Types Of Web Hosting – Web Hosting SVC

31 Types Of Web Hosting: Which One is Right for Your Website?

Many types of website hosting services will allow you to make your websites accessible on the Internet.

This article provides factual information about web hosting types and their differences. The kind of website hosting you need depends on specific requirements. For example, shared hosting is sufficient for a portfolio website, but a dedicated server is more suitable for an agency.

8 popular types of web hosting services compared

Here is a table of comparison for the eight most popular types of web hosting options:

Type of Web Hosting	Description	Advantages	Disadvantages
Shared Web Hosting	Multiple websites are hosted on a web server.	Cost-effective, easy to set up. Best for a tight budget and low-traffic websites.	Limited resources, slower loading times, and less control.
VPS Hosting	A virtual private server is dedicated to each website but on the same physical server.	More resources and control than shared hosting, customizable.	Higher cost compared to shared hosting and requires technical knowledge.
Dedicated Web Hosting	A web server hosts a unique website.	High performance. Complete control over the server.	Expensive. Require technical knowledge.
Cloud hosting	Use a network of interconnected servers.	Excellent for scalability and flexibility. High uptime. Pay for what you use.	It’s not the cheapest option. It may require technical knowledge.
Colocation Hosting	You own a server and rent space in a data center to store it.	Full control over hardware. Delegate part of server maintenance and monitoring.	Up-front investment. Server maintenance requires time and money.
Reseller Hosting	Allow you to resell hosting services provided by a web host.	Get a profitable web hosting business without creating a product from scratch. Focus on marketing and branding.	Limited control over the server. It may have to manage customer support. Require excellent marketing skills.
Managed hosting	Provide specific features and extra support to help you set up a custom hosting environment for your website.	Better support. Easy website setup and hosting configuration. Extra features for website management.	Higher prices. Limited access to a control panel.
Private web server hosting	Hosting a website on your own computer (private server) in a facility or at home.	No hosting fees and complete control over the server.	Requires technical knowledge. It can be time-consuming. Purchase hardware and software. Deal with maintenance issues.

8 popular types of web hosting services

According to the Ahrefs keyword research tool, WordPress hosting has 44,000 searches a month, and cloud hosting has 30,000 searches a month. These are the two most popular types of website hosting services in terms of monthly searches. But we could consider other factors, such as social mentions and the number of users, to determine the most prominent types of website hosting.

What are the different types of web hosting?

We have recently seen an increasing demand for hosting, offering packages tailored toward specific needs. Network capacity, web servers, and operating systems vary depending on the types of hosting. Various managed solutions allow you to host a site efficiently while focusing on growing your business or personal brand. Here are 31 types of web hosting services you should know about.

Agency Web Hosting

Agency hosting is for independent agencies (freelancers and online entrepreneurs) looking to partner with a web host. It could be reselling hosting plans, creating sites, or managing websites for your customers. An agency partnership program usually includes specific resources such as promotional materials, a payment gateway (or a billing transfer option), and client listing.

Bare metal

Bare metal hosting is when a single tenant uses a dedicated physical server. Some of its benefits are reliability, security, flexibility, and performance. Many companies also let you pay for the resources you use or offer a pay-as-you-go option. Bare metal with a hypervisor gives you maximum control over your server, but you have more work to do yourself.

Blockchain and decentralized hosting

A unique host does not monitor blockchain web hosting, also called decentralized web hosting. Instead, it uses a network of servers as part of a blockchain network: decentralized and web 3.0 hosting offers top-level security for websites and applications. Decentralized web hosting prevents data breaches/loss and protects from service outages.

You can also find website hosts that accept Crypto payments for domain registration, web hosting, and various services.

Blog web hosting

Blog web hosting allows you to have your blog live on the web. Shared hosting is a good fit for small-medium blogs. But high-traffic blogs require cloud hosting or dedicated resources to pass the Google Core Web Vitals assessment. Expectations are different from personal to corporate blogs. Uptime guarantee, visitors count, storage, bandwidth, SEO services, and support are some elements to consider.

Business Hosting

Business hosting is mostly for small to medium-sized online businesses. It requires fewer dedicated resources than enterprise hosting but involves more managed services than shared hosting. However, Professional web hosting should:

have specific tools and features to manage your business easily
be able to handle traffic spikes
give extra security
prone flexibility and scalability

Most online entrepreneurs and small businesses need a professional website to feature their services. Starting with shared or managed hosting is expected since many start-ups need a few months to get site traffic.

