What is managed WordPress hosting?

In short: Website hosting is the service that stores your website on a server and delivers it to visitors whenever they open it. Managed WordPress hosting is hosting built only for WordPress sites, where the provider also takes care of the technical upkeep: software updates, security, daily backups and speed. You pay more than basic shared hosting, but you get a faster, safer site without having to look after the server yourself.

What is website hosting?

Every website lives on a computer called a server that’s connected to the internet all day and night. When someone types your web address, their browser asks that server for your pages, and the server sends them back. A hosting company rents you space on its servers and keeps them running.

Hosting is different from your domain name. The domain is your address, like yourbusiness.com. Hosting is where the site actually lives. You need both, and they’re often bought from different companies.

The main types of hosting

• Shared hosting. Your site shares a server with many others. It’s the cheapest option, but a busy or hacked site next door can slow yours down or put it at risk, and most upkeep is left to you.
• Managed WordPress hosting. Servers set up only for WordPress, with updates, security, backups and speed handled for you.
• VPS and dedicated servers. A private slice of a server, or a whole server, for sites that need more power and have someone technical to run them.
• Website builder hosting. Wix and Squarespace include hosting in their plans, but your site can only run on their platform. Our WordPress vs Wix vs Squarespace guide compares the options.

What managed WordPress hosting includes

The details vary by provider, but good managed WordPress hosting usually covers:

• Updates. WordPress itself, and often plugins and themes, kept up to date and checked so updates don’t break the site.
• Security. Firewalls, malware scanning and protection against common attacks, plus an SSL certificate so your site loads securely.
• Daily backups. Copies of your site saved regularly, so it can be restored if something goes wrong.
• Speed. Servers and caching tuned for WordPress, often with a content delivery network that serves your site quickly wherever visitors are.
• A staging site. A private copy where changes can be tested before they go live.
• Expert support. Help from people who know WordPress, not just general hosting.

Why hosting matters for your business

Hosting is easy to ignore until something goes wrong. Slow hosting means pages that take too long to load, and many visitors leave before a slow page finishes. Google also looks at how quickly and smoothly pages load on phones. Poor security can lead to a hacked site, warnings in browsers or spam pages added without your knowledge. And without reliable backups, one bad update can undo years of work.

For a business that depends on its website for calls and quote requests, good hosting is part of keeping the phone ringing.

Managed hosting vs doing it yourself

With basic hosting, you or someone you hire has to run the updates, watch for security problems, keep backups and fix things when they break. That’s fine for people who enjoy it and have the time. Most business owners don’t, and a site that’s left alone for months is one of the most common ways WordPress sites get into trouble.

Managed hosting costs more each month, but it replaces hours of upkeep and lowers the risk of costly problems.

How to choose a hosting provider

• Is it built for WordPress, and does it handle updates and backups for you?
• How often are backups taken, and how quickly can a site be restored?
• What security is included, and what happens if a site is hacked?
• Is there a staging site for testing changes?
• How do you reach support, and do they know WordPress?
• Can you leave easily and take your whole site with you?
• Is the price for the first year only, with a higher renewal price later?

Signs your current hosting is holding you back

• Your site is slow, especially on phones.
• It goes down from time to time, or shows errors.
• You’ve been hacked, or keep getting security warnings.
• Nobody is sure when the last backup was taken.
• Updates haven’t been run in months because people are afraid of breaking something.
• Support takes days to answer, or doesn’t know WordPress.

Rather have it handled for you?

Updates, security checks, backups, speed and fixing what breaks never really end, and most business owners would rather spend that time on their business. That’s the part we take off your plate.

• Managed hosting, included. Every site we build runs on our managed WordPress servers. We handle the updates, security and backups.
• One team for all of it. The same team that builds your site hosts it, looks after it and works on your SEO. No finger-pointing between a designer and a hosting company.
• Changes when you need them. Need something updated? Call, text or email us. If you’d like to make changes yourself, we’ll show you how.
• A real person, anytime. Call or text us at (786) 383-0616 and you’ll reach our team, not a call center.
• No lock-in. Month-to-month plans, no hidden fees, and you can cancel any time with 30 days’ notice. If we registered your domain name for you and you’d like it transferred to you, we transfer it at no cost.

Read more about our care and hosting and website design.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need hosting if I already have a domain name?

Yes. The domain is your address, and hosting is where your site lives. A domain on its own doesn’t show a website.

Is managed WordPress hosting worth it for a small business?

For most businesses that rely on their site for calls and leads, yes. It costs more than basic hosting, but it saves time and lowers the risk of a slow, broken or hacked site.

Can I move my website to a different host?

A WordPress site can be moved to another host. Done carefully, visitors won’t notice the switch. Sites built on Wix or Squarespace usually can’t be moved and have to be rebuilt.

Does hosting affect SEO?

It can. Slow loading, frequent downtime and security problems can all hurt how your site performs on Google and how visitors experience it.

What’s the difference between hosting and website maintenance?

Hosting keeps your site online. Maintenance keeps it healthy: updates, security, backups and fixes. Managed WordPress hosting often includes much of the maintenance, and some companies bundle both into one monthly plan.

Find out how your site is doing. Run a free scan of your website, or tell us about your business below. A real person on our team reads every request and gets back to you.