What is a Web Host?

When you buy web hosting, you rent space on a server that stores your website's files and sends them to anyone who visits. You'll also see a web host called a hosting provider; the two terms mean the same thing. Plans run from a couple of dollars a month for shared space to a few hundred for a private machine.

How a web host works

Your website is a set of files: pages, images, code, and usually a database. Those files sit on your host's server, an always-on computer connected to the internet. Your domain name points to that server through DNS. When a visitor types your address, their browser requests the page from the server, and the server delivers it. If the server goes down, your site goes down with it. That's why uptime is the first number to check when you compare hosts.

Types of web hosting

Hosting labels overlap because they answer different questions. Shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting describe how much of a server's resources are yours. Cloud hosting describes the infrastructure behind the plan: a pool of machines instead of one. WordPress hosting describes the software a plan is tuned for, and it can run on any of those setups. Any type can also be managed or unmanaged. Managed means the host handles updates, backups, and security patches; unmanaged means you do. Choose managed if you'd rather work on your site than run a server, and unmanaged if you want full control and a lower bill.

The prices below are typical USD monthly rates for the U.S. market as of July 2026. The low end of each range is usually an introductory rate; renewal prices run higher.

• Shared hosting: several websites share one server. It's the cheapest option at roughly $2 to $10 per month, but performance depends on your neighbors. Use it for a new or low-traffic site.
• VPS hosting: a virtually partitioned private section of a shared machine, with guaranteed resources, typically $20 to $100 per month. Use it when you've outgrown shared hosting and can handle some server administration.
• Dedicated hosting: an entire physical server to yourself, roughly $80 to $300 or more per month. Use it for high-traffic sites that need full control over the hardware.
• Cloud hosting: your site draws on a network of servers instead of one machine, so resources scale with demand. Use it for spiky or fast-growing traffic.
• WordPress hosting: a plan tuned for the WordPress CMS, often with updates, caching, and backups handled for you. Use it if your site runs WordPress and you'd rather skip the upkeep.

Web host vs. domain registrar

A web host stores and serves your site's files. A domain registrar sells and manages the rights to your domain name. They're separate services, even though many companies sell both. You can register your domain with one company, host your site with another, and connect the two by pointing the domain's DNS records at the host. The split tells you who to call when something breaks: if your site is down, contact your host; if your domain has lapsed or won't resolve, start with your registrar.

Choosing a web host

Compare hosts on the details that actually differ: the uptime guarantee and what compensation backs it, support channels and hours, storage and bandwidth limits, whether backups are included, and an upgrade path from shared to VPS to dedicated so you can scale without switching companies. Track record counts too: DreamHost, for example, has been hosting websites since 1997. Start with the cheapest plan that fits your traffic and skill level, and see our guide to choosing the right web host for the full checklist.