Managed WordPress hosting is one of the most confusing topic amongst WordPress beginners. Let's explore it and everything in between!

1. Managed WordPress Hosting: Everything
You Need to Know
You’re all set with a plan to create a compelling website and gear it for success.
You’ve decided WordPress is the right choice as the CMS and website builder for
your website. Now, all you need is a domain name and some computing space,
generally called web hosting or hosting space.

2. Web hosting is the source that powers your WordPress website. When you buy
web hosting, you’re basically purchasing the computing resources to build, run,
and host your website. Hence the name, hosting!
Confusion comes in when choosing between different hosting providers. Also, the
presence of different types of managed hosting like, shared, dedicated, VPS, etc.
doesn’t make it any easier. And ultimately, choosing the one that fits your budget
and meets all your needs!
Well, no need to worry now, as this article will take you through everything you
need to know about managed WordPress hosting. Giving you all the facts,
insights, and little details to enable you to make the best decision for your
WordPress website!
Index
● Managed WordPress Hosting
● Types of Website Hosting
● Features of Managed WordPress hosting
● Pros of Managed WordPress Hosting
● Cons of Managed WordPress Hosting
● Is Managed WordPress the Right Choice?
● Selecting the Best Managed WordPress Hosting

3. What is Managed WordPress Hosting?
Managed WordPress hosting as the name suggests is a type of hosting service
that provides users with convenient features and functionality that is tailor-made
for WordPress.
It is a plan where your provider ‘manages’ your site and server for you. The
provider will also take care of general yet necessary tasks like maintaining
security, updating your site, backups, etc. (we’ll get to this later). So, all your
focus is on growing your website and its user base!
These types of hosting providers have different plans, right from basic to
advanced based on the traffic, active users, no. of websites, etc. Think of a
ready-made platform with all the necessary features, themes, and plugins to get
you started with your WordPress journey.
Types of Website Hosting
Shared Hosting
Shared hosting is a type of hosting where websites (can range from a few to
hundreds) share the same computational resources like processing power, RAM,
storage space, etc.
The major advantage of shared hosting is the cost. It is cheap owing to the large
user base, as hosting providers can serve many users with a single server. This
lowers the cost of maintenance, which translates to cheap prices.
But, it is also its greatest weakness. As server resources are divided between so
many websites, sometimes there are not enough resources available. For
example, if one site has a huge traffic inflow, it will occupy most of the server’s
power, and the rest of the websites have to make do with what’s left 🥲.
This can lead to slow website loading, outages, and bad performance. Also, there
can be an issue of security. Yes, security is not subjected to just one type of
hosting but if the intruder gains access to the server, every website hosted on it is
automatically in danger. As shared hosting has a large number of users, just
imagine if there’s a security breach. 😱

4. That’s why in shared hosting, you also often speak of the “bad neighbor effect”.
Finally, shared hosting caters to a large user base with a variety of needs and
wants. Thus, the server, setups, and support are not geared exclusively for
WordPress.
Dedicated Hosting
Well, dedicated hosting as the name suggests is dedicated server space and
hosting, built just for you! AN entire server, all the processing power, RAM,
storage space, etc. only for you! NO sharing, no performance lags..ever, you get
complete control over the server, and choose the software and hardware you
want. Build a server built just for your WordPress website!
Of course, exclusivity comes with a price tag, and folks it’s a big one 🤯! Also,
you’d need the expertise to run it or hire someone to manage it.
Yes, there are managed dedicated servers where the hosting provider takes care
of administration and maintenance. But then again, it adds to the price
This makes it a great option for businesses/stores/e-com platforms who don’t
want to meddle with the technological side of the business and just work on
growing their business!
Virtual Private Server (VPS) Hosting
VPS hosting comes between shared and dedicated hosting. You share a server
with other websites, but, with a few other websites, each running on a virtual
machine.
What it means for users is that each website is assigned with its own resources
that cannot be exceeded. This takes care of the “bad neighbor effect”, offering
more stability and performance to users.
VPS hosting also gives you more control over what is on your server. You’re free
to choose which software to install, programming language(s) to use, etc. You
also have the flexibility to use more resources if the need comes (short-term) and
of course, increase your resources as your website grows!

