Anyone planning a new WordPress website sooner or later encounters two terms: Web hosting and WordPress hosting. At first glance, the difference seems clear – one is general hosting, the other is specifically for WordPress.
Technically, the demarcation is less clear. WordPress does not require a special „WordPress server“. The content management system can basically be operated on any web hosting that meets its technical requirements.
Why do hosting companies even offer WordPress hosting then? The difference lies primarily in the, How well the hosting environment is tuned to the requirements of WordPress and what additional features, tools, and support services are available.
In this guide, we explain how WordPress hosting differs from regular web hosting, which technical factors are actually relevant, and when which hosting is appropriate.
What is normal web hosting?
Web hosting provides storage space and technical resources for the operation of websites and web applications. A hosting package is usually not limited to a single content management system.
On a classic web hosting solution, WordPress, other PHP applications, or even self-developed websites can be operated, depending on the technical requirements.
Hosting typically includes various components:
- Webspace for files
- PHP for running dynamic applications
- Databases
- SSL or HTTPS
- DNS functions
- Email functions, if included in the offer
- technical resources such as CPU and memory
In CURIAWEB, these functions are accessed via cPanel managed. Customers can manage, among other things, domains, email addresses, databases, and PHP settings via it.
An overview of our general hosting environment can be found under Swiss web hosting.
What is WordPress Hosting?
WordPress hosting is web hosting whose technical environment and features are tailored to the operation of WordPress.
So it’s not about a fundamentally different type of internet or a special WordPress protocol. WordPress hosting continues to be based on the classic components of web hosting: web servers, PHP, databases, storage space, and network.
The difference may lie, for example, in that a provider provides certain caching technologies, supports current PHP versions, allows you to easily install WordPress, or integrates additional security and backup features.
However, the term „WordPress Hosting“ is not defined identically by every provider.. Therefore, the product description alone should not be compared. What matters is the actual technical features that are included.
Does WordPress need special WordPress hosting?
No. WordPress does not necessarily require a product labeled „WordPress Hosting“.
If a normal web hosting meets the technical requirements and provides sufficient resources, WordPress can be operated on it.
This is an important distinction, because the designation of a hosting package alone says little about its actual suitability for WordPress.
A technically well-equipped general web hosting plan may be more suitable for WordPress than a poorly equipped plan that simply carries the name „WordPress Hosting“.
Therefore, anyone comparing different offers should pay less attention to the product description and focus more on the underlying technology.
What technical requirements does WordPress have?
WordPress is a dynamic web application. Unlike a purely static HTML website, content is processed using PHP and retrieved from a database, among other things.
The WordPress project currently recommends, among other things, a modern PHP version, a current MySQL or MariaDB version, and HTTPS support.
An hosting provider should therefore not only be able to install WordPress, but also provide an up-to-date and well-maintained server environment.
There are other factors that contribute to the practical performance of a WordPress website. These include in particular:
- Available CPU power
- RAM
- Storage and I/O performance
- PHP configuration
- Database performance
- Caching
- Quality of the theme and plugins
WordPress performance is the result of the interplay between hosting and the website. A powerful server cannot fully compensate for poorly programmed plugins or huge, unoptimized images. Conversely, a cleanly optimized website can be slowed down by too little hosting resources.
Why PHP is important for WordPress hosting
WordPress is based on PHP. When a page is accessed, PHP processes a portion of the necessary program logic and works with the database in the process.
PHP is continuously being developed. Older versions eventually reach the end of their regular support. Therefore, a WordPress hosting should provide current PHP versions.
At the same time, a change in version should be controlled. Especially older WordPress websites may contain themes or plugins that are no longer fully compatible with a newer PHP version.
CURIAWEB uses MultiPHP. This allows the PHP version to be managed and adjusted as needed for websites.
However, existing WordPress websites still recommend having an up-to-date backup before making major changes and considering the compatibility of the components used.
WordPress and the database
Posts, pages, settings, and many other content elements of a WordPress installation are stored in a database.
With each page load, numerous database queries can occur. How many there actually are depends, among other things, on the theme used, the plugins, and the page being loaded.
That’s why speed of the file storage isn’t the only factor in WordPress. The database and the way WordPress accesses frequently used data also affect performance.
Especially for more complex websites or online stores, this area can become more important than for a small website with few pages.
What does Redis bring to WordPress?
Redis can be used as a faster intermediate storage. In WordPress, Redis is often used for Object Caching deployed.
This allows results from certain database queries to be cached in memory. If the same data is needed again, WordPress does not necessarily have to retrieve it from the database every time.
