These two types of hosting solutions fundamentally vary in the level of responsibility and technical support that your hosting provider offers. If it’s managed, you can rest assured that your provider will look after most server-related tasks. Whether it’s server setup, maintenance, or optimization, they are the ones who take responsibility. They’re also accountable for other critical tasks like security updates and backups. Managed WordPress hosting also frees you from the burden of performance optimization of the server.

When it comes to unmanaged WordPress hosting, the story is somewhat different. Your provider is responsible for providing server space, hardware, and uptime only. And all the other tasks? It’s you who would be accountable for them. You’re the one who’ll manage the server, tune its performance, perform backups, and troubleshoot server issues. You may say that an unmanaged plan offers you full control. It, however, also comes with numerous challenges. It’s evident that you’d need to be technically sound to manage your WordPress server efficiently.

This guide will help you understand the basic differences between managed and unmanaged WordPress hosting.

Top 5 Differences Between a Managed and Unmanaged WP Server

Both these types differ in the features they come with. If you opt for a managed WP server, you’ll enjoy features such as automatic updates and more robust security. On the flip side, going for an unmanaged WP hosting plan means you’ll gain full root access and flexibility. This can also tell you about the advantages of going for either of these options. Similarly, the dissimilarities can also be found in the disadvantages of both. You’d also want to learn which hosting solution will work best for you.

Below are the top five differences between a managed and unmanaged WP server:

1.      Key Features

When it comes to the key features that both these hosting solutions come with, the difference becomes obvious. What differentiates a managed plan is that it offers automatic updates and backups. Another prominent feature is the robust security measures that your hosting provider offers. Server-level caching and built-in CDNs guarantee matchless performance optimization of the server.

An unmanaged plan, on the other hand, distinguishes itself by providing a user with full root access. It lets you install or configure any software that you deem useful for your website. This leads us to another feature, which is the customization of your server environment. The flexibility of using any theme or plugin is another feature that an unmanaged WP server comes with.  

2.      Provider’s Role

The word “managed” in the term “managed WordPress hosting” itself tells that providers are responsible for the complete server management. All those technical tasks won’t become a headache for you. Server setup? Your provider will do. Configurations and security? It’s your provider’s responsibility. They’ll also be overseeing backups, updates, and maintenance.

The same story is about the word “unmanaged” in “unmanaged WordPress hosting”. It shows that your provider isn’t going to be accountable for all these server-related tasks. All you can expect from them are the basics like server space, hardware, and an uptime guarantee.  You must possess the required technical skills so that you can manage all the other server-related operations.

3.      Advantages 

The advantages of a managed WordPress server undoubtedly exceed those of an unmanaged server. When everything is being looked after by experts, an excellent performance of your website is guaranteed. The page load speed will be electrical. Some other top-notch perks of using a managed WP plan are:

·         Enhanced security

·         Automated backups

·         Automatic updates

·         Expert support

·         Simplified management

Comparatively, the main benefit of an unmanaged WP hosting solution is that it doesn’t cost you much. The whole server environment is in your control, and you can do whatever you need. It’s the total flexibility and full root access that allows you to customize everything as you please.

4.      Drawbacks

When it comes to drawbacks, an unmanaged plan might come with a number of issues. First, of course, you need server management skills and specific technicalities. If you don’t have what it requires to manage the server, you’re looking at the following potential drawbacks:

·         High security risk

·         Increased website errors

·         Frequent downtimes

·         Significant time commitment

·         Performance issues

You also get no expert support in case of a server-side issue. A managed WordPress server, however, has its own issues. You can guess the first drawback would be the higher cost. You can’t expect the level of customization and flexibility that an unmanaged server comes with.

5.      Best For 

Last but not least, these plans also differ in terms of their suitability for different types of websites. Say, if you’re an experienced developer or a tech start-up with a dedicated IT team, an unmanaged server will be a good choice. On the flip side, a managed WordPress server is best suited for the following businesses:

·         E-commerce stores

·         Growing businesses

·         Enterprise-level organizations

·         High-traffic blogs

·         Business without an internal IT team

Whatever plan you choose, it’s important to opt for a reliable provider. You can contact a credible company offering WordPress hosting in Dubai to buy a plan.

Host Your Site on a Reliable WordPress Server

Managed WordPress hosting differs from unmanaged WP hosting in many ways. The main differences between these two solutions lie in the provider’s responsibilities, the key features they come with, and the benefits they offer. Contact a trustworthy hosting provider now to host your site on a reliable WordPress server.