In short
Self-hosted WordPress means installing the open-source WordPress software, from WordPress.org, on web hosting you choose, rather than using an all-in-one hosted platform. You hold the site's files and data and can use any theme or plugin. With managed WordPress hosting, the host runs the server, so you keep that freedom without the server work.
See Cloudways' managed hosting plans
Cloudways lists its cloud providers, server sizes and locations, including London, on its own site.
What 'self-hosted WordPress' means
WordPress is open-source software. Anyone can download it from WordPress.org and install it on a web server; WordPress.org explains that it is released under the GPLv2 (or later) licence. When people say "self-hosted WordPress", they mean exactly that: the WordPress software running on hosting that you choose and pay for.
The "self" is about who decides, not who does the work. You choose the host, the domain, the theme, the plugins and where your data lives. The host might be a simple shared account, a cloud server your developer manages, or a managed WordPress platform that looks after everything below WordPress for you.
It is what most business websites built on WordPress are running: the version agencies build on, the one with the large ecosystem of themes and plugins, and the one that WooCommerce shops and membership sites use.
Hosted platforms versus self-hosted WordPress
There are also hosted WordPress platforms: all-in-one services where you sign up, pick a design and start publishing, and the platform runs the software and hosting together. They are a quick way to start a blog or a simple site, and the platform handles updates for you.
The difference is mostly about control:
| Hosted WordPress platform | Self-hosted WordPress | |
|---|---|---|
| Who runs the software | The platform | You, or your host on your behalf |
| Themes and plugins | What the platform allows on your plan | Any theme or plugin, including custom code |
| Access to files and database | Usually limited | Full access, through SFTP, SSH and database tools |
| Where your site is hosted | The platform's own infrastructure | The host and data centre you choose |
| Moving elsewhere | Content export; design and features rebuilt | The whole site moves, files and database together |
| Who handles security and updates | The platform | Shared between you and your host |
For a business, the deciding factors are usually plugins and ownership. If you need a particular booking system, a CRM integration, a shop or custom features, your own hosting lets you add them. And because you hold the files and database, you can move the whole site to a new host when you choose.
See Krystal's WordPress hosting plans
Krystal lists its UK hosting plans on its own site.
What you need to run a self-hosted WordPress website
A self-hosted site needs four things:
- A domain name, registered with a domain registrar
- Web hosting that meets WordPress's requirements
- The WordPress software, which many hosts install for you
- Someone to look after it: updates, backups and security, shared between you and your host
WordPress.org lists what it recommends a host supports:
| Requirement | WordPress.org recommends | What to check with a host |
|---|---|---|
| PHP | Version 8.3 or greater | Which PHP versions are offered, and whether you can choose per site |
| Database | MariaDB 10.11 or greater, or MySQL 8.0 or greater | The database version and whether you get direct access (phpMyAdmin or similar) |
| Web server | Apache or Nginx recommended | Any server that supports PHP and MySQL works; many hosts use Nginx or LiteSpeed |
| HTTPS | HTTPS support | SSL certificates included and renewing automatically |
All three hosts on this site meet these as a matter of course. As examples from their own pages: Cloudways offers PHP 7.4 to 8.4 and MariaDB 10.11 or 11.4 with NGINX and PHP-FPM; Krystal pre-installs LiteSpeed Cache and gives PHP version control in its managed dashboard; and WP Engine manages WordPress, PHP and MySQL for you on every plan.
Beyond the minimum, a business site benefits from page caching, a CDN, a firewall, daily backups and a staging copy for testing changes. On basic hosting you add these yourself with plugins and services. On managed hosting they come with the platform. Our guide to what WordPress hosting is explains these pieces in more detail.
Self-hosted does not mean running your own server
"Self-hosted" sounds as if you need a server under a desk, or at least a virtual server you manage yourself. You can do that, and some developers do. For most businesses it is the least efficient way to run a website: someone has to patch the operating system, keep PHP and the database current, configure security and backups, and respond when something goes wrong.
In practice, a self-hosted site usually runs on one of three kinds of hosting:
- Shared hosting: low cost and simple, with many sites on one server, a control panel such as cPanel, and most WordPress care left to you
- A VPS or cloud server: your own virtual server, with full control; unmanaged, the server is yours to run, while managed cloud servers such as Cloudways run the stack for you
- Managed WordPress hosting: the host runs the server and the platform, and you run your site
All three count as self-hosting; they differ in how much of the work you do. Our guide to shared vs VPS WordPress hosting compares them side by side. And if you are weighing up free WordPress hosting, that guide explains what a business site gives up.
Not sure which host to choose?
See the three hosts side by side on the features each one lists.
