Hey there, fellow peeps in the digital realm! 👋🏼
Today, we’re delving into a topic that’s absolutely crucial for anyone looking to set up a WordPress website: hosting. As the bard might say, “To host, or not to host, that is the question.”
In this rather comprehensive blog post, we’ll embark on a journey through the world of WordPress hosting. We’ll explore the two primary options: going with a hosted plan or taking the self-hosting route. Each of these choices comes with its own set of strengths and drawbacks, and by the end of this article, you’ll have a much clearer picture of which path suits your needs best.
If you’re ready to demystify the world of hosting and make an informed decision for your WordPress website, stick with me on this exciting exploration into the intricacies of web hosting. Let’s get started!
First of all, What’s The Difference?
The first thing to wrap your brain around is that when someone says “WordPress” the may mean wordpress.com which is a managed or hosted WordPress platform where, basically, after choosing the look of your blog, all you do is write your blogs and push publish. This may be called either hosted or managed in blogs across the web. I feel like “hosted” better describes things so that’s what I use, but keep in mind you may see “managed” used as well.
Alternatively, when someone says “WordPress,” they may mean wordpress.org, which is a type of software that you can download and host yourself on a server, or may be accessed through a hosting provider. This second option, the software version, is often referred to as “self-hosted,” even if it’s hosted by a third party.
It does get a little confusing, but read on and hopefully we can clear things up. Next we will go over the ins and outs of both hosted and self hosted.
The Ins and Outs of Managed/ Hosted WordPress Plans
Let’s kick things off by dissecting the world of hosted WordPress plans. These are essentially the all-in-one solutions where a hosting provider takes care of everything for you. It’s like dining in a top-notch restaurant with a chef whipping up a gourmet meal – everything is managed, and you just need to enjoy the end result. That’s the glory of it.
Strengths of Hosted WordPress Plans:
- Simplicity and Convenience: Hosted plans are beginner-friendly. You sign up, choose a plan, and you’re ready to roll. No technical expertise required.
- Managed Maintenance: Your hosting provider takes care of updates, backups, and security, leaving you more time to focus on your content.
- Scalability: Most hosts offer plans that can grow with your website, making it easy to scale up as your audience grows.
- Customer Support: You’ve got a team of experts at your disposal to help with any issues.
- Transferable: You can take your blogs with you and move to a self-hosted option at any time.
Drawbacks of Hosted WordPress Plans:
- Limited Customization: These plans can be less flexible when it comes to customizing your website. Especially the free templates.
- Monthly Costs: Hosted plans typically involve ongoing expenses, which can add up over time.
- Less Control: You might be restricted in the plugins and themes you can use, as your hosting provider may have limitations.
Now, onto the other side of the coin.
The Self-Hosted WordPress Experience
Self-hosting is like having your kitchen as a chef. You have complete control and can whip up any dish you want. In the web world, this means you’re responsible for every aspect of your site.
Strengths of Self-Hosted WordPress:
- Ultimate Control: You can customize your website to your heart’s content, using any themes and plugins you desire.
- No Ongoing Costs: Once you’ve got your hosting and domain set up, ongoing expenses are minimal. Often hosting can be found for a couple dollars per month.
- Scalability and Performance: You have the power to optimize your site for peak performance.
Drawbacks of Self-Hosted WordPress:
- Technical Expertise Required: Setting up and maintaining your site can be intimidating for beginners.
- Maintenance: You’re in charge of updates, security, and backups, which can be time-consuming.
- Potential Costs: While basic hosting can be inexpensive, as your site grows, you might need to invest in more robust hosting options.
As you can see, “costs” and “potential costs” are both drawbacks for both options. You really need to be able to determine your storage and bandwidth needs before you can accurately assess your hosting needs. For beginners, the smallest package is often more than enough, especially if you utilize photos already online in your blogs.
Next we will cover hosting options. And buckle up, because there’s a lot…
The Many Hosting Options!
Typing in “hosting providers” on Google can be an overwhelming experience. First, you’re dealing with thousands of dollars in ad campaigns being thrown at you while you’re trying to decide which is the best. Next, you might not be totally clear on what you want. In that case, really go over the information above before determining where you might want to look, as that can make a huge difference in what to look for. You should know if you want a hosted option or if you’re going to go with a self-hosted option before you look into hosting.
I have included some hosting options for you to research. Many of the options were from an X post I had made requesting more info on hosting providers, so they come with some kind of third-hand recommendation, although my suggestion is always to do your research.
And then do more research.
And then, do something….
Don’t get stuck in the research.
Self-Hosted Providers:
Netlify: Known for its static site hosting and continuous deployment. Popular among developers for its ease of use.
Vercel: A platform for hosting web applications, known for its speed and developer-friendly features. (This one was recommended many times in my post, although there have been concerns over a former employee’s actions… Trying not to get sued here so not going to comment further, but follow @ opendevlog for more info.)
Hostinger: Offers budget-friendly hosting options with a user-friendly control panel. Suitable for beginners.
Digital Ocean: Known for its cloud infrastructure and developer-friendly features. Requires more technical expertise but offers scalability.
Hetzner: A European hosting provider offering a range of services, including cloud and dedicated servers. Popular for its reliability.
Render: Specializes in hosting web applications and provides automation for deployments. Popular among developers for its simplicity.
Railway: A platform for hosting web applications, known for its simplicity and integration with popular developer tools.
AWS (Amazon Web Services): A cloud computing giant with a vast array of services. Offers scalability and flexibility but can be complex and may require a learning curve.
Firebase: Google’s mobile and web application development platform with hosting capabilities. Great for web apps and mobile apps but may have limitations for larger websites.
Cloudways: A managed cloud hosting platform that simplifies server management. Offers various cloud providers like AWS, Google Cloud, and DigitalOcean.
SiteGround: Known for its excellent customer support and offers shared hosting with a user-friendly control panel. Suitable for small to medium websites.
HostGator: Offers shared hosting and more advanced VPS and dedicated options, making it suitable for various website sizes and needs.
DreamHost: Provides shared hosting and VPS/dedicated plans, with a focus on user-friendliness and straightforward services.
A2 Hosting: Offers shared hosting and VPS/dedicated options, known for its speed and developer-friendly features.
InMotion Hosting: Known for its business-focused hosting and a variety of hosting solutions, including shared and VPS hosting.
HostWinds: Offers shared and managed VPS hosting, providing scalability and control for different website sizes.
Scala Hosting: Provides shared hosting and managed VPS hosting, known for its security features and customization.
Bluehost: Offers shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting with a focus on user-friendliness and reliability. A popular choice for beginners. Has great intro sales but beware of renewal costs.
Managed Hosting Providers:
WP Engine: Managed WordPress hosting, taking care of most technical aspects.
Kinsta: Offers fully managed hosting with top-notch performance and security.
Liquid Web: Provides managed hosting, including managed WordPress and WooCommerce.
GreenGeeks: Offers shared hosting with a focus on environmental sustainability.
iPage: Provides budget-friendly shared hosting with a straightforward approach.
GoDaddy: Offers a variety of hosting services, including shared and managed WordPress hosting, taking care of most technical aspects.
My opinion?
Use whatever platform will get you started. My preferred host is Hostinger (aff link), who give a self hosted experience with the ease of a managed hosting experience. I really enjoy that you can deploy 3 ways: using code, using their ai web builder, or using wordpress. This gives you so many options so you can make the best choice for each project rather than being forced to use what you have already paid for.