5. The price tag becomes the issue again, but it is comparatively a better bargain
than dedicated hosting. But, then again either you manage and maintain your
server, or go with managed VPS hosting. Be ready to pay for it, if you do!
Cloud Hosting
This type is basically the big brother of VPS hosting. Here, too, you place your
website on a virtual machine. However, this one has access to a whole host of
(distributed) servers instead of a single machine. The servers don’t even have to
be in the same location, giving you more insurance against failure and downtime.
Plus, the main benefit of cloud hosting is that you can instantly scale up and
down the resources you use depending on your needs. This is a good way to
accommodate high-traffic times but also keep costs under control when you only
pay for things you are actually using.
At the same time, customization options in a cloud setup are limited and
dependent on what the hosting provider offers. In addition, because this type of
hosting works very interdependently, it can be vulnerable to downtime if there
are connection problems. Plus, cloud hosting also calls for its own skill set and, if
you don’t use your resources right, can lead to higher costs than necessary.
Features of Managed WordPress Hosting
As 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.
So what makes managed WordPress hosting a better choice? You’ll have better
performance and fewer headaches thanks to these benefits of managed
WordPress hosting.
There are no set criteria for what a managed plan should look like, so what you’ll
get varies from provider to provider.

6. Ready to Use
Managed WordPress hosting makes installation, setup, and configuration of your
WordPress website down to a few clicks. If you do it manually, WordPress is
famous for its five-minute installation. There are a few steps involved like setup,
file upload, database configuration, etc. But you can do it manually with countless
detailed resources available online.
Managed WordPress hosting providers also offer custom dashboards which make
your WordPress journey more simple, and intuitive. Although it’s not that
different from the default WordPress dashboard, you’ll have all that’s important
readily available, without having to search for it. So you can already start working
on your website with a custom dashboard that managed WordPress hosting
providers offer!
Simplified Staging
Staging allows you to have a copy or stage your website, where you can try out
new designs, content, etc. These staging and live sites can be synced to push
changes to the live website. Managed hosting makes it effortless with a
single-click staging environment.
Automatic Updates
WordPress has a very active community, working all year round to make it the
best CMS and website builder. This means constant updates to the core software,
themes, and plugins.
It is crucial to update, especially the core software as it holds major security and
bug fixes. Managed WordPress hosting provider takes care of this, so you can
focus completely on your website and provides options for updating your themes
and plugins automatically.
Automatic Site Backups
Backups hold the same importance as updating WordPress core software.
Managed hosting offers automatic backups to ensure you always have a copy
available in case of any security breach or data loss. They also have a defined
process to restore a website from its backup, in case of a crash or any other
mishap.

7. Speed and Performance
Managed WordPress hosting is built to handle WordPress, so your website
performs exceptionally. The server and database are configured and optimized
for one thing: WordPress. What this means for users is seamless performance
and a WordPress website that is optimized to run without any problem!
There is also uptime monitoring that ensures a team is always behind your site,
ready to diagnose and solve any performance issues.
If you run an e-commerce site, shoppers will bounce to a faster website before
your site even fully loads. In site load times, milliseconds count. Managed
WordPress hosting ensures your site is lightning-fast.
Scaling Options
Most sites will fail or crash when they get a big spike in traffic. And visitors get to
see nothing but a white screen or an error message. Managed WordPress hosts
measure your uptime, thus, any spike in traffic can be easily handled.
The host can scale your site’s resources at a moment’s notice to handle the flood
of traffic.
Expert WordPress Support
A lot of support teams will only be able to help you with the actual server
hardware when something goes wrong. So, if the issue is with your site, then
you’re left on your own, having to search through Google looking for the magic
fix.
A managed WordPress host will not only be able to diagnose and solve server and
hardware issues for you. But, they’re also staffed by a team of WordPress experts
that will be able to help you troubleshoot any issues that might arise. And of
course, the goal of a solid managed WordPress host is to help you avoid
experiencing any site issues in the first place.
Security Sweeps and Scans
Most people don’t want to admit it, but there’s a chance your site could be
hacked. Security is typically the farthest thing from people’s minds. Why would
somebody want to hack my site?

