Best 6 Types of Web Hosting: A Guide to Web Hosting 2024

Every page you visit on the internet results from an advanced system of internet-connected devices. Where are the data, files, information, and other particulars on a website kept?

Although a website appears to you to be located at a certain web address, website hosting is nothing more than the storage of all the content you view on a webpage on servers that are located on the ground.

There are six primary categories of web hosting: cloud, reseller, dedicated, shared, WordPress, and VPS. You’ll come across a variety of hosting plans when perusing the various web hosting companies, so it’s helpful to understand what each one entails and which one is best Types of web hosting for you.

At Hosting Mastery Hub, we’ve combined our knowledge to offer you a comprehensive breakdown of every kind of hosting and to present the best three companies for each.

This guide will help you determine which type is most suitable for your online demands and budget, as they differ in terms of functionality, pricing, and available resources.

What is Web Hosting?

To host a website is to place it on a server that is available. This process is called web hosting. For a price, certain providers let users host their web pages on their servers with the appropriate domain name and extension. Web hosting providers are the term for these services. 

Put another way, it’s similar to leasing a commercial location to set up an office and carry out business, but with an Internet-connected server instead of a physical one.

The features and advantages of hosting can vary based on the provider and the package selected. 

Due to their higher server requirements, features like additional storage for large design files and quicker loading times are frequently more expensive. You can choose among the several forms of website hosting based on your needs, your budget, and the purpose of your website.  

Web hosting is a service that allows you to publish a website or web application online. It’s like renting space on a computer that’s always connected to the internet, where you can store your website’s files and make them accessible to anyone with an internet connection.

Here’s a simple analogy to understand it better: Imagine your website is a house, and web hosting is the land you build it on. The web hosting company owns and maintains the land (server), and you lease a portion of it to build your house (website). 

Just like you need a foundation to build a house, you need web hosting to publish your website online.

Here are some of the things that web hosting companies typically provide:

• Storage Space: This is where you store all of your website’s files, such as your HTML, CSS, JavaScript, images, and videos.
• Bandwidth: This is the amount of data that can be transferred between your website and visitors’ computers. The more traffic your website gets, the more bandwidth you’ll need.
• Domain Name: This is the web address that people use to find your website. It’s like the street address of your house.
• Email Accounts: Many web hosting companies also offer email accounts that you can use with your domain name.
• Security: Web hosting companies provide security features to help protect your website from hackers and other threats.

There are different types of web hosting available, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. The most common types are:

• Shared Web Hosting: This is the most affordable type of hosting, where your website shares a server with other websites. It’s a good option for small websites that don’t get a lot of traffic.
• VPS Web Hosting: Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting is a step up from shared hosting. It gives you more resources and control over your server environment. It’s a good option for websites that are outgrowing shared hosting or that need more control.
• Dedicated Web Hosting: This is the most expensive type of hosting, where you have an entire server dedicated to your website. It’s the best option for websites that get a lot of traffic or that need the highest level of performance and security.

Choosing the right web hosting company can be a bit overwhelming, but it’s important to do your research and compare different options before you make a decision. Consider your website’s needs and budget when making your choice.

6 Main Types of Web Hosting

The most common types of web hosting are listed below. We’ve listed them according to increasing costs, so the most economical choices are covered first.

1. Shared Hosting is the practice of having several websites hosted on a single server that shares its resources.
2. WordPress Hosting is hosting designed especially for WordPress websites and provides a wide range of tools designed for the platform.
3. VPS Hosting divides a single physical server into several virtual servers, giving each website access to its own resources.
4. Dedicated Hosting allows one website to have exclusive use of an entire physical server and all of its resources.
5. Cloud Hosting allows you to leverage resources from several virtual servers to help maximize uptime rather than putting your website on a single server.
6. Reseller Hosting is when companies buy a lot of bandwidth and storage space from hosting companies and then resell the space to other companies or people.

Throughout the post, we’re going to focus on 12-month pricing plans to provide for an equitable evaluation of hosting kinds and suppliers.

But, keep a watch out because the cost will probably be considerably lower if you can secure a longer membership!

1: Shared Web Hosting

As the name suggests, shared web hosting is the practice of having several websites, including yours, share a single server and its resources.

Servers are essentially computers, as was previously mentioned, that let you use their storage to host websites. As a result, the server will slow down if you and a few other users are utilizing it. 

The most cost-effective option is shared hosting, which is ideal for small-scale or personal websites. However, because it runs multiple websites at once, the overall security and performance may suffer. Shared hosting companies include, ARZ Host, Bluehost, InMotion, DreamHost, and Hostinger.

