What exactly is WordPress hosting?
While you don't need to
buy a WordPress-specific plan to use WordPress, choosing a top WordPress host
will improve your website's performance, security, and time-saving features
like one-click WordPress installation (or having it pre-installed) and
automatic WordPress upgrades.
So, if you're thinking
about getting WordPress hosting and want to learn more about it, you've come to the right
place.
We'll look at the inner
workings of WordPress, its total cost, the benefits of using it as your
site-building tool of choice, and the common misunderstandings people have
about the many forms of hosting that support the most popular content
management system (CMS) under the digital sun.
What is the WordPress hosting process?
Although it is possible
to construct a successful WordPress site without using a WordPress-specific
hosting service, these are frequently packed with useful features that will
help your site's performance in the long term.
In layman's terms, the WordPress hosting solution is
similar to standard shared hosting packages but includes a few
WordPress-specific features such as superior security (because WordPress is an
open-source software), quick setup, fast performance, automatic updates, improved
plugin functionality, simple-to-add SSL certificates, and knowledgeable
customer support specializing in WordPress.
However, sooner or
later, you'll come across a web hosting service that advertises its shared
hosting packages as WordPress hosting but provides nothing WordPress-specific aside from
one-click installation. And, given that most popular hosting has cPanel, which
includes a one-click WordPress installer, this is only an unwanted upsell.
WordPress hosting costs
While WordPress is free
and open-source software, you will need to pay some money for a domain name and
web hosting service.
Fortunately, there are
numerous low-cost, entry-level hosting options on the market that don't skimp
on features or performance.
Bluehost's entry-level,
WordPress-specific hosting plan, for example, starts at $2.75 per month and
includes a free domain for one year, a free SSL certificate, a free CDN, and
round-the-clock customer support—all of which are essential at the start.
HostGator starts at
$3.98 per month, Hostinger at $3.99, and InMotion Hosting at a slightly higher
$4.99 per month - yet all of these hosts offer excellent value for money.
WordPress hosting as opposed to web hosting
The primary distinction
between these two is that "web hosting" is a broader term than "WordPress hosting,"
referring to any form of hosting service that rents a portion of the company's
server space to store the site's contents and allows it to exist on the
internet.
WordPress hosting, on
the other hand, refers to a specific solution designed for WordPress sites.
While it can also use a shared server to host multiple sites at the same time,
unlike regular web hosting, each site on this server is built with WordPress.
Additionally, WordPress hosting includes
CMS-optimized resources (such as enhanced PHP RAM), access to themes,
extensions, and plugins, and extra features that aim to simplify the process of
establishing and administering a WordPress site.
The Advantages of WordPress Hosting
While the benefits of WordPress hosting differ based
on the provider, we almost always observe lightning-fast speed, a superior
level of WordPress-specific security, and up-to-date software.
Also, if you're not
extremely tech-savvy, you'll appreciate the ease of installation, specialist
customer assistance, and overall usability of such a solution.
Who should make use of WordPress hosting?
Because WordPress was
designed with non-techies and tech-wizards in mind, even if you have little to
no experience with it, you'll find out how everything works in no time. Simply
follow a few step-by-step instructions and don't forget to call support if you
get confused.
If you don't have the
time to handle everything yourself, a WordPress-specific hosting solution can
relieve part of the pressure, saving you both time and trouble-and for only a
few dollars each month.
If you want to skip
managing your site entirely, you may go for fully managed WordPress hosting—but
be prepared to pay a premium.
Is WordPress hosting required to run WordPress?
No, WordPress does not
require WordPress-specific hosting; you can install WordPress from a cPanel or
manually via FTP by downloading the newest version from Wordpress.org and
following an official how-to instruction.
However, there are a few
WordPress server tips to check for when selecting a web hosting service. These
include PHP 7.4 or higher, MySQL 5.7 or higher (or MariaDB 10.2 or higher),
HTTPS support, and Nginx or Apache with the mod rewrite module.
Also, make sure you have
at least 1GB of storage space, 512MB of RAM, and a processor that runs at
1.0GHz or above.
While these are the two
most popular alternatives for WordPress sites, if you're new to establishing a
WordPress site, you may be confused about them, so let's clear that up.
Managed WordPress hosting,
as the name implies, encompasses a range of services that relieve users of the never-ending
chore of site management, allowing them to focus on other duties. However, this
type of liberty comes at a high cost.
A managed WordPress
solution should at the very least include installation, updates, security
checks, and frequent backups of your site.
Apart from being far
less expensive, normal shared WordPress hosting falls short of its managed version unless you prefer
dealing with technical issues.
Is WordPress hosting suitable for you?
Because WordPress hosting
is tailored to simplify site construction, increase security, and speed up a
WordPress site, if you're thinking about starting one, you should look into the
best WordPress hosting solution currently available.
If you're just getting
started, one of the unmanaged WordPress hosting solutions should suffice—and it's as cheap as some shared
hosting packages.
If you currently have a
business website and want to focus on building your business rather than site
upkeep, managed WordPress hosting may be your best bet.