What Is Cloud Hosting? A Web Creator’s Complete Guide

Understanding this technology is no longer optional for anyone serious about their online presence. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know. We will start with the basics of what “the cloud” actually is, break down the core benefits, compare the different types, and help you decide when it is the right choice for your project.

Key Takeaways

• Cloud Hosting Uses a Network: Unlike traditional hosting, which relies on a single server, cloud hosting uses a network of connected servers. If one server fails, another takes over instantly. This leads to much higher reliability.
• Scalability is Instant: Cloud hosting is “elastic.” You can add or remove resources like RAM and CPU instantly to handle traffic spikes, such as during a sale or a viral post.
• You Pay for What You Use: The billing model is often like a utility. Instead of paying a flat fee for a server you may not fully use, you only pay for the resources you actually consume.
• Performance is a Core Benefit: By using a network of servers, cloud hosting can balance traffic. It also often includes features like Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) to make your site faster for users worldwide.
• “Managed Cloud” is the Best of Both Worlds: For most users, especially on WordPress, a “managed” cloud solution is ideal. This gives you all the power of the cloud without the headache of managing the server yourself. A provider like Elementor Hosting handles all the technical optimization, security, and support for you.
• It’s the Modern Standard: For eCommerce stores, growing businesses, and anyone who values uptime and speed, cloud hosting is the new standard for web creation.

What Is “The Cloud?” How Cloud Hosting Actually Works

Let’s get one thing straight: “the cloud” is not a magical, fluffy thing in the sky. It is a different, and much better, way of organizing computer hardware.

I like to use this analogy.

• Traditional Hosting (Shared/Dedicated): This is like having a single, gas-powered generator at your house. It is your generator. If it is a small one (shared hosting), you cannot run your air conditioner and your microwave at the same time. If it is a big, expensive one (dedicated server), it is powerful, but it is still just one machine. If it runs out of gas or a part breaks, your power goes out. End of story.
• Cloud Hosting: This is like being plugged into the entire city’s power grid. It is a vast network of power plants (servers) all connected. You can draw as much or as little power as you need. If one power plant goes down for maintenance, you do not even notice. The grid automatically reroutes power from other plants to your house. You get consistent, reliable power, and you only pay for the kilowatts you use.

That, in a nutshell, is cloud hosting. It is a network of multiple physical servers all linked together to act as one giant, flexible system. Your website is not tied to a single machine. It draws resources from the entire “pool.”

The Core Technology Explained

How does this network of servers function as one? It is thanks to a few key technologies that work together.

Virtualization: Slicing Up the Hardware

This is the foundational concept. A special piece of software called a “hypervisor” is installed on the physical servers. This hypervisor slices up the physical hardware (the actual metal servers) into multiple, separate virtual machines (VMs).

Each VM thinks it is its own independent computer. It has its own operating system, CPU, RAM, and storage. In reality, it is just a “virtual” slice of the larger pool of hardware resources. This is what allows your website to be “virtual” instead of being tied to one specific physical box.

Resource Pooling & Orchestration: Managing the Network

All these virtual machines are connected in a massive network. Special software, often called an “orchestration layer,” manages this entire pool of resources. This software’s job is to automatically assign resources where they are needed.

When your site gets a surge of traffic, the orchestration layer sees it happening. It instantly assigns more CPU and RAM to your VM to handle the load. If the physical server your VM is on gets too busy, this software can automatically move your entire live website to a less busy server in the network. This process, called live migration, happens with zero downtime. This is something traditional hosting simply cannot do.

Redundancy & Failover: Copying Data for Reliability

In a cloud environment, your website’s data is not just stored in one place. It is typically replicated (copied) across multiple hard drives on different physical servers.

If a physical server—let’s call it Server A—has a hard drive failure, the system does not panic. It has been designed for this. The system instantly reroutes all requests for your site to Server B, where a perfect, up-to-date copy of your data already exists. This process is called “failover.” It is often so fast that neither you nor your visitors will ever know it happened. This is how cloud providers can offer 99.99% (or even higher) uptime guarantees.

Cloud Hosting vs. Traditional Hosting: A Clear Comparison

The best way to understand the value of the cloud is to see it next to the hosting types you are probably used to.

