Feeling lost in the dense thicket of web hosting options? Luckily, you won't be navigating this tangled jungle alone!
If the technical complexities or budget constraints of web hosting leave you scratching your head, fear not! This guide is your trusty machete, hacking through the confusion and revealing the different types of web hosting.
Whether you're just starting a personal blog or running a booming online store, understanding the options unlocks the key to your website's success.
We'll cut through the jargon and unveil the pros and cons of each hosting type to simplify the decision-making process. By the end of this post, you'll be better equipped to choose the right web hosting solution for your unique needs.
But first, here's a quick look into what web hosting is.
What is Web Hosting?
Much like a supermarket or department store houses a variety of retail goods, web hosting is a service that provides storage facilities for your website. It involves renting space on a server - a powerful computer connected to the internet 24/7. The server stores all files pertaining to your website (web pages, images, videos, etc).
When someone types in your website domain name or clicks on a link to your site, their browser sends a request to the server hosting your website. The server then retrieves the requested files and sends them back to the visitor's browser, allowing them to view and interact with your website.
In a nutshell, web hosting provides the infrastructure and technology needed to make your website accessible to users worldwide.
The 5 Main Types of Web Hosting Explained
Just as the basics of how web hosting works are easy to grasp, so are the various types of hosting. And the best part is that you will not be bombarded with numerous options when searching for the right fit for your website.
In fact, web hosting plans come down to a handful of options. The good thing about this is that it helps to make the decision-making process a little less intimidating.
The following are the five main types of web hosting plans you will be mulling over.
1 Shared Hosting
Shared hosting is the entry-level option of web hosting plans. With this option, your website will be on a server that hosts several other websites. It is like setting up your website in a bustling apartment building where neighbors share resources.
Even though server resources get distributed among several account holders, shared hosting does not skim on features or services. You will get the whole gamut of basic hosting features. That includes bandwidth, RAM, storage, freedom to host multiple domains and emails, plus scripting and database support.
Pros
Cons
What is Shared Hosting Suitable For?
Shared hosting is ideal for sites with modest website traffic and resource needs. For instance, it is suitable for bloggers, small businesses, and startups. This option can also be ideal for sites that need to be set up for temporary projects or to test new ideas.
Granted, shared hosting is an affordable and hassle-free entry point into the online world. But note that you may outgrow its limitations as your website grows in popularity and complexity.
2 VPS Hosting
VPS hosting is an acronym for Virtual Private Server. It is arguably the sweet spot of hosting plans. That's because it strikes the perfect balance between cost and customization, making it a popular type of web hosting.
This web hosting option is best suited to website owners who require more control, performance, and reliability than shared hosting offers but do not yet need the resources of an entire server.
So, what is VPS hosting all about? Like shared hosting, you share a physical server with other website owners. Except the difference between VPS and shared hosting is that in this setup, there are multiple virtual servers, each operating independently with its own resources and operating system. It is a lot like a townhouse, offering a balance between shared and dedicated environments.
Pros
Cons
Who Should Choose VPS Hosting?
VPS hosting is a good fit if you own a medium-sized website (or e-commerce store) with moderate to high traffic levels or run a site with resource-intensive applications like video streaming. It is also the go-to option for developers and tech-savvy users who need more customization options and admin wiggle room to tinker with their projects.
3 Dedicated Hosting
Dedicated hosting is the digital equivalent of owning a standalone mansion in a private and high-end locale. With this exclusive option, you get an entire server dedicated solely to hosting your website.
Pros
Cons
What is Dedicated Server Hosting Suitable For?
Dedicated server hosting is ideal for industries with demanding requirements. It caters to large-scale enterprises, e-commerce platforms, and websites attracting significant daily traffic.
More specifically, dedicated servers are an optimal choice for online applications where uninterrupted uptime and exceptional performance are non-negotiable.
Businesses with stringent compliance standards, such as those in the finance and healthcare sectors, rely on dedicated servers to ensure data integrity and security.
Additionally, specialized software needs, such as gaming servers, websites with extensive databases, and SaaS (Software as a Service) platforms, find dedicated server hosting indispensable for delivering reliable and high-performance services to their users.
