WordPress itself (WordPress.org) is software, so it doesn’t sell hosting—cloud or VPS—directly; you choose a provider that offers VPS or cloud servers and install WordPress there. WordPress.com, the hosted service, does provide managed WordPress hosting on its own cloud infrastructure, with scaling, security, and support included in its plans. It’s “cloud hosting” in the managed sense, but it isn’t a traditional VPS where you get root access and manage the server yourself. Many businesses start with managed plans, then switch to VPS for caching, server modules, and isolation. If you run WooCommerce, VPS can help handle spikes and database load.

Yes, WordPress allows self-hosting through WordPress.org, which is the free, open-source WordPress software you install on your own web hosting. With self-hosting, you control your domain, server, files, database, themes, and plugins, and you can customize the site without platform restrictions. You can build blogs, business sites, membership sites, or WooCommerce stores, and you can move to another host anytime. You are responsible for updates, backups, security, and performance, but many hosts provide tools to make this easier. WordPress.com is different and is a hosted service, but it also supports a migration path.

WordPress hosting plans come in several types based on performance and control. Shared hosting is cheapest and fits small sites, but resources are shared. Managed WordPress hosting includes automatic updates, backups, security, caching, and expert support. VPS hosting gives dedicated resources in a virtual server, offering better speed and control. Dedicated hosting provides a full server for high-traffic sites but costs more. Cloud hosting uses multiple servers for scaling and reliability, useful for growing businesses. Some hosts also offer WooCommerce hosting, optimized for online stores with extra caching and security. The best plan depends on traffic, budget, technical skills, and support needs.

WordPress sites can run on shared hosting, where many websites share one server. Managed WordPress hosting is tuned for WordPress with caching, backups, updates, and support. VPS hosting gives a virtual private server with reserved resources and more control. Dedicated hosting provides an entire server for maximum performance and customization. Cloud hosting spreads your site across multiple servers for easy scaling and higher uptime. WooCommerce hosting is a managed variant optimized for stores, payments, and heavy databases. You can also use WordPress.com’s hosted plans, where the platform handles hosting but limits server-level access and some customization for beginners and bloggers.

Plugin development in WordPress means creating a custom plugin to add or change site features without editing core files. A plugin is a set of PHP files, and sometimes CSS, JavaScript, and templates, that runs inside WordPress. Developers use hooks like actions and filters to connect code to WordPress events, such as saving a post or loading a page. Plugins can create admin pages, add shortcodes, register custom post types, connect APIs, and build custom blocks. Good plugins follow WordPress coding standards, use secure input validation, and support updates. Plugin development helps you build reusable, portable functionality for one site or many sites.