The Short Answer
A web server is the thing that actually sends your website to visitors. The word is used for two things: the software that answers browser requests (such as LiteSpeed, Apache or Nginx), and the computer that runs that software.
Web hosting is a service. A hosting company owns or rents many web servers, keeps them powered, connected, updated and secure, and rents you a part of them, or a whole server, for a monthly or yearly fee.
So every hosted website runs on a web server, but you usually do not manage the web server yourself. The hosting company does.
What Is a Web Server?
When someone types your domain into a browser, the browser looks up the server address through DNS and sends an HTTP request to it. The web server software receives that request, finds the right file or runs the right code (for example PHP for WordPress), and sends the result back as a web page.
Web server software
This is the program that listens for visitors. Common examples are LiteSpeed, Apache and Nginx. Alif Host shared and WordPress plans run on LiteSpeed, which works with the LiteSpeed Cache plugin for WordPress.
Web server hardware
This is the computer the software runs on: processor (CPU), memory (RAM), storage (for example NVMe SSDs) and a fast network connection. It can be a physical machine in a data centre or a virtual machine running on one.
What Does a Web Hosting Company Add?
Running a web server that stays online every day takes more than installing software. A hosting company takes care of the parts most website owners do not want to handle themselves:
- Data centre space, power backup and cooling, so the server keeps running during power cuts.
- A fast internet connection and a fixed public IP address.
- Security updates for the operating system and web server software.
- Backups, monitoring and a control panel such as cPanel to manage files, databases and email.
- Support when something goes wrong.
- Extras such as free SSL certificates, email accounts on your domain and DNS management.
Web Hosting vs Web Server: Side by Side
The table below compares the two terms directly.
| Web server | Web hosting | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Software and a computer that deliver web pages | A service that rents you space on web servers |
| Who manages it | Whoever owns and runs the machine | The hosting company |
| What you pay for | Hardware, internet, power and your own time | A monthly or yearly plan |
| Skills needed | Linux or Windows server administration | Basic: a control panel like cPanel is enough |
| Example | LiteSpeed running on a machine with an NVMe SSD | A shared hosting plan with cPanel and email |
Web Hosting vs a Dedicated Server
People also compare web hosting with a dedicated server. A dedicated server is one physical machine used only by you. It is still a form of hosting, just at the top end. The main options, from smallest to largest, are:
- Shared hosting: many websites share one server. The cheapest option and enough for most new websites. The hosting company manages everything.
- VPS hosting: one physical server is split into virtual servers, and you get a fixed amount of CPU, RAM and storage with full root access. You manage the operating system yourself.
- Cloud hosting: more CPU and RAM than shared hosting for busier websites, still managed through cPanel.
- Dedicated server: a whole physical machine for one customer. It costs the most and needs the most technical skill. Most small and medium websites do not need one.
Can I Run My Own Web Server at Home or in the Office?
Technically yes. You can install web server software on a computer and open it to the internet. In practice it is hard to keep it reliable:
- Home and office internet connections often do not come with a fixed public IP address, and some block incoming web traffic.
- During load-shedding or a router restart the website goes offline unless you have UPS and generator backup.
- You are responsible for every security update, backup and attack.
- Upload speed on most home connections is much lower than in a data centre.
Which One Do You Need?
If you want a website, blog or online store, you need web hosting. The hosting company already runs the web server for you. Choose by what you are building:
- Personal site or small business website: shared hosting, from PKR 300 a month at Alif Host.
- WordPress blog or WooCommerce store: WordPress hosting, from PKR 400 a month.
- Custom app, Node.js, Laravel or full control: a KVM VPS, from PKR 2,600 a month with full root access.
- Not sure? See web hosting charges in Pakistan for every plan and price in one place.