I introduce 7 alternative hosting options with pros and cons for Joomla bloggers.
As a writer, I enjoy content development in different forms and have been blogging for a long time. I benefit from it a lot to gain visibility of my YouTube videos, podcasts, gaming articles, Medium stories, and Substack newsletters. Unfortunately, I had to close my big YouTube channel for health reasons years ago.
I recently became a guest blogger on Digitalmehmet site owned and managed by my mentor Dr Mehmet Yildiz (Main). I link this community blog site contributed by guest bloggers sharing teasers of their Medium stories and Substack newsletters to grow their audience.
Blog Posts by Digitalmehmet Contributors – Dr Mehmet Yildiz
This site covers eclectic stories & newsletters from 100+ topics on Medium & Substack contributed by 32,000+ writers…digitalmehmet.com
In addition to contributing to his site as a guest blogger, I also volunteered to be an administrator and an editor as a giveback to the Substack Mastery community on Medium and Substack. With the guidance and help of Sylvain Zyssman, our technical director, we created an easy-to-use blogging platform and wrote clear instructions for beginners.
Dr Yildiz introduced his free guest blogging service and explained why it is important for freelance writers in a previous article. He also covered the significant value of blogging for writers in his Substack Mastery book in detail.
Substack Mastery Book: Chapter 11
Supercharge Your Substack Newsletters with Blogging on WordPress, Medium, or Other Platforms: Here’s What You Need to…medium.com
Here is the link to my guest blogs on digitalmehmet.com site.
Aiden MC, Author at Dr Mehmet Yildiz
I write articles in my field covering gaming, film-making, social media, and design. I am also a YouTuber. Thank you…digitalmehmet.com
This post is the second part of my previous article linked below.
How to Create a Blog Site Using Joomla and Grow Your Audience as a Freelance Writer
An alternative blogging option to WordPressmedium.com
As the previous article was long with clear instructions, I decided to create this article to answer a frequently asked question by new bloggers. They asked where they could host their Joomla blog sites.
Depending on your budget, technical skills, and requirements, you have several options for hosting your Joomla blog site. In the next section, I will introduce seven popular hosting platforms that you might consider. There is no best option, as it really depends on your goals, needs, and capabilities.
For those who don’t know, Joomla is a free, open-source website-building platform that helps us create and manage websites. It provides a user-friendly interface for organizing content, such as text and images, and offers a range of features and extensions to customize your site.
Joomla is a popular choice for both beginners and experienced web developers because it’s flexible and easy to use.
7 Alternative Hosting Options for Joomla Bloggers
When you’re ready to take your Joomla blog live, choosing the right hosting option is crucial. Depending on your needs, budget, and technical expertise, there are several types of hosting services to consider.
- Shared hosting: Ideal for beginners with smaller websites.
- VPS hosting: Offers more control and stability.
- Cloud hosting: Provides flexibility and scalability.
- Dedicated server hosting: Gives you full control of a server, suited for high-traffic sites.
- Managed Joomla hosting: Handles the technical side, offering an easy experience.
- Free hosting: Available for hobby sites.
- Self-hosting: Gives tech-savvy users complete control.
Each option has unique benefits, so it’s important to choose the one that best suits your blog’s needs.
1. Shared Hosting
This is the most affordable option and is suitable for small to medium Joomla sites. Multiple websites share the same server resources, making it cost-effective.
Shared hosting is like renting a room in a big house with other people. You all share the same resources (like electricity and water), but each person has their own space.
Shared hosting is the cheapest option because you share server resources (like storage and bandwidth) with other websites, but if one website uses too much, it can slow down your site too. It’s great for small websites that don’t expect a lot of visitors.
- Pros: Low cost, beginner-friendly, Joomla pre-installed on some hosts.
- Cons: Limited resources, slower performance if other sites on the server are heavily used.
Possible Hosts for Joomla:
- SiteGround — Known for strong Joomla support and great customer service. It also provides Joomla-specific hosting plans.
- A2 Hosting — Offers fast loading times and optimized Joomla environments.
- Bluehost — Affordable shared hosting with Joomla support and free SSL certificates.
2. VPS Hosting (Virtual Private Server)
With VPS hosting, you get more resources and control compared to shared hosting. You have a virtual server with dedicated resources, even though it’s still shared with other users.
VPS hosting is like renting an apartment in a building. While you still share the building with others, your apartment has its own dedicated resources, so your neighbors’ usage won’t affect you as much.
VPS hosting is more powerful than shared hosting, giving you more control and better performance. It’s a good option if your website is growing and you need more stability and speed.
- Pros: Better performance, more control over the server environment.
- Cons: More expensive than shared hosting, requires some technical knowledge.
Possible VPS Hosts:
- InMotion Hosting — VPS plans optimized for Joomla with great performance.
- HostGator VPS — Affordable and customizable VPS plans for more control.
3. Cloud Hosting
Cloud hosting is scalable, meaning you can easily adjust your server resources based on the traffic your site receives. This makes it a flexible solution.
Cloud hosting is like living in a flexible, expandable home that grows with you. Your website isn’t hosted on one physical server but on a network of servers (“the cloud”). This means your site can handle more visitors when needed without slowing down, and you only pay for the resources you use. It’s a good option if your website gets traffic spikes or is expected to grow.
