Shopify Hosting for eCommerce: Types, Pros & Cons, Alternatives

Main Types of eCommerce Hosting

Before we dive into Shopify hosting solutions, let’s see what options are generally available for eCommerce websites. Here are the primary ones:

Dedicated Hosting

Dedicated hosting involves renting an entire server reserved to host your eCommerce website solely. This option provides the highest performance, security, and customization. It’s ideal for high-traffic websites like large online stores that require maximum uptime and speed. At the same time, this option is the most expensive.

Virtual Private Server (VPS) Hosting

VPS hosting involves sharing a physical server with other users, but you get a virtually isolated environment, private IP, and resources allocated to your eCommerce website. This option offers more flexibility and scalability than shared hosting and comes at a lower cost than dedicated hosting.

Shared Hosting

Shared hosting involves sharing a physical server with other users, with each user allocated a specific amount of resources. This hosting option is affordable and easy to set up but may have performance and customization issues.

Cloud Hosting

Cloud hosting involves hosting your eCommerce website on a network of servers instead of a single physical server. This option provides flexibility, scalability, and high availability. Its main advantage is that the customers pay only for the resources used. Shopify hosting is a decent example of this option.

Does Shopify Provide Hosting?

Answering the question right away — yes, Shopify offers hosting services for online stores. On top of that, this eCommerce platform automatically provides access to them when a business signs up for one of Shopify’s pricing plans.

So, with Shopify’s extensive native functionality, you get server maintenance, software upgrades, the Shopify POS system, and security features like a built-in SSL certificate. You also benefit from the following:

• Performant servers
• Unlimited file storage
• Unlimited product listings
• Database support
• 24/7 customer support
• Fraud analysis
• Discount coupons

Shopify hosting provides a convenient and reliable solution for businesses looking to start an online store without the need for extensive technical knowledge or experience. However, companies should carefully evaluate their hosting needs and budget before choosing Shopify or any other hosting option.

Advantages of Shopify Web Hosting

Opting for Shopify hosting options opens up numerous benefits for businesses. The primary pros include the following:

Impeccable Performance

Shopify provides high-performance servers designed to handle large amounts of traffic, regardless of your company’s location and scale. It ensures that online stores are fast and responsive, delivering a better user experience for customers. Shopify’s servers are also optimized for search engines, improving the chances of ranking higher in search results.

Unlimited Bandwidth

Shopify website hosting offers unlimited bandwidth, meaning businesses can handle as much traffic as needed without worrying about extra costs or restrictions. It allows companies to scale their online stores without any limitations.

High Flexibility

Shopify offers various features and tools, making it suitable for businesses of all types. This eCommerce platform can accommodate different needs and requirements, especially through its dedicated app store.

Extensive Customization

Shopify web hosting is also about a wide range of customization options. Businesses can access adjustable themes and leverage a drag-and-drop page builder. You may be wondering: does Shopify host domains? Yes, the platform offers this option as well.

Ease of Use

Shopify hosting is easy to use, even for beginners. You don’t need any technical expertise to set up and manage your online store. The platform comes with a user-friendly interface, making it effortless to customize your store and add new features.

Reasonable Costs

Shopify hosting offers several affordable plans, so businesses can choose the one that fits their budgets. With transparent pricing and no hidden fees, companies can easily keep their costs under control.

Top-Notch Security

Shopify hosting takes security seriously, with robust measures to protect your store and customer data. The platform is PCI compliant, meaning it meets the highest standards for secure online transfers. As already mentioned, it also provides SSL certificates and fraud detection to prevent cyberattacks and data breaches.

Are There Any Drawbacks of Shopify Web Hosting?

While Shopify hosting offers many advantages, there are some limitations that businesses should be aware of:

Dependency

Shopify hosting is a fully managed solution, meaning that businesses depend on this eCommerce platform when it comes to handling server maintenance, security updates, and software upgrades. It can be disadvantageous for companies that prefer complete control over their hosting environment.

Pricing and Policy

Although there are several Shopify pricing plans, they may appear expensive to some small businesses or eCommerce startups. Additionally, the platform charges transaction fees for companies that use 3rd party payment gateways, which can add up over time. Shopify also has strict policies and rules on certain types of products, such as adult content, which can limit the types of businesses that can use the platform.

Reliance on Third-Party Apps

While Shopify offers a wide range of features and tools, businesses may need to use third-party apps to add extra functionality to their online stores. Some apps can be costly and slow down the website’s performance.

