Running an Ecommerce: Have a Home Server Setup or Get a Web Hosting Service?

Your success online is largely credited to your hosting’s efficiency. Choosing the right server is among the most challenging first steps for SMEs and e-commerce businesses.

The availability of so many server types, hard drives, processors, and other options to choose from makes the decision all the more difficult.

Generally, you have two hosting options: use a home server or look for a trusted web hosting provider. With a home-based server, you have complete physical control over your backup at all times. However, a web hosting service saves you all the hassle of managing your own server.

Here’s a rundown of different factors to consider when choosing the best hosting for your website. See how a home server and a web hosting service differ in each category.

Home Server vs. Web Hosting Service Provider

Availability/Uptime

Home server

A home server setup isn’t an ideal option if your website requires near 100% uptime. Achieving consistent high availability takes a long time and isn’t easy to master.

Apart from this, you also have to account for external factors such as power failures, overheating, and dust buildup. The damage incurred can take up a great deal of your time and resources.

Web hosting

Meanwhile, most web hosting service providers offer dedicated services built around high availability. They employ hosting professionals and are equipped with enterprise-level hardware.

A professional web hosting vendor can guarantee generous uptime backed by reasonable service terms to keep your website running efficiently.

Cost

Home server

A home server build’s cost is upfront. Besides purchasing the server hardware, the internet and electricity consumption can take a significant chunk from your operational budget.

This is a viable low-cost option if your server needs are not heavy. You can assemble your server infrastructure out of spare parts or re-purpose an old system. However, if you want to scale your website online, you’ll need more resources than what your home server setup can give you.

Web hosting

Most third-party hosting providers charge according to your chosen plan. The rates can either add up or lessen over time, depending on the brand. While this can prove to be more expensive than home servers later on, it comes with a great deal of add-ons.

For instance, your hosting provider might offer consistent networking, low power outage risk, automatic upgrades, and quick initial system setting. These all make the extra costs worth it. It’s also easier to acquire a hosting upgrade to accommodate your growing online needs.

Latency and Security

Home server

With a home server setup, these are two things you can worry about less. As home servers exist on your local network, your latency will be minimal. You’ll also have instant access to your files instead of relying on your internet speed.

When it comes to security, your data will be easier to control as they’re stored on bare metal infrastructure that you own and manage. However, if you lack the necessary expertise and resources to install security measures in place, your data can still fall prey to cyber threats.

Web hosting

Most web hosting providers offer a Content Delivery Network (CDN) service. With CDN, website visitors can access content from the nearest servers, regardless of their location. This ultimately helps cut down your website’s latency.

On the contrary, security is a real issue when utilising a web hosting service. Hosting companies are often targeted for hacks, malicious threats and other forms of cyberattacks.

Heat and Noise

Home server

If you’re running your server at home, that space is going to generate a lot of heat, especially during summers. It’s even worse if you don’t have air conditioning.

Besides, if your server is not dissipating heat properly, it may lead to thermal throttling, thus affecting its performance. Home servers have another disadvantage of making a lot of noise as well.

Web hosting

If you use the services of a web host, you won’t even know such problems exist, making this the sure-shot winner in this case.

Hosting companies care about their business and will go to great lengths to provide uninterrupted and high-quality service. They have in-house specialists who perform regular server maintenance. You can be sure that your hosting infrastructure is kept in stellar condition.

Technical support

Home server

Running a home server build requires adept technical skills to develop and maintain. Rather than convenience, it’s a greater risk to singlehandedly oversee your hosting without expertise. You might not even be aware of the latest innovation to elevate your hosting’s performance.

The option generally lacks the resources required to provide round-the-clock support for your website.

Web hosting

Irrespective of the type of business, if you’ve been running an ecommerce, you know the importance of offering robust customer support.

With a professional web host solution, you don't have to worry about this. Your web host provider will lend you the support you need and will guarantee that no hosting issue or concern remains unattended.

Our Recommendation: Opt for a Web Hosting Service

Managing your own server is nothing short of impressive. You’ll have total control over your data and hosting. As prices for hosting plans gradually increase over time, a home server can also be a long-term investment.

However, if you have to spend considerable time learning and buying new equipment, maintaining the servers, and paying for increased electricity bills, perhaps you need to assess if all this is worth the trouble.

If you’re establishing an ecommerce website, it’s best to dedicate all your time to growing your online brand. It’s a huge undertaking to manage your own server and the necessary maintenance will soon take a toll on you. A web hosting service saves you all this burden. If you’re wary of the price, a low-cost web hosting plan already has all the features you need to cater to customers efficiently.