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Difference Between Web Hosting and WordPress Hosting

Posted on April 21, 2023 | By Verity Hosting Business Post

Difference Between Web Hosting and WordPress Hosting

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Difference Between Web Hosting and WordPress Hosting

Web hosting is a general term used for all types of hosting. However, when most people use the term web hosting, they usually talk about basic web hosting.

WordPress hosting, on the other hand, is hosting that is made specifically for WordPress websites. So when people refer to WordPress hosting, they usually refer to hosting services designed for WordPress.

Basic hosting is hosting accounts that most web hosting providers offer. Basic hosting is usually the lowest-priced hosting plan, costing around $8 to $14 a month.

Web hosting is an all-encompassing service that provides a platform for websites of any size.

WordPress hosting specializes in providing optimized servers designed to streamline the workload of those using the popular WordPress content management system (CMS).

Although both services offer users reliable Hosting solutions, they differ when it comes to customization options, scalability, cost, and security measures.

With web hosting, users have more control over their server environment and can customize their setup however they wish.

WordPress Hosting provides its users with streamlined performance and greater security out-of-the-box. Ultimately, choosing between these two types of Hosting will depend on the user's needs and preferences.

Definition of Web Hosting

Web hosting is a type of internet service that provides the technology and support necessary for webpages to be viewed on the World Wide Web.

It involves hosting websites on remote servers which are maintained by specialized hosting providers.

These providers deliver web hosting services such as domain name registration, email accounts, web applications, and storage space.

A reliable web hosting provider is there to ensure all their customers' websites run smoothly with optimal performance, security, and reliability.

Web hosting services typically provide users with disk storage space, monthly data transfer limits, FTP access to upload and download files, and other features like user and control panel access.

Types of Web Hosting

To better understand the differences between Web Hosting and WordPress Hosting, let's take a closer look at the different types of hosting options that are available.

1. Shared Hosting:

Shared Hosting is a type of web hosting in which multiple websites are hosted on a single server.

With Shared Hosting, each website can access the same amount of resources such as CPU, RAM, and disk space.

This type of Hosting is helpful for people with limited budgets who only need a little support or would instead do everything themselves.

WordPress Shared Hosting accounts are available as well. Just be aware that shared hosting is just one type of hosting offered by hosting providers.

2. Dedicated Hosting:

Dedicated Hosting is a type of web hosting where one physical server is solely dedicated to one website or application.

With this type of web hosting, users can have complete control over their server environment and customize it according to their specific needs.

This makes dedicated Hosting suitable for websites or applications requiring more intensive control or security levels, such as e-commerce stores or complex applications.

3. Virtual Private Server (VPS) Hosting:

VPS Hosting is a web hosting solution that allows multiple virtual private servers (VPS) to run on a single physical server. This allows customers to have a private server at a much lower cost.

Compared to shared Hosting, VPS offers greater flexibility and control since each individual user has access to their own virtual private server.

Each VPS server uses CPU, RAM, and disk space resources within the shared physical infrastructure.

VPS is an option for those website owners who require more control than what shared hosting offers but want to avoid the cost associated with dedicated servers.

Definition of WordPress Hosting

WordPress hosting is a form of web hosting that provides specifically tailored services and features to help users run their WordPress websites more efficiently.

These services may include optimization for WordPress, custom technical support, pre-installed plugins and themes, automated backups, and more.

The main advantage of using a WordPress hosting service is that it enables users to get the most out of their websites by offering them access to optimized performance, reliability, and scalability.

Such services are usually provided by hosting providers with expertise in managing WordPress websites. Users can benefit from increased website speed and improved security by using these specialized services.

Types of WordPress Hosting

To better understand the differences between Web Hosting and WordPress Hosting, let's take a closer look at the different types of WordPress Hosting options that are available.

1. Shared WordPress Hosting

Shared WordPress hosting is a type of web hosting where multiple websites share the same server and resources, such as memory and processor power.

It is designed to be affordable for most website owners and provides adequate performance and security for most types of websites. It is often used by small business owners or bloggers who are just starting out and don't need the full power of a VPS or dedicated server.

2. Managed WordPress Hosting

Managed WordPress hosting is a type of web hosting that focuses specifically on optimizing WordPress websites.

