Managed WordPress hosting has been the emergency red-button for businesses that need quick and easy IT solutions.
In a number of reviews, blogs, and FAQs, we have seen people confusing Shared and Managed WordPress hosting. Often, the decision to choose one is baffling.
However, stacking a managed host against a shared host isn’t anywhere as easy as it first seems. Though, there are certain nuances that can pave the way towards a better understanding between the two.
Shared and managed Hosting – at a glance
Shared and Managed Hosting aren’t two different things, and the former is almost always managed hosting.
However, the converse is not always true and managed hosting is not necessarily shared hosting.
Managed Hosting is the concierge service wherein the provider takes care of all problems you can possibly run into on your server.
Shared Hosting is a service where a single server caters to the needs of various clients. Thus, to say, a single shared server can have as many as hundreds of websites hosted on it.
Shared Hosting in a nutshell
Shared Hosting is often used interchangeably with a more generic term ‘cheap hosting’.
Such servers host as many sites as possible until the server runs out of resources. Because there are virtually hundreds of sites on such servers, providers keep the control to themselves.
So, from security to the hardware, and from hardware to maintenance, all server-side management remains at the hands of the provider.
Shared hosting plans come for WORDPRESS sites too. While all the underlying functionality in shared WordPress hosting remains the same as in any other hosting, clients are likely to benefit from tweaks provided by WordPress.
Shared hosting plans are the cheapest. You can get an entire month of subscription for the price of a burger.
Managed WordPress hosting isn’t any different
WordPress is a content management system based on MySQL and PHP.
What makes it a lethal tool is – you can build an entire website starting from scratch.
WordPress offers as many hosting options as there are available in the market today.
A managed WordPress hosting is one that deploys one of WordPress’s servers with managed services.
In a managed hosting, the vendor is responsible for fixing all glitches that can creep into the system. Thus, the provider is, at all time, answerable to the client regarding the well-being of the underlying server.
In unmanaged hosting, on the other hand, the responsibility lies at the client’s shoulders. The provider gets the machine started, and once the lights are on, hands the keys to the client.
Managed services are always more convenient, but the exorbitant cost is often prohibitive.
The Bottom Line – Managed WordPress hosting vs Shared Hosting
The shared vs managed WordPress debate comes down to the added WordPress-exclusive services and tweaks you get with WordPress.
You will come across a number of hosting plans that write ‘managed shared servers’ instead of simply ‘shared servers’.
Here’s what you need to know about the duo:
- Shared Hosting is just a type of hosting plan where your website shares resources with other websites on the same server.
- Managed WordPress hosting is an add-on service that overlays a regular hosting plan. Means, you can have a dedicated server and yet run a managed WordPress hosting.
Shared vs Managed WordPress – Advantages
Shared services have long lured clients primarily because they are low-cost server solutions.
Managed WordPress hosting has long been touted for providing a one-stop solution to all your website’s needs. The web-development tools provided on WordPress is more comprehensive than the underlying PHP and has helped developers build a website from scratch.
However, for businesses to whom cost is the only concern, managed hosting might not be a viable solution.
WordPress also allows you the freedom to access web templates irrespective of the location you are in. On the other hand, this might not be the case with every other server, especially dedicated servers that can only be accessed as long as you are running the allowed IP address.
Shared Hosting vs Managed WordPress hosting – disadvantages
Shared Hosting, though affordable, is infamous for troubling clients starting day one.
Firstly, the amount of resources in the server is limited. Second, to squeeze in any extra profit, providers often cram the server with as many tenants as they can.
A traffic surge in just one of the websites can drain the entire server’s resources.
I have seen websites on shared hosting face downtime for as much as 10 hours every day – even though the vendor claimed unlimited bandwidth and unlimited storage.
With managed WordPress hosting, the problem is not anywhere as critical as it is with shared Hosting.
However, managed hosting plans do not come without exaggerated costs, which, often is prohibitive for startups – that glean pennies by the end of each month.
The control
Control is one aspect of server management where the difference between the shared and managed hosting is the most tangible.
Websites hosted on a shared server have literally zero control other than modifying their own files. The resources remain undistributed, and many times smaller websites become prey to other big websites on the same server.
Managed WordPress hosting, or any other hosting, provides better control than shared servers. Technically, even though the vendor has the responsibility to tweak with the server settings, the client has full control of the server and can get it tweaked the way he likes.
Managed plans allow administrators to tap into their servers’ potential without moving a muscle. It gives the same level of control as one would get with any in-house server except that now there are people to work at your disposal.
Takeaway – which one to choose?
The choice of the correct server is rather subjective and depends upon the organization’s needs. Still, WordPress hosting remains the most sought after server solution ever.
With what is evident, an expensive server plan is not necessarily the best. In order to carve a niche from your server, you need a plan that best suits your requirements.
Author bio:
Nishant is a writer by hobby and fortunately also by his profession. A state-level tennis player, Nishant has written short stories, poems, and snippets for a number of blogs (including his own). He has an active appearance on Go4hosting belvedere, always ready for the enthusiast technical approach.
