Managed vs Unmanaged Web Hosting

1 minute read

Whether your server is managed or unmanaged can make a big difference in how well the server operates and performs.

Managed hosting is where the hosting company or a 3rd party is responsible for part or all of the management of hardware and software on the server.

Managed vs Unmanaged Comparisons

The options can vary by the type of hosting you are using.

Free Hosting

Servers are minimally maintained to keep them online and up to date on operating systems and package security. As free hosting servers are a lower priority for hosting companies, it may take longer for them to receive updates.

Shared Hosting

The servers are kept up to date with software much better than those of free hosting and have better available resources. Depending on the company, resources may be monitored more than others. Some are proactive at giving you warnings about possible violations, which is quite nice.

VPS Hosting

This is where the managed vs unmanaged differences start to emerge. Many companies will offer VPS plans which are either managed or unmanaged.

The managed ones usually do not allow root access, so as to make sure software interactions work as they should. An unmanaged VPS server will require you to update operating system and other software by yourself.

Dedicated Hosting

As with VPS hosting, dedicated servers can be managed or unmanaged. Typically, the hardware will be managed by the hosting company and replaced. In the case of hosting your own software with a data center, you will typically be responsible for hardware repairs and replacements.

Cloud Hosting

There are a wide variety of both managed and unmanaged options out there for cloud hosting. The offerings are very similar to VPS, but with the added benefits provided by cloud hosting.

Specialized Hosting

Typically specialized hosting will be fully managed and then some. Many of these hosting companies go further than the others in their support offerings, including helping to debug some application errors and configure custom software. Of course, this service generally comes with a higher cost but may be well worth it for an established site.

Benefits of Managed Hosting

  • Software and updates are done for you
  • Server monitoring
  • Backups

Benefits of Unmanaged Hosting

  • Lower cost
  • More control over the server and software