Considering WooCommerce for your online shop? If so, you’ll need to factor in the cost of hosting.

In this post, we'll examine WooCommerce hosting fees, analyse the costs and suggest ways to reduce them.

What Is WooCommerce?

WooCommerce is a free plugin that lets you turn a WordPress website into an ecommerce store.

Despite WooCommerce being free to use, the term “free” becomes somewhat misleading when you consider its various additional costs. One such cost is hosting. Unlike ShopWired, WooCommerce requires managing hosting independently, adding an extra step to site setup.

But how much does it cost to host a website using WordPress and WooCommerce?

Let's find out.

What Is Website Hosting?

In simple terms, web hosting is the process of renting or buying space to house a website on the internet. Web content, including HTML, CSS and images, must reside on a server to be accessible on the internet.

Different websites require varying levels of hosting resources to function effectively. A website with high traffic and extensive content will necessitate more powerful hosting to handle the demand. A low-traffic website with minimal resources can suffice with a less robust hosting solution.

Web hosting providers offer the servers and essential services necessary to support websites of all magnitudes. They usually offer hosting plans for all types of customers, from bloggers to enterprises.

What Factors Do You Need To Consider When Choosing Web Hosting?

In 2023, businesses lost £3.7 billion because of downtime, emphasising the need for a reliable web hosting service.

Here are some factors that might influence your web hosting requirements.

Factors that influence your web hosting requirements:

Website traffic volume: Higher visitor numbers require more server resources to maintain site performance.

Product catalogue size: Larger inventories demand more storage space and data management capabilities.

Website functionality: Advanced features such as live chat, high-resolution images and interactive elements can increase server load.

Security needs: Ecommerce sites often require additional security measures to protect customer data.

Scalability: Your hosting needs to be ready to handle potential business growth and seasonal traffic spikes to ensure there is no downtime.

Types of Web Hosting

Another factor to consider is the type of web hosting you need. This will affect how much you pay, as some types are cheaper than others.

Let's take a look at the different types of web hosting available to choose from:

1. Shared Hosting

With shared hosting, your website is hosted on a server that also hosts other websites. This means that every website on the server shares its resources.

The appeal of shared hosting lies in its affordability. But the downside is that shared resources can affect your site's performance, especially during peak traffic times. It's a bit of a gamble; if fewer accounts are hosted on a server, you'll enjoy smoother sailing. More accounts can lead to choppy waters. 

Advantages:

• Cost-effective, making it accessible for newcomers or small websites
• Easy to use, with many providers offering a control panel for simplified site management

Disadvantages:

• Limited resources can lead to slower website performance
• Shared security adds risks as one compromised website on the server could potentially affect others

2. VPS Hosting

Virtual Private Server, or VPS hosting, serves as a middle ground between shared and dedicated hosting. It simulates a dedicated server environment within a shared server, giving your site its own space without the cost of renting an entire server. This setup is ideal for businesses that have outgrown shared hosting but don't need a dedicated server.

Advantages:

• Enjoy the perks of dedicated hosting at a fraction of the cost
• Benefit from better uptime and faster loading speeds compared to shared hosting

Disadvantages:

• While more robust than shared hosting, it still involves resource sharing, which might struggle with sudden surges in traffic
• Customisation and control over server settings are improved but still limited compared to dedicated hosting

4. Cloud Hosting

Cloud hosting works by distributing your website's data across multiple virtual servers, offering greater scalability and reliability. Cloud hosting is great for businesses with fluctuating traffic or rapid growth as it can handle increased visitors and maintain performance during peak times.

Cloud hosting often works on a pay-for-what-you-use model, meaning you'll only pay for the resources you use.

• Can handle traffic spikes to ensure your site performs well during busy periods
• Cost-efficient for businesses with fluctuating traffic, as you only pay for the resources you use

Disadvantages:

• Predicting monthly costs can be tricky due to the pay-for-what-you-use model, making budgeting more complex
• Cloud hosting requires more technical knowledge to manage effectively, potentially leading to additional costs for expert assistance

5. Managed WordPress Hosting

Managed WordPress Hosting is tailored for WordPress websites, providing optimised performance and security for websites built on WordPress. There are many hosting providers that offer managed WordPress hosting, including SiteGround, WP Engine and Hostinger.

Advantages:

• Simplifies website management by handling technical tasks such as updates, backups and security
• Provides WordPress-specific performance enhancements to ensure optimal loading times and a smooth user experience

Disadvantages:

• Typically more expensive than basic shared or VPS hosting due to the specialised services and optimisations included
• May impose restrictions on plugin and theme usage to maintain high security and performance standards, potentially limiting customisation options

Choosing the best hosting platform for your WooCommerce site involves balancing cost and technical needs. Each hosting type, from shared to managed WordPress hosting, carries its own set of considerations. These options, while plentiful, add layers of decision-making to your ecommerce operation.

Let's now explore how much you can expect to pay for WooCommerce hosting.

How Much Does WooCommerce Hosting Cost?

When selecting hosting for your WooCommerce store, it's important to consider both technical requirements and ongoing financial commitments.

Let's take a look at the typical hosting costs for WooCommerce websites:

For new and small businesses: Starting with Shared Hosting

Cost range: £2.50 - £10 per month

Considerations: While shared hosting appears budget-friendly, it's essential to remember that performance limitations can impact your user experience and SEO, potentially costing you more in lost sales and visibility.

