Jump To:
As an SEO strategist, I’ve had the opportunity to work on the backend of websites hosted by several of the major website hosting providers.
What I can tell you, with certainty, is that your choice of hosting provider will impact your SEO and your WordPress experience.
Choosing the right host for your WordPress website can significantly impact its performance, security, and ease of use.
Towards the end of this article, I’ll share my take on the best wordpress hosting for your small business- but in order to understand why I advocate for what I do, I want you to understand the difference between two types of common website hosting offers.
With so many options available, it can be challenging to know which hosting service is the best fit for your needs.
In this post, we’ll break down the differences between shared WordPress hosting and managed WordPress hosting, and offer examples of both types of hosts to help you make an informed decision.
Shared WordPress Hosting
Shared WordPress hosting is the most affordable option and may be ideal for folks just starting out.
It means your website will share server resources, like memory and CPU, with other websites.
While this can be cost-effective, it comes with some limitations, especially if your site grows or experiences high traffic.
Pros of Shared Hosting:
- Budget-Friendly: Shared hosting is typically the cheapest hosting option. Note, cheapest isn’t always worth it. See my note at the end of this post.
- Beginner-Friendly: Most shared hosting providers offer one-click WordPress installations and easy setup processes.
- Sufficient for Small Sites: If your site is new or gets low traffic, shared hosting can be a good starting point.
Cons of Shared Hosting:
- Slower Speeds: Since you’re sharing resources with other websites, your site might load more slowly, especially if other sites get a lot of traffic.
- Security Risks: If another website on the same server gets hacked, your site could be at risk too.
- Unpredictable Performance: Your site can slow down if another website on the same server is using too many resources.
- Basic Support: Shared hosting usually offers limited customer support, which might not be as quick or helpful as you’d like.
Examples of Shared WordPress Hosts:
- Bluehost
- SiteGround
- DreamHost
Managed WordPress Hosting
Managed WordPress hosting takes hosting to the next level by handling much of the technical work for you, including updates, backups, and performance optimizations.
Managed hosts also provide enhanced security and offer dedicated support from WordPress experts. This is ideal for websites that expect high traffic or need better performance and security features.
With managed hosting, your website does technically live on a shared server, but it’s treated to a white-glove experience.
Pros of Managed Hosting:
- Better Speed: Managed hosting makes your website load faster by using tools that are specifically designed for WordPress. This can also help improve your site’s ranking on Google.
- Stronger Security: Managed hosting comes with built-in security features like automatic scans for viruses, firewalls to block attacks, and regular backups to protect your data.
- Less Work for You: Your WordPress software, themes, and plugins will automatically stay up to date, so you don’t have to worry about doing it yourself.
- Expert Help: You get access to support from WordPress experts who can help if something goes wrong or if you need troubleshooting.
- Ready to Grow: Managed hosting is designed to handle increased traffic as your site grows, without slowing down.
Cons of Managed Hosting:
- Higher Price: Managed hosting costs more than shared hosting, so it may not be the best choice if you’re on a tight budget.
- Less Flexibility: Some managed hosts limit what you can install or change to keep your site running smoothly and securely, which might feel restrictive if you like to customize a lot.
Examples of Managed WordPress Hosts:
- Rocket.net
- Flywheel
- Kinsta
My Personal Recommendation: Rocket.net
After working with various hosts, Rocket.net has become my personal recommendation for managed WordPress hosting. At $30 per month, the cost is not drastically different from some shared-hosting plans, but the value it offers is exceptional.
Here’s why I recommend Rocket.net:
- Outstanding Customer Service: With Rocket.net, I have 24/7 access to real humans who provide support for both server-level and WordPress-level questions. This is a huge benefit, especially if you need assistance troubleshooting technical issues beyond basic website management.
- User-Friendly Interface: Their backend user interface is the most straightforward and least glitchy of any host I’ve worked with. It’s easy to navigate and designed for efficiency, which is critical for anyone managing their own site.
- Performance: Rocket.net provides integrated caching, a global CDN, and other performance optimizations that keep your site running smoothly, even during traffic spikes. If getting found on Google is a priority for you, these speed enhancements are well worth the investment.
If you’re looking for a managed WordPress host that balances performance, cost, and exceptional support, Rocket.net is a solid choice. It offers many of the benefits of higher-priced plans without the hassle or steep learning curve.
How to Choose the Right Host for Your WordPress Website
When picking the best WordPress host for your site, here are some important things to consider:
- Speed and Performance: Choose a host that offers fast storage and built-in tools to make your site load quickly.
- Security: Make sure the host provides automatic backups, scans for viruses, and has security features like SSL certificates and firewalls to keep your site safe.
- Room to Grow: If you think your site will get bigger, go with a host that can handle more traffic as your business grows.
- Ease of Use: Whether you’re new to WordPress or experienced, pick a host that’s easy to manage with a simple dashboard and helpful support.
- Testing Changes: Look for a host that offers a staging environment, where you can safely test changes before making them live.
- Support: Choose a host with 24/7 customer support and experts who know WordPress, so you can get help when you need it.
Is Managed Hosting Worth it?
On average, managed hosting costs more than shared hosting, but you truly get what you pay for.
If you’re paying $2.99/month for hosting, you’re likely on your own when things go wrong.
Here’s a quick story: I have a client who was using a popular web hosting platform known for its colorful branding. Her website broke on the backend due to an issue with the host. Since this host doesn’t make regular backups or prioritize customer service, they offered to restore a two-week-old “emergency backup” for a fee of $49.
We would have lost 2 weeks of work that we’d done on her website.
I contacted the engineers at my hosting provider, Rocket.net, and luckily they were able to recover her files from a backup I had made and restore her site for free on their platform.
Her plan on her original hosting platform cost $22/month (for a higher “tier” of service, not the basic plan). We pay $30/month for our managed hosting on Rocket.net.
It’s a little more expensive, but the difference in service is night and day. So, I implore you- don’t choose the cheapest web host.
Customer service and peace of mind are absolutely worth the extra cost.
TL;DR: The BesT Hosting For Your WordPress Website
The best WordPress hosting for your small business depends on your specific needs.
Shared hosts like Bluehost, SiteGround, and DreamHost offer budget-friendly options for new or low-traffic sites.
For better performance, support, and security, I highly recommend managed WordPress hosting, particularly Rocket.net for its combination of excellent customer service, ease of use, and cost-effectiveness.
Need help getting your WordPress website up and running?
Sign up for a WordPress Help Session, and I’ll guide you through choosing the right tech setup for your business so you can get your website online without the hassle.
Affiliate Statement:
In this post, I share my affiliate link for Rocket.net. If you choose to use my link, I’ll receive a small commission at no extra cost to you, which helps support this blog. I recommend Rocket.net based on my overwhelmingly positive experience with the company, not just for the commission. Your support is greatly appreciated!
