Managed WordPress Hosting vs Shared Hosting
Compare the benefits and drawbacks of managed hosting versus traditional shared hosting for your WordPress site.
Side-by-Side Comparison
How shared hosting and managed WordPress hosting stack up across the features that actually matter.
WordPress Updates
You manually run updates via the dashboard. Forgetting to update is the most common vulnerability.
Updates are tested, reviewed, and applied automatically. You never need to touch them.
Security Monitoring
No built-in security monitoring. You'd need a separate plugin (and to configure it properly).
Continuous malware scanning, file integrity checks, and brute force protection - all included.
Backups
Backups are your responsibility. If they exist, you set them up and check they're working.
Daily automated backups to secure off-site storage with 30-day retention.
Performance Optimisation
Server-level caching is minimal or non-existent. Performance depends entirely on your hosting tier.
Server-level caching, CDN integration, database optimisation, and image compression - all configured for you.
Support
Generic support team handling thousands of customers. They don't know your site or WordPress specifically.
A person who knows your site and WordPress specifically. No scripted responses, no ticket ping-pong.
Cost
£3-£15/month introductory, then £10-£25/month on renewal. Extras quickly add up.
£50/month fixed. Backups, security, updates, support - all included with no upsells.
Why the Difference Matters
The feature list tells part of the story. Here's what those differences actually mean for your business.
Your Time Has Real Value
Managing WordPress yourself takes 2-4 hours per month on updates, checks, and maintenance. At a realistic hourly rate, that's £40-£120/month of your time - more than the cost of managed hosting.
Risk Has a Cost Too
A hacked site costs an average of £200-£500 to clean. Lost business during downtime can be significantly more. Managed hosting reduces these risks dramatically.
The Real Total Cost of Ownership
Shared hosting + security plugin + backup service + any support calls often adds up to more than a managed plan. When you factor in your time and risk, managed hosting is frequently the cheaper option overall.
The Real Cost Comparison
| Shared Hosting | Managed Hosting | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly hosting fee | £10-£25 | £50 |
| Security plugin (e.g. Wordfence) | £0-£10/month | Included |
| Backup service (e.g. UpdraftPlus) | £0-£5/month | Included |
| SSL certificate | £0-£70/year | Included |
| Your time (2-4 hrs/month @ £25/hr) | £50-£100/month | £0 |
| Total monthly cost | £60-£140/month | £50/month |
Shared hosting costs are estimates based on typical UK market prices. Your actual costs will vary. The time cost uses a conservative £25/hour - if your time is worth more, the managed option makes even more financial sense.
Managed vs Shared - Common Questions
Ready for the managed difference?
Stop managing your hosting and start focusing on your business. Managed WordPress hosting from £50/month - everything included.