How to Choose the Right Web Server for Your WordPress Site

Dave Swift

Jun 29, 2021 — 2 min read

Introduction

In this video, Dave from Profitable Tools tackles the complex question of determining the appropriate web server specifications for running an online store or course on WordPress. This guide is not about selecting a specific hosting provider but about understanding how to spec your server for optimal performance without overspending or underserving your users.

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Key Points Discussed

Web Hosting Evolution: Emphasizes the shift from traditional shared hosting to commodity cloud providers like Amazon AWS, Google Cloud Platform, Digital Ocean, Vultur, and Linode for better scalability and control over resources.
Technical Challenges: Acknowledges the technical hurdles in server administration and introduces tools like Cloudways for easier management, offering a balance between cost and user-friendly server management.
Server Performance Testing: Details a series of tests conducted using Cloudways and Digital Ocean to evaluate how server load responds to RAM and CPU speed adjustments. The tests aim to identify the optimal server specs for running WordPress sites efficiently.
Importance of Caching: Discusses caching's role in website performance, highlighting its benefits for static content delivery and its limitations for dynamic content like e-commerce checkouts and online quizzes.
Test Results:
- Demonstrates that a basic $10/month server can surprisingly handle up to 479 concurrent users for cached content but recommends starting with a $10/month server for new businesses to manage initial traffic effectively.
- Reveals diminishing returns on performance when scaling up server resources without significant improvements in response times, suggesting that upgrading server specs beyond a certain point may not yield proportional benefits.
Optimal Server Specs: Concludes that a $50/month server with premium CPU and 4GB of RAM offers a notable improvement, supporting more concurrent users before crossing Google's 200ms response time threshold, making it a sweet spot for businesses with higher traffic.
Final Recommendations: Advises viewers to consider their budget and site requirements when choosing a server plan, suggesting that most businesses will benefit from the $50/month server option for optimal performance and user experience.

Conclusion

The video provides an insightful analysis of web server requirements for WordPress sites, offering practical advice on balancing cost, performance, and user experience. By conducting thorough testing, Dave delivers valuable recommendations for anyone looking to spec their server for an online store or course, helping viewers make informed decisions based on their specific needs.