If you are looking for a blog host, there are two options: WordPress hosting vs Web hosting. There is not one single answer to which one is better because it all depends on your specific needs.

With our article, we will help you understand the differences between these two types of hosting so that can make an informed decision about what type of hosting is right for you.

In order to do this, we have created a guide with information about both WordPress Hosting and Web Hosting in order to give you a clear picture of what you need from each type of host so that when making your choice, it’s easy! This way, you know precisely where they excel and where they potentially fall short.

Let us analyze the two:

What Is A Hosting Service, And How Does It Work

A web hosting service – or just “hosting” for short – is a service that provides space on a server that’s connected to the Internet.

This server space, known as Web Hosting, allows users to upload and manage their website online without owning their physical server. Web hosting services work by making a company’s Web hosting account available to the public via a website.

The first web servers were added to the Internet in 1990 by Tim Berners-Lee, credited with inventing the World Wide Web.

The computers holding these early servers were connected via dial-up connections to the Internet, transferring information back and forth. These early computers also had low processing power or memory, so they could not host more than one website at a time.

As the Internet began to take off, more and more people accessed it via their computers instead of university servers.

Most of these home computers were sufficiently powerful to host websites. This increased demand led to increased Web hosting companies that allowed individuals and businesses to purchase hosting services for their sites.

Today, web hosting has evolved into a vast industry that hosts millions of websites via servers housed in data centers worldwide. The companies compete for business by offering customers different packages with varying storage space, processing power, memory, and bandwidth.

These are used to determine how much web traffic a site can handle, how fast it will load, and the amount of web traffic it can send to other sites.

They also offer additional services such as email accounts and domain registrars for those who want a “one-stop-shop” type of service.

Some of them have even started offering site-building tools to help customers create websites more efficiently.

The Difference Between WordPress Hosting Vs Web Hosting

Web hosting and WordPress hosting are both essential for running a website. The primary difference between web hosting and WordPress hosting is that Web hosting is broader and overarching while

WordPress hosting caters to a niche market of WordPress users. There are varying benefits for choosing either one, depending on what your business needs. You will understand more about this as you read this guide.

What Is WordPress?

WordPress is a free, open-source blogging tool and content management system (CMS) based on PHP and MySQL.

As of February 2021, WordPress was being used by more than 40% of the world’s websites. Over 50 million downloads and other users have become one of the most popular web software applications used today.

How Does WordPress Work?

WordPress works by allowing you to create a webpage with blog posts, comments, and various options for displaying static information.

The webpage can be made locally on the server that hosts the site or on a remote web server. WordPress is very flexible in that it can be configured to work with code written by others or custom-coded from scratch.

How Is It Different?

WordPress is different from other blogging tools in that it is also a CMS. A CMS is a software that allows a webpage to be updated without changing the underlying site code.

Instead of editing a file in a text editor and FTPing it to the server, WordPress lets you update your website using a WYSIWYG menu system from within the browser window.

What Is WordPress Hosting?

WordPress hosting is for those who want to run a WordPress site – it’s the software that allows your website to function as an online community and blog. Unlike web hosting, WordPress hosting is for those who need it to build a site themselves.

When you’re working on your site, you can upload custom themes and plugins, change the content of your page, and carry out updates of the WordPress software itself.

You can also create sub-domains or sub-directories of an existing subdomain or directory that are accessible only to the people you specify -in other words, WordPress hosting lets you have total control over your site.

Who Is It Suited For?

WordPress hosting is perfect for individuals as well as businesses. You can easily manage your website and make updates, as in the case of a blog.

Businesses can also use WordPress to manage their inventory, contact customers, and run operations by adding plugins and tools.

You can manage one WordPress account by more than one person, especially in business accounts. That factor makes it an excellent way for businesses and individual bloggers to scale their operations and manage a large team in one place.

Whether you are a seasoned web designer looking to showcase your design skills, or a complete beginner, you can easily use the friendly interface to create a professional and responsive website.

What Is Web Hosting?

Web hosting is where the actual site files are, which means that if you’re looking to host a webpage or have documentation on something privately, this will use web hosting.

If you want to access them anywhere in the world or share them with others, you need web hosting. You’ll also have access to a control panel from which you can change server settings, upload files, and many other options.

