Every website needs a home on the internet. A common question we get at Barefoot Build is: why do I need a website host? Many business owners confuse web hosting with Website Management Systems (WMS) like WordPress or Wix. This post will break down what a website host is, how it differs from a WMS, and why both are essential for your online presence. We’ll also explain how Barefoot Build helps clients choose the right host and how our maintenance plans differ from traditional hosting offerings.
What Is a Website Host?
Think of your website as a house. All the text, images, and pages are the furniture and decor inside that house. Web hosting is the land where that house sits—it’s the digital space where your website files live so that people can visit them online. Without a host, your website would have no place to stay, and no one could see it.
When you sign up for hosting, you’re renting a portion of a powerful computer (server) that’s always connected to the internet. This server stores your site’s files and serves them to anyone who visits your domain.
Hosting vs. Domain
Your domain name (e.g., barefootbuild.com) is like the address of your house. It tells people where to find you online. Hosting is the house itself where your content lives. Both are essential—without a domain, people wouldn’t know where to go, and without hosting, there’s nowhere for them to visit.
Hosting vs. WMS (Website Management System)
A WMS is the software you use to create and manage your website’s content. Examples include WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify. A WMS is like the blueprint and interior design for your site, while hosting is the land that makes it viewable online.
Some services like Wix and Shopify bundle both hosting and WMS. On the other hand, WordPress.org (the self-hosted version) requires you to get your own hosting provider, like SiteGround or Bluehost.
Popular Website Hosts
Here are some trusted hosting providers we often recommend:
- SiteGround – Known for reliability and great support. Offers domain registration and design templates.
- Bluehost – Officially recommended by WordPress, includes a free domain for the first year.
- Elementor Cloud Hosting – Combines hosting with Elementor’s design tools, streamlining the setup process.
Barefoot Build’s Hosting Recommendations
At Barefoot Build, we know that not all hosts are the same. We guide each client to the best hosting solution based on their needs. We do this during the intake process, ensuring you have a host that is fast, secure, and reliable.
Hosting vs. Maintenance Plans
It’s important to understand that hosting and maintenance are not the same. Hosting is like renting space for your website. Maintenance is like upkeep—making sure the site stays updated, secure, and running smoothly.
Our maintenance plans are designed to keep your site secure, updated, and performing at its best. With regular updates, backups, and security checks, we’ll make sure your site is always up-to-date and optimized for success.
| Aspect | Website Hosting Service | Website Maintenance Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Provided By | Third-party hosting companies (e.g., SiteGround, Bluehost, etc.) that own and manage servers. | Web developers or agencies (like Barefoot Build) who take care of your website’s health and updates. |
| Primary Purpose | Store your website files on a server and serve them to online visitors so your site stays live. | Keep your website software running smoothly with updates, security patches, and optimizations. |
| Key Features | Server space, bandwidth, and uptime. Often includes domain registration options, email accounts, and sometimes one-click installers or site builders. | Regular software updates (content management system, plugins, themes), daily or weekly backups, security monitoring, performance tuning, and technical support for website issues. |
| Who Handles It | Hosting provider’s tech team ensures the server is running, secure, and updated at the server level. You typically contact the host for server or email issues. | Your web agency or maintenance provider (Barefoot Build) ensures the website application is updated and fixes any site errors. You contact us for site-related issues (broken pages, plugin errors, etc.). |
| Billing | Recurring fee to the hosting company (monthly or yearly). Basic plans can range from a few dollars a month upwards, depending on resources. You pay this as long as you want your site online. | Recurring fee to your maintenance provider (e.g., Barefoot Build’s plans start at $99/mo). This covers the labor/effort of keeping your site updated, not the server cost. |
| Includes Domain Name? | Often yes, hosts let you register or even include a free domain for the first year. After that, domain renewal is a separate yearly cost. | No, domain is separate. Maintenance plans assume you already have a domain and hosting in place. We manage the site on that domain, but domain registration/renewal is on you or your host/registrar. |
| Includes Design/Templates? | Sometimes, yes. Many hosts provide basic design templates or a site builder to help you launch. However, complex design is up to you or your web designer. | Not typically. Maintenance is about the upkeep of an existing site. It doesn’t include a full redesign (though minor tweaks might be done during updates). For new designs, you’d start a separate design/development project. |
Conclusion
Every website needs a host to be visible online. A web host provides the space and infrastructure for your site to exist on the internet. At Barefoot Build, we help you choose the right host for your needs and offer maintenance plans to keep your site running smoothly long after it’s launched. If you want a site that’s not just live, but secure and optimized, reach out to us today.
