Managed WordPress vs. Shared Hosting: Which is the Best Option for Your Website?
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Ever wondered why people “in the know” swear by managed WordPress hosting while others sign up for discounted shared hosting and call it a day?
As a web designer who helps entrepreneurs get their sites online, I’ve seen firsthand how this choice can make or break your website experience. I’m all about getting the best deal possible when it comes to tech, but hosting is one area where you don’t want to go with the cheapest option!
Understanding WordPress Hosting Options
Before we dive into the pros and cons, let’s talk about what web hosting actually is—in plain English, I promise!
Think of web hosting like renting space for your website to live online. Without it, your beautiful website would just be files sitting on your computer where nobody else could see them. When you sign up with a hosting company, they give your site a home on their servers, making it visible to anyone typing your web address into their browser.

What is Shared Hosting?
Shared hosting is exactly what it sounds like—your website shares server space with other websites, kind of like living in an apartment building. You get your own space, but you’re sharing resources like bandwidth and processing power with your neighbors.
The good stuff about shared hosting:
- It’s super budget-friendly (usually $5-10 per month)
- Great when your business isn’t dependent on your website for sales
- Usually comes with easy-to-use control panels
The not-so-great stuff:
- Your site might slow down if your “neighbor” gets a traffic spike
- You’re mostly on your own for WordPress-specific issues
- Basic security that might need beefing up
- Limited room to grow as your site gets bigger
What is Managed WordPress Hosting?
This is where things get exciting, well for me anyhow. Managed WordPress hosting is like having a property manager who knows everything about WordPress and takes care of all the technical stuff for you.
Instead of just giving you server space, managed WordPress hosts:
- Keep your WordPress site updated automatically
- Back up your site daily (sometimes multiple times a day)
- Monitor for security issues 24/7
- Optimize your site’s performance specifically for WordPress
- Give you access to WordPress experts when you need help
“Sounds great! Sign me up!”
The catch? It typically starts around $20-30 per month. But trust me—if you’re running a business website, that peace of mind is worth every penny.

Performance and Security Features
Let’s talk about what really matters when it comes to hosting—how well your site runs and how safe it is from the bad guys.
Speed Matters More Than You Think
Your site’s speed doesn’t just come down to optimizing your content and images. When you’re sharing server space with hundreds (sometimes thousands!) of other sites, your loading time can take a hit even if you’ve done everything right on your end.
How Your Host Affects Loading Times
With managed WordPress hosting, on the other hand, your site gets resources specifically assigned to it, plus servers that are fine-tuned just for WordPress. (Translation: faster loading times without you having to become a tech wizard!)
The WordPress Security Landscape
Remember when I mentioned the bad guys? WordPress.org (not to be confused with WordPress.com) is the most popular website platform out there—which unfortunately makes it a target for hackers. Here’s how the two hosting types handle security…
Shared hosting usually gives you:
- Basic firewall protection
- The option to buy an SSL certificate (sometimes included)
- Security updates… that you need to handle yourself
Managed WordPress hosting includes:
- Advanced firewalls built specifically for WordPress
- Free SSL certificates
- Automatic security updates
- Regular malware scans
- Instant notifications if something looks fishy
Recommended Hosting Providers
After working with different hosts for myself and my clients’ sites, I’ve narrowed down my top picks for both shared and managed hosting.
Shared Hosting Recommendation: BigScoots
If you’re just starting out or working with a tight budget, BigScoots is my go-to recommendation for shared hosting. Why? They’re one of the few budget-friendly hosts that actually picks up the phone when you need help!
Their shared hosting plans include:
- Free SSL certificates
- 24/7 support (from real humans!)
- Unlimited email accounts
- Free site migration
Hot tip: BigScoots offers both shared and managed WordPress hosting. If you’re looking for the budget-friendly shared option, make sure you select “Shared” under “Web Hosting” in their Products dropdown menu.

