
MongoDB Hosting
MongoDB is a kind of NoSQL database, which means that the data is stored in documents. This makes it easier to use for simple projects.
In this article, we will explain more about MongoDB and help you to decide the kind of hosting that will best suit the projects you want to do with it.
How MongoDB Works
MongoDB is a database that works a bit differently than most other databases. It is a non-relational (or “NoSQL“), document-oriented database.
Much of the speed and scalability benefits are only achieved if the database is set up correctly, in an environment optimized to take advantage of its strengths.
MongoDB provides a lot of features that allow you to do more than simple database queries.
Spend some time looking at MongoDB’s features so you know what you can do with it.

Relational Databases
The most common type of database is a relational database in the SQL (Structured Query Language) family.
SQL Databases
Popular relational databases include:
- MySQL
- MariaDB
- PostgreSQL
- Oracle
- Microsoft SQL Server
- SQLite.
Though they are implemented differently “under the hood,” they are very similar in how a developer or user interacts with them.
If you have worked with WordPress, Drupal, or Joomla, you have used a relational, SQL, database.
Table Based Databases
Typical SQL-style databases store data in a series of tables, with each row of the table representing a single entry.
Entries in tables can be related to entries in other tables, allowing complex data structures to be designed (hence the term “relational”).
Relational databases are excellent tools for storing structured data about a large number of fairly similar things.
That’s especially true if you know ahead of time (when you are developing the application) what types of items you will be keeping records on.
It also helps if you know what information you will need to know about them.
NoSQL Databases Explained
Unfortunately, in real life, we do not always know ahead of time what information we might need to store, or even sometimes what sorts of things we may need to keep track of.
Also, some real-world domains simply aren’t structured enough to fit well into the way SQL databases organize data.
MongoDB
MongoDB is a document-based database, one of many new “NoSQL” or non-relational databases.
Rather than storing records in a series of inter-related table rows, where the information on a single item might be spread across multiple tables, MongoDB stores all the information about a particular item in a single document.
Loose Structure
The database then allows for documents of various types to be group together and indexed.
This is a much looser, less structured way of organizing data, and there are both benefits and downsides.
When to Use MongoDB
Making the right choice for your database management solution is important.
But it is worth noting that you might not have any choice with what database to use.
If you are planning to use an existing content management system or blogging platform, those applications are built with a specific database already.
MongoDB is for Development
Generally, the question of what type of database to use is a question for developers of new applications.
MongoDB is often a better choice for very large datasets with a very high write load, in a situation where you will need to share the database.
It also is the right choice if your data model, or schema, is unstable and needs to evolve over time.
When Not to Use MongoDB
Do not use MongoDB if you are building an application which will require SQL joins or transactions, or where data normalization is needed.
What You Need to Host MongoDB
Shared hosting accounts and “discount” web hosting providers where your site or application shares an IP address with other accounts are totally unsuitable for hosting MongoDB.
You could get around this by purchasing a dedicated IP address for your website. But normally, you should host MongoDB on a Cloud, VPS, or dedicated server plan.
Hosting Type | Advantages | Disadvantages |
Shared hosting | Cheap | Not a lot of choices |
VPS | Dedicated resource allocation | More expensive |
Dedicated server | Completely private | More complex |
Other Reasons to Go With Higher-End Hosting
On top of that, if you are building an application that requires the use of a NoSQL database like MongoDB, you probably have a lot of other needs.
These are probably not going to be adequately provided for in a low-cost shared-hosting environment.

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You Need a Dedicated IP Address
Beyond that, almost any serious web server would work fine, as long as you have a dedicated IP address and can gain access to Ports 27017 and 28017 (in many standard web hosts, you will have to request these ports be opened).
So if you can get a dedicated IP address, MongoDB can be deployed on most operating systems, and on most standard production-level hardware.

Type of Hosting
When you’re looking for a MongoDB host, make sure you go for a private hosting environment.
This can either be in the form of a virtual private server (VPS) or a dedicated server.
VPS plans will be easier to manage than dedicated servers and provide a cloud environment for instant, on-demand provisioning.
Datacenters
Performance is always an issue with web hosting. A common solution to server speed issues is to use a CDN to deliver content from servers close to website visitors.
Because MongoDB creates dynamic content, CDNs offer relatively little help. As a result, it is best to get a hosting plan with a datacenter near your users. Lower-priced plans often offer no options regarding datacenters.
Look for a hosting provider that can provide you with an appropriate datacenter location.
What Platform Is Best for MongoDB
Just because you can run MongoDB on almost any web server doesn’t mean you should run MongoDB on any web server.
Setting-Up MongoDB
MongoDB can be a bit tricky to set up, especially for developers unfamiliar with all of its ins and outs.
Much of the speed and scalability benefits are only achieved if the database is set up correctly, in an environment optimized to take advantage of its strengths.
Setting up MongoDB includes:
- Setting up a local development environment
- Finding a suitable server
- Installing MongoDB
- Choosing a programming language
- Designing a database
- Deploying the database
- Building a web app.
Pick a Host That Specializes in MongoDB
For this reason, we recommend deploying your MongoDB database on a web host experienced with MongoDB.
The makers of MongoDB have a cloud-managed MongoDB solution that works in conjunction with “the cloud infrastructure of your choice,” and there a number of other Mongo-optimized web hosting providers available.
Popular MongoDB Hosts
Many of these MongoDB hosts use Amazon Web Services (AWS). Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure are also popular.