• Shared Hosting: This is the cheapest and most common entry-level hosting. Your website is placed on a single physical server along with hundreds, sometimes thousands, of other websites. You all share that server’s fixed resources (CPU, RAM). If another site on your server gets a virus or a huge traffic spike, it can consume all the resources. This will slow down or even crash your site. This is called the “bad neighbor” effect.
• VPS (Virtual Private Server) Hosting: This is a step up from shared. It is still one physical server, but the hypervisor gives you a guaranteed slice of the resources. You have your own “virtual” server, so other sites on the machine cannot steal your RAM or CPU. However, you are still limited to the total resources of that one physical machine. It is also often “unmanaged,” meaning you are responsible for security updates and all server software.
• Dedicated Server Hosting: This is the “big generator” from our analogy. You rent an entire physical server for yourself. It is powerful and secure, but it has three major downsides. First, it is very expensive. Second, you are limited to the hardware in that box. If you need to upgrade, it requires physical downtime to install new RAM or a new CPU. Third, it is a single point of failure. If the power supply or hard drive fails, your site is down until someone can physically repair it.

Cloud hosting takes the “private” aspect of a VPS and the “power” aspect of a dedicated server, but it applies them across a flexible, redundant network.

Here is a simple breakdown:

Feature	Shared Hosting	VPS Hosting	Dedicated Server	Cloud Hosting
Scalability	Very Low. Must upgrade plan.	Low to Medium. Limited by one server.	Low. Requires physical hardware changes.	Very High. “Elastic” resources on-demand.
Reliability	Low. “Bad neighbor” effect.	Medium. Isolated, but still one server.	Medium. A single point of failure.	Very High. Network redundancy & failover.
Performance	Variable.	Good, but limited.	High, but fixed.	Consistently High. Load balanced.
Billing	Flat Monthly Fee	Flat Monthly Fee	High Flat Monthly Fee	Pay-As-You-Go (Utility) or Flat Fee
Management	Managed by provider.	Often Unmanaged.	Usually Unmanaged.	Can be Unmanaged or Managed.

The 5 Core Benefits of Cloud Hosting

Now that we understand how it works, let’s look at why it is so popular. The benefits go far beyond just “it’s on a network.” These are real business advantages.

Benefit 1: Superior Scalability and Flexibility (The “Elastic” Advantage)

This is the number one reason businesses choose the cloud. Cloud hosting is elastic. It can grow or shrink with your needs in real-time.

• Vertical Scaling (Scaling Up): Your website is having a great day and you need more power. With cloud hosting, you can log into a control panel and add more RAM or CPU with a simple slider. The change is often instant, with no reboot required.
• Horizontal Scaling (Scaling Out): This is even more powerful. Instead of making your one server bigger, the cloud can automatically create clones of your server to handle the load. When traffic surges, it might spin up 10 copies of your site. A “load balancer” distributes visitors evenly among them. When traffic dies down, it automatically removes the copies.

Compare this to a dedicated server. If you run a promotion that goes viral, your single server overloads and crashes. You lose all those sales. To get more power, you would have to order a new, more expensive server. This could take hours or even days to set up. The opportunity is lost.

Benefit 2: High Availability and Reliability (99.99% Uptime)

Reliability is measured in “uptime,” and cloud hosting is the clear winner. Because your site is not on one machine, it has no single point of failure.

A traditional server might offer a 99.9% uptime guarantee. That sounds great, but let’s do the math:

• 99.9% Uptime = 8.77 hours of potential downtime per year. That is more than one full business day your site could be offline.

A good cloud provider offers 99.99% uptime or more.

• 99.99% UType = 52.6 minutes of potential downtime per year.

For an eCommerce store, a blog that runs ads, or any business website, the difference between hours of downtime and minutes of downtime is thousands of dollars in lost revenue and customer trust. This reliability is achieved through the automatic failover and redundancy we discussed earlier.

Benefit 3: The Pay-As-You-Go Cost Model (Efficiency)

Traditional hosting forces you to pay for resources you do not use. You have to buy a dedicated server that is big enough to handle your busiest day of the year (like Black Friday). But for the other 364 days, 80% of that server’s expensive power sits idle. You are paying for capacity you are not using.

Cloud hosting often uses a utility billing model. You only pay for what you actually consume.

• No Upfront Capital Expense (CapEx): You do not have to spend $5,000 on a new server. You just pay your monthly utility bill (OpEx, or Operational Expense). This is a huge win for startups and small businesses.
• Ultimate Efficiency: Your bill is low on quiet days and scales up slightly on busy days. You are always paying exactly for what you need, when you need it. This is almost always cheaper in the long run than over-provisioning a dedicated server.

