Introduction
As your website grows, your hosting requirements may also increase. You may need more storage, support for additional websites, greater resources, or access to a hosting plan with more features. When your current hosting plan no longer meets your website's needs, upgrading your WebGuru hosting plan can provide the additional resources you require.
If you are new to managing your hosting account, our Getting Started with WebGuru Hosting guide can help you understand the basics of managing your WebGuru services.
This guide explains how to upgrade your WebGuru hosting plan through your WebGuru Client Area and what to consider before completing the upgrade.
Why Should You Upgrade Your Hosting Plan?
Your website may eventually outgrow the resources available on your current hosting plan. This can happen as your website receives more visitors, stores more files, adds more functionality, or expands to support additional websites.
Some common reasons to upgrade include:
- Your website is running low on available storage.
- You need to host additional websites.
- Your website is receiving more traffic.
- You require additional hosting resources.
- Your business or online presence is growing.
- Your current hosting plan no longer provides the features you need.
- You are experiencing resource limitations on your existing plan.
Before upgrading, it is important to understand what your website actually requires. If you are still learning about hosting, our Web Hosting resources provide additional information about hosting and how it supports your website.
Before You Upgrade Your Hosting Plan
Before changing your hosting plan, take a moment to review your current hosting requirements.
Check Your Current Hosting Usage
Review your current hosting account to determine how much storage and other resources your website is using.
If your website is only using a small portion of your existing resources, upgrading may not be necessary. However, if you are consistently approaching your plan's limits, an upgrade may be appropriate.
Identify What You Need
Determine why you want to upgrade.
For example, you may need:
- More storage space.
- Support for additional websites.
- More resources for a growing website.
- A plan with additional features.
- Better capacity for business growth.
Understanding the reason for your upgrade will help you choose a plan that is suitable for your website.
Check Your Domain and DNS Settings
Your hosting plan and domain name are separate services, although they work together to make your website accessible online. If you are unsure about how your domain connects to your hosting account, review our Domain Names & DNS Management resources before making changes to your hosting service.
How to Upgrade Your WebGuru Hosting Plan
Follow these steps to upgrade your hosting plan.
Step 1: Log in to Your WebGuru Account
Go to the WebGuru Client Area and log in using your registered account details.
Make sure you use the account associated with the hosting service you want to upgrade.
Your Client Area is where you can manage your WebGuru hosting services, domains, account information, billing, and other available services.
Step 2: Open Your Hosting Services
After logging in, navigate to the section of your Client Area where your hosting services are displayed.
Locate the hosting service associated with the website you want to upgrade.
If you manage multiple websites or hosting services, carefully check the domain name associated with the service before continuing.
Step 3: Select the Hosting Service You Want to Upgrade
Click on the relevant hosting service to open its service details.
Review the information displayed to confirm that you have selected the correct hosting account.
This is particularly important if you have multiple hosting packages under the same WebGuru account.
Step 4: Find the Upgrade Option
Look for the option to Upgrade or change your hosting package within the hosting service management area.
Select the upgrade option to view the hosting plans available for your account.
The available plans may vary depending on your existing hosting service and the options supported by WebGuru.
Step 5: Choose Your New Hosting Plan
Review the available hosting plans and select the one that best matches your requirements.
When comparing plans, pay attention to important resources and features such as:
- Storage capacity.
- Number of websites supported.
- Available hosting resources.
- Email capabilities.
- Backup features.
- Other features included.
Do not simply choose the largest plan available. Select a package that provides enough capacity for your current requirements while allowing reasonable room for future growth.
A good hosting provider should offer clear and appropriate resources that match different website requirements. For additional guidance, you can also read our related article, What Makes a Good Web Hosting Company? 10 Things to Check.
Step 6: Review the Upgrade Details
Before confirming the upgrade, carefully review the information displayed on the upgrade page.
Check:
Step 7: Complete the Upgrade
After reviewing the upgrade details, proceed with the upgrade according to the instructions displayed in your WebGuru Client Area.
If payment is required, complete the payment using the available payment method.
Once the upgrade has been processed, your hosting service should reflect the new plan and its associated resources.
Step 8: Confirm Your New Hosting Plan
After completing the upgrade, return to your hosting service details and verify that your new hosting plan is displayed.
You should also review the available resources to confirm that the upgrade has been applied correctly.
