Onyx (Managed WordPress) vs Shared Hosting
Managed WordPress (Onyx) and shared hosting both run on Krystal's infrastructure, but they're built for different purposes. This guide covers the key differences to help you decide which is right for you.
What's the main difference?
Shared hosting is a flexible, general-purpose platform managed through cPanel. You can install WordPress, but you can also run hundreds of other applications - Joomla, Drupal, Magento, Laravel, and more. You're in full control of what you install and how you manage it.
Onyx is purpose-built for WordPress. It's a fully managed platform where WordPress is pre-installed, automatically updated, and optimised out of the box. If your site runs on WordPress and you want a hands-off, performance-focused experience, Onyx is designed specifically for that.
Performance and reliability
Shared hosting runs your site on a single cloud server with dedicated CPU and RAM allocated to your account. It uses LiteSpeed web server and NVMe storage for fast performance.
Onyx distributes your site across multiple servers for load balancing, PHP handling, and database processing. This means your site can handle more visitors and has additional redundancy built in. Each site runs in its own container with 1GB RAM and 1 CPU core, and these resources can be scaled up when needed.
Resource allocation
Shared hosting gives you a fixed allocation of CPU, RAM, storage, and bandwidth based on your plan. These resources are shared across all the sites on your account.
Onyx uses a visitor-based model. As long as you're within your Monthly Unique Visitor limit, resources can be increased automatically to match your site's needs and handle short-term traffic spikes. If you exceed your visitor count, Krystal won't disable your site or charge extra - they'll adjust resources and let you know it's time to consider upgrading.
Management and control panel
Shared hosting uses cPanel, giving you full access to file management, email, databases, DNS, SSH, cron jobs, PHP settings, and over 380 one-click application installs via Softaculous.
Onyx uses its own custom dashboard built specifically for WordPress management. It includes one-click staging environments (two per live site), instant site deployment, live analytics, built-in file manager, SFTP access, cron management, and PHP version control. It doesn't use cPanel.
WordPress updates and security
Shared hosting gives you full control. You manage your own WordPress updates, security, and plugin maintenance. Krystal runs server-level virus and malware scans, and provides firewalls and CloudLinux isolation, but keeping WordPress itself up to date is your responsibility.
Onyx automatically updates WordPress core, and all plans include Intelligent Protection powered by Patchstack. This proactively blocks known vulnerabilities in plugins, themes, and WordPress core before they can be exploited - without slowing your site down. You can disable auto-updates if you prefer, but it's strongly recommended to keep them on.
Content Delivery Network (CDN)
Shared hosting doesn't include a built-in CDN. You can add a third-party CDN yourself if needed.
Onyx Business plans and above include a built-in CDN with 40+ global points of presence, helping your site load faster for visitors around the world. The CDN is managed through the pre-installed LiteSpeed Cache plugin.
Caching
Shared hosting includes LiteSpeed web server and you can install and configure caching plugins yourself (LiteSpeed Cache, WP Super Cache, etc.).
Onyx comes with the LiteSpeed Cache plugin pre-installed and pre-configured with sensible defaults. LiteSpeed Crawler keeps pages cached and ready to load instantly, improving site speed for repeat visitors. It's strongly recommended not to add additional caching plugins on Onyx, as the built-in setup is designed to work optimally.
Staging sites
Shared hosting allows you to create staging sites through cPanel and Softaculous, but you'll need to configure them yourself.
Onyx includes two staging sites for every live site on your plan, with one-click deployment to push changes live.
Shared hosting includes unlimited email mailboxes as standard on all plans (5GB mailboxes on lower plans, 50GB on higher plans), with full POP, IMAP, SMTP, forwarders, auto-responders, and mailing list support.
Onyx does not include email by default. Email mailboxes are available as a paid add-on and can be added during checkout or through the Onyx portal.
Backups
Shared hosting includes daily backups on standard plans and 4-hourly backups on Emerald and above, managed through JetBackup in cPanel.
Onyx includes daily backups on Personal and Agency plans, and hourly backups on Business plans. You can also use plugins for additional backups, but these should be saved off-plan as Onyx storage is for website files only.
Applications and flexibility
Shared hosting supports over 380 applications through Softaculous, plus manual installs. You can run PHP, Python, Ruby, Perl, and Node.js applications, and you have SSH access, Git integration, and full cPanel control.
Onyx is exclusively for WordPress. You can install any WordPress plugins and themes, including WooCommerce, but you can't run non-WordPress applications on the platform.
AI Site Builder
Shared hosting does not include an AI site builder.
Onyx includes the AI Site Builder on all plans at no extra cost, letting you generate and launch complete WordPress sites with custom content, layouts, and images in minutes.
Support
Both platforms include ticket, live chat, and email support from Krystal's UK-based team. Phone support is available on weekdays during business hours on shared hosting, with 24/7 emergency phone support on higher-tier shared plans.
On Onyx, the support team provides hands-on help with WordPress specifically, including plugin troubleshooting, performance optimisation, cache configuration, and setup assistance.
Pricing overview
Shared hosting starts from £7/month (Amethyst) with a 60-day money-back guarantee.
Onyx starts from £15/month (Personal) with a 30-day free trial on all plans.
Quick comparison
Feature | Shared Hosting | Onyx (Managed WordPress) |
Control panel | cPanel | Onyx dashboard |
Applications | 380+ via Softaculous | WordPress only |
WordPress updates | Manual | Automatic |
Intelligent Protection (Patchstack) | Not included | Included on all plans |
Built-in CDN | Not included | Business plans and above |
LiteSpeed Crawler | Business Plans Only | Included |
Staging sites | Manual setup | One-click, 2 per live site |
Unlimited mailboxes included | Paid add-on | |
AI Site Builder | Not included | Included on all plans |
Backups | Daily / 4-hourly | Daily / Hourly |
Resource model | Fixed CPU/RAM allocation | Visitor-based, auto-scaling |
Multi-server architecture | No | Yes |
Free trial | No (60-day money-back) | 30-day free trial |
Starting price | £7/month | £15/month |
Which should I choose?
Choose shared hosting if you need to run applications other than WordPress, you want full cPanel access, you need built-in email, or you want a lower-cost starting point with maximum flexibility.
Choose Onyx if you're running a WordPress site and want automatic updates, built-in security, hands-on WordPress support, staging environments, and a platform that's optimised for WordPress performance from the ground up.
If you're not sure which is right for you, our support team are happy to help - just get in touch via live chat, ticket, or phone.
