Difference between Shared Hosting And Managed WordPress Hosting

It’s time to discuss on the difference between Shared Hosting and Managed WordPress Hosting! If you’re a website owner or a budding blogger, you may have come across these terms while looking for hosting options for your website. Choosing the right hosting plan is a crucial decision as it directly impacts the performance, security, and management of your website.

In this blog post, we will delve into the key differences between shared vs managed WordPress hosting, so you can make an informed decision when it comes to hosting your WordPress website.

We will explore the pros and cons of each hosting type, highlight their features, and discuss their suitability for different types of websites.

So, let’s dive in and understand the nuances of Shared Hosting and Managed WordPress Hosting!

What is Shared Hosting?

Shared Hosting is a type of web hosting where multiple websites are hosted on a single server, and they all share the server’s resources, such as CPU, RAM, and storage space. In other words, multiple websites are hosted on the same server, and they all use the same pool of resources to run their websites. Each website is allocated a certain amount of resources based on the hosting plan they have subscribed to.

In a Shared Hosting environment, the server is managed by the hosting provider, who takes care of server maintenance, updates, and security. Website owners do not have to worry about managing the server, as the hosting provider handles all the technical aspects. Shared Hosting is typically more affordable compared to other types of hosting, as the cost of server resources is distributed among multiple websites.

However, one potential drawback of Shared Hosting is that since multiple websites are sharing the same server resources, the performance and loading speed of your website can be affected by the resource usage of other websites on the same server. If one website on the server experiences high traffic or resource-intensive activities, it may affect the performance of other websites on the same server. Additionally, in Shared Hosting, you may have limited control over server settings and configurations, as those are managed by the hosting provider.

Shared Hosting is generally suitable for small to medium-sized websites with moderate traffic and resource requirements, such as personal blogs, small business websites, and portfolio websites, where cost-effectiveness is a priority. It may not be ideal for high-traffic websites or websites with specific performance or security requirements.

What is Managed Hosting?

Managed Hosting, also known as Managed WordPress Hosting, is a specialized type of hosting that is specifically tailored for WordPress websites. In Managed Hosting, the hosting provider offers a hosting environment that is optimized for WordPress, and they take care of many of the technical aspects of managing a website, including server maintenance, updates, security, and performance optimizations.

With Managed Hosting, the hosting provider typically offers a range of additional services and features that are specifically designed to enhance the performance, security, and ease of use of WordPress websites. These may include automatic WordPress updates, server-side caching, built-in CDN (Content Delivery Network), staging environments for website testing, regular backups, enhanced security measures, and specialized customer support for WordPress-related issues.

Managed Hosting provides a higher level of control and customization compared to Shared Hosting. Website owners usually have access to a user-friendly control panel or dashboard that allows them to easily manage their WordPress site, install plugins and themes, and configure settings according to their needs. Managed Hosting also often includes better scalability options, allowing websites to handle higher traffic volumes and resource-intensive tasks more effectively.

However, Managed Hosting is usually more expensive compared to Shared Hosting, as it offers additional features and optimizations specifically for WordPress websites. It may be more suitable for websites that require advanced performance, security, and customization features, such as high-traffic blogs, online stores, or business websites that heavily rely on WordPress.

In summary, Managed Hosting is a specialized type of hosting that provides an optimized hosting environment for WordPress websites, with additional features, optimizations, and customer support. It offers more control, customization, and scalability options compared to Shared Hosting, but comes at a higher cost.

Difference between Shared Hosting and Managed WordPress Hosting

The main difference between shared hosting and WordPress hosting can be summarized as follows:

1. Hosting Environment: Shared Hosting hosts multiple websites on a single server, and they all share the server’s resources, whereas Managed WordPress Hosting is specifically tailored for WordPress websites and offers an optimized hosting environment for WordPress.

2. Management and Support: In Shared Hosting, the hosting provider manages the server and takes care of maintenance, updates, and security for all websites on the server. In Managed WordPress Hosting, the hosting provider offers additional services and features specifically designed for WordPress, such as automatic updates, caching, backups, and specialized customer support for WordPress-related issues.

