Different clients have different needs. An online business that uses multiple media files and receives numerous visitors has more hosting requirements than a personal website used for blogging.
Hosting providers consider speed, storage space, and price for their hosting plan offerings. Each option has different payoffs.
Let’s look at the most popular options available.
Shared Hosting
Shared hosting is best for entry-level functions. Because it’s targeted at beginners, shared hosting packages often come with website builders, templates, and email features.
With shared hosting, you share server resources such as disk space and bandwidth with other websites, making it the most affordable option. However, because you share space with multiple websites on one server, risks are involved.
Shared hosting can affect website performance. For example, if one of the other websites experiences heavy traffic, it will slow down your website.
Best for: New websites that receive minimal web traffic, such as small business websites.
Pros:
- Low-cost
- Pre-configured server options
- Requires little to no technical knowledge
- Host takes care of server maintenance
Cons:
- Shared resources with other websites can affect security and speed
- Shared IP address
- Little to no control over server configuration
Dedicated Hosting
Dedicated hosting is on the opposite end of shared hosting. It’s usually the most expensive type of hosting because it gives website owners the most control over their servers.
With dedicated hosting, you rent the whole server, so you’re in charge of everything from choosing its operating system to maintain.
Best for: Website owners who have high traffic levels or need control over their servers.
Pros:
- Dedicated server space
- Faster website speed
- Scalable and customizable
Cons:
- Most expensive type of hosting
- Requires technical expertise
Virtual Private Server (VPS) Hosting
Virtual private server (VPS) hosting is the middle ground between shared hosting and dedicated hosting.
VPS hosting mimics dedicated hosting because each website has its own space on the server, but websites on VPS hosting still share server space with others.
Best for: Website owners who require more control over their servers but don’t necessarily need a dedicated server.
Pros:
- Provides dedicated server space without the hefty price tag
- Website owners can configure their server space
- Doesn’t require much technical knowledge
Cons:
- Unable to handle high traffic levels or spikes
- Performance is still affected by other websites on the server
Cloud Hosting
What is web hosting’s most reliable option? Cloud hosting. Unlike regular hosting, which takes a centralized approach by storing multiple websites’ data on a physical server, cloud hosting operates on virtualization.
With virtualization, data appears to be stored on one server, but multiple storage devices share the physical server’s capacity. Because data is stored in various locations, it can be easily backed up and retrieved. It’s also more flexible since it’s easier to add storage space.
Best for: High-traffic websites that need plenty of processing power, bandwidth, and disk space, such as ecommerce stores.
Pros:
- Little to no downtime
- Pay-on-demand
- Resources scale to users’ needs
Cons:
- Difficult to estimate actual costs because it varies monthly
- Dependent on the internet
Web hosting is often comprised of one of those four plans, but hosting packages also cater to specific markets.
WordPress Hosting
Managed WordPress hosting (or simply WordPress hosting) is a type of shared hosting for WordPress users.
Servers are configured specifically for WordPress, so your website runs faster and more smoothly. WordPress hosting plans also include special features, such as:
- Pre-installed plugins.
- One-click WordPress
- Pre-designed WordPress
- Drag-and-drop builders.
- Customer support team knowledgeable with WordPress.
Ecommerce Hosting
With the prevalence of ecommerce shops, hosting providers have introduced ecommerce hosting.
Like WordPress hosting, ecommerce hosting offers unique features tailored to the business. These often include:
- Free SSL certificates
- Help setting up payment gateways
- Extra security