Do You Need Web Hosting for Your WordPress Site?

When launching a WordPress website, one common question is whether they need web hosting. This question often comes up because WordPress is available in two versions: WordPress.org and WordPress.com.  

With WordPress.org, you need to buy a web hosting service separately, which is essential for your site to function. On the other hand, WordPress.com includes hosting as part of its service, so you don’t need to manage it alone.   

However, this is just one of the differences between the two platforms. This article will explain the differences between these two options and explain why web hosting is important for most WordPress sites. We’ll also guide you in choosing the right hosting provider to ensure your site’s success.

WordPress.com vs WordPress.org 

To decide which platform is right for you, let’s compare the key differences between WordPress.com and WordPress.org. 

WordPress.org: The self-hosted solution 

Often referred to as the self-hosted version, WordPress.org requires you to find a separate hosting provider, such as HostGator, to host your site. With this WordPress version, you have full control over your site’s features, hosting plan, and pre-installed plugins, so you have the flexibility to customize and optimize your website to your liking. Here’s a closer look at the key aspects of WordPress.org

Full control and customization: With WordPress.org, you have complete control over your website. You can install any WordPress theme or plugin, customize your site’s code, and optimize it for search engines using various SEO tools. This makes it ideal for anyone who wants to create a personal blog, an online business, or an eCommerce store. 

Monetization options: WordPress.org allows you to monetize your site freely. Whether you want to run ads, sell products, or offer services online, you have the flexibility to do so. Hosting providers like HostGator often offer hosting plans that include features like free SSL certificates and unlimited storage, which are essential for growing a monetized website. 

Hosting providers: Since WordPress.org is a self-hosted solution, you’ll need to choose a web hosting provider. HostGator, for example, offers a range of hosting plans specifically designed for WordPress websites, including managed WordPress hosting and shared hosting. These plans come with pre-installed plugins, making it easier to manage your site from the start. 

Maintenance Responsibility: With WordPress.org, you are responsible for maintaining your site. This includes managing updates for WordPress software, themes, and plugins, as well as ensuring regular backups and security measures. While this might require some technical knowledge, many hosting providers offer managed hosting plans that handle these tasks for you. 

WordPress.com: The Hosted Platform 

This is a hosted platform where WordPress takes care of the hosting for you. While this might seem convenient, especially for beginners, it comes with limitations in terms of customization and control. Here’s a closer look at what WordPress.com has to offer. 

Ease of use: WordPress.com is designed to be user-friendly and straightforward. It’s an all-in-one solution where you can sign up, choose a hosting plan, select a theme, and start creating content. This is particularly appealing for those starting a personal blog or a small website without needing to manage the technical aspects of web hosting. 

Limited customization: While WordPress.com is easy to use, it comes with limitations. On the free or basic plans, you’re restricted to using a WordPress.com subdomain (e.g., yourblog.wordpress.com), and your ability to install plugins or customize your site is limited unless you upgrade to a higher-tier plan. 

Built-in hosting environment: The hosting environment in WordPress.com is managed by WordPress itself, meaning you don’t have to worry about finding a separate hosting service provider. However, this also means you have less control over your site features and performance compared to a self-hosted WordPress.org site. 

Limited monetization: On WordPress.com, monetization options are limited unless you opt for a premium plan. For example, you can’t run ads or sell products unless you pay for an upgraded hosting plan. This can be a significant limitation if you’re looking to grow your personal blog into a more profitable venture. 

WordPress Hosting Requirements

Luckily, WordPress hosting doesn’t have that many hosting requirements. Overall, it’s lightweight and compatible with almost every hosting company’s setup. 

The main requirements are: 

• PHP 7.4 or greater 
• MySQL 5.7 or MariaDB 10.3 or greater 
• HTTPS support  

That’s it. 

HostGator uses the Softaculous Apps Installer tool to install the CMS of your choice easily. This tool makes installing WordPress incredibly simple. You just log in to your control panel, select the app, choose WordPress, fill in some basic site details, and the tool will install WordPress for you. 

Different Types of WordPress Hosting Available 

WordPress remains a lightweight platform that can be installed on most hosting environments. However, the biggest distinction lies in the types of hosting available and the unique feature sets they offer, especially as your site begins to grow and attract traffic. 

Shared Hosting 

For many beginners, shared hosting is the starting point. It’s an affordable and beginner-friendly environment that supports a wide range of websites, including those looking to sell with WooCommerce. 

• Affordability: Shared hosting remains the most cost-effective option, making it ideal for small websites or personal blogs. 
• Ease of Use: Most shared hosting providers offer a one-click WordPress and WooCommerce plugin installer, which simplifies the setup process. 
• Limitations: As your site attracts more traffic, you may encounter performance issues due to the shared resources among multiple users. While shared hosting is great for starting out, you may eventually need to upgrade to a more robust hosting option as your site grows. 

Shared hosting continues to be a viable option for those just beginning, but it’s essential to plan for potential upgrades to avoid any technical issues down the road. 

Managed WordPress Hosting 

Managed WordPress hosting is a popular choice for those seeking a balance between performance, security, and convenience. It’s especially beneficial for sites that use the WooCommerce plugin to sell products online. 