Web hosting is meant for private use only – it’s not the place to do business or share projects with others. If you’re looking to show off something on a global scale, web hosting isn’t for you.

With great power comes great responsibility. You’re expected to know what you’re doing and can’t blame your web host if something happens.

Mastering WordPress – after installing it on your website – takes a bit of time. Once you are familiar with the platform, it is easy to manage for the most part.

Different Types Of Web Hosting

There are three primary hosting services available to customers. These include shared hosting, virtual private servers, and dedicated servers.

Shared Hosting

This is the most cost-effective choice for those looking for an option somewhere in the middle range as far as costs go. Because of this, shared hosting is also the most limited type of web hosting service available.

Shared hosting means that multiple users are all on one server to share bandwidth and resources. Under heavy traffic conditions, many sites hosted together may have slow page loads or have their sites are temporarily suspended until server usage goes back down to normal levels.

Shared hosting is a service that allows multiple websites to be hosted on the same server, sharing space for files and incoming bandwidth.

Web hosting companies provide this service specializing in connecting customers to the Internet via web servers, operating systems, and storage services.

Virtual Private Hosting (VPS)

Virtual private servers are similar to shared hosting as they’re also a part of the same server. However, VPS accounts have their own partitioned space on the server.

That means each account has its resources dedicated only to them and is given an allotted amount of server resources.

The most significant advantage to VPS services is that each user has their resources without the risk of affecting other users on the same server. Website owners hosting a site on their system are known as “dedicated” hosts.

Virtual Private Hosting is when web admins lease space on servers to host multiple websites under the same roof.

The sites all share the same bandwidth quota, but that’s about it. They are kept separate, with complete control over every aspect of their web presence possible. This is beneficial for three main reasons: Security, Privacy, and flexibility.

Dedicated Hosting

Dedicated servers are whole servers reserved for one company or person. Though a little bit expensive than the other types of hosting, dedicated hosting offers many benefits over shared and virtual private servers.

Because each user has their dedicated resources, they also have total control over those resources. There is no need to worry about slowdowns from other users’ activities.

In addition, because the server is only being used for one company or person, it can be outfitted with as much processing power as needed by that customer.

As the name suggests, dedicated hosting is a type of web hosting that allows users to host their websites on a single server rather than sharing one with other sites.

As more and more people start using the Internet for their businesses and everyday lives, web hosting demand has grown exponentially. Dedicated hosts such as Bluehost offer reliable service and performance at competitive prices.

Cloud Hosting

After years of running on physical servers, hosting software is now shifting to the cloud. It’s becoming more popular as it provides stable and scalable performance.

Cloud computing uses multiple servers that are connected remotely via the Internet. They’re hosted over an extensive server network (the “cloud”). The end-user can quickly improve their capacity by adding or removing hardware resources.

The most common use for cloud hosting is file storage. Online site builders, such as Shopify, Wix, and Squarespace, stores all files in the cloud to be accessed from different devices.

“Why would you want to host your site on someone else’s computer?”

If done right, it could have benefits for both parties involved. Cloud hosting can be significantly more cost-effective in comparison to dedicated hosting.

For the host, cloud services also provide less hassle with hardware maintenance and software upgrades.

Companies That Offer Web Hosting Services

Several reputable companies offer Web hosting in general. Some of them provide WordPress hosting, as well.

BlueHost

Bluehost is a popular web hosting service that was founded in 2003. The company’s mission statement is “to empower every person and every idea to share the internet.”

Bluehost offers:

●       Shared hosting,

●       Virtual Private Servers (VPS),

●       Dedicated servers,

●       Group plans,

●       Reseller plans,

●       Cloud-based services,

●      Dedicated server options for companies with e-commerce needs,

●      Managed WordPress hosting options, including free auto WordPress installation

●      Free SSL

●      Automatic daily backups for all accounts.

Bluehost also has two other brands: HostMonster, an easy-to-use web host built with the average user in mind, and JustHost, a website builder platform.

The web host typically ranks as one of the top 10 hosting companies on several review sites. The company has been a part of the Endurance International Group since 2010.

SiteGround

SiteGround is one of the world’s leading global web hosting providers. Headquartered in Bulgaria, it serves as an ideal location for people based in Europe and beyond.

Over the last three years, they have cultivated a sterling customer satisfaction record with stellar growth rates and impressive levels of investment.