- Pros: Scalability, high availability, and great performance.
- Cons: Pricing can vary based on usage, may require technical expertise to set up.
Recommended Cloud Hosts:
- Cloudways — Offers Joomla-specific cloud hosting solutions and allows you to deploy on various cloud providers like AWS, Google Cloud, and DigitalOcean.
- Amazon AWS — Powerful but more complex to set up. Best for experienced users or businesses.
4. Dedicated Server Hosting
With dedicated hosting, you have an entire server to yourself, providing maximum resources, security, and control. This option is best for large Joomla sites with high traffic.
Dedicated server hosting is like owning your own house. You don’t share anything with anyone else — it’s all yours. This means your website gets maximum speed, security, and control, but it also costs more and requires more maintenance. It’s best for large websites that get a lot of visitors or need high levels of security.
- Pros: Full control, dedicated resources, excellent performance.
- Cons: Expensive and requires advanced technical knowledge.
Recommended Dedicated Hosts:
- Liquid Web — Known for top-tier performance and dedicated support for Joomla.
- InMotion Hosting — Provides powerful dedicated servers with full Joomla compatibility.
5. Managed Joomla Hosting
Some hosting providers offer specialized “managed” hosting services, where the host handles everything related to server maintenance, Joomla updates, and security.
Managed Joomla hosting is like hiring someone to take care of your house for you. The hosting company handles all the technical stuff, like keeping your website updated, secure, and running smoothly. It’s more expensive but perfect for people who don’t want to deal with technical details and want a worry-free experience.
- Pros: No need for server management skills, optimized for Joomla, automatic updates and backups.
- Cons: More expensive than regular shared hosting.
Recommended Managed Joomla Hosts:
- Rochen — Official Joomla hosting provider with managed Joomla hosting plans.
- CloudAccess.net — Offers Joomla hosting with full management services.
6. Free Hosting (Limited Use)
If you’re just testing or running a small, non-critical site, you can consider free Joomla hosting. However, this is not recommended for serious projects due to limited resources and features.
Free hosting is like living in a dorm room where you don’t pay rent, but you have limited space, resources, and control. The hosting company often places ads on your site, and your website’s speed and functionality are usually quite limited. It’s good for small, personal projects or testing but not recommended for serious websites.
- Pros: No cost, easy to set up.
- Cons: Limited storage and bandwidth, ads may be displayed, slower performance.
Recommended Free Hosting Providers:
- Joomla.com — Offers free Joomla hosting for small projects. It’s easy to set up but comes with limited features and branding.
7. Self-Hosting
If you want full control over your server, you can host Joomla on your own physical or cloud server using services like Amazon EC2, Google Cloud, or DigitalOcean.
Self-hosting is like building and maintaining your own house. You buy and manage your own server (either physically or through a cloud provider), and you are responsible for everything — security, maintenance, and updates. It gives you the most control, but you need to be tech-savvy or willing to learn a lot about managing servers.
- Pros: Complete control, full customization.
- Cons: Requires technical knowledge for server setup, maintenance, and security.
5 Factors to Consider When Choosing a Host
By assessing your needs, budget, and technical skill level, you can find the best hosting option for your Joomla blog site. Here are five factors you need to consider.
- Joomla Compatibility: Ensure the host supports the required version of PHP, MySQL, and Apache.
- Uptime and Performance: Look for hosts with a strong uptime guarantee (99.9%+) and fast server response times.
- Security: Ensure they provide SSL certificates, firewall protection, and regular backups.
- Customer Support: Joomla-specific support can be a big help, especially for beginners.
- Scalability: If you expect your site to grow, choose a host that offers easy scalability.
Conclusions and Key Takeaways
In conclusion, finding the right hosting option for your Joomla blog depends on several factors, such as your budget, technical skills, and the specific needs of your site. Each hosting option, from shared hosting to self-hosting, offers its own advantages and disadvantages, allowing you to tailor your decision to your situation. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced blogger, there’s a solution for everyone.
Choosing wisely can impact your site’s performance, security, and scalability. Shared hosting works well for beginners, while dedicated servers offer more control for high-traffic websites. Managed hosting simplifies the process for those who prefer a hands-off approach, while free hosting and self-hosting are suitable for hobbyists and tech-savvy users.
Ultimately, the best hosting option is the one that aligns with your growth goals and technical expertise. By considering your needs and understanding the pros and cons of each option, you can ensure that your Joomla blog has the right foundation for success.
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A Little About Me
I write articles in my field covering gaming, film-making, social media, and design. I am also a YouTuber. Thank you for subscribing to my account to get notifications when I post on Medium. I also created a new blogging site to share my content for free and promote stories of writers contributing to my publications on Medium. I have a Substack newsletter. Let’s connect on Twitter and LinkedIn.
I own two publications on Medium. One for video gamers and another for YouTubers and Podcasters. I also support Illumination Integrated Publications as a volunteer editor and participate in collaborative activities in the Slack Workspace. Writer applications for my publications can be sent via this weblink. Please add your Medium ID.
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