If the new plan or resources are not reflected after the expected processing period, contact WebGuru Support for assistance.
- Your current hosting plan.
- The new hosting plan.
- The additional resources included.
- The applicable price.
- Any billing changes.
- The service being upgraded.
Make sure all the information is correct before proceeding.
Will Upgrading My Hosting Plan Affect My Website?
An upgrade is intended to increase the resources or features available to your hosting account. However, you should always follow the instructions provided in your Client Area and avoid making unnecessary changes to your website files, databases, or DNS settings during the process.
Do I Need to Change My Domain Name After Upgrading?
No. Upgrading your hosting plan does not normally require you to change your domain name.
Your domain remains associated with your website while your hosting service is upgraded to the new plan.
Your domain name and hosting account are separate components of your website infrastructure, which is why it is useful to understand both your hosting service and your DNS configuration.
What Happens to My Existing Website Files?
Your existing website files and hosting data generally remain associated with the hosting service when you upgrade your plan.
The purpose of an upgrade is to move your account to a hosting package with greater capacity or additional features rather than requiring you to create an entirely new website.
However, it is always good practice to maintain current backups of important website files and databases.
When Should You Upgrade Your Hosting Plan?
There is no single point at which every website should upgrade. The right time depends on your website's resource usage and growth.
Consider upgrading when:
- Your website regularly approaches its resource limits.
- Your storage requirements are increasing.
- You need to host additional websites.
- Your website traffic is growing.
- Your website requires more resources to support its applications.
- Your current plan no longer provides the features your website needs.
- You are expanding your online business.
Upgrading before you consistently reach your limits can help you prepare your website for continued growth.
Troubleshooting: I Cannot Find the Upgrade Option
If you cannot find an upgrade option in your Client Area, first make sure that you have selected the correct hosting service.
You can also try:
- Refreshing your Client Area.
- Checking that you are logged into the correct WebGuru account.
- Opening the hosting service details again.
- Reviewing the available service management options.
- Contacting WebGuru Support if the upgrade option is still unavailable.
The available options may depend on the specific hosting service associated with your account.
Troubleshooting: My Upgrade Has Not Been Applied
If you have completed an upgrade but your account still displays the previous hosting plan, allow the required processing time and then check your hosting service again.
If the new plan is still not reflected, contact WebGuru Support and provide the relevant details of your hosting account and upgrade request.
Avoid submitting multiple upgrade requests while waiting for an existing request to be processed, as this may create unnecessary confusion.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I upgrade my WebGuru hosting plan?
Log in to your WebGuru Client Area, open the hosting service you want to upgrade, select the available upgrade option, choose your new hosting plan, review the upgrade details, and complete the required steps.
Can I upgrade my hosting plan if my website is already active?
Yes. Hosting upgrades are intended to allow websites to move to plans with greater resources as their requirements increase. Always follow the instructions provided in your WebGuru Client Area.
Will I lose my website when I upgrade my hosting plan?
An upgrade is designed to change the hosting package associated with your service rather than remove your website. However, maintaining a recent backup of important website files and databases is always recommended.
Do I need to buy a new domain when I upgrade?
No. Upgrading your hosting plan does not normally require you to purchase a new domain name. Your existing domain can continue to be used with your website.
Will my DNS settings change when I upgrade?
A hosting plan upgrade usually doesn't require you to change your domain's DNS configuration. If you are unsure about your DNS settings, review the Domain Names & DNS Management resources or contact WebGuru Support.
How do I know which hosting plan to upgrade to?
Choose a plan based on your website's current resource requirements and expected growth. Consider factors such as storage, number of websites, traffic, applications, and other features you require.
Can WebGuru Support help me choose a hosting plan?
Yes. If you are unsure which hosting plan is appropriate for your website, contact WebGuru Support for assistance before completing your upgrade.
Conclusion
Upgrading your WebGuru hosting plan is a straightforward way to increase your website's resources as your needs grow.
Before upgrading, review your current hosting usage, identify the resources you need, compare the available plans, and carefully review the upgrade details before completing the process.
If your website is growing or your current hosting plan is approaching its limits, choosing a suitable upgrade can give your website the additional capacity it needs for continued growth.
Need help upgrading your hosting plan? Log in to your WebGuru account or contact Support if you need assistance.