Their aggressive strategy for development has seen them expand their infrastructure (covering everything from simple shared hosting up to dedicated servers) and go into new markets such as Australia and Hong Kong.

Over that period, they’ve deepened their portfolio by delivering cloud-based products like SiteGround Cloud Sites and SiteGround Managed WordPress Hosting (among others). To ensure your site has all the resources it needs, SiteGround employs top experts.

SiteGround’s hosting services are unique as they fall between two stools: on the one hand, they’re supremely affordable; on the other, they offer an impressive set of features and tools for those who need them (especially those using their cloud-based products).

HostGator

Several different companies provide quality service to individual users, small businesses, and large enterprises. However, one of the best affordable options for web admins just getting started is HostGator.

Currently, at $6.95 per month, HostGator provides unlimited disk space and bandwidth along with the ability to host an unlimited number of accounts. This can be very attractive to personal bloggers or small business owners who do not want to pay a fee every time they need their hosting account.

Another reason why people like HostGator is because they allow you to start your website within minutes; sometimes, it can take as little as one minute. This is an excellent incentive for people who want to save time on technical matters.

Since its inception in 2002, HostGator has continued to expand its services into new areas. Recently, HostGator has even started to offer reseller hosting services, although these accounts are suspension-only.

So, if you would like a Web hosting company that provides high-quality service and high reliability on a budget, look no further than HostGator.

Companies That Offer WordPress Hosting Services

All WordPress hosting plans count as a form of web hosting, but only some web hosting plans are WordPress hosting. 

Apart from the three companies mentioned above, some companies specifically provide WordPress hosting. Most WordPress hosting plans come with easy-to-use website builders and include themes, plugins, or even SSL certificates.

WP Engine WordPress hosting

WP Engine offers several WordPress hosting plans with a different set of features.WP Engine provides fast caching through both server-side caching (in Varnish) and client-side caching (via their plugin called “Rocket Loader” at no extra cost).

They also provide free daily backups, staging sites, Jetpack plugin Premium included in all plans, and one-click installation of 37+ helpful WordPress plugins. All hosting accounts come with a staging environment. WP Engine also provides 24hr support via phone, chat, and email.

WP Engine provides managed hosting, which is why all of the above services are included automatically at no additional cost to the user.

They monitor updates and maintenance to ensure your site runs fast and continuously without interruptions or downtime.

The website owner has no access to server settings; therefore, you can’t make changes directly in the files or perform updates. This is done to ensure the website will run smoothly around the clock.

WordPress Hosting Vs Web Hosting: How To Choose Between The Two Options

There isn’t a clear pick here since each hosting service has its share of advantages and disadvantages.

However, we can pinpoint the features you will have to consider if you choose between the two.

Disk Space

The amount of disk space allotted by the host will determine how much data you can store on the server. If you don’t have a lot of files to host, there’s no reason to pay more money for hosting with huge capacities.

Most companies have different disk spaces based on the pricing plans. WordPress hosting is no different.

No-limit bandwidth

Most web hosts allow a certain amount of data transfer each month before hitting their bandwidth limit.

Depending on your hosting budget and plans for future expansion, it might be good to choose a plan with unlimited bandwidth; so you don’t have to worry about going over monthly limits. But if you are low on budget, a limited bandwidth will do the trick.

Unlimited domain hosting

Finding a host that allows unlimited domain hosting might be worthwhile if you have decided on a single web address for your business. Many Internet users are hesitant to purchase products from websites without an easily recognizable URL or look unprofessional.

Some web hosts such as BlueHost offer a free domain upon signing up for their services. They will allow you to install WordPress after that.  

Site backups

Because computer hard drives are so unreliable these days, it’s best if your host automatically creates an online backup of all of your files. This will allow you to restore your site if the server crashes or the hard drive becomes corrupted.

Most web hosts have this feature, but you can always check to ensure it’s there.

SSL certificates

If you plan on operating an e-commerce site or any shopping cart feature, you’ll want a host that offers Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificates. It helps customers will feel secure when entering their credit card information to make a purchase.

Always choose hosting, which offers an SSL certificate.

Pros And Cons Of Each Hosting

Choosing a hosting service is the first step to having your blog. You can either decide to go with a general web host and Install WordPress or go specifically with WordPress hosting.

This article will provide you with the pros and cons of WordPress Hosting vs Web Hosting to make an informed decision for yourself.

