A Detailed Guide About 5 Different Types of Website Hosting

Last updated on April 26th, 2023

Setting up a website is one of the most challenging things you have to do, and you also have to decide what type of web hosting plan you’re going to use. Choosing an option can be difficult, and prices vary widely, so make sure you choose wisely.

It’s not just about the price when choosing the right web hosting plan. To give you one example, an e-commerce website will have different requirements than a WordPress website. Your website can be set up for success by choosing a plan that offers you the right resources and features.

This article discusses the different types of website hosting plans available, how they differ, and how to decide between them in this article. Let’s dive right in!

What is Web Hosting?

Your every visit to a website comes from a server. There are a lot of servers out there that are similar to the typical computers you use, except they are specifically designed to display content online and handle web traffic.

Web hosting services are a way for you to rent server space from someone – or, in some cases, a whole computer. A limited amount of space and resources can be used to create a website that anyone can browse.

On paper, the concept appears to be very straightforward. Hosts offer a wide range of plans, each with its features and capabilities. You would find it almost as painful as working on a computer with the same specs to run your site on a web server with only 512 MB of RAM.

Your website’s requirements grow as it grows. As a result, many hosting options are available, ranging from cheap to bespoke. 

Ideally, it would help to choose a plan that meets both your budget and your specific needs. If you don’t have a website that gets massive traffic every day, opting for the most expensive hosting plan is usually a waste of money.

It can be overwhelming to sign up for web hosting if you have never had to do so before. That’s why we’re taking the time to walk you through each hosting plan in the following sections—also helping you to understand each hosting solution’s cost and discuss which might be the most appropriate fit for your site.

Check out the different types of website hosting plans and their pros and cons.

Costs and hardware are not the only factors that differ between hosting plans. Some hosting services, such as WordPress, are built around specific platforms. To help you decide, let’s cover the seven most common types of web hosting you’ll encounter. 

1. Shared Hosting

The most common hosting plan for websites is shared hosting. One server is shared by several users on this type of plan. Therefore, a shared server can host several (or even hundreds of) websites on a single computer.

The data and files of other users are not available to you even though you share resources with them. Shared plans are usually cheap since server maintenance costs can be split between multiple customers.

Your hosting provider will be primarily responsible for how well you receive service despite the shared hosting reputation. Several shared hosting plans are very limiting, though others can accommodate sites with moderate traffic.

A shared hosting plan is probably your best option if you’re starting out. It’s not uncommon to find shared hosting plans for less than $5 per month since web hosting is so competitive.

 Many web hosts hope to get the best rates by tying you to multi-year agreements. However, when signing up for a plan for the first time, that can be daunting if you’re unsure about the web host you’re using.

Shared hosting has these advantages:

• There are a lot of plans available for less than $5 per month.
• The performance of smaller to medium-sized sites can be excellent, depending on your provider.

Shared hosting has the following disadvantages:

• Websites with heavy traffic often struggle with shared plans.
• Most providers require multi-year contracts for the best rates.

Who should use shared hosting: Building your first website? Shared hosting should be your first choice. If you choose a reputable provider, you’ll have the tools to get started, with plenty of room to grow as the project progresses.

2.  Virtual Private Server (VPS) Hosting

VPSs (Virtual Private Servers) offer greater performance and customization than shared plans. A virtual private server operates so that it consists of multiple virtually partitioned sections on one physical server. Virtual Private Servers, or containers, act as a complete system devoted to hosting your site. In some cases, you can access the configuration of the server, as well as dedicated resources.

Although virtual private servers share the same physical server, they provide a higher degree of user isolation. This still enhances security and performance. A VPS may even be customizable from scratch, depending on your hosting provider, so you get the exact resources you need.

A single-core VPS with 1 GB of RAM should do the trick if you want a simple WordPress website. You might be less likely to choose a VPS if you’re new to web hosting because it’s difficult to figure out the amount of resources you need for each project.

It is possible that VPSs do not come with a control panel. To set up your server and a website, you may need to use the command line. That can be a complicated process unless you are experienced using the command line.

