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One of the most common questions we get here at the swamp (usually when we’re enthusiastically talking about what we do) is: “What actually is web hosting?
One of the most common questions we get here at the swamp (usually when we’re enthusiastically talking about what we do) is: “What actually is web hosting?”
It’s a great question — and one that’s surprisingly hard to answer without slipping into technical jargon. So we decided to write this guide to explain, in plain English, what web hosting is and what us Hippos actually do all day.
Web hosting is a digital service that allows you to put your website or application online. While it’s technically possible to host a website on your own computer, doing so requires specialist knowledge and constant maintenance.
You also need to consider performance, security, reliability, and sustainability.
For most people, the simplest option is to buy web hosting. This means renting space on a powerful computer (called a server) that stores your files and delivers your website to visitors.
Every website on the internet is accessed via a domain name, such as hipposerve.co.uk.
Domain names are managed by the DNS (Domain Name System), which acts like a global address book. When you type a domain name into your browser, a DNS server looks up where that website lives.
Each server has a unique numerical address called an IP address. Once the DNS server finds the correct IP address, your browser connects to that server and requests the website content.
All of this happens in the background in a fraction of a second.
There are many different types of web hosting, each designed for different needs — from small personal blogs to large, multi-server applications.
As a general rule, it’s best to start with the simplest hosting option and scale up as your website grows.
Below are the most common hosting types available at Hipposerve.
Shared hosting means multiple websites are hosted on the same server, sharing its resources such as processor power, memory, disk space, and bandwidth.
This is the most affordable and beginner-friendly form of hosting. Everything is set up for you, and reputable hosts manage the server’s security and performance.
Shared hosting is ideal for individuals, start-ups, and small businesses just getting online.
Great things about shared hosting
Disadvantages of shared hosting
Hipposerve Studio is our next-generation website creation platform, designed to remove the technical barriers to getting online.
Powered by AI Ignite, Studio combines website building, content generation, hosting, and optimisation into a single, guided experience.
It’s ideal for businesses and creators who want to launch quickly, stay flexible, and let intelligent tools handle the heavy lifting behind the scenes.
Business One bridges the gap between shared hosting and full VPS solutions.
You get your own managed virtual server, but with the same easy-to-use Hipposerve control panel as our shared hosting.
This option is perfect for growing businesses that need better performance and isolation, without the complexity of managing a server themselves.
A Virtual Private Server (VPS) gives you dedicated resources within a powerful server environment.
Unlike shared hosting, your website is isolated from others, meaning better performance, greater control, and improved reliability.
VPS hosting is ideal for:
Hipposerve VPS plans are fully managed, so you get power without the pain.
Like it or loathe it, WordPress powers a huge portion of the internet.
Hipposerve Publish is hosting optimised specifically for WordPress. WordPress comes preinstalled, removing setup steps and reducing configuration headaches.
Because WordPress is more resource-intensive than basic websites, these plans are designed to deliver better performance and stability.
Great things about WordPress hosting
Disadvantages of WordPress hosting
Choosing web hosting can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re presented with expensive options and endless add-ons.
The reality is that most websites are relatively small and don’t need enterprise-level infrastructure from day one.
Our advice at Hipposerve is simple: start small and grow.
Choose a host that guides you honestly, supports you as your site expands, and doesn’t push you into more than you need.
The articles you’ll find here are part of Hipposerve’s growing archive, and some go back a little way. That means you may occasionally spot references to products we no longer offer, pricing that has since changed, or technologies and advice that reflected best practice at the time of writing but may not fully align with current thinking. We always aim to keep things accurate, but the web moves fast.
For the latest information on our services, features, pricing, and offers, please check the main pages of our website. And just to keep things clear — we’re unable to honour any prices or promotions mentioned in older blog posts. Thanks for reading, and happy browsing!
