Is your business all buckled up in today’s highly competitive online market?
Having a user-friendly, fast, and attractive website may first come to mind. But to achieve that, building a solid IT environment should be on top of your list. That’s why choosing a web hosting service could be a make-or-break decision for your business.
WordPress and Linux are two of the world’s most popular website hosting platforms today. You might be wondering which one is the better choice that fits your requirements.
This is by no means an easy decision. By the end of this article, you’ll be able to make an informed choice after considering all the differences between WordPress and Linux hosting.
READ: A Beginner’s Guide on How to Set Up Your Website Through Web Hosting
An Introduction to WordPress and Linux HostingÂ
WordPress is an open-source hosting service and content management system. Over the last two decades, it has grown from being a simple blogging website to one of the world’s most used hosting platforms today.
However, if you want to host your website on WordPress, you will need a third-party hosting service provider.
Meanwhile, Linux offers an open-source and completely free-to-use operating system that combines power and control. It allows you to run and manage your website without any steep subscription fees.
Although Linux is free to use, keep in mind that maintaining your server will take considerable time, effort, and financial resources.
WordPress Hosting vs Linux Hosting: The DifferencesÂ
|
WordPress Hosting |
Linux Hosting |
| WordPress Hosting plans are affordable. It can get expensive when you purchase custom solutions. |  More expensive than WordPress Hosting, but cheaper than Windows Hosting. |
| WordPress lets you add plugins that optimise your website for faster speed and negligible load times. | Linux is popular for providing fast and solid website performance. |
| Servers can be configured to provide a safe environment for sensitive data and financial transactions. | Linux has a different file system that makes it hard for unauthorised people to access and perform an attack. |
| WordPress hosting supports JavaScript, PHP, HTML and CSS on the platform. | Linux Hosting supports PHP, Python, Ruby and Perl. |
| Restricts you from installing some non-WordPress software, but there are plenty of plugins you can add to improve your website. | Linux provides more scalability for your enterprise’s complex web needs. |
READ: Top 5 Web Hosting Trends and How They Affect Your Business
The Benefits of WordPress HostingÂ
Here are several reasons why WordPress hosting is as popular as it is today.
- Ease of use: Since WordPress is pre-installed, it makes designing and updating your website an easy task with just a couple of clicks. Therefore, development is fast and you can expect zero compatibility issues.
- Secure and reliable: WordPress offers a range of security and backup features to protect your website from data theft, loss or hacking. You also get an easy-to-install SSL certificate.
- High performing: Thanks to its cloud-based hosting architecture, WordPress ensures that your website is not only error-free and fast but also scalable. You can also expect rare downtimes.
- Website management: When you opt for WordPress hosting, the fee you pay includes website management services such as maintenance, optimisation, and installation of updates. 
The Benefits of Linux HostingÂ
Linux hosting is popular among business owners who do not wish to pay a hefty fee to host their websites. Here are the main benefits of Linux hosting:
- Cost-effective: Linux is an open-source system which means that all the software and resources are free to use. So, if you don’t want to start spending a lot on your web needs, Linux could be the perfect solution for you.
- Fast and consistent: Linux systems don’t require a registry. As a result, it doesn’t slow down over the years like other platforms. For basic websites that don’t have advanced requirements, performance is guaranteed to be consistently good.
- Flexible: Linux hosting allows you to choose from a wide range of server options, such as shared or dedicated servers, giving users more flexibility than other hosting options.
- Secure: Linux allows you to customise your security settings that would fit best your online security needs.
What is Best for You?Â
While both options have their pros and cons, the decision ultimately comes down to your business requirements and how much you’re willing to spend.
So, start by narrowing down the specific requirements you need for your hosting such as the storage, speed, control, etc. Once done, you can refer back to this guide and decide whether it should be WordPress or Linux Hosting.
