Web hosting and WordPress hosting are not the same. In this post we ask: what is the difference between web hosting and WordPress hosting? Let’s take a look.
What is Web Hosting?
Web hosting is a generic term that refers to all types of hosting services. Carriers provide systems that permit individuals and organisations to place their websites on servers. Types of web hosting include VPS hosting, dedicated hosting and cloud hosting.
What is WordPress Hosting?
WordPress hosting is a type of web hosting optimised around the WordPress CMS platform. Typically, it provides all the features of regular web hosting (such as bandwidth, a place to store data and files, etc.) plus extra features, such as WordPress plug-ins not available through traditional services.
Importantly, you don’t need to use WordPress hosting if you have a WordPress site. Conventional web hosting will still work. However, you may experience a better service if you opt for WordPress hosting.
WordPress.com only offers hosting with WordPress built-in. The service does not let you host sites built on third-party platforms.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Web Hosting
Web hosting is like a blank canvas – you can customise it how you like. This means that plans differ greatly in the tools, flexibility and resources they offer.
When you buy web hosting services, the hosting company provides equipment, such as servers, and maintains it on your behalf. Because of their in-house expertise, services run smoothly with better-than-99-percent uptime.
The downside of traditional web hosting is that you get less specialised support. Web hosts can provide technical assistance in narrow cases related to the provision of their services, but they can’t deal with specific issues to do with the WordPress CMS.
Web hosts do not optimise servers for specific site builders either to appeal to a wider audience. Organisations have more freedom over the services they want to use, but pages and features may not run as efficiently.
The Advantages and Disadvantages of WordPress Hosting
WordPress hosting builds on standard web hosting and tries to improve the experience of site owners. For instance, setting up a site is generally much easier with WordPress hosting than in generic web hosting environments.
WordPress hosting plans also optimise WordPress performance. That’s because these services configure themselves for WordPress sites specifically.
WordPress also offers hassle-free management. The platform deals with web host technicalities so that webmasters can focus on building and editing their sites (which is a good thing when you learn that only a third of WordPress installations are updated to the latest version). If they need support, it is always available and goes beyond simple web hosting troubleshooting to full CMS assistance.
WordPress hosting has some downsides, though. As discussed, you won’t be able to use CMS alternatives if you choose to host via WordPress. And you’ll have to pay more than you do for conventional hosting because of all the additional support and expertise you get.
Lastly, you may face restrictions on how much you can customise your WordPress site. WordPress hosts may limit the third-party software you can install.
The SaneChoice Team
https://www.sanechoice.cloud/SaneChoice started in 2004 when a customer was frustrated by their hosting provider at the time. Since that year, SaneChoice has been providing technology services to clients worldwide, with a strong focus on helping small businesses understand technology.
