# What is the difference between managed and unmanaged hosting? Source: https://dijituldns.co.uk/guides/managed-vs-unmanaged-hosting/ Updated: 2026-10-08 > With managed hosting, the host looks after the server for you: updates, security, backups and monitoring. With unmanaged hosting, you get the server and do all of that yourself. For most small businesses, managed is safer. dijitul hosting provides fully managed Plesk hosting in the UK for £1 a day + VAT. ## Key facts - Managed hosting means the provider handles server updates, security patches, backups and monitoring. - Unmanaged hosting gives you a server, often a VPS or dedicated server, with root access and no ongoing help. - On unmanaged hosting, you are responsible for operating system updates, firewalls and backups. - Unmanaged servers can look cheaper, but the time and skills needed to run them have a real cost. - dijitul Complete Hosting is fully managed and costs £1 a day + VAT. - dijitul quotes separately for managed VPS and dedicated servers. ## The simple difference **Managed hosting** is like renting a serviced office. Someone else fixes the heating, changes the locks and checks the alarm. You just use the space. **Unmanaged hosting** is like renting an empty unit. You get the keys and the building, and everything else is your job. Both are valid. Managed and unmanaged describe who looks after the server, not the type of server. You can have managed shared hosting, a managed VPS or a managed dedicated server, and the same goes for unmanaged. The right choice depends on whether you, or someone on your team, has the skills and time to run a server properly. ## Who does what | Task | Managed | Unmanaged | | Operating system and security updates | Host | You | | PHP, MySQL or MariaDB, web server updates | Host | You | | Firewall and malware scanning | Host | You | | Backups | Host, usually daily | You, if you remember | | Monitoring and fixing outages | Host | You | | SSL certificates | Host, often automatic | You | | Control panel such as Plesk | Usually included | Install and licence it yourself | | Your website content | You | You | ## When unmanaged hosting makes sense - You have an in-house developer or sysadmin who is comfortable with Linux, SSH and the command line. - You need full root access for unusual software that a managed platform cannot run. - You are building and testing, and downtime does not cost you money. - You have your own process for backups, updates and out-of-hours alerts. If none of these apply, unmanaged hosting usually means updates get missed and backups do not happen until something goes wrong. A server that has not been patched for a few months is an easy target, and restoring one with no backup can take days. ## When managed hosting makes sense - You run a business website, shop or booking system and want it to just work. - Nobody in the business wants to be on call for the server. - You run an older site that needs careful handling, such as a specific PHP version. - You need someone to call when something breaks, who already knows your setup. - You want backups and security handled without having to check them. - You would rather spend your time on customers than on server logs. ## The real cost comparison Unmanaged servers often have a lower monthly price. But the price does not include the hours spent on updates, troubleshooting, setting up backups and fixing problems. Even an hour or two a month of a developer's time can cost more than the difference. There is also the cost of things going wrong: a hacked site, lost data or a server that has been down all weekend. Managed hosting moves that responsibility to the host. Our guide on [whether cheap hosting is worth it](https://dijituldns.co.uk/guides/is-cheap-hosting-worth-it/) looks at this in more detail. ## How dijitul helps [dijitul Complete Hosting](https://dijituldns.co.uk/complete-hosting/) is fully [managed hosting](https://dijituldns.co.uk/managed-hosting/) for **£1 a day + VAT**. We look after the server, updates, security and monitoring. You get your own Plesk login, 10 POP3/IMAP email accounts, Cloudflare DNS, daily backups kept for 14 days, free SSL, one domain a year and migration done for you, with UK support from real people. Need a whole server? We quote for [managed VPS](https://dijituldns.co.uk/managed-vps/) and [dedicated servers](https://dijituldns.co.uk/dedicated-servers/), with the same hands-on management. [Order Complete Hosting](https://clients.dijitul.uk/order) or call **01623 650333**. ## FAQs ### Is managed hosting worth it for a small business? For most small businesses, yes. Managed hosting means server updates, security, backups and monitoring are done for you, so you can focus on the business. Without it, someone has to do those jobs, and the time or developer cost usually adds up to more than the price difference. ### Is shared hosting managed or unmanaged? Shared hosting is usually managed at the server level, because the host maintains the server for everyone on it. However, many budget shared plans leave backups, website security and migrations to you. Check exactly what is included rather than assuming everything is looked after. ### Do I get root access with managed hosting? Usually not on shared managed hosting, because the host keeps control of the server to keep it secure. You typically get a control panel such as Plesk, SFTP, databases and often SSH. Managed VPS and dedicated servers can include root access while the host still handles maintenance. ### What does dijitul managed hosting include? dijitul Complete Hosting costs £1 a day + VAT and includes managed hosting with server updates, security and monitoring, your own Plesk login, 10 POP3/IMAP email accounts, Cloudflare DNS set up and managed, daily backups kept for 14 days, free SSL, one domain registration or renewal a year, website migration and UK-based support from real people. ### Can I switch from unmanaged to managed hosting? Yes. Your website files and databases can be moved from an unmanaged server to managed hosting like any other migration. A good host will match your PHP version and settings, test the site, then switch DNS. Many managed hosts, including dijitul, do the move for you. ## Pricing and ordering dijitul Complete Hosting is £1 a day + VAT (£365 a year + VAT). Order at https://clients.dijitul.uk/order?product=complete-hosting&ref=dijituldns&src=managed-vs-unmanaged-hosting or call 01623 650333.