Hosting support and WordPress support – what’s the difference?

Hosting support and WordPress support – two terms that include “support” and are often just lumped together as “website support.” At first glance, they might seem like the same thing, and that’s understandable. For most people who aren’t tech-savvy, “website” is a straightforward concept, and “support” simply means getting help when you have questions or problems. But are they actually the same?

The short answer: No, they’re not. They serve very different purposes. In this article, I’ll break down what each type of support does and explain why both hosting support and WordPress support are essential for keeping your website healthy and running smoothly, though they address very different needs.

The key differences between hosting support and WordPress support

At first glance, hosting support and WordPress support might seem similar, but they handle very different aspects of your website. Hosting support takes care of the server and infrastructure that keeps your site online, while WordPress support focuses on the functionality and day-to-day maintenance of your WordPress website itself. Think of it this way:

Let’s dive into the details.

What does web hosting support actually do?

Web hosting is the service that provides the infrastructure needed for your website to be accessible on the internet. This includes server management, bandwidth, and storage. Hosting support ensures that your server software is up-to-date, the server is running smoothly, and any technical issues related to the hosting environment are handled. Most web hosting providers offer a control panel that clients can use to adjust the environment settings based on the needs of their website. Their main job is to keep the server software secure, processes running, and the hardware in good shape.

Here’s a look at some specific tasks they handle:

• Hardware support – This involves managing repairs, replacing faulty components, expanding disk storage, and handling BIOS updates to ensure the server hardware runs smoothly and reliably.
• Network equipment maintenance – Hosting support also fixes or replaces network hardware like routers and switches. They make sure your website remains accessible through regular updates to network software and by resolving network issues.
• Server software updates – Keeping the server’s operating system (such as Linux), control panels (like cPanel or Plesk), and server software (like Apache, Nginx, or LiteSpeed) up-to-date is essential for both security and performance. Hosting support takes care of these updates to prevent vulnerabilities or performance lags.
• Email support (if included in your plan) – For hosting plans that offer email services, hosting support manages these email servers, ensuring that they run efficiently. This can include handling email deliverability issues, spam filtering, and mailbox configurations.
• Backup and recovery – Many hosting providers offer backup solutions to protect your data, creating and storing backups so you can quickly recover your website if there’s data loss or a server failure.

But while hosting providers are experts at keeping the server running, they typically don’t manage the specifics of your WordPress site. They aren’t responsible for your site’s content, plugins, or themes – that’s where the difference comes into play.

What does WordPress support cover?

WordPress support, on the other hand, focuses on your actual website. This includes everything from how your site looks to how it functions. Whether it’s changing content and images, updating products on your eCommerce store, or making sure everything is working correctly on the front end, WordPress support has you covered. It also includes the regular updates of WordPress core, themes, and plugins, site backups, security measures, and performance tuning.

While hosting support focuses on keeping your server and infrastructure running smoothly, WordPress support is all about the website itself – the part your visitors interact with. WordPress support ensures that your website is regularly updated, secure, fast, and running without hiccups.

Here’s what WordPress support typically includes:

• Content management – Need to change or update something on your website? WordPress support can help you add new blog posts, update product listings, or change images on your site. For example, if you run an online store and want to upload new product photos or change the description of an item, WordPress support can handle that for you. It’s like having someone on-call to make sure your website always has the latest info.
• Theme and plugin updates – WordPress runs on themes (which control the design) and plugins (which add functionality). These need to be updated regularly to keep your site running smoothly and securely. Without updates, you might run into bugs, or even worse, leave your site vulnerable to hackers. WordPress support professionals handle these updates correctly. For example, if your contact form plugin suddenly stops working after an update, support will step in and fix it.
• Security checks – Keeping your site secure is critical. WordPress support runs regular security checks and scans to spot vulnerabilities or malware. This helps protect your site from getting hacked. If something suspicious is found, like malware, they will clean it up to keep your site and data safe.
• Backups – Regular backups are essential in case something goes wrong, like a plugin causing your site to crash or a hacker getting in. WordPress support makes sure your website is backed up on a regular basis. And you can quickly restore it if needed. For example, if an update causes your site to break, support can restore it to the way it was before the update in just a few clicks. Plus, these backups are stored outside the website, on private backup storage.
• Performance optimization – A slow website can drive visitors away, especially if it takes too long to load. WordPress support includes performance tuning – this means optimizing your site to make sure it loads quickly and runs smoothly. This could include things like compressing images or removing unnecessary plugins that are slowing down the site.
• Bug fixes and troubleshooting – Sometimes things just don’t work as expected – maybe a page won’t load, a plugin crashes, or the checkout process in your online store breaks. WordPress support troubleshoots these issues and fixes them fast, minimizing downtime and keeping your site running properly.

For example, let’s say one day your product pages suddenly stop displaying images. You’re not sure why, but WordPress support can investigate, find the issue (maybe a plugin conflict or an outdated theme), and resolve it so your customers can see the products again without you having to stress over it.

In summary, WordPress support takes care of everything that happens inside your website. Whether it’s regular updates, security monitoring, or helping you fix a specific problem, this support ensures your site stays up-to-date, secure, and user-friendly. While hosting support keeps the lights on, WordPress support keeps your site in top shape and running smoothly for your visitors.

The role of WP Division – filling the gap in WordPress support

Having worked in a hosting company, I saw firsthand that hosting support only covers part of the equation. Managing a WordPress site demands a specific set of skills, attention, and responsibilities that hosting teams simply don’t provide.

That’s why WP Division steps in. We provide dedicated WordPress support, handling everything from updates and security checks to plugin management and troubleshooting. Businesses need more than just server maintenance. They need a team partner focused on the ongoing care of their WordPress websites.

Do you have the right support in place?

I’m sure if you have a website, you already have hosting support. It’s a given – without it, your site wouldn’t be online. But can you say the same for WordPress support? Hosting takes care of the server, but that’s just one part of the equation. Your website needs updates, security checks, and ongoing maintenance to run smoothly, stay secure, and perform well for visitors.

Don’t let small issues pile up until they become major problems. Take control of your website’s health and success by making sure you have the right WordPress support team in place. Whether it’s keeping your plugins updated, optimizing performance, or fixing those pesky bugs, a dedicated WordPress support team can save you time, stress, and help your site thrive.