If you have a WordPress Website, then you know that this wonderful platform handles everything for you – from enterprise websites to personal bogs. Employed by 40% of websites (60 million people) worldwide, the platform supports 200 languages.
But what if your site starts getting millions of views? Security and seamless functioning will become your priority, and downtime is not an option. That’s exactly where WordPress VIP comes into the picture! WordPress VIP fits well with big-enterprise infrastructure, and 25% of top businesses use it for their website.
Now, what to choose – WordPress or WordPress VIP? If you are unsure whether to select WordPress or WordPress VIP, you need to explore the platforms further. Although the two alternatives have similarities, several differences will help you understand the best course of action.
Let us explore the major differences between the platforms and analyze the characteristics, benefits, and aspects to facilitate a smart decision.
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WordPress – An Overview
There are two types of WordPress platforms – WordPress.org Vs WordPress.com. WordPress.org is an open-source version of WordPress that allows you to download and install it onto your web hosting services. You will get complete control over the design and customization of the best WordPress plugins for business to suit your specific taste. However, when you have control, you are responsible for choosing the hosting.
WordPress.com, on the contrary, is an accessible hosted version of WordPress. If you are a beginner in website creation, you can sign up for a free account and start building your site right away. WordPress.com will take care of your hosting, security, and maintenance so that you can focus on producing traffic. However, free versions have certain restrictions, such as limited storage space and the inability to customize themes and advertisements from WordPress. If you want to unlock more features, then you need to sign up for paid plans.
WordPress VIP – An Overview
WordPress VIP by Automattic is an enterprise-level managed hosting solution designed for sites with high traffic or enterprise publishers who need a scalable, secure, and reliable platform. With VIP, you will get advanced features and services beyond the traditional WordPress platforms.
Think of the WordPress VIP as a first-class section of the hosting. You will have a wide range of features and benefits, including dedicated infrastructure, advanced security measures, and expert support. It is suitable for the big leagues, powering websites like Rolling Stone and The New York Times.
WordPress Vs WordPress VIP – A Guide to Key Differences
While both platforms utilize the same CMS (Content Management System), there are significant differences between them. To help you out, here’s a detailed comparison between them based on several factors.
1. Hosting
WordPress VIP provides fully managed WordPress hosting. The infrastructure is optimized for performance, security, and scalability. It can handle high-traffic websites, ensuring better speed and reliability. Moreover, it also includes a CDN (Content Delivery Network) to enhance global content delivery and reduce latency. On the other hand, WordPress requires external hosting. So, you need to choose the best hosting provider based on your budget and requirements.
2. Scalability
Scaling with WordPress needs manual configuration of your server resources or upgrading to a higher hosting plan. It may cause temporary downtime or performance drawbacks during the process. If your site’s traffic rises, you might face challenges, adding complexity and cost.
In comparison, WordPress VIP’s built-in technology automatically adjusts resources, adding servers as needed to ensure smooth sailing even during peak hours. The CMS offers a geographically distributed infrastructure to reduce latency and ensure your site is always accessible to every visitor, despite their location. It also anticipates potential challenges and proactively scape up with resources before any slowdown occurs. So you can simply focus on creating amazing content and growing your audience.
3. Security
WordPress VIP has robust security infractions, including firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and DDoS protections, making your site virtually impenetrable. It will automatically update the software, ensuring your site is always equipped with the latest security patches. It also has FedRAMP authorization, meeting the rigorous security requirements of the US government.
However, security with WordPress is a shared responsibility between you and your chosen hosting provider. You need to choose your hosting plan, keep themes and plugins updated, and implement any additional security measures. You need to install the best plugins for WordPress and make sure they are updated on a regular basis.
4. Support and Maintenance
When you choose WordPress, you are responsible for your maintenance – whether it’s updating your core software, themes, and plugins or troubleshooting any issues you encounter, is up to you. However, with WordPress VIP, you will have a dedicated support service where a team will handle your updates, security, and backups. Therefore, you can focus on content creation or other core business options instead of keeping up with the technical issues by yourself.
5. Cost
Cost is another key distinction between WordPress and WordPress VIP hosting packages. WordPress offers an open-source platform, free to every use. However, you need to pay for hosting, themes, plugins, and any additional services you require.
In comparison, WordPress VIP is a premium service that comes with higher price tags based on the support level, customization needs, or traffic volume you choose.
Comparison Table: WordPress vs. WordPress VIP
Here’s a table to simplify the difference between WordPress VIP and WordPress for you:
| Parameters | WordPress | WordPress VIP |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting Infrastructure | Self-hosted by the user or web hosting provider | Fully managed hosting service with VIP servers |
| Target Audience | Individuals, businesses, and websites of all sizes | Enterprise and high-traffic websites |
| Security | Strong, plugins and security practices required, self-managed updates | Unmatched, FedRAMP authorized, DDoS protection, constant monitoring |
| Scalability | Requires manual configuration and upgrades, limited scalability on shared hosting | Automatic scaling to handle large traffic spikes |
| Performance | Good with optimization plugins and proper hosting, can slow down with high-traffic | Blazing fast, optimized servers, built-in caching |
| Support | Community-based support forums and paid options | 24/7 expert support from WordPress VIP professionals |
| Customization | Full control over code, themes, and plugins | Custom development is allowed within specific guidelines |
| Plugins | Extensive repository of third-party plugins | A limited set of pre-approved and custom-developed plugins |
| Themes | Vast theme library, free and premium options, custom theme development possible | Premium themes pre-installed, custom theme development available |
| Ease of Use | Basic technical knowledge recommended | No technical expertise required |
| Control | Full control over server environment and configuration | Limited control over the server environment |
| Community | Large, active community of users and developers | Smaller, enterprise-focused community |
| Best for | Blogs, personal websites, small businesses, websites with moderate traffic | Mission-critical websites, high-traffic businesses, security-sensitive site |
Wrapping Up!
Your choice between WordPress and WordPress VIP really comes down to your business objectives, traffic projection, and resource availability. Are you in search of assistance for your WordPress development or thinking of a WordPress VIP? Work with a WordPress development service agency that will walk you through the optimal options based on your specific requirements.
WordPress VIP keeps your sites running smoothly, even with millions of visitors and takes care of updates, security, and hosting so your business does not have to suffer. However, it is expensive and has strict rules for codings and plugins. Icecube Digital, the top WordPress VIP agency, assists you in taking advantage of all that WordPress has to offer without going for enterprise-class pricing.
