Table of Contents
Introduction
Managed WordPress hosting is more of an explanation of the service you’ll get than a plan. While most hosting services leave most of the work to you, managed hosting relieves you of some of the burdens of keeping your site running. For many website owners, this makes it an attractive alternative. What is managed WordPress hosting? In a nutshell, WordPress-specific hosting adds several convenient features to make it easier to manage, secure, and speed up your WordPress site.
What has Managed WordPress hosting? Explained in more detail
We’ve discussed the different types of available hosting plans in the past. Shared hosting, for example, is a cheap entry-level option that sees you splitting a server with many other users. On the other hand, a Virtual Private Server (VPS) plan provides you with your own private space on a server and more resources. At the top tier, you’ll find dedicated hosting, which is expensive but provides you with an entire physical server just for your site.
These hosting plans can also be ‘managed’ or ‘unmanaged’. Most hosting is unmanaged, which means once you purchase space on a server, you’re mainly on your own. Your hosting provider will probably give you a few tools to play with. Still, the responsibility to maintain your site’s performance and security (and customize your server on some plans) is up to you.
So, just what has managed WordPress hosting? The name suggests a plan where your supplier ‘manages’ your site and server for you. This income will take care of various vital tasks, like updating your site, so you don’t have to. Let’s look more closely at what this might include.
The Pros and Cons of Managed WordPress Hosting
As we’ve alluded to, the primary benefit of managed hosting is that it’s a more hands-off option. It also requires less technical know-how. Your hosting provider will help you keep your site in top form, so you can focus your attention on creating content, promoting your business, and other tasks only you can do.
Pros of Managed WordPress Hosting
There are no set criteria for a Manage WordPress plan, so what you’ll get varies from provider to provider. However, most tend to host options that will:
- Take care of updates for you, and generate frequent backups of your site for safekeeping.
- Scan your site for security threats, and react quickly to deal with any issues.
- Handle performance optimization to keep your site running fast at all times.
- If you’re on a VPS or dedicated plan, configure your server to meet your needs.
- Offer staging sites to help you safely test changes and updates.
- Provide lots of support options to answer your questions.
Primarily, we’re talking about managed WordPress hosting in particular here. This means your provider will also know the platform inside and out. This can be invaluable, especially if you’re new to WordPress and don’t know much about how to optimize your site.
Cons of Managed WordPress Hosting
So far, all of this sounds pretty great, which may leave you wondering what the catch is. The simple answer is that managed plans are more expensive than unmanaged variants. How much a managed plan will cost you depends heavily on where you get it.
Managed dedicated plans are far more expensive, although few first-time website owners need that kind of power. In any case, the extra costs will add up over time.
There’s another potential downside to managed hosting. If you’re a more technically-savvy user, you may prefer to configure your server and optimize your site’s performance and security on your own. Managed hosting takes away this option and has you rely on your provider instead. Whether or not this loss of control is a relief or a problem entirely depends on your pre-existing knowledge and needs.
How to Decide – Managed WordPress Hosting
By this point, you know the answer to the question: What is managed WordPress hosting? This means you’re ready to consider whether it’s the right choice for your site.
There are two key elements to think about: your budget and your needs. You’ll only be able to opt for a managed plan if you can afford it. While most options aren’t exorbitantly expensive, they involve a more significant initial investment.
After, it would help if you decided whether or not having your site Manage WordPress for you sounds appealing. In other words, you’ll likely fall into one of two camps:
- Managed hosting can be a lifesaver if you don’t know much about WordPress, servers, and other technical stuff involved in running a website. It saves you time and agonize and can result in a safer site and performs more efficiently. Plus, you’ll have access to convenient help whenever you need it.
- On the other hand, unmanaged hosting is a better option if you prefer to make critical decisions for your website on your own. It’s a good option for users with the technical experience to maintain their sites personally and those willing to learn the ropes over time.
If you decide that managed hosting sounds like an appealing option, your work isn’t done yet. It would help if you still found the right plan since plenty of choices is available.
How to find the Right Manage WordPress Hosting plan for your site
Finding a managed WordPress hosting plan can be a little tricky. As mentioned earlier, the term “managed” doesn’t have a firm and universally agreed-upon definition. Theoretically, any provider can slap the managed label on its plans. Therefore, you’ll need to be careful and ensure you’re getting your money’s worth.
To determine whether or not a managed plan has something unique to offer you, you’ll need to take a close look at the features it provides:
An example of managed hosting features.
These should include most or all of the key characteristics we discussed earlier. In particular, look to see if the provider will manage updates and backups for you, as it’s a good sign.
Next, see what it provides in terms of security and performance optimization. The provider should be upfront about what it does to keep your site safe and maintain solid speeds and up-time. If in misgiving, get in contact with the sales team via chat and ask them outright.
If you’re looking at a VPS or dedicated plan, you’ll also want to determine whether the provider is willing to set up and configure your server (virtual or physical) to meet your needs.
Finally, and perhaps most important, make sure the plan is WordPress-specific.
If you’re leaving the responsibility for maintaining your site in the hands of your hosting provider, they must know how to optimize a WordPress site. Look for features such as pre-installed and pre-configured WordPress sites and built-in plugins to handle backups and caching.
This may all sound a little threatening, but many excellent options. To start your research, we’d suggest checking out our list of top managed WordPress hosting plans for website owners on a budget. These plans are affordable, WordPress-specific, and worked, making them solid picks for anyone needing a little help running their site.
Conclusion
If you want a hosting plan for your site, the good news is that there are a lot of choices. On the other hand, this can make the decision a little tricky.
It would help if you found the right provider, but you also need to figure out what plan is right for you and your site.
For instance, when browsing plans, you may find yourself trying to understand just what is managed WordPress hosting. As it turns out, the name gives away the purpose of these plans – to manage and maintain your site for you. Managed WordPress hosting plans aren’t for everyone, but they can save you time and take technical tasks you’re not comfortable with off your shoulders.
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