Choosing which website host to use can be difficult. Many factors go into the decision making process, such as price, performance, and security, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed.
Below, we will cover the most common types of WordPress website hosting, explain what the technical terms actually mean, and highlight which factors truly matter for keeping your website healthy and secure.
What is Website Hosting?
Think of website hosting as the “hard drive” of your website—the place where all your site files live. Purchasing a hosting plan means you’re renting space on a server so your website can stay online and accessible. With self-hosted WordPress (the version we use for the sites we develop), your files belong to you. Your theme, content, images, plugins—they live in your rented server space. This is very different from free platforms like Wix, Weebly, or Blogger, where you don’t have true ownership or long-term control.
A quality hosting plan is necessary for any successful online presence. But there are many web host companies to choose from, along with an incredible number of varying plans and services. Pricing can range from a very low monthly cost with limited options to much more expensive fees with high end features geared more for eCommerce or business websites.
What Factors Are Important to Consider?
Cost
Cost is usually the first thing people compare, but in reality, it’s the least important factor. Cheap hosting can save money up front, but it often comes with slow performance, frequent downtime, or limited support. This can be a prime example of “getting what you pay for”—there are many inexpensive hosting plans (typically shared hosting) available, but please don’t make your selection based on this benefit alone.
Most hosts also advertise an irresistible intro rate that jumps significantly at renewal—so be sure to check the long-term pricing and know what you are paying for. That deal might not be much of a deal a year from now!
Technical Aspects
Knowing the type of website you are building will influence the server storage space and technical features you look for as you compare the options. If you plan to build an online store, for example, then you need more server resources and processing speed than if you are planning for a personal blog or simple business website. Insufficient space, speed, or resources can cause your website to be unreliable or unavailable to users, which will affect your goals and traffic.
Key technical terms to know, and to look for:
- Disk Space – Know how much storage you will have for your site files.
- Bandwidth – Just like your internet service, know how much data your site can transfer to visitors, and how quickly.
- Uptime Guarantee – What guarantee or promise do they offer that your site will stay online? (Aim for 99.9%+)
- Backups – Pay attention to how often backups are run and how easy (or costly) it is to restore one when needed.
- CDN (Content Delivery Network) – A CDN helps your site load quickly for visitors around the world. Know whether or not the host offers this service.
- Security Features – Look for details related to SSL certificates, malware scans, firewalls, and brute-force protection as these are key to keeping your site secure.
Usability & Support
Especially for website owners who aren’t super technical, ease of use matters. If you are not on a site care plan with a team like ours, it is important that you are easily able to access and navigate to key areas of your host account.
Look for or inquire about a clean user dashboard or cPanel, a helpful knowledge base, good live chat or ticket-based support, straightforward access to WordPress tools and settings, and options to scale as your business or site needs grow.
Three Primary Types of Website Hosting
There are many hosting variations out there, but for WordPress, these three categories cover most available scenarios.
1. Shared Hosting
Shared hosting is the most budget-friendly option. Multiple websites share the same server resources, making it inexpensive—but also more unpredictable.
Because it is the least expensive option, it’s often the most appealing to new bloggers or nonprofits on a limited budget. The “shared” feature means that more than one website is stored on a single server. Sharing the server space with other websites comes with limitations in terms of bandwidth and disk space. Your website performance could suffer if another site on the server is dominating the server’s resources or having a particularly higher traffic day. Necessary features like backups, SSLs, and malware scans are often upsells as well.
Popular shared hosts include BlueHost, HostGator, GoDaddy, and SiteGround. Of these, the only shared host we consistently recommend is SiteGround, due to stronger security and far better support.
2. Dedicated Hosting
Dedicated hosting is the opposite end of the spectrum—you get an entire server all to yourself. This is an ideal option for very large or highly trafficked websites or large eStores. These servers are designed for enterprise-level sites—fantastic for some businesses, overkill for most.
Whether managed or not, a dedicated server is specifically designed to have top notch features and functions, the highest available uptime, and the strongest security protection on the market. It will also offer you full control over server configuration, which is a positive feature for sure. This hosting option is by far the most expensive hosting service and offers you full control over the server configuration; however, it will require more technical knowledge or hiring a third-party service to help with the management.
3. Cloud or VPS Hosting
Cloud hosting—and its close cousin, VPS (Virtual Private Server) hosting—offers the best middle ground. This middle-tier hosting category is ideal for most small businesses, authors, speakers, coaches, and nonprofit websites. It allows multiple sites to use the same overall server system while still giving each site its own dedicated slice of resources. This means your website would not be affected by a burst of traffic on another site on the server, for example, as it would be with a shared hosting plan.
Modern managed cloud or VPS hosting is fast becoming the industry standard for professional WordPress websites. This hosting option can be nearly as affordable as shared hosting, particularly with resellers like MRM. We have chosen to offer managed WordPress hosting through BigScoots, a highly reputable hosting company known for speed, security, stability, and top-tier customer support.
We chose BigScoots because:
- Their servers are optimized specifically for WordPress
- They include SSL certificates at no additional cost
- Routine, frequent backups are automatic
- Security features (malware scans, firewalls, etc.) are built in and available to our team when needed
- Their support team is exceptional—and fast!
- Their infrastructure offers outstanding speed and uptime
- There is room to grow and scale as necessary
Because it’s managed hosting, our team can oversee updates, server settings, security, and performance on behalf of our clients, ensuring each site stays healthy and well-maintained.
Which One is Right for You?
With so many options available, it’s important to do your research. Before you choose a hosting plan, take time to look at:
- The long-term pricing (not just the intro rate)
- The performance and security features
- The quality of support
- What your site requires today
- What you expect your site to need a year or two from now
Read reviews, search WordPress support forums, ask your web developer, and don’t hesitate to take your time choosing. Hosting is one of the most important investments you’ll make in your online presence.
Our rule of thumb? Choose hosting based on where your website is going—not just where it is today.
Your hosting plan is the foundation your digital home is built on. A solid foundation protects your investment, supports your growth, and ensures your website is fast, secure, and ready for the future.
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