Free guide
Managed hosting vs cheap hosting: what you are really paying for.
Hosting is the least visible part of a website and often the part that decides whether it is fast, safe and still online next year. This guide explains the difference between a bargain plan and managed hosting, so you can choose with your eyes open.
No sign-up, nothing to download. Written by a team that has been building and looking after websites for 17 years.
Three Things People Mix Up
Knowing which is which makes every conversation about your website simpler.
Your domain name
The address people type, such as yourcompany.com. You rent it by the year from a registrar, and it should be registered in your name.
Your hosting
The computers that store your website and send it to visitors. Quality varies enormously, and so does who looks after it.
Your website
The pages, images and design themselves. They can be moved from one host to another when you need to.
What "Managed" Means
On a budget plan you get space on a server, and the rest is up to you. Managed hosting adds people and process.
Someone watches it
The site is monitored, and a person is alerted when it is slow or down.
Updates are handled
Software is kept current so known problems are closed before they are used.
Backups are real
Backups run automatically and someone knows how to restore them quickly.
Security is built in
Malware scanning, protection from automated attacks and a content delivery layer that serves pages from locations closer to visitors.
Support is human
A person who knows your site answers when you call, instead of a ticket queue for a generic plan.
Changes are included in the conversation
When you need an update, you ask once and it is done, instead of finding the right login first.
What to Look for in Any Hosting
Whether you manage it yourself or pay someone, these are the features worth checking.
- Automatic daily backups. And a clear answer to how a restore works.
- Malware scanning. Ideally automatic, with someone who acts on what it finds.
- A content delivery network (CDN) and free SSL. For speed and the padlock browsers expect.
- Uptime monitoring. With a person, not only a robot, on the other end of an alert.
- Room to grow. Traffic spikes and a growing site should not break your plan.
- Easy exit. You can export your whole site and move it, with no penalties or hostage fees.
Warning Signs
Hosting arrangements that quietly cost businesses the most.
The provider owns your domain
If the domain is registered to your designer or host, they control your address. Ask to see the registrant details.
You cannot get a copy of the site
You should always be able to download your files and database, or have them handed over on request.
A long contract with a big exit fee
Good service keeps customers without needing to trap them.
Everything on one personal login
If one person holds the keys, you are one resignation away from a crisis.
Unexplained downtime and slow pages
An occasional hiccup happens. A pattern is a reason to move.
No one can tell you where backups live
That usually means there are none worth trusting.
What Moving Your Site Involves
Switching hosts sounds scarier than it is when it is done in the right order.
Copy everything first
The new host is set up with a full copy of your site, tested privately, while the old one stays live.
Check it works
Pages, forms, checkout and email are tested on the copy before anyone is switched over.
Switch the address
The domain is pointed at the new host. Done well, visitors notice nothing.
Keep the old one briefly
The old hosting stays up for a short while as a safety net before it is cancelled.
Questions People Ask
Is more expensive hosting always faster?
No. Speed depends on the host, but also on how the site is built, how large its images are and how it is set up. A well-built site on good hosting beats a heavy site on a premium plan.
Can I keep my email if I change hosting?
Usually yes, but email is often tied to the old host in ways people forget. Ask for it to be planned as part of any move.
Do I need managed hosting if my site is small?
Not necessarily. If the site brings in customers or leads, an hour of downtime or a hack can cost more than the difference. If it is a simple brochure page, a basic plan may be enough.
Who should hold the hosting login?
You, as the owner. A trusted provider can have access to do the work, but the account belongs to you.
How We Do It
The sites we manage run on cloud hosting with daily backups, malware scanning, a content delivery network and DDoS protection, and we monitor them to keep them online and working. We handle setup, moves and support, and the domain, hosting and content stay yours. See our hosting or how website management works.
Thinking about moving?
Tell us where your site lives today and we will tell you honestly whether a move would help. It is free, with nothing to sign.