Cost of the Shopify Hosting Service

As we said, there are several Shopify hosting plans businesses may find suitable for their needs. Let’s look at them in greater detail:

• Shopify Basic. This Shopify hosting cost is $32 monthly. It includes essential features such as unlimited products, storage, bandwidth, discount codes, and abandoned cart recovery.
• Shopify. This one costs $92 monthly and includes all the features of the Basic Shopify plan, as well as gift cards, professional reports, and the ability to create up to five staff accounts.
• Shopify Advanced. This plan costs $399 monthly and includes all the features of the Shopify plan, advanced report builder, third-party calculated shipping rates, and the ability to create up to 15 staff accounts.

It’s worth mentioning the Shopify Plus plan separately. It’s designed for large enterprises and has custom pricing starting at $2,000 based on the specific needs and requirements of the business.

Shopify Plus hosting can handle massive traffic bursts, including the Black Friday Cyber Monday (BFCM) rush, without downtime or performance issues. It also includes all features of the previously mentioned plans with API access and other advanced tools.

Other eCommerce Hosting Providers as Alternatives for Shopify Hosting

If Shopify hosting prices don’t suit you or you want to manage your hosting environment independently, you may consider other service providers. Here are some of them:

A2 Hosting

A2 Hosting offers several hosting options, which include shared, VPS, dedicated, and managed WordPress hosting. The company’s servers are fast and performant, delivering features like free SSL certificates, 24/7 customer support, and a website builder.

Bluehost

Just like A2 Hosting, Bluehost provides shared, dedicated, and VPS hosting. It is also WordPress-optimized, offering a range of features, including one-click WordPress installation, free SSL certificates, 24/7 customer support, limitless SSD storage, and bandwidth.

Cloudways

Cloudways is a managed cloud hosting provider that offers various hosting options, including cloud, VPS, and dedicated hosting. It is a user-friendly platform that supports AWS and features server monitoring tools and automated backups.

GoDaddy

GoDaddy offers shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting. It features website builder tools, free domain names, and 24/7 customer support. Its edge is that the platform only charges fees when the online store starts fulfilling orders.

IONOS

IONOS, formerly 1&1, is one of the biggest and most well-known hosting providers, offering shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting. With its user-friendly control panel, businesses can manage their online stores effortlessly. They can also access such features as unlimited bandwidth, free domain registration, and SSL certificates.

GenovaWebArt Is Ready to Become Your Reliable Shopify Partner

GenovaWebArt is a certified Shopify design and development vendor. Our experts know how to launch a Shopify store and can do the same for you. We also offer a wide range of services that can help you reach your business goals and get on top of the competition. The main ones are as follows:

• Shopify theme development and customization. GenovaWebArt can create Shopify themes that match your brand’s unique style and requirements. Our experts can also customize existing themes to add new features or change the layout and design.
• Shopify app development. Our developers can build and test custom Shopify applications that add new functionality to your online store. These apps can help you to automate tasks, streamline your business processes, and provide a better shopping experience for your customers.
• Shopify design. Our experienced designers can create unique designs for your online store that are visually appealing and user-friendly. They can also optimize your store for better performance and search engine visibility.
• Shopify solutions from scratch. We can also deliver complex Shopify solutions, including custom development of features, integrations with third-party systems, and more. Our team guarantees complete compliance with your requirements.

To ensure our expertise and profound background, look at some of your projects that involved Shopify domain hosting, design, and development:

Shopify Plus Development and Ongoing Support Services for the Winky Lux Online Store

As part of this project, our team delivered Shopify Plus development services for Winky Lux, a beauty brand from the US. We created a custom Shopify theme aligned with the brand’s vision. Our experts added some unique features, including custom checkout and product reviews. Currently, GenovaWebArt continues to provide ongoing Shopify support services for Winky Lux.

Shopify Design and Development Services for the Beauty Star Alliance Online Store

GenovaWebArt provided Shopify design and development services for Beauty Star Alliance, the online store that offers luxury beauty products. As part of this project, we delivered a distinctive Shopify theme corresponding to this brand’s unique style. Our experts also improved the store’s performance and integrated third-party systems for a seamless shopping experience.

If you’re interested to learn more about our projects, you can see more online stores we developed in our portfolio.

Final Thoughts

Shopify hosting is a robust and reliable solution for eCommerce businesses, offering numerous benefits. Companies can access increased scalability, ease of use, affordability, 24/7 customer support, and top-notch security when opting for this eCommerce platform. While there are some minor limitations to consider, Shopify web hosting remains one of the best options on the market.

We hope that our Shopify hosting reviews have helped you to decide on the hosting provider that perfectly suits your business needs. And if Shopify is your choice, GenovaWebArt can assist you with its setup.

We can take your eCommerce business to the next level by providing excellent Shopify development services. Leverage our extensive expertise in Shopify-related processes and build an online store that sells and converts. Don’t hesitate to contact GenovaWebArt today to implement your ideas right away.