So, you want to build a WordPress site and you’re wondering how to host it. Should you choose general web hosting or WordPress hosting?

Are they the same thing? Is one better than the other? 

Web hosting is a general term that includes different types of hosting. WordPress hosting is a service designed specifically for sites running WordPress. 

But even if you have a WordPress site, is WordPress hosting the best option for your website?  The right choice is important because it will impact your online performance, security, and traffic.

This article compares web hosting vs WordPress hosting to help you choose the best one for your business hosting needs. 

What is Web Hosting

Web hosting is simply the service that makes your website accessible on the internet.

It is a general hosting service representing different types of hosting services designed to support different kinds of websites and online applications.

Some of the most common web hosting types include shared hosting, VPS hosting, dedicated server hosting, and cloud hosting. 

a) Shared Hosting

This is the most common and affordable type, where your website shares server resources with many other websites. It’s like renting an apartment in a large building. It’s cost-effective but comes with the limitations of shared resources, such as lower page loading speeds. Because of its lower price point, most new businesses start with shared hosting.

b) Virtual Private Servers (VPS) Hosting

VPS hosting is better than shared hosting, although there is still sharing involved.

A VPS gives you a dedicated portion of a server’s resources, even though you’re still on a shared physical machine.

This gives you more power to handle higher traffic and more rights to customize.   

c) Dedicated Server Hosting 

Dedicated servers provide you with an entire physical server exclusively for your use.

It’s like owning an entire building, where you have maximum power, control, and security. But you also have more responsibility and spend more.

d) Cloud Hosting 

Cloud hosting is a type of web hosting where your website or application runs on a network of connected servers — the cloud — instead of relying on just one physical machine.

Cloud hosting uses a network of virtual servers, allowing you to provide enough resources when you need to scale with demand.

For instance, if you run an e-commerce website, you might experience high traffic during holiday seasons and low traffic the rest of the year. With cloud hosting, you can upgrade or downgrade to suit traffic fluctuations. 

Characteristics of Web Hosting

The characteristics of web hosting vary depending on the type. But taken generally,variious types of web hosting vary in the following ways:

• Flexibility: Web hosting plans hosts a wide variety of websites, regardless of the technology they use. You could build a website using raw HTML and CSS, a different Content Management System (CMS) like Joomla or Drupal, or even a custom application built with programming languages like Python or Ruby.
  
• Neutral environment: General web hosting provides a neutral server environment. It doesn’t inherently favor one type of website builder or platform over another. The hosting provider gives you the tools and resources, and it’s up to you to install whatever software you want.
  
• It serves a wider market: Since it’s open, it serves a large number of developers and businesses who might not necessarily prefer to use WordPress.

What is WordPress Hosting

Now that you better understand web hosting, let’s talk about WordPress hosting. 

WordPress hosting is also a type of web hosting, but it’s specifically meant for websites built with WordPress.

You’re probably wondering why there would be a hosting service specifically for WordPress.

Why not? 

I mean WordPress is the most popular CMS and powers over 40% of websites, and because so many businesses use it, hosting providers have developed a special service tailored specifically for it.

What Makes WordPress Hosting Different? 

WordPress hosting is optimized for WordPress users.

If you’re hosting with WordPress hosting, you’ll likely notice better performance compared to standard hosting. 

WordPress hosting offers: 

1) Server-Level Optimization

WordPress hosting servers run faster because they use: 

• Caching mechanisms: Servers store frequently accessed data so it’s available all the time, leading to faster page loading.
  
• Optimized PHP versions: WordPress is built on PHP, and hosts ensure they use the latest, fastest, and most secure versions.
  
• Specific database configurations: WordPress uses a MySQL database. Dedicated WordPress hosting is optimized for its performance.

2) Pre-installed WordPress

WordPress comes pre-installed, and if it’s not, you can use a one-click installer to set it up incredibly, saving you time and technical hassle.

3) WordPress-specific Security

While general web hosting provides baseline security, WordPress hosting offers advanced security to tackle WordPress-related threats.

These include specialized firewalls, malware scanning for WordPress files, and regularly monitoring for WordPress-specific threats.

4) Automatic Updates & Backups

WordPress hosting plans, such as managed WordPress hosting, automate updates and backups for core WordPress, themes, and plugins.