8. The last thing you want is to wake up one morning and realize your site’s been
hacked. Then, you have to go through the process of fixing your site, which can be
a real headache if you don’t have solid technical skills.
With a managed WordPress host your server environment will be much more
secure. Plus, since they’re WordPress experts they’ll be well aware of any
common security holes and vulnerabilities and be able to patch the issues
effectively.
WordPress-optimized Hosting Infrastructure
Managed WordPress hosts only offer and cater to WordPress websites, thus, an
optimized infrastructure, geared for WordPress. A website built for maximum
performance and optimization, right from day one!
WordPress-optimized Caching
Caching is a component that stores data, to serve future requests for the same
data faster. Hosts usually implement optimized caching at the server level, which
eliminates the need for a separate cache plugin but also offers greater
performance.
This bump in performance while keeping the website light is possible owing to
server level caching instead of application level.
Note: All these features are taken from different managed hosting
providers. So, all these features may or may not be present in one single
hosting provider and their platform. It is also subject to the plan which
you’ve chosen.

9. Pros of Managed WordPress Hosting
No Technical Know-How
In my opinion, this is the biggest advantage of managed WordPress hosting for
most people. You don’t need to get your hands into the complexities of
maintaining a website, database, architecture, server, cybersecurity, etc.
Saves time for Managing
As the host handles the general maintenance for you, including updates, backups,
malware scans, security checks, etc. You can completely focus on working on your
website!
Faster Load Time
Managed hosting providers optimize the server and their services for WordPress.
That translates into experience improving and enhancing built-in optimizations,
and SEO, to ensure faster load times and great overall performance.
Constant Support
What you get for the price is a support team that you can reach out to, and solve
any problems in both, WordPress and hosting. A team of experts hired solely to
address and resolve any and every user query and problem with WordPress or
hosting service.

10. Cons of Managed WordPress Hosting
More Expensive
Managed hosting costs more than self-hosted WordPress. No unlimited websites,
or storage as you get from other hosts. There are some things that you can
otherwise get for free like an SSL certificate, etc. But some hosts do show it as a
paid offering.
Not so Cool Billing Model
The billing model is not pocket friendly at all. Apart from the cost of managed
hosting, etc., most hosts use monthly visits as a key billing metric, so the bills for
high-traffic websites 📈📈📈🤯.
No Integration, just WordPress
Also, it’s only for WordPress — you can’t install any software that isn’t
WordPress. For example, if you use Mautic for email, Matomo for analytics, etc.
You won’t be able to do that with managed hosting.
No Ownership or Control
With managed hosting, you don’t get complete ownership over your website and
its content. You cannot manage the ad settings and other features like choosing
the security plugins, editing themes, etc. that otherwise would be available.