Managed WordPress Hosting Recommendation: Pressable
I first learned about Pressable managed WordPress hosting from WP Rockstar, my web development business training program. Pressable loves what everyone in the WP Rockstar community is doing so much, that they include some special perks just for us (and our clients!) in their hosting packages. This is where I’m hosting my WordPress Care Plan clients’ sites.
When you host with Pressable (on your own or through my care plans), you get awesome features like:
- 30 days of free daily backups
- Free staging environment for testing changes
- Free site migration
- Free global content delivery network to that your site loads quickly no matter where in the world your visitors come from
- 100% uptime guarantee
- Jetpack Security (on most plans)

Ready to Level Up Your Hosting?
Here’s something most people don’t know—while Pressable’s plans start at higher price points on their website, I can offer you their entry-level hosting plan exclusively as an affiliate. This means you get many of the premium features of Pressable at a more budget-friendly price point!
Plus, here’s my favorite “secret weapon” add-on: for just $3 a month, Pressable will handle all your plugin updates automatically. No more worrying about updates breaking your site! They’ll back up your site before each update and send you performance reports, so you always know exactly what’s happening behind the scenes.
“Elizabeth’s care plan has been a game-changer for me! I don’t have to worry about my website because I know she’s checking it each month and making the necessary changes and updates.
Ashley DiMercurio, Your Reading Tutor
Elizabeth is great to work with. She is reliable and always asks clarifying questions. She gives me a report each month and is always willing to work with me on big and small projects. I am so glad I found her!”
Professional WordPress Care Plans
When it comes to maintaining your WordPress site, you’ve got two main options: purchasing managed WordPress hosting and handling the maintenance yourself, or signing up for a WordPress care plan with a company like E. Houston Studio where I’ll take care of everything for you.
With a care plan, you’re not just getting premium managed hosting—you’re getting me as your personal website manager. (In fact, I’ve named my care plans “Silver,” “Gold,” and “Platinum” because clients tell me I’m worth my weight in gold.)
Every month, I take care of:
- Hosting your website on a premium managed platform
- Running and monitoring backups (both with your host and off-site)
- Keeping an eye out for security issues
- Updating WordPress, your theme, and all your plugins
- Installing premium plugins (currently valued at over $350/year)Â at no extra cost to you
- Answering your website questions within 24 hours on business days
- Sending you a report of everything I’ve done to keep your site running smoothly
Looking for peace of mind with your WordPress site? Discover how my care plans can protect your online home!
Why Your Hosting Choice Matters for WordPress Security
Want to know the foundation of a secure WordPress website? If you haven’t guessed by now, it starts with choosing the right host. But that’s just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to protecting your online home.
In my free guide, “5 Tips to Keep Your WordPress Website Safe,” you’ll learn why your hosting choice is so important, plus other essential steps to protect your WordPress site. Inside this PDF guide, you’ll discover:
- Why having a disaster recovery plan isn’t just for tech companies
- The real reason you should never share your main passwords with third parties
- How to create a website maintenance schedule that actually works
- What to look for in a hosting provider to keep your site secure
Plus, you’ll get follow-up emails over the next couple weeks packed with actionable tips to keep your site secure and performing its best.

Frequently Asked Questions
Which Hosting Service Should You Choose?
Look, there’s no shame in starting with a reliable shared host like BigScoots when you’re just getting your feet wet online. But here’s the reality—once your business starts depending on your website for leads, sales, or client bookings, it’s time to level up your hosting game.
Think of it this way: you wouldn’t run a brick-and-mortar store without insurance and security systems, right? Your website deserves the same level of protection and care. Whether you choose to manage a premium host yourself or partner with someone like me to handle all the technical details, investing in quality hosting is one of the smartest moves you can make for your online business.
Next Steps
For Shared Hosting:
- Check out BigScoots’ shared hosting plans
- Download my free guide to learn more about how to protect your site
- Set up a maintenance schedule for updates and backups
For Managed WordPress Hosting:
- Explore my exclusive Pressable entry-level plan offer
- Consider adding automated plugin updates for $3/month
- Get in touch if you’d like me to care of hosting and more for you each month