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Shared vs. Managed WordPress Hosting: Key Differences Explained

For a long time, the debate between shared and managed hosting for WordPress had raged in the WordPress community. However, comparing shared and managed hosting may not be as straightforward as it appears. Many things are happening ‘behind the scenes,’ which might be difficult for you to assess as a beginner.

So, let’s dive into details. First things first, an introduction to each of these concepts, along with their main advantages and drawbacks.

Shared WordPress Hosting

Shared hosting is mostly about hosts attempting to cut expenses by packing several websites onto a central server. That sounds bad, but it’s not. Shared hosting serves an important role. If shared hosts did not do this, none of us would be able to host infinite websites for the same price we pay for a coffee at Starbucks.

For instance, shared hosting is an excellent choice for a proof-of-concept or hobby site. And even for a tiny company website, if all that is required is a simple “online business card.”

You wouldn’t be able to try out more than 1 to 2 projects at a time if you used a professionally managed WordPress hosting configuration for each one. On the contrary, you may operate ten similar sites on a single server using shared hosting.

However, because you’ll be sharing your server’s resources with dozens or even hundreds of other sites, your site may slow down as a result of anything happening on someone else’s site. To eliminate this, reputable shared hosts will prevent overcrowding their servers. But beware, ultra-low-cost shared hosts will frequently oversell the space.

Pros

  • Cost – One of the most significant advantages of choosing a shared hosting plan is that it is less expensive and can be purchased for as little as $2.75 per month.
  • Email Accounts – You will receive a free professional email service. That means you may set up a business email address like [email protected] for free.
  • cPanel – Most businesses include cPanel, which allows you to easily administer your site, domains, email, and other services.

Cons

  • Slow server response time – When Opposed to a managed WordPress host, your website may run slowly owing to slow server response time.
  • Downtime – Some shared hosting firms may experience frequent outages.
  • Not appropriate for high-traffic sites – Shared hosting is best suited for startups, small enterprises, personal websites, and anyone who does not receive a lot of traffic.

Managed WordPress Hosting

Managed WordPress hosting is a sort of hosting solution that delivers the most sophisticated technology for your WordPress site to ensure its security and speed. These firms handle hosting-related concerns like backups, security checks, WordPress updates, and much more. They also offer excellent customer service and strive to resolve issues as promptly as possible.

A managed host essentially wants you to focus on your company while they handle the technical parts. However, you should be aware that all these services are more expensive than shared hosting. A managed hosting service package typically starts at about $16.95 per month.

As a result, I only advocate managed hosting for high-traffic websites or for those who are unfamiliar with the technical components involved.

Pros

  • Fast and safe – A managed WordPress server provides the most recent technology to ensure that your site loads quickly. They also take very good care of your WordPress site’s security, keeping it safe from viruses and hackers.
  • Fundamental Updates – They handle core WordPress updates, allowing you to safeguard your site. Some firms even go the additional mile by automatically upgrading your themes and plugins.
  • Daily Backups – The site files always are safe since managed hosting backups your website and database on a daily basis. You may also recover your website if you wish to.
  • Assistance – Managed WordPress hosting provides their clients with excellent support. Their staff is WordPress-savvy, and you may quickly reach them if you have any issues.

Cons

  • Expensive – When compared to a shared host, one of the most significant downsides of utilizing a managed WordPress hosting plan is its high cost.
  • Certain Plugins Have Restrictions – These services concentrate on optimizing the performance of your WordPress site. In other words, you are not permitted to utilize particular plugins that may cause your site to slow down.
  • Only WordPress sites are permitted – While shared hosting allows the user to access any website, even simple HTML pages, managed hosting only enables you to host WordPress sites on its infrastructure.

Which Is Better for You: Shared or Managed WordPress Hosting?

If you’re just getting started with a website, you must definitely go with a shared hosting provider. I recommend avoiding managed WordPress hosting for small enterprises, personal websites, startups, and bloggers. Buying a managed WordPress hosting plan might be prohibitively expensive in the early stages of any organization.

Managed WordPress hosting, on the other hand, is appropriate for individuals who have a heavy-traffic website. You may anticipate your website to be quick and safe using the technology available.

Furthermore, because it is managed by your service providers, you will not have to worry about backups, upgrades, or security.

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