Do I Need Hosting For WordPress? Pros & Cons For New Bloggers

Table of Contents

Blogging is something you can start doing at any point in your life. And getting started is simpler than it’s ever been before. Choosing a platform to create it on is the most important decision to be made at the beginning.

WordPress is a Content Management System (CMS) that includes all the features required to build websites. It is a great option for a blogger who wants to start blogging,

People frequently become perplexed and question whether or not they require web hosting for a WordPress site. This is because there are two distinct variations of WordPress, namely WordPress.org and WordPress.com.

To clarify, WordPress.org needs to be hosted on a web server, but WordPress.com is already a hosted solution. Nevertheless, this is not the only distinction that can be seen between the two.

This article will focus on self-hosted WordPress, which is distinct from WordPress.com and will be discussed further below. It is important for you to carefully weigh the benefits and drawbacks associated with both options.

What is a hosting website?

Renting or purchasing space on the World Wide Web to house a website is called Hosting or Web Hosting. For a website’s content to be visible online, the best option is it must be stored on a server.

What does it mean to be a server?

A server is a special computer that allows others to access your website anywhere. Web hosting service providers are those that offer the servers, connectivity, and other services necessary to host websites.

The name of the service implies this. They address the gamut of hosting demands. They focus on the requirements of tiny blogs to those of major enterprises by providing several hosting plan options.

Good web hosting is necessary if you intend to establish an online presence for your business. There are probably hundreds of web providers available to choose from today. And each of which offers thousands of different types of web hosting services.

What kind of web hosting do I need?

Web hosting services can range from being provided for free service with fewer features and possibilities. All the way to being rather pricey and specialized for commercial use.

The plan you select will be based on how you want to use your website. And how much money you have set aside for the hosting platform.

If you select the appropriate hosting package, you will have access to the appropriate allocation of resources, allowing you to maintain a website that loads promptly and consistently for your visitors.

Consider the number of companies conducting most of their operations online today; their websites are the source of sales and brand-new business leads. Potential clients won’t stick around if they visit a website and it doesn’t work properly, whether it takes a long time to load or doesn’t exist.

They will leave that website in quest of another that functions appropriately and may provide what they are looking for uncomplicated.

Avoiding Expensive Mistakes

If you are new to running a website, the topic of web hosting and its terminology can be very confusing. In the erroneous notion that all hosting alternatives are fundamentally the same, numerous inexperienced website proprietors have settled for the most affordable option or anything that came included with acquiring their domain name.

This could turn out to be a very expensive mistake. The type of hosting company that a user subscribes to determines how the server’s resources are partitioned.

You must first recognize the differences between the various hosting plans before selecting the one that best fits your needs. It is not necessary for this matter to be difficult. You can choose the free hosting service or shared hosting plan for start-ups and small businesses.

Well, the free plan is the better option to start. And once you enter the field, you will get to know different platforms or hosting companies at affordable prices.

Let’s make this decision procedure sound like picking the right web hosting by comparing it to that.

Shared Hosting

A shared hosting account is comparable to hiring a workstation in a crowded, loud, open-floor plan workplace or a shared office space. You have access to all of the modern comforts, such as a desk, internet access, and some stationary.

Nevertheless, you and your fellow employees share the space, including the kitchen, the computer, and the lavatory. You cannot alter the area by putting on whiteboards or other amenities. This is a common method for building tiny websites, but it is not ideal for large-scale commercial endeavors.

Virtual Private Server

A virtual private server, also known as a VPS, represents a significant improvement over shared hosting. The hiring of office space within a business park might be beneficial to businesses of medium size.

Users are kept separate from one another while using a virtual private server (VPS). You have neighbors, but you’re not as reliant on them as you once were, and you are free to carry out any makeovers or adjustments as you see fit. Additionally, you are responsible for your own workplace organization.

Dedicated Servers

The utilization of a complete office building is analogous to hosting content on a dedicated server. It is an option that costs more money but is ideal for websites that place high importance on stability and great performance. Since you own the whole place, you get greater flexibility in layout and much room to spare, but it’s a waste of money if you never plan on using it all.

