Managed WordPress hosting plays a crucial role in ensuring the smooth operation of your WordPress site. It involves making informed decisions when it comes to choosing the right hosting plan and provider.
The importance of this decision cannot be overstated. Opting for the wrong hosting solution or provider can lead to frequent website outages and other technical issues, which can negatively impact the availability of your site. For businesses, this can result in the loss of valuable customers.
To help you navigate through the options, we have compiled a list of top-notch managed WordPress hosting providers that guarantee an excellent online experience. But first, let’s understand what managed WordPress hosting entails.
Managed WordPress hosting is a specialized hosting solution designed exclusively for WordPress websites. It offers round-the-clock support from WordPress experts who ensure that your site performs optimally. However, it’s essential to weigh the pros and cons, as managed WordPress hosting may come at a higher cost compared to other hosting solutions like shared hosting.
In this article, we will delve into the details of managed WordPress hosting, discussing its advantages and disadvantages. By the end, you’ll be equipped with the necessary knowledge to make an informed decision about the hosting solution that best suits your needs.
What is Managed WordPress Hosting?
WordPress Managed Hosting was developed in response to the overwhelming popularity of WordPress, which currently powers more than 35% of all websites online. This dedicated hosting service is designed exclusively for WordPress sites, offering a range of benefits and specialized support.
One of the key advantages of Managed WordPress Hosting is the comprehensive support it provides. By entrusting the technical aspects of WordPress to the hosting provider, you gain valuable time to focus on growing your business instead of dealing with technical challenges. Tasks such as WordPress security, site migration, speed optimization, SEO, and WordPress backups are all taken care of by the hosting service.
Naturally, these benefits come at a cost. However, when you consider the convenience and peace of mind that Managed WordPress Hosting offers, the investment often proves worthwhile.
However, it’s important to note that managed WordPress hosting may not be suitable for everyone. To determine if it aligns with your specific needs, let’s explore the pros and cons of this service. We will begin by discussing the advantages.
Benefits of Managed WordPress Hosting
Here are the reasons why WordPress-managed hosting is worth giving a try.
High Loading Speed
If you’ve been struggling to improve the loading speed of your WordPress site without much success, it may be time to consider a different approach.
Migrating your website to a managed WordPress hosting service can significantly reduce its load time. Many website owners who have made this switch have reported experiencing exceptional speed improvements.
You might be curious as to why changing your hosting solution alone can have such a significant impact on loading speed.
The answer is straightforward: managed WordPress hosting providers take care of caching automatically on the server side. This means that caching issues that often hinder website loading speed are effectively addressed without any manual intervention.
Furthermore, these hosting providers optimize their servers specifically for WordPress sites, ensuring optimal performance and speed.
Automatics Backups
Imagine waking up one morning to discover that your website has crashed. It would undoubtedly be a devastating experience that nobody wants to go through.
Despite your best efforts and precautions, there is always a risk of something going wrong. A poorly coded plugin or a determined hacker can bring your site down in an instant. These are just a couple of examples of the potential pitfalls.
To safeguard against data loss in such situations, it is crucial to regularly create backups of your website. This is where managed WordPress hosting providers can be a lifesaver.
They offer daily backups for websites at no additional cost. While some shared hosting providers may provide WordPress backup services, they often come at a higher price point.
While it is possible to create backups yourself, it requires technical skills, time, and discipline to do so effectively.
If your main focus is on growing your business rather than worrying about backups, managed WordPress hosting is the ideal solution for you.
At Fixrunner, we offer affordable WordPress backup services to ensure the safety and security of your website.
Improved Security
As we discussed earlier, the possibility of hackers gaining unauthorized access to your website and causing harm is a real concern.
Hackers are constantly searching for vulnerable websites to exploit, and if you haven’t implemented proper security measures, your site could be their next target.
If you operate an e-commerce website, the risk is even higher as hackers may attempt to steal sensitive financial information from your customers.
Ensuring the security of your website should be a top priority to prevent malicious attacks.
With managed WordPress hosting, you can have peace of mind knowing that WordPress security is taken care of for you. There’s no need to search for the right security plugin because the experts will provide you with the best security solutions.
Furthermore, an SSL certificate is automatically installed on your domain, enhancing your site’s security even further.
Higher Uptime
Have you ever wondered what would happen if your website experiences a sudden influx of traffic? If your server lacks sufficient bandwidth to handle the surge, your website could go down.
However, with managed WordPress hosting, the story is different. Regardless of how sudden or intense the increase in traffic may be, there is ample room to accommodate the surge. This ensures that your website enjoys higher uptime and remains accessible to visitors.
Moreover, many managed WordPress hosting providers utilize cloud hosting solutions instead of traditional server setups. This eliminates the slow loading issues often associated with shared WordPress hosting.
