What is the Difference Between WordPress Hosting and Dedicated Hosting?
If you are looking for a new web host, then there are several important things to consider. One option is to go with a dedicated hosting plan, which is exactly what it sounds like: you’re getting dedicated IPs and all the resources of a real web server. Alternatively, you can go with a WordPress hosting plan, which gives you all the benefits of a content management system (CMS) along with a private web domain. We’ll explain the differences and which one is the best choice for your needs.
Dedicated vs WordPress Hosting
Dedicated hosting is when you’re getting access to all the resources of a real web server. This means that you have the ability to run multiple sites, you can install any software or plugin you want, and you can connect to any database you want (MySQL, PostgreSQL, or SQL Server are some of the most commonly used databases). With dedicated hosting, all the resources of the web server are yours – you don’t have to worry about capacity restrictions, as you would with a traditional shared hosting plan.
Dedicated hosting is commonly found in larger hosting companies, as it is a more expensive option compared to WordPress hosting, yet it gives you more flexibility. The downside is that you have to sign up for a longer period – one year instead of the usual month– to get all the benefits. It is also usually not available in smaller hosting companies, as they may not have the financial resources to invest in a real web server. However, if you do have the financial resources, then dedicated hosting is the clear choice.
What Are The Differences?
There are several key differences between a dedicated hosting plan and a WordPress hosting plan. The first and most obvious one is that you’re getting access to a real web server instead of a shared one, which has its perks, but also its drawbacks. The second difference is that you’re getting a private web domain with the WordPress hosting plan, which is not the case with the dedicated hosting plan. Another big difference between the two is the support that they offer: while the dedicated hosting plan offers excellent support, the WordPress hosting plan is somewhat lacking in this regard. We’ll cover the specifics of each one of these differences in greater detail below.
Real Web Server Vs Virtual Private Server (VPS)
The first and most obvious difference between a dedicated hosting plan and a WordPress hosting plan is that you’re getting access to a real web server instead of a shared one. A real web server is a physical computer that is responsible for serving web pages to the public and receiving requests from them. A virtual private server (VPS) is a software-based, simulated web server that offers all the benefits of a real server – but without the cost and complexity of maintaining one.
The main advantage of a virtual private server is that it allows you to spin up a new server instance with the click of a button. The disadvantage is that it’s quite dependent on your technology skills to set up and administer. Furthermore, you’re limited to a certain amount of data that can be stored on your VPS: the more data you need, the more you’ll have to pay for. Another downside is that you can’t move your VPS to another provider once it’s been set up. For these reasons, we recommend using a dedicated hosting plan instead of a VPS whenever possible.
Private Web Domain Vs Standard Blog Address
The second key difference between a dedicated hosting plan and a WordPress hosting plan is that you’re getting a private web domain with the WordPress hosting plan, while the dedicated hosting plan gives you a standard blog address, such as “yourblog.wordpress.com”. A private web domain is a domain that is accessible only by its registered owner, rather than the general public. A standard blog address is the address that your visitors will see when they visit your website. It usually includes your website’s name, along with what seems to be a randomly generated string of numbers and letters. For example, “yourblog.wordpress.com”.
The advantage of a private web domain is that it gives you complete control over the content that is shown to the general public: you can set the domain name to be anything you want, and you can also set the nameservers (the DNS servers that are used to resolve domain names to IP addresses) to be anything you want. The downside, however, is that getting a private web domain requires you to purchase the domain name from a company that owns them, which can be costly. If you do decide to purchase a private web domain, then make sure that you purchase a high-quality one from a well-known company with a reputation for providing good value and excellent service.
Full Control Over Content
One of the major differences between a dedicated hosting plan and a WordPress hosting plan is that you have full control over the content that is shown to the general public on your website. With the dedicated hosting plan, you can literally set the content to be anything you want it to be: there are no limits or restrictions on what you can put online, except for perhaps the laws that apply to you based on where you live. The downside, however, is that you have to have either the technical know-how or the financial resources to set up and maintain your own web server.
On the other hand, with the WordPress hosting plan, you don’t have full control over the content that is shown on your website. The content is usually managed by a team of developers behind the scenes, who have programmed specific templates and forms of content, such as news articles, to be easily published online by anyone with the bare minimum of technological know-how. The templates and forms of content are often hidden away behind password protection, and it is not uncommon for the developers to change the templates and forms of content that are already online every now and then without warning – something that can make a previously static website feel like it’s constantly in flux. Additionally, there are certain areas of functionality that are completely disabled, as the developers behind WordPress deem them to be “beta” (they are usually focused on creating an excellent content experience for writers, bloggers, and small businesses, rather than enabling specific functionalities for end users).
More Flexibility
Another important difference between a dedicated hosting plan and a WordPress hosting plan is that you have greater flexibility. With the dedicated hosting plan, you can run any type of website you want: you don’t have to build and launch a specific type of website, such as a blog. The downside is that it takes more effort to set up and maintain. Also, there are certain technical skills (such as web server administration) that you need to have in-house, if you decide to go with this option.
On the other hand, the WordPress hosting plan allows you to create a blog with a few clicks of the mouse, and you don’t necessarily have to have a specific blog in mind when you sign up for the plan. The advantage of a WordPress hosting plan is that it greatly eases the process of getting started, as you don’t have to set up and configure your web server to work with a CMS: you simply install WordPress, create a username and password, and you’re ready to go. Once you’ve created your blog, you can use it to publish and edit content just as you would in any other CMS.
Security Is A Top Priority
Dedicated hosting and WordPress hosting are both safe options to host your website: you’re getting access to a physical computer that is not connected to the internet, rather than a remote server that is – but the safety of your data is still a top priority, regardless of the platform that you use. When selecting a web host, make sure to look for one that is secured by hardware and software security certificates, as well as one that is backed by a reputable company with a good reputation for keeping your data secure.
The bottom line is that dedicated hosting and WordPress hosting are both safe and reliable options to host your website, as long as you’re using a reputable company with a good security record. If you decide to go with dedicated hosting, then be sure to purchase a high-quality plan from a company that offers awesome support; otherwise, you’re opening yourself up to a security risk.