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Why do I need Web Hosting for WordPress?
Like all CMS platforms WordPress needs web hosting because your WordPress website, all its data, themes, plugins, content, images, files, etc. need to be stored on a web server. Web Hosting Providers offer these web servers through various hosting plans for WordPress users. Without a web server, your WordPress website will not online nor accessible through the internet.
There are two types of web hosting for WordPress:
- Self Hosting using WordPress.org.
- Web Hosting through WordPress.com.
If the restrictions of being hosted by WordPress.com don’t bother you then you don’t need to Self Host.
However, if you would like total freedom and control over your WordPress website, including your choice of themes, plugins, the type of server, disk space, hosting plan etc. then Self Hosting your WordPress site is a much better option.
As you probably know, WordPress is completely free software which makes running a website easy, but to get your site live on the internet it needs to be hosted by an ISP.
You can think of this like leasing a space for your business in the mall. If you want to start an ecommerce website using WordPress, you will need Web Hosting so that when somebody types in www.yoursite.com they are directed to your site and not somebody else’s.
There is no limit on how much bandwidth or hard drive space you need, so if your website becomes popular your ISP will just expand to meet the demand.
Web Hosting is the lifeblood of your website, it’s where all your files are stored including your content, images and plugins.
WordPress’ popularity is why most Web Hosts support it. If you do not have a website yet then why not start with WordPress?
If you would like to learn more about why you need hosting for WordPress, check out the FAQs below.
I answer some of the most common questions people ask when they are choosing a Web Hosting service.
Why do I need Web Hosting for WordPress? Hosting WordPress FAQs.
Can I use free Web Hosting for WordPress?
This is a tough question to answer since it depends on why you want to use WordPress.
If your goal is simply to learn how to build websites, there are some good options for this but if your project is more complex or you plan on having lots of content then the free options will not be adequate.
Also WordPress.com does offer a free service which is great if you want to create a blog.
However, it doesn’t allow you to install 3rd party themes or plugins, so there are limitations on what you can do with WordPress. I would not recommend using free hosting for any site that has lots of traffic or that requires custom functionality.
Free Web Hosting is generally very restrictive and this can make it hard to use WordPress effectively. You will also face more downtime when using free services, which is why you will need a paid service for reliable and affordable hosting in the long-term (at least six months).
What if I want to sell products and accept credit cards?
If you want to accept credit cards then why not start selling digital products? This is easier, cheaper and safer than accepting card payments directly from your website. It also gives you more flexibility to expand your business and sell across multiple platforms.
Do I need a specific hosting plan for WordPress?
The WordPress software is freely available and does not require any specific type of hosting or configuration.
The majority of Web Hosts will offer hosting for WordPress and will usually include a one-click installation feature which makes it simple to get your site online.
How much does Web Hosting for WordPress cost?
Prices vary widely between hosts. Web Hosting prices depend on factors like which Web Host you decide to go with, what Backend technology they use, how much RAM you need etc.
As a general rule, the cheapest price point is around $3-$4 per month for unlimited disk space and bandwidth on Linux hosting.
This is enough for most small websites but if your website grows it will cost more in the long run.
If you are just starting out then why not go for a shared hosting package? You can then upgrade later if your website becomes more popular.
What WordPress hosting features do I need?
Speed, security and support are the three main factors you should consider when choosing a WordPress Web Host.
Other useful features include back-up options, an easy to use control panel and daily backups.
You will also need a host which supports the latest version of PHP and MySQL since these are required for WordPress.
Can I run multiple WordPress sites on one account?
You can run as many WordPress websites as you want on your hosting account. The number of domains you can have is unlimited but it will depend on the plan you are signed up to.
Most Web Hosts do not limit the amount of domains or subdomains, so why not try transferring all your existing domain names over to one account? This way you only have to deal with one account and hosting bill.
What are the differences between a dedicated server and shared hosting?
There are several key differences. With a dedicated server, you will get your own machine or slice of an entire server.