WordPress Hosting Pros

Not only do you need good quality hosting, but it must be compatible with WordPress, which could mean entirely different things.

WordPress is popular

It is the easiest to use and has many themes and plugins that automatically work with WordPress out of the box. That makes it much easier for beginners to set up a site and makes your website load faster with pre-installed caching features.

It also has a very stable platform, ensuring your website runs smoothly.

Plans start at only $2.95 per month

That’s for basic hosting with unlimited disk space and bandwidth, making it one of the cheapest options for beginners or those on a budget. It also has a straightforward installation process and an easy-to-use interface.

Excellent customer support

They have excellent customer support to walk you through any installation problems or quickly answer your questions. It also offers a one-click installation for WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal, making it easy to set up a website.

A range of plans

This service has a wide variety of plans which include basic hosting up to dedicated hosting with unlimited storage and bandwidth – making it very flexible for everyone from beginners to professionals.

It also offers free migrations, a free DNS zone editor, and tools like GZIP compression and Memcached add-on for high performance.

Offers WordPress-optimized servers

It does this to ensure your website runs quickly and smoothly. It also has a one-click WordPress installer which makes getting started on your new website super easy.

WordPress Hosting Cons

Lack of control

You cannot configure anything yourself on this hosting service – you must use it as the company configures it for optimum performance.

This may be a con if you want to run your website a certain way.

This service uses cPanel/WHM

That can be one of the more complicated hosting options. If you are new to site building, this might not be the best option for you as it takes some time.

It also uses older versions of PHP and MySQL – version 5.2/4, which have security issues.

Less stable

This hosting service is less stable than the other options – only just above GoDaddy in that regard. Their control panel is not as user-friendly and not as many tutorials and FAQs for support.

A little expensive

It is more expensive than most other hosting companies – however, the price reflects the quality of service offered and a strong focus on customer service and support.

Limited plans

This hosting company has limited plans and does not offer customer support 24/7 like other companies on this list. It also uses the fixed cPanel/WHM control panel, which may be difficult for beginners to navigate.

Web Hosting Pros

The main benefit of paying for web hosting is the ability to have total control over what your site looks like, who is allowed access to it, and how fast it loads when others visit.

Another benefit is the amount of flexibility in design options you have available. You don’t have to worry about ads or images being placed on your pages without permission, which is an issue that often comes up when using free hosting services.

Your website’s loading time will be something that you need to consider before paying for hosting. Because of the quantity of information loaded when a web page is opened, sites with more pictures and videos can take longer than average to load, which may cause some visitors to leave your site before it has finished opening.

Pages with too many ads or pop-ups may also charge users to view your content, potentially losing viewers. Be sure to keep in mind how much data and what types of media will be on your site so you don’t choose a service that won’t allow for enough storage space and speed.

There are two main factors behind web hosting: space and speed. Space refers to how much room you have on the hosting server to store your files, and speed is how quickly this can transfer information between your site and potential visitors.

Some hosts charge more for more space or faster speeds, so keep an eye out for which prices are reasonable if this is important to you.

You may find yourself paying several dollars per month for space that you will rarely use, but it’s still better than having a site with barely any storage space at all.

Web Hosting Cons

The one major con of choosing a web hosting service is the ongoing fee required after making the first payment.

Depending on what company you choose, this monthly or annual fee could hinder your efforts to build up traffic to your website because some people may be unwilling to pay for a service they already felt was too expensive.

In addition, these fees will usually cover only part of the cost of your hosting plan. Many companies may charge extra if you want your site moved from their servers or taken down completely, so keep this in mind when planning out how long you think you’ll need a domain name for.

But overall, web hosting is an essential aspect to any website owner because it allows anyone with internet access the chance to view content on a properly functioning website.

Keep these pros and cons in mind as you search for a host that can best suit what kind of site you’re trying to build.

Conclusion

If you are still undecided about which one to choose – WordPress Hosting vs Web Hosting, let me help. Web hosting is not as specialized, and WordPress hosting caters specifically to the population of people who use WordPress for their websites. The benefits of choosing either one will depend on your business needs; however, there is no wrong answer here.

I hope this article helped you understand why web hosting or WordPress hosting might be a better match for your company’s website! Let me know if you have any questions that this blog didn’t answer – I’m happy to help 🙂