Web Hosting vs WordPress Hosting: What’s The Difference?

Are you having difficulties choosing between Web Hosting vs WordPress Hosting? Let me tell you about an undisputed fact that both terms are not wholly separated, and sometimes, they can also overlap. 

Web Hosting plays a crucial role in every online business. You will need a web hosting provider to build a WordPress.org website. However, it is not necessary to use a WordPress Hosting provider to launch a successful website with WordPress. Well, this is not the only difference. 

In this post, I am going to do a detailed comparison between Web Hosting and WordPress Hosting. I have also included different types of hosting providers and the benefits and drawbacks of using both services.

What is Web Hosting? 

Web Hosting is a service provided by web hosts that makes your website or web application accessible on the internet. A web host allocates space on a webserver to store the files linked with your website. They also provide internet connectivity for your website site so that it can go live and appear on search results. 

There are different types of web hosting and web hosting providers on the internet. If you’re planning to build a website for a business, you will need some sort of web hosting to make it live on the internet. 

What is WordPress Hosting? 

Basically, WordPress Hosting is one of the forms of Web Hosting, which is pre-configured to host WordPress-powered websites. This type of web hosting is optimized to meet WordPress’ performance and security measures. A WordPress host provides you WordPress-tailored services such as one-click install, a support staff team, automatic software updates, etc. 

Web Hosting vs WordPress Hosting: Key Differences

The main difference between Web Hosting and WordPress Hosting is server configuration. If you’re using Web Hosting services, the web host makes sure your web server is up & running and also prevents any security breaches. On the other hand, WordPress Hosting’s resources are typically optimized for a specific niche tailored to WP installs. 

A web host can cater to a number of websites on the same server through Shared Hosting. WordPress Hosting can also use the same shared server to host multiple websites simultaneously. But unlike web hosting, each website on that particular shared server will be a WordPress website. However, WordPress Hosting offers customized solutions and services. 

Web Hosting vs WordPress Hosting: Types and Plans Difference 

Most web hosts offer different types of web hosting, and their prices are also variable. Here are the differences between types of web hosting and WordPress hosting. 

Types of Web Hosting 

Here is a compilation of different types of web hostings.

Shared Hosting: When a web host hosts multiple websites on a solitary server, it is called Shared Hosting. Usually, this type of hosting offers affordable solutions because you share the same server. It is a good option if you are looking for a startup or a blog. 

WordPress Hosting: In WordPress Hosting, a web host provides customized services for WP installs and better security measures to protect common WP vulnerabilities. 

VPS Hosting: VPS (Virtual Private Server) Hosting is just like Shared Hosting. In VPS Hosting, multiple websites also share a physical server with each other. The main difference is that VPS hosts divide the websites by offering them guaranteed dedicated resources and extended access to processing power, storage, and memory. That’s why VPS Hosting is usually a little costlier than Shared Hosting. 

Dedicated Hosting: Dedicated Hosting providers offer you a whole server for your website. You get resources like VPS Hosting, but you don’t need to share the server with other websites. You will also get professional support from experts. 

Cloud Hosting: Cloud Hosting gives online access to websites and applications using cloud resources. Unlike traditional web hosting, cloud hosts provide a combination of a physical and virtual cloud server to host websites, giving you greater scalability and flexibility. 

Types of WordPress Hosting 

As I already mentioned, WordPress Hosting is a part of Web Hosting. You can run your WordPress websites using all types of Web Hosting providers. 

Shared Hosting for WordPress: Shared Hosting plans are best for beginners who need fewer resources. You can begin at an affordable cost. However, the maintenance and scalability are relatively low. 

VPS Hosting for WordPress: VPS Hosting sits between shared and dedicated server hosting. This type of hosting is best for WordPress websites getting medium traffic and needing more resources and maintenance.

Dedicated Server Hosting: If you want better performance and scalability for WordPress websites, Dedicated Server Hosting is worth considering. You can have an entire server with a dedicated host, and you will also get a lot of resources since your websites are getting significant traffic. 

Managed WordPress Hosting: Managed WP Hosting is a different type of hosting that offers hosting services for all kinds of businesses related to WordPress. The host provides you with powerful technologies for your WP websites, making them secure and fast. 

Cloud Hosting: Cloud Hosting offers you a virtual server for your WordPress websites. This type of hosting gives you incredible speed, scalability, flexibility, and stability. You are allowed to add or remove resources so you can pay for whatever you need. One of the best Cloud hosting providers that offers the best hosting solution for WordPress is Elementor Cloud Website. They offer you everything a cloud hosting provider offers plus they also give you access to Elementor Pro features which you can use to design your website from scratch.

Web Hosting vs WordPress Hosting: Pros and Cons

Web Hosting and WordPress Hosting are used for different causes, so their benefits and drawbacks can also differ from each other. 

Pros & Cons of Web Hosting 

Pros

• They offer a variety of solutions at affordable prices 
• Performance is their top priority 
• You receive tons of free perks such as free SSL certificates, one-click installation, free email accounts, etc.
• Provides professional support 
• You will get 99.9% uptime server speed 

Cons

• Lacks in a few security protection fields
• It can get costly as your website grows

Pros & Cons of WordPress Hosting 

Pros

• Incredible server speed and improved performance 
• More security measures 
• Dedicated customer support 
• Help from top WordPress experts
• One-click staging environment 
• Automatic backups
• Easy access to development tools

Cons

• Managed hosting can be very expensive 
• Storage is often limited.

Web Hosting vs WordPress Hosting: Which one to choose? 

Choosing a suitable Web Hosting or WordPress Hosting depends on your needs and level of experience. If you thoroughly search the internet, you will find a lot of Web Hosting providers that include WordPress Hosting in their services. However, it would be best if you ask yourself a few questions before going for a hosting provider. 

• Are you creating your website with WordPress? WordPress Hosting is not a wise choice if your answer is no. 
• What is your budget? Get yourself a good hosting provider according to your budget. Like, Shared hosting is cheap but Managed hosting services are relatively expensive. 
• Do you want more security? WordPress Hosting offers better security solutions against common threats. 
• If you’re not an expert in coding, you can prefer choosing a hosting provider with automatic updates. 
• Need some support while building a website with WordPress? Get dedicated WordPress customer support by WordPress experts. 
• What is your monthly website traffic? Get yourself a WordPress Hosting provider according to your website traffic. 

Once you are able to answer these questions, you will definitely find suitable hosting solutions for your business. 

Conclusion: Web Hosting vs WordPress Hosting 

If you compare Web Hosting and WordPress Hosting, you will find that WordPress Hosting offers more services and security measures, best for web developers and novice users. However, WordPress Hosting is not a good option if your websites are not WordPress-powered. Also, WordPress Hosting doesn’t guarantee you a fast page loading speed. 

On the other hand, Web Hosting offers you more command over all aspects related to your websites. Choosing the right web host for your websites can be a major reason for your success. While choosing a hosting provider, make sure to choose a reputable and flexible web host that meets your standard criteria.