Professional Assistance
While WordPress is known for its user-friendly interface, there are instances where technical issues can arise.
If you have a small WordPress blog with a limited audience, you might be able to resolve these issues with some research and troubleshooting.
However, for business websites with high traffic and critical functionalities, it is crucial to have expert assistance. Managing and maintaining such sites can be a full-time job, requiring a team of skilled WordPress experts.
Rather than hiring an in-house team of developers, outsourcing this task to a managed WordPress hosting provider can be a cost-effective solution. These providers have the knowledge, experience, and expertise to offer guidance and support in making the right decisions for your website.
The best part is that they can handle many problems without your direct involvement, ensuring that your site runs smoothly and efficiently.
Flawless Staging Environment
Suppose you come across several premium themes that catch your eye. However, before implementing any of them, you would like to test them out to determine the best fit.
Typically, you would install and run the themes directly on your live site. But this approach is impractical for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it would give your site a disjointed appearance, potentially confusing your visitors. Secondly, certain plugins may cease to function properly, affecting the overall functionality of your site.
To overcome these challenges and more, it is highly recommended to test new updates and designs in a staging environment.
Fortunately, with managed WordPress hosting, you have access to a seamless staging environment with just a single click. This means you can effortlessly set up a staging environment by simply clicking a button.
Updates.
Improving the performance of your WordPress website can be achieved by installing the latest versions of PHP, MySQL, and other essential infrastructure components.
Although you can perform these updates manually, it is highly advantageous to have an automated system in place.
This is where managed WordPress hosting truly excels. Updates are seamlessly handled for you without any intervention required on your part. This not only applies to the core software but also includes security solutions. As soon as a newer version is released, it is promptly updated to ensure that your website remains secure, fast, and accessible.
By taking care of these updates automatically, managed WordPress hosting keeps your website safe, optimized for speed, and consistently available to your visitors.
Disadvantages of Managed WordPress Hosting
Managed WordPress hosting may not be the ideal choice for every website owner.
Here are a few drawbacks that might make it less appealing to you.
Expensive
Managed WordPress hosting is not suitable for individuals who are on a tight budget. The cost of a Managed WordPress hosting plan can range from around $30 per month and can go even higher, reaching up to $1500 per month depending on the specific requirements. Due to its high cost, this hosting option is more suitable for established businesses that generate revenue rather than for new bloggers who are just starting out with WordPress.
Restricted Customization Options
With managed WordPress hosting, there can be limitations on the plugins you can install, which may restrict your ability to enhance the functionality and appearance of your website. If you come across a caching plugin or a plugin that can improve your contact form, you might not be able to install it if it falls under the restricted list. The hosting provider has specific guidelines in place, and if a plugin is deemed unsuitable or incompatible, you won’t be allowed to install it.
Limited Control
The main concept behind managed WordPress hosting is to take care of all the technical aspects of WordPress on your behalf, which justifies the higher cost associated with it.
However, this convenience can sometimes become frustrating. Your website may receive new features or changes that you are not familiar with. In some cases, a feature that you were accustomed to using may be replaced with a different one.
Unfortunately, you have limited control over these changes and adjustments, leaving you with little recourse to revert or modify them according to your preferences.
Specifically designed for WordPress websites
If you have plans to utilize a different technology for your website other than WordPress, then managed WordPress hosting is not suitable for your needs.
In such a case, it is advisable to explore alternative hosting solutions that are compatible with the technology you intend to use. We have mentioned some other hosting options in the previous section for your reference.
Leading Managed WordPress Hosting Providers
If you’ve made up your mind, here is a list of managed WordPress hosting providers worth considering.
Pressable
Pressable is a reputable managed WordPress hosting provider that offers reliable and optimized hosting solutions for WordPress websites. With Pressable, website owners can enjoy a seamless hosting experience with a focus on performance, security, and convenience.
One of the standout features of Pressable is its commitment to speed and reliability. They utilize high-performance servers and advanced caching techniques to ensure fast page load times and a smooth browsing experience for visitors. Additionally, Pressable offers a global CDN (Content Delivery Network) that helps deliver website content quickly to users across different geographical locations.
Security is another area where Pressable excels. They implement robust security measures, including malware scanning and removal, automated WordPress updates, and proactive threat detection. This helps to safeguard websites against potential vulnerabilities and malicious attacks.
Pressable’s managed WordPress hosting service also includes features like daily backups, one-click staging environments for testing website changes, and a user-friendly control panel for managing various aspects of the hosting environment.
Overall, Pressable is a reliable choice for WordPress website owners who prioritize performance, security, and convenience. With their expertise in managed WordPress hosting, website owners can focus on their content and business growth while leaving the technical aspects of hosting to Pressable.
