Launching a new WordPress website is an exciting milestone, but before you can publish your content to the world, you have to answer a fundamental question: Which type of WordPress website hosting do you need?
Think of web hosting as the digital real estate where your website lives. Just as a physical business needs a storefront, your website needs a server to store its files and data. However, navigating the technical jargon—from shared hosting to VPS and dedicated servers—can be overwhelming for beginners and business owners alike.
Choosing the wrong hosting plan can lead to slow loading speeds, security vulnerabilities, or paying for expensive resources you don’t actually use.
To help you make the best decision for your business, we’ve broken down the 4 common types of WordPress website hosting.
Whether you are a solo blogger or a growing enterprise, understanding the pros, cons, and ideal use cases for each will ensure your site has the strong foundation it needs to succeed.
1. Shared Hosting
What is Shared Hosting?
Shared WordPress website hosting means that your website is stored on the same server as multiple other websites. The server resources, such as the RAM, bandwidth, and CPU, are shared among all the websites hosted on the shared server.
Shared Hosting: The pros & cons
Shared hosting has some advantages:
- Firstly, it’s usually the cheapest hosting option available, because you’re sharing the cost of those server resources with other customers.
- Secondly, your hosting company will handle many of the technical aspects, such as maintaining the server, running updates, managing security, etc. Typically, providers of shared hosting plans make setting up a website easy even for people with no technical background. Often, “one-click” / easy set-up options, such as WordPress, are available.
However, a shared website hosting plan isn’t for everyone. Because you’re sharing server resources, what happens on other websites can impact the performance of your site. For example, if a website on the same shared server as you experiences an increase in traffic, your own website could be slowed down as a result.
With shared website hosting you’re also placing your trust in the hosting company’s security, which may be a concern for some types of business. You’re also bound by the terms and conditions of the hosting provider: some customization options may not be allowed, and exceeding your allowance of the shared resources may lead to your website being pulled down.
Who is Shared Hosting ideal for?
Shared website hosting is an affordable, low-barrier way to get a simple website off the ground. This makes it an option for website hobbyists or micro-small business who are just starting out and have the technical capabilities to DIY it.
2. VPS Hosting
What is VPS Hosting?
VPS (virtual private server) WordPress website hosting is a half-way point between shared hosting and dedicated hosting.
With VPS hosting, you still technically share your server with other customers, but you get a dedicated portion of that server for your use. VPS website hosting offers more storage space and opportunity for customization.
VPS Hosting: The pros & cons
VPS website hosting offers more storage and bandwidth, and will tend to be more reliable than shared hosting.
Websites on VPS hosting can typically handle more traffic, and you’ll have a greater level of control over customization, including advanced security options should you need them.
However, VPS website hosting is more expensive than shared hosting and despite its increased capacity, can still be insufficient for sites that have larger amounts of traffic. Because you have more control over your VPS, you may also find you need someone with the expertise to manage your server.
Who is VPS Hosting ideal for?
VPS website hosting is ideal for small-medium sized businesses who are already established and have a larger amount of regular traffic.
It’s also a great option for businesses that want more control over the setup of their server and enhanced security, and have the technical know-how to do this.
3. Dedicated Hosting
What is Dedicated Hosting?
Dedicated Hosting: The pros & cons
Dedicated website hosting offers you high degrees of control and customization, as well as advanced security options. Perhaps the greatest benefit of dedicated hosting is the enhanced performance you can expect from your website, with improved uptime, speeds, and stability. Dedicated hosting is also more scalable–as your website grows, your hosting provider can add additional resources to your plan.
The downside of all of this is that dedicated hosting is the one of the most expensive website hosting options available. In order to install and manage the server you will need technical support from an expert.
Who is Dedicated Hosting ideal for?
Dedicated website hosting is ideal for websites that generate large levels of traffic (millions of visitors daily) as well as for businesses that need more advanced customization (for example, large ecommerce sites).
Dedicated hosting is also a good option for businesses that need high levels of security, such as organizations managing sensitive health or financial data.
4. Managed Hosting
What is Managed Hosting?
Managed Hosting: The pros & cons
Managed website hosting allows you to make the most of your hosting and website capabilities, without requiring you to have technical experts in house.
If you need something beyond the basic setup that come standard with most shared hosting/VPS hosting plans, but you’re not at a size to hire someone full-time to manage dedicated Hosting, managed hosting allows you to build and maintain a site that performs in exactly the way you want, as well as likely running faster and being more secure.
Managed website hosting also frees up your time so that you can pay attention to other parts of your business.
Who is Managed Hosting ideal for?
Managed hosting is the ideal option for businesses that don’t want to DIY their website hosting or who don’t yet have in-house technical expertise or capacity.
Additionally, managed hosting can be more affordable than you think (for instance our managed hosting plans are designed to be affordable for small businesses) and the long-term cost savings can quickly outweigh the monthly fee.
Final thoughts: Which hosting solution is right for you?
Selecting the right web hosting provider is more than just a technical necessity. It’s a strategic business decision.
As we’ve explored, there is no “one-size-fits-all” solution. The right choice depends entirely on your specific goals, your technical expertise, and your budget.
- Shared Hosting is suitable for hobbyists who want to keep costs very low and are willing to DIY it.
- VPS Hosting offers a balanced middle ground for small businesses needing more reliability but still want to DIY it.
- Dedicated Hosting provides maximum power and control for high-traffic enterprise sites.
- Managed Hosting serves as the ideal stress-free solution for small businesses that want someone to handle it for them.
Take a moment to assess your current monthly traffic and your growth projections for the next year. By matching your specific needs to one of these 4 common types of website hosting, you will ensure your website remains fast, secure, and always available to your customers.