3. Performance and Customization: Shared Hosting may have performance limitations due to shared resources, whereas Managed WordPress Hosting often includes optimizations, such as caching and CDN, to enhance the performance of WordPress websites. Managed WordPress Hosting also typically offers more control and customization options, such as a user-friendly control panel and staging environments for testing, compared to Shared Hosting.

4. Cost: Shared Hosting is generally more affordable compared to Managed WordPress Hosting, as the cost of server resources is distributed among multiple websites. Managed WordPress Hosting, on the other hand, comes with additional features and optimizations for WordPress, which may result in higher costs compared to Shared Hosting.

5. Suitability: Shared Hosting is generally suitable for small to medium-sized websites with moderate traffic and resource requirements, where cost-effectiveness is a priority. Managed WordPress Hosting is ideal for websites that require advanced performance, security, and customization features, such as high-traffic blogs, online stores, or business websites that heavily rely on WordPress.

In summary, the main differences between Shared Hosting and Managed WordPress Hosting lie in the hosting environment, management and support, performance and customization, cost, and suitability for different types of websites. Website owners need to carefully consider their specific needs and priorities when choosing between Shared Hosting and Managed WordPress Hosting for their website.

Positive and Negative Side about both of Them

Positive aspects of Shared Hosting:

• Cost-effective: Shared Hosting is generally more affordable compared to other types of hosting, making it an attractive option for small to medium-sized websites or website owners on a budget.
• Easy to manage: With Shared Hosting, the hosting provider takes care of server maintenance, updates, and security, relieving website owners of the technical aspects of managing a server.
• Scalability: Shared Hosting plans often offer scalability options, allowing websites to upgrade or downgrade their resources as needed, making it flexible for websites with varying resource requirements.

Negative aspects of Shared Hosting:

• Resource limitations: Since multiple websites are sharing the same server resources, the performance and loading speed of a website can be affected by the resource usage of other websites on the same server.
• Limited control and customization: Website owners may have limited control over server settings and configurations, as those are managed by the hosting provider, which may restrict customization options.
• Potential security risks: Security measures in Shared Hosting may not be as comprehensive compared to Managed WordPress Hosting, as all websites share the same server, and a security breach on one website can potentially affect other websites on the server.

Positive aspects of Managed WordPress Hosting:

• Optimized for WordPress: Managed WordPress Hosting offers an optimized hosting environment specifically tailored for WordPress, including automatic updates, caching, and other performance optimizations, which can result in faster and more reliable WordPress websites.
• Enhanced security: Managed WordPress Hosting typically includes specialized security measures for WordPress, such as regular backups, malware scanning, and vulnerability patching, which can help protect websites against potential security risks.
• Better control and customization: Managed WordPress Hosting often offers more control and customization options, such as a user-friendly control panel, staging environments for testing, and specialized customer support for WordPress-related issues, allowing website owners to have more flexibility in managing and customizing their WordPress site.

Negative aspects of Managed WordPress Hosting:

• Higher cost: Managed WordPress Hosting is generally more expensive compared to Shared Hosting, as it offers additional features and optimizations specifically for WordPress, which may not be suitable for websites on a tight budget.
• WordPress-specific: Managed WordPress Hosting is designed specifically for WordPress websites, which may not be suitable for websites built on other platforms or with different CMS (Content Management System).
• Resource limitations: Managed WordPress Hosting plans may come with resource limitations, such as storage space, bandwidth, or number of visitors, which may not be ideal for high-traffic websites or websites with resource-intensive tasks.

In conclusion, Shared Hosting can be a cost-effective option for small to medium-sized websites, but it may have resource limitations and limited customization options.

On the other hand, Managed WordPress Hosting offers optimized hosting environment for WordPress websites with enhanced security, better control and customization options, but it may come with higher costs and may not be suitable for websites built on other platforms.

Website owners need to carefully consider their specific needs and priorities in terms of cost, performance, customization, and security when choosing between Shared Hosting and Managed WordPress Hosting.

