Plus, Why You Need Website Maintenance Instead of Managed WordPress Hosting

Managed hosting. Shared hosting. Managed WordPress hosting.

What do any of these actually mean? And if you’re paying for management, does that mean someone’s taking care of your whole website?

Between vague terms and overpromised features, it’s easy to feel like you’re paying for managed hosting but still end up doing all the work.

Luckily, we’re here to break it all down. In this guide, we explain what managed web services cover, what they don’t, and why proper website maintenance is the missing piece most site owners overlook.

What Is Managed Hosting (a.k.a. Managed Web Services)?

Managed hosting, also known as managed web hosting or managed web services, is a type of hosting where the service provider takes care of the server setup, configuration, deployment, performance, and security. In other words, the business owner is not responsible for server updates, operating system maintenance, security patches, or keeping the server online during traffic spikes.

The hosting company handles all the back-end infrastructure, including uptime monitoring, firewalls, malware scanning, and automatic backups. That way, your site runs on a secure, stable foundation. You don’t need to mess with servers or worry about your site crashing during a spike in traffic.

However, managed hosting doesn’t mean your website is being actively maintained. It just means the server where it is hosted receives regular maintenance. So, if a plugin update breaks your layout or your contact form stops working, you’re on your own – your server host won’t fix that for you.

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The types of managed web hosting services

There are six main types of web hosting services​, and each one offers a different level of performance and control:

  • Shared hosting: Your website shares server resources and space with other sites. If one site gets a surge in traffic or runs heavy processes, it can slow down everyone else. It’s like a roommate using all the hot water.
  • VPS hosting: You still share a server, but with better boundaries. You get a dedicated slice of resources, so you’re not affected by what other sites on the server are doing.
  • Dedicated hosting: One private server, all yours. You get optimal performance and full control, which is ideal for large websites and ecommerce platforms.
  • Cloud hosting services: Your site runs on multiple servers at once (like Google Cloud or Amazon Web Services), which offers the best mix of cost-effectiveness. uptime, speed, and scalability.
  • Unmanaged hosting: The hosting provider gives you the physical server, but you must deal with everything else from setting up to performing software updates and backups. It requires considerable technical expertise, and it is time-consuming.
  • Colocated hosting: You own the server hardware but rent server space in someone else’s data center. Unless you have an in-house IT team, it’s not something you need to consider.

What confuses most people is that any of these hosting solutions can be managed or self-managed.

So, to clarify: The hosting type is about where your site lives. The “managed” part is about who’s maintaining it behind the scenes.

What About Managed WordPress Hosting? What’s That?

Here’s where the real confusion starts. Managed WordPress hosting sounds like someone is taking care of your whole site.

Hosting companies even market it that way, which is deceptive, to say the least. To use an analogy, managed WordPress hosting is like buying a car that comes with a full tank of gas and a sticker that says “good luck.”

Yes, the server is set up. Yes, you get pre-installed WordPress and occasional automatic updates for your themes and plugins. However, if something breaks after that, it becomes your problem.

No one’s testing those updates before they go live. No one’s monitoring your site speed or security. And nobody deals with the wide variety of issues that may pop up, like fixing your forms, errors, or random plugin bugs.

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Managed WordPress hosting is a solution for simple websites, like a one-page portfolio or a blog. Still, you need more than a cheap hosting package for anything more complex (think lead gen forms, client portals, custom layouts, or WooCommerce).

That’s the gap most businesses don’t see until it’s too late. Managed WordPress hosting gives you the keys to a basic setup, but not the support to keep it running.

If your website plays an important role in your business, you need a WordPress maintenance plan that actively protects your investment, responds to issues, and keeps things working day after day.

The pros and cons of managed WordPress hosting services

Managed WordPress hosting is fine for hobby sites, but it falls short for any business that relies on its website to attract and convert customers.

Advantages Disadvantages
  • WordPress is pre-installed and ready to use
  • Automatic updates for WordPress core, themes, and plugins
  • Easy to use for simple, low-traffic sites
  • Affordable monthly cost
  • Some providers offer decent performance for small sites
  • Can create a false sense of security
  • Doesn’t include actual website maintenance or fixes
  • Updates aren’t tested and can break your site without warning
  • No hands-on help when something breaks or needs troubleshooting
  • Not built for complex sites (eCommerce, client portals, or lead gen)
  • No customization, no personal support, and limited control over how your site runs

The Best Choice for Website Owners: Managed Hosting Combined With a Website Maintenance Plan

If you want a fast, secure, and dependable website, the smartest setup isn’t managed WordPress hosting. It’s a combination of managed hosting from a reliable provider (like SiteGround) and a full-service website maintenance plan from a team that lives and breathes WordPress.

