When you’re creating a WordPress website one of the first things you need to think about is your choice of web host. Sadly, a lot of people end up neglecting their choice of web host and their sites end up suffering as a result. By choosing a reliable WordPress host your site will be high performing, secure, and online when your users need it the most.
Below we dive into the ins and outs of WordPress hosting, and highlight some of the main hosts you should considering throughout your WordPress hosting search.
When you’re creating a WordPress website one of the first things you need to think about is your choice of web host. Sadly, a lot of people end up neglecting their choice of web host and their sites end up suffering as a result. By choosing a reliable WordPress host your site will be high performing, secure, and online when your users need it the most.
Different Types Of WordPress Hosting Available
Since WordPress is such a commonly used CMS you’ll find a variety of different hosting types and server configurations that cater to WordPress sites. From your basic shared host all the way up to managed and dedicated hosting environments.
Below you’ll learn about the key differences between the various WordPress hosting types available, so you have a better idea of the WordPress hosting type that’ll be the best fit for your website.
Since WordPress is such a commonly used CMS you’ll find a variety of different hosting types and server configurations that cater to WordPress sites. From your basic shared host all the way up to managed and dedicated hosting environments.
Below you’ll learn about the key differences between the various WordPress hosting types available, so you have a better idea of the WordPress hosting type that’ll be the best fit for your website.
Free WordPress Hosting
If you want free hosting for your WordPress site, then you’ll have to go through WordPress.com. Note that if you choose this option your domain name will include the wordpress.com extension, so ‘yourdomain.wordpress.com’. Although you won’t have the prettiest or most brandable domain name, you can have your site up in a matter of minutes.
If you’re not sure you’re ready to commit to running your own site on a dedicated domain, then using this hosting option can be a great first step. The downside to this approach is that you don’t have your own dedicated domain name and there will be limits to what you can do with your site. Having your own branded domain name means that you can brand yourself under your own domain name and have things like a domain-specific email address, rather than just having a site on a subdomain of WordPress.com
Below we highlight some of the best WordPress hosts you’ll want to consider throughout your search for the perfect host. The hosts profiled below offer you a blend of various forms of WordPress hosting, like those mentioned above.
Best WordPress Hosting Companies
If you want free hosting for your WordPress site, then you’ll have to go through WordPress.com. Note that if you choose this option your domain name will include the wordpress.com extension, so ‘yourdomain.wordpress.com’. Although you won’t have the prettiest or most brandable domain name, you can have your site up in a matter of minutes.
If you’re not sure you’re ready to commit to running your own site on a dedicated domain, then using this hosting option can be a great first step. The downside to this approach is that you don’t have your own dedicated domain name and there will be limits to what you can do with your site. Having your own branded domain name means that you can brand yourself under your own domain name and have things like a domain-specific email address, rather than just having a site on a subdomain of WordPress.com
Below we highlight some of the best WordPress hosts you’ll want to consider throughout your search for the perfect host. The hosts profiled below offer you a blend of various forms of WordPress hosting, like those mentioned above.
1. Bluehost
Bluehost offers a very cheap shared WordPress hosting plan. Note that the hosting plan lengths are between 12 and 36 months, so they do require a longer commitment, but with the heap monthly costs, it still doesn’t feel like that much money down.
Bluehost will offer you features like:
- Easy 1-click WordPress installation
- Fast scalability, you can upgrade to a VPS solution with a single click
- Free bundled SSL certificate for improved site security
- An enhanced cPanel that’s easier to use for beginners
You’ll also get access to Bluehost’s support team 24/7. Their support staff is very helpful and responsive and will help you work through site issues very quickly. If you’re looking for the most value out of what you’re paying for a WordPress host, then Bluehost should be at the top of your list.
2. Siteground
Siteground is one of the most commonly used WordPress shared hosts. With its fast speeds, great customer support, and high levels of security it’s a great bargain for the features you get. It’s also one of the four hosts recommended by WordPress.org.
