When it comes to hosting your website, there are a variety of options available. From shared hosting to managed hosting, cloud-based hosting to secure hosting, and more, it can be difficult to decide which type of hosting is best for you. To help you make the right decision, let's take a look at the different types of web hosting and what they offer.Shared hosting is an agreement where several websites are kept on the same server. It's the most popular option for new small business websites, personal blogs, affiliate websites, and early growing startups due to its affordability and usability.
The downside of shared hosting is that the hosting infrastructure is used by others, so if your “neighbor” is going viral, you may be getting fewer resources. This can lead to decreased speed and performance of your website.Virtual private hosting is a good “upgrade” after a shared hosting plan. In this case, you will still share the physical server space with other website owners, but your website will be hosted in a separate piece of “virtual real estate”. Managed hosting is a subtype of available hosting solution.
Some hosting providers offer separately managed WordPress hosting plans. In this case, you will still have shared hosting space but the package includes maintenance and security of the website. Managed WordPress hosting is more expensive than regular shared hosting but it gives you more time and peace of mind to focus on your core business and marketing.Cloud-based web hosting refers to a fairly new technology that allows hundreds of individual servers to work together to make it look like a giant server. The idea is that as the need grows, the hosting company can add more basic hardware to create an ever larger network or cloud.
While it's not as cheap as shared web hosting, this is a great option for both startups and established companies using the WordPress platform.Secure web hosting is vital if you want to open an online store or host any kind of private information. Shared hosting is probably the least secure type of hosting as you'll be sharing a server with dozens or hundreds of other sites. If you plan to sell a product, look for a web host that offers a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate as it encrypts data between the customer's browser and the web host to protect purchase information.VPS hosting is unique because each website is hosted in its own server space, although it still shares a physical server with other users. For example, if you're using a host managed by WordPress, your server environment will be uniquely configured to protect the WordPress CMS and the support team behind you will have in-depth technical knowledge related to the platform you're using.If you're just starting out, we recommend sticking with a shared hosting plan.
However, if you're looking for something more than what shared hosting offers, VPS hosting may be worth considering. Cloud-based web hosting is also an option for those who need more resources than what shared or VPS hosting can provide.When selecting a web host provider, look for one that offers reliable customer service and security features such as an SSL certificate. DreamHost is one of the biggest names in the business and notable for its WordPress hosting plans and 97-day money-back guarantee.