Shared web hosting is a cost-effective way to get your website online by sharing resources with other websites on a single physical server. Imagine it like an apartment building – multiple websites live on the same server, sharing resources like CPU, RAM, and storage space. Here’s a breakdown of how it works:

How it works:

• Multiple Websites: Several websites (dozens or even hundreds) reside on the same server, dividing its resources.
• Shared Resources: Each website gets a portion of the server’s processing power, memory, storage, and bandwidth.
• Individual Control: Each website has its own control panel to manage its files, databases, email, and other settings.
• Cost-Effective: Sharing resources keeps the cost of hosting per website much lower compared to dedicated or VPS hosting.

Pros and Cons of shared web hosting:

Overall, shared web hosting is a great option for getting started with your website on a budget. However, if your website grows in traffic or complexity, you’ll likely need to upgrade to a dedicated or VPS hosting plan.

2: WordPress Web Hosting

With managed web hosting, a customer pays a service provider to handle every technical aspect of a website, including regular maintenance, security checks, general upkeep, and, of course, hosting the data on their servers. 

Another variation of this is managed WordPress web hosting. It references to a specialty service that WordPress users can access that enhances the functionality of their website and adds extra features like security tools and plugins. It removes the need for routine daily operations like server-level caching, backups, and core updates. 

Managed WordPress hosting is typically utilized by small enterprises, developing e-commerce sites, agencies, freelancers, etc. 

Such a service is provided by companies like Bluehost, ARZ Host, SiteGround, Hostinger, DreamPress, HostGator, etc.

Here are some of the benefits of using WordPress web hosting:

• Improved performance: Your website will load faster and run more smoothly.
• Enhanced security: Your website will be better protected from hackers and malware.
• Reduced workload: You won’t have to worry about managing the technical aspects of your website.
• Peace of mind: You can rest assured that your website is in good hands.

Pros and Cons of WordPress Web Hosting: 

If you’re thinking about starting a WordPress website, then I recommend using WordPress web hosting. It will make your life a lot easier and help you create a successful website.

3: VPS Web Hosting

Virtualization is used in virtual private server hosting, or VPS hosting, to split a single physical server into multiple separate virtual environments, each of which functions as a small server. 

All of them share the physical server’s resources collectively, but one of its main benefits is that the provider can tailor the resources—such as CPU cores, RAM, disk space, bandwidth, etc.—to the needs of the client. 

Think of VPS hosting as a hybrid of dedicated and shared hosting, providing the control of dedicated hosting with the price of shared hosting. Websites from creative companies, streaming services, small-scale commerce platforms, etc. are a few examples of websites that employ VPS hosting. 

Providers of VPS hosting include ARZ Host, GoDaddy, MochaHost, Interserver, and Hostinger, among others.

Benefits of VPS Hosting:

• Improved performance: Dedicated resources lead to faster loading times and better handling of traffic spikes.
• Enhanced security: Isolation from other websites reduces the risk of security breaches and malware infections.
• Greater control: Root access allows you to customize the server environment and install any software you need.
• Scalability: Easily upgrade or downgrade resources as your website’s needs evolve.

Pros and Cons of VPS Web Hosting: 

Overall, VPS web hosting is a good option for websites that are outgrowing shared hosting, or for websites that need more control and flexibility. It’s a cost-effective way to get the performance and security of a dedicated server, without the high price tag.

4: Dedicated Web Hosting

A whole physical server is leased from a data center for dedicated hosting. Dedicated hosting is one of the priciest forms of web hosting in 2023 because it allows the client total control over the server and its setup, compared to other forms.  

On the other hand, major businesses that wish to host multiple highly trafficked web pages or want to store an entire database typically use this kind of hosting. Technical support is frequently provided by the dedicated server providers. Many businesses frequently install dedicated servers to help with internal data processing and relaying. 

Some dedicated hosting providers are ARZ Host, A2 Web Hosting, Liquid Web Hosting, GoDaddy, etc.

Dedicated web hosting offers the ultimate in website hosting control and performance. Unlike shared hosting, where many websites share a single server, dedicated hosting gives you one entire server all to yourself. This means you get:

• Unmatched performance: No resource competition from other websites. Enjoy faster loading times, smoother operation, and increased scalability for high traffic demands.
• Complete control: Customize your server environment to your exact needs. Install any software, configure security settings, and manage every aspect of your server.
• Enhanced security: Dedicated servers offer greater isolation from potential security threats, minimizing risk for sensitive data and applications.
• Improved reliability: No server slowdowns due to other users’ spikes in traffic. Enjoy consistent uptime and performance for a better user experience.

