When starting a WordPress website, one of the most common questions is whether to choose Managed WordPress Hosting or Shared Hosting. Both options are popular, especially for beginners and small business owners, but they serve different purposes.
In this guide, we’ll compare managed WordPress hosting and shared hosting, explain the differences, and help you decide which one is right for your website.
What Is Shared Hosting?
Shared hosting is the most common and cheapest type of web hosting. With shared hosting, multiple websites share the same server resources such as CPU, RAM, and storage.
Popular shared hosting providers include:
- Bluehost
- HostGator
- Hostinger
- A2 Hosting
Pros of Shared Hosting
- Very affordable
- Beginner-friendly
- Easy to set up
- Includes email hosting
- Includes control panel (usually cPanel)
Cons of Shared Hosting
- Slower performance
- Shared resources
- Less security
- Limited server control
Shared hosting is best for:
- Beginners
- Small websites
- Blogs
- Portfolio websites
- Small business websites
What Is Managed WordPress Hosting?
Managed WordPress hosting is hosting specifically optimized for WordPress websites. The hosting company handles server management, updates, security, backups, and performance optimization.
Popular managed WordPress hosting providers include:
- SiteGround
- WP Engine
- Kinsta
- Bluehost (Managed WordPress plans)
Pros of Managed WordPress Hosting
- Optimized for WordPress speed
- Automatic WordPress updates
- Automatic backups
- Better security
- Expert WordPress support
- Staging environments
- Better performance
Cons of Managed WordPress Hosting
- More expensive
- Only for WordPress sites
- Some plugins may be restricted
- No email hosting with some providers
Managed WordPress hosting is best for:
- Business websites
- High traffic blogs
- WooCommerce stores
- Agencies
- People who don’t want to manage servers
Managed WordPress Hosting vs Shared Hosting Comparison
| Feature | Shared Hosting | Managed WordPress Hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Cheap | Expensive |
| Speed | Good | Very Fast |
| Security | Basic | Advanced |
| Backups | Sometimes | Automatic |
| Updates | Manual | Automatic |
| Support | General | WordPress experts |
| Control | Limited | Limited |
| Best For | Beginners | Business websites |
Price Comparison
| Hosting Type | Average Monthly Price |
|---|---|
| Shared Hosting | $2 – $5 |
| Managed WordPress | $15 – $35 |
| VPS Hosting | $10 – $30 |
| Dedicated Server | $80+ |
Shared hosting is clearly cheaper, but managed WordPress hosting offers better performance and security.
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose Shared Hosting If:
- You are a beginner
- Your website is new
- You want the cheapest hosting
- You are learning WordPress
- Your website has low traffic
Choose Managed WordPress Hosting If:
- Your website makes money
- You run an online store
- You want better speed
- You want automatic backups and updates
- You don’t want to manage technical things
- Your website has high traffic
Recommended Hosting Based on Website Type
| Website Type | Recommended Hosting |
|---|---|
| Personal Blog | Shared Hosting |
| Small Business | Shared or Managed |
| Affiliate Website | Managed WordPress |
| WooCommerce Store | Managed WordPress |
| High Traffic Blog | Managed WordPress |
| Agency Websites | Managed WordPress or VPS |
Final Recommendation
If you are just starting your website, start with shared hosting from providers like:
- Bluehost
- Hostinger
If your website grows or makes money, upgrade to managed WordPress hosting from:
- SiteGround
- WP Engine
- Kinsta
Conclusion
Both managed WordPress hosting and shared hosting are good options, but they serve different purposes.
- Shared hosting is best for beginners and small websites.
- Managed WordPress hosting is best for businesses, high-traffic websites, and people who want better performance and security.
A common strategy is:
Start with shared hosting → Upgrade to managed WordPress hosting → Upgrade to VPS or cloud hosting later.