Today, having a website is very important for businesses, bloggers and individuals. But before you can make a website live on the internet, you need to choose a hosting service. The two most popular options are web hosting and WordPress hosting.
They may seem alike, but they are actually quite different. These differences can really affect how well your website works, how secure it is, and the overall experience for visitors. In this blog, we’ll explain the differences between web hosting and WordPress hosting in a very simple way.
What is Web Hosting?
Web Hosting makes your website available online. When someone types your website’s address (URL) in their browser, the hosting server retrieves the website files and displays them.
Think of website hosting as renting some space on a computer (server) to store your website’s files. This server is always connected to the internet, so anyone can access your website anytime.
Web hosting companies offer different website hosting options and plans with varying levels of storage space, performance and cost. The most basic plan is shared hosting, where multiple websites share the same server’s resources. More advanced plans like VPS, dedicated and cloud hosting provide better performance and resources at a higher cost.
Advantages of Web Hosting
- Web hosting supports various website platforms, including WordPress, Joomla, Drupal and more.
- Shared web hosting plans are generally more affordable, making them suitable for small websites or those on a tight budget.
- As your business expands, you can upgrade to a more powerful hosting plan.
Disadvantages of Web Hosting
- Web hosting is not optimised specifically for WordPress websites.
- General web hosting support may not have in-depth knowledge of WordPress-related issues.
- You may need to manually update WordPress, plugins and themes, as well as handle security and performance optimisations.
What is WordPress Hosting?
WordPress hosting is one type of web hosting service suited for websites that were made with WordPress. Millions of websites, from personal blogs and online shops to business and blog sites, use WordPress as their main content management system.
WordPress hosting providers optimise their servers, settings and resources to ensure the best performance, security and ease of use for WordPress websites. They often include additional features such as pre-installed plugins, automatic updates and dedicated support for WordPress-related issues.
Unlike regular web hosting, WordPress hosting is designed to meet the particular needs of WordPress websites. This makes it a useful option for WordPress users.
Advantages of WordPress Hosting
- WordPress hosting servers are configured to handle WordPress-specific tasks efficiently, resulting in faster website loading times and better overall performance.
- WordPress hosting providers often implement additional security measures to protect your website from common WordPress-related threats, such as malware and brute-force attacks.
- Many WordPress hosting plans include automatic updates for the WordPress core, plugins and themes, ensuring your website is always up-to-date and secure.
- WordPress hosting providers have support teams trained specifically in WordPress, allowing them to assist with WordPress-related issues more effectively.
Disadvantages of WordPress Hosting
- WordPress hosting is optimised solely for WordPress websites. If you plan to host non-WordPress sites, you may need a separate hosting solution.
- WordPress hosting plans usually cost more than basic web hosting plans because they come with more features and are better optimised for WordPress.
- If you decide to switch from WordPress to another platform in the future, migrating your site from a WordPress-optimised hosting environment can be challenging.
Key Differences: Web Hosting vs WordPress Hosting
Here are some key differences between web hosting and WordPress hosting:
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Purpose and Optimisation
When comparing website hosting vs wordpress hosting, web hosting is a general-purpose hosting solution that supports various website platforms and content management systems.
WordPress hosting is optimised for WordPress websites, with servers and configurations tailored to the platform’s unique requirements.
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Performance and Speed
Web hosting servers are not optimised for WordPress, which can result in slower performance, especially for resource-intensive WordPress websites.
WordPress hosting servers are optimised for WordPress, ensuring faster website loading times and better performance.
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Security
Web hosting providers offer basic security features, but WordPress-specific security measures may be lacking.
WordPress hosting providers often implement additional security measures, such as malware scanning and brute-force attack protection, to keep your WordPress website secure.
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Support
Web hosting support teams are knowledgeable about general hosting issues but may not have in-depth expertise in WordPress-specific problems.
WordPress hosting support teams are trained specifically in WordPress, allowing them to provide more specialised assistance with WordPress-related issues.
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Automatic Updates
With web hosting, you may need to manually update your WordPress installation, themes and plugins.
WordPress hosting plans often include automatic updates for the WordPress core, themes and plugins, ensuring your website is always up-to-date and secure.
Choosing Between Web Hosting and WordPress Hosting
Consider these factors while choosing web hosting or wordpress hosting:
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Type of Website
If you plan to build a website with WordPress, WordPress is the recommended website hosting option for optimal performance, security and ease of use.
If you intend to use a different content management system or website platform, general web hosting may be a better choice.
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Technical Expertise
If you don’t know much about technology or would rather not get involved, WordPress hosting may be a better choice for you since it usually comes with automatic changes and help for WordPress.
If you are good with servers and want to have more power over the server setting for your website, general web hosting might be a good choice.
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Budget
When it comes to affordability between web hosting vs wordpress hosting, shared web hosting plans may be a better choice, especially for personal blogs or small websites.
A WordPress hosting plan might be worth the money if you have more money to spend and want to optimise your website’s speed, security and ease of use.
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Website Growth
If you think your WordPress site will grow a lot, you might want to look into a WordPress hosting plan that can be easily expanded to handle more visitors and more resources.
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Security Concerns
If security is a top priority, particularly for e-commerce or websites handling sensitive data, WordPress hosting plans with enhanced security features may be a better choice.
Conclusion
Web hosting is for general use with any type of website software. It works but isn’t optimised for any one platform.
When considering which web hosting is best for WordPress, many experts recommend opting for WordPress-specific hosting plans. WordPress hosting is optimised specifically for websites built on WordPress software. It has performance, security and convenience features designed just for WordPress.
For most regular WordPress sites, the WordPress hosting option gives you better speed, security, support and an all-around easier experience. The downside is it costs a little more.
Basic web hosting is cheaper but not optimised for WordPress. It can work for WordPress if you have the technical expertise or have a very basic, non-critical site.
So think about your skills, needs, budget and growth plans when choosing website hosting options. In general, WordPress hosting is the best route if you plan to use WordPress to build your website.
