Key takeaways:
- Web hosting is a versatile service that works for any kind of website, whether you build it with WordPress, another platform, or custom code.
- WordPress hosting is a specialized service with features and servers that are fine-tuned just for WordPress websites. While it can host websites from other platforms, they may not function optimally.
- You can use a general web hosting plan for a WordPress site, but you’ll be responsible for handling your own WordPress-specific updates, security, and performance. Plugins and themes may also behave unpredictably and require manual reconfiguration.
Hosting can be difficult to navigate. There are so many types available. However, new website owners are often presented with two options: web hosting and WordPress hosting.
This leads us to ask: why these two?
What’s more, while WordPress hosting is built specifically for WordPress websites, it’s not exclusive to WordPress. You can host a WordPress site on regular hosting or run other sites on WordPress hosting.
This overlap makes people wonder if there’s something really different between the two. And they’re right to question that. Let’s clear up the confusion and help you choose the hosting type that’s right for your site.
What is the difference between web hosting and WordPress hosting?
All WordPress hosting is web hosting, but not all web hosting is WordPress hosting.
Meaning, WordPress hosting is designed primarily for WordPress-based sites. It acts as a specific type of hosting built just to make WordPress run smoothly.
On the other hand, web hosting provides a general environment for various web technologies. A generic web host can run many different kinds of websites and applications.
To help you understand the key differences, here’s a side-by-side comparison of WordPress hosting vs web hosting:
| Aspect | WordPress hosting | Web hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | Optimized specifically for WordPress to deliver faster speeds | Can be fast, but performance relies on the web hosting plan you’ll use |
| Support | Offers specialized, WordPress-specific support and expertise | Provides more general, non-specialized technical support |
| Flexibility | Specifically optimized for WordPress | Supports a wide range of website builders and content management systems |
| Cost | Often more expensive due to specialized features, managed service, and specialized support. Our “Growing Businesses” plan with 20 GB of storage costs $8.99 per month for the first year. | Generally, more affordable, with basic plans for a lower price point. Our “Essential” plan with 20 GB of disk space costs $4.99 per month for the first year. |
| Setup | You can get WordPress pre-installed or offered through a guided setup with pre-configured settings. | Setup varies. You may receive a one-click installer, or you may need to install your chosen software yourself. |
| Resource limits and scalability | Plans may limit storage, websites, or monthly visitors. Upgrade and extra-usage rules vary by hosting provider. | Limits and growth options depend on the hosting package. Shared, VPS, cloud, and dedicated plans scale differently. |
| Time spent on maintenance | Managed plans reduce routine WordPress work, but owners still manage content, users, and business decisions. | You or a hired professional may spend more time on installation, software updates, backups, and speed improvements. |
| Security and updates | May include WordPress-specific security, malware scans, core updates, backups, or other security measures tailored to WordPress. Coverage varies by plan. | Basic provider protection varies. You may need to manage website security and updates yourself, especially on a self-managed plan. |
What is WordPress hosting?
WordPress hosting is a form of web hosting configuration to make WordPress sites run efficiently. You’ll see two main options when researching WordPress hosting providers: unmanaged and managed WordPress hosting.
Think of unmanaged hosting like renting an empty office space. You install the software and manage the server yourself. With a managed hosting plan, you only manage your website content. The host handles all the technical aspects of your environment and manages everything underneath.
WordPress powers over 41% of all websites, so it created a need for specialized environments. WordPress hosting is optimized for performance and security and provides tools that make it easier to manage your online presence.
Note that the open-source software from WordPress.org differs from the commercial platform at WordPress.com. You can read more about how they differ here: WordPress.org vs. WordPress.com
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Explore Network Solutions WordPress Hosting for automatic updates, cloud backups, platform-focused support, and plans for one or more WordPress sites.
Pros of WordPress hosting
Apart from letting you get the most out of your website, here are what specialized WordPress hosting offers:
- Simplifies management
- Optimizes performance
- Provides specialized WordPress hosting support
- Easy WordPress setup and migration
- Automatic backups and restoration
Simplifies management
With WordPress hosting plans, your hosting provider handles most technical details. Many providers include a dashboard that manages automatic software updates for plugins and themes. You don’t have to worry about breaking your site because the host handles the complex backend work. Depending on your plan, there can even be multiple WordPress sites all in one place.
Optimizes performance
A specialized host makes your website fast. WordPress hosting can result in faster page load times due to server optimization. You have built-in caching solutions, caching settings, and WordPress-specific optimizations that you would otherwise have to set up manually to improve site speed.
Provides specialized WordPress hosting support
When you have a question or a problem, you want help from someone who truly understands your site. WordPress hosting provides specialized customer support with a support team full of experts equipped to handle issues related to the platform’s plugins and add-ons. They know the platform deeply, offering dedicated support that general hosts rarely match.
Easy WordPress setup and migration
WordPress hosting companies often offer pre-installed WordPress or a one-click installation setup. Many providers offer migration tools or assisted migration services, which can make it easier to move your WordPress files and database from one host to another.
