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WordPress is the most popular content management system (CMS) used by millions of websites worldwide and, as of 2023, powers more than 43,2% of all websites. As is needed for any website, web hosting is required to be accessible to the broader public. Therefore, choosing the right hosting option ensures your site’s performance, security, uptime, and scalability suitably match your requirements. The main difference between regular and managed hosting is the extra features your chosen plan provides, which can vary significantly.

Managed WordPress hosting is where the hosting provider takes care of the technical aspects of running and maintaining a website, allowing the website owner to focus on their content and online growth. This service aims to simplify the hosting experience by handling tasks such as server management, software updates, security, server-level performance optimizations, and backups.

In this beginner’s guide, we will introduce you to various managed hosting options available for WordPress and Avada, their benefits, and some popular providers.

Overview

4 Main Types of WordPress Hosting Platforms

As a website owner, it’s essential to understand the distinctions between different web hosting solutions; This will allow you to make an informed decision and select the most suitable hosting plan, ensuring a reliable, secure, and high-performing experience for your website and visitors. As with WordPress, Avada runs on any web hosting package, even standard shared hosting packages provided by GoDaddy and others.

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This article will explore the four main types of WordPress hosting platforms for beginners to consider.

Shared Hosting

This is the most affordable and beginner-friendly option, where multiple websites share the same server resources, such as CPU, RAM, storage, and bandwidth. This hosting option is popular among small businesses, bloggers, and individuals with low to moderate-traffic websites, as it offers an affordable and easy-to-manage solution for hosting a website.

Pros:

  • Cost-effective: Shared hosting is generally the most affordable hosting option since the cost of maintaining the server is split among multiple users.

  • Easy to set up and manage: Shared hosting plans often come with user-friendly control panels (e.g., cPanel) that simplify managing your website, creating email accounts, and installing software.

  • Suitable for beginners: Shared hosting is ideal for those with limited technical knowledge, as the hosting provider handles most server-related tasks.

  • Pre-configured server settings: The hosting provider typically sets up the server with standard configurations, making it easy for beginners to start hosting their websites quickly.

Cons:

  • Limited resources: Since resources are shared among multiple websites, high-traffic or resource-intensive sites on the same server can affect the performance of other websites.

  • Less control and customization: Shared hosting offers limited control over server settings and configurations, which may not be suitable for websites with specific requirements.

  • Shared IP address: All websites on the shared server share the same IP address, which can be a disadvantage if another website on the same server engages in malicious activities or is blacklisted, potentially affecting your site’s reputation and deliverability.

While shared hosting is affordable and user-friendly, considering its limitations, particularly regarding resources and control, is essential. As your website grows and traffic increases, consider upgrading to a more scalable hosting solution, such as a virtual private server (VPS) or dedicated hosting.

Virtual Private Server (VPS) Hosting

Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting is a web hosting service that utilizes virtualization technology to divide a physical server into multiple isolated virtual servers. Each virtual server operates independently, with its own operating system, dedicated resources (such as CPU, RAM, and storage), and full root access. VPS hosting balances shared and dedicated hosting, providing more control, scalability, and resources than shared hosting at a lower cost than dedicated hosting.

Pros:

  • Dedicated resources: Each virtual server has its own allocated resources, ensuring better performance and stability than shared hosting, where resources are shared among multiple websites.

  • Scalability: VPS hosting allows you to easily scale your resources as your website grows without needing major hardware upgrades or migrations.

  • Customization and control: With full root access, you can install custom software, configure server settings, and make changes to the operating system to suit your specific needs.

  • Improved security: Since each virtual server is isolated, security risks are minimized. Any issues on one virtual server won’t affect the others.

Cons:

  • More expensive than shared hosting: While VPS hosting is more affordable than dedicated hosting, it is generally more costly than shared hosting due to the dedicated resources and increased control.

  • Technical knowledge required: Managing a VPS requires a higher level of technical expertise than shared hosting, as you’ll need to handle tasks such as software installation, server configuration, and security updates.

  • Limited resources compared to dedicated hosting: While VPS hosting offers more resources than shared hosting, more is needed for extremely high-traffic websites or those with specific resource-intensive needs.

