Are you looking to launch an ecommerce store, a blog on WordPress, or a forum? Then it's best to sign up for the relevant web hosting service that caters to such web app projects.

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Using traditional shared services often comes with its caveats - compatibility issues or insufficient features are often a setback when hosting specific apps.

This is where web application hosting comes into play.

By the end of this article, you'll understand the nature of this service and how to choose the right type of hosting for your website.

What Is Web Apps Hosting?

The term "application hosting" refers to plans that specialize in supporting websites created on a specific application. Such packages offer app-specific features and server optimizations for the particular web-building solution.

Some of the most commonly used web apps include:

Content Management Systems (CMS), such as WordPress.

Ecommerce platforms, such as WooCommerce, Joomla, Shopify, and BigCommerce.

Forum platforms, such as phpBB.

Types of Web Apps Hosting

The sort of web hosting you opt for is highly important for the application you wish to utilize. If you're just getting started, you should first familiarize yourself with the different types of hosting. That way, you'll be able to determine which option is best for you from the get-go.

Shared

Shared hosting is the most common and least expensive type of service around. This is because your website is housed on a joint server with other users, and you all utilize the same resources. Nonetheless, each site owner gets their own environment and isn’t privy to the files or personal data of other clients.

At least that’s how it looks on the surface...

While this type of hosting is easy to set up, and ideal for startups and cost-conscious web app entrepreneurs, it does have some disadvantages. For example, you may suffer from increased downtime and slow speeds when another user experiences a spike in traffic or starts consuming more server resources.

Another drawback of shared plans is that they’re more vulnerable to security breaches than other services. For instance, if a website is hacked and your provider lacks a good security architecture, your project would be exposed as well.

Dedicated Server

A dedicated server is the polar opposite of shared hosting. It's mostly used by large enterprises and ecommerce sites with more than 100,000 monthly visitors.

As the name suggests, dedicated hosting gives you full control over one or more server machines, serving your needs alone. You don’t share resources with others and have full freedom to configure every little detail to your liking .

With this kind of hosting, you can expect lightning-fast speeds and enjoy extended functionalities. Dedicated servers are also available with a variety of management options – self-managed, semi-managed, and fully managed.

So what’s the catch, you ask? The cost. Dedicated hosting plans often go over $100/mo, which is an investment not all businesses can afford.

Virtual Private Server (VPS)

VPS is a notch up from shared hosting in terms of reliability and scalability. It’s a physical server that’s divided into multiple virtual instances. This basically gives you a dedicated machine within a shared hosting environment with significantly fewer neighbors.

Virtual private server plans are excellent for growing businesses and websites demanding scalable resources. VPS services are far less expensive than dedicated ones, but they still provide great availability, fast speeds, and tight privacy protection.

You can choose to manage your VPS server by yourself or let your hosting provider take care of that task for an extra cost.

Cloud

Cloud hosting operates through a network of remote virtual servers. The service enables users to harness the full power of computing resources and storage volume as per their needs.

Scalability is one of the biggest benefits of cloud hosting. You can easily add or remove system resources and get charged only for what you consume.

With this type of hosting, you don’t have to worry about traffic surges or server problems. Even if a downtime occurs, your website will be automatically routed to a different server. This makes cloud hosting a very suitable option for rapidly growing businesses or large websites.

Top 5 Criteria for Choosing Web Apps Hosting

When searching for a web host for your app, there are five main factors to take into consideration.

Let’s start with Performance.

While it can be observed as a separate factor, the performance of any website boils down to three key elements – speed, uptime, and scalability.

Speed

For many visitors, a sluggish website is often a deal breaker. To get the best out of your loading speeds, there are a few things you should look for in a hosting service.

For example, determining between SSD and HDD storage is one of the key speed-related aspects. SSD storage is substantially quicker than HDD for static files, which inevitably affects how quickly your site loads. Other boosters include fast server technologies (Litespeed or Nginx), content delivery networks (CDNs), and cache plugins.

Another important consideration should be your hosting server location. If your servers are too far from your target audience, there’s a high chance their app loading speeds will suffer. This won't be an issue if your hosting provider maintains a wide network of server machines.

Uptime

The service uptime refers to the duration of its availability to visitors. But there is a difference between an uptime guarantee and real uptime.

The former is a commitment from your hosting provider about the availability of their network. However, not all hosts are able to keep their word.

Most hosting companies promise between 98% to 100% uptime at all times. While 100% may sound ideal - it’s nearly impossible to achieve. Uptime numbers between 99.9% and 99.99% are the sweet spot.

Scalability

With the expansion of your website and regular updates of web apps, you’ll find yourself in need of more server resources like RAM, disk space, and CPU. If your host fails to keep up with your website's development and it outgrows its server environment, this will have a negative impact on its overall performance.

Security

Different hosting companies offer various levels of protection in their plans. There are, however, some basic security procedures that no app owner can afford to ignore. This includes the use of SSL certificates, Web Application Firewall (WAF), and DDoS/Brute-Force protection.

Not all web apps require the same level of security. If you have a WooCommerce website, for instance, you must ensure that your host supports secure payment options.

Support

As a general rule, always look for a hosting service that offers dependable customer support. There are four key points you should keep in mind:

Availability: You need a team that can back you up at all times. Go for a service that provides 24/7 assistance.

Multiple channels: Different support options such as live chat, ticketing system, email, and phone are essential to help different clients and handle various queries swiftly and adequately.Response time: Waiting a long time to speak with a representative doesn’t help your brand reputation and has a negative impact on the overall customer experience. It’s preferable to ensure your host provides prompt assistance before signing up.

Self-help resources: Human interaction isn't always necessary, and human help may not always be available. That's why resources like a comprehensive knowledge base, FAQs, and blogs are highly beneficial.

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Conclusion

When it comes to selecting the best hosting package for your website, you have a lot of options. But now that you know all about web app hosting and how to decide on a host that specializes in the app you use, launching your online project should be a walk in the park.