Best Shared Hosting Provider: Comparison

1. SiteGround

Intro: SiteGround is a renowned web hosting provider that offers reliable Shared Hosting services with a strong focus on performance, security, and customer support. With over 2 million websites hosted worldwide, SiteGround has earned a reputation for its excellent hosting solutions.

Features:

• Performance optimization: SiteGround utilizes advanced technologies like SSD storage, PHP 7, and CDN (Content Delivery Network) to ensure blazing-fast loading speeds for websites, resulting in an improved user experience.
• Robust security measures: SiteGround employs multiple layers of security, including custom web application firewall (WAF), free SSL certificates, daily backups, and proactive monitoring to protect websites from potential threats.
• Excellent customer support: SiteGround offers 24/7 customer support via multiple channels including live chat, phone, and ticketing system. Their knowledgeable and friendly support team is always ready to assist with any hosting-related issues.
• Easy-to-use interface: SiteGround provides a user-friendly control panel with a range of management tools, making it easy for users to manage their websites, domains, databases, and other hosting-related tasks.

Why you should buy SiteGround Shared Hosting:

• Reliable and high-performance hosting: SiteGround is known for its fast and reliable hosting services, which are backed by cutting-edge technologies and optimized for performance.
• Enhanced security: SiteGround’s robust security measures help protect your website from potential threats, ensuring a secure hosting environment.
• Excellent customer support: SiteGround offers top-notch customer support, with a highly responsive and knowledgeable team ready to assist you with any hosting-related queries or issues.
• User-friendly interface: SiteGround’s easy-to-use control panel makes managing your hosting account and website a breeze, even for beginners.

Pricing: SiteGround offers three Shared Hosting plans – StartUp, GrowBig, and GoGeek, starting from $6.99/month, $9.99/month, and $14.99/month respectively. They also offer discounted prices for longer-term commitments.

2. DreamHost

Intro: DreamHost is a popular web hosting provider known for its reliable and feature-rich hosting solutions. With over 25 years of experience in the industry, DreamHost offers Shared Hosting plans that cater to various website needs.

Features:

• Unlimited resources: DreamHost offers unlimited storage, bandwidth, and domain hosting on all of its Shared Hosting plans, giving users ample room to grow their websites without worrying about resource limitations.
• Custom control panel: DreamHost provides a custom control panel that is user-friendly and offers a range of management tools, making it easy for users to manage their websites, databases, domains, and other hosting-related tasks.
• Free SSL certificate: DreamHost offers free Let’s Encrypt SSL certificates for all hosted domains, ensuring secure communication between websites and visitors.
• Solid uptime and performance: DreamHost guarantees a 100% uptime for its Shared Hosting plans, backed by a robust infrastructure and optimized server configurations.

Why you should buy DreamHost Shared Hosting:

• Feature-rich hosting: DreamHost offers unlimited resources, custom control panel, and free SSL certificates, providing a comprehensive hosting solution for websites of all sizes.
• Solid uptime and performance: DreamHost’s reliable infrastructure and optimized server configurations ensure high uptime and fast loading speeds for websites.
• Flexible plans: DreamHost offers scalable Shared Hosting plans, allowing users to upgrade or downgrade their resources as needed, making it suitable for websites with varying resource requirements.
• Trusted provider: With over 25 years of experience, DreamHost has a proven track record in the web hosting industry, known for its reliable hosting services and excellent customer support.

Pricing: DreamHost offers two Shared Hosting plans – Shared Starter and Shared Unlimited, starting from $2.59/month and $5.95/month respectively. They also offer discounted prices for longer-term commitments.

Best Manage Hosting Provider: Comparison

1. WPX Hosting

WPX Hosting is a leading managed WordPress hosting provider that offers high-performance hosting solutions specifically optimized for WordPress websites. With a focus on speed, security, and reliability, WPX Hosting is trusted by thousands of website owners and businesses globally.