Siteground
SiteGround is a well-known and reputable managed WordPress hosting provider that has been serving customers for many years. They offer a range of hosting solutions designed to meet the specific needs of WordPress websites. SiteGround’s hosting plans come with features like automatic WordPress updates, built-in caching, advanced security measures, and daily backups.
One of the key advantages of SiteGround is their outstanding customer support. They have a knowledgeable and responsive support team available 24/7 to assist customers with any technical issues or questions they may have. SiteGround also provides a user-friendly interface and intuitive tools that make it easy to manage your WordPress site.
In terms of performance, SiteGround utilizes advanced technologies like SSD storage, NGINX servers, and the latest PHP versions to ensure fast loading times and optimal website performance. They also have data centers located in different regions, allowing you to choose a server location that is closest to your target audience for improved website speed.
Overall, SiteGround is a reliable managed WordPress hosting provider that offers robust features, excellent support, and high-performance hosting infrastructure to help you achieve success with your WordPress website.
DreamHost
DreamHost is a renowned managed WordPress hosting provider that has been in the industry for over two decades. They offer a range of hosting solutions catering to different needs and budgets. With DreamHost, you can expect a reliable and feature-rich hosting environment for your WordPress website.
One of the standout features of DreamHost is its commitment to providing fast and optimized performance. They utilize solid-state drives (SSDs), caching technology, and a custom-built control panel to ensure speedy page loading times and excellent user experience.
DreamHost also prioritizes website security. They provide free SSL certificates, built-in firewall protection, and automatic WordPress updates to keep your site secure and up to date.
In terms of customer support, DreamHost offers 24/7 assistance through various channels, including live chat, email, and a community forum. Their knowledgeable support team is always ready to help you with any issues or inquiries you may have.
Overall, DreamHost is a reliable and reputable managed WordPress hosting provider that can be a great choice for individuals and businesses looking for a feature-rich and performance-driven hosting solution for their WordPress websites.
Hostinger
Hostinger is a popular web hosting company that offers managed WordPress hosting services. With its user-friendly interface and affordable pricing plans, Hostinger caters to both beginners and experienced WordPress users.
One of the key advantages of using Hostinger for managed WordPress hosting is its robust performance and reliability. They utilize advanced technologies and optimized server configurations to ensure fast loading times and smooth website operation. Additionally, Hostinger provides a content delivery network (CDN) that helps deliver your website’s content quickly to visitors around the globe.
Hostinger also offers a range of features specifically designed for WordPress users. These include one-click WordPress installation, automatic updates, and a user-friendly control panel to manage your website effortlessly. With Hostinger’s intuitive interface, you can easily customize your website, install plugins, and manage your WordPress themes.
Moreover, Hostinger prioritizes security, implementing advanced security measures such as firewalls, DDoS protection, and regular backups. They also have a dedicated support team available 24/7 to assist you with any WordPress-related issues or queries you may have.
Overall, Hostinger is a reliable and affordable option for managed WordPress hosting, providing users with a seamless experience and robust features to power their WordPress websites.
Other Hosting Solutions You Might Want to Consider
Perhaps after considering the disadvantages of managed WordPress hosting, you’ve come to the conclusion that it’s not the right fit for you. If that’s the case, or for any other reason, here are a few alternative hosting options to consider.
Shared Hosting:
Shared hosting involves sharing a web server with multiple webmasters. This type of hosting is cost-effective since the expenses are divided among the users. With shared hosting, you can pay as little as $3 per month. It’s an ideal choice for beginners or small businesses with low to moderate website traffic.
Dedicated Server Hosting:
If you prefer complete control over a server without sharing it with anyone, dedicated server hosting is the way to go. Although it is more expensive, it’s suitable for large businesses or websites with high traffic volumes. With dedicated server hosting, you have the flexibility to customize the server according to your specific requirements.
Virtual Private Server (VPS) Hosting:
If you want the benefits of dedicated hosting but at a more affordable price, VPS hosting is a viable option. VPS hosting combines the reliability of dedicated hosting with the cost-effectiveness of shared hosting. It provides a virtual dedicated server environment where you share the physical server with other users. VPS hosting is a good choice for those who need more resources and control over their hosting environment without breaking the bank.
Many WordPress hosting companies offer dedicated and VPS hosting options in addition to shared hosting. It’s worth noting that these hosting alternatives are not limited to WordPress websites and can accommodate other platforms as well.
Conclusions:
We have thoroughly covered the concept of managed WordPress hosting, exploring its advantages and disadvantages. If you have reviewed the drawbacks and concluded that it’s not the right fit for you, there are alternative hosting solutions worth considering. For detailed insights and performance evaluations, you can refer to Matthew Woodward’s recently published article on “The 12 Fastest WordPress Hosting Providers.” This resource provides a comprehensive list of top-managed WordPress hosting providers, allowing you to explore other options that may better suit your needs. Feel free to delve into the article to gather more information and make an informed decision.