VPS hosting is ideal for website owners who have outgrown shared hosting and require more resources, control, and scalability. It’s suitable for medium-sized e-commerce and websites with fluctuating traffic. However, dedicated hosting may be more convenient for websites with high traffic or specific resource requirements.

Dedicated Hosting

Dedicated hosting provides a physical server for your website, offering enhanced performance, control, and security. Unlike shared or VPS hosting, where resources are split among multiple users, dedicated hosting gives the client complete control over the server and its resources, including CPU, RAM, storage, and bandwidth. This option is ideal for large, high-traffic websites but can be expensive and requires more technical knowledge to manage.

Pros:

  • Maximum resources: With dedicated hosting, your website can access the server’s full resources, ensuring optimal performance, stability, and reliability.

  • Full control: You have complete control over the server, including the choice of the operating system, hardware components, and software installations, allowing for server customization to meet your specific needs.

  • Enhanced security: Dedicated hosting provides a higher level of security, as no other users on the server could compromise your website or application.

  • Dedicated IP address: With a dedicated IP address, your website’s reputation and email deliverability are less likely to be affected by the actions of other users, as can happen in shared hosting.

Cons:

  • Expensive: Dedicated hosting is typically the more costly hosting option due to the dedicated resources and level of control provided.

  • Technical knowledge required: Managing a dedicated server requires advanced technical expertise, as you will need to handle tasks such as server configuration, software installation, and security updates.

  • Responsibility for hardware maintenance: While the hosting provider is responsible for hardware replacement and upkeep, you are responsible for managing and maintaining the server, which can be time-consuming and challenging.

It must be noted that dedicated hosting comes with a higher cost and requires more technical knowledge than shared or VPS hosting options. If you’re considering dedicated hosting, ensure you have the expertise or resources to manage the server. Alternatively, consider opting for a managed dedicated hosting plan, where the hosting provider assists with server management tasks.

Managed Hosting

Managed hosting is a web hosting service where the provider takes care of the technical aspects of running and maintaining a website or server on behalf of the client. This service simplifies the hosting experience by handling all aspects of server management, software updates, security, performance optimizations, and backups, allowing the website owner to focus on their content and online presence.

Pros:

  • Hassle-free management: Managed hosting providers take care of server management, software updates, security, and maintenance, allowing you to focus on your content and online presence instead of handling technical tasks.

  • Improved security: Managed hosting providers implement advanced security measures, such as firewalls, malware scanning, and intrusion detection systems, to protect your website from potential threats.

  • Server-Level performance optimizations: Managed hosting services often include caching, content delivery networks (CDNs), and other optimizations to improve your site’s loading speed and overall performance.

  • Automatic backups: Regular website backups are performed, ensuring your data is safe and can be quickly restored in case of any issues.

  • Expert support: Typically, managed hosting providers offer specialized technical support from experts who can assist you with any issues or concerns related to your hosting environment.

  • Time-saving: By outsourcing server management and maintenance tasks to the hosting provider, you can save time and focus on growing your business and online presence.

Cons:

  • Higher cost: Managed hosting is generally more expensive than unmanaged or self-managed hosting options due to the additional services and support provided.

  • Less control: While managed hosting providers handle many technical aspects on your behalf, this can also result in less control over server configurations and software installations than unmanaged hosting.

  • Limited customization: Depending on the managed hosting provider, there may be limitations on the customization and configuration options available to suit your specific needs.

  • Potential vendor lock-in: When using a managed hosting provider, you may become reliant on their infrastructure, services, and support, making it more challenging to switch providers if needed.

This hosting option is typically more expensive than unmanaged or self-managed hosting options (shared, VPS, and so on). However, it offers numerous benefits, including improved performance, security, and expert support, making it an attractive option for website owners who prefer a hands-off approach to website management or do not have the time to manage the technical aspects.

Leading WordPress Hosting Providers

There are many other web hosting companies available on the market (too numerous to mention in this article) to choose from. Therefore, this article only examines four top leading contenders for affordable managed WordPress hosting, each offering a range of features and benefits to consider.

