To find the best WordPress hosting, we first tracked the performance of the 15 most popular hosting companies for a year. These included SiteGround, Bluehost, A2 Hosting, iPage, and more. We tested (still testing) each provider performance: uptime, load time, and reliability.
We also examined each host based on a variety of WordPress-related features. Ease of app installation, support, and price was among these criteria. Then we ranked the providers from best to worst in each category.
The best WordPress hosting service received the full 10 points in each category, while the worst received one. Finally, we totaled each host’s score to produce our definitive top-10 ranking.
WordPress is a powerful and easy-to-use application with a lot of fans around the world. Indeed, there are currently over 60 million WordPress websites out there. Did you know you could get special web hosting services designed for use with WordPress? Read on to find out which of our original 15 web hosts made our top-10 best WordPress hosting list and why.
SiteGround was founded in 2004 and trusted by the owners of 1.8 million domains. Its managed WordPress hosting service has the full endorsement of WordPress itself.
The company offers three tiers of service, starting at $3.95 a month. The basic package provides one website, 10GB storage, free email, and unmetered data. Customers also get free SSL and unlimited databases. SiteGround’s best-selling GrowBig service offers unlimited websites and doubles the storage to 20GB. It also includes a free site transfer service, SuperCacher technology, and priority support. GoGeek ups the ante with staging, Git software, and PCI-compliant servers. Users also have access to extra resources for their website. All three packages include daily backups and Cloudflare CDN. Go to Full Review
US-based Bluehost is also recommended by WordPress. From its initial launch in 2003, it now powers over two million websites globally. The company offers three shared WordPress packages and three managed services. Standard WP hosting starts at $3.95 a month for one website and 50GB storage. Higher-priced packages include unlimited websites, storage, parked domains, and subdomains.
All shared services include free email and SSL certificate, plus a free domain for the first year. Users can also access a staging environment to test changes before making them live. A further three WP Pro services are also available, starting at $19.95 a month. These include SEO, email, and social media tools, unlimited resources, and performance optimizations. The top-tier Scale package also provides advanced e-commerce features. Go to Full Review
Multi-award-winning, independently owned A2 Hosting launched in Michigan back in 2001. It offers both shared and managed WordPress hosting. Shared plans start at $3.92 a month, while managed services start at $11.99 a month. All A2’s shared services include unlimited SSD storage and data transfer. The basic package covers one site and five databases. Meanwhile, the Swift and Turbo options include unlimited websites and databases too. Turbo servers also offer speeds up to 20 times faster than the lower tiers.
Customers on any of A2’s managed plans can also enjoy this speed boost, plus unlimited data. Entry-level managed hosting supports one site, while the middle tier covers three. Only the top-tier service provides unlimited websites. Go to Full Review
GreenGeeks operates on an environmentally friendly ethos. It replaces the energy it uses with triple that amount of wind energy credits, contributing to a greener planet.
The company keeps it simple with its WordPress hosting offer. Users get a tailored version of its EcoSite Starter service, starting at $2.95 a month. It’s a good-value package though, including unlimited data and SSD storage. Customers also receive a free SSL certificate and CDN technology for faster pages. The package is scalable with extra computing resources. It’s optimized with an array of performance-enhancing technology and includes support for e-commerce. Virus and malware scanning, spam protection, and daily backups keep your website secure. GreenGeeks replaces any energy used with triple that amount in wind energy credits. That’s a huge benefit for any webmasters who want to reduce their carbon footprint. Go to full review
DreamHost operates over 1.5 million websites for 400,000 customers. Currently, 750,000 of those sites are WordPress-based. It offers a total of five WordPress-based hosting services. They start at $2.59 a month for a basic value service. There are also three high-performance packages available from $16.95 a month. The basic service provides one website and includes unlimited bandwidth. Customers also get SSD storage, an SSL certificate, and daily backups. Meanwhile, the company’s DreamPress service utilizes high-speed cloud server technology.
Depending on the service tier, DreamPress supports up to 1 million monthly visitors. The entry-level package comes with 30GB storage. Plus customers get 60GB, while Pro users get 120GB. All subscribers also receive free email and the popular Jetpack plugin.
