When you’re ready to invest in a web hosting plan for your business, understanding the types of hosting available can make a big difference. A common question among new users is: what’s the difference between Shared Hosting vs WordPress Hosting?
Both options offer the tools and resources to support high-performing websites and deliver great user experiences. While WordPress Hosting is optimized specifically for WordPress sites, standard Shared Hosting plans are also a reliable choice for hosting WordPress, often at a more budget-friendly price.
Let’s take a look at the similarities and differences to help you find what’s right for your business.
- Differences Between Shared & WordPress Hosting Plans
- Which Hosting Plan Is Better For You?
- Shared Hosting vs WordPress Hosting: Final Thoughts
Differences Between Shared & WordPress Hosting Plans
Shared Hosting
In simple terms, Shared Hosting means your website shares space on a server with many other accounts.
Shared hosting is a popular and cost-effective choice for smaller websites like blogs, portfolios, or medium-traffic sites. By sharing server resources, you gain access to a reliable hosting environment at a much lower cost than other hosting types.
However, because resources are shared, your site’s performance can sometimes be affected by other accounts on the same server. For those looking for more consistent performance, Shared VPS Hosting might be a better option. Although you still share a server, VPS Hosting allocates dedicated resources to your account, isolating your site’s performance from other users.
For more guidance, check out our Shared Hosting vs VPS hosting guide to see which option aligns best with your goals. You can also explore our VPS hosting options for more details.
WordPress Hosting
WordPress Hosting is designed specifically for websites that use the WordPress content management system (CMS). As the world’s most popular CMS, WordPress is valued for its speed, security, and reliability. WordPress Hosting can be a type of Shared Hosting, but it’s managed and fine-tuned to support WordPress sites optimally.
When we say a plan is “managed,” it means that essential tasks like server updates and technical maintenance are handled by professionals. This allows you to focus more on creating content and running your website, knowing that the technical side is in expert hands.
What are the main differences between shared hosting and WordPress hosting?
The primary difference lies in how the plans are set up and optimized. WordPress Hosting plans are specifically built for WordPress websites, meaning they are designed to work seamlessly with the WordPress CMS. This means the hardware, software, and resources are tailored to meet the needs of WordPress sites, ensuring better performance and stability.
Do I never web hosting services if you use WordPress?
Yes, even though WordPress is a CMS (Content Management System) for creating and managing your website’s content, it still needs a place to “live” on the internet. That’s where a web hosting plan comes in.
A hosting plan provides the server space to store your website’s files, data, and content, creating the essential connection needed for visitors to access your site online. Without a hosting plan, your WordPress site wouldn’t be accessible to anyone on the internet.
Is WordPress hosting better than Shared hosting?
The answer depends on your specific needs. Shared Hosting plans are versatile and can host various CMS platforms like WordPress, Joomla!, and Drupal, making them a good choice if you or your developer are experienced with multiple software options.
It’s important to note that some providers restrict WordPress Hosting plans to WordPress sites exclusively. If you’re interested in experimenting with other CMS platforms, a Shared Hosting plan may offer greater flexibility for your needs.
If you’re new to building a website, WordPress Hosting offers a straightforward starting point. The WordPress platform is highly popular, giving you access to countless plugins, themes, and expert resources at reasonable prices.
Do WordPress websites come with shared hosting?
Not quite, WordPress Hosting plans are typically based on Shared or VPS Hosting servers that are specifically optimized for WordPress sites. These plans are fine-tuned to deliver the best performance for WordPress, meaning you get hosting that’s designed to work seamlessly with your CMS.
But don’t worry! Most WordPress Hosting plans come with WordPress pre-installed, so you can start building and designing your site immediately without needing to set up the software yourself.
Can I install WordPress on shared hosting?
Yes, you can install the WordPress CMS software to manage your website on a Shared server if this is an option available by your web host.
Which Hosting Plan Is Better For You?
Now that you have a basic understanding of the differences between Shared Hosting and WordPress Hosting, let’s dive into some key factors—like optimization and setup—that might help you decide which option is right for you.
Shared vs WordPress: Comparing Cost & Performance
WordPress Hosting plans typically offer fewer resources or come at a slightly higher cost than Shared Hosting plans at the same level. However, in terms of monthly cost, the difference is usually small and won’t significantly impact most businesses unless you’re moving into higher-tier plans with more resources.
Additionally, unless you’re managing a large photography gallery or an eCommerce store with hundreds or thousands of products, most WordPress sites start off small—often only a few gigabytes in size.
If your primary goal is to get the most resources for the lowest cost, then a standard Shared Hosting plan may be your best option. It provides plenty of flexibility and value, especially for smaller or less resource-heavy sites.
Special Features of WordPress Plans
NGINX – The Key Difference: While WordPress sites can run on standard Shared Hosting, a plan optimized for WordPress offers improved speed and stability.
Since the server is dedicated to hosting WordPress sites, its resources are fine-tuned, with advanced caching to ensure fast load times. At InMotion, all of our WordPress Hosting plans use NGINX servers, leveraging its advanced caching features to boost response times and overall site performance.
Advanced Caching: In a traditional hosting environment, WordPress generates all the content for each visitor, which can slow down page load times and put a strain on server resources.
With NGINX caching, WordPress generates a page only once for the first visitor. Subsequent visitors see a saved copy of the page until it’s updated. This results in faster load times and the ability to handle more traffic with less strain on server resources.
PHP-FPM – The Latest and Greatest: PHP-FPM (FastCGI Process Manager) manages your web applications by handling PHP code more efficiently.
Traditionally, web servers use plugins to process PHP, but PHP-FPM runs its own server, allowing it to process PHP natively. This separation improves speed and performance, especially for PHP applications like WordPress.
Shared Hosting vs WordPress Hosting: Final Thoughts
Choosing the right hosting plan can be challenging, but with the right research and a clear understanding of your site’s needs, you’ll find the plan that works best for you. To learn more about what each hosting option offers, visit our product pages for Shared Hosting and WordPress Hosting to compare features.
For more details on the advanced caching technology mentioned, explore the NGINX resources in our Support Center.
If you need a new home for your WordPress site, look no further than InMotion’s WordPress Hosting solutions for secure, optimized, budget-friendly servers.
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