WordPress is arguably the most popular and user-friendly content management system in the business. One of the ways WordPress shows its versatility is through the technological demands—or lack thereof—it puts on its hosts. Like most content management systems, WordPress needs a MySQL database and PHO hyperlink processor. However, unlike other CMS options, it is not limited to only Apache servers; you can also use hosts that run Nginx.
The popularity and simplicity of this CMS inadvertently works to muddy the waters when it comes to finding the best hosting for WordPress. You can’t throw a worn-out mouse pad without hitting a dozen free WordPress hosting sites. If your site requires anything beyond a simple blog, avoid free hosting like white pants after Labor Day. Your site will be subject to banner ads, footer text links, and overall unreliability. The fundamental components of WordPress are free. Spend a couple dollars on hosting so you don’t have to put up with the headaches associated with free hosting.
You probably opted for WordPress because if its intuitive user interface, ease of installation, and scalability. Because it runs on almost any technical platform, the best WordPress hosting probably depends on your technical expertise. If you are a beginner, you might want a shared WordPress host. You can keep your costs down with shared hosting. Be careful, though; if you start using too much space, you may have to sacrifice performance.
Got some technical chops? You might want to use a Virtual Private Server (VPS) host. With VPS, you are sharing a server with a few others, but you will have your own segment to yourself. VPS hosting allows you to take advantage of the WordPress CMS scalability. If you have a high-traffic site, want to work on your design and development skills, or are otherwise too big for a basic host, look into VPS options.
Need full control? Then you need a dedicated server host. Your staff system administrator will feel at home controlling the hardware and operating system for the site. Managed, dedicated serves are available, too. You can use their system administrators to monitor the server, update the software, and generally run the back end for you.
Maybe you just want to kick back and let someone else do all of it for you. If that is the case, the best option for you is fully managed WordPress hosting. It costs more, but perhaps the time not spent on system administration is worth more than the monthly payment to the host. The professionals can keep the site secure, back up the data, and make it run like a top-fuel dragster.
It is really up to you. Consider where your business is, what its needs are, where it is going, and what your level of tech skill and hands-on interest is. There is a WordPress host out there to accommodate you.