This can be particularly helpful for dynamic websites with recurring database queries.
CURIAWEB presents Redis available for its WordPress hosting environment.
However, Redis is not a magic accelerator for every website. Whether and how much a WordPress installation benefits from it depends on its structure and usage.
That is exactly why we should be cautious when making general statements about performance promises.
What is OPcache?
PHP code must be executed when a dynamic application such as WordPress is being processed. OPcache can already hold compiled PHP code in memory.
This means that PHP does not have to completely recompile this code every time it is called.
OPcache is thus a server-side optimization of the PHP execution. It differs from classic page caching and also from Redis Object Caching.
The various caching levels fulfill different tasks and can complement each other.
NVMe storage and WordPress
WordPress consists of numerous files and works simultaneously with a database. Fast memory access is therefore generally advantageous.
CURIAWEB uses NVMe SSD storage for its hosting packages.
NVMe enables fast read and write operations. Nevertheless, here too: The storage technology is only one part of the overall performance.
A slow plugin, external scripts, very large images, or a poorly maintained database can slow down a website regardless of the storage technology used.
If a WordPress website is slow despite good hosting, a systematic root cause analysis is therefore worthwhile. To do this, we have created a dedicated guide: WordPress slow despite good hosting?
How important are CPU and RAM for WordPress?
WordPress requires computing power and memory when dynamic page requests are made. The more complex a website becomes and the more simultaneous requests need to be processed, the more relevant these resources become.
A simple blog with few visitors places different requirements than an extensive WooCommerce shop with many plugins and active customers at the same time.
With shared hosting, several customers share the hardware of a server. CURIAWEB uses CloudLinux with LVE one to separate hosting accounts from each other in terms of resources.
This allows resources such as CPU, memory, and I/O to be assigned or limited to individual hosting accounts.
For WordPress, therefore, it is crucial not only how much storage space a hosting provider offers, but also what resources are available for processing the website.
Installing WordPress: Manually or automatically?
WordPress can generally be installed manually. For this, the WordPress files are uploaded, a database is set up, and the installation is then configured.
Many hosting providers also provide installation tools that simplify this process.
In CURIAWEB this is available for Softaculous It can be installed directly from the hosting area with WordPress.
Automatic installation does not fundamentally change WordPress itself. It primarily simplifies the installation and configuration process.
Anyone who is not yet familiar with WordPress can also find an introduction in our Knowledge Base under What is WordPress?.
Backups are also included with WordPress hosting
WordPress websites are constantly changing. Content is edited, plugins are updated, themes are adapted, and new WordPress versions are released.
This makes a functioning backup particularly important.
For example, a backup may be needed if an update fails, a file is accidentally deleted, or a website no longer functions correctly after a change.
CURIAWEB uses JetBackup 5 and maintains 30 backup states. Restorations can be performed via our support team.
Therefore, when comparing different WordPress hosting offers, it is not only necessary to ask questions:, Whether "ob" is an abbreviation for something specific or a typo in your source text, it translates to **whether** or **if** in English (from German, for example). If you intended a specific context, please provide the full sentence. Backups are available.
More important questions are: How often is backup taken? How long are backups kept? And how does a recovery work?
We cover this topic in detail in our article about Website backups and disaster recovery.
Security in WordPress Hosting
WordPress itself is actively being developed and regularly updated. At the same time, a WordPress website usually consists of additional components such as themes and plugins.
This creates an environment that needs to be maintained.
Hosting-side security mechanisms can form an additional layer of protection. However, they do not replace the maintenance of the actual WordPress installation.
Among other things, CURIAWEB sets Imunify360 and ImunifyAV One. This includes features for detecting and defending against various threats at the hosting level.
We explain in the article what the two systems differ from each other. Imunify360 vs. ImunifyAV.
A secure WordPress hosting therefore consists of several layers: a well-maintained server environment, the hoster’s security mechanisms, and a currently maintained WordPress installation.
WordPress updates remain important even with good hosting
Hosting optimized for WordPress does not automatically take away all the maintenance tasks from the website operator.
WordPress Core, plugins, and themes continue to evolve regardless of the hosting platform. Security updates and compatibility changes are therefore part of the ongoing operation of a WordPress website.
However, updates should not be confused with the principle of „installing everything automatically immediately every time“. For business-critical websites, it may make sense to ensure a backup before making changes and to perform major updates in a controlled manner.
We explain in detail in our article why updates are necessary. WordPress Updates: Why they are necessary.
If an update causes problems, we also have a guide for that: WordPress update failed – what to do?
WordPress hosting is not the same as managed WordPress
These two terms are often confused with each other.
