Understanding What is Managed WordPress Hosting
Managed WordPress hosting is a specific kind of hosting solution that’s optimized for WordPress. In this type of hosting, the host manages all the technical aspects of running a WordPress website. This means they take care of WordPress updates, website speed, security, website uptime, and more. After understanding the meaning, let us look at some of the benefits below.
If you’re reading this, you likely know WordPress is by far the top CMS due to its easy installation and management. With a highly competitive development landscape, standing out requires a robust technical foundation, such as a reliable host.
Fact: WordPress CMS powers about 39.5% of the websites on the worldwide web. (Source: SEJ)
The Benefits of Managed WordPress Hosting
When you choose a managed WordPress host, you’re getting a fully managed WordPress hosting solution that takes the hassle out of managing your WordPress site. Here are some of the benefits this type of hosting offers:
Performance and speed:
A managed WordPress hosting service guarantees fast load times for your WordPress site. This is because they use more powerful hardware and software, and they also take care of tasks like WordPress updates and security.
As per the findings by the HTTP Archive, the average time it takes to fully load a mobile landing page is 22 seconds (source: HTTP Archive Report). However, with a managed WordPress hosting service, this can be drastically reduced, resulting in improved user experience and SEO.
Neil Patel, a leading digital marketing expert, emphasizes the importance of website speed in user experience and SEO. He mentions, ‘A 1-second delay in page response can result in a 7% reduction in conversions‘ (source: Neil Patel’s Blog). Opting for a managed WordPress hosting service can help in reducing this load time, potentially boosting your conversion rates.
According to a recent study by TechJury (source link), managed WordPress hosting can improve site performance by up to 40%
Security:
Managed WordPress hosting providers offer a higher level of security than shared hosting providers. This is because they use more advanced security features, such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems. Managed WordPress hosts provide regular backups, malware scanning, and automatic WordPress updates for optimal site security.
Expert Support:
Managed WordPress hosting companies have WordPress experts in their support teams, ready to help with any WordPress-specific issues you may face.
Updates and Backups:
Managed hosts handle WordPress updates and backups, ensuring your WordPress site remains up-to-date and your data secure.
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The Top picks for Managed WordPress Hosting Providers of 2023
When looking for the best managed WordPress hosting service, there are a number of hosting companies to choose from. However, the following are among the top 10 managed WordPress hosting companies
Cloudways : WordPress Managed hosting company
Cloudways is a renowned WordPress Managed hosting company, providing users with a seamless hosting experience by offering unparalleled performance, excellent customer support, and superior security features. Their platform simplifies the process of hosting a WordPress site by providing a user-friendly interface, coupled with robust cloud infrastructure, ensuring website speed and scalability.
Cloudways collaborates with leading cloud providers, such as Digital Ocean, Linode, AWS, and Google Cloud, to deliver exceptional service to its customers. With their advanced caching mechanism, built-in CDN, and dedicated support team, Cloudways ensures that your WordPress website runs smoothly and efficiently at all times.
Learn More about Pros and Cons and feature in this review of Cloudways 👈
WP Engine: A Top Managed WordPress Hosting Provider
WP Engine is a well-known player in the managed WordPress hosting industry. They offer managed WordPress hosting plans designed to cater to different needs. One of the factors that make WP Engine a top pick for managed WordPress hosting is their hosting platform, which is built on the Google Cloud Platform. This ensures high performance and scalability for your WordPress site.
Kinsta: A Premium Managed WordPress Web Host
Kinsta is another top player in the managed WordPress hosting space. Much like WP Engine, Kinsta utilizes the Google Cloud Platform to provide a reliable managed WordPress hosting solution. Kinsta stands out for its user-friendly interface, excellent customer support, and managed WordPress hosting plans that are optimized for WordPress.
