Self install WordPress Multisite vs. paid WordPress hosting

  • bobwp

    (@bobwp)


    2 months ago

    I’m looking for feedback on how/where to set up a WordPress site for a domain I’ve registered.

    BACKGROUND

    I have shared web hosting with a prominent hosting company. The pricing is quite affordable, and I don’t want to spend a lot on hosting. I have primary domain, as well as a few addon domains that I’ve created in cPanel.

    I installed WordPress (and a custom theme, and very basic plugins) for each domain / site.

    My sites are very minimal in terms of content, and don’t get a lot of traffic, which is not a problem. Web performance is fine.

    I have another domain not currently as an addon domain (just a placeholder web page on my domain register’s web server). I’m writing a book to publish (self publish, likely), and this domain will be the web site for it. It will be mostly text; some photos.

    I’ve toyed with the idea of installing multi site WordPress so I could have just one WP install, theme, and plugins, but didn’t get far in researching this.

    I worked in IT for four decades, including sysadmin for web (etc.) servers running on various operating systems, and web/LMS management, but the web work was a small part of my job. (I’m only mentioning this to give a sense of my general web IT background.)

    Although I have installed, configured, and done a very small amount of custom (CSS / PHP) work for WP, themes, and plugins, I’m still probably just an advanced beginner, and haven’t kept up with WordPress and related chops much at all, and don’t have the desire to be regularly spending a great deal of time managing WP install(s), short of keeping it and themes/plugins updated. (I currently don’ts need to spend much time to keep my installs updated.) I have not had any major WP problems in all the years I’ve been running it.

    FEEDBACK SOUGHT

    I’m looking for feedback as to what be my best option, prior to making my book web site active, and to do so affordably (maybe pay $100 (to ~$200 max) / year or so beyond what I’m paying now, if possible.

    • Install and configure WordPress, theme, a few simple plugins for my site as an addon domain, as I’ve done with my other sites. Additional cost: $0.
    • Set up WordPress Multisite on my hosting server, and migrate my few web sites (and add my new one) to it. Additional cost: $0 (but there is a technical / time cost to migrate and maintain).
    • Use my web hosting company for WordPress hosting, the least expensive version. Additional cost: Just under $200 / year.
    • Use WordPress.com Premium hosting (includes the following not in the (least expensive) Personal plan: All premium themes; Fast support from our expert team (vs. just “support”); Premium stats; Customize fonts and colors sitewide; Connect Google Analytics; Upload videos). (I have a theme I bought which I’d prefer to use, but don’t know yet if this plan allows for that). Additional cost: $216 / year.
    • This topic was modified 2 months ago by bobwp.
    • This topic was modified 2 months ago by bobwp.
    • This topic was modified 2 months ago by bobwp.
    • This topic was modified 2 months ago by bobwp.
Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)
  • Moderator bcworkz

    (@bcworkz)

    2 months ago

    If you have some basic web server administration experience (mainly in using FTP), there’s little to gain from WordPress specific hosting. All it does is save you the trouble of installing WP yourself, which is a very simple task for those with a modicum of experience.

    wordpress.com offers good plans and service, but if you’re happy with your current host, I see little reason to switch.

    Your choice may come down to whether to use multi–site or a number of individual WP installations. If your sites are low trafficked, it probably makes little difference. Multi-site does have some quirks I’d just as soon avoid. My personal rule of thumb is individual installations are fine for 2-4 sites. For more than that, the multi-site starts to make more sense. But truth be told, for minimal sites, you could probably have a dozen individual sites on a shared hosting plan with little downside.

    Thread Starter bobwp

    (@bobwp)

    2 months ago

    Excellent points on all the options I am considering. This helps immensely in making my choice. Thank you!

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)

You must be logged in to reply to this topic.