5 Different Types of Web Hosting Explained
What is web hosting, really?
Simply put, web hosting is where you store (or host) your site’s data: media, formats, backups, etc. Site data is stored on servers (including cloud servers) that your customers access directly when they visit your site.
Servers are fairly complex hardware, so most people rent server space from a web hosting providers. You can think of a web hosting company as a landlord, renting out server space to various tenants, but also maintaining that space in the same way a landlord makes sure their tenants have “hot water.”
On the plus side, many of the best website builders include hosting as part of their packages, including Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify. If you use one of these, you don’t need to worry about web hosting at all. If you’re still undecided, check out our guide to choosing the right website builder for you.
Even if your hosting gets dealt with, that doesn’t mean your job is over. Hosting does not include areas such as your domain name (same as your URL or web address). While some hosting companies sell domains as a side service, purchasing an unused domain name is a separate service.
Likewise, web hosting doesn’t always include minor features like email functionality or website design, although they are occasionally included in hosting packages. Don’t expect this type of service from your web hosting provider any more than you would expect your landlord to help you pick out throw pillows or other interior design choices.
5 Different Types of Web Hosting
Unless you know how to build and maintain a server yourself, you may need to work with a web hosting company. As mentioned above, some website builder platforms include hosting when you sign up, so in a sense, they are your web hosting provider.
1. Shared hosting
Shared hosting is one of the most common forms of web hosting, where different sites are hosted on the same server and share the same resources. This benefits hosting providers because they can use their servers more efficiently, and customers get better prices because they don’t have to pay for the entire server. The downside is that you don’t have much space yourself, so it’s only suitable for sites that don’t have a lot of traffic.
2. VPS hosting
A Virtual Private Server (VPS), also known as a Virtual Private Server (VDS), is an upgraded version of shared hosting. Technically, you’re still sharing the same server with other clients, but each has a certain amount of allocated resources — not a completely free shared hosting. It costs more than shared hosting but is not as good as dedicated hosting.
3. Dedicated hosting
Dedicated hosting means you own the entire server yourself — no sharing. This gives you the resources to handle a lot of traffic and more relevant media, but at a higher cost. Dedicated hosting is more suitable for established websites that can use the extra space.
4. Cloud hosting
The newest type of hosting, cloud hosting stores your website’s data in the cloud instead of a server. This protects your data from local power shortages or equipment failures, not to mention that you only pay for what you use, so the cost is reasonable and scalable.
What are the disadvantages? Some critics protest that cloud hosting is less secure, but these myths have largely been proven. In short, cloud hosting is as secure as any other.
5. Managed hosting
Managed hosting is not a type of web hosting like shared, VPS, dedicated or cloud — it just refers to the time your service provider manages your data for you on top of security and maintenance. The idea is that, for an extra fee, you can use their own expert staff to manage your account. This is a popular option for those who don’t want to bother with the technical side; otherwise, you may need to hire an in-house IT professional.
Advantages of web hosting
After “what is web hosting”, the second most common question is “do you need it?” Usually, you don’t — as we mentioned above, many website builders will handle it for you. But sometimes you do need it, and even if you’re tech-savvy, using a web hosting service is still an advantage over doing it yourself.
Regular maintenance
Managed service providers, even if you opt-out of managed hosting, provide the basics of server and data maintenance. On the one hand, this ensures that you never miss a planned upgrade or forget to regularly back up your data. But also, you can rest easy knowing your data is in the hands of professionals.
Safety
Probably the biggest advantage of hosting is security. Cybercrime is getting more sophisticated every day, but hosting providers are always on top of the latest prevention and protection measures. They have to — one of their main jobs is to keep customer data safe.
Better performance
Hosting affects all important areas of website performance, including loading speed and bandwidth. For example, if your small website suddenly goes viral overnight, the increase in traffic could overload your small DIY server.
Not only do hosting providers make sure your website stays active (or they should — this is called an “uptime guarantee”, described below), but they can also integrate a content delivery network (CDN) into your hosting service middle. A CDN is when your site data is stored geographically close to your users so that the site loads faster. This might be too complicated to handle on your own, but some hosting providers have everything you need ready.
How to choose the right hosting service
If you need a web hosting provider, there are plenty of options. Too many, in fact — the competition is fierce, and as you’d expect, the number of people who want to have their own website is huge. So how do you decide which one is best for you? Suma Design offers some suggestions here.
Pre-list the features you want
Managed service providers come in many different sizes — big and small, expensive and cheap. The trick is to find one that you need and a little extra; you only pay for the features you want to use.
List what you want beforehand, then refer to it when browsing service providers. Not only does this ensure that nothing is missed, but it also makes it easier (and faster) for you to sift through all the different options.
We’ve covered some of the standard features below, but also considered some non-essential features, such as 24/7 customer support. If you’re the type of person who always has issues and likes direct communication, support can make a big difference.
Bandwidth and Traffic
Most importantly, bandwidth and traffic determine which hosting package you need. Small sites can be avoided with minimal hosting, but once you start getting a lot of traffic, you’ll need to upgrade your hosting or your site may fail.
Unfortunately, if this is your first site, you’ll have to estimate how much you’ll need. If you expect quick success, choose a hosting plan that allows scalability in a pinch. Otherwise, start small and expand only when necessary.
Storage
Likewise, if you’re working with large media files, like high-definition video or advanced visual effects, you’ll need a more expensive hosting package to accommodate that storage space. If you use standard photography and/or just a few video clips, standard managed storage is sufficient.
Special function
Depending on your business model or management style, you may also want to consider some optional features:
Uptime Guarantee — Clauses in your contract that guarantee 99% or 100% uptime means your website is almost always active.
SSL Certificates — Certified Secure Sockets Layer is a security measure that provides encrypted (secure) connections between your users and servers. Since 2018, websites without SSL are marked as “not secure” on Chrome, so you risk losing visitors without SSL. If your hosting provider doesn’t offer it, you’ll have to buy it yourself.
SEO Tools — A lot of SEO happens behind the scenes, so if SEO is critical to your business strategy, make sure your hosting provider takes care of it eventually.
Renewal fees — This is a trick some hosting providers employ: they offer low-cost start-up packages, but raise the renewal price after everything has “moved in”. Check renewal fees before signing up, and be aware of delays if you want to switch to a different hosting company.
