Having an online presence as a business is almost a must nowadays as it’s the primary location where people are searching for services and products that they require. However, to have an online presence, several tasks will need to be completed in the process, with one of the most notable being organising your website hosting. Although this sounds simple, there are several options available, which is why we are going to take a look at 6 of the main types of website hosting. 

 

1. Free options

 

Before we take a look at the advance and paid web hosting solutions, there are of course free solutions that you can take a look at. Several CMS platforms such as WordPress offer free web hosting, which is good if you are simply learning how to create a website or aren’t expecting any traffic, but if you require further resources, then a free plan isn’t recommended. 

 

2. Shared hosting

 

Looking for the next grade up? Then shared hosting is the ideal solution for you. As the name may give away, the resources that your website is using is shared with several different websites around the world through one primary server. There is no specific number of websites using one server, as this depends on the provider and the server’s capacity, so you could end up sharing your website with hundreds, even thousands of websites. 

Pros

  • Cheap hosting solution
  • Support and maintenance are taken care of
  • Set-up is all taken care of

 

Cons

  • Shared resources 
  • Other websites can influence the speed of yours

 

 

3. VPS-hosting

 

 

If you are still on a tight budget but require more support than a shared hosting package, then VPS-hosting is perfect. Abbreviated for Virtual Private Server, VPS hosting still operates on a shared server, though you now have your own space on the server for your website. As the website is still hosted on a shared server, there are still restrictions in regards to overall site performance, but you will have additional customisation and storage space. 

 

Pros

  • More reliable and stable compared to shared hosting
  • Customisable hosting environment
  • Less expensive than a dedicated server

 

Cons

  • Still sharing a server with other websites
  • Will need additional technical knowledge to manage

 

 

4. Cloud hosting

 

 

Cloud hosting has gained popularity over the years as a personal storage solution, but it’s also a viable web hosting option. That being said, all cloud hosting works in the same way – several computers and servers share their resources, creating a singular server powered by all the base hosts. For web hosting, it often works like a utility as websites simply obtain the resources they need over the web, rather than requiring any infrastructure. 

 

  • Pros
  • You will have the ability to change your capacity requirements with ease
  • Will only be charged for resources that you are using
  • High security will be implemented

 

  • Cons
  • Limited customisation
  • The costs can become unpredictable, after all, you are paying for resources you need
  • Difficult to migrate resources once on board with a cloud provider

 

 

5. Dedicated server

 

 

For businesses that require complete control, as well as a wealth of space, a dedicated server is the only suitable choice. This is because the server is exclusively allocated to you and your website, hence being named a dedicated server. By going with this approach, you will have full root and admin access, meaning you are in control of every single aspect such as security and ongoing maintenance.

 

Pros

  • You have complete control of the server
  • Customise the server to your requirements
  • High security

 

Cons

  • Most expensive type of web hosting
  • Requires technical knowledge to set up and maintain
  • You are responsible for everything

 

Consult with the experts

 

Choosing the most appropriate web hosting provider can be a tough choice, but we are certain you won’t need to look any further once you have checked out catalyst2. Having been in operation for over 20 years, we have gained a glowing reputation thanks to our ability to combine world-class managed hosting solutions with first-class customer service. 

Interested in arranging a consultation with our team? By calling 0800 107 7979, you will have the opportunity to speak to one of our experts who will be happy to confer about your requirements, where we can then arrange a consultation to present the most suitable options available.