Which Hosting Provider Should You Choose for WordPress?
WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) in the world, holding the top spot on the website statista.com. It is a free and open-source CMS that is extremely popular for websites and blogs. With close to a million downloads on Github alone, it’s clear that many people consider WordPress to be a must-have tool in any web developer’s arsenal.
Despite its popularity, WordPress is not an easy platform to get started with, particularly if you are looking for a managed hosting solution. This is because the software requires a lot of configuration before it can be used successfully. Even then, you’ll only get limited functionality out of it without spending a small fortune on additional add-ons.
This is where managing WordPress hosting through a service like WPMU comes in. WPMU is a premium WordPress hosting service that aims to make setting up and managing blogs much simpler by handling all the complex configurations for you. In this article, we’ll answer the question of whether WPMU is right for you and which features you need to look out for.
Is WPMU Right for You?
Before we begin, it’s important to note that while WPMU is a premium service that charges you for each site you host with them, it is not a free trial like most other hosting services out there. Instead, you’ll need to decide whether or not you want to continue paying after your free month is over. If you do, you can sign up for a premium WPMU account for free, but you’ll need to decide in advance whether or not you want to continue hosting your sites with them. The reason behind this is that after your free trial month is over, WPMU will email you to let you know that your services are no longer free.
Features You Need To Look Out For
When it comes to choosing a WordPress hosting provider, you’ll want to look for a solution that offers all the basic features you need and then some. It’s important to keep in mind that while some hosts may offer more advanced features than others, nothing stops you from installing 3rd party apps that offer even more functionality.
The following are the features you should be looking out for in a hosting solution that supports WordPress.
1. Scalability
You don’t want to choose a host that can’t scale with the amount of traffic your site is receiving. The unfortunate fact is that there are many hosting providers out there that cannot provide a high level of service for large sites because they were never designed to do so. When it comes to scaling, you’ll want to look for a host that has a solid foundation and uses a platform that can be expanded horizontally (i.e. you can add more servers).
2. Performance
The performance of your host is going to be crucial in keeping your blog or website running efficiently. You don’t want to choose a host that struggles to keep up with the amount of requests your site receives, especially if you’re paying for high-level service. When it comes to performance, you’ll want to look for a host that has been tested successfully across a wide range of web-servers, and is known for delivering outstanding performance.
3. Backup & Restore
It is a pain to lose all your articles, photos, and other important data when your site gets hacked or destroyed by a natural disaster. To avoid this, you’ll want to choose a host that offers a reliable and effective backup and restore solution that can be used to easily get your site back up and running as soon as possible. The best host providers offer a full suite of tools that can be used to quickly perform backups or clone existing websites, and restore them whenever needed. Make sure you notify your host immediately if you experience any issues with your backup or restore solutions.
4. Security
Your host’s security is going to be crucial in keeping your information secure and preventing hackers from accessing your site. To achieve this, you’ll want to choose a host that has a proven track record of keeping intruders and malware away from your site, and offers a secure connection between your site and its servers.
5. Features
It’s great if your host offers advanced features that can be used to speed up website performance or provide additional functionality, but you don’t need these features if all you need is basic Blog functionality. The features you need should be clearly articulated in the material provided by the host, so that you don’t have any nasty surprises when you start using the service. Some WordPress hosts offer a range of features that can be used to track website activity, integrate with 3rd party apps, or provide additional security controls. If these features are important to you, make sure you read up on them in detail before making a decision.
WPMU Vs. Hosting Pro
WPMU and Hosting Pro are two of the most popular WordPress hosting services available, with WPMU generally being the more expensive of the two, although the cost can vary depending on the plan you choose. What is the difference between the two? Let’s take a look.
WPMU is a premium service that aims to make setting up and managing blogs much simpler by handling all the complex configurations for you. It was designed with the busy blogger in mind, and offers a range of pricing plans that you can choose from depending on how much help you need. You’ll only need to set up your site with a single click, and can then begin adding content and features that are completely free.
Hosting Pro is a more traditional choice, and aims to provide the best possible experience for website owners who want to keep things simple and don’t want to get too deep into tech-stuff like configuring servers and backups. It is completely free of charge, and offers a limited number of plans, which you can change at any time. You’ll only need to set up your site with a single click, and can then begin adding content and features that are completely free.
So which one should you choose? That depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re after a cheap and simple solution that doesn’t require too much effort to set up, go for WPMU. Otherwise, Hosting Pro is the clear choice for those who want to dive in and do a bit of tech-configuring themselves.
Why Should You Manage Your Own Hosting?
It is always recommended to manage your own hosting, as it gives you complete control over everything that happens to your site. If you go this route, you’ll have to take care of all the technical parts involved in running a website. This means that you’ll need to secure your server from attacks, prevent speed issues, and handle all the backups yourself. However, this also means that you’ll need to constantly monitor the security of your server, and update your software as soon as new versions come out.
On the plus side, if you decide to go this route, you’ll learn a lot about servers and hosting in general. You’ll also be able to set up new sites at the speed of light once you’re comfortable using the command line. You won’t have to worry about compatibility issues with other sites in the future because everything will be stored locally. You won’t have to worry about storing large amounts of data on databases that could overflow, causing your site to become unusable. The list of advantages goes on and on. So if you’re looking for a flexible and easy-to-use hosting solution, you should try to find a self-managed host.
WPMU Vs. Hosting
Now that you know the differences between WPMU and Hosting, let’s take a look at the comparisons. The following tables compare the two services in terms of price, features, and levels of support offered:
Feature
WPMU
Hosting
Basic
Plus
Choice
Features
Yes
No
CMS
Simple
Choice
SSL
Support
10
30
Price
WPMU
Hosting
$2.95
$5.45
$13.95
$19.45
$29.95