---
title: "Hosting Recommendations for the LearnDash App"
source: "https://docs.nexcess.com/software/learndash/hosting-recommendations-app/"
description: "Introduction The LearnDash App (powered by LearnDash App technology) is a highly dynamic mobile application built for real-time user interaction. Because it rel…"
vertical: "Software"
area: "LearnDash"
date: "2025-09-23"
last_modified: "2025-09-23"
---

# Hosting Recommendations for the LearnDash App

## **Introduction**

  
The LearnDash App (powered by LearnDash App technology) is a highly dynamic mobile application built for real-time user interaction. Because it relies on frequent API calls to your WordPress site, it’s essential to choose optimized hosting that supports scalability, speed, and concurrent users.

## **API Caching for App Performance**

The app uses native mobile rendering, but its data comes from WordPress via REST API. Performance depends on how quickly your server can deliver API responses.

**API Caching Benefits:**

- Automatically caches most LearnDash API responses.
- Delivers faster load times than the web version.
- Each user has their own cache, updated in real-time.
- Reduces server load by minimizing real-time data generation.

*Enable API caching in the LearnDash App plugin. It works out of the box on most servers.*

## **Hardware Requirements**

Based on extensive testing with API caching enabled and 100% app-based traffic:

| **Concurrent Users** | **Memory (RAM)** | **CPU Cores** | **Storage (Est.)** | **Bandwidth (Est.)** |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 150 users | 16GB+ | 8+ | 50GB+ | 125GB+/month |
| Up to 300 users | 32GB+ | 16+ | 100GB+ | 250GB+/month |
| Up to 600 users | 64GB+ | 32+ | 150GB+ | 500GB+/month |
| Up to 1200 users | 128GB+ | 64+ | 200GB+ | 1TB+/month |

*Resource needs will increase with more plugins, web traffic, or media uploads. Cloud hosting allows scaling without migration.*

## **Server Software Requirements**

Ask your host to provide:

- **Linux OScore
- **PHP 8.1
- **MariaDB 10.1+** *(preferred over MySQL 8.1+)
- **SSL (HTTPS)
- **No NGINX

*MariaDB is recommended for better performance over MySQL.*

## **Things to Avoid**

Avoid hosting providers that:

- Block API requests from external apps.
- Enforce mandatory server-side caching.
- Disable core WordPress features.

*Many WordPress hosts are optimized for static sites, not real-time applications like the LearnDash App.*

## **Recommended Hosting Type**

We **strongly recommend cloud hosting** for optimal performance:

- Shared hosting lacks resources.
- VPS/dedicated servers don’t scale easily.
- Cloud servers scale up/down with little or no downtime.

## **Ideal Hosting Stack**

To fully unlock your app’s performance potential:

- **Infrastructure:** AWS-based cloud setup (or similar high-performance cloud).
- **Server:** LiteSpeed Enterprise Server.
- **Database:** MariaDB (fast and stable for WordPress).
- **Caching:  
    
    - **LiteSpeed Cache
    - **Redis Cache + Relay + LiteSpeedPHP
    - **Object Cache Pro

*Note: Run benchmarks with tools like WPPerformanceTester to validate your server’s performance.*

## **Troubleshooting and FAQs**

**Q: My app feels slow even after enabling API caching.  
 A: Ensure your server meets the recommended hardware specs and that no other plugin is interfering with the caching process. Clear server-level and app cache, then test again.

**Q: Why is my server load still high with the app?**  A: High load may be caused by web traffic, additional plugins, or lack of API caching. Verify caching is enabled and functional in the LearnDash App plugin settings.

**Q: Can I use shared hosting for the LearnDash App?  
 A: No. Shared hosting lacks the resources and scalability required to handle real-time API requests and dynamic app traffic.

**Q: Do I need separate hosting for the app and website?  
 A: No. The app pulls content from your WordPress site, so both should be hosted on the same optimized server.

**Q: Should I use NGINX for better performance?  
 A: No. The LearnDash App is not fully compatible with NGINX. Use **LiteSpeed Enterprise Server** for best results.

**Q: What if my hosting provider blocks API requests?  
 A: You’ll experience broken functionality in the app. Contact your host to whitelist external API requests or consider switching to a more compatible provider.

**Q: Is AWS a good option for hosting the app?  
 A: Yes, but only if properly configured. We recommend using a managed solution like **Rapyd**, which is optimized for dynamic WordPress apps and built on AWS infrastructure.