For those who want the answer right away, here is a list of seven types of hosting and the best web hosting providers for each type:
Shared Hosting – Hostinger
VPS Hosting – InMotion
Cloud Hosting – Cloudways
Dedicated Hosting – HostGator
Managed Hosting – SiteGround
WordPress Hosting – WP Engine
Reseller Hosting – A2 Hosting
Choosing the right web hosting type is one of the most critical decisions you’ll need to make if you want your website to succeed.
You’ll have to research about the different types of web hosting and their features for your website. This will help you decide which option is best for your web presence.
We recommend taking your time when choosing the web hosting type. Making a bad decision here can have a negative impact on your site in the future.
You might not be completely satisfied with the web hosting service you’re getting, so you decided to switch. That’s why you landed on my article to explore other options.
In this guide, we’ll explore all the different types of web hosting options and choose the one that best suits your business needs. Once you select a provider, you can then review their plans to find the one that will serve your specific hosting needs.
Read more: How to Create a Website in 7 Steps from Scratch
What is Web Hosting?
Websites are hosted by servers. These powerful devices have the capability to not only store your site and its data, but they are also capable of providing global performances when it comes to website hosting.
Your website is a compilation of a lot of different components. These include elements like files, text, images and videos. All these entities are stored on the server and can be accessed by your web host.
Servers are usually found in data centers, which can be run and managed by a number of hosting companies. Each data center has its own set of servers and each hosting company will have its own set of servers.
This means that it is possible for there to be multiple servers from one company, but also possible for there to be more than one server from different companies in the same data center.
Web Hosting is a service that provides the server space and Internet connection required to power your website. This allows users to go online and find your content if they search for it.
Read on: What Is a Name Server?
Different Types of Web Hosting Explained!
Every website is different and therefore has unique needs that need to be addressed that are different from other websites. For this reason, they have been assigned a variety of servers in order to meet the specific needs of their platform.
Multiple websites can share the same server. Meanwhile some websites might have a single server, depending on their needs.
There are the seven main types of web hosting:
Shared Hosting
VPS Hosting
Cloud Hosting
Dedicated Hosting
Managed Hosting
WordPress Hosting
Reseller Hosting
With the different types of web hosting continuing to evolve and grow, we’ve compiled a list of all 7 types.
Learn more: Choosing the Right CMS for Your Website
Which Hosting Type is Best for Your Website?
The type of server you select is an important variable that determines how your website performs and even how it is managed. Different servers offer different features, so choose wisely to find the one that works for your specific needs.
Depending on your website and the amount of traffic you get, you need to make a decision about which type of hosting is appropriate.
For instance, a personal blog with 5,000 monthly visitors might require a lower level of hosting specials in comparison to the ecommerce site with over 200,000 visits per month.
Different hosting solutions are available at different price points. Before you choose the one that suits your needs, make sure it falls within your budget.
Below you will find the seven different web hosting options. I’ve outlined and explained them in detail to help you make a decision before signing up with any web hosting provider.
Learn How To Choose a Web Hosting Provider
#1. Shared Hosting
Shared hosting is the cheapest and most popular web hosting option for smaller blogs or websites. If you are just starting out, it is your best (and even only) choice for a website.
As the name suggests, websites using shared hosting will share resources with other websites on the same server. This works well as most of the time, not all websites need a whole server to themselves.
Shared hosting is what makes it so cheap to keep a website. By splitting up resources, it takes less of a toll on the host’s system and saves you money in the long run.
As a result, each website on the server will have limited resources as determined by their specific hosting plan.
When you share a server with other websites, there can be times when another website on your server produces high amounts of traffic. Your site may experience performance issues during these times, but there’s not much you can do about it.
If you’re on a tight budget, shared hosting might be the best option for you. However, if your website starts to grow and require more space and more power in order to function effectively, shared hosting certainly won’t be able to accommodate your needs.