Pros and Cons of Dedicated Web Hosting:

There are many reputable web hosting providers that offer dedicated server plans. Do some research to compare features, prices, and customer reviews before making your decision. I can even help you narrow down your options if you tell me more about your specific needs and budget.

5: Cloud Web Hosting

Cloud hosting is a type of web hosting where virtual machines and cloud computing technology are used to host a website or an application across numerous servers.

It is based on the VPS hosting method that we covered previously. One of the most dependable hosting options is cloud hosting, which lowers the possibility of failure by hosting your website on multiple servers across the globe. 

Cloud hosting is not suitable for individuals or small businesses looking to launch a personal website. Because many cloud hosting systems offer a “pay as you go” model that allows users to add more resources as needed, it offers flexible scalability.  

A few instances of cloud web hosting companies are Oracle Cloud, Google Cloud Platform, Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and so on.

When choosing a cloud web hosting provider, it is important to consider your needs and budget. Some things to keep in mind include:

• The amount of traffic your website expects
• The resources you need, such as storage and bandwidth
• The features you need, such as a content delivery network (CDN)
• The level of support you need

Pros and Cons of Cloud Web Hosting:

However, cloud web hosting is not without its drawbacks. It can be more expensive than traditional web hosting, and it can be more complex to set up and manage.

If you’re considering cloud web hosting, it’s important to do your research and choose a provider that meets your needs and budget.

6: Reseller Web Hosting

You can offer web hosting services through reseller hosting even if you don’t have the necessary technical know-how or equipment. It involves renting out server space and then reselling it to other clients. Reseller hosting is intended for small service providers rather than for individuals. 

Once the server’s hosting space has been acquired, the user can decide what services to offer in exchange for a retail price that clients may be willing to pay. A virtual control panel that can keep an eye on every website connected to the rented space is made available to reseller hosts. 

Resellers must, however, also handle customer service, which can be laborious if they lack relevant knowledge. 

Reselling hosting services are offered by companies like ARZ Host, A2 Hosting, Hostwinds, Hostgator, etc.

Reseller web hosting allows you to act as your own web hosting provider, buying resources in bulk from a larger provider and then reselling them to your own customers at a markup. It’s like being a middleman for web hosting, offering customized packages and branding under your own name.

Here’s how it works:

• You purchase a reseller hosting plan from a provider. This gives you access to server space, bandwidth, and other resources.
• You create your own hosting plans and set your own prices. You can choose what features to include in each plan, such as storage, bandwidth, email accounts, and software like cPanel.
• You market your hosting plans to your own customers. You can build your own website, use social media, or even target specific niches like small businesses or bloggers.
• Your customers manage their websites through your platform. You can provide a branded control panel for them to manage their websites, emails, and other hosting settings.
• You profit from the difference between your wholesale cost and your retail selling price.

Pros and Cons of Reseller Web Hosting:

Of course, there are also some things to keep in mind before you start a reseller web hosting business. For example, you need to be sure that you have the technical knowledge to support your customers. You also need to be prepared to market your business and find customers.

Which Type of Web Hosting Is Better for You?

One could investigate a variety of possibilities when it comes to web hosting. The ideal web hosting choice, however, varies based on the needs and price range. For example, a person can use several service providers to construct a personal website for free that showcases their résumé. This kind of website doesn’t cost anything because it doesn’t have to deal with heavy traffic or incoming tickets. 

However, using a VPS or cloud hosting service is a preferable choice if a news organization wants to build a website where they will be uploading large amounts of material daily. In a similar vein, businessmen and small enterprises can communicate with their clientele through websites built on shared hosting.

Conclusion

So, who wins the crown for your website? The answer lies in understanding your unique needs and aspirations. Consider your website’s traffic, budget, technical expertise, and desired level of control. For budget-conscious beginners, shared hosting offers a gentle entry point. 

Growing websites can find a comfortable balance in VPS hosting, while established businesses might require the fortress of dedicated hosting. Cloud hosting suits the ever-evolving, and managed WordPress hosting pampers your WordPress site.

Remember, the perfect web hosting isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. It’s about finding the champion that complements your website’s journey, allowing it to flourish and conquer the digital landscape. 

So, research, compare, and choose wisely. After all, in the web hosting arena, choosing the right champion can take your website from pixelated underdog to online overlord.

The web hosting landscape is constantly evolving, with new technologies emerging on the horizon. Serverless hosting, edge computing, and blockchain-based solutions are just a few of the innovations promising even greater flexibility, scalability, and security. 

As your website grows and the digital world transforms, keep an eye on these future champions, ready to upgrade your hosting arsenal and ensure your website’

FAQS (Frequently Asked Questions)