Types of Hosting

Free web hosting is a low-quality solution that can nonetheless serve the needs of non-commercial and professional websites.

Shared server hosting refers to reserving space on a server multiple users share. Because of this, a single server can function simultaneously as a host for multiple websites.

VPS hosting refers to the practice of storing each website on a strong server that has been partitioned into multiple virtual compartments. That is to say, the client possesses their own RAM resources, CPU, and so on.

Dedicated hosting provides the user with their very own dedicated server. Although it’s pricey, you get the most flexibility and speed possible.

You will want a web hosting account and a domain name to create a website. You can choose different WordPress-specific hosting plans.

Purchasing a domain name by itself only grants you the right to use that specific domain name for a predetermined time.

To store the files for your website, you will require web hosting. As soon as you have hosting, you will need to change the settings on your domain name so that it points to the company doing your web hosting. If it is your first time creating a website, all this information may seem overwhelming.

The good news is that Bluehost, a hosting web service officially recommended by WordPress, has agreed to give our users a free domain name and a discount of more than 60 percent on web hosting, which is a great price. It is the right choice as it provides all hosting needs and is one of the best WordPress hosting services. Bluehost is just a great host.

The Differences Between WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org

WordPress.com

Founded and run by WordPress co-creator Matt Mullenweg, Automattic is a web host that offers the WordPress.com platform. Users frequently get WordPress.com and the popular WordPress.org software confused because they were both founded by the same person.

Four different price points are available for the WordPress.com hosting service, ranging from $4 to $45. Depending on what you need as a blogger, you can find exactly what you need.

For people who are only interested in blogging as a pastime or for their family, the free platform offered by WordPress.com is an excellent option.

WordPress.org

Sometimes known as “the real WordPress,” it is a well-known content management system (CMS) used to create websites. You have likely heard many positive things about WordPress.org.

It’s indeed open-source software, and users are not required to pay anything to use it. You will only need a website web host and domain name. Because of this, you may also hear it referred to as “self-hosted WordPress.” You will have complete control over your website if you use WordPress.org.

Themes

You can make any changes you see fit and modify it to the extent you see fit. The WordPress software is free, based on open-source code, and very simple to operate.

You are free to use any WordPress theme you like, regardless of whether it costs money or not. You can also build designs that are fully unique to your needs or tweak anything else.

On Your Own Terms

You are the only owner of your website and its content. Your website will not be taken down because a third party deems certain content on it to violate its terms of service. You have complete authority.

Plugins

Plus, you can install free, premium, or custom plugins and apps on your WordPress site. You’re free to change the look and feel of your website as you see fit.

Running your own advertisements on your WordPress website and not having to split the earnings with anyone else is one way to generate income from your blog.

You may perform bespoke analytics and track with the assistance of strong tools like Google Analytics. Set up an online store to offer physical or digital things, accept payments through credit cards, and transport or ship the goods straight from your website using the self-hosted version of WordPress, which is a good option for building your e-commerce platform.

The true cost of a website built with WordPress.org shifts depending on the kind of site you want to create. Other considerations are also to consider, such as the availability of free vs. premium templates, free vs. premium plugins, etc.

If you are only interested in blogging for fun and have no intention of monetizing your website, then you should use the free version of WordPress.com.

We strongly advise using the self-hosted version of WordPress.org if you are an organization or a blogger to profit from your website. It provides you with the liberty and adaptability necessary to develop your website in the manner of your choosing.

Pros of Using a Hosting Website

Hosting services that enable site owners to design and show a presence online without understanding how to code, optimize, and secure a network are called “design and display web hosting services.” Let’s have a look at some of the most significant pros of selecting the appropriate hosting plan for your website.

#1: Costs Are Reasonable

Clients and site owners can get some pretty spectacular bargains these days as a direct result of the intense competition that exists in the market, in particular regarding shared hosting plans that are user-friendly for novices.