Note: Some managed cloud providers, which we will cover later, simplify this. They offer tiered plans (e.g., $25/month) that give you a set amount of cloud resources. This provides more predictable billing, which many businesses prefer.

Benefit 4: Enhanced Performance and Speed

Cloud hosting is inherently faster for a few reasons.

1. Load Balancing: As mentioned, when traffic is high, a load balancer can spread the requests across multiple servers. This prevents any single server from getting overwhelmed and slowing down. This ensures every user has a fast experience, not just the first few.
2. Content Delivery Networks (CDNs): Most top-tier cloud providers integrate a CDN. A CDN is a network of servers around the globe that stores copies of your website’s static content (like images, CSS, and JavaScript). When a user from Japan visits your site (hosted in New York), they do not have to download those images from New York. The CDN serves them from a local server in Tokyo. This dramatically reduces latency and speeds up your site for a global audience.
3. Better Hardware: Cloud providers like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft are in a constant race to have the newest, fastest servers, storage, and network connections. You get the benefit of this cutting-edge hardware without ever having to buy it.
4. Optimized Assets: A faster network is only part of the solution. You also need to ensure your assets are fast. Modern web creation platforms often include tools to help with this, like an Image Optimizer to compress your images without losing quality, further boosting speed.

Benefit 5: Robust Security (Shared Responsibility)

This is a common misconception. Some people think the cloud is less secure because their data is “out there.” The opposite is true. A major cloud provider’s security is far beyond what any single company could afford.

• Physical Security: Their data centers have 24/7 security, biometric scanners, and safeguards you only see in movies.
• Network Security: They have massive, dedicated teams that do nothing but monitor for threats. They provide powerful firewalls (like a Web Application Firewall, or WAF) and automatic DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) mitigation to block massive “junk traffic” attacks.
• Compliance: These providers are certified for high-security standards like PCI (for credit cards) and HIPAA (for medical data). This is extremely difficult and expensive to achieve on your own.
• Accessibility: Modern security also means ensuring your site is usable by everyone. Top platforms are now integrating web accessibility tools to help you build sites that are both secure and compliant.

There is one important caveat: the “shared responsibility model.” The cloud provider is responsible for securing the cloud infrastructure. You are responsible for securing what you put in the cloud (your application, your passwords, who you give access to).

This is why “Managed Cloud Hosting” is so important. A managed provider takes on much of your share of the responsibility, managing application-level security for you.

Understanding the Types of Cloud Deployment

“Cloud hosting” is a broad term. The specific type you use depends on your needs for control, cost, and privacy.

Public Cloud (The Standard Model)

This is the most common model and the one we have been focusing on. The infrastructure is owned and operated by a third-party provider, like Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Amazon Web Services (AWS), or Microsoft Azure.

You share the massive resource pool with other “tenants” (customers). Your VM is separate and secure, but you are all on the same shared hardware network. This is the most scalable, most cost-effective, and most popular option.

• Pros: Massive scalability, lowest cost, no hardware maintenance.
• Cons: You have less control over the specific hardware or data location.

Private Cloud (The Fortress)

A private cloud is an infrastructure that is built and dedicated to one single organization. The company might build it in its own data center (on-premise) or pay a provider to host a private setup for them.

This is used by organizations with extreme security and privacy needs. Think of a government agency, a major bank, or a healthcare system. They need to have 100% control over their data and hardware for compliance reasons.

• Pros: Maximum control, privacy, and security.
• Cons: Extremely expensive, requires a highly-skilled internal IT team to manage.

Hybrid Cloud (The Best of Both)

As the name implies, this is a mix of both. A company might use a hybrid model to get the best of both worlds.

A common example: An eCommerce company hosts its public-facing website on the Public Cloud to handle seasonal traffic spikes. But they keep their sensitive customer data and payment information on a Private Cloud for maximum security. The two clouds are connected by a secure, encrypted link.

• Pros: Flexible. Balances cost, scalability, and security.
• Cons: Can be complex to set up and manage.

For most businesses, agencies, and web creators, the Public Cloud is the correct and most logical choice.

The Big Problem: “Unmanaged” vs. “Managed” Cloud

This is the most critical concept for most readers to understand. Buying “cloud hosting” is not a single, simple purchase. You are buying one of two very different things.

