Web hosting vs WordPress hosting: What’s the best option?

If you’re launching a website for the first time, you’ve probably come across both web hosting and WordPress hosting and wondered what sets them apart. More importantly, how do you know which one is right for you?

In this guide, we’ll explain the key differences in simple terms. Whether you’re starting a blog, running a small business, or building sites for clients, this post will help you decide which type of hosting suits your goals.

• Clear explanation of web hosting vs WordPress hosting
• Pros and cons of each option
• Help choosing the right plan based on your experience and goals
• A simple side-by-side comparison to guide your decision
• Tips and tools to help you manage your site smoothly

Web hosting is what makes your website live on the internet. It stores your site’s files and delivers them when someone visits your domain. Every website needs hosting, whether it’s built with WordPress, another content management system, or something custom.

• Shared hosting – you share server space with other sites. It’s the cheapest, but can be slow or limited
• VPS hosting – more resources and control, great for growing sites
• Dedicated hosting – your own server, high performance, higher price
• Cloud hosting – flexible and scalable across multiple servers

Traditional web hosting supports a wide range of platforms, including WordPress, Joomla, Shopify, or custom-built HTML sites.

WordPress hosting is a version of web hosting that’s tailored specifically for WordPress sites. It’s still just web hosting, but it comes with added tools and settings to make life easier for WordPress users.

• One-click WordPress installation
• Automatic updates
• Servers optimised for WordPress speed and performance
• Extra security features designed for WordPress
• Support from people who understand WordPress

Shared WordPress hosting – beginner-friendly and affordable, with pre-installed WordPress
Managed WordPress hosting – premium hosting with performance boosts, expert support, backups, and staging environments

You might prefer regular web hosting if:

• You’re building something other than a WordPress site
• You want full control over your server settings
• You’re technically confident and don’t mind managing things manually
• You’re watching your budget and don’t need extra tools

Developers, tech-savvy users, or people experimenting with different platforms might find this the better route.

WordPress hosting is the go-to choice if:

• You’re building with WordPress (which powers 40%+ of websites)
• You want to get set up quickly and easily
• You’re not confident managing updates or performance tweaks
• You want a support team who understands the ins and outs of WordPress

Most first-time website owners, bloggers, and small businesses will find WordPress hosting more convenient and beginner-friendly.

The hosting you choose affects:

Speed – Faster loading with WordPress-optimised servers
Security – Better protection from WordPress-specific threats
Time and stress – Less manual maintenance thanks to auto-updates and backups
Room to grow – Scalable hosting can handle more traffic as your site expands

Imagine you started your site on a basic shared hosting plan. At first, it works fine. But as traffic grows, you notice:

• Your site is running slower
• You’re constantly fixing plugin issues
• Support doesn’t seem to understand WordPress

Switching to WordPress hosting can significantly improve your site’s performance, especially with providers that offer expert WordPress support. But even with great hosting, things can still go wrong,  from plugin conflicts to failed updates. That’s where UpdraftPlus comes in. Whether you’re moving to a new host or staying where you are, our backup plugin gives you the confidence that your site is protected.

Great hosting matters, but things can still go wrong. That’s why having a solid backup plugin in place is just as important – it gives you peace of mind when you need it most.

No matter which host you choose, UpdraftPlus is here to help keep your site safe even if the worst should happen.

When you’re weighing up web hosting and WordPress hosting, your decision comes down to what you’re building, how much control you want, and how confident you feel managing your site.

If you’re new to WordPress or want things to just work out of the box, WordPress hosting is likely the better pick. If you need more flexibility or you’re not using WordPress, web hosting might be the way to go.