Compare the Best Shared Hosting Services
Who Should Use Shared Hosting:
Shared hosting provides an affordable solution for beginners and smaller websites. If you don’t want to worry about server specifics, shared hosting is a cost-effective choice that also doesn’t require technical knowledge to get started.
The shared hosting is the perfect option for simple websites, small businesses and those on a budget. Consider this type of hosting if you are a blogger or someone with a simple website that doesn’t need anything too advanced. Websites that don’t need lots of resources or on-site interaction with users should do well with this hosting type.
For low-traffic websites that have fewer than 10,000 monthly visits, a shared hosting plan might be a great option.
Shared web hosting pros:
Easy to set up.
Most cost-effective type of web hosting.
Great for beginners and small websites.
No technical knowledge required.
Shared web hosting cons:
Performance issues are out of your control.
Sharing server resources with other websites.
Not scalable.
Lower uptime rates and slower loading times.
Best Shared Web Hosting Provider – Hostinger
- STARTS AT $1.99/MONTH
- MONTH-TO-MONTH PRICING
- FREE DOMAIN AND SSL CERTIFICATE
- 30-DAY MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE
Read on: Hostinger Web Hosting Review
I have to admit that Hostinger is one of the most affordable hosting services I’ve come across so far. Its plans range from $1.99 per month for its Single Shared Hosting plan to $4.99 per month for its Business Shared Hosting Plan.
Yes, you read that right. That’s the best price you’ll find around.
The catch is these are promotional rates. When you renew, the price for shared hosting will jump up. However, at only $3.99 per month for the single shared hosting, it’s still worth it!
To lock in the cheapest long-term deal, you have to sign a 48 month agreement which will offer you the best per-month price available.
When you renew, you will still enjoy the benefits of a shared hosting account for a much cheaper price than most other hosting providers.
As well as the unbeatable pricing, Hostinger promises to keep your site online 99.9% of the time and their website speed is more than good enough.
All plans come with managed WordPress, which is a great feature for those of you who are already thinking about using WordPress! With these low prices, you also get one-click WordPress installation, the WP Starter site building wizard, auto-updates and plenty more.
If you’re looking for an inexpensive shared web host, Hostinger might just be the solution you’ve been looking for.
#2. VPS Hosting
A virtual private server (VPS) is a type of hosting that’s designed to be more reliable than shared web hosting. It provides a more stable and consistent environment for your website. Plans for hosting websites that are no longer suited to shared hosting often shift to VPS hosting.
With a virtual private server, your website will share the same server with other websites. However, you will be sharing it with significantly less websites.
A main server is partitioned into multiple virtual servers. These can be customized separately from one another and by individual sites, hence the name. If you want to be able to run custom configurations for your server, you can get root access with your VPS hosting plan.
Your site will have more resources to work with, which means your loading speeds and uptime rates will be higher. This also means that you won’t have to worry about another website crashing your site.
Most websites do not require the added support and stability of a dedicated server. But opting for a VPS instead gives you many of the benefits that come with one at an affordable price.
Who Should Use a VPS (Virtual Private Server)
VPS hosting is the most practical option for businesses of any size. It will fully protect your website from unexpected outages, ensuring that it’s always online and available to users. I would recommend a VPS to anyone running a website that requires more than what shared hosting can offer.
A virtual private server (VPS) is a great option for website owners who want to make changes to their server configurations. If you’re savvy in technical matters then, a VPS can provide many advantages over shared hosting and give you more control over your site.
You may want to check out a VPS if you own a website with large files like images or videos. Websites that see heavy traffic often perform better on a VPS than on a shared server.
VPS hosting pros:
Ability to make custom configurations to your server.
Dedicated server resources.
More cost-effective than a dedicated server
Faster loading speeds and higher uptime rates.
VPS hosting cons:
Not easy to set-up as a shared server.
Has some limitations in terms of what you can control.
Sharing the main server with other websites.
Who Should Use a VPS (Virtual Private Server)
VPS hosting is the most practical option for businesses of any size. It will fully protect your website from unexpected outages, ensuring that it’s always online and available to users. I would recommend a VPS to anyone running a website that requires more than what shared hosting can offer.