What is Unmanaged Cloud Hosting? (The DIY Nightmare)

When you go directly to a provider like AWS or Google Cloud, you can buy “unmanaged” cloud hosting. This is the IaaS (Infrastructure-as-a-Service) model.

What you get is a blank slate. It is a powerful, empty VM. You are responsible for everything else. This includes:

• Installing your operating system (like Linux)
• Installing your web server (Nginx or Apache)
• Installing PHP, MySQL, and other required software
• Configuring all the firewalls and security
• Managing all security updates and patches
• Setting up backups (and testing them)
• Optimizing for performance (installing and configuring caching)
• Troubleshooting everything when it breaks at 3 AM.

I want to be very clear: Unmanaged cloud hosting is for expert system administrators and DevOps teams. It is not for web designers, marketers, or business owners. It is like buying a car engine when you just need to get to work.

What is Managed Cloud Hosting? (The All-in-One Solution)

This is the “Platform-as-a-Service” (PaaS) model. Managed Cloud Hosting is a service, not just infrastructure. It is a layer of management and support that sits on top of a public cloud infrastructure.

A managed provider (like Elementor Hosting) does all that difficult technical work for you.

• They build an optimized platform on a top-tier cloud (like Google Cloud).
• They pre-install and configure everything for you.
• They handle all security, patches, and updates.
• They manage automatic backups.
• They build in performance features like caching and a CDN.
• They give you a simple dashboard to manage your sites.
• Most importantly, they provide expert support.

For 99% of web creators, managed cloud hosting is the right choice. It gives you all the power of the cloud without the massive headache of managing it.

The WordPress Challenge: Why WordPress Needs Specialized Cloud Hosting

Let’s talk about WordPress. It is the most popular CMS in the world, powering over 40% of the web. But it was not designed for the cloud. WordPress was created in 2003, long before modern cloud architecture.

You cannot just install WordPress on a basic, unmanaged cloud server and expect it to be fast. It has its own unique challenges.

The WordPress Performance Bottlenecks

WordPress is dynamic. It builds every page on-the-fly, which creates two major bottlenecks:

1. Database Bottlenecks: Every single page load requires multiple “queries” to the MySQL database. It has to fetch the post content, the site title, the widget settings, the menu items, and more. On a high-traffic site, this database connection is the first thing to get overwhelmed and crash.
2. Plugin & Theme Bloat: The power of WordPress is its ecosystem. But many themes and plugins are poorly coded. They add dozens of scripts and style files to every page, slowing your site to a crawl.
3. Complex Caching Needs: To make WordPress fast, you need a complex stack of caching layers. You need a “page cache” (to store the final HTML), an “object cache” (to store common database queries), and a CDN (to store your files). Setting this up correctly with tools like Redis or Varnish is a job for an expert.

The “Management Gap” for WordPress

This is the “Management Gap.” Buying an unmanaged cloud server for your WordPress site is like buying a Formula 1 engine. It is incredibly powerful, but you cannot just drop it in your Honda Civic. You need a chassis, a transmission, a cooling system, and a team of engineers to make it work.

Without expert management, your powerful cloud server will be slow, insecure, and unreliable.

The Solution: Managed WordPress Hosting on a Cloud Foundation

For all these reasons, the answer for WordPress users is simple: You need Managed WordPress Hosting that is built on a cloud foundation.

This approach gives you the “best of both worlds.” You get all the power, scalability, and reliability of a massive cloud provider, plus a full team of WordPress experts managing, optimizing, and securing it for you.

An Integrated Platform: The Elementor Hosting Example

This is a prime example of a modern, managed cloud solution. Elementor Hosting is not just a simple reseller. It is a complete platform that was engineered specifically to run WordPress and Elementor at peak performance.

It is built directly on the Google Cloud Platform (GCP). It uses their fastest “C2” servers, which are compute-optimized. This means your site is running on the same premium, global network that powers Google Search and YouTube.

Watch this video to see how an integrated hosting solution works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sK7KajMZcmA 

How a Managed Platform Solves the WordPress Cloud Challenge

This is where the “managed” part becomes so valuable. It is not just cloud; it is cloud optimized for WordPress.