VPS resources can vary widely across the board, so prices can differ greatly. It’s not unusual to find VPSs for as low as $5 a month, just like shared hosting. In this case, we recommend budgeting at least $10-20 for hosting if you plan to use a VPS.

VPSs have the following advantages:

• All resources dedicated to your website are at your disposal.
• You might be able to customize your VPS according to your specific needs depending on your host.

VPSs have these drawbacks:

• Trying to figure out how much you need can be a challenge.
• It can take some technical expertise to set up a VPS.

Who should use a VPS: VPSs can provide full control over your server without costing hundreds of dollars. Also, these plans offer a high degree of customization, which makes them attractive.

3. Cloud Hosting

It is a little more challenging hosting. VPSs are usually what people refer to when they talk about the “cloud.”. This is where a virtual server is hosted on a network of computers instead of on one computer. 

Cloud computing describes a network of computers that can easily scale their resources based on demand. The built-in redundancy of cloud hosting means downtime and data loss are rarely problems.

Cloud hosting may sound great on paper, but it can be difficult for newcomers to navigate. For instance, many cloud hosting services charge by the hour. The “spin-up” process is similar to configuring a VPS, then configuring it to meet your needs.

Cloud hosting can be extremely cheap or extremely expensive, which depends on the type of your server configuration. Netflix, for instance, uses this type of setup for powering their operations. The setup Netflix uses probably is not necessary for a regular website.

Cloud hosting has the following advantages:

• Scalability is one of its strongest features.
• Your server can be customized according to your needs.

Cloud hosting has the following cons:

• It can be a bit confusing to pay for cloud hosting.
• Those who are unfamiliar with server configuration should not use it.

Who should consider using cloud hosting: You should consider cloud hosting if you like to tinker with your server configuration, as well as if you want flexibility and scalability.

4. Dedicated Hosting

Until now, we’ve only discussed hosting plans with shared servers. There are lot of differences between private and public servers, and a private server is more expensive.

Dedicated servers give you exclusive access to one (or more) server. The web hosting provider simply houses it for you, so you will have full control over its configuration.

When it comes to web hosting, dedicated servers are the gold standard. It costs no less than $100 per month at this level, and the prices only get higher from there.

It would be overkill to buy a dedicated server if you’re building a website as a hobby. Businesses and established websites that require access to powerful hardware should opt for this kind of hosting solution.

Dedicated hosting has the following advantages:

• With a dedicated server, you have the whole thing to yourself.
• It can usually be configured the way you want it.

Dedicated hosting has the following cons:

• The cost of this option is high.

Who should consider using dedicated hosting: When it comes to performance, dedicated hosting is the right choice for those who have the budget to be able to afford it. 

5. Managed Hosting

Managed hosting is different from traditional hosting. Rather, it is a type of service, not a type of plan. Managing your hosting account means having your provider handle many of the day-to-day tasks that you would otherwise handle. A few of these tasks include backing up your data, monitoring security, updating software, and more.

There is “no one size fits all” in the world of managed hosting, so it’s important to know what kind of plan you need. Managed shared plans, managed virtual private servers, and even managed dedicated servers are available. The extra cost allows you to focus on your blog, portfolio or eCommerce site rather than worrying about the nuts and bolts of hosting.

 It varies greatly from provider to provider what is considered   managed hosting. Several hosting companies provide round-the-   clock assistance to manage just about any aspect of your site. Some   offer maintenance services only. 

It’s important, therefore, to check out exactly what “extras” your provider provides before signing up for managed hosting. Managed hosting plans usually start around $15 per month, though more expensive plans are also available.

Managed hosting has the following advantages:

• Basic maintenance will be handled by your provider.
• Some web hosts may be able to optimize performance for you.

Managed hosting has the following cons:

• The price is generally higher than that of regular hosting plans.
• There’s less direct control over how your server is configured or how your site is optimized.

Who should consider using managed hosting: Managing your hosting is supposed to make your life easier. Managed hosting may be the best choice for you if you’re not a fan of taking care of maintenance tasks.

