For someone new to web, choosing WordPress hosting can be daunting task, not because of lack of options, but because there are too many of them.This article will provide a high level framework for you to evaluate those for your needs.
If you visit wordpress.org, you would find WordPress described in one line as
WordPress is web software you can use to create a beautiful website, blog, or app. We like to say that WordPress is both free and priceless at the same time.
We wholeheartedly agree, especially that it is free AND priceless at the same time !
Process
If you are someone, who is planning to use WordPress for any of the uses mentioned above, you would have also read that is very easy to get started (following steps listed on wordpress.org)
- Find a Web Host
- Download & Install
- Read the documentation
Today let’s deal with #1 i.e. how to find WordPress hosting, that is inline with your requirement.
Options
For someone who is new to web, number of choices available for WordPress Hosting could be overwhelming.
In order to answer that, first lets look at few types of hosting available, so we can decide what is right for us.
I will use a car analogy to make it simple and easy to relate.
There are three main types listed as listed below in ascending order of cost, security and performance
- Shared hosting : server resources are shared between many customers e.g take a bus to travel.
- VPS hosting : (virtual)server where resources are exclusively allocated to you e.g. hire/lease a car
- Dedicated hosting : physical server dedicated to you e.g buy a car
Within VPS and dedicated hosting, you have further two options, managed vs self-managed.
Please note for VPS and dedicated WordPress hosting, you are responsible for security yourself.
Managed service providers carry out some activities on your behalf and hence cost more that later.
Using car analogy again, managed services are equivalent of chauffeur driven car vs. you driving car yourself.
Summary
Ultimately it comes down to choosing between cost, performance, security and efforts/time.
If you want to start a blog with no or small audience, and want to use shared hosting, go ahead.
However starting an E-Commerce or membership portal on shared hosting, might not be a good idea.
Not just from perspective of performance/spikes in traffic but more importantly, security.