Features:

• Lightning-fast loading speeds: WPX Hosting utilizes its custom-built high-speed CDN (Content Delivery Network) and server-level caching to ensure blazing-fast loading speeds for WordPress websites, resulting in an improved user experience.
• Robust security measures: WPX Hosting employs advanced security measures, including free SSL certificates, daily malware scanning, DDoS protection, and custom web application firewall (WAF), to keep WordPress websites safe and secure from potential threats.
• Expert WordPress support: WPX Hosting’s support team consists of WordPress experts who are available 24/7 to assist with any WordPress-related queries or issues, providing personalized and knowledgeable support.
• Easy website migration: WPX Hosting offers free website migration services, making it easy for users to transfer their existing WordPress websites to their hosting platform without any hassle.

Why you should buy WPX Hosting:

• Superior performance: WPX Hosting’s high-speed CDN, caching, and optimized server configurations ensure lightning-fast loading speeds, resulting in better website performance and improved search engine rankings.
• Enhanced security: WPX Hosting’s robust security measures help protect your WordPress website from potential threats, ensuring a safe and secure hosting environment.
• Expert WordPress support: WPX Hosting’s knowledgeable support team with expertise in WordPress is available 24/7 to provide assistance with any WordPress-related issues or queries.
• Free website migration: WPX Hosting offers free website migration services, making it easy to switch to their hosting platform without any downtime or technical challenges.

Pricing: WPX Hosting offers three managed WordPress hosting plans – Business, Professional, and Elite, starting from $20.83/month, $41.58/month, and $83.25/month respectively, with discounts available for annual subscriptions.

2. Kinsta

Kinsta is a premium managed WordPress hosting provider known for its cutting-edge technology, scalability, and developer-friendly features. With a focus on performance and reliability, Kinsta offers top-notch hosting solutions for WordPress websites.

Features:

• Google Cloud Platform: Kinsta utilizes the Google Cloud Platform for hosting, which offers a global network of data centers and advanced infrastructure, resulting in fast loading speeds and improved website performance.
• Automatic backups and staging: Kinsta offers daily automatic backups of WordPress websites, with easy one-click restore options, and also provides a staging environment for testing changes before deploying them to the live site.
• Developer-friendly features: Kinsta offers developer-friendly features like SSH access, Git integration, WP-CLI, and a custom-built dashboard, making it suitable for developers and agencies managing multiple client websites.
• Scalability: Kinsta offers scalable hosting solutions that can handle websites of all sizes, allowing users to easily upgrade or downgrade their resources as needed, making it suitable for websites with varying traffic levels.

Why you should buy Kinsta Managed WordPress Hosting:

• High-performance hosting: Kinsta’s use of the Google Cloud Platform, along with advanced caching and optimization techniques, ensures fast loading speeds and improved website performance.
• Robust backup and staging features: Kinsta’s automatic backups and staging environment provide peace of mind and flexibility for website changes and updates.
• Developer-friendly features: Kinsta offers a range of developer-friendly features that make it easy for developers and agencies to manage WordPress websites efficiently.
• Scalability: Kinsta’s scalable hosting solutions allow websites to grow without worrying about resource limitations.

Pricing: Kinsta offers multiple managed WordPress hosting plans with varying features and resources, starting from $30/month and going up to custom

Conclusion

In conclusion, understanding the difference between shared hosting and managed WordPress hosting is crucial when choosing the right hosting solution for your website.

Shared hosting is a more affordable option that shares resources among multiple websites, but may have limitations in terms of performance, security, and support. On the other hand, managed WordPress hosting offers specialized hosting optimized for WordPress websites, with higher performance, enhanced security, and expert support.

Shared hosting may be suitable for small websites with low traffic and budget constraints, while managed WordPress hosting is ideal for websites that require higher performance, security, and reliability.

Managed WordPress hosting providers, such as SiteGround, DreamHost, WPX Hosting, and Kinsta, offer features like faster loading speeds, robust security measures, expert WordPress support, and easy website migration. However, they may come with higher pricing compared to shared hosting due to the added benefits and specialized features.

When choosing between shared hosting and managed WordPress hosting, it’s important to consider factors like website size, traffic volume, performance requirements, security needs, and budget.

Shared hosting may be a good option for beginners or small websites with limited resources, while managed WordPress hosting is recommended for businesses or websites that demand higher performance, security, and support. Ultimately, selecting the right hosting solution depends on your specific requirements and priorities for your website.