Siteground’s shared WordPress hosting will offer you features like:
- An easy to use 1-click WordPress installer
- Automatic updates, so your site will always be running the latest version of WordPress
- A free bundled SSL certificate from Let’s Encrypt
- A WordPress staging area, so you can view site changes before they go live
- Built-in website caching for improved site performance and loading speeds
Beyond the features above you’ll also get access to a dedicated support team 24/7. With the various hosting packages offered, you’ll surely find one that’s the perfect fit for your WordPress website.
3. HostGator
HostGator is a well-known hosting provider for the beginner hosting space. However, they also offer stellar WordPress cloud hosting packages that are equipped with a 99% uptime guarantee. You’ll find three different WordPress specific packages that cater to single site users all the way up to those running multiple websites.
Some of the features offered by HostGator’s WordPress hosting include:
- An easy to use WordPress cloud interface
- Enhanced site performance with the bundled Global CDN
- Advanced security protection
- Quick WordPress installation and site transfer
- Easy scalable to adjust to higher levels of traffic
The package you choose will depend on how many sites you run and your overall traffic levels. If you’re looking for an easily scalable WordPress host that’ll grow with your site without breaking the bank, then check out HostGator.
Beyond the WordPress cloud hosting option above you can also opt for a cheaper shared WordPress hosting plan.
4. InMotion Hosting
InMotion offers you a feature-rich WordPress hosting environment. With InMotion, you get access to a WordPress optimized server environment along with a dedicated support team behind you every step of the way. InMotion also offers a variety of WordPress-specific features like WordPress pre-installation, drag and drop theme support, along with a selection of free WordPress themes to choose from.
Some additional features offered by InMotion include:
- Automated WordPress core updates
- Free daily website backups
- Unlimited disc space, bandwidth, and email no matter which plan you choose
- 24/7 support from WordPress experts
For those looking for a WordPress shared host that offers a bit more in regards to WordPress specific features, then InMotion is definitely a host worth considering.
5. WP Engine
WPEngine offers a wide range of managed WordPress hosting packages that cater to a variety of different website owners. Along with their range of packages, you’ll get access to a very high performing host that has a stellar support team and top notch security.
WPEngine offers you features like:
- An easy one-click backup and restore process no matter which plan you choose
- Live site monitoring for virus and hacker attempts
- Bundled caching for improved site performance
- A site staging area to view site changes before going live
- Basically unlimited storage with Amazon S3 integration
Now, WPEngine doesn’t have features like email hosting, and they don’t allow for the use of some pretty popular WordPress plugins. With that aside, WPEngine is an incredibly high-performance host that’s a great it for sites that receive a high volume of traffic.
6.DreamHost
DreamHost offers you a cost-effective managed WordPress solution called DreamPress. Even though it’s more affordable the range of packages still enables you to scale your site without having to migrate hosts. Their package offerings range from complete beginners all the way up to experienced webmasters running very high traffic websites.
Some of the features of DreamPress include:
- Easily scalable servers to help you out surfing traffic surges
- Real-time malware scans and site fixing if hacking does occur
- Quick WooCommerce integration and support for eCommerce store owners
- Cloud server technology that makes your server stack infinitely scalable
- A knowledge, helpful and responsive support team behind your site
If you’ve already been using DreamHost to run your website and are looking to upgrade to a managed WordPress package, then this could be the solution you’re looking for. Plus, with its easy scalability, you don’t have to worry about a future site migration.
Beyond the managed WordPress hosting highlighted above DreamHost also offers a reasonable shared WordPress hosting plan as well.
Types Of Hosting Companies To Avoid
If you spend enough time browsing around different types of WordPress hosting, then you’ve probably come across a variety of dirt cheap hosting offers that are around $1 or less per month. This sounds like a good deal doesn’t it? $12 bucks a year for hosting, sign me up.
However, these hosting deals are almost always too good to be true. Companies who provide this level of hosting that’s very friendly on the wallet generally have good intentions. But, when you’re only charging people this much you simply can’t provide the level of support and performance that most WordPress site owners require.