A virtual private server (VPS) is a great option for website owners who want to make changes to their server configurations. If you’re savvy in technical matters then, a VPS can provide many advantages over shared hosting and give you more control over your site.
You may want to check out a VPS if you own a website with large files like images or videos. Websites that see heavy traffic often perform better on a VPS than on a shared server.
VPS hosting pros:
Ability to make custom configurations to your server.
Dedicated server resources.
More cost-effective than a dedicated server
Faster loading speeds and higher uptime rates.
VPS hosting cons:
Not easy to set-up as a shared server.
Has some limitations in terms of what you can control.
Sharing the main server with other websites.
Best VPS Hosting Provider – InMotion
- HIGH-PERFORMANCE CLOUD VPS
- STARTS AT $19.99/MONTH
- FREE AND UNLIMITED EMAIL
- 90-DAY MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE
InMotion Hosting offers a VPS hosting plan that is perfect for businesses of all sizes. Not only does it have a starter-friendly price point, but it also offers some of the best customer service in the industry.
InMotion’s VPS plans come with root access, which you can use to make your own custom changes. This is a superb option for the more technically-minded and gives you full control over your virtual server
InMotion provides free cPanel and WHM access, so you can manage your VPS without any issues.
You will also be able to choose where you need your VPS to run from, with data centers in many different locations. This helps keep the speed and performance high for e-commerce stores.
InMotion is confident in the quality of the service it provides and will refund your purchase within 90 days. InMotion hosting is one of the best guarantees in the industry!
#3. Cloud Hosting
Cloud hosting is a hybrid of the best features of a VPS such as flexibility and more cost-effectiveness.
Cloud hosting plans come with remote servers in multiple locations. If one of the remote servers is compromised or has a problem, other remote servers on the network will pick up slack.
The Cloud hosting is more appealing than traditional web hosting primarily because of its many applications, scalability and instant setup.
Your website will remain fluid and perform at a high level with cloud servers. You’ll enjoy greater uptime rates and lower chance of unexpected downtime as a result of server errors.
Cloud hosting makes it easy to manage your website traffic. That’s because a cloud will automatically scale as your site grows – giving you the freedom to use different types of computing resources for different tasks.
With traditional hosting, you will always run into situations where you need to choose between resources and the price. You need to find a hosting plan that has the right amount of resources for your needs. You don’t want overpay for something you won’t use and adversely affect the performance of your website at the same time.
Unless you know the average number of page views that your site will get per month, then this is nearly impossible to predict.
Website traffic is a fickle thing, which isn’t always predictable. You’re likely to see surges and spikes from time to time, but you need a hosting plan that can keep up with any significant demand.
Isn’t it frustrating when your online business becomes more popular than you thought and you’re short on computing power? These days, people tend to use cloud hosting for such scenarios. The best ones allow scaling of resources as needed.
It’s simple. You pay for what you use and you can easily adjust these resources within your admin dashboard.
Compare the Best Cloud Hosting Provider
Who Should Consider Using Cloud Hosting:
Cloud hosting is an excellent option if your website is growing at a rapid rate. Unlike other hosting options, it’s scalable and can grow in conjunction with your business.
Your website traffic may be unpredictable and scaling steadily in the coming months or years. This is why a cloud hosting plan may allow you to scale with your traffic needs for many years.
If your website is getting over 50,000 monthly visits, you may want to consider using a cloud plan. Websites that have outgrown their shared host plan may want to think about moving to a cloud host instead of a VPS.
Cloud hosting pros:
Less unexpected downtime.
Scale resources on demand.
High security.
Cloud hosting cons:
Limited customization.
Pricing isn’t always fixed.
Unpredictable traffic can increase costs.
Best Cloud Hosting Provider – Cloudways
- FIVE IAAS PROVIDER OPTIONS
- FAST AND RELIABLE MANAGED HOSTING
- ONLY PAY FOR WHAT YOU USE
- STARTS AT JUST $10 PER MONTH
Though there are plenty of cloud-based hosting providers to choose from, Cloudways sets itself apart. With its flexibility and customizable options, lightning-fast speeds, and 24/7 support, it provides a service that is second to none.
