Short answer
Shared hosting suits most first websites. Managed WordPress hosting suits WordPress sites you would rather not maintain. Cloud and VPS hosting suit busy sites and online stores. Dedicated hosting suits large projects that need a whole server.
The five types, in one paragraph each
Shared hosting puts your site on a server alongside others and splits the cost, which is why it is the cheapest way to get online well.
Managed WordPress hosting is shared or cloud space tuned for WordPress, with updates and security handled for you.
Cloud hosting spreads your site across several machines, so a busy moment on one does not take your site down.
VPS hosting gives you a reserved slice of a server with resources nobody else can use, plus far more control.
Dedicated hosting gives you the whole machine, which very few small sites need.
Match the type to your situation
Pick the row that sounds most like you.
- First website, blog or portfolio — shared web hosting.
- WordPress site you want maintained — managed WordPress hosting.
- Business site that brings in enquiries — business hosting.
- Online store or steady traffic — cloud hosting.
- Custom software, or a developer in charge — VPS hosting.
- Reselling hosting to clients — reseller hosting.
Do not over-buy
Buying a VPS for a five-page site wastes money and adds work, because more control also means more responsibility. Start where your site is now: upgrades take minutes, are prorated, and never require rebuilding the site.
Not sure which type you need?
Tell us what your website does and roughly how busy it is, and we will recommend the smallest plan that will do the job properly.
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