Hosted vs Self Hosted Websites: Joomla and WordPress
The era in which we live can, in our view, rightly be described as the internet age. Today, a large percentage of the world’s communication and commerce takes place, in one way or the other, over the internet. With so much going on at the moment, you may have decided that, at long last, it is time for you to get your own website. If that is the case, then, you are not alone. (If you are yet to decide, you can read this article to find inspiration.) One of the choices that you are likely to have to make in this regard concerns the issue of hosted and self hosted websites.
This article aims to show you the differences that exist between hosted and self hosted websites. It is, by no means, aimed at comparing Joomla and WordPress. However, we shall begin by briefly looking at the two Content Management Systems.
About Joomla
Joomla is one of the most popular Content Management Systems (CMSs) in the world.Although, at a distant 7.5% of the market, it comes a distant second behind WordPress in terms of popularity, Joomla still has its loyal band of followers.The great thing about Joomla is that it is so easy to use, making it accessible to the determined beginner.
About WordPress
WordPress is, without a doubt, the most popular Content Management System in the world. As of the 1st of January 2017, it commanded a staggering 58.8% of the market, which is way ahead of the second placed Joomla.
Websites for Beginners
If you are just setting out to create your very first website, then you have probably never even heard of Joomla (or WordPress, for that matter). You need, however, not worry, because we are going to explain everything for you.
While the idea of creating and maintaining your own website may appear to be rather daunting at the beginning, it is, ultimately, the most rewarding adventure on which you will ever embark. So, what is meant by hosted and self hosted websites?
Hosted and Self Hosted Websites
Under the self hosted website, the only thing that you get from either Joomla or WordPress is the software that you need in order to create, launch and maintain your website. Everything else depends on you; including the tasks of finding a web host for your site and responsibility for ensuring that it is properly secured.
Some of the most popular companies that offer hosting services for self hosted websites are InterServer, Bluehost (which is officially recommended by WordPress.org), DreamHost and many more. In fact, there are probably thousands of Web Hosting companies out there! You can check out the ones that we, at Network Bees, recommend to our readers on this page. Did we mention earlier that you get all the software that you need to create your self hosted website from Joomla.org and WordPress.org? In most case, you do not actually have to download the software yourself, unless, of course, if you are going to work on your site on localhost. All that you need to do in order to get started is sign up for web hosting with any of the web hosts that we recommend, and, in most instances, Joomla, WordPress or any other CMS will come pre-installed.
Advantages of Having a Self Hosted Website
Network Bees is Hosted By InterServer
This blog is a good example of a self hosted website. Our web host is InterServer, which, by the way, we believe is the best web hosting company that can be found out there. Having a self hosted website comes with a couple of advantages;
1. Flexibility
Self hosting gives you the kind of flexibility that you would not be able to find should you decide to create a hosted site. You can, as an example, choose your favorite web host, switch between hosts, choose from thousands of templates and much more.
2. Control
With the self hosted option, you have much more control over what happens to your site. As mentioned above, this includes having the ability to make choices about its trajectory that you would not be able to with a hosted site.
3. Monetization
Website monetization is another reason why having a self hosted website is the best option. While it is possible to monetize a hosted website, you do not get the kind of options that you get when you choose to go it alone.
Disadvantages of Having a Self Hosted Website
One of the major disadvantages of having a self hosted site is that you do need a certain degree of technical know-how to get going. With the Hosted Website option, everything is a breeze, and you can get have your website up and running in a matter of minutes.
Hosted Websites: What is a Hosted Website?
The term “hosted website” refers to the type of web hosting where everything comes in an easy to use, pre-made package that enables you to get your site up and running in minutes. You do not, as an example, have to find your own web host, as this comes as part of the package when you sign up. This is clearly an advantage for those who do not have the technical knowhow that is needed to run a self hosted site. Both WordPress and Joomla offer some of the best hosted website options that can be found out there. Hosted websites (Joomla.com and WordPress.com) come with everything already in place. All that you need to do in order to start blogging is follow a few easy steps (as few as five for WordPress) and you will have your site up and running in no time. Check out our articles on how to create a WordPress.com site and how to create a Joomla.com website for more information.
Self Hosted and Hosted Websites: The Costs
If you are interested in knowing which is cheaper between having a hosted and self hosted website, the answer is; its not that simple.
Available plans vary from, as you can see in the screenshot below (for WordPress.com), as little as $0 per month to as much as $24 per month. Your flexibility increases with the higher priced packages.
As an example, you can monetize your WordPress.org website for the Premium and Business packages.
Hosted and self hosted websites are, more or less, as par when it comes to the issue of price. It has to be mentioned, however, that you probably won’t get a self hosting package that comes for free. The average introductory hosting package with companies such as Bluehost and InterServer stands at about $3 per month.
The real cost of self hosting, however, comes in terms of time. If you would rather not spend much of your time making tweaks to your site, you are probably be better off with a hosted website. However, if you want something that you can professionally manage on your own and that offers an unlimited degree of flexibility, then you should go for the self hosted option.