It includes features like automated backups, automatic software updates, pre-installed themes, enhanced security measures, and more which are all designed to make sure that your WordPress website runs smoothly at peak performance.

This type of Hosting is ideal for businesses who want to save time and money by having an expert manage their website instead of doing it themselves.

3. Virtual Private Server (VPS) WordPress Hosting:

VPS WordPress hosting is a type of web hosting that provides users with the ability to have their own private space on a shared server.

This allows you to have more control over your environment since you will not be sharing resources with other customers like you would in shared hosting plans.

VPS can provide better performance for high-traffic sites since you will have more dedicated resources available to you than what is available in shared plans.

Additionally, VPS servers are highly scalable, so if your needs increase over time, you can easily upgrade without any major changes or disruptions to your service.

Differences between Web Hosting and WordPress Hosting

A. Purpose:

The purpose of web hosting is to provide a system for organizations and individuals to make their websites accessible on the Internet.

It offers space on a server owned or leased by the client, as well as providing Internet connectivity in order to allow other computers to access the hosted site.

WordPress hosting, on the other hand, is specifically optimized for running WordPress websites. It comes with features such as pre-configured installations of WordPress and extra security measures that are tailored for running WordPress sites.

B. Performance:

Generally speaking, web hosting services provide better performance than WordPress hosting services due to their flexibility and ability to be tuned up appropriately.

This is because they have more advanced technologies and resources at their disposal. However, WordPress hosting can still provide good performance when compared with shared web hosting plans due to its scalability options and use of caching technologies, which help speed up loading times.

C. Security:

In terms of security, both types of Hosting come with similar levels of protection; however, WordPress hosting usually comes with additional layers of security, such as automated backups, malware scanning, and stricter firewalls due to its popularity as a CMS platform that hackers tend to target more often than other platforms.

D. Support:

Generally speaking, both types of Hosting come with customer service support from the provider in case an issue arises; however, this support can vary depending on the company offering it, so it's important to do research before selecting a service provider.

Additionally, since WordPress is an open-source platform, there is also a large online community providing technical assistance should you ever need help setting up or troubleshooting any issues you may encounter while using it.

E. Cost:

Generally speaking, web hosting tends to be more affordable than WordPress Hosting due to its flexibility, but this cost difference largely depends on which type of plan you choose from either service provider, so doing your research beforehand is key when choosing one over the other in terms of cost savings benefits.

Which one to choose, Factors to Consider

Purpose of Your Website:

If you are planning to create a website for personal or business use, then Web Hosting is the best option. It allows you to easily build and manage your own website with minimal technical expertise.

Alternatively, if you are looking for a more comprehensive solution, WordPress Hosting is the way to go. This type of Hosting offers the same features as regular web hosting, plus the ability to power websites using WordPress' powerful content management system (CMS).

Budget:

Financial considerations also come into play when choosing between web hosting and WordPress hosting. Generally speaking, web hosting providers tend to offer more affordable plans than their WordPress counterparts, but certain features may not be available with these plans.

On the other hand, WordPress-specific Hosting services generally come with more features at slightly higher price points than traditional web hosting providers.

Technical Skills:

The level of technical knowledge needed to manage your website will also influence which type of Hosting is right for you. Basic web hosting requires no coding or design experience; all that is needed is access to an FTP client and some familiarity with HTML and CSS code.

A basic understanding of server administration would also be beneficial in setting up and managing your own site on a web host. While building a website on WordPress requires less technical know-how than traditional coding methods, some familiarity with PHP scripting language basics can definitely help get your website off the ground quickly and easily without any headaches along the way.

Conclusion

Web hosting and WordPress hosting are two types of services with differences in terms of pricing, usability, security, and performance.

Web hosting offers the basics for setting up your website, whereas WordPress hosting offers enhanced support and tools specifically tailored to WP users. Depending on your website requirements, either web or WordPress Hosting can be the right option for you.

Ultimately, make sure to consider your needs and preferences when selecting a hosting provider to ensure that you have the resources needed to run a successful website.

Image Credits

All photos used have been curated by Verity staff

Verity Editorial Staff

The editorial staff at VerityHosting is a team of hosting experts with over 25 years of experience managing, monitoring, and maintaining hosting services for small businesses.

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