Regarding web hosting, the term “cheap” does not always imply that the service is of poor quality. Hosting providers are competing to deliver more features, higher levels of security, superior support, faster speed, and the easiest design tools necessary to win your business.

According to a report published by Market Research Future, renowned hosting firms need to continuously develop and build a cost-effective product range to survive in the sector and achieve traction. Because of this, you have access to a wide variety of high-quality hosting providers that cost less than five dollars a month.

#2: Provide Good Performance of Website

The winner of fame and honor is the website that loads first, just as the winner of a race is the first person to cross the finish line. Because one in four users will leave a site if it takes longer than five seconds to load, the performance of your hosting web service directly influences how much traffic your website receives and the number of readers that you convert into customers.

Instead of toiling away and meticulously optimizing your network and equipment manually, web hosts employ the experience of hundreds or even thousands of sys admins in enormous data centers to ensure that their client’s websites appear as rapidly as is humanly possible.

Freely available content delivery networks store files and cached webpages on servers as close to visitors as feasible, reducing load times. Hosts can also deploy more cutting-edge technologies in their servers, further improving performance.

A solid-state drive, often known as an SSD, is almost always a positive indicator that a service provider appreciates the success of their customers by providing them with high-quality services.

#3: An Abundance of Free Benefits

What good is a hosting web package that is both fast and inexpensive if you cannot do much with it? Many hosts, to woo consumers with user-friendly, all-encompassing offerings, provide their clients with access to many free features and tools that allow them to accomplish just about anything they want with their server.

Customers get access to a graphical control panel interface, free email accounts, hundreds of one-click software upgrades, SSL certificates, and other features that make it simple to use the most important applications and services.

We choose to concentrate on our go-to web host for simple WordPress installations; however, you can also find excellent choices for website builders, e-commerce, and a wide variety of other specialized areas.

#4: Assistance and Guidance are Provided Directly by an Expert

Once you have everything you need to succeed, one of the most reassuring aspects of web hosting plans is the horde of customer care agents around the clock in case anything goes wrong. Support should be available around the clock by calling, chatting, and emailing.

Additional points should be awarded to those businesses that prioritize quick response times, employ competent professionals, and provide a large knowledge base with articles and lessons.

Cons of Using a Hosting Website

Most of these problems can be mitigated to some extent by avoiding hosting services offered for free or at an extremely low cost and instead looking for a reliable and established provider that already serves hundreds or millions of customers.

Be sure to conduct your homework to avoid falling victim to any of the following potential hazards associated with web hosting:

#1: The Inability to Always Have Enough Room to Develop

You will be hosting a server with many other customers if you sign up for a shared web hosting plan, which is what most inexperienced users and ambitious developers do. If your website or big concept becomes a viral sensation, you may be bound due to limited resources.

Although many of the most economical hosting providers we recommend advertise limitless hosting resources, you still risk being punished if you go over a specific level.

The solution to this problem is to switch from using shared servers to hosting solutions that are more scalable, such as cloud or virtual private server hosting. These plans provide enough resources to be distributed in whichever best suits your needs.

A virtual private server (VPS) allows you greater control over a larger chunk of a server’s resources. In contrast, cloud hosting utilizes a distributed network of numerous servers to distribute your website.

#2: Inadequate Safety and Security Measures

You read about it in the news daily; it seems that no organization is safe from having its data compromised. Keeping the data for your website — to say nothing of the personal or financial information of potential consumers — on a server that is located thousands of miles away, in a data center that you cannot access, is undoubtedly an act of trust.

Thankfully, the web hosting field employs many of the world’s best security specialists, who closely watch for rising dangers and potential solutions and safeguards. These security experts monitor both developing threats and promising remedies.

#3: It Can Become Expensive if Your Site Develops

In most cases, calculating the cost of web hosting is fairly simple, particularly for the initial year of service. This is especially true for the initial payment. A shared hosting package, which must cost less than $5 per month, is the choice made by most new site owners.