This means that your website will run faster since it won’t be sharing resources with other websites hosted on the same server (provided you choose a quality provider).
It will also allow you to install any scripts or software that you want as long as they do not conflict with the shared hosting rules.
On the other hand, a dedicated server is more expensive and requires technical know-how to manage.
You will have full root access but if you don’t have suitable skills then this can lead to downtime and security problems.
How can I speed up my website on shared hosting?
There are several things you can do to speed up your site. One way is to make sure that your files are as small as possible and the other is to clear any caches or old data from your database once in a while.
You should also keep WordPress updated since this often helps to reduce page load speeds.
You might also want to switch your Web Host since some hosting companies are slower than others.
Use a website speed testing service to monitor the performance of your site and see if it is slow because of the server or due to other factors like images and content.
You can use Pingdom Tools ( www.pingdom.com ), GT Metrix ( www.gtmetrix.com ), WebPageTest ( www.webpagetest.org ) or SiteSpeed ( www.sitespeed.io ) to get this information.
What happens if I exceed my storage, bandwidth or other monthly quotas?
Most Web Hosts have quotas for your web space and bandwidth usage, but why not ask them if they offer any discounts to encourage you to stay within these limits? If you go over your allowances will they allow you to upgrade your plan or add some extra storage or bandwidth?
You can also get more disk space on your account by upgrading your hosting package. There are usually instant upgrades, so you will not have to wait for the new web server to be provisioned or worry that it will slow down your site.
How do I get the best customer support for WordPress hosting?
Customer support is a major factor when it comes to hosting, so why not read some reviews and check out the live chat and ticketing systems of each provider before signing up.
It’s also a good idea to check out their social media profiles and see what customers have been saying about their service.
How do I choose the best WordPress hosting for my needs?
There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to choosing the best Web Host, WordPress hosting providers are all fairly similar, which makes it difficult to choose.
To narrow down your options you can check out reviews, the features offered by each provider and their costs to help you select a WordPress Web Host that is right for your needs and budget.
How do I find the best Web Host for WordPress?
One of the best ways to find a good Web Host is to ask friends and family for their recommendations.
You should, again, not only check out reviews but, forums and expert comparisons to ensure you are making the best possible choice.
Free Web Hosts can be unreliable and may not be able to provide the reliability and support you need when it comes to using WordPress effectively.
You will also face more downtime when using free services, which is why you will need a paid service for reliable hosting in the long-term (at least six months).
Can I run multiple WordPress sites on one account?
You can host as many WordPress websites as you want on your hosting account, but why not check that all of your sites are compatible with each other? It may be better to sign up for a separate account if you need different plugins or themes.
WordPress, one of the most popular open-source platforms for blogging and website building, has become a standard tool not only for the tech-savvy, but also for businesses looking to establish an online presence.
As is the case with every software platform on the market today, WordPress requires server space or Web Hosting in order to be accessible by any internet-connected devices.
Since WordPress works on a “less is more” philosophy, even the smallest amount of web space will suffice for hosting your blog or website on this software platform.
Why do I need Web Hosting for WordPress? Hosting WordPress FAQs and conclusions.
To sum up, there are three reasons to use WordPress hosting:
1. Faster website loading times (due to several technologies like caching, JIT compilation and more)
2. Better security (managed hosting providers take care of your WP installation automatically, install updates, monitor changes etc.)
3. More flexibility (you can create backups with only one click; change an already existing website with another design etc.)
If you want to avoid all that, go for a free hosting or just install WordPress on your own server.
Finally, if you are not sure whether to use free or paid hosting, you can start out with WordPress.com’s free plan. Your blog will work just fine and you can always switch to paid hosting later.
Free WordPress hosting is often enough for beginners, but that may change as your site grows. If it does, switch to a better hosting service or upgrade your hosting plan with your current Web Host.
Though switching to another Web Host will be easier once you already know your way around your first WordPress Web Host.
