I have been using WordPress since 2007, and during that time I have tried several different approaches to website hosting.
I started with inexpensive shared hosting. Later, I moved to managed WordPress hosting. Eventually, I began operating my own cloud server so I could host and maintain websites for my clients.
Today, I have returned to managed WordPress hosting—but for very different reasons.
The biggest lesson I have learned is that the cheapest hosting plan is not always the least expensive choice. A low monthly price can cost you more in lost time, slower performance, technical problems, and frustration.
The right hosting depends on what you need from your website and how much responsibility you want to take on yourself.
What Is Website Hosting?
Every website needs a place to live.
Website hosting provides the server—the computer connected to the internet—that stores your website’s files and makes them available to visitors.
Think of your website as a house:
- Your domain name is the street address.
- Your hosting is the land where the house sits.
- WordPress is the system you use to build and manage the house.
Without hosting, people would have no way to access your WordPress website online.
The Three Main Types of WordPress Hosting
Most WordPress hosting falls into three general categories:
- Shared hosting
- A virtual private server, commonly called a VPS
- Managed WordPress hosting
Each type serves a different purpose.
Shared Hosting
Shared hosting means that your website shares a server with many other websites.
It is similar to living in an apartment building. You have your own apartment, but you share the building and some of its resources with everyone else.
Hosting companies can place hundreds of websites on one server. That allows them to offer hosting at a very low monthly price.
Shared hosting can be a reasonable choice when:
- You are building your first website.
- You have a personal blog or hobby site.
- Your website receives very little traffic.
- You are working with a limited budget.
- You are still learning WordPress.
The downside is that your website must compete with other sites for the server’s available resources. If another website suddenly receives a large amount of traffic or uses too many resources, your website’s performance may also be affected.
My first experience with WordPress hosting was a shared hosting account with GoDaddy. It made getting started fairly easy, but people eventually began telling me that the website was loading slowly.
That experience pushed me to learn more about hosting and how much it can affect a website’s performance.
Virtual Private Server Hosting
A virtual private server, or VPS, gives you a dedicated portion of a larger physical server.
Instead of sharing all the server’s resources with everyone else, you receive a specific amount of memory, storage, and processing power.
It is like moving from an apartment into a townhouse. You are still part of a larger property, but you have more space, more control, and fewer shared resources.
A VPS can provide:
- Better performance than basic shared hosting
- More control over the server
- The ability to host multiple websites
- Resources that can be increased as your needs grow
- More flexibility in how the server is configured
The tradeoff is responsibility.
With many VPS plans, you are responsible for maintaining the server. That can include software updates, security, backups, monitoring, and troubleshooting.
A VPS can make sense if you are a WordPress consultant or developer who wants to host several client websites. It may not be the best choice for a small-business owner who simply needs a dependable website.
Managed WordPress Hosting
Managed WordPress hosting is designed specifically for WordPress websites.
The hosting company handles much of the technical work behind the scenes, including server maintenance, security monitoring, backups, and performance improvements.
It is similar to living in a property where someone else takes care of the repairs, maintenance, security, and landscaping. You still control what happens inside your home, but you do not have to maintain the entire property.
Managed hosting usually costs more than entry-level shared hosting, but it can save a considerable amount of time.
It is especially useful when:
- Your website supports a business.
- Website speed and reliability are important.
- You do not want to maintain a server.
- You want access to reliable support.
- You need automatic backups.
- You want a staging site for safely testing changes.
For a small-business owner, managed hosting lets you concentrate on running your business instead of becoming a part-time server administrator.
My WordPress Hosting Journey
My hosting decisions were never based entirely on one company being better than every other company.
Each decision reflected what I needed at that particular point in my WordPress journey.
Starting With GoDaddy
The first WordPress website I managed was hosted on a shared GoDaddy plan.
It was an easy and affordable place to begin. Over time, however, the site developed performance problems. That led me to investigate other hosting options.
Moving to SiteGround
I eventually moved the website to SiteGround.
SiteGround offered more automated hosting features while still allowing me to see and control much of what was happening behind the scenes. I also had good experiences with its customer service.
For my needs at the time, it was a helpful step up from basic shared hosting.
Trying WP Engine
My next move was to WP Engine, which was my first experience with a fully managed WordPress hosting platform.
WP Engine handled the server side of the website, including backups and much of the technical maintenance. The website performed better, and I no longer needed to spend as much time dealing with the server.
However, the platform restricted certain plugins. Those restrictions existed for performance, security, or compatibility reasons, but I wanted more freedom over which plugins I could install.
As my needs changed, I began looking for another solution.
Running My Own Server With SpinupWP and DigitalOcean
By this point, I had built approximately 20 WordPress websites.