Dedicated server hosting offers unparalleled reliability and performance, making it the preferred choice for businesses operating in mission-critical environments.
4 Reseller Hosting
Between acquiring servers, a location to store them, cooling systems, a power source, and maintenance work, setting up a web hosting company is a costly and labor-intensive investment. Reseller hosting offers a roundabout way of creating a mini-hosting company by piggybacking on an established hosting provider's infrastructure.
It involves an arrangement whereby you buy hosting resources from a provider in bulk and resell them to your clients under your brand name. Essentially, you become the middleman between the hosting provider and your customers, much like subletting a condominium that you are leasing.
Pros
Cons
What is Reseller Hosting Suitable for?
Reseller hosting is best suited for web designers, developers, and entrepreneurs looking to offer hosting services as part of their existing business or as a standalone venture. It is also worth considering for businesses with a sizeable network of clients who require hosting services. For instance, that could include marketing agencies, IT consultants, or freelance professionals.
5 Colocation Hosting
Collocation hosting is a type of web hosting that mirrors dedicated servers but with a twist. Instead of paying for server resources, you rent space in a data center to house one or more of your servers. You supply the hardware (servers), while the hosting company provides the infrastructure (power, cooling, & network connectivity).
Simply put, colocation hosting enables you to lease a secure physical location and outsource the professional management of your servers to an established facility without giving up control of your hardware and software configurations.
Pros
Cons
Who Should Choose Colocation Hosting?
Colocation hosting is an excellent choice for IT enterprises and other organizations that face limitations in storing servers internally or accessing a private data center they own. For example, multinational corporations with extensive server infrastructure or financial institutions requiring secure data storage may opt for this type of web hosting.
Additionally, colocation hosting is suitable for businesses dealing with sensitive data or facing security concerns that mandate hosting servers in a secure, professional data center environment. For instance, healthcare organizations handling patient records or government agencies safeguarding classified information benefit from the heightened security measures offered by colocation hosting providers.
What is Cloud Hosting?
While cloud hosting is not a type of web hosting by itself, like the options we have discussed above, it is a term you will come across, so it helps to know what it means.
You know how you have a personal cloud account that backs up your photos, videos, and other files? It is the same concept with cloud hosting, only on a much grander scale.
Cloud hosting distributes your website across multiple interconnected servers. So, if one server malfunctions, the rest step in to pick up the load and ensure continued availability of your website, thus eliminating the risk of downtime or loss of data.
Many web hosting companies incorporate cloud architecture into shared and VPS packages, making it a viable option for varied website owners. This hosting option also offers a pay-as-you-go pricing model, allowing you to pay only for the resources you use, making it cost-effective and adaptable to fluctuating traffic levels.
The adaptable nature of cloud hosting makes it ideal for business/organization sites of all sizes, whether they want to leverage the scalability and flexibility of cloud infrastructure for their web applications or have dynamic sites with unpredictable traffic patterns.
What is Managed WordPress Hosting?
This post would be incomplete without talking about managed WordPress hosting. You may have seen this type of web hosting and wondered what it is all about.
Managed WordPress Hosting takes the hassle out of running a WordPress website. For instance, this type of hosting comes with WordPress already pre-installed. Also, tasks such as updating to new versions of WordPress, managing backups, and scanning your website for security threats will all run automatically, allowing you to focus on creating content.
With specialized support and tailored features, this type of web hosting ensures your WordPress website runs smoothly and efficiently, providing peace of mind for WordPress users of all levels.
Learn more about Managed WordPress hosting here.
Over to You
Selecting your web hosting plan doesn't have to be difficult. All you have to do is know which plan aligns with your requirements. Once you do that, you're one step closer to realizing your online goals.
Now that you've gained insights into the various types of web hosting available, you're better equipped to choose the right plan for your website.
Still uncertain which web hosting option to choose? Our team at DTS-NET is here to assist you 24/7 with expert guidance. Get in touch now, and we'll help you embark on your web hosting journey.
Ready to choose your web hosting? Get started here.