• Optimized Performance: Managed WordPress hosting servers are specifically configured for WordPress, resulting in faster load times and fewer performance issues. 
• Automatic Updates: Managed hosting ensures your WordPress and WooCommerce installations stay updated, reducing security risks.
• Expert Support: These plans offer specialized support from WordPress experts, keeping your site running smoothly and resolving technical issues quickly.

Managed dedicated WordPress hosting is ideal for those looking to maintain total control over their site’s features while enjoying the benefits of a highly optimized hosting environment. 

Cloud Hosting 

Cloud hosting has become increasingly popular due to its scalability and reliability, making it an excellent choice for growing websites or those that anticipate significant traffic spikes. 

• Scalability: Cloud hosting lets you adjust resources to match traffic demands, ensuring your site can handle growth smoothly.
• Performance and Redundancy: With a cloud host, your site is hosted on multiple servers, ensuring high availability and minimizing downtime. This is particularly beneficial for eCommerce sites using WooCommerce, where uptime is critical for sales. 
• Flexibility: Cloud host provides the flexibility to customize your hosting platforms, ensuring that your site operates efficiently and without performance issues. 

Hosting is an excellent choice for websites that require flexibility and the ability to handle increasing traffic without compromising performance. 

Dedicated Server Hosting 

Dedicated server hosting remains the top-tier option for WordPress website that require maximum control and resources. 

• Total Control: A dedicated server gives you full control over hardware, software, and the operating system, enabling complete optimization for your needs, including efficient WooCommerce operation.
• High Performance: Dedicated hosting ensures top performance by eliminating resource sharing, minimizing the risk of slowdowns, even during high traffic.
• Technical Expertise Required: While dedicated hosting offers unmatched control, technical expertise is required to manage the server effectively. This option is best suited for large websites or businesses with the resources to handle complex hosting environments. 

This hosting is ideal for websites that demand the highest levels of performance and customization, but it’s only necessary for a fraction of sites, particularly those with significant technical requirements. 

What To Look For in a WordPress Web Host in 2024 

Choosing the right WordPress host is critical to the success of your site, whether you’re running a blog, an online store, or a large corporate website. Here are the key factors to consider in 2024. 

Price and Value 

Choose a hosting plan that offers the best value for your budget. While it’s tempting to opt for the cheapest option, consider the long-term benefits of investing in a plan that includes features like automatic updates, expert advice, and high performance. 

User-friendly Control Panel 

A user-friendly control panel, such as cPanel, remains essential for managing your hosting setup. It should make it easy to install WordPress, manage your domain, and configure your hosting settings without needing extensive technical knowledge. 

Technical Compatibility 

Ensure that your host meets the technical requirements for running WordPress, including PHP 7.4 or greater, MySQL 5.7 or MariaDB 10.3 or greater, and HTTPS support. Most reputable hosting providers, like HostGator, will support these standards, but it’s always good to verify. 

High Performance and Reliability 

In 2024, website performance is more important than ever. Look for hosting service providers that offer fast load times, excellent uptime, and the ability to handle more traffic as your site grows. Managed WordPress hosting and cloud hosting are particularly well-suited for delivering the performance and reliability modern websites require. 

Security Features 

Security remains a top concern for website owners. Choose a hosting service provider with robust security features, including a free SSL certificate, daily backups, malware scanning, and firewall protection, to safeguard your site against potential threats. 

Expert Support 

Having access to support is invaluable, especially when dealing with compatibility issues or optimizing your site’s performance. Choose a hosting provider that offers 24/7 support from WordPress experts to help with everything from troubleshooting to optimizing your WooCommerce for better sales performance.

Choosing a hosting company for your WordPress site

Looking for hosting that’s reliable and fun? HostGator offers hosting for every need, including WordPress web hosting. With over two decades of experience and millions of sites powered, we know how to help you get your site up and running smoothly. Whether you’re new to the game or a pro, our WordPress hosting services are designed to make hosting your site easy and hassle-free.

Closing Thoughts 

When building or expanding your WordPress website, choosing the right hosting platform is crucial. Shared hosting is a great starting point, while managed WordPress hosting provides better performance and convenience, especially for WooCommerce sites. Cloud hosting offers scalability and flexibility to handle traffic spikes, and dedicated hosting delivers maximum control and top-tier performance for demanding websites.

By carefully evaluating your needs and choosing a web hosting provider like HostGator, you can ensure that your WordPress site runs smoothly, securely, and efficiently. This lets you focus on growing your website and reaching your goals. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Does WordPress come with hosting? 

If you’re using WordPress.org, it doesn’t include hosting. You’ll need to find and pay for a separate web hosting service for the domain name to make your site available online. In contrast, WordPress.com does come with WordPress hosting as part of its plans, but it limits your control over how your site is hosted. If you need more flexibility, WordPress.org with your own hosting is the better option.

How do I start a WordPress site without WordPress hosting? 

Yes, you can start a WordPress site without buying a host right away by installing WordPress on your computer. This lets you build and test your site offline. When you’re ready to make your site live on the internet, you’ll need to get a domain name web hosting plan. This method is great if you want to work on your site without the cost of hosting until you’re ready to launch.

Do I have to use WordPress hosting to create a WordPress website? 

No, you don’t have to use a special WordPress hosting plan to create a WordPress website. You can use other types of hosting’s, like shared or cloud hosting. However, WordPress hosting plans often make it easier to set up and manage your site and offer features like automatic updates and pre-installed plugins. While it’s not required, using WordPress hosting can make your experience smoother.