Cloudways provides many options so you are unlikely to find a better host. With Cloudways, cloud hosting is as easy as managing your CMS because they take care of the server management for you. All you need to do is choose that CMS and start your own website by in a few moments.
The prices for hosting plans vary depending on which data center, processor cores, level of RAM, storage and bandwidth requirements you need. The rates depend on these factors and data center location.
How do I pick my initial cloud hosting plan? Choosing a preferred server provider is the first step, do you want to go with DigitalOcean, AWS,, Linode, Vultr or Google Cloud?
#4. Dedicated Hosting
Dedicated servers are the best choice in web hosting. That’s because they offer you a self-owned server and ensure that your website has access to the performance you need to run smoothly. When you choose a dedicated server, you often get benefits such as more uptime and faster speeds.
However, while dedicated hosting has its benefits there are also some drawbacks. It is often the most expensive type of web hosting.
Since no other websites will be sharing your available resources, you’re guaranteed to experience peak performance.
Hosting a website on a dedicated server puts you in control of every aspect like the software, configurations and more. You’re in complete control of everything!
Dedicated servers means you won’t have to share your bandwidth with other websites, so your uptime rates and loading speeds will be extremely high. You can breathe easily without any worries about traffic affecting your site performance.
Who Should Consider Using Dedicated Hosting:
Dedicated hosting plans offer the best performance for large-scale websites. They’re typically used for sites that get over 100,000 monthly visits and are bringing in a lot of revenue so they can afford to pay for the server costs.
This type of hosting is not a good idea if you are still struggling to pull in a few thousand visitors each month.
Large ecommerce sites and enterprise companies should think about implementing a dedicated hosting plan to manage the functions of their server. Sites that require the highest levels of security like medical records and financial data should be stored on a dedicated server.
When considering a dedicated server, you have the option to either manage it on your own or chose a hosting provider that will manage it for you. Overall, the downside of managing a server on your own is that you would be responsible for updating the server and monitoring it for any glitches or errors.
You should only consider a dedicated server hosting plan if you have the budget for it. Most prospective customers won’t be able to afford a dedicated server due to their price of up to $2,000+ per month.
Dedicated hosting pros:
Not sharing resources with any other websites.
Complete control over the server.
High uptimes, optimal performance and fast load times.
High security.
Dedicated hosting cons:
You are responsible for everything.
Requires technical knowledge.
Most expensive type of web hosting.
Best Dedicated Hosting Provider – HostGator
I highly recommend HostGator for dedicated server plans. Dedicated hosting is not the cheapest option available, but since HostGator has a wide variety of plans to choose from, their pricing is actually pretty reasonable.
HostGator’s dedicated server plans are more affordable than they’ve ever been, so you should look into them if that’s what you need.
Value Server – $89.98/month
Power Server – $119.89/month
Enterprise Server – $139.99/month
One of HostGator’s best features is that they offer fully-managed plans. If you decide to get started, their team of technicians can handle system monitoring, software patching and updates, offsite backups, data migrations and more.
You’ll have access to 24/7 customer support from the best tech experts in the biz.
So if you think your website needs a dedicated server, check out HostGator. They have plans and options that suit every need and budget.
Read our full HostGator Review.
#5. Managed Hosting
Managed hosting is an extension of a plan and not really a type of it. It’s also different in that the service offered is a bit more comprehensive.
Managed hosting can take off a lot of the burden. Tasks like backups, software updates and more are taken care of by your hosting provider so you don’t have to worry about them.
There are different types of managed hosting plans available, such as shared managed hosting, managed VPS (virtual private server) and managed dedicated hosting. It’s important to find the solution that best suits your needs.
With these services, you can focus on growing your blog, portfolio or online store without worrying about the technical aspects of hosting. You just pay a little extra to get help with these tasks.
