What hosting is
A website is a set of files and often a database. Hosting is the service that stores them on a computer, called a server, that is connected to the internet all the time, so that visitors can request your pages at any hour. Your domain name is the address, and the host is the building at that address.
Hosting companies differ in how much of the server they manage for you, how many sites share it, and how much freedom you have. This article describes the common types in general terms. Names and features vary between providers, so check what a particular plan really includes.
Shared hosting
On shared hosting, many sites sit on one server and share its processing power, memory and storage. It is usually the least expensive type and the easiest to start with.
- Good for: small personal sites, simple business sites, and early projects with modest visitor numbers.
- Trade-offs: performance can be affected by other sites on the same server. Plans often have limits on resources, and you typically have less control over server settings.
- Ask about: the limits on storage and traffic, how many sites are allowed, what happens if you exceed limits, and what the provider does about security on the shared system.
Managed hosting
Managed hosting means the provider handles more of the technical work. The details vary, but a managed plan commonly includes some combination of automatic updates to the platform, regular backups, security monitoring and expert support. Some providers specialize in particular kinds of sites and tune their servers for that software.
- Good for: owners who want fewer technical chores and are willing to pay more for it.
- Trade-offs: higher prices, and sometimes rules about which add-ons or settings you may use.
- Ask about: exactly what is managed, which tasks remain yours, how backups work and how quickly support responds.
Note that managed does not mean zero upkeep. You are still responsible for your content, your accounts and your own passwords.
Virtual private servers
A virtual private server, often shortened to VPS, is a slice of a physical server set aside for you. Your share of resources is more predictable than on shared hosting, and you usually get deep control over the software installed.
- Good for: sites with growing traffic, special software needs, or owners with technical skills.
- Trade-offs: you may be responsible for setting up, securing and updating the server yourself unless the plan is managed. Mistakes can leave a site slow or exposed.
- Ask about: whether the plan is managed or self-managed, what resources are guaranteed, and how scaling up works.
Dedicated servers
A dedicated server is an entire physical machine for one customer. It offers the most control and the most resources, with the highest cost and the largest responsibility. It is rarely necessary for small sites and is usually chosen because of heavy traffic, strict requirements, or the need for full control.
Cloud hosting
Cloud hosting spreads a site over a network of connected servers instead of tying it to one machine. Resources can often be increased or reduced as needed, and pricing may be based on use. The word is used loosely by marketers, so ask what it means for a specific plan, including how pricing is calculated and what limits apply. For small sites it can be more than is needed, but it is flexible for those whose traffic changes a lot.
Site-builder and platform hosting
Some tools bundle the hosting with the editing tools. You build and publish within one service and do not deal with servers at all. A website builder of this type can be a comfortable choice for people who prefer simple tools.
- Good for: beginners, portfolios, small business pages.
- Trade-offs: you depend on the provider’s features and rules, and moving the site elsewhere later can be difficult or impossible without rebuilding it.
- Ask about: whether you can use your own domain, how to export your content, and what happens to the site if you cancel.
Static hosting
A static site is made of ready-built pages rather than pages generated on request. Hosting for static sites can be simple and quick because there is little for the server to process. It suits sites that change infrequently and do not need things like user accounts, though extra services can add forms or comments. The trade-off is that updating involves a build or publishing step, which may feel technical to newcomers.
What to compare
Prices matter, but they are only one line in a longer list.
- Total cost over time. Check the renewal price as well as the introductory price, and add any extra charges for features such as backups or email.
- Resource limits. Storage, bandwidth or visits, and memory. Check what happens when you reach them.
- Reliability. Providers often state an uptime target, but a promise is not a guarantee. Read what compensation, if any, is offered when it is missed.
- Speed. Server location relative to your visitors and the type of storage can both matter, though your own page design usually has a larger effect. See the basics of page speed.
- Backups. How often, how long they are kept, and whether you can restore them yourself.
- Security. Account protections, certificate support for secure connections, and how the provider handles problems.
- Support. Hours, channels and whether you can reach a person. Test it with a pre-sales question.
- Ease of use. A clear control panel matters if you are not technical.
- Portability. Can you take your site and leave? Avoid arrangements that trap your content.
- Software compatibility. Make sure the plan supports the software or version your site needs.
Keeping the pieces separate
A frequent source of confusion is that domain, hosting, email and site builder are separate services, even when one company sells them together. It can be sensible to keep the domain registered in your own account, apart from the host, so that changing hosts does not put the domain at risk. This is covered in more detail in the article on domain names.
Outgrowing a plan
Signs that you may need a different plan include repeated slowdowns at busy times, warnings about resource use, limited features and support that no longer matches your needs. Before upgrading, check for cheaper fixes: oversized images, unneeded add-ons and missing caching can make a site seem to need more power than it does.
If you move, make a full backup first, test the new setup before switching the address, and keep the old hosting active until you are sure everything works. Choosing hosting is not a permanent decision; a plan that suits you today can be changed as your needs become clearer.