Hello y’all…I’m currently on a shared-hosting deal with my hosting company for my WordPress site. They’ve suggested I move to a VPS but want to charge me over $60 per month for a basic package, which is WAY more expensive than other deals available and much more than the ~$6-7 per month I pay now.*
Frustratingly, there seems to be no middle ground with them (I’d happily pay $10-20 per month). I can add extra bandwidth or storage to my current shared hosting deal but not processor or memory increases, which (I believe) I need.
I would like to switch but am worried it might be too technical for me and I don’t want to break my site. Any advice would be gratefully received.
It’s not that complicated. WordPress consists only of a database and many files. The process involves exporting the database (using mysqldump or wp-cli), archiving all of your files as a tar or zip archive, downloading everything, uploading it to the new host’s server, and configuring everything (importing the database file into a database, unzipping the site archive at the proper location, configuring the web server to serve the site files, modifying wp-config.php if necessary, pointing the domain nameservers to the new host, and lastly deleting your data from the previous host).
It sounds like you’re in a tricky spot. If you’re considering switching to a VPS but are worried about the cost and technical aspects, you might want to explore alternative hosting providers that offer more affordable VPS options. Providers like DigitalOcean, Linode, and Vultr offer VPS plans starting around $5-10 per month, which might fit better with your budget. These platforms also provide user-friendly control panels and extensive documentation to help you manage your server. Before switching, ensure you have a complete backup of your WordPress site and consider using migration tools or services to make the transition smoother. If you’re not comfortable with the technical side, you might also look into managed VPS options where the hosting provider handles most of the technical maintenance for you.
