Cloud Hosting vs Managed WordPress vs Legacy Cloud Sites: Which is Right for You?
Laughing Squid offers three different hosting solutions, each designed for different needs and use cases. This comprehensive guide will help you understand the differences and choose the right option for your website.
Quick Comparison
Feature |
Cloud Hosting |
Managed WordPress |
Legacy Cloud Sites |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best For: | Any website type, modern hosting | WordPress sites only | Existing CS customers only |
| Control Panel: | DirectAdmin control panel | Custom WordPress panel | Limited control panel |
| Software Support | Latest PHP, MariaDB | WordPress-optimized stack | Older PHP/MariaDB versions (feature freeze) |
| Pricing Model: | Based on storage & bandwidth | Based on storage & monthly visits | Based on storage & bandwidth |
| Management: | Semi-managed with support | Fully managed | Basic management |
| Status: | Active & Growing | Active & Growing | Legacy only |
Cloud Hosting: Modern Performance for Any Site
What It Is
Cloud Hosting provides modern web hosting with the latest software, enhanced security, and reliable performance. It's our recommended solution for non-WordPress customers who want current technology and room to grow.
Best For
- Any type of website (HTML, Drupal, Joomla, WordPress, custom applications)
- Growing businesses needing reliable, modern hosting
- Users wanting current software (latest PHP, MariaDB versions)
- Sites requiring enhanced security (DDoS protection, Free SSL)
- Customers upgrading from Cloud Sites
Key Benefits
- Latest PHP versions (8.x+) and MariaDB
- DirectAdmin control panel with full features
- Free SSL certificates via Let's Encrypt
- Built-in DDoS protection and security monitoring
- SSD storage for improved performance
- 24/7 managed support and free migration
Available Plans
| Plan | Storage | Bandwidth | Best for: | Starting price: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CH1 | 3GB | 50GB | Small websites, getting started | $6/month |
| CH2 | 4GB | 60GB | Growing sites, more content | $8/month |
| CH3 | 5GB | 70GB | Large sites | $10/month |
| Forwarding | 0GB | 50GB | Domain forwarding only | $3/month |
Managed WordPress: WordPress Without the Mess
What It Is
Managed WordPress hosting is specifically optimized for WordPress websites, with everything pre-configured and managed for optimal WordPress performance through our partnership with Pressable.
Best For
- WordPress websites only
- Site owners who want to focus on their site, not hosting
- Bloggers and content creators
- Anyone wanting WordPress-specific optimizations
Key Benefits
- WordPress-optimized servers and caching
- Automatic WordPress updates and security
- Built-in CDN
- Jetpack Premium included at no extra cost
- Visit-based pricing instead of resource limits
- Fully managed servers - we handle the hosting, you handle your site
Available Plans
| Plan | Storage | Monthly visits | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|
| MWP0 | 3GB | 10,000 | $10/month |
| MWP1 | 4GB | 20,000 | $13/month |
| MWP2 | 5GB | 30,000 | $17/month |
| MWP3 | 6GB | 40,000 | $21/month |
Cloud Sites: Legacy Hosting (Feature Freeze)
What It Is
Cloud Sites is our legacy hosting service that has been placed in a feature freeze. While we continue to support existing customers, no new features or software updates will be added.
Current Status
- Feature Freeze: No new PHP versions, MariaDB updates, or features
- Maintenance Only: We provide support and resolve outages
- Not Recommended: For new customers or growing websites
- Migration Encouraged: We recommend existing Cloud Sites customers upgrade to Cloud Hosting or Managed WordPress
Legacy Plans (For Reference)
| Plan | Storage | Bandwidth | Status | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CS1 | 2GB | 50GB | Legacy only | $6/month |
| CS2 | 3GB | 60GB | Legacy only | $8/month |
| CS3 | 4GB | 70GB | Legacy only | $10/month |
| Forwarding | 0GB | 50GB | Legacy only | $3/month |
Why Upgrade from Cloud Sites?
