Shared VS. Managed WordPress Hosting

One of the popular web host, Dreamhost
One of the popular web hosting, Dreamhost

Shared VS. managed hosting has been a debated topic while setting up the WordPress site. Other than their features, its services, and especially your budget play quite a crucial role in the selection of the web hosting plan. 

It is also true that not all premium plans have excellent features and services. Sometimes the product’s services may be lacking although the pricing may be expensive. Therefore, comparing shared and managed hosting is easier said than done. 

In this article, we will compare the two hosting services and look at their features. We will start with their definition and then get down to the comparison. Let us get straight into it!

What is Shared Hosting?

Shared hosting is an inexpensive service where a single server hosts multiple websites. Similarly, storage, RAM, and bandwidth are also shared. This type of hosting is best for personal, small business websites, and for those who do not need much control over their site.  

Since it is an affordable option, the website using shared hosting receives only fixed web traffic. There are different levels of hosting plan available and you can upgrade the plan if you want to. It is easy to set up and usually comes with built-in cPanel which helps to manage the site easily. Most of the shared hosting services have guaranteed uptime of 99% and offer domain name services which is very convenient for new site owners.

However, shared hosting has its limits. There are limits to storage, bandwidth, and space. Likewise, there is no root access meaning there is no access to the server, hence, limiting control of your site. You will also have to share your IP address. There are security concerns with shared hosting and servers can get overloaded.

What is Managed Hosting?

Managed hosting is as the name suggests managed service. A third party manages and looks over all the setup, administration, and support of the server. Additionally, managed hosting provides various advantages to the site owners and increased performance. 

There is dedicated support in managed hosting. Rather than hiring someone to manage your cloud service, managed hosting takes care of it. The pricing of such hosting can differ according to the services they provide. For additional or advanced services, the service can be pricer and more expensive. Likewise, there are also options for customized managed hosting to fit your requirements. 

Some of the features that managed hosting provides include backups, security services, server maintenance, monitoring, disaster recovery, and many more. The service provider keeps your site up-to-date with the latest technology. Although managed hosting has its advantages, it is expensive. It may also restrict the use of certain plugins resulting in your site slowing down. Similarly, these services only host WordPress sites.

Interested to know the difference between free and paid web hosting? Click here!

Difference between Shared Hosting and Managed Hosting

Let us now compare shared hosting with managed hosting and see their differences. 

Shared HostingManaged Hosting
PerformanceMultiple websites share a single server, thus, website performance could be slowed.Servers are optimized, hence, there is a boost in the site’s performance.
Ease of useIt typically has a user-friendly cPanel that gives access to essential settings.It has an intuitive control panel that gives access to the WordPress admin dashboard.
Maintenance and updatesUsers have to maintain and update the server themselves.The third party takes care of the maintenance and updates.
ScalabilityIt is not scalable.It is scalable.
SecurityMore prone to cyber-attacks and security breaches.More secure and may even have advanced security features.
PricingIt is budget-friendly and affordable.It is more expensive than shared hosting.

Conclusion

These were the features and differences between shared vs. managed WordPress hosting. There are hosting options other than shared and managed hosting. However, these two are the most commonly used hosting services in WordPress sites. For any kind of site, you must choose the right hosting service for you. It should excel in performance, user experience, and security. Pricing also plays an important role when choosing the right hosting. 

In our opinion between shared and managed hosting, managed hosting is hands-down the best. A bit expensive compared to shared hosting, managed hosting is safe secure and you do not have to take stress about maintenance and updates. Similarly, it also provides optimized performance and dedicated customer support. 

Therefore, in comparison, managed hosting is better in every aspect. But if you are a beginner or looking for a budget-friendly option, shared hosting can be the ideal choice for you!

FAQs

What is the main difference between shared and managed hosting?

The main difference between the two is the level of control, customization options, and support they provide to the users. The shared hosting offers basic features with standard support. At the same time, managed hosting offers a high level of control over the site, additional features, security, and support. 

Which hosting is more secure?

Managed hosting offers enhanced security compared to shared hosting. The managed hosting has dedicated resources, SSL certificates, advanced security measures, regular updates, data backups, and 24/7 security monitoring which makes it more secure than the shared hosting.

Can high-traffic WordPress websites use shared hosting? 

Yes, however, shared hosting may struggle to handle the high traffic. We recommend you choose or upgrade to managed hosting if your website has high traffic. 

Which web hosting provides SEO advantages?

Managed hosting provides several SEO advantages compared to shared hosting. It provides optimized speed, higher server uptime, advanced security features, automatic updates, scalability, and more which all contribute to a positive user experience and boosting search engine ranking.

Is it possible to upgrade from shared hosting to managed hosting?

Certainly! You can upgrade from shared to managed hosting. In fact, many managed web hosting provide migration services for your WordPress site. 

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