Automatic backups and restorations
Aside from specialized support, many WordPress hosting services include daily backups and automatic updates. They offer regular cloud backup of all your WordPress website’s data, which makes it easy to restore a previous version when needed. While you can do the same with regular hosting, it often requires extra, time-consuming steps to ensure you have everything you need.
Cons of WordPress hosting
This setup works well for many small businesses, but you need to know the downsides. The main disadvantage is that WordPress hosting may be limited to WordPress-based sites.
Here are other drawbacks to consider with WordPress hosting:
- Costs can be higher
- Limits may be put on some plugins and themes
- You have less control of server configurations
Costs can be higher
WordPress hosting can be more expensive than standard web hosting because it relies on specialized infrastructure, including optimized servers, faster hardware, content delivery networks (CDNs), and performance-enhancing tools.
Basic shared web hosting is cheaper than WordPress hosting—a more budget-friendly option for simple websites. While shared WordPress standard hosting plans start at $2-5 per month, advanced WordPress hosting can cost $30 or more for cloud or VPS hosting plans. But WordPress hosting typically includes features justifying higher costs, such as enhanced security, automatic WordPress updates, WordPress performance optimization, and expert WordPress support.
Disclaimer: Prices are estimates and may vary by hosting provider, plan features, introductory offers, and renewal rates. Check the provider’s current pricing and terms before purchasing.
Limits may be put on some plugins and themes
Providers often restrict certain plugins and themes to ensure their servers run smoothly and securely for every user. They frequently block plugins that conflict with the WordPress-specific features already built into their system. And this can be frustrating if a plugin is a key part of how your WordPress site works.
You have less control on server configuration
WordPress allows the use of third-party plugins. This simplifies website creation, but it also makes server configuration riskier and more complex. Managed WordPress hosting providers often limit certain server settings to maintain security, performance, and platform stability across customer sites.
While these restrictions keep the hosting environment secure and stable, advanced users who want to fully control their server may find this frustrating.
What is web hosting?
Web hosting is a service that stores your files on server space so people can visit your site on the internet. It provides a general environment for various web technologies. It’s a broad category that supports many types of websites (not just WordPress) and technologies, including other content management systems (CMS), website builders, and custom-built sites.
Here is a quick roundup of the most popular options for hosting types:
- Shared hosting: This is a budget-friendly option where your site lives on a single physical server alongside many other websites. Shared hosting places multiple websites on the same server. It’s great for beginners or small websites with low traffic.
- Virtual private server (VPS) hosting: VPS hosting offers dedicated resources for better performance. A single physical server is divided into multiple virtual server blocks. You get your own dedicated portion of power, which balances cost and control for growing businesses.
- Cloud hosting: A cloud hosting environment uses a network of virtual servers for scalability. Unlike shared hosting that relies on one machine, cloud hosting pulls power from multiple servers. This spreads out the traffic load and helps your site stay fast and reliable even during busy periods.
- Dedicated hosting: Dedicated hosting provides full control over an entire server. You rent an entire physical server just for your business. A dedicated server is the highest-cost option, usually reserved for massive websites needing maximum server space and speed.
Most providers bundle these into a hosting package. Your choice should depend on your specific needs.
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Pros of web hosting
Web hosting services are designed to store websites built with any website builder or content management system, including WordPress. These services are offered in varying types and plans, each with their advantages and disadvantages.
Generally, the pros of web hosting include:
- Hosts multiple sites from different platforms
- Customization of server configurations
- Cheaper options
Hosts multiple sites from different platforms
A general web hosting option is a versatile solution for hosting websites from various builders and platforms. Regular web hosting allows hosting multiple types of CMS and applications. You can host a personal blog on WordPress and a completely different software platform under one account. Depending on the plan, general web hosting can support CMS and custom software.
Customization of server configurations
Web hosting gives you greater control over your server. This is a big advantage for users with more technical expertise, as it allows you to configure server settings, fine-tune performance, and install custom applications to meet your specific needs.
Cheaper options
Web hosting is generally cheaper than managed WordPress hosting because they don’t need specialized hosting infrastructure and support to keep running. They also offer more variations and packages to meet different websites’ needs and budgets.
Cons of web hosting
While web hosting is generally more flexible than WordPress hosting, it also comes with some disadvantages you should be aware of, such as:
- Less specialized support
- Performance variations between hosting providers
Less specialized support
Web hosts are made to host websites built on varying platforms. Their support teams may not be equipped to handle compatibility issues with specific website builders or their features. To avoid this, it’s best to use the website builder that a web hosting provider offers or is known to have strong support for.
Performance variations between hosting providers
Standard hosting is not optimized for one specific platform. Instead, it is configured to meet the needs of a wide range of platforms and hosting types. As a result, the server settings and performance tools are not fine-tuned for any specific site. But they do offer more flexibility when it comes to setting up your server configuration so you can adjust it yourself.
Which one should you choose?