This frees you from tedious maintenance tasks and provides peace of mind.

5) Expert WordPress Support Team

The support teams for WordPress hosting are typically experts in WordPress itself, not just general server administrators.

If you have a problem with a plugin, a theme, or a WordPress update, their support staff is equipped to help directly.

6) Staging Environment

A staging environment is a copy of your live website where you can test updates, new plugins, or design changes without affecting your live site.

By testing in a staging environment, you can prevent issues before they affect your website and customers.

Why General Web Hosting Might Not Be Good for Your WordPress Site

The Web hosting services discussed above provide a lot of flexibility, but if your website runs on WordPress, they might have some disadvantages, such as:

I) Slower performance

Without specific server optimizations for WordPress, your site might load slower than it could.

You might need to install and configure multiple caching plugins and make other performance enhancements yourself, which requires technical expertise.

You might also need to invest in ongoing management.

II) Increased security risk

Web hosting provides server security, but not WordPress-specific security measures.

This leaves your site open to WordPress attacks, especially if you’re not diligent with security protocols.

III) More manual work

You’ll be responsible for all WordPress core, theme, and plugin updates, as well as setting up backup solutions.

This is time-consuming, and if you’re not a tech expert, you’re likely to make mistakes when configuring backups or forget to update if you’re using manual backups.

A single missed update could lead to a security breach or damage (break) your site.

IV) Generic support (not WordPress specific)

If you encounter a WordPress-related issue (e.g., a plugin conflict, a theme problem, or a database error specific to WordPress), general hosting support might only be able to assist with server-level issues.

They may not have the expertise to troubleshoot your WordPress application directly, and you may need to find solutions independently or hire a WordPress developer.

V) Lack of WordPress tools

You likely won’t have access to features like staging environments, integrated WordPress security scans, or built-in WordPress performance tools, all of which can serve to streamline website management.

VI) Compatibility issues

Web hosting can run WordPress, but it might not be perfectly compatible with specific WordPress plugins or themes, and may result in errors and poor performance.

For a business owner, these disadvantages could mean: 

• Revenue losses because of slow performance or downtime
• A bad business reputation in case of security breaches or an unreliable website
• Time wasted on technical troubleshooting rather than on running your business
• Spending more on hiring external WordPress experts for tasks your hosting provider cannot handle.

Web Hosting vs WordPress Hosting: Which One Should You Choose? 

Choose Web Hosting if:

• Your website is not built on WordPress, or your business has websites using custom code or applications that aren’t built on a specific content management system (CMS).
  
• You are a developer or a team of developers who work with different software and CMSs, and require complete control over your server environment.
  
• You want the freedom to switch between different website platforms at a future date. 
  
• Your budget is extremely tight, or if you’re comfortable with server management, or if you have an IT team to handle technical configurations. 

Choose WordPress Hosting (Especially Managed WordPress Hosting) if:

• You run a small, medium, or large business that uses WordPress as its primary website platform.
• You want to take advantage of enhanced security features specifically designed for WordPress.
• Your business prioritizes ease of use and does not want to deal with technical maintenance.
• You run or are looking to run an e-commerce store built with WooCommerce (the e-commerce plugin for WordPress)
• You run a content-heavy blog or news site and are looking for speed and stability to handle high traffic.
• Your business wants specialized support from people who understand WordPress inside and out.

Partner with Truehost for Your Hosting Needs

When you’re ready to make a decision, you want to partner with a hosting provider that understands web hosting and the WordPress space.

We operate in Kenya, and have experienced support in WordPress as and when need arises.

We also offer some of the most affordable pricing plans in the country:

• Host any type of website (custom code, Drupal, Joomla, WordPress)
• User-friendly cPanel for managing your files, databases, email accounts, and other server settings
• Scalable plans that grow with your business. You can upgrade to a VPS or dedicated server if shared hosting is no longer enough.
• Fast loading SSD Storage
• Free SSL certificates
• cPanel email accounts for your domain
• 24/7 Support for server-related issues, connectivity, account management, etcetera.

Don’t settle for “good enough” when your online business deserves optimized performance.  Sign up Now and enjoy Truehost’s hosting plans!