If you’re looking to host your WordPress website, there are two main types of hosting plans available: managed WordPress hosting and self-hosted WordPress hosting. Each comes with its own benefits and drawbacks, so it’s important to consider which plan would be best for your needs before you begin the signup process.
Here are some of the key things to keep in mind when deciding between managed WordPress hosting and self-hosted WordPress hosting to help you determine which plan will work best for your situation.
What is managed WordPress hosting?
If you’re already running a WordPress site and are looking to make sure it stays online, you might be wondering if managed WordPress hosting will be right for you. There are two main reasons that companies use managed WordPress hosting over standard self-hosted (unmanaged) options.
First, your provider can ensure that your content is kept up-to-date by regularly updating their core software and plugins so that you don’t have to worry about doing it yourself.
Second, they can provide security services like firewall protection and malware scanning that help keep your site safe from outside threats. In addition to these benefits, there are also other features of managed WordPress hosting worth considering including regular backups of your files, automatic updates of plugins and themes, one-click staging/deployment tools, etc.
The difference between WordPress LMS & WordPress Themes: For many businesses in need of an eLearning solution or a new website design, choosing between WordPress LMS & WordPress Themes may seem like an easy decision at first glance. However, there are several important factors to consider before making any final decisions on which option is best for you.
What does a typical plan look like?
Wordpress has two different types of hosting, managed and standard WordPress hosting. Managed hosting focuses on security and efficiency to minimize downtime, as well as providing 24/7 monitoring of your website’s performance.
How does it compare to WP self-hosted plans?
Managed WordPress hosting means your hosting company will take care of a lot of headaches for you, like software updates and security patches; it also gives you access to pre-installed themes and plug-ins—which you won’t find with a self-hosted WordPress site.
However, managed hosts usually charge more per month than self-hosted WordPress plans do—so if price is your main concern, then WP self-hosted may be right for you.
Do you need one account or multiple accounts with WPMUdev (the company behind ManageWP)?
Managed WordPress hosting is ideal if you need to control multiple sites or handle sites with a lot of traffic. If you’re managing only one website, you might consider going with a simpler solution that focuses on security and backups (as well as WordPress core updates).
For instance, WPMUdev sells a $19/month WordPress hosting package designed specifically for 1-to-3 user blogs and small websites.
Can you use ManageWP with any provider, or do you have to use WPMUdev’s partner providers (Flywheel, SiteGround, etc.) ?
Yes, managed wordpress hosting services are compatible with any host provider that uses cPanel or a control panel similar to cPanel and WHM.
The service can be used with a variety of host providers, however, WPMUDEV does have many partnerships and one-click installers (pre-configured integrations) with several of their top recommended partners such as Flywheel, SiteGround and LightningBase.
What if I need additional features besides backups and security scanning?
Although not all providers offer it, managed WordPress hosting packages provide a whole host of additional features that you may need from time to time—from simple add-ons like site monitoring and support SLAs to more advanced things like WordPress LMS or ancillary business services, such as accounting software and payment gateways.
If your business needs grow beyond just storage space, security, and backups, then you’ll need to upgrade your plan to a fully managed offering.
Is support included in my managed plan?
Some managed WordPress hosting companies include support in their monthly fee and some do not. If you want to save money, but don’t want to compromise on quality, consider purchasing support a la carte from your managed WordPress host instead of as part of a monthly subscription fee.
If I choose the backup service, can I still keep local backups as well (like via Dropbox/Google Drive/etc.) ?
Yes, you can always manually backup your site via these services as well. Whether or not you do a manual backup is up to you, but it’s a good idea to do so with an automated backup in place just in case something goes wrong with it (which rarely happens). Also, be sure to keep your backups after disabling WP Engine’s backups/maintenance service.
What happens if I get hacked despite using this service? Are they legally liable (will they cover legal fees)?
With WP Engine, your website can never be suspended from hacking or any other malicious activity - since we run a fully secure and redundant infrastructure at all times. In fact, we're so confident in our ability to keep your website safe that we'll reimburse you up to $5,000 if something happens despite our best efforts (see terms of service).