How Much Are WordPress Hosting Fees, and What’s the Big Deal?
WordPress is the world’s best-known content management system. Launched in 2007, the free and open-source WordPress software is used by millions of websites around the world to keep their content up to date with the latest news, blogs, podcasts, and more.
Along with other content management systems (CMS), such as Joomla! and Drupal, WordPress continues to grow in popularity, largely due to its simplicity and extendibility. If you’ve ever heard of WordPress, you’ve probably also heard of WordPress hosting, the service that provides WordPress with storage and computational power needed to run a website or blog.
But what is WordPress hosting, and how much does it cost? Let’s take a closer look.
What Is WordPress Hosting?
Simply put, WordPress hosting provides you with all the tools you need to create and maintain your website or blog. When you install WordPress to host your site on a web server, you’re also enabling that web server to function as a content delivery network (CDN) for your site. Essentially, a CDN is a large pool of networked computers that provide fast downloads for your site’s content.
The best part? You can install a fully-functional WordPress site with a few clicks, without needing any expertise whatsoever. Just make sure that you have a fast, reliable Internet connection and you can literally be up and running in no time.
Costs Of WordPress Hosting
The costs of WordPress hosting can vary widely, from free to thousands of dollars per month. But keep in mind that all you need to get started is a web server that costs you nothing.
And the price is only going up. Today, you can easily find reputable, trustworthy web hosts that offer WordPress hosting for free. But you’ll have to keep an eye out for coupon codes and special offers, knowing that the prices are likely to change. Alternatively, you can find hosts that charge a monthly fee, which can vary from $2 to $15 or more per month.
Features Of WordPress Hosting
WordPress hosting provides you with a fully-featured platform that is already set up for you. This means that you don’t need to worry about any hosting-related issues, as your host will take care of everything for you.
Furthermore, most hosts provide you with a free domain name and a free WordPress title, along with one free blog post per day. Some even provide you with a free domain name and hosting for as long as you keep your subscription active.
So, if you want to create a blog for fun or for a new business you’re building, you have several options. You can use WordPress or any other CMS to build your site, and then find a reputable web host that provides all the features you need and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.
Drawbacks To WordPress Hosting
While there are significant advantages to WordPress hosting, there are also a few disadvantages. One of the biggest is that if you install WordPress to host your site on a web server, you’re also enabling that web server to function as a CDN for your site. You can choose to opt out of this functionality if you want to, but in doing so, you’ll lose the benefits that come with serving content from a CDN. Most importantly, if you use WordPress to host your site, you’ll be limited to using the default themes and plugins that come with the software.
Why Use A Dedicated Server For WordPress Hosting?
An alternative to WordPress hosting is to use a dedicated server. A dedicated server is a web server that is solely allocated to hosting your website or blog. This eliminates the possibility of bottlenecking due to heavy traffic or overloading on shared servers, as well as the security issues that come along with it.
The advantage of a dedicated server is that it gives you complete control over the platform, enabling you to choose the software and settings that work best for your needs. You won’t have to worry about limited space or bandwidth, as all the resources are completely dedicated to your use.
The Costs Of Not Using A Dedicated Server
Using a dedicated server for WordPress hosting is not without its costs. You’ll have to spend at least $2,000 on a new web hosting plan, plus purchase at least one more server to host your site. Furthermore, you’ll need to purchase commercial-quality server and networking equipment, set up and maintain a firewall, and invest in extra storage to accommodate all your content. Not to mention all the available add-ons and features you might want – like a domain privacy protector, content delivery networks, etc.
Final Takeaway
As you can see, there are several options for you to host your WordPress site. The choice you make largely depends on your personal preferences and what you’re looking for in a web host. If you’d like to use WordPress as a content management system without worrying about all the technicalities, choose a reputable, free web host. Otherwise, if you’d like to get in touch with security experts and have more control over the platform, choose a dedicated server. Otherwise, if you just want to have your blog up and running as soon as possible, choose a shared web host.