MongoDB solutions screenshot.
Some of these providers that are dedicated to MongoDB hosting include mLab, Compose, and ScaleGrid.
These dedicated companies will offer the fullest breadth of features you need to fully host a MongoDB database.
Prices
But you’ll find that these MongoDB hosts will be more expensive than VPSs offered by traditional web hosting companies.
Other cheaper hosting companies like A2 Hosting have specialized MongoDB hosting plans you can check out.
Pros and Cons of MongoDB
Like all applications, there are good and bad points to MongoDB. Here are the major ones of each type to keep in mind when you are shopping around.
Pros
- Less upfront development time spent data designing
- Ability for a data-model to evolve over time
- Flexibility for exceptions, for bits of “oddball” data
- Faster writing to the database
- Infinitely scalable
- No cascading deletes.
Cons
- Data may be not be normalized (eg, multiple spellings)
- Less strict data modeling encourages lazy data design
- No checks for data consistency at the database layer.
Our Choices: The Top Three MongoDb Hosts
It can be especially hard to pick a host for MongoDB. So we’ll set you on your way with our own three favorite hosts. But remember there are others. See our comparison page for more ideas.
A2 Hosting

Our top pick for optimized MongoDB hosting option is A2 Hosting. They give you some of the most affordable VPS plans with plenty of resources available for smaller sites. And if you are technically knowledgeable, their unmanaged plans can’t be beat.
A2 has made it extremely easy for developers to set up a MongoDB database with just one click. You also get root access on the Unmanaged and Core plans, so you can edit any server files you want.
With their anytime money-back guarantee, there’s almost no reason not to try them out.
InterServer

Like A2 Hosting, InterServer also gives you some cheap VPS plans. In fact, if you don’t need much power, you can get a plan for little more than you’d pay for a shared plan.
However, they don’t offer the same easy MongoDB set-up. Their knowledgebase explains how to do this, so you shouldn’t have any problems if you have any technical skill.
InterServer sells its VPS plans by the “slice.” A slice is 1 Core CPU, 1GB memory, and 25 GB disk space. If you purchase 4 slices or more, they provide managed support. For an extra fee, you can get any of cPanel, Plesk, or DirectAdmin control panels.
Liquid Web

Liquid Web offers cloud VPS hosting on high-performance servers. Their plans tend to be more expensive than those of A2 Hosting and InterServer. But this price comes with some of the best infrastructure in the business – up with AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure.
Liquid Web includes a dedicated IP address, full root access, and 100% network uptime (our tests back this up). They also offer InterWorx, cPanel, and Plesk control panels.
Other features in NoSQL

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MongoDB Frequently Asked Questions
- What programming languages can I use with MongoDB?
MongoDB supports a wide range of programming languages. Drivers are available for C, C++, C#, Go, Java, Node.js, Perl, PHP, Python, Ruby, Scala, Switch, and more. There are community-supported drivers for many other languages. Additionally, MongoDB University offers specialized courses for Java, Node.JS, and Python.
- What types of applications are a good fit for MongoDB?
MongoDB is a good choice for applications that have a large number of records that do not rely on relationships to other types of records. A library catalog is a good example. MongoDB is also a good choice for indeterminate projects where you aren’t sure where you are headed.
- Does MongoDB conform to data normalization requirements?
No. MongoDB does not enforce a strict data schema either. In MongoDB, data normalization and the overall schema are enforced by the application layer, instead of the data layer. However, MongoDB isn’t designed to provide a high degree of formal data integrity. For that reason, it isn’t the best choice for things like payment systems.
- What is sharding?
MongoDB provides scalability by being able to shard a database. This simply means that the data is broken up into pieces, and those pieces are stored on several computers. As a result of this, MongoDB is well hosted in a distributed environment like a cloud.
- What are the most common alternatives to MongoDB?
Relational databases are alternatives to MongoDB. These include MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQLite. But most of the time, MongoDB would be best replaced with a document-oriented database. CouchDB is very popular and similar to MongoDB. Other non-document-oriented NoSQL databases include Cassandra and BigTable.
- Can MongoDB handle multi-dimensional data?
Yes. Documents can be nested inside of other documents, creating data with the structure of multi-dimensional arrays. Don’t let the NoSQL label confuse you; MongoDB is very powerful. So it can do most things that you want. Where it might suffer is in relative performance when dealing with highly structured data.
- Why can’t I do a JOIN in MongoDB?
The JOIN command combines tables in an SQL query. It is a way of organizing data from different locations. There’s no need to JOIN anything in MongoDB, because the data model doesn’t support the notion that information about a single object should be spread across multiple tables.
- What types of applications are not a good fit for MongoDB?
MongoDB should not be used for all projects. Any type of application where data consistency is highly valued or required, or where a strict data model needs to be maintained, is a bad fit for it. Financial systems are a particularly bad use case.
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