WordPress Hosting initially describes a hosting environment that is suitable or tailored for WordPress.
Managed WordPress goes beyond that. Here, depending on the scope of services provided, the provider takes on additional tasks related to the operation and maintenance of the WordPress website.
The services included under „Managed WordPress“ are not identical for every provider. Therefore, it is also important to carefully check what is actually included in the respective offer.
CURIAWEB offers, in addition to the usual WordPress hosting, Managed WordPress Hosting a.
This is especially interesting for customers who do not want to take care of all the technical maintenance tasks of their WordPress installation themselves.
And what about WooCommerce?
WooCommerce extends WordPress with features for operating an online store. Technically, the foundation remains WordPress; however, the requirements can increase significantly.
A shop processes, among other things, products, shopping carts, customer accounts, and orders. Many of these contents are dynamic and cannot simply be treated like a static page.
In addition, payment providers, shipping solutions, and other extensions are often added.
Therefore, when developing a WooCommerce project, special attention should be paid to sufficient resources, database performance, backups, and a stable PHP environment.
For such projects, we have our own overview. WooCommerce Hosting Switzerland.
When is regular web hosting for WordPress enough?
Normal web hosting can be perfectly sufficient for WordPress when the technical environment meets the requirements of WordPress and provides sufficient resources.
This can be the case, for example, with a small business website, a personal blog, or a simple informational page.
What matters is not whether the invoice explicitly states „WordPress Hosting“.
What matters is whether the hosting is technically compatible with WordPress and the specific website.
Good general hosting with current PHP versions, reliable databases, sufficient resources, backups, and security features can be a very good WordPress platform.
When is WordPress hosting useful?
A product specifically tailored for WordPress becomes particularly interesting when it includes features that make running, performance, or managing WordPress easier.
This may include, for example:
- Simple WordPress installation
- Current and flexibly selectable PHP versions
- Object caching like Redis
- server-side PHP optimizations
- fast memory
- regular backups
- Safety features
- WordPress-savvy support
Which of these functions are actually needed depends on the specific website.
You can find our own WordPress hosting environment and the included features under WordPress Hosting at CURIAWEB.
WordPress Hosting vs. Web Hosting in a direct comparison
| Criterion | Normal web hosting | WordPress Hosting |
|---|---|---|
| WordPress usable | Yes, provided that the technical requirements are met | Yes |
| Alignment | For different websites and applications | Optimized for WordPress |
| PHP | Depending on the specific hosting offer | Should be compatible with current WordPress requirements |
| Database | Depending on the hosting offer | Database environment suitable for WordPress required |
| Caching | Depending on the provider and package | Often additional WordPress-relevant caching capabilities |
| Installation | Manually or via existing installers | Frequently simplified WordPress installation |
| Backups | Depending on the provider | Should be part of a good WordPress environment |
| Support | General hosting support | Ideally, experience with WordPress |
The table also shows why the limit is not absolute. Many of the features of a good WordPress hosting can also be included in high-quality general hosting.
Compare WordPress Hosting: This is what you should pay attention to
Anyone comparing WordPress hosting should therefore not be guided by individual keywords.
More interesting than the name of the package are concrete questions:
- What PHP versions are available?
- What resources does the hosting account receive?
- What storage technology is used?
- Is there object caching like Redis?
- How do backups and restores work?
- What security mechanisms are there?
- How easy is it to install WordPress?
- Does the support team know anything about WordPress?
- Can the hosting be expanded to meet growing demands?
These criteria make for a much more meaningful comparison than simply asking whether a provider calls its product „web hosting“ or „WordPress hosting.“.
For a more general comparison of hosting services, we have additionally included the guide. Comparing web hosting providers in Switzerland: What really matters? created.
Conclusion: WordPress Hosting or Regular Web Hosting?
WordPress can work just as well on standard web hosting as on a plan labeled WordPress Hosting. What matters are the technical environment, the available resources, and the features included.
WordPress hosting is especially useful when the hosting platform provides features specifically designed for WordPress – for example, modern PHP versions, fast storage technology, caching, backups, and appropriate security mechanisms.
Anyone who would like to have tasks related to the installation of WordPress handled for them should, in turn, choose between WordPress hosting and Managed WordPress Hosting distinguish.
CURIAWEB offers WordPress, among other things, NVMe storage, Redis, flexible PHP versions, JetBackup 5, as well as Imunify360 and ImunifyAV. The WordPress installation can be performed via Softaculous.
The most important question is therefore not „Do I need WordPress hosting?“, but: „What technical environment does my WordPress website need?“