I began thinking about offering hosting and website care plans to my clients. Instead of building a website and handing it over, I could continue maintaining it for the owner.
I found SpinupWP, which allowed me to manage a cloud server through a relatively simple control panel. I connected it to a DigitalOcean server and began moving client websites onto it.
The performance improvement was noticeable almost immediately.
This setup gave me more control and allowed me to offer several levels of website care. Clients could pay for basic hosting or choose a more complete plan that included updates, backups, and ongoing maintenance.
This became a source of recurring income for my business, and I used this approach for many years.
But having control also meant having responsibility.
I was responsible for the server and for every client website hosted on it. If something went wrong, it was my job to fix it.
Why I Decided to Stop Hosting Client Websites
After turning 65 and experiencing several major life changes, I began reconsidering how I wanted to spend my time.
Managing a server and being responsible for numerous client websites had become a lot of work. It also raised a more serious question:
What would happen to those websites if I became sick or could no longer manage the server?
My clients depended on me. Because I was operating the business by myself, there was no team waiting to take over if something happened.
I eventually decided that continuing to host client websites was no longer the right choice for me or my clients.
I still wanted to help people with WordPress, but I wanted to focus more on education and consulting instead of being responsible for their hosting infrastructure.
Why I Moved to Kinsta
When I began researching managed WordPress hosting again, I decided to try Kinsta.
I first moved the WPEdge Solutions website so I could test the service myself. The migration was straightforward, and the improvement in speed was immediately noticeable.
Several things stood out to me:
- The hosting is managed for me.
- The website performs well.
- Backups are handled automatically.
- The dashboard is easy to use.
- I can create a staging copy of my website.
- Support is available when I need help.
- I can focus on the website instead of maintaining its server.
A staging site is particularly useful. It creates a private copy of your website where you can test updates or redesign pages before moving those changes to the live website.
I recently used a staging site while redesigning WPEdge Solutions as a simpler, one-page consulting website. I could work on the new version without disrupting the live site and then move the completed changes into place.
Kinsta fits what I need today: managed hosting for a business website without the responsibility of maintaining my own server.
Which Type of Hosting Is Right for You?
There is no single hosting plan that is right for everyone.
Choose shared hosting if:
- You are building your first website.
- Your website is a hobby or personal project.
- You expect very little traffic.
- Keeping the initial cost low is your priority.
Shared hosting gives you an inexpensive way to start learning. You can always move to a different host later.
Consider a VPS if:
- You are comfortable managing a server.
- You need more control over your hosting.
- You want to host several websites.
- You plan to offer hosting or care plans to clients.
A VPS can provide good performance and flexibility, but you must be prepared for the extra work and responsibility.
Consider managed WordPress hosting if:
- Your website is important to your business.
- You depend on it for customers, leads, or sales.
- You value speed and reliability.
- You do not want to maintain a server.
- You want backups, staging, and technical support included.
Managed hosting costs more, but you are paying for more than server space. You are also paying for time, support, reliability, and peace of mind.
The Cheapest Hosting Can Become Expensive
A hosting plan may look inexpensive when you only consider its monthly price.
But what happens if your website loads slowly, frequently goes offline, or requires hours of troubleshooting?
For a business website, those problems have a cost.
You may lose potential customers. You may spend time fixing technical problems instead of serving your clients. You might also end up paying someone to solve problems that better hosting could have prevented.
That is why I no longer look at hosting based only on the advertised monthly price.
I consider:
- Website performance
- Reliability
- Backups
- Security
- Customer support
- Ease of management
- The value of my time
A more expensive hosting plan can sometimes be the less expensive choice when you consider the complete picture.
My Recommendation for Small-Business Owners
If your website supports your business, I recommend using a reliable managed WordPress hosting service.
It does not have to be Kinsta. The important thing is choosing a host that gives you dependable performance, backups, security, and support.
I currently use and recommend Kinsta because it fits my needs and has worked well for WPEdge Solutions.
You can learn more about Kinsta here.
Disclosure: This is an affiliate link. If you purchase a hosting plan through it, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend services I personally use and believe can be helpful.
Choose Hosting Based on Where You Are Today
Looking back, every hosting platform I used served a purpose.
Shared hosting helped me get started. Managed hosting showed me the value of having technical work handled for me. Running my own server allowed me to host client websites and build recurring income.
Now, managed WordPress hosting gives me the freedom to focus on consulting, creating helpful content, and continuing my WordPress journey.
Your hosting needs may change too.
Choose the hosting that fits your website today—not the hosting you think you might need several years from now. When your website, business, or priorities change, you can make a different choice.
If you are unsure which type of hosting fits your situation, you can schedule a free 15-minute introductory call. We can talk about your website, the problems you are experiencing, and whether a change in hosting might help.