Managed vs unmanaged

Shared and managed WordPress hosting are managed by nature: the provider runs the server. “Managed” matters most on a VPS or dedicated server, which are unmanaged unless you add a management plan.

What you gain

• Time: no evenings spent on updates, firewall rules or a mail queue full of spam.
• Security: patches applied promptly by people who do it every day.
• Faster recovery: someone who knows the server is there when something breaks.
• Better performance: the web server, PHP and database are tuned for your workload.

What it usually does not cover

• Writing or fixing your website’s own code.
• Choosing, configuring or debugging every plugin or extension.
• Content, design and marketing.
• Software the hosting team did not install, unless agreed.

Agree the boundaries in writing. A clear split between the hosting team and your developer avoids problems falling between two chairs.

Questions to ask before you choose

• ✓ Which updates are applied automatically, and how quickly after a security release?
• ✓ What is monitored, and what happens when an alert fires at night?
• ✓ How often are backups taken, where are they stored, and who tests restores?
• ✓ How do I ask for help, and what response time can I expect?
• ✓ Is moving my existing site included, or charged separately?
• ✓ What does it cost to add resources when the business grows?

Signs you need managed hosting

• Server updates are often weeks behind because nobody has time.
• You found out about an outage from a customer, not from an alert.
• Your site or email was hacked or blocklisted, and fixing it took days.
• Backups exist, but nobody has ever tried to restore one.
• The person who set up the server has left, and nobody knows how it works.

If two or more of these sound familiar, the risk is already costing you more than a management plan would.

Is it worth the cost?

Compare the monthly cost with what the alternatives cost you: your own hours at your own rate, a freelance administrator, or the revenue lost during an outage or a hack. For a business that depends on its website or email, managed hosting is often the cheaper option once these are counted.

Who benefits most

Managed options at UnderHost

Our shared and managed WordPress hosting are run by our team. For a Cloud VPS or dedicated server, our server management plans add updates, security, monitoring and help with server problems. See the server management page for what each level includes, or ask @CustomerPanel which fits your setup.

Planning a move? See our guide to moving a website without downtime and our list of mistakes to avoid.