What Web Hosting Plan Should you Choose for your New Business Venture?
Choosing the right web hosting plan depends on your budget, expected traffic, and the type of website you plan to host. In this article, we’ll cover the three main web hosting plans: Shared, WordPress, and Virtual Private Server (VPS).
While there are more expensive web hosting plans available, they are generally unnecessary unless you expect tens of thousands of visitors per month or require extensive resources.
WHY CHOOSE SHARED HOSTING?
Shared hosting is the most affordable web hosting option because it involves sharing server resources with other websites.
Ideal for Simple Websites: If you’re creating a blog, portfolio, or a basic e-commerce site, shared hosting is a cost-effective choice. However, it may slow down during peak times or when using resource-heavy plugins like Elementor.
Performance Concerns: Slow load times can deter visitors, increasing bounce rates. As your site grows with more plugins and features, shared hosting might struggle to keep up, affecting both visitor experience and your backend editing process. This is why WP Tutor now uses VPS hosting, which offers noticeable speed improvements.
Features to Look For in Shared Hosting
When selecting a shared hosting plan, consider these features to maximize value and minimize long-term costs:
- Free Domain Name: Often included for the first year.
- Unlimited Websites: Useful for experimenting with multiple sites.
- Free SSL Certificate: Some hosts offer it free for a lifetime, while others may charge after the first year.
- Free Emails: Some providers include this, while others charge extra.
- Backups: Automatic backups are ideal.
- SSD Storage: More storage usually means better performance.
Additional Considerations
- SSL Certificate: Check if and SSL certificate is included in the plan. Some hosts offer these for free initially but charge later.
- Annual Plans: Yearly plans often offer better value than monthly subscriptions and may include unlimited websites.
Choosing the right shared hosting plan can save you money and hassle. Always review the feature list and be ready to upgrade if your website outgrows your initial plan. For more detailed recommendations, check out our list of recommended shared hosting plans here.
WHY CHOOSE VPS HOSTING?
VPS hosting provides dedicated resources on a shared server, ensuring consistent performance regardless of server traffic.
Guaranteed Resources: Unlike shared hosting, VPS guarantees bandwidth and other resources, enabling your site to handle more traffic without slowing down.
Enhanced Performance: Ideal for feature-rich websites with videos, downloadable content, and numerous images. VPS hosting ensures your site won’t crash or slow down, even with resource-intensive plugins like Elementor.
Smooth Operations: Experience faster file uploads, quicker page creation, and smoother editing. The difference is especially noticeable when managing a complex site, though less so for simple informational sites.
Recommended VPS Hosting Providers
While WpTutorr uses DreamHost’s VPS hosting and recommends it, other providers like Namecheap offer competitive resources and services.
Key Features to Look For
- Guaranteed Bandwidth: Ensures consistent performance.
- Dedicated Resources: Allows for more complex and media-rich websites.
- Scalability: Easily upgrade as your site grows.
- Control and Customization: Greater flexibility compared to shared hosting.
For a seamless and powerful hosting experience, consider VPS hosting. Check out our list of recommended VPS hosting providers [here].
WHY CHOOSE MANAGED WORDPRESS HOSTING?
Managed WordPress hosting is designed specifically for WordPress sites, offering enhanced performance and features, but it typically limits you to one website.
Optimized for WordPress: The server architecture is dedicated to WordPress, providing increased speed and functionality compared to similarly priced VPS plans.
Enhanced Resources: Enjoy more bandwidth (often unmetered), increased SSD storage, and dedicated resources that ensure your site runs smoothly and efficiently.
Staging Site: Experiment with changes on a staging site before going live, reducing the risk of errors on your main site. Learn more about staging sites here.
Considerations
- Single Website Limitation: Managed WordPress plans usually allow only one website. If you plan to set up multiple sites, you might need a separate hosting plan for each.
- Cost: More expensive than shared hosting but comparable to VPS hosting. Evaluate if the dedicated resources and WordPress optimization are worth the investment.
WP Tutor’s Choice
WP Tutor uses VPS hosting to manage multiple websites under one plan, which isn’t feasible with Managed WordPress Hosting.
Key Features to Look For
- WordPress Optimization: Servers tailored for WordPress for better performance.
- Unmetered Bandwidth: Handle more traffic without limitations.
- Increased SSD Storage: More space for your content and media.
- Staging Site: Safely test changes before making them live.
Managed WordPress hosting offers a powerful solution for single-site WordPress users seeking top performance and dedicated resources. For more hosting recommendations, check out our list of top managed WordPress hosts here.
