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Do You Have to Pay for Hosting with WordPress?
No, you do not have to pay for hosting with WordPress. In fact, there are many free options available, such as WordPress.com‘s “free blog plan” and Blogger.com. However, you do have to pay for hosting with WordPress on WordPress.com’s Pro plan or if you self-host your WordPress.org software with a Web Hosting Provider.
But don’t fret. There are many affordable hosting options available for WordPress, such as Bluehost.com and HostGator.com. There are even affordable offshore hosting options like Orangewebsite.com.
A word of caution: If you don’t pay for hosting, your website won’t be as secure. For example, free hosts tend to have less stringent security standards, and vulnerable websites are more likely to be hacked.
Additionally, your website may experience a higher downtime rate because free hosts tend to use a shared platform for multiple users.
If you lack the technical expertise to install WordPress, the money to pay for hosting and a domain name (about $10), or if security and website uptime are of critical importance, paying for hosting may be the best option.
However, if you’re looking for low cost options specifically because you’re on a budget, are not technically savvy, etc., you may wish to check out the free hosting options available from Blogger.com and WordPress.com.
Think of it this way: You probably wouldn’t drive your car without paying for gas, so why would you put your website on a host that doesn’t pay their bills? Think about it.
What are some WordPress Hosting options?
WordPress.com – This is a free service that offers a basic website using your WordPress install with limited themes and plugins.
If you’re just starting out, this may be a good option for you because it’s easy to use and does not require any technical expertise from the user.
Additionally, if you have an idea of what kind of domain name you want, but do not know where to purchase it from yet, WordPress.com can save you some time by purchasing your WordPress domain for you.
However, if your website is selling a product/service or has any need to be secure (via shopping cart integration, SSL certificate), you’ll want to look at other options.
WordPress.org – This is the self-hosted version of WordPress where you’re free to install any plugins and themes that you wish.
The downside to this option is that it requires some setting up, though there are several simple tutorials available online to help guide you through the process.
In addition, this option does not offer a built-in shopping cart, so you’ll need one of the plugins available to create a functional checkout section.
Most hosts will provide information on how to install WordPress with their hosting package.
Blogger.com: This is another free service from Google that allows users to create a simple blog using their existing Google account login details.
If you already have a Gmail account, this may be the easiest option for you.
However, if you were looking to create your own website vs. hosting a blog on wordpress.com or blogger.com, this may not be the best option for you because they are limited in what you can do with your site.
Hosting WordPress FAQs.
What is WordPress?
WordPress is a content management system (CMS) that allows you to create a website or blog from scratch, or to migrate an existing website to WordPress.
It is both free and open source, making it a popular choice for bloggers and small business owners.
How much does WordPress Hosting cost?
Hosting for WordPress can cost anywhere from free (with providers like WordPress.com and Blogger.com) to $100+/month (with more robust hosting providers).
How much you end up paying depends on the features you need and the level of support you require.
For example, a basic WordPress site with no eCommerce capabilities can be hosted for free, but if you want features like SSL certification or the ability to accept credit card payments, you’ll have to pay more.
Do I need a host for WordPress?
Not necessarily. If your website is relatively simple and does not require any of the features listed above, you can host your site on platforms like WordPress.com or Blogger.com at no cost to you.
However, if you wish to have more control over your website’s appearance, functionality, etc., you will need a hosting provider.
What is the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress?
WordPress.com offers free blogs using the WordPress platform whereas WordPress is self-hosted software that offers complete control of all aspects of your site.
If you are just starting out and want a free way to create a simple blog, WordPress.com is the best option for you.
If you wish to have more complex functionality or need access to your site from anywhere around the world via an eCommerce store, self-hosted WordPress is necessary.
What is Shared Hosting?
Shared Hosting means that multiple websites are living on the same server. The difference between shared hosting and a dedicated server is that with a shared host, you are sharing resources with all of the other websites on the server.
With a dedicated server, you don’t share resources or bandwidth with any other website.
What does Managed WordPress Hosting mean?
If your website requires special measures to ensure it is running smoothly, you’ll want to look for a provider that offers Managed WordPress Hosting.
This means your host will monitor your website’s performance and security, adding any extra features you may need.
What are the benefits of Managed WordPress Hosting?
Managed WordPress Hosting offers several different features that can benefit your site in different ways. These features include:
– Dedicated resources for your site (i.e., processor, RAM, hard drive space)
– SSL Certification
– Security software installation and daily scanning
– Daily backups of your server and database
– WordPress installation via the admin panel with control over plugins and themes – 24/7/365 support
How much does Managed WordPress Hosting cost?
Managed WordPress Hosting providers offer different levels of service, which means monthly costs vary depending on your needs.
If you’re considering Managed WordPress Hosting with WPEngine, their plans start at $29 per month for 10GB storage and 1TB bandwidth.
For dedicated WordPress hosting, WPX Hosting’s plans start at $14 per month.
Do I need a host for WordPress?
If you only wish to run a simple blog or small business website on your domain and it doesn’t require any of the features listed under Managed WordPress Hosting (i.e., dedicated server resources, SSL certification, etc.), you will only need hosting for WordPress.
Do You Have to Pay for Hosting with WordPress? Final thoughts.
In the end, it is important to know what features you will need for your site and how much time and money you are willing to invest.
For a basic blog or small business website on WordPress, free options like WordPress.com or Blogger.com may be suitable enough depending on your needs.
Especially, if they offer all of the features that you need without any additional cost. I personally use WordPress and Offshore Self Hosting and I’m very happy with it.