Here’s why this combo works so well:

  • The hosting provider handles the hosting platform and infrastructure: uptime, server updates, bandwidth, SSL certificates, and basic backups.
  • The maintenance team handles your website: plugin updates, form issues, performance optimization, bug fixes, request handling, and everything in between.

At StateWP, this is exactly the setup we recommend and support. Many of our clients use one of our premium website maintenance plans (pricing starting at $159/month) and pair it with our optional managed web hosting for $35/month. Together, they get fast infrastructure, plus proactive WordPress care and reliable service from a team of experts.

One company that has seen the full benefit of this approach is Lamano Law – a mid-size law firm that needed speed and hands-on WordPress support to keep its website performing under pressure.

When the firm came to StateWP, it had a sluggish site with dozens of outdated plugins and no performance monitoring. So, here’s what we did:

  • Migrated the website to a faster host (with zero downtime)
  • Improved Google PageSpeed scores from 69 to 85+
  • Updated 34 plugins, five themes, and the WordPress core
  • Installed uptime and security monitoring
  • Hardened security practices
  • Integrated analytics, hosting, and support into the Proto dashboard
  • Fulfilled ongoing requests for new pages, feature updates, and form testing

Lamano Law now runs its site with confidence, backed by managed web hosting services and a responsive support team that gets things done fast.

“StateWP keeps our WordPress sites secure and performing great, and we can rely on them for anything WordPress-related. Love these guys and they really are the BEST! Five Stars doesn’t do justice to the work they provide. Highly recommend.”
– Givelle Lamano, Founder and Principal Attorney, Lamano Law

That’s the power of pairing managed hosting with real WordPress maintenance. You get the speed and stability of a good host plus the hands-on support that keeps your site running, converting, and growing.

Pair Managed Web Services with Ongoing Maintenance

If there’s one thing to take away from this guide, it’s that managed hosting and website maintenance are not the same, and you need both if your site plays any role in your business.

Managed hosting gives you the foundation. Website maintenance keeps everything running smoothly on top of it.

At StateWP, we serve successful businesses that don’t have time to babysit their websites. Whether fixing broken forms, optimizing speed, or ensuring everything works the way it should, our dedicated team is here to help behind the scenes. We do all of it quietly, consistently, and with the same level of care we’d want for our own site.

You don’t need to know everything about hosting or maintenance; that’s what we’re here for. If you’re unsure what your site needs, let’s talk it through.

speak to Garrett for a free demo with image of Garrett Goldman with arms crossed

Managed Web Hosting FAQs

Not sure what’s fact, fluff, or flat-out wrong? Let’s clear up the confusion around managed hosting services​ and WordPress performance.

What are managed hosting services?
Managed hosting services refer to your hosting provider taking care of the server that powers your website by handling server scaling, uptime monitoring, backups, and regular security updates. They give you a stable, secure environment so you don’t need to manage the server yourself. However, it only includes server maintenance; there are no additional services like website maintenance, content updates, or plugin support.
What is the primary benefit of using managed hosting?
Managed hosting saves time, reduces risk, and is cost-effective for businesses. You don’t need to buy or maintain dedicated servers, hire IT staff, or deal with technical issues. Instead, your hosting provider handles server performance, basic security measures, and backups so you can focus on growth instead of worrying about server uptime, updates, or hardware.
How much does managed hosting cost?
Managed hosting typically costs between $30 and $300 per month for small businesses, depending on the provider, performance level, and included services. Lower-tier plans cover basic server management, while higher-tier hosting options offer better support, robust security measures, and speed. For businesses, the right web hosting managed services​ balance reliability, scalability, continuous monitoring, and peace of mind, not just price.
Is managed hosting worth it?

Yes, managed hosting is worth it, especially for businesses that can’t afford downtime or security issues. According to a 2024 report by ITIC, a single hour of downtime costs more than $300,000 for most businesses. Managed web services save time, reduce technical headaches, and ensure your website runs on a stable, secure server that delivers excellent performance without in-house IT.

Is managed WordPress hosting worth it?

Not for most business owners. Managed WordPress hosting sounds like someone is actively taking care of your site, but that’s misleading. It usually means you get a pre-installed WordPress, basic server tasks, and automatic updates. It doesn’t include website maintenance, plugin testing, performance support, or help when things break. If your site drives leads or revenue, you’ll need more than a hands-off hosting plan combined with a maintenance and security plan from a reputable support company.

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