Specialized Hosting vs Big Hosts: Which Is Better for Your Website?

When you start to choose your hosting provider, you are faced with many options — both big host, or "superstores" as I like to call them; and smaller or specialized hosting. I have experience with both types of providers. In my opinion, neither is necessarily better than the other. Let's talk about this as friends do.

Why Should You Care?​

When it comes to choosing a hosting provider, there are many options out there. I have switched between big hosts and specialized hosts a few times throughout my career. Some of those transitions were relatively easy while others were a complete pain. Have you ever thought to yourself, "Why is that?"

Big Hosts​

The Pros of Large Hosts

There are plenty of reasons why many people choose big hosting companies:

• They're cheap.
• They offer many features built into their hosting packages.
• They have large customer support teams.

So when I think about why I would want to continue with one of these companies, it is usually because of their convenience.

The Cons of Big Hosts​

The issues with large hosts are as follows:

• They oversell their servers. This results in your website getting slower, which is obviously not ideal.
• Support (especially during peak times) often feels robotic and/or takes forever.
• Their setup options are very cookie-cutter and definitely do not cater to everyone's specific needs.

When your website is down and you're waiting what feels like forever to get help from customer support, it can be extremely frustrating.

Specialized Hosting Providers​

The main reason I like working with smaller, more specialized hosting providers is that I feel more valued as a customer.

What These Specialized Hosts Provide​

When you choose a specialized host, you get access to products that address one or more specific needs, such as:

• Speedy WordPress hosting,
• Powerful VPS Hosting,
• Exceptional security,
• Developer friendly.

With a specialized host, your website is typically faster and operates smoother than traditional hosts. Many times it feels nearly miraculous; however, it is simply a product of superior optimization.

Better Customer Care/Support​

If I reach out to a specialized hosting company, chances are I will work with someone who truly understands the business and what they're talking about—not someone simply providing pre-written answers or wasting my time. They will provide real assistance.

Better Hosting Choices​

A specialized host is better than a large, mainstream host in terms of speed, security, and expert assistance.
If you want speed, specialized features, and real human assistance, then select a specialized host.
If you're looking for cheap, simple hosting, choose a large, mainstream host.

Summary​

I recommend specialized hosting for most users looking for features beyond basic hosting. The additional expense of utilizing a specialized host typically results in better overall performance of your website.