With over a decade of support history for Avada and many different hosting platforms, it is our experience that Avada does operate perfectly, even on the lowest level shared hosting packages available by hosting providers, without any issues or resource limitations.

SiteGround Logo

SiteGround

SiteGround is a top choice for Avada owners and businesses seeking reliable, secure, high-performance hosting solutions. With a strong focus on customer satisfaction and ease of setup, SiteGround offers a wide range of hosting services, including shared, managed WordPress, cloud, and dedicated hosting, backed by cutting-edge technology and an expert support team. SiteGround Hosting is renowned for fast server speeds, robust security measures, and exceptional uptime.

Furthermore, we have partnered with SiteGround to provide a premium website building and hosting experience, including an easy 1-click Avada installation option.

* Hosting offer valid for existing Avada customers only; Avada purchase required. Terms and Conditions apply.

Key Facts:

  • Exclusive partner discount for Avada customers

  • 1-Click Avada installation

  • Free site transfer and email transfer

  • Managed security, updates, backups, and a staging tool

  • Free SSL certificates

  • Prices start at $1.99/month

WPengine Logo

WPEngine

WP Engine is a leading managed WordPress hosting provider that delivers best-in-class performance, security, and scalability for websites of all sizes. With a focus on the WordPress CMS, WP Engine offers specialized hosting solutions designed to optimize your website’s performance, ensuring lightning-fast loading times and exceptional reliability.

In addition, their expert support team, available 24/7, is well-versed in WordPress, providing invaluable insights and assistance when needed. Avada owners have made WP Engine a top choice for their hosting needs with a 20% discount when you sign up.

Key Facts:

  • Exclusive discount for Avada customers

  • Easy to build, test, and deploy websites faster

  • Access to WordPress experts and 24/7 global support

  • Fully managed WordPress hosting with advanced security

  • Ideal for small businesses, agencies, enterprises, and eCommerce

  • Prices start at $20.00/month

WordPress

Wordpress.com

WordPress.com is a comprehensive web hosting ecosystem tailored to the needs of individuals, businesses, and organizations looking for a holistic WordPress experience. As the official hosting service by the creators of the WordPress CMS, they offer an all-in-one solution that simplifies creating and maintaining a professional website.

There are various hosting plans to choose from, providing top-notch performance, security, and scalability. However, it must be noted that to upload a custom theme like Avada to this hosting service, either the Business or Commerce plan is required.

* A Business or Commerce plan is required for custom themes.

Key Facts:

  • Extensibility with multisite management

  • SSH, WP-CLI, and Git tools

  • Global CDN with 28+ locations

  • DDOS mitigation and firewall protection

  • Real-time backups

  • Prices start at $3/month *

Dreamhost Logo

Dreamhost

Known for their commitment to customer satisfaction, DreamHost provides reliable, secure, and high-performance hosting services, including shared, managed WordPress, VPS, dedicated, and cloud hosting. With a seamless hosting experience through the easy-to-use control panel, extensive customer support, and affordable pricing plans.

Key Facts:

  • Test new plugins, themes, and code with 1-Click Staging

  • Access to automated and on-demand backups

  • Free migration to DreamHost

  • Fully managed WordPress hosting plans

  • Get better results with built-in caching

  • Prices start at $19.95/month

In Summary

Understanding the basics of WordPress hosting is crucial when deciding which hosting provider will suit your online business today and for the foreseeable future.

Avada is a powerful and versatile Website Builder and the perfect match for any hosting provider mentioned in this article, whether SiteGround, WP Engine, WordPress.com, Bluehost, DreamHost, or any other mainstream hosting provider.

We have partnered with and recommend SiteGround as a premium and reliable hosting provider. If you are an existing Avada customer and want to change your hosting provider to SiteGround, check out the explainer video on migrating quickly and seamlessly.

And, if you are new to Avada and want to build a new website, you can easily set up your first WordPress website with Avada installed and activated with one click. Embrace the limitless possibilities of Avada and create the website of your dreams, backed by the unparalleled support and infrastructure offered by these industry-leading web hosting companies.

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