Cloud hosting

Cloud hosting utilizes a network of multiple physical servers to host websites and apps. Therefore, you have access to more resources. Cloud website hosting involves a domain registrar, a web hosting company, and a cloud provider like AWS or Vultr. Cloud hosting is best for scalability. Startups, big brands, and bloggers can benefit from a flexible plan. Here are some extra benefits of cloud computing:

provide good uptime
cost-effective
more resources available
security

Colocation hosting

Colocation hosting involves buying server hardware and using another company’s data center for accommodation. Depending on the plan, web hosts may provide computer maintenance, bandwidth packages, network connectivity, and other services. However, the customer is responsible for software management and server configuration.

cPanel web hosting

cPanel is one of the most reliable and popular Linux-based control panels for website hosting. It’s intuitive and easy to use. cPanel has numerous features to help configure the hosting environment and server. You can manage everything from your graphical user interface, including web apps, domains, email, files, staging, security tools, and more.

CMS hosting

CMS web hosting allows customers to set up a content management system quickly. It includes support, tools, and features that facilitate CMS usage, such as a one-click install for WordPress, Drupal, Magento, and Joomla. You can get help to configure your hosting environment for maximum website speed and better performance.

Dedicated hosting

Dedicated hosting refers to web hosting services that allocate an entire server’s resources to a single customer. A dedicated server improves security, prevents unexpected downtime, and guarantees better performance. Dedicated hosting is necessary for high-traffic and eCommerce websites.

eCommerce hosting

eCommerce hosting allows you to create online stores efficiently. You will get reliable uptime, fast loading time, PCI compliance, easy app installation, and access to eCommerce features. You have two options to host your e-business, online store builders providing custom packages or managed hosting solutions for eCommerce.

Enterprise Hosting

Enterprise Hosting is for more significant websites that require extra server resources. It’s a custom solution, and many hosts will ask you to fill out a form to give you a quote. You usually get dedicated resources to improve website performance and prevent downtime. Most Fortune 500 companies and large agencies use enterprise hosting for their websites.

Forum hosting

Forum hosting providers allow you to easily install apps like phpBB, SMF, vBulletin, MyBB, IPB, etc. Most web hosts give you access to cPanel, a vDeck control panel, or a custom control panel. A large site will require considerable server resources, and you may need a dedicated server. However, you can use a cheap forum hosting solution if you don’t plan to monetize your platform.

Green hosting

Green hosting providers minimize power consumption and focus on using servers powered by eco-friendly energy sources. For example, many companies have servers in Iceland to benefit from Geothermal energy sources. Sustainable hosting helps maintain a neutral carbon footprint and reduces the environmental impacts of managing data centers. Choose green hosting to preserve the planet!

Headless CMS hosting

A headless content management system relates to a back-end CMS where the head (presentation layer) is decoupled from the body (content repository). You can manage your content in one place and distribute it throughout multiple frontend channels. For example, a headless WordPress hosting solution like Atlas by WP Engine allows you to create dynamic and fast headless websites and applications.

HIPAA-compliant hosting

HIPAA-compliant web hosting offers additional security services to protect health and medical information. It ensures compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act requirements. Each year, fines and lawsuits due to health data breaches cost millions to medical practices. HIPAA email services, servers, and web hosts are crucial for US-based healthcare facilities.

Landing pages and sales funnel hosting

You can host and build a sales funnel or a landing page in three ways.

a CMS or a website builder (WordPress, Wix, et.) and a hosting provider to get a custom domain
landing page builders
funnel builder software.

Many companies have their servers, but other partners with third-parties hosting providers such as AWS.

Linux hosting

Linux hosting hosts your website on servers using the Linux operating system. Linux hosting is extremely popular since it’s flexible, secure, and affordable. Linux is an open-source OS that supports most programming languages, runs on MySQL, and uses custom software. It allows you to solve software bugs and security issues quickly.

Linux is the most popular OS for web servers. It’s an excellent choice for most people. You don’t need to master programming because you use your control panel to manage your website. Unless you plan to build an asp.net web application, Linux hosting is an excellent choice.

Managed web hosting

Managed web hosting gives customers more support for infrastructure management, operating features, and server monitoring. Each provider has specific technical tasks they can perform on your behalf to help you focus on building your website. Managed hosting plans don’t usually give a control panel access and email hosting.

Here are some examples of managed web hosting services:

Managed eCommerce hosting
Application and CMS like WordPress, Magento, Joomla, etc.
Managed VPS hosting
Managed cloud hosting
Managed dedicated hosting

Multiple domain hosting

Multiple Domain Hosting lets you host several websites with a unique web hosting account. Packages that allow you to create unlimited or several websites with no additional cost are great for agencies and online entrepreneurs. Buying multiple domain extensions is also an excellent way to preserve your online presence.

NodeJS hosting

NodeJS hosting allows you to run and build Node.js websites and apps. It usually includes a custom cPanel control panel that helps you manage your site. The Node.js open-source environment is best for people who want to develop dynamic web pages. You can use Node.js and JavaScript to create an interactive gaming platform, a live chat, or other complex websites.

Nonprofit web hosting

Nonprofit web hosting is affordable and provides features that facilitate the development of benevolent activities and fundraising. It includes cheap or free hosting plans for charities, churches, and other nonprofit organizations. But there are custom plans for more significant humanitarian missions. Some providers can help get the tools to raise awareness, build a community, and create a secure site to collect donations.

