When launching or managing a WordPress site, one of the fundamental decisions you’ll face is choosing between managed WordPress hosting services such as Pressable or Cloudways and unmanaged servers like Digital Ocean or AWS. This choice can significantly influence the performance, security, and ease of management of your site. While both options have their merits, for most businesses, managed WordPress hosting tends to be the better choice in the long term. Let’s dive into why this is the case by examining the pros and cons of each hosting type.

Understanding Managed and Unmanaged WordPress Hosting

Managed WordPress Hosting involves a hosting solution specifically optimized for WordPress where all technical aspects of running WordPress are managed by the host. This includes security, speed, server software updates, daily backups, website uptime, and scalability. The idea is to offer a hassle-free experience so you can focus on running your website rather than managing a web server. With that said, managed WordPress hosting tends to be more expensive since you are as you are effectively outsourcing server administration and utilizing an easy-to-navigate UI and platform that interfaces directly with the server.

Unmanaged Hosting, on the other hand, refers to a more do-it-yourself approach where you rent a server from providers like Digital Ocean or AWS and are responsible for setting up, securing, updating, and managing everything yourself. This option offers more control and potentially lower costs but requires technical knowledge and consumes more time. When you use Digital Ocean, you are responsible for setting up and managing the server, including the installation and configuration of software, security, backups, and updates. While Digital Ocean offers a range of tools and services to facilitate server management such as pre-configured “droplets” for specific applications like WordPress, the primary responsibility for maintaining the server environment rests with the online business hosting the WordPress site.

Pros and Cons of Managed WordPress Hosting

Pros:

• Simplified Management: Managed hosting providers handle the backend operations of running a WordPress site, which includes security, updates, and scalability. This ease of management is invaluable for users who lack technical expertise or prefer to focus on their content or business.
• Enhanced Security: With features like regular malware scans, firewalls, and intrusion detection systems, managed hosts provide robust security measures tailored specifically for WordPress.
• Expert Support: Support teams at managed WordPress hosts are typically well-versed in WordPress. They can provide assistance tailored to your needs, from troubleshooting plugins to optimizing performance.
• Performance Optimization: Managed WordPress hosts optimize their servers specifically for WordPress performance, which can significantly speed up your website compared to general-purpose hosts.

Cons:

• Cost: Managed WordPress hosting is generally more expensive than unmanaged hosting since you’re paying for added services and server and WordPress support.
• Less Control: Because the hosting provider manages various aspects of your site, there’s less flexibility to make server-level changes. This can be a downside for developers who need extremely granular control.

Pros and Cons of Unmanaged Hosting

Pros:

• Cost-Effective: Unmanaged hosting solutions are typically cheaper because they don’t include the server management services.
• More Control: You have full control over the server and can customize the environment according to your specific needs which is particularly beneficial for developers with very specific requirements.
• Scalability: Providers like AWS offer immense scalability options which can be more cost-effective at scale compared to managed WordPress hosting which do not always scale well.

Cons:

• Technical Skill Required: You need a good level of technical knowledge to manage your server effectively including updates, security, and troubleshooting.
• Time-Consuming: Managing your server takes time, which could otherwise be spent on more productive activities like actual WordPress or business development.
• Security Risks: Without specialized knowledge, your server might be vulnerable to attacks, which can compromise your site’s security and performance.

Why Managed WordPress Hosting is Usually the Better Choice

For most online businesses, the advantages of managed WordPress hosting overshadow the benefits of unmanaged servers:

1. Time Savings: Managed hosting frees up your time, allowing you and your WordPress development team to focus on your website instead of worrying about technical aspects of your web hosting.
2. Ease of Use: The user-friendly design of managed WordPress hosting makes it accessible to even those without technical expertise, which is a significant advantage for businesses. This ease of use can also reduce development time for agencies involved, streamlining operations and enabling quicker deployments.
3. Built-in Expertise: Access to expert support is essential, particularly when dealing with complex WordPress issues. Managed support can accelerate your agency’s workflow and also serve as a supplementary support system if your WordPress agency or team is unavailable.
4. Enhanced Security: With automatic updates, daily backups, and advanced security measures, managed WordPress hosting provides peace of mind that your site is secure and recoverable in case of any incidents.

While unmanaged servers can be more cost-effective and offer greater control, the technical demands associated with them make managed WordPress hosting the best choice for most businesses using WordPress to power their website. Managed services provide a blend of convenience, security, and performance that is difficult to achieve with unmanaged options. For businesses looking to grow without worrying about the underlying technology, managed WordPress hosting is often the best long-term solution. Whether you’re launching a new site or looking to upgrade your hosting environment, considering a managed WordPress solution like Inspry Managed Hosting could be the key to your site’s success.