Standard shared hosting isn’t always the best option for e-commerce. E-commerce platforms require an SSL certificate, more resources, and reliable support – all things WooCommerce is capable of providing.
Pluses of WooCommerce Hosting
Among the benefits of WooCommerce hosting are performance, security, support, etc. Speed is as important for SEO as it is for the overall user experience. WooCommerce hosting platforms ensure smoother e-commerce transactions through quick loading.
WooCommerce employs human beings who provide support via email, live chat, and phone. What’s more, all their hosting plans include an SSL. This adds a security layer to data that the customer’s browser sends to your site. WooCommerce also offers unmetered bandwidth, email accounts, and plenty of disk space.
Minuses of WooCommerce Hosting
WooCommerce hosting is a bit more expensive than shared WordPress hosting plans, but the quality is higher as well. Another aspect that’s generally seen as a disadvantage is that WooCommerce comes with preinstalled software. It can include bonus extensions and designs generated in advance, which not every user will need. People with a technical background would rather install WooCommerce on their own.
Who is WooCommerce Hosting For?
If you run a small business and want to launch a fully functional online store, WooCommerce web hosting would be a decent option. This is especially true if you aren’t tech-savvy and feel you might not be able to install and set up WooCommerce on your own.
As the operator of an e-commerce platform, you can sign up for shared hosting and then learn the ropes or hire someone to manage the technical aspects. However, this will increase your expenses and take up your time.
WooCommerce hosting is a hassle-free option. Your online store will be fast and ready to go in no time. If the price is decisive, you’re better off with regular WordPress hosting.
Installing WooCommerce on a Shared Hosting Plan
While it’s possible to install WooCommerce on shared WordPress hosting, know that those plans are better for personal websites and very small businesses. WooCommerce provides more resources, which you’d definitely need if you had a hundred or more customers on your website. WooCommerce hosting ensures high speeds and virtually no downtime.
Cost of Building an Online Store With WooCommerce
The price you will pay for your WooCommerce store is calculated based on the SSL certificate, the domain name, and hosting fees. As your business grows, so will the cost. However, WooCommerce has affordable or free page builders and payment gateways, so growing your e-commerce platform doesn’t have to break the bank.
Free WooCommerce Hosting
There is no such thing as free WooCommerce hosting. Providers that market themselves as free will fill your platform with pesky ads and might even distribute malware to users. They can shut down your website without notice.
Changing Your Hosting Provider
Most WooCommerce hosting providers offer migration services, which you can use without wasting time. You can also move your website on your own.
Using a Pre-purchased Domain With WooCommerce Hosting
You can use your domain name with any hosting company. Just go to your domain settings and adjust the DNS to your provider.
WooCommerce Hosting Traffic Capacity
The best WooCommerce hosting companies can handle millions of daily views. They are equipped to handle large online stores as well as smaller ones, and all this at peak traffic. Your hosting plan will determine the volume of traffic your site can handle. A standard shared WooCommerce hosting plan can support up to 10,000 visitors daily with speed optimization.
If you opt for managed WooCommerce hosting, your account is scaled automatically to handle any amount of traffic.
WooCommerce Hosting Site Backup
It’s not a good idea to rely on your hosting provider’s backups. Use a plugin to create your own backups.