What Is Managed WordPress Hosting (And Do You Need It)

What is managed WordPress hosting? In a nutshell, its WordPress-specific hosting that adds a number of convenient features to make it easier to manage, secure, and speed up your WordPress site.Managed hosting isn’t so much a type of plan as it is a description of the service you’ll receive. While most hosting plans leave the majority of the work up to you, managed hosting takes some of the responsibility for keeping your site going off your shoulders. This makes it an intriguing option for many website owners.In this guide, we’ll start out by answering the question of what is managed WordPress hosting? in more detail. Then, we’ll discuss its pros and cons, and help you decide whether it’s right for you. Managed dedicated plans are far more expensive, although few first-time website owners need that kind of power. In any case, the extra costs will add up over time.There’s another potential downside to managed hosting. If you’re a more t echnically-savvy user, you may prefer to configure your server and optimize your site’s performance and security on your own. Managed hosting takes away this option, and has you rely on your provider instead. Whether or not this loss of control is a relief or a problem entirely depends on your pre-existing knowledge and needs.Additionally, some managed WordPress hosts block certain plugins, like database-intensive related posts plugins.How to decide whether you need managed WordPress hostingBy this point, you know the answer to the question: What is managed WordPress hosting? This means youre ready to consider whether it’s the right choice for your site.There are two key elements to think about here – your budget and your needs. Obviously, you’ll only be able to opt for a managed plan if you can afford it. While most options arent exorbitantly expensive, they do involve a greater initial investment.After, you need to decide whether or not having your site managed for you sounds appealing. In other words, you’ll likely fall into one of two camps:If you don’t know much about WordPress, servers, and all the other technical stuff involved in running a website, managed hosting can be a lifesaver. It saves you time and worry, and can result in a site that’s safer and performs more smoothly. Plus, you’ll have access to readily-available help whenever you need it.On the other hand, unmanaged hosting is a better option if you prefer to make key decisions for your website on your own. It’s a good option for users with the technical experience to maintain their sites personally, and those with a willingness to learn the ropes over time.If you do decide that managed hosting sounds like an appealing option, your work isn’t done yet. You still need to find the right plan, since there are plenty of choices.How to find the right managed WordPress hosting plan for your siteFinding a managed WordPress hosting plan can be a little tricky. As we mentioned earlier, the term managed doesn’t have a firm and universally agreed-upon definition. Theoretically, any provider can slap the managed label on its plans. Therefore, youll need to be careful and make sure you’re actually getting your money’s worth.To determine whether or not a managed plan really has something special to offer you, you’ll need to take a close look at the features it provides:These should include most or all of the key characteristics we discussed earlier. In particular, look to see if the provider will manage updates and backups for you, as it’s a good sign.Next, see what it provides in terms of security and performance optimization. The provider should be upfront about what it does to keep your site safe and maintain solid speeds and up-time. If in doubt, get in touch with the sales team via chat and ask them outright.If you’re looking at a VPS or dedicated plan, you’ll a lso want to find out whether the provider is willing to set up and configure your server (virtual or physical) to meet your needs.Finally, and perhaps most important, make sure the plan is WordPress-specific.If you’re leaving the responsibility for maintaining your site in the hands of your hosting provider, it’s vital that they know how to optimize a WordPress site. Look for features such as pre-installed and pre-configured WordPress sites and built-in plugins to handle backups and caching.This may all sound a little intimidating, but there really are lots of excellent options to choose from. To start your research, we’d suggest checking out our list of top managed WordPress hosting plans for website owners on a budget. These plans are affordable, WordPress-specific, and truly managed – making them solid picks for anyone in need of a little help running their site.ConclusionIf you need a hosting plan for your site, the good news is that there are a lot o f choices. On the other hand, this can make the decision a little tricky. Not only do you need to find the right provider, but you also need to figure out what kind of plan is right for you and your site.For instance, when browsing plans you may find yourself trying to understand just what is managed WordPress hosting. As it turns out, the name gives away the purpose of these plans – to manage and maintain your site for you. Managed WordPress hosting plans aren’t for everyone, but they can save you a lot of time, and take technical tasks you’re not comfortable with off your shoulders.Here are some places you can start if youre looking for a quality managed host for WordPress:Kinsta ReviewWP Engine ReviewDreamHost ReviewFlywheel ReviewDo you have any other questions about managed WordPress hosting? Ask us anything in the comments section below! Learn what managed #WordPress #hosting is, plus whether you actually need it