Who Should Consider Using Managed Hosting:
It’s no secret that running web server infrastructure is a lot of work. With managed hosting, you don’t need to bother with keeping your website up-to-date and making sure it’s secure.
Managed hosting means someone else will take care of your website’s back-end and minimize the need for you to do any high-level maintenance.
Pros of managed hosting:
Hosting companies carry the responsibility of managing your website and should already ensure that it is optimized for performance.
Your hosting company will monitor and perform essential maintenance tasks for you
Cons of managed hosting:
You don’t have full control of your server settings and site optimization.
It can sometimes cost more than other hosting plans
Best Managed Hosting Provider – SiteGround
Read on: SiteGround Web Hosting Review
SiteGround is one of the web’s top hosting providers in the WordPress community. The company provides various WordPress-specific security packages and infrastructures to increase the performance and security of your site.
They are renowned for having the very best 24/7 customer service in the industry, which is why they’re officially recognised as an officially recommended WordPress hosting provider. This is also why we use SiteGround for hosting our StartUpAm website.
SiteGround has many features that make it attractive. Automatic upgrades, daily backups, built-in WP caching, free CDN (Content Delivery Network), free SSL (Secure Socket Layer) and more. One-click staging with GIT version control is also available.
They offer managed hosting services in 6 different data center locations in the US, Europe, Asia, and Australia. You can even benefit from the 80% discount for StartUpAm readers.
#6. WordPress Hosting
WordPress hosting is optimized for WordPress and will make it possible for you to use this popular CMS as your content management system.
WordPress hosting providers often offer two types of WordPress hosting:
Managed WordPress hosting
Shared WordPress hosting
Shared WordPress hosting is basically a shared hosting environment with the added benefit of preinstalled WordPress.
Managed WordPress hosting offers you added benefits like server caching, staging, and enhanced security. All these ensure these loading speeds are faster and more efficient for your website.
The best WordPress hosting plans come with one-click WordPress installations, so you don’t have to go through the trouble of installing yourself.
WordPress hosting is extremely popular due to the added security that’s designed specifically for websites running on WordPress. As you know, WordPress is the most popular CMS worldwide. Therefore, websites built with WordPress are more exposed to cybercrime. This is why that added security makes sense.
Compare the Top 10+ Best Web Hosting for WordPress
Who Should Use a VPS Hosting:
WordPress hosting has been specially designed and optimized to work with WordPress. If you want the best possible web host for your website, this would be the type of hosting you should look into.
WordPress hosting pros:
Enhanced security for WordPress sites.
One-click installations or WordPress pre-installed.
Optimized for WordPress.
WordPress hosting cons:
Sharing resources with other WordPress sites.
The updates aren’t always smooth.
Less flexibility and control.
Best WordPress Hosting Provider — WP Engine
- STARTS AT $20/MONTH
- BIGGEST NAME IN WP HOSTING
- FREE DOMAIN AND SSL CERTIFICATE
- EASILY THE ALL-AROUND BEST
For professionals I recommend WP Engine. They are the best managed WordPress hosting company. When your blog or business get more traffic, then you need the most reliable and powerful service that really works for you.
WP Engine is a good choice for people who’ve already got some web hosting experience and are hoping to build a business website or blog with high traffic. It’s not the best option for beginners, but if you’re fairly familiar with this stuff, WP Engine is the best bet.
WP Engine has plans starting at $23 per month, making it less expensive than other options. With that said, this might not be the best choice for beginners who may not have a solid understanding of the technicalities. There are cheaper WordPress hosting options out there that start from as little as $5 – $10 per month.
The security and speed features of WP Engine are the best part of using their service. They offer professional WordPress hosting and managing your service keeps everything running smoothly on the server side.
This means you’ll have more room on your site because you won’t need to install extra plugins that can slow down your site.
Another reason I love WP Engine is the excellent customer support. With all plans coming with 24/7 live chat, they are all a great choice not just financially but in terms of having a dedicated team available to help you when you need it.