6. WordPress Hosting

It’s important to comprehend how popular WordPress is as a Content Management System (CMS) before understanding how WordPress hosting works. More than 30% of websites are powered by WordPress. 

As a result, it should not surprise you that many web hosting providers offer plans specifically tailored to WordPress users. Managed services are usually included in WordPress plans. The software usually comes with a free license for premium plugins, themes, or other tools.

 If you are setting up a website with the platform, you do not need to use a WordPress-specific subscription plan. This type of plan, however, tends to be optimized to offer you better performance while simplifying your life. This type of hosting is a smart choice if you plan on using WordPress.

The WordPress-only hosting platform is also available on top of WordPress-specific plans. As part of their support team, most of the companies have WordPress experts, which is a great perk. Furthermore, WordPress-specific plans tend to be fairly affordable compared to their more generic counterparts.

WordPress hosting has the following advantages:

• Managed services are often included.
• As a member, you receive perks specific to WordPress, like free one-click installations and plugin licenses.

WordPress hosting has the following cons:

• WordPress users only have access to it and it impedes the use of other platforms.

Who should consider using WordPress hosting: Any web hosting plan you choose can be used to set up WordPress. If you want a hosting plan that is specifically designed for WordPress, WordPress hosting can be a great option.

7. Reseller Hosting

You will probably have to deal with hosting if you run a business that focuses on building websites, such as a web design or web development agency. Some clients are not familiar with how hosting works, so they could use some assistance setting everything up and getting it working.

For situations like these, you can use reseller hosting. It is possible to provide hosting services to your clients through an account. Directly-paid clients entrust you with managing their accounts.

The task sounds daunting and you’re absolutely right. However, if you can manage it, reseller hosting offers a great deal of benefits. Having a reseller account allows you to decide what you want to charge for hosting. You can turn hosting into a source of recurring revenue if you are a web development agency.

Additionally, taking control of a client’s hosting allows you to take care of their websites’ maintenance, ensuring everything is working correctly. However, reselling hosting isn’t appropriate for general users or individuals. It might be better to choose another option if all you need is a website builder that will enable you to build your own.

Reseller hosting has the following advantages:

• Hosting accounts can be configured for third-party users to be charged directly.
• Your hosting experience is completely in your hands.

Reseller hosting has the following cons:

• Billing clients involves a lot of responsibility, which is part and parcel of the job.
• Maintaining and supporting your computer is usually your own responsibility.

Who should consider using reseller hosting: Offering web hosting services in-house can make sense if you run a business that frequently needs to handle web hosting for customers. You can set up reseller hosting and bill clients directly for hosting, while another company takes care of the server infrastructure.

What is the best Types of Website Hosting?

Hosting services are difficult to recommend in a broad sense. The needs of each web project are unique, despite what may sound cliche. Depending on what you want from your hosting provider, we can point you in the right direction:

• If you want to spend as little money as possible on getting your website up and running, you should use shared hosting.
• Consider a VPS if you are looking for more customization or if you need a bit more power than shared hosting can offer.
• Make sure you choose managed hosting if you anticipate needing a little extra help with basic website maintenance.

Once you have hosted for a while, it becomes much easier to determine your needs. Probably no one knows better than you how important cloud hosting or dedicated servers are for your website.

You need to sign up for a web hosting account before you can host your first website. A multi-year hosting contract isn’t a good idea right off the bat as a rule of thumb. If you want to get a better feel for their service, you might want to pay a little extra for month-to-month hosting at first.

Finally, you are always free to upgrade your hosting plan at a later date. If you’re determined to accomplish all that you can for your website, you’ll graduate from shared hosting at some point and move on to a more robust plan that has the firepower and features you need to succeed.

Are You Still Confused to Choose the Web hosting For Your Website?

It is possible to select from a variety of plans and features with the best Types of Website Hosting from different companies. In this way, you can get the resources your website needs to grow while still having flexibility when it comes to getting them.

What are your best options among the different Types of Website Hosting? If you are building a website for the first time, shared hosting is a safe bet. From there, you have only a few choices. However, if you want full control over your configuration and are an experienced user, a VPS may be the better choice.