A plain-English comparison of the main types of web hosting, who each suits, and the signs it is time to move up.
Looking for more detail? Our full guide covers this topic in depth, with step-by-step advice and sources.
Shared hosting
Your site shares a server with many others. It is the cheapest option and fine for small blogs, brochure sites and new projects. The downside is limited resources: a busy neighbour can slow you down.
Managed WordPress hosting
The host handles WordPress updates, caching, backups and security. It suits people who want to focus on content rather than servers. Check what plugins are allowed.
VPS (virtual private server)
You get a guaranteed slice of a server with your own resources and root access. It is more flexible but you, or a managed service, must look after updates and security.
Cloud hosting
Resources run across many machines and can scale up and down. You often pay for what you use, which can be cheap at low traffic but harder to predict.
Static hosting
For sites built as plain HTML files, static hosts and CDNs can serve pages quickly and cheaply, often with a free tier.
Signs it is time to move up
- Pages slow down at busy times.
- You hit CPU or memory limits.
- You need software your host does not allow.
- You need better support or uptime guarantees.
Whatever you choose
Keep software updated, use strong passwords and two-factor authentication, and keep backups somewhere separate from your host.
Sources and further reading
Facts checked on 20 October 2026. Spotted an error? Tell us and we will correct it.