Hostinger’s WordPress web hosting boasts some pretty high-profile customers, including Forbes and Bloomberg. The company also offers some of the lowest prices in the industry. Its WordPress hosting starts at $1.45 for a website, 10GB storage, and 100GB data.
Meanwhile, Premium and Business plans offer unlimited websites, storage, email, databases, and bandwidth. Users also get a performance boost and a free domain with an annual plan. Business hosting also includes daily backups and free SSL. Hostinger has optimized the speed, performance, and security of all services. Technology includes HTTP/2, PHP7.1, NGINX, BitNinja, and custom-built plugins.
FastComet currently has a user base of 45,000 customers across 83 countries. The company offers managed WordPress hosting from $2.95 a month, making it ones of the cheapest on this list. The basic package includes one website, 15GB SSD storage, and unmetered traffic.
Upgrade to ScaleRight, and you’ll be able to host more websites. You’ll also get double the resources and 25GB storage. SpeedUp customers get 35GB storage and FastComet’s RocketBooster technology, enhancing their site’s performance. All services include unlimited email and databases, plus Cloudflare CDN. Subscribers also get a free domain for the duration of their plan, free SSL, and daily backups.
Canada’s HostPapa commenced operations in 2006. It currently hosts over 500,000 websites. It offers three tiers of WordPress hosting, optimized for performance, security, and reliability. Its basic package starts at $3.95 a month, providing two websites and a free domain for the first year. Users also receive 100GB storage and unlimited bandwidth.
Upgrading to Business or Business Pro gets you unlimited storage and email. All services include a range of features including the Jetpack plugin. Customers also get a free SSL certificate, super caching, and Cloudflare CDN. Higher-priced packages provide further optimization and premium features like SEO tools. Business Pro users can expect a 300% performance boost thanks to dedicated resources.
iPage launched in 1999 and now hosts over a million websites. Most people know iPage for its affordable, one-size-fits-all shared hosting. The company offers dedicated WordPress hosting services too, from $3.75 a month.
The basic package provides users with a free domain for the first year. They also get unlimited storage and bandwidth, plus a selection of themes and plugins. iPage’s WordPress Essential plan adds automatic malware removal and SiteLock professional security technology. Customers can also access specialist technical support from WordPress experts.
Hostwinds launched in 2010, so it’s a relative newcomer compared to others on this list. It offers three tiers of shared WordPress hosting, starting at $3.29 a month. This company doesn’t do caps. All users receive unlimited bandwidth, storage, databases, subdomains, and email. Hostwinds also provides its customers with a dedicated IP address for free.
Higher-priced packages provide more domains. The advanced service supports four, while the Ultimate tier has no limit. Hostwinds offers a free website transfer service for webmasters with existing sites. A free SSL certificate and automatic daily backups are also included in the price of all plans.
All the services featured on our top-10 list are superb, but sometimes, you just need more. If that’s the case, there are heavier-duty managed WordPress hosting packages available. These plans provide a better performance, fantastic extras, and the best WordPress hosting experience overall.
WpEngine is a multi-award-winning provider of premium, managed WordPress hosting. It boasts high-profile customers like National Geographic and Thomson Reuters. Its basic service starts at $35 a month. That might sound expensive – until you find out what you get for that price. The entry-level deal gets you 10GB storage and 50GB bandwidth. It includes one website and can support 25,000 visits per month.
However, the true appeal of these packages is in the extras. All users receive the popular Genesis framework, 35 StudioPress themes, and global CDN. Development, staging, and production environments are also included in the price. There are two higher-priced services available with extra resources and features. WPEngine also offers customized hosting packages. These services can support millions of visitors and up to 25 sites.
Liquid Web manages over half a million WordPress sites for 30,000 customers across 130 countries. It’s WordPress managed hosting is even pricier than WPEngine, but you get a lot of bang for your buck. Its “basic” service starts at $29 a month and supports up to 10 websites, each with its own SSL certificate. Users also get 20GB SSD storage, 5TB bandwidth, and daily backups included in the price.
