If you just launched your own website or online store, you have many options for hosting. It can be overwhelming and confusing when you’re just starting out. Below, we break down all the different types of web hosting for you to consider.
Different Types of Web Hosting
Web Hosting
First, you may be wondering exactly what is web hosting? Website hosting provides storage for and access to a website. Your site and all its files live on a server that’s managed by your web host. When you get visitors to your site, they request to see these files from the server. The server then sends the files to the visitor, and that’s how people get to see your website.
Shared Hosting
Shared hosting is another type of web hosting. So, what is shared hosting?
Shared hosting is a type of web hosting that allows you to share space on a server with other customers. Shared hosting is one of the most common types of web hosting available. Because you share server space with others, shared hosting usually costs less than other options.
Managed Hosting
Another type of web hosting is managed hosting. You may be wondering, what is managed hosting? Managed hosting is a type of web hosting where the provider takes care of the management, setup, administration, and overall support of a server. A managed hosting provider makes sure everything’s running smoothly. And they fix things that go wrong along the way.
WordPress Hosting
Another type of web hosting that’s platform specific is WordPress hosting. What is WordPress hosting and how does it differ from other hosting models?
WordPress hosting, as you may have guessed, provides storage and access to WordPress websites. There are many advantages of WordPress hosting. For example, WordPress hosting usually comes with 1-click installation, or even with the CMS already pre-installed.
WordPress is an open source platform. It’s free to use. So why do you need WordPress hosting? And is WordPress hosting worth it?
As with any website, you’ll need a host to power it behind the scenes. So yes, you do need WordPress hosting for your website. WordPress hosting is worth it because it is optimized specifically for WordPress websites, which means you’ll experience fast load times and high performance.
WooCommerce Hosting
What is managed WooCommerce hosting? Just like WordPress hosting is optimized for WordPress websites, WooCommerce hosting is optimized for fast ecommerce stores. WooCommerce hosting is specially set up for loading the contents of online stores and providing fast and secure user experiences for shoppers. WooCommerce is ecommerce for WordPress.
Shared Hosting vs. WordPress Hosting: What’s the Difference?
Shared hosting works with different applications, while WordPress hosting works just with WordPress. When it comes to shared hosting vs. WordPress hosting, the two aren’t mutually exclusive. You can be on a shared WordPress hosting plan. Or, you could be on a managed WordPress hosting plan.
Considerations for Choosing a Web Host
Now that we’ve covered the different types of web hosting, this section will cover how to choose a web host. There are a number of questions to ask cloud hosting providers when vetting them.
Ultimately, your choice will come down to a number of factors, such as:
- Your platform.
- Your budget.
- Security requirements.
- Scalability.
- How much support you want.
There are also a number of red flags to look out for when choosing a host. For example, look out for fine print on “unlimited” or “unmetered” plans which have hidden caps on bandwidth. Cheap hosting plans can sometimes end up costing more than you expected, thanks for overage fees or other charges.
Moving Web Hosts
If you’re unhappy with your current host, you don’t have to stay. How do I switch web hosting?
Some web hosts will provide free migration services for you. Or, you may have to migrate yourself. Still, it’s easy to learn how to migrate a website from one host to another. And if you’re unhappy with the service you’ve received, it’s well worth the move.
Hosting Websites for Clients
If you’re a freelancer, you may be wondering how to host websites for clients. It only makes sense — you make and manage their site, and they don’t have to worry about anything. Plus, you can make some extra money on the side by joining a hosting affiliate program.
Add hosting to your contracts and proposals with new customers. The key here will be to choose a host that’s known for their support, performance, and uptime.
Consider Hosting With Nexcess
Fully managed hosting from Nexcess means you don’t need to worry about anything. With Nexcess, you get:
- Automatic Updates — You won’t have to worry, we handle updates for you.
- No Hidden Fees or Metering — No surprise bills at the end of the month.
- Premium Features — Get built-in image compression, CDN, and advanced caching for lightning speed.
- Best-in-Class Support — Rely on our team of experts for 24/7/365 award-winning support.
Nexcess offers:
- Fully managed Magento hosting.
- Fully managed WordPress hosting.
- Fully managed WooCommerce hosting.
- As well as a number of other cloud hosting plans.
View our hosting plans to get started today.
