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Cloud Hosting vs WordPress Hosting.
In order to determine which type of Hosting you would need when comparing Cloud Hosting vs WordPress Hosting, we first need to define what exactly is Cloud Hosting and WordPress Hosting.
Cloud Hosting is commonly understood to be website Hosting where a web host not only stores the files of a website on their servers, but also duplicates that website’s files across many servers located throughout the world.
These servers are, in most cases, located in huge data server farms. Web Hosting Providers will often subscribe or lease a certain amount of server space from these data farms in order to utilize the power of “the Cloud” for their clients.
This way they can actually host and duplicate your website’s files and distribute them throughout the world from these data farm networks.
This is otherwise known as Cloud Hosting.
WordPress Hosting on the other hand is, for the sake of this post, when you have a WordPress website who’s files and backend functions are managed by a Web Hosting Provider.
“Managed” meaning that all your security, backups, server speeds, essential plugins etc. are specifically chosen by your Web host in order to provide your website with the most optimal WordPress Hosting, security and speed.
Many of these functions are normally performed to a certain extent by the Webmaster themselves.
However, with WordPress Hosting these functions are performed by the Web Hosting Provider. They then package it up and sell it to you as “WordPress Hosting”.
Since every website and Webmaster has their own needs, it is difficult to determine which is best. Cloud Hosting vs WordPress Hosting, or maybe both.
In my opinion, most Webmasters who are just starting out should actually go for Shared Hosting for their WordPress website’s hosting needs.
If a new Webmaster wants to focus solely on the content and the design aesthetics of their WordPress website, but wants nothing to do with all the backend stuff, then they should look into Managed WordPress Shared Hosting.
If and when your website outgrows it’s Shared Hosting plan and you find that it’s performance is slowly deteriorating due to increases in traffic or the need for more resources due to increased content especially media, then you should go for either a VPS or Cloud Hosting.
In this post, I will answer some frequently asked questions regarding both Cloud Hosting and WordPress Hosting so you could then decide which hosting is best for you.
What does WordPress Hosting mean?
WordPress Hosting, or more accurately put, Managed WordPress Hosting means that your Web Hosting Provider will fully manage your WordPress website enough to where all you need to do is create content and design your WordPress website within the parameters of your WordPress theme.
All the rest, including plugins, security and updates are all handled by your Managed WordPress Hosting Provider.
However, although the above is a general understanding of what Managed WordPress Hosting is actually, Managed WordPress Hosting can vary depending on the Web Hosting Provider offering it.
Therefore, you should evaluate and compare all the Managed WordPress Hosting plans that you are considering, especially their features.
Personally, I consider the most important aspects of Managed WordPress Hosting to be the following:
- Security.
Your Managed WordPress Hosting Provider should take care of all security issues related to your WordPress website without you having to do anything.
Whether that’s installing or paying for extra security software plugins or simply making sure that any plugins on your site are all secured and up to date.
That should be the job of your Managed WordPress Hosting Provider.
- Plugins.
Many Managed WordPress Hosting Providers in an effort to optimize their clients WordPress websites only permit certain plugins or limit the amount of plugins a WordPress website can have on their plans.
This is to ensure that only plugins that are highly secured as well as are efficiently coded are allowed in your WordPress dashboard.
So on one hand this can guarantee that your website is operating at its most efficient level as possible.
However, this may also limit you and the amount of functionality you can add to your WordPress website.
- All Updates.
Although WordPress, as well as reputable WordPress plugin developers, are constantly updating the WordPress core as well as plugins, sometimes you actually have to update the plugins yourself.
Many times WordPress and WordPress plugin developers will send an update, but those updates won’t go into effect on your website until you approve it.
This can make your WordPress website less secure.
Though this may seem like a simple task, if you are more focused on content creation and are less technically inclined, this can open your WordPress website up to various performance and security issues.
Although WordPress, as well as many plugin developers, allow you to activate automatic updates, some still slip through the cracks.