Engineered for Speed

It tackles the WordPress speed problem head-on. The stack includes:

• Google Cloud Platform C2 Servers: The fastest compute-optimized servers available.
• Integrated Cloudflare Enterprise CDN: This is not the free Cloudflare plan. This is their premium, enterprise-grade service. It includes a global edge cache, a Web Application Firewall (WAF), and DDoS protection right out of the box.
• Built-in Caching: Elementor’s solution includes multiple layers of caching (page and object caching) pre-configured. You do not need to install and configure 3-4 different complex caching plugins.

Ironclad, Managed Security

It closes the “management gap.” The platform includes:

• Managed WAF & DDoS Mitigation: Malicious traffic is blocked before it even hits your website.
• Automatic Daily Backups: Your site is backed up every 24 hours, and you can restore it with a single click.
• Constant Monitoring & Free SSL: The team monitors for threats 24/7, and an SSL certificate (for the httpss padlock) is included and automatically managed.

True Cloud Scalability for Business

Because it is on GCP, it handles traffic spikes with ease. This is crucial for businesses. You can run a massive sale with confidence, knowing the platform will scale. For larger stores, there are even specific Elementor eCommerce Hosting plans with more power.

This powerful hosting is the perfect foundation for building a professional store. You can use the Elementor WooCommerce Builder to design every part of your shop, from the product pages to the checkout, all while knowing the cloud backend can handle the sales.

The “No Blame Game” Support (The Unified Benefit)

This is the single biggest value for most creators.

“As a website expert with over a decade of experience, I have seen countless hours wasted on support tickets,” says Itamar Haim. “The hosting provider blames the plugin. The plugin developer blames the theme. The user is stuck in the middle. With an integrated platform like Elementor Hosting, the support team is responsible for the entire stack, from the server to the builder. It is one team, one point of contact, and the problem just gets fixed.”

This is the power of a true platform. When your hosting, your theme (like the Hello Theme), and your builder (Elementor Pro) all come from one place, the experience is seamless. You are not just buying parts; you are getting a complete web creation machine.

This unified approach lets you focus on building. You can use the Elementor Library to find pre-made kits and templates. You can even use new tools like the AI Site Planner or Elementor AI to generate content and layouts, all within one environment. You are not worrying about which plugin will conflict with your server.

When to Use Cloud Hosting (And When You Might Not Need It)

With all these benefits, is cloud hosting for everyone? Almost. But let’s be practical.

Who is Cloud Hosting Perfect For?

• eCommerce Stores: This is non-negotiable. You need the scalability to handle sales and holiday traffic. You need the reliability to ensure your checkout is always online.
• Growing Businesses & Startups: Your business might have 100 visitors today and 100,000 next month. Cloud hosting can scale with you instantly.
• High-Traffic Websites: If you run a popular blog, a news site, or a busy forum, the load balancing and high availability of the cloud are essential to prevent slowdowns.
• Agencies & Designers: Web designers love the cloud. You can spin up new, secure client sites in minutes, create “staging” copies to test changes safely, and know your clients are on a reliable foundation.
• SaaS & Web Applications: If your website is your product, it needs to be fast and always available. The cloud is the only real choice.

When Might Traditional Hosting Be “Good Enough”?

While the cloud is superior, it might be overkill for a few simple cases.

• A Small Personal Blog: If you are just writing for fun and have low, steady traffic, a good-quality shared hosting plan might be all you need.
• A Simple, Static “Brochure” Site: A 5-page site for a local plumber that gets 50 visits a month does not need massive scalability.
• Extreme Budget-Critical Projects: If the absolute lowest price is the only factor, shared hosting is cheaper upfront. But you run the risk of downtime, which often costs more in the long run.

How to Choose the Right Cloud Hosting Provider

If you are ready to make the move, here is a quick checklist to help you compare providers.

Key Factors to Evaluate

1. Managed vs. Unmanaged: Be honest about your technical skill. Do you want to be a server administrator, or do you want to run your business? For most, “Managed” is the right answer.
2. Underlying Infrastructure: Ask which cloud they use. Google Cloud, AWS, and Azure are the “Big 3” and are top-tier.
3. WordPress-Specific Features: Does the provider specialize in WordPress? Look for features like:
   • Automatic WordPress updates
   • Built-in staging sites (for testing changes)
   • Expert WordPress support
   • Security specifically for WordPress
4. Performance Features Included: Do not get nickel-and-dimed. Does the plan include a CDN? Is it a premium CDN (like Cloudflare Enterprise) or the free one? What caching is built-in?
5. Support Quality: Is support 24/7? Is it from generalists or from WordPress experts?
6. Pricing Model: Is it a clear, tiered plan (like Elementor Hosting) or a complex utility model where a traffic spike could lead to a surprise $5,000 bill? For most, predictable pricing is better.
7. Completeness of the Platform: Does the provider offer other services you need? This reduces complexity. For example, Elementor offers hosting, a free domain name for the first year, a builder, and even integrated email marketing with its Site Mailer (also available at Send2.co). A truly comprehensive AI website builder platform handles more than just hosting.

