Running an online business shouldn’t mean becoming your own IT department. But with traditional website hosting, that’s exactly what happens—you’re stuck managing technical upkeep, applying security patches that break other features, dealing with failed backups, and troubleshooting sluggish load times by digging through config files and code.
Picture this: Your online store crashes during a major sale, or your portfolio site goes down just as a potential client visits. The stress is real, and so is the lost revenue. Managed hosting offers a better way forward by shifting all server maintenance, updates, and backups to a dedicated third-party service.
Here’s what you need to know about managed and unmanaged hosting.
What is managed web hosting?
Managed web hosting means that your hosting provider (think Shopify, Wix, or WP Engine) handles all the behind-the-scenes technical stuff for you. A managed web host can take care of software updates, initial server setup, security and plug-in patches, performance tuning, and customer support, all without your direct input. Most website platforms offer this type of hosting by default.
By contrast, unmanaged web hosting solutions might be for you if you’re a developer or tech-savvy website owner who wants more control over the server environment. With unmanaged hosting from providers like Hostinger or OVHcloud, you’re responsible for everything from managing updates to securing the server and configuring performance settings, but you generally get more control over the nitty-gritty aspects of the site.
What’s included in managed hosting?
- 24/7 technical support
- Automated backups
- Enhanced security
- Performance optimization
- Software and plug-in updates
Managed web hosting packages include features that let you take a hands-off approach to server administration. When you choose a managed web provider to support your online business, you can typically expect:
24/7 technical support
Managed web hosting includes professional 24/7 technical support to quickly resolve issues, troubleshoot problems, and assist with server management tasks. Your managed website can operate around the clock, and your provider can resolve any issues quickly with minimal downtime.
Automated backups
Most managed hosting solutions perform daily or weekly backups as part of their service, ensuring your website data is safe and easily recovered. If a plug-in update goes wrong or you accidentally delete something, you can restore a previous working version with a single click.
Enhanced security
Managed web hosting services provide continuous, behind-the-scenes enhanced security for your site. Robust security measures include firewalls, intrusion detection, malware scanning, and protection against distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.
Performance optimization
Managed hosting providers fine-tune server settings to match your website’s needs. Enabling full-page and object caching can reduce server strain and improve page load times, while integrating a content delivery network (CDN) allows your site to serve assets like images and videos from servers closer to your customers, resulting in a faster and better user experience.
Software and plug-in updates
Fully managed hosting typically includes regular updates to your CMS and other behind-the-scenes apps to make sure they’re secure. It also includes updating any third-party plug-ins to reduce compatibility issues and other vulnerabilities. Platforms like WordPress can require frequent updates; managed hosting ensures everything stays current without the need for constant manual work on your end.
Types of managed web hosting
Managed web hosting isn’t a standalone category—think of it as a layer of service you can apply to different hosting environments. Whether the server is shared, dedicated, or cloud-based, “managed” just means your hosting provider handles the technical tasks for you.
Here are the main types of hosting where management services can be added, each with different levels of performance, scalability, and cost:
Dedicated managed web hosting
Dedicated managed hosting gives you complete control over an entire physical server, but with the added benefit that your provider assumes all the technical responsibilities. This includes server setup, ongoing maintenance, software updates, security patches, and performance tuning. Dedicated hosting works well for small and medium-sized businesses that need their own infrastructure they can customize, but lack the technical support teams, internal resources, or desire to manage the server environment themselves.
Shared managed web hosting
Shared managed hosting is both affordable (you host your website on a server that’s shared with other sites) and low maintenance (the hosting provider handles all the back-end management). Shared hosting is a good fit for small sites, blogs, or portfolios with low traffic, but it comes with trade-offs like less customization, speed, and security. If one site on the server is overloaded or hacked, it can impact all the others.
Managed cloud web hosting
Cloud hosting uses virtual servers connected across a networked environment, combining high availability and flexible scaling with the simplicity of fully managed services. Unlike single-server setups, this distributed architecture protects your core business data when individual machines fail. Cloud services work well if your website has unpredictable traffic patterns, though they typically require expert assistance to configure and manage your instance (the virtual web host).