Offshore Hosting And DMCA Ignored Hosting

Offshore hosting is when you host your apps, data, and websites on servers outside your country. It usually allows you to lower costs, use servers close to your visitors, and have different privacy solutions. DMCA ignored hosting to protect your website from a frivolous DMCA takedown notice. It is helpful if you write about controversial topics or have unscrupulous competitors.

PCI-compliant hosting

PCI-compliant hosting refers to web hosting services that help vendors/merchants comply with the PCI DSS. The Payment Card Industry, Data Security Standard, optimizes the security of online payment transactions. PCI-compliant web hosting is for people who intend to sell a product or collect money on their websites.

PHP hosting

PHP hosting refers to web hosting services that can run a PHP script. A PHP server is an excellent choice for people that want to develop web applications. PHP is a back-end scripting language. When combined with HTML and CSS, it enables fully customized websites.

Private web server hosting

Private web server hosting is when you can host websites at home or in a facility on your own private server. It requires a local environment by installing web server software such as Apache or Nginx. You get more control but need a dedicated space and technical skills.

Reseller and white-label hosting

Reseller and white-label hosting allow you to sell hosting services with minimum upfront investment. You can access a master control panel (WHM) and extra tools to manage your reseller hosting business. It may require technical knowledge, and it is possible to give cPanel access to each customer.

White-label web hosting is for resellers who want to sell hosting plans under their brands. Some resellers also make money with domain parking or using domain auction sites like:

Flippa
GoDaddy Auctions
Sedo

Shared hosting

Shared hosting is when several websites can use the same server. The hosting company allocates a certain amount of web server resources to each user according to the hosting plans. Shared hosting is cheaper but comes with limitations. It can increase downtime and affect your website performance, but it remains viable for small websites and startups wanting to lower costs.

VPS hosting

VPS hosting utilizes virtualization technology to partition a server and allocate private resources to a user. It gives you more control over your dedicated space, which you can manage and configure according to your need. VPS web hosting is a mid-priced service that is more reliable than shared hosting and cheaper than dedicated hosting.

A VPS hosting uses solid-state storage like NVMe and SSD to perform better. It could be a smart choice for a small-to-medium eCommerce website.

Windows hosting

Windows hosting refers to web hosts with servers that use the Windows operating system. Windows hosting is commonly used for websites that require .NET, ASP.NET, and MS-SQL databases. It supports most programming languages, runs on MSSQL, and uses Microsoft software to manage and process your data.

FAQs

Shared hosting plans are usually the cheapest starting at $2.99 or less for promotional offers. Dedicated servers, colocation hosting, and VPS hosting are among the most expensive options. For example, a full closet cabinet costs $1200/month on Interserver. Web hosting pricing varies widely due to differences in performance, support, and available features.

Choosing paid web hosting services over free providers offers notable benefits. They provide superior server performance, reliability, and uptime. Paid services also offer enhanced security measures to protect your data. You get quality customer support that facilitates better website management.

Shared hosting is best for small websites or personal blogs with limited traffic, where keeping cost low is a significant factor.

VPS offers more control, performance, and stability than shared hosting. It can handle moderate traffic. It’s a good choice for growing businesses.

Choose dedicated hosting with high traffic volumes and websites that require plenty of resources. It’s a great choice to get custom configurations and maximum security. Large companies and agencies can really benefit from a dedicated server.

Cloud-based hosting is popular due to its scalability. It prevents downtime related to traffic surges thanks to server redundancy. Many cloud hosting providers allow you to pay only for the resources you use.

With managed hosting, the service provider handles server management tasks. Unmanaged hosting leaves these tasks to you. Managed services give you more control but require more technical expertise to configure the hosting environment from your control panel.

WordPress hosting gives WordPress users many advantages, such as:

one-click installs
automatic updates
servers optimized for WordPress
website performance enhancement
ease of use.

Since WordPress powers over 43% of websites, most hosts offer managed WordPress hosting plans.

Self-service web hosting means you handle everything: buying, setting up, and managing the servers. It offers complete control but requires a lot of technical skills.

Businesses selling products or services online should consider e-commerce hosting. Here are some examples of people that should consider using e-commerce hosting:

Online retailers
Web developers
White-label sellers
SaaS businesses
Course creators

Startups, SMBs, and established brands can all use e-commerce hosting to sell online.

Business hosting offers superior features like increased server speed, better customer support, and features tailored to business needs, such as e-commerce capabilities or extra security features. Here are four significant advantages of business hosting:

Technical support
Maximum security
Better uptime
Improved website performance

Business hosting offloads non-core business activities onto the web hosting providers.

While there are free hosting services, they often have bandwidth and storage limitations. Plus, they may place ads on your site. They are not recommended for professional or business websites.