However, the introductory reductions that you took advantage of during that first year will eventually expire, resulting in an increase in fees that could be either marginal or exponential, depending on the host.

In addition, your online presence will expand. You will soon want the additional resources that a cloud or VPS plan can provide. When you get past this point, it’s possible that the costs of web hosting will become unaffordable and difficult to estimate.

The time you invest in research at the beginning will pay off in the long term. By comparing the prices of different web hosting providers, you can identify the companies that offer the best service value.

Pros of Not Using a Hosting Website

The pros of not using hosting services are only fewer. Because it is always better to have web hosting. Some of the pros of not using hosting are;

If you are a personal blogger or blogging for fun, then not using any hosting service will save you money.
The customer is not entirely responsible for the installation, administration, or safety of the virtual private server (VPS).

Cons of Not Using Hosting

You will have to face a few consequences if you are not using any web hosting for your website.

#1: Poor Site Performance

Your site performance will not improve if you will not use site hosting. When it comes to being successful online, the performance of your website is really important.

In fact, you only have a few seconds to grab your visitor’s interest before they navigate away from your website and never return. Visitors won’t bother sticking around if it takes your website an inordinate amount of time to load.

In addition, your website’s performance also impacts where it is ranked in search engines. Your site will score poorly in user experience metrics if its loading times are delayed. These metrics determine how high your site ranks in search results.

#2: No Website Security

The security of your websites is a concern that many owners of websites never give any thought to. Although it is difficult to have a website that is 100 percent secure. It is impossible to fully know from where the next danger will originate.

If you are not using web hosting, your website lacks security. Your website’s host service provider should be considered the site’s first line of defense against potential threats.

After all, this will be where every file associated with your website is kept. A good host will provide numerous layers of protection regarding safety.

To begin, there is the actual physical center, which will be guarded against any potential threats. The servers themselves will have any essential firewall protection that is required.

The type of web hosting services you have will determine the specific security measures in place to keep your website from being hacked by other websites hosted on the same server as yours.

#3: No Technical Support

If you do not have any web hosting service on your website, then there will be no technical support for the visitors. You can not manage the technical support on your own, so it is better to have a hosting service.

So, do I need a host for WordPress?

If you are content with the limitations of having your blog hosted free on WordPress.com, then you do not need to pay for a separate web hosting service.

However, if you are adamant about having an FTP login, uploading plugins and templates, editing themes and templates, and conducting e-commerce transactions.

In that case, you will need to pay for a web server and set up a WordPress.org setup. If you choose a host for your WordPress, then you will get the following benefits;

#1: Good Results

Both the hardware and the server setup on WordPress hosting are tuned to meet the requirements of WordPress. Which allows the program to function in the most effective manner possible. Because of this, performance problems and downtime can be avoided.

#2: Simple Setup

Web Hosting providers typically feature one-click WordPress installation on their servers. Some even come with WordPress pre-installed and ready to go, making it even easier to get started.

#3: Managed Service

Qualified personnel will handle the server’s configuration. This is especially crucial for individuals who are just starting out. Especially if they do not have much experience in the technical side of things. This is especially crucial for individuals who are just starting out and do not have much experience in the technical side of things.

Excellent protection; the automatic update feature ensures that even the most critical patches are installed without fail. In the event that there is a problem with the service, the provider will also perform backups for you automatically.

Wrapping Up

Search engine optimization (SEO) relies on several factors, one of which is reliable hosting.

There are choices for small businesses that wish to develop their own site. That way, they’ll pay less to the hosting firm to build their site and host it with them. Thus, giving them the best of both worlds. There are a lot of advantages that come along with web hosting.

In addition to the primary advantage of assisting you in making your website accessible over the internet. Now have a better idea of how you can benefit from these by selecting a good hosting company.

Keep in mind that the hosting web package you choose should be the one that caters most effectively to the requirements of your operational website. You can select a different hosting plan or upgrade your current one.