The higher-tiered plans even come with 24/7 phone support, which sets them apart from their competitors as well as already making them a good value.
#7. Reseller Hosting
Reseller hosting is an option if you want to sell hosting services. If you’re building a website from scratch or just want to host one site, reseller hosting might not be your best choice.
While not as popular as web hosting, reseller plans allow you to package their service according to their customers’ needs. It’s a great option for those who want to earn more money by selling web hosting services.
Reseller hosting is just a white label version of web hosting. You buy web hosting from a provider, then resell those services to your customers.
As the reseller, you get to choose the various pricing options for your clients. Since you’ll be acquiring them at wholesale rates from the provider, you’ll have a lot of freedom with your pricing and make good profit margins.
Who Should Consider Using Reseller Hosting:
Reseller hosting is typically for agencies, web designers and developers. They’re people that already have clients in the space and can just add web hosting to the services that they offer.
You can save time and hassle for your clients by letting them have access to all their website needs in one place rather than having to find a hosting plan on their own.
One of the best parts about being a reseller is that you might not need to do much else besides designing the website. The person you work for might not need your services forever. And if you can get those clients to purchase web hosting services from you, then you’ll benefit from a stadle monthly income for the lifetime of that website.
If you’re hoping to manage at least ten different websites, I recommend considering reseller hosting. Otherwise, it might not be worth it for your business.
Reseller hosting pros:
Improve your existing services.
Get recurring and viable income.
Set unlocked prices to your clients.
Reseller hosting cons:
If anything goes wrong, your clients will turn to you.
You need lots of clients to make it worth your effort and time.
Best Reseller Hosting Provider – A2 Hosting
A2 Hosting is touted for being one of the fastest hosts out there, which is specifically why I recommend them for reseller hosting.
When delivering white label hosting to your clients, you should always make sure that the service is high-performing so as to maintain your reputation. Although the hosting service isn’t coming from your company, any problems will still reflect on you and be seen as part of your personal brand.
But with A2 Hosting, your clients will still get high uptime rates and fast loading speeds on a shared server with the usual benefits of having your own server.
Another significant benefit of A2 Hosting is that there are no additional charges for WHMCS with reseller plans. This will be essential for managing all of your clients and their resources, so you’ll be glad to find it already included.
A2 Hosting is an established hosting company that takes the cake when it comes to client management. You can also get cheap hosting solutions with them if you want something even simpler.
A2 Hosting is committed to providing a 99.9% uptime for you. Feel free to use this fact in order to get the upper hand on your customers.
What is the Best Hosting Type for My Website?
There are many factors to consider. The answer is different for everyone. Some of the factors include the type of site you have, your budget, traffic and resources you need.
I’ve given my top recommendation in each category in this guide, so I hope it will help you find the best hosting provider for your needs.
If you know what your needs are, you can narrow down to the options that fit your business. To figure out which hosting type is right for you, here’s a quick recap:
Shared Hosting – The most cost-effective web hosting plans for entry-level websites. – Recommended Shared Host = Hostinger
VPS Hosting – For websites that have outgrown shared hosting and need a robust solution to scale. – Recommended VPS Host = InMotion
Cloud Hosting – Best for sites that are growing quickly as it allows for unlimited scalability
– Recommended Cloud Host = Cloudways
Dedicated Hosting – Enterprise-level dedicated servers for large websites. – Recommended Dedicated Host = HostGator
Managed Hosting – Opt for managed hosting if you know you might need some extra help with basic website maintenance. = SiteGround
WordPress Hosting – Managed hosting optimized for WordPress sites. – Recommended WordPress Host = WP Engine
Reseller Hosting – For web designers, web developers, and agencies. – Recommended Reseller Host = A2 Hosting
Want to Learn More?
- Reliable Hosting: The Key to an SEO-Friendly Website
- Web Hosting Explained: The Basics for Beginners
- Read on: Bluehost Web Hosting Review
- Read our full GreenGeeks review.
- Compare The Best Domain Registrars
- Compare The Best Cheap Web Hosting Services
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