WordPress account or you can create a new one. Once you have setup the account and activated the plugin, all you have to do is visit the WordPress Dashboard and click the “Spam” link to view a list of recent spam messages.
  • Gravity Forms (Free) – This is a popular and free form builder plugin for WordPress. With Gravity Forms, you can dynamically create and send out forms without having to write a single line of code. For example, you can have a form that collects names and contact details of people who sign up for your weekly newsletter.
  • Custom Web Fonts (Free) – To add a touch of style to your blog, you can use a CSS web font. However, if you would like to use web fonts for all of your content, you can do so for free with this plugin. Simply activate the plugin and then visit the Settings page to add fonts that you have installed on your computer.
  • Single Image Button (Free) – If you use social media platforms like Twitter to engage with your readers, you can use this single image button plugin to quickly post whatever image you are currently viewing.
  • Social Sharing (Free) – With this plugin, you can share any post or page on your site through social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Google Plus.
  • SEO Optimized (Free) – This plugin provides a sleek and modern look to your site that will make your readers feel like you have upgraded your web hosting service.
  • Retina Ready (Free) – This plugin provides a sleek and modern look to your site that will make your readers feel like you have upgraded your web hosting service.
  • WPML (Free) – This is a free plugin that makes it simple to create bilingual (English/Spanish) WordPress sites. While the plugin is free, you must have a WordPress account to use it.

Difference In Cost

The differences in cost between the two are fairly significant. While the free version of WordPress offers relatively simple and limited features, the premium versions are significantly more expensive. WordPress Plus, for example, is sold at an affordable price of $49/month but provides many more features than the free version. This makes it a more suitable solution for people with tighter budgets.

Which One Should You Go With?

So which one should you go with? Is it worth paying for additional features if you are a hobbyist blogger? Or should you go with the free version of WordPress? The answer largely depends on how sophisticated you need your blog to be. If you are looking for a free and basic version of WordPress, you should go with the standard version. If, however, you need additional features like caching, security, and single image buttons, you should consider paying for a premium version of WordPress. Not only will you have all of the above benefits but you will also get additional security and backup features for free.

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