- Modern software: Latest PHP and database versions
- Better security: Enhanced protection and SSL certificates
- Improved performance: Faster loading with SSD storage
- Future-proof: Continued development and improvements
- Better control panel: You can reset your own password
Detailed Comparison
Software & Technology
Cloud Hosting:
- Latest PHP versions (8.x+)
- Current MariaDB database server
- DirectAdmin control panel
- SFTP access
- Modern server infrastructure
Managed WordPress:
- WordPress-optimized PHP and database
- Automatic WordPress core updates
- WordPress-specific caching and optimization
- Pressable's managed platform
- Jetpack Premium integration
Cloud Sites (Legacy):
- Older PHP versions (no updates)
- Older MariaDB version (no updates)
- Basic control panel
- Legacy infrastructure
Security Features
Cloud Hosting:
- Free Let's Encrypt SSL certificates
- Built-in DDoS protection
- Regular security updates
- Malware scanning and protection
- Isolated hosting environment
Managed WordPress:
- Automatic SSL certificates
- WordPress-specific security features
- Jetpack security monitoring
- Malware scanning and removal
- Brute force attack protection
Cloud Sites (Legacy):
- Basic security features
- No automatic SSL certificates
- Limited security updates
- Minimal malware protection
- Shared hosting vulnerabilities
Performance & Reliability
Cloud Hosting:
- SSD storage for fast performance
- 99.99% uptime guarantee
- Optimized server configurations
- Built-in caching
- DDoS protection
Managed WordPress:
- WordPress-optimized performance
- Built-in CDN via StackPath
- Automatic caching
- Server-level optimizations
- Auto-scaling capabilities
Cloud Sites (Legacy):
- Traditional storage (slower)
- Basic uptime guarantees
- Limited performance optimization
- No built-in CDN
- Shared resource limitations
Migration Paths
From Cloud Sites to Cloud Hosting
Recommended for:
- Non-WordPress sites
- Users wanting more control
- Sites needing the latest software versions
- Growing websites requiring better performance
Benefits:
- Same pricing structure
- Easy migration process
- Significant performance improvements
- Modern software stack
- Enhanced security features
From Cloud Sites to Managed WordPress
Recommended for:
- WordPress sites only
- Users wanting fully managed hosting
- Sites benefiting from visit-based pricing
- Customers preferring hands-off management
Benefits:
- WordPress-specific optimizations
- Automatic updates and management
- Built-in premium features (Jetpack)
- Scalable visit-based pricing
Decision Guide: Which Should You Choose?
Choose Cloud Hosting If You:
- ✅ Run any type of website (WordPress, Drupal, Joomla, custom)
- ✅ Want the latest PHP and database versions
- ✅ Need DirectAdmin control panel access
- ✅ Prefer traditional hosting with modern features
- ✅ Are upgrading from Cloud Sites
- ✅ Want enhanced security and performance
Choose Managed WordPress If You:
- ✅ Only run WordPress websites
- ✅ Prefer completely hands-off hosting
- ✅ Want WordPress-specific optimizations
- ✅ Like pricing based on traffic rather than resources
- ✅ Want automatic WordPress updates and management
- ✅ Prefer Jetpack Premium features built-in
Upgrade from Cloud Sites If You:
- ✅ Need modern PHP versions for your applications
- ✅ Want enhanced security features and SSL certificates
- ✅ Require better performance and reliability
- ✅ Want continued feature development and improvements
- ✅ Need better technical support and assistance
Special Considerations
Forwarding Plan
The Forwarding plan is for domain forwarding only. It does not come with any space to host a website. You should only choose this option if you need to forward a domain and/or want to use a domain for email only.
Email Services
- Cloud Hosting: Email included with all but the basic plan
- Managed WordPress: Email included with all but the basic plan
- Cloud Sites: Email included with all but the basic plan
Support Levels
- Cloud Hosting: Managed support with modern tools
- Managed WordPress: Full WordPress management and support
- Cloud Sites: Basic tools with general support
Making the Switch
Migration Available
We provide migration assistance for customers moving:
- From Cloud Sites to Cloud Hosting
- From Cloud Sites to Managed WordPress
- From other hosting providers to either service
Migration Timeline
- Simple sites: Usually completed within 24 hours
- Complex sites: 48 hours or more, depending on size and complexity
- Zero downtime: We coordinate DNS changes for seamless transitions
Still Not Sure?
Our hosting specialists can help you choose the right solution:
- Analyze your current usage and recommend the best option
- Explain pricing differences and help you find the best value
- Plan your migration with minimal downtime
- Answer technical questions about features and capabilities
Contact us: https://laughingsquid.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/
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