11. Is Managed Hosting the Right Choice for You?
Yes, one can agree that managed WordPress hosting is the best option if you take
the hefty price tag off of it. But, we both know that’s not possible.
So, how does one decide whether managed WordPress hosting is the right choice
for their website? let’s go at it one by one…
When to go with Managed WordPress Hosting
Managed WordPress Hosting is for people who want something that is
ready-made and works right out of the box. In general, managed WordPress is for
those who want a functioning website that loads fast, works smoothly, and
requires zero to nil manual work.
If you want a website but no hassle of maintaining it, something that is making
you money, then you can consider managed hosting. A good quality host goes a
long way in establishing your website and its success. So, if you’re serious,
managed WordPress hosting is a good investment.
Small businesses and big corporations should definitely consider it. The cost of
managed hosting pales in comparison to that of hiring a system administrator.
Purchasing a managed WordPress hosting plan will be cheaper than paying
someone to work for your company and solve the issues.
When to not go with Managed WordPress Hosting
If you’re just learning WordPress and doing it as a hobby, if you’re managing
many low-traffic generating websites at the same time, a high-traffic static
website, if you’re a developer/budding developer learning to take charge and
control everything on your server, if you have other integration like Mautic,
Matomo, etc.
Basically, if you have the technical knowledge or do not mind learning the
mysteries, then it’ll be better for you to go with unmanaged or self-hosted
WordPress.
What you get is complete freedom, a whole new experience, and loads of learning.
If you’re wondering where to learn from, there are a great many resources

12. available. Ps. we’re one of em’ too, doing our best to offer All-Thing-Everything
WordPress.
Selecting the Best Managed WordPress hosting
● Service Guarantee: What service guarantees are on offer? You wouldn’t
want your e-store to be down with the traffic of the Black Friday sale, right?
So check about the service guarantee and what uptime guarantee is the
host offering!
● Expert Support: Most hosting providers offer support, limited in scope
and nature. So, make sure to check the support on offer and try to find
something that offers 24×7 support!
● Site Migration Options: This is important as you could find yourself in a
position to switch hosting services. If you have an existing site, ask the
potential hosting provider about their site migration options.
● Pricing: Make sure that you check all the boxes when setting your budget
and choosing between different hosting providers. Remember that cheap
hosting often costs more in the long run, so make sure you vet different
hosts and their plans thoroughly.
● Reviews: Check the host’s reputation and name in the market, especially
for the services that you plan to take. Check out different websites for
reviews, you can also check the Google business page of the host for
reviews and customer queries to best assess their customer management
and service ethics.

13. Conclusion
The final choice comes down to main factors: Budget and Need. If you’ve got the
budget and are sure that your website requires this investment, then you should
definitely go for the service.
And if you decide that you would like to save on money and decide that you
would like to go for self-hosted WordPress, then yes there will be a learning curve
but it’ll be quite fruitful if you go this way.
Read to know more about Self vs. Managed WordPress Hosting. This will take
you through everything you need to know and the difference between both types
of hosting in detail, enabling you to choose the best option that best meets your
needs.
If you’ve decided to go with Managed hosting, but confused between choosing the
best one, finding the right domain name, or the whole process of setting up your
WordPress website. Feel free to drop all your questions/thoughts/opinions down
in the comments or in a mail to us at hi@wpwhiteboard.com.
FAQs
What is Managed WordPress Hosting?
Managed WordPress hosting is a type of hosting service that provides users with
convenient features and functionality tailor-made for using WordPress.
What are the Benefits of Managed WordPress Hosting?
The benefits of Managed WordPress Hosting are:
– No Technical know-how
– Saves Time
– Faster Load Times
– Constant Support
Why Choose Managed WordPress Hosting?
You can choose managed WordPress owing to the following benefits:
– Ready to Use
– Simplified Staging
– Automatic Updates
– Automatic Site Backups

14. – Speed and Performance
– Scaling Options
– Expert WordPress Support
– Security Sweeps and Scans
– WordPress-optimized Hosting Infrastructure
– WordPress-optimized Caching
What is the Difference Between Shared and Managed WordPress
Hosting?
Shared WordPress Hosting is not specifically configured for WordPress. What it
means is that you get computing resources, but you have to set up WordPress,
and other software you use, and start your WordPress journey on your own.
Managed WordPress Hosting on the other hand provides a custom-configured
server for WordPress. Everything is installed and ready to use, along with other
features like automatic updates, security sweeps, maintenance, support, etc. for a
subscription fee.