For businesses experiencing growth: Upgrading to VPS Hosting

Cost range: £10 - £50 per month

Considerations: Transitioning to VPS hosting offers better control and resources but also introduces higher costs. This stage requires careful budgeting to ensure the increased expenditure actually translates to improved sales.

For established stores: Dedicated or Cloud Hosting

Cost range: £50 - £200+ per month

Considerations: High-traffic stores with complex needs might find greater value in dedicated or cloud hosting. However, the steep jump in costs necessitates a critical evaluation of ROI, as these expenses can significantly eat into profit margins.

For tailored management: Managed WordPress Hosting

Cost range: £15 - £1600 per month

Considerations: Opting for convenience and expert management comes at a premium. While reducing the technical burden, the cost can be a significant line item in your budget, leading you to question if the convenience justifies the expense. Many enterprise price plans for managed WordPress hosting sit at around £1500 per month, which is a substantial figure.

The recurring theme? As your WooCommerce store grows, so does your hosting bill. Each upgrade, while beneficial for handling increased traffic and sales, also means a higher ongoing investment. This cycle of upgrading and increasing costs prompts the question: Is there a more cost-effective way to scale your ecommerce operation without continually escalating expenses?

Introducing ShopWired: Your Fully-Hosted & Affordable Ecommerce Solution

ShopWired is a leading player in the ecommerce world, providing a robust and scalable platform that's fully-hosted from day one. With a 99.99% uptime guarantee, it’s no wonder thousands of online merchants choose ShopWired over platforms like WooCommerce to power their online stores.

Amazon Web Hosting with 99.99% Uptime Guarantee

Unlike WooCommerce, which relies on independently sourced hosting, ShopWired leverages Amazon Web Services (AWS) for hosting. ShopWired guarantees that your online store will always be accessible and operational, even during peak demand. This is thanks to a strong infrastructure and a 99.9% uptime guarantee. Hosting is included in all pricing plans.

Complete Set of Ecommerce Features on All Price Plans

ShopWired’s comprehensive suite of ecommerce features are available even with the most basic plan.

This includes an extensive product and category management system, a versatile website builder with customisable themes, and capabilities to extend sales across various channels. ShopWired has all the ecommerce features you could need and more. Check out the full list of ShopWired features here.

Security and Compliance

ShopWired prioritises security with PCI compliance and 3D Secure checkout across all payment gateways. This ensures the safety of customer and merchant data.

Positive Online Reviews and Customer Satisfaction

ShopWired boasts stellar reviews on platforms like TrustPilot (4.8 out of 5) and G2.com (4.9 out of 5), highlighting its exceptional customer support, extensive ecommerce features and ease of use. Unlike WooCommerce, which has negative reviews online and requires a more technical setup, ShopWired's positive reputation speaks volumes about its reliability and user satisfaction.

Free, Responsive Themes

ShopWired provides a range of free, customisable themes designed to provide the perfect browsing experience across all devices. ShopWired's themes are free and ready to use immediately. Many WooCommerce themes require payment and more fees for cusomtisation.  

Pricing and Value

With ShopWired, merchants get access to a cost-effective platform packed with all the ecommerce features you could need. Unlike WooCommerce, which requires additional costs for hosting, premium plugins, themes and other ongoing costs, ShopWired's pricing offers a comprehensive solution at a competitive price point. This allows businesses to allocate their resources more efficiently.  

14-Day Free Trial

ShopWired offers a risk-free 14-day free trial. This allows merchants to explore the platform's features and capabilities before committing. You can sign up for a free trial here.

ShopWired vs WooCommerce

A comparison of ShopWired and WooCommerce features.

Final Thoughts- Is WooCommerce Too Expensive? 

In conclusion, while WooCommerce is a flexible platform for building an online store, the hidden costs and complexities of managing hosting can quickly add up. As your business grows, so does the need for more robust hosting solutions, leading to escalating expenses.

On the other hand, ShopWired is a compelling alternative with reliable and powerful hosting on all plans, comprehensive ecommerce features and top-rated customer support. ShopWired truly brings everything you need and more to build your dream ecommerce store. By opting for ShopWired, you not only streamline your ecommerce operations but also gain peace of mind knowing that your store is in capable hands.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is WooCommerce really free to use?

WooCommerce itself is free, but additional costs such as hosting, themes and plugins can quickly accumulate.

What are the main drawbacks of shared hosting for WooCommerce?

Shared hosting, while cheaper, may lead to slower website performance and security vulnerabilities due to shared resources.

How does VPS hosting compare to shared hosting in terms of performance and cost?

VPS hosting offers better performance and control than shared hosting, but comes at a higher cost.

What security measures should I consider for my WooCommerce site?

Implementing SSL certificates, regular updates and security plugins are essential for safeguarding customer data.

Why is managed WordPress hosting more expensive than basic hosting options?

Managed WordPress hosting provides specialised services and optimisations tailored for WordPress sites, leading to higher costs.

Is hosting included with ShopWired plans?

Yes, hosting is included at no additional cost with all ShopWired plans.

Does ShopWired provide customer support?

Yes, ShopWired offers free customer support to assist merchants with any queries or issues they may encounter.

Can I try ShopWired before committing to a paid subscription?

Yes, ShopWired offers a risk-free 14-day free trial, allowing merchants to explore the platform's features before making a financial commitment.

Does ShopWired offer responsive themes for mobile devices?

Yes, ShopWired provides free, responsive themes designed to offer a seamless browsing experience across all devices.

How does ShopWired ensure security for online transactions?

ShopWired prioritises security with PCI compliance and 3D Secure checkout across all payment gateways.