What Is the Difference Between WordPress Hosting vs. Godaddy?
WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) out there, with over 90 million annual active users as of 2018.
The software is free and open source, and is available for anyone to use. You don’t necessarily need a web host to use WordPress, but you will need one to set up your site. There are many different providers of WordPress hosting, with prices varying from free to £2.95 per month. Keep reading for more information on the differences between the most popular types of WordPress hosting providers.
Free WordPress Hosting
The most popular choice for people looking to set up a blog or website is to use WordPress itself. This could be because it’s free to use or it’s one of the most popular content management systems out there. For a site to be considered successful, it needs to have a decent amount of traffic, which is easier to achieve with a free WordPress hosting provider.
If you’re looking for a free host, you should go for one of the shared hosting plans from providers like Bluehost or Hostgator. These hosts make it easy to set up a site, with some even offering one-click WordPress installation. You won’t be able to install additional applications like WordPress plugins or eCommerce tools, but you will be able to use all the basics.
Basic Personal WordPress Hosting
If you’re looking for something more customized, you can try out basic personal WordPress hosting. This is where you’ll find the most popular, well-known WordPress hosts such as WordPress.com and WordPress.org. If you use one of these hosting services, you can find a wide variety of add-ons and packages to choose from, including free ones.
This type of hosting provides you with a professional-looking site, but you will need to have a bit of experience to manage it. You’ll be given full control over your site’s appearance, including choosing a theme and adding extra plugins as you see fit. You can use this type of hosting if you’re looking for things like video content or if you just want to quickly set up a simple blog.
Features- and Function-rich Personal WordPress Hosting
If you’re looking for something more advanced, you can try out features- and function-rich personal WordPress hosting. This is where you’ll find the bigger, more reputable hosting providers, such as Bluehost, Hostgator, and WP Engine. With these hosts, you won’t just get a basic, personal site with WordPress; you’ll get an integrated, fully-featured platform that is highly customized to look and operate how you want it to.
This type of hosting is a bit more expensive, but it comes with a lot more features. You’ll be able to choose a custom domain name for your site, as well as register it with Google Shopping and other custom email services. You’ll need to have a bit of programming knowledge to setup these services, but they are easy enough to use.
This type of hosting is suitable for people who need a bespoke solution and don’t want to use WordPress’ built-in email marketing functionality or other similarly basic tools.
VPS (Virtual Private Server) WordPress Hosting
If you’re looking for the perfect middle ground between the previous two options, you can try out a VPS (Virtual Private Server) host for WordPress. These hosts give you the benefits of a fully-featured personal WordPress hosting solution while avoiding some of the pitfalls that come with a basic host or a plugin-based solution like WordPress.com.
A VPS provides you with a set amount of resources, such as CPU power and storage, which you can use to run your site. You’ll need to decide how much computing power you need for your site, and how much you can spend, considering the type of content you intend on publishing.
A VPS host will allow you to install a wide variety of WordPress plugins, including some that are restricted to premium accounts on other hosts. You’ll be able to choose a custom domain name for your site, as well as register it with Google Shopping and other custom email services. You’ll need to have a bit of programming knowledge to setup these services, but they are easy enough to use.
This type of hosting is suitable for people who have a moderate amount of experience with WordPress and need a solution that provides them with additional security and privacy features. Some of these hosts also provide add-ons like live chat, password protected blogs, and content lockers, which give you the freedom to work remotely while still maintaining complete control over your site.
Dedicated Server WordPress Hosting
If you’re looking for the best of the best and don’t need a shared host or a VPS, you can try out dedicated server WordPress hosting. This is where you’ll find the bigger, more reputable hosting providers, such as Bluehost, Hostgator, and WP Engine. In addition to getting a fully-featured platform, you’ll also receive robust security measures, including multiple site isolation, hardware-based virtual machine technology, and more.
Dedicated server WordPress hosting is suitable for people who need ultimate control over their site’s appearance, functionality, and security. You’ll be able to choose a custom domain name for your site, as well as register it with Google Shopping and other custom email services. You’ll need a bit of programming knowledge to setup these services, but they are easy enough to use.
This type of hosting is suitable for people who want to create a professional-looking site that will serve as an online brand or store. You’ll be able to choose a theme and a variety of plugins to enhance your site’s functionality, as well as integrate Google Shopping, WooCommerce, or another eCommerce tool to allow for online sales.
Free vs. Paid Choices
WordPress is a free and open source application, which provides you with a wide variety of features. This means there are hundreds of free plugins available for download. If you’re looking for additional features, you can try out paid options that provide you with a more tailored experience. Some of these hosts also provide add-ons like live chat, password protected blogs, and content lockers, which give you the freedom to work remotely while still maintaining complete control over your site.
You shouldn’t need to spend a lot of money on additional features if you don’t want to. These hosts tend to be quite pricey, but they do provide some great benefits, such as fully-featured installations, robust security, and advanced performance.
Choosing a host can be tricky, as there are many different providers out there, all with various benefits and pitfalls. As a beginner, it’s best to go for a free host, as you won’t have any financial repercussions if your site gets hacked. You can also use free hosts to quickly set up a simple blog or website. If you’re looking for something more advanced, you can opt for one of the above-mentioned hosts or take the time to vet a DIY host.