The higher price tiers provide extra storage and support more websites. Liquid also offers a bespoke Enterprise service that allows for upwards of 100 sites. Liquid Web’s services don’t impose any page view limits or overage charges. They provide a range of site management tools, and plugin updates are automatic. Customers can also access a staging site to test changes before making them live.
Web Host | Cost | Uptime | Load time | Rating |
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1. SiteGround | $3.95/mo | 99.99% | 546 MS |
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2. Bluehost | $2.95/mo | 99.99% | 425 MS |
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3. A2 Hosting | $3.92/mo | 99.97% | 347 MS |
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4. GreenGeeks | $2.95/mo | 99.98% | 361 MS |
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5. DreamHost | $2.59/mo | 99.98% | 538 MS |
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6. Hostinger | $0.80/mo | 99.97% | 384 MS |
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7. FastComet | $2.95/mo | 99.98% | 523 MS |
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8. HostPapa | $1.95/mo | 99.98% | 598 MS |
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9. iPage | $3.75/mo | 99.97% | 571 MS |
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10. Hostwinds | $3.29/mo | 99.95% | 810 MS |
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Unlike other projects of this nature, we signed up for hosting service from each of the providers on this list.
We also analyzed their terms of service to root out any hidden or unfair clauses. We used each service until we knew it inside and out. We noted how easy it was to sign up, navigate the back-end system, and install WordPress. We also set up test websites, monitoring server uptime and the time it took for pages to load.
One of the most vital factors of any hosting provider is its customer support. That’s why we made a point of communicating with the support staff of each of our top-10 web hosts. We evaluated the service based on response times, technical knowledge, and more.
Finally, we rated each hosting provider on a scale of one to ten for price, uptime, speed, features, and support. We totaled up each service’s score and ranked them accordingly.
Finding the best WordPress hosting for you can be a tricky business. Some providers keep it simple, but most have a variety of services available. All these services offer different features at different prices. Knowing which one is right for you depends on the level of features and resources your project needs.
Many providers base their pricing on factors like data allowance and storage. Other benefits like free SSL, CDN, themes, and plugins can all add to the cost. However, they can also add huge value to your experience, so they’re worth considering.
Don’t economize to the point where you compromise your website’s performance or usability. At the same time, don’t pay over the odds for extras you won’t benefit from. Be clear about what you need and what you don’t before you sign up.
Two key factors in choosing the right host are its reliability and speed. Downtime can have a significant, negative impact on performance and customer satisfaction. Luckily, most of the providers in this article guarantee 99.7-99.9% server uptime.
Companies are often less forthcoming about load times. It can be difficult to quantify, as it’s dependent on the location of data centers in relation to the browser. Choosing the data center closest to your location is usually a no-brainer. This will ensure customers in your area get the best possible experience.
Pages also load slower using shared hosting, compared to dedicated or VPS services. Slow speeds can affect not only your user experience but also your SEO performance.
There are countless hosts out there, and they will all tell you that they’re the best. The only way to know for sure is to do your own research. Check out customer review sites like TrustPilot.com or BBB.org. You will find unbiased opinions from people that have used the service themselves.
Another easy way of telling if a provider is trustworthy is the size of its customer base. If a company has millions of happy customers, they must be doing something right.
Popular brands are a safe choice but don’t discount lesser-known providers right away. Look them up and find out what their customers think of them. These companies often provide better-value offers to encourage new sign-ups. With a little research, you might bag yourself a fantastic deal.
WordPress is open-source software used to create and manage websites. There are currently over 60 million WordPress-built sites on the web. Of the top 10 million websites, over 30% of them were made in WordPress.
One benefit of WordPress hosting is that installing it is easy and updates are automatic. Either the software comes preinstalled, or you can install it with one click of your mouse.
It is a service tailored and optimized for use with the platform. WordPress hosting packages also often include extra features, themes, and plugins.
These services are perfect for any webmaster who favors WordPress. Aside from the other benefits, many providers also offer specialist WordPress support.
Managed hosting takes a lot of the hassle out of the equation. Updates to the