Web hosting is a service that stores your website on a server and keeps it online for visitors all day, every day. Every self-hosted WordPress site needs it.
In this article, we will see how hosting works, the main types you can choose from and what to check before you buy.
How does web hosting work?
A server is a powerful computer that stays connected to the Internet around the clock. Your hosting company rents you space on it for your WordPress files and database.
When someone types your domain name, their browser finds your server and asks for the page. The server runs WordPress, builds the page and sends it back within moments.
Just like a house needs land to stand on, a website needs hosting. The domain is your address, and hosting is the land your house is built on.
Types of web hosting
- Shared hosting: many sites share one server. It is cheap and fine for new blogs.
- VPS hosting: a Virtual Private Server gives you a reserved slice of a server with more control.
- Dedicated hosting: a whole server just for your site.
- Cloud hosting: your site runs on a group of connected servers, so resources can grow with your traffic.
- Managed WordPress hosting: the host handles updates, backups and speed tuning for you.
Most new WordPress sites start on shared hosting and move up as their traffic grows. We compare each one in our guide to the different types of web hosting.
What to look for in a WordPress host
Price matters, but it should not be the only thing you check. A good host offers:
- Recent versions of PHP and MySQL or MariaDB
- A free SSL certificate
- Automatic backups that are easy to restore
- Helpful support that understands WordPress
You only need to buy hosting for self-hosted WordPress from WordPress.org. Plans on WordPress.com already include hosting.
For a deeper look, read our full article on what web hosting is.
There you have it. Pick a host that fits your budget today and leaves room to grow tomorrow. If you need help choosing, drop a comment below.