Conclusion: Making the Move to the Cloud

Cloud hosting is not just a buzzword. It is a fundamental shift in how we build and deliver websites. It offers a level of reliability, scalability, and performance that traditional hosting simply cannot match.

For any serious website—from a growing business to an eCommerce store—moving to the cloud is one of the best investments you can make in your online presence.

The key is to choose the right type of cloud solution. While unmanaged cloud servers offer raw power, they demand significant technical expertise. For the vast majority of web creators using WordPress, a managed, integrated cloud hosting platform is the clear winner. It provides all the powerful benefits of a global cloud network without the crippling overhead of server management. It lets you focus on what you do best: building amazing websites.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Cloud Hosting

1. What is the main difference between cloud hosting and shared hosting? Shared hosting places your site on one server with a fixed amount of resources, shared by hundreds of other sites. Cloud hosting runs your site on a network of servers, giving you access to a large pool of resources. Cloud is far more reliable, scalable, and-performant.

2. Is cloud hosting more expensive than traditional hosting? Not necessarily. A basic shared plan is cheaper, but it is very limited. An unmanaged cloud server can be cheap to start, but costs can be unpredictable. A powerful dedicated server is very expensive. A managed cloud plan is often the best value. It is typically cheaper than a dedicated server but provides far more reliability and includes expert management, support, and premium features (like a CDN) in the price.

3. Is cloud hosting secure? Yes, it is generally more secure. Major cloud providers (like Google) have world-class physical and network security. A good managed cloud provider adds another layer of application-level security, actively monitoring for threats, blocking attacks, and managing updates for you.

4. Do I need to be a developer to use cloud hosting? It depends. To use unmanaged cloud hosting, yes, you absolutely need to be a developer or server administrator. To use managed cloud hosting (like Elementor Hosting), you do not need any technical skills. It is designed for creators, business owners, and designers.

5. What is “cloud-native”? A “cloud-native” application is one that was designed from the ground up to run on the cloud (e.g., Netflix, Spotify). WordPress is not cloud-native, which is why it requires special optimization and management to run well in a cloud environment.

6. Can I move my existing WordPress site to cloud hosting? Yes. Most managed cloud providers offer free or paid migration services. With Elementor, you can often use a simple migration plugin (or download a free copy and use its import/export tools) to move your site with just a few clicks.

7. What is a CDN and is it part of cloud hosting? A CDN (Content Delivery Network) is a global network of servers that stores copies of your site’s images and files. It is technically a separate service, but most high-quality managed cloud providers (including Elementor Hosting) bundle a premium CDN into their plans.

8. How does cloud hosting handle website traffic spikes? Through “elastic scaling.” The cloud’s orchestration software automatically assigns more resources (CPU, RAM) to your site when it sees a surge. It can even create clones of your server (horizontal scaling) and use a load balancer to distribute the traffic, preventing your site from slowing down or crashing.

9. What is the difference between IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS? These are the three main “as-a-service” models:

• IaaS (Infrastructure-as-a-Service): This is unmanaged cloud. You rent the raw servers, storage, and network (e.g., a basic Google Cloud server). You manage everything else.
• PaaS (Platform-as-a-Service): This is a middle ground. The provider gives you the infrastructure and the software stack (like the OS, database, and web server). You just manage your application.
• SaaS (Software-as-a-Service): You just use the software. You manage nothing (e.g., Gmail, Shopify, or the Elementor builder itself).

Managed WordPress Hosting (like Elementor Hosting) is a specialized PaaS that is very close to a SaaS experience.

10. How does Elementor Hosting use the cloud? Elementor Hosting is a managed solution built on top of the Google Cloud Platform (GCP). It takes Google’s powerful IaaS (infrastructure) and bundles it with all the PaaS (platform) components needed to run WordPress (like servers, databases, and caching), plus a full layer of expert management and support. This gives you a seamless, optimized experience.