At first glance, the choice seems obvious: Use WordPress hosting for WordPress and general web hosting for another platform.
However, a WordPress website can use either option. Your decision should also consider your priorities—how much setup, maintenance, support, and control you want. The quality of either choice still depends on the specific hosting provider and plan.
With that in mind, here are a few questions for you to answer to help narrow down your choice:
- Do you plan to build a WordPress site?
- Do you have a specific non-WordPress platform in mind?
- Do you need full control over every server setting and configuration?
Do you plan to build a WordPress site?
If you decide to build a WordPress website, you don’t have to buy WP hosting. The right choice depends on how much convenience you want versus how much control you need.
If you want hassle-free setup, automatic updates, built-in speed tools, and specialized support, choose WordPress hosting.
WordPress itself is a powerful CMS. Here’s why people use it:
- No vendor lock-in: Since WordPress is an open-source platform supported by the vast majority of hosts, you’re free to move your custom site at any time to take advantage of different rates and perks.
- Unparalleled freedom: With access to over 60,000 plugins and thousands of themes, WordPress gives you unmatched freedom to customize your site and stand out from the crowd.
- SEO capabilities: WordPress is built with SEO in mind, and its vast library of plugins gives you complete control over every SEO element.
- Scalability: The right combination of WordPress plugins can make your business website’s capabilities seem almost limitless, providing ultimate scalability for your business as it grows.
If you feel comfortable managing installations, updates, and server settings yourself, or if you plan to run other apps alongside WordPress, a general plan might be a better fit. Keep in mind that regular web hosting requires more technical skill for maintenance compared to WordPress hosting.
Bottom line: WordPress hosting is ideal for reducing your daily workload, though you still manage your content. General web hosting remains a good choice, but it requires owner or developer effort to keep the site secure and fast.
Do you have a specific non-WordPress platform in mind?
If you’re looking at different platforms, check their specific hosting requirements. After evaluating the platform’s web hosting coverage, decide whether to use their built-in managed services or a general web hosting plan.
A hosting provider’s regular web hosting plan offers more flexibility, better pricing, and easier migration if you switch platforms later. The flexibility of general web hosting is higher than that of WordPress hosting.
Do you need full control over every server setting and configuration?
Most small business owners don’t need full control of a server. A better question is how much technical work you want to handle. Advanced server settings matter when a developer needs to customize the server environment or install specialized software, but that level of access also increases responsibility for security, updates, monitoring, and maintenance.
- Choose WordPress hosting if: You have a WordPress site and want a managed hosting environment where the provider handles much of the setup, core updates, backups, security, performance optimization, and routine site management. A managed WordPress hosting plan is often the simplest option.
- Choose regular web hosting if: You may host different platforms, email, simple static sites, or a custom website, and you are comfortable with more hands-on site management or can hire technical help. VPS or dedicated hosting plans can provide greater flexibility and control over the server environment.
Choose the level of control your website actually needs and that you or your support person can manage safely.
Frequently asked questions
The main difference between WordPress hosting and web hosting is specialization. WordPress hosting is set up for WordPress and may include guided setup, updates, caching, security, and platform-specific help. Web hosting and WordPress hosting both put a site online, but general hosting supports a wider range of software.
Yes. A compatible web hosting plan can run WordPress. Check the current WordPress.org hosting requirements or ask the provider to confirm compatibility. On regular web hosting, you may need to handle more setup and maintenance unless the plan includes WordPress tools.
Neither is always better. WordPress hosting often suits owners who want convenience, automatic WordPress updates, and specialized support. General web hosting may be better for different platforms, custom applications, or advanced control. Compare the actual plans, not only their names.
WordPress hosting can include security measures tailored to common WordPress-specific vulnerabilities, such as malware scans, core updates, and backups. No provider can keep a site secure alone. You still need strong passwords, two-factor authentication, trustworthy plugins, current software, and tested backups.
Sometimes, since many WordPress hosting plans are optimized specifically for WordPress and may not support other platforms or custom applications. So if you’re building a non-WordPress website, a standard web hosting plan is usually the better choice because it offers broader compatibility and avoids paying for WordPress-specific features you may not need.
Managed WordPress hosting often costs more than basic shared hosting because it can include setup, backups, automatic updates, caching, security, and support. However, VPS or dedicated hosting can cost more. Compare renewal price, included features, limits, and the time you will spend on maintenance.
WordPress.org provides free software you install on your own web host. WordPress.com is a commercial service that hosts the software for you, but places limits on customization depending on your payment plan.
Choose the right hosting plan for you
Now that you know the difference between WordPress hosting and standard options, narrowing down your choice should feel much simpler. Choose one that gives you a clear path to grow.
Understanding WordPress hosting and web server differences ensures you buy exactly what you need without overspending. When you’re ready to get started, we offer comprehensive web hosting and WordPress hosting packages built for small business owners.
If you register a domain with us, you get a suite of free marketing tools to help you create a coming-soon page, organize contacts, plan content, and start building your online presence.