How to choose a managed hosting provider
- Define your hosting needs
- Evaluate technical specifications
- Research the provider
- Understand the support services
- Compare pricing and value
- Test when possible
Choosing a managed hosting provider involves many of the same steps as choosing any hosting service—you’re weighing server performance, support, features, and cost. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you make an informed decision:
1. Define your hosting needs
Are you running a WordPress blog, an ecommerce store, or a custom web app? Do you expect steady or spiking traffic? Do you need email hosting, advanced security, or staging environments? The answer to these questions will help you determine which managed hosting services are essential and which managed hosting provider can best meet your needs.
For example, a travel blogger running a WordPress site might want reliable hosting performance, automated updates, and SEO-friendly architecture, while a local clothing boutique might need PCI DSS–compliant hosting services, SSL certificates, and tools for managing product inventory and secure online payments.
2. Evaluate technical specifications
What technology do you need? Do you want a shared, dedicated, or virtual private server? What performance tools (caching, CDN integration, bandwidth limits) and platform compatibility (PHP versions, CMS support, database types) do you need?
A shared server might be fine for a wedding photographer’s portfolio site, but a boutique PR agency might want faster load times and custom tools offered with a virtual private server (VPS): a virtual machine that runs its own copy of an operating system on a shared physical machine, giving you dedicated resources and more control than standard shared hosting. An online shoe store might want to find a CDN to manage product drops and caching tools to make sure pages load fast under heavy traffic.
3. Research the provider
When evaluating managed hosting providers, take time to read verified customer reviews on third-party sites like Trustpilot or G2—not just testimonials on the provider’s website.
Look for signs of strong customer support, such as responsiveness, availability, and whether uptime claims (like 99.9%) are backed by service-level agreements (SLAs). Does the provider’s support team offer 24/7 live chat, phone support, or just ticket-based systems?
4. Understand the support services
Choose a managed hosting provider with support services that meet your business needs. Do you need 24/7 support with fast response times, or help with CMS and plug-in issues? Would proactive monitoring, malware removal, or patch management be valuable?
For example, if a fitness studio owner updates a class schedule late at night and the page won’t load, they may want 24/7 live chat or phone support. On the other hand, a tax-prep site facing brute-force login attempts would benefit from a hosting provider that detects and handles threats before you even notice them.
5. Compare pricing and value
Compare prices from different providers and find out what the base hosting plan includes—backups, SSL, staging, email, and more. Check renewal rates, too—some hosting providers can increase rates after the first term of service. There might also be hidden costs for add-ons, overage, or premium support tiers.
Paying a little more per month can pay off if it saves you hours of technical work or prevents costly downtime for your site. For example, you might pay more for a host with free SSL, daily backups, email accounts, and staging so you don’t have to rely on add-ons for each feature, which would cost more in the long term.
6. Test when possible
If possible, take advantage of demos or trial periods to see if the hosting provider meets your needs. Is the user dashboard easy to use and navigate? Does customer service respond as quickly as advertised? Some providers offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, which can be useful in evaluating a service provider.
If you try two different managed hosting services, you might find that one has a confusing interface full of server jargon, while the other has a cleaner dashboard with language you understand and one-click backups.
Managed hosting FAQ
Is all web hosting considered managed hosting?
No, not all web hosting is managed, and unmanaged plans can potentially expose you to data breaches. Shared and unmanaged dedicated or VPS plans usually leave server maintenance, security, and updates to you, while managed hosting providers take care of those things for you.
What are the disadvantages of managed hosting?
Managed hosting typically costs more than unmanaged hosting and may limit advanced customization for developers who want more control over things like server settings or custom setups.
What is the difference between shared and managed hosting?
Shared hosting is a lower-cost option that can be either managed or unmanaged. With unmanaged shared hosting, you’re responsible for most of the technical upkeep. By contrast, managed shared hosting includes support services like security monitoring, performance optimization, and routine maintenance, even though you’re still sharing server resources with other users.
