If you’re thinking about starting an online store with Shopify, you may be wondering if you need web hosting. After all, Shopify is a cloud-based platform that provides everything you need to build and run an ecommerce website, including web hosting. So why would you need anything else?
Shopify Web Hosting: The Pros and Cons
Pros
- Convenience: Shopify’s web hosting is built into the platform, so you don’t need to worry about setting up or managing a separate server.
- Scalability: Shopify’s web hosting automatically scales to meet your needs, so you can easily add more resources as your business grows.
- Security: Shopify’s web hosting is highly secure and includes features like DDoS protection, automatic backups, and SSL encryption.
Cons
- Limited customization: Shopify’s web hosting doesn’t offer the same level of customization as a third-party provider. You’re limited to using Shopify’s pre-built themes and apps.
- Higher costs: Shopify’s web hosting can be more expensive than using a third-party provider, especially if you need advanced features or a lot of resources.
- Limited control: While Shopify’s web hosting provides many features out of the box, you may still want more control over your server settings and configurations.
Third-Party Web Hosting: The Pros and Cons
Pros
- More customization: With a third-party provider, you have complete control over your server setup and can customize it to meet your specific needs.
- Lower costs: Third-party providers often offer more affordable pricing options than Shopify’s web hosting, especially if you need advanced features or a lot of resources.
- More control: With a third-party provider, you have complete control over your server settings and configurations, including server software, operating system, and security features.
Cons
- Technical expertise: Managing a dedicated server can be technically challenging, especially if you don’t have experience with server administration.
- Scalability: While third-party providers offer scalable solutions, you may need to manually upgrade or downgrade your resources as needed, which can be time-consuming and costly.
- Security risks: Managing a dedicated server means you’re responsible for securing it yourself, which can be risky if you don’t have the necessary expertise or resources.
When to Use Shopify Web Hosting vs. Third-Party Web Hosting
Shopify Web Hosting
- If you’re just starting out and want a simple, all-in-one solution that includes everything you need to build and run an ecommerce website, including web hosting.
- If you have limited technical expertise and don’t want the hassle of managing a dedicated server.
- If you need a scalable solution that automatically scales to meet your needs, without having to manually upgrade or downgrade resources.
Third-Party Web Hosting
- If you need more control over your server setup and configurations, including server software, operating system, and security features.
- If you have advanced technical expertise and want the ability to customize your server to meet your specific needs.
- If you’re willing to invest the time and resources into managing a dedicated server, and are comfortable with the technical challenges that come with it.
Real-Life Examples of Successful Shopify Web Hosting vs. Third-Party Web Hosting
Shopify Web Hosting
- Zoho Books: A popular accounting software company that uses Shopify to power its ecommerce store.
- Shake Shack: A fast food chain that uses Shopify to manage its online ordering system.
Third-Party Web Hosting
- Airbnb: A vacation rental marketplace that uses Amazon Web Services (AWS) as its primary web hosting provider.