One of the biggest costs for most hosting companies is support, so when you end up choosing a budget-level host you’re probably not going to get access to a stellar support team. Which means when you have an issue with your site you’ll be left on your own to solve it. Or, when your site goes offline you’ll be stuck waiting, not able to reach a support tech for clarity on the issue.
The best approach is to stick with a reputable WordPress host that has a solid and helpful support team and a verifiable track record. Now, no host is going to be perfect, but it’s always a good idea to go with a host that’ll be there when you need them the most. Your time and peace of mind are worth more than a few dollars a month.
Minimum WordPress Hosting Features To Look For
Now that you have an understanding of what kind of high quality features a good WordPress host will have we’ll take a look at the minimum requirements your host needs to have to support your WordPress site.
Luckily, WordPress has some pretty basic requirements that’ll run on just about any Linux server environment. Chances are almost every host you’ll come across will support WordPress considering it’s used on nearly 30% of all websites. Still, it’s important to be aware of the specific requirements.
To run WordPress you need the following:
- PHP version 5.2.4 or greater (PHP 5.4 or greater is recommended)
- MySQL version 5.0 or greater (MySQL 5.5 or greater is recommended)
If your host currently runs or supports the two requirements above, then you have enough to run a WordPress site. Any web server that supports PHP and MySQL is good, but it’s recommended to also seek out a host that uses the Apache web server, and more specifically one that can enable to Apache mod_rewrite module, as this will let you enable the friendly URL feature of WordPress.
As long as you choose a reputable hosting company that’s been around for a while, then chances are they’ll be able to support and accomplish the above technical task. If you’re unsure, then you can get in touch with support and ask them if they do enable the mod_rewrite module in Apache before you decide to sign up. It’s recommended to use hosts that run Apache, alongside Linux, PHP, and MySQL.
Final Recommendations
If sorting through the above WordPress hosts sounds like a lot, then check out our recommendations below. You’ll find two hosts that offer shared hosting packages that cater well to beginners, and another that offers the best WordPress managed hosting for large-scale and growing sites.
WordPress Hosting for New Bloggers
For bloggers who are just starting out and need a WordPress hosting option that’s both cost-effective and reliable, then Bluehost is going to be a great choice. Overall, they’re one of the best WordPress hosting providers available to get started and grow your site with.
Personally, I have two of my own blogs hosted with Bluehost and am a huge fan of their performance and superb customer service. Beyond its high performing servers, you’ll also have stellar uptime and a dedicated and helpful support team behind you. Plus, Bluehost is one of the only hosts recommended by WordPress.org.
Some valuable Bluehost features include:
- An enhanced cPanel for easy website management
- Up to 100 email accounts
- Simple one-click WordPress installation
- Free domain name registration
- 100GB of disc space
- A 45-day money back guarantee
If you want to get the best deal with Bluehost, then you can currently get their high quality hosting for just $2.95 per month (with a 36-month contract), along with a free domain name. But, the sale will end soon, so you’ll want to act fast.
If you’re planning on scaling up your content and traffic rather quickly, then we recommend you upgrade to the Plus Package for $5.45 per month. This will give you access to a greater level of features including, unlimited website and email account creation, and unlimited site bandwidth.
Overall, you won’t be able to find a better price for this quality of shared WordPress hosting, especially with the above discounts.
Best WordPress Hosting for Growing Blogs and Businesses
If your website is currently growing and you want a hosting environment that can keep up while improving the existing performance of your site, then WPEngine is the way to go. In my opinion, WPEngine is the gold standard when it comes to WordPress hosting providers.
Naturally, it’s going to be a much more expensive option than shared hosting, but it’s priced higher for good reason. With WPEngine you get a knowledgeable team of WordPress experts who are dedicated to helping your site grow. WPEngine is the host used to host this very site.
They offer a world-class service and support team, plus the hosting infrastructure is designed to make sure that WordPress runs fast and smooth. Now, using a managed WordPress host isn’t going to be the right fit for every style of website, but for those who are prepared to spend a bit more money every month to ensure your hosting is in great hands, then WPEngine is definitely the place to go.
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