Therefore, your Managed WordPress Hosting Provider should take care of this for you automatically.
- All Optimizations.
Optimizing your WordPress website is key to ensuring that it has the fastest loading speeds possible for your users.
This means that things like images, fonts, plugins with too much coding and bloat etc. all need to be optimized for the fastest page loading speeds possible.
For many WordPress Webmasters a lot of these issues go unnoticed.
Many Webmasters don’t have the knowledge to be able to assess which plugins, add-ons and or media files are causing their sites to load slowly for example.
Slow loading websites can not only make for a poor user experience, but can also affect your SEO negatively as well.
A well Managed WordPress Hosting Provider should do all this for you.
- WordPress Only Servers.
Many Managed WordPress Hosting Providers set aside specific servers that only host WordPress sites.
They do this so that they can release the latest updates as well as security fixes etc. to their WordPress clients first.
Also, since the Web Hosting Provider is responsible for all optimizations, security as well as updates to their Managed WordPress clients, they can do this quickly and efficiently if all their WordPress Managed clients are on one server.
Many situations like hacking etc. can be best managed in the backend, if they are all hosted on one server by experienced WordPress professionals.
- Customer Service.
Managed WordPress clients are promised fast customer service. Any issues they may have on their WordPress websites are expected to be handled quickly.
If you’ve ever had, for example, Shared Hosting, you may find that contacting customer service and support can be time consuming since you can often be put on hold and switched over to different customer service reps etc.
With WordPress Managed Hosting you’re basically put either at the head of the line or even given designated customer service representatives to handle any issues you may have quickly.
What are the benefits of Cloud Hosting?
There are many benefits to Cloud Hosting. The main benefits are:
- Faster loading speeds.
- Little to no down time.
- Regular backups.
With Cloud Hosting since your website’s files are duplicated and distributed over many different data centers and servers throughout the world, your users will be able to access your website from the closest possible server.
Since a website’s files are not shared on one single server in one location, but in the Cloud, which again, replicates those website files and distributes them throughout various servers all over the world.
If one server goes down, then your website can still be accessed from a number of other servers and various locations.
This means little to no downtime.
Finally, because Cloud Hosting replicates your website’s files automatically due to the nature of Cloud Hosting, it’s an automatic backup in addition to whatever other backup measures you take as well.
When should you use Cloud Hosting?
If you have a Shared Hosting plan and you find that the performance of your website may be decreasing, slower page loading speeds, down time, etc.
This may be due to higher traffic volumes. This can actually be a good problem to have.
However, it does mean that you should upgrade your web hosting plan to a faster and more reliable service. Cloud Hosting fits the bill.
Can I have both Cloud and Managed WordPress Hosting?
Actually yes, you can have both Cloud and Managed WordPress Hosting at the same time.
In fact, many Web Hosting Providers do offer both like SiteGround. SiteGround has a plan for just that called, Managed Cloud Hosting.
This plan not only allows you the speed and Hosting flexibility of the Cloud, but it also manages your WordPress website for you. So you can get the best of both worlds.
However, SiteGround is not alone There are other hosts that offer similar Managed WordPress plans that are hosted in the Cloud.
Cloud Hosting vs WordPress Hosting, conclusions.
My conclusion and the Cloud Hosting vs WordPress Hosting comparison you should go with one of three options depending on your website’s size and needs.
1. Managed WordPress Hosting.
If you are not technically minded and simply want to create content and deal with the aesthetics of your theme more than its functions, especially in the backend.
With Managed WordPress Hosting everything from security to optimization as well as any necessary plugins are all taken care of from your Managed WordPress Hosting Provider.
2. Cloud Hosting.
If your website has outgrown its current Shared Hosting plan.
With Cloud Hosting not only will you experience much better performance and higher page loading speeds, but you can also mitigate risks and limit down-time since your website’s files are replicated and distributed through servers and data centers across the world.
3. Managed Cloud Hosting.
This gives you the benefits of Cloud Hosting while having your WordPress website managed by professionals.