Managed hosting for self-hosted WordPress
Managed WordPress hosting is your own hosting with the server taken care of. You keep everything that makes self-hosting worthwhile: your own themes and plugins, access to files and the database, and the freedom to move. Krystal, for example, says it handles WordPress updates, backups, caching and platform-level security on its managed plans, while you keep control of your website, content, plugins and themes.
What that looks like across the three hosts on this site:
| Cloudways | Krystal | WP Engine | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Developer access | SSH and SFTP, with team credentials | SFTP, cron and PHP version control on managed plans; SSH and Git on standard hosting | SSH, Git-based deployment on Business and Enterprise |
| Caching | Memcached, Varnish and Redis built in; Breeze plugin pre-installed | LiteSpeed Cache pre-installed; Redis on premium plans | EverCache and a Cloudflare-powered CDN |
| Staging | Staging copies and one-click cloning | Two staging sites per live site | Production, Staging and Development environments |
| Updates | Site Manager Pro tests updates and rolls back | Core, plugins and themes updated automatically | WordPress and PHP updates; Smart Plugin Manager for plugins |
| Plugin limits | See Cloudways' site | Extra caching plugins not recommended | Some caching and backup plugins restricted |
The plugin limits are worth noting rather than worrying about. Managed hosts restrict a few plugins because the platform already does that job, usually caching or backups, and each publishes its own list. Your themes, page builders, shop and membership plugins run as normal. Our managed WordPress hosting guide explains the full picture.
Moving from a hosted platform to your own hosting
Businesses often start on a hosted platform and move to their own hosting when they need a plugin, a shop or more control. How the move works depends on how much access the platform gives you.
Where the platform gives you the site's files and database, the whole site can move, and new hosts' migration services can often do the copy: Krystal, for example, says its team migrates up to three WordPress sites on its managed plans, and WP Engine offers an Automated Migration plugin. Where a hosted platform does not give access to the files or database, only the content can be exported and imported, such as posts, pages and comments. The theme, plugins and design are then set up again on the new site, usually by your web developer.
A sensible order of work is:
- List what the site uses: pages, posts, forms, integrations, plugins or platform features, and any paid add-ons.
- Check what the platform lets you export: full files and database, or content only.
- Choose your new hosting and theme, and plan how each feature will work on the new site.
- Move or rebuild the site on a staging copy, and test it fully.
- Set up redirects for any URLs that change, so search rankings and links carry over.
- Switch DNS, keeping your email records intact, then retire the old platform.
Before you commit to anything, check what your current platform lets you export. Our guide to moving a WordPress site to a new host covers migration help at each host, plus the DNS and email steps, and WordPress hosting cost explains what drives the price of hosting once you are self-hosted.
Next step: compare hosts for self-hosted WordPress
Once you have decided to self-host, the choice is how much of the work you want the host to take on:
- Your own cloud server, managed for you: Cloudways lets you choose the provider, location and server size
- A managed WordPress platform: Krystal's managed plans and WP Engine run the server and the platform
- A control panel and more of the work yourself: Krystal's standard hosting includes cPanel, SSH and Git
Our WordPress hosting comparison puts all three hosts side by side on data centres, backups, staging, security and support, and each has its own page: Cloudways, Krystal and WP Engine. Plans and prices are on each host's own site.
Frequently asked questions
What is self-hosted WordPress?
It is the open-source WordPress software, downloaded from WordPress.org, installed on web hosting you choose. You control the site, its themes, plugins and data, and you can move it to another host. It is what most business websites built on WordPress use.
What is the difference between hosted and self-hosted WordPress?
A hosted WordPress platform runs the software and hosting together as one service, which is quick to start but limits plugins, access and how you move. Self-hosted WordPress runs on hosting you choose, with any theme or plugin, access to files and the database, and the freedom to move the whole site.
Do I need my own server for self-hosted WordPress?
No. It can run on shared hosting, a cloud server or managed WordPress hosting. With managed hosting, the host runs the server, security, caching and backups, so you look after the website rather than the machine it runs on.
Do I keep full control of my site on managed hosting?
Of the site, yes: your themes, plugins, content and users stay yours, and managed hosts give developers SFTP or SSH access. What the host controls is the server underneath, and some hosts restrict a few plugins that duplicate their own caching or backups. Each host publishes its own list.
Can I move from a hosted WordPress platform to my own hosting?
Usually, yes. If the platform gives you the files and database, the whole site can move, and hosts' migration services can often do the copy. Where it does not, only the content (posts, pages, comments) moves, and the theme and plugins are set up again, so check what your platform lets you export first.
See WP Engine's managed WordPress plans
WP Engine lists its plans and data centre options on its own UK site.