Best Managed WordPress Hosting Comparison
| Hosting Option | Cloudways | Kinsta | WP Engine | Blue Host | Namecheap | Hostinger |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Customer Support | 9/10 | 9/10 | 10/10 | 7/10 | 8/10 | 9/10 |
| Free SSL certificate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Free Migration | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cheapest WordPress Plans | Starts at $10/month | Starts at $35/month | Starts at $25/month | Starts at $2.95/month | Starts at $4.88/month | Starts at $3.99/month |
| Storage | Up to 50GB | Up to 100GB | Up to 30GB | Up to 25GB | Up to 30GB | Up to 100GB |
| Bandwidth | Up to 1TB | Up to 3TB | Up to 1TB | Up to 50GB | Up to 1TB | Up to 1TB |
| No. of Websites | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | 1 | 1 | 100 |
| Website Link | See Plans | See Plans | See Plans | See Plans | See Plans | See Plans |
The Pros and Cons of Managed WordPress Hosting Options
Before choosing a managed WordPress host, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons of managed WordPress hosting. While managed WordPress hosts offer many benefits, such as improved performance, enhanced security, and expert support, they can also be more expensive than shared hosting plans.
Shared Hosting Vs Managed WordPress Hosting
When you’re just starting out with a small site, a shared hosting plan may be sufficient. However, as your WordPress site grows and demands more resources, a managed WordPress hosting plan becomes a more viable option.
Making the Right Hosting Choice
When looking for the best managed WordPress hosting provider, consider factors such as performance, support, security, scalability, and price. Hosting costs can vary widely among providers, so it’s essential to choose a managed WordPress hosting package that offers the best value for your money.
Author’s Opinion
In my personal experience, having tried Metrohost, Namecheap Shared and VPS hosting, Godaddy, Hostgator, Bluehost and a lot of popular WP hosting industry names out there, I finally picked up a host that is reliable, fast, easy to setup and has great customer support,
I can literally setup a new instance in a few minutes with all the relevant performance optimization in place. Besides these features, it has offers transparent pricing, easy setup and option to scale up my servers at any time to cater to upcoming traffic spikes.
In my experience shifting to a better host got me 45% improvement in overall speed and load time, and 20% more traffic with a lower bounce rate.
Here’s my recommendation 👉 Author’s choice
Survey Results:
Still collecting more data. Results will be published soon. Since, Pakistani market is mostly price driven so approximately, 40% of the voters went with a cheaper option. This host wins the vote being the most cost effective option. And this is the Second most voted host with decent performance and a reasonable monthly price. However we are still collecting more data through above survey, and will keep updating this post. In my opinion, due to the rising competition in the digital space, web developers and website owners are opting for a faster and more robust solutions now more than ever.
Conclusion: Do You Really Need Managed WordPress Hosting in 2023?
The need for managed WordPress hosting ultimately depends on your specific needs. If you lack the technical expertise or prefer to have experts manage your site, a managed WordPress host like WP Engine or Kinsta can offer significant benefits.
In the end, the best WordPress hosting for your website depends on your unique requirements. We hope this WordPress hosting comparison helps you make the best decision for your website’s needs. It’s worth noting that many hosting companies offer migration services
Frequently Asked Questions
What is managed WordPress hosting and how does it differ from regular hosting?
Managed WordPress hosting is a specialized hosting service designed specifically for WordPress websites. It offers optimized performance, automatic updates, and enhanced security features compared to regular hosting.
What are the benefits of choosing managed WordPress hosting for my website?
Managed WordPress hosting provides numerous benefits such as improved website speed, automatic backups, advanced security measures, and expert support, allowing you to focus on your content and business growth.
Can I migrate my existing WordPress website to a managed hosting provider easily?
Yes, most managed WordPress hosting providers offer migration services or plugins that simplify the process of moving your existing WordPress website to their platform. See the comparison table above to know more.
What level of technical support can I expect from a managed WordPress hosting provider?
Managed WordPress hosting providers typically offer 24/7 technical support from WordPress experts. They can assist with troubleshooting, plugin compatibility, and other website-related issues.
Does managed WordPress hosting improve SEO and website performance?
Yes, managed WordPress hosting can have a positive impact on SEO and website performance. With optimized servers, caching systems, and content delivery networks, it helps improve website speed, which is a crucial factor for search engine rankings. Additionally, managed hosting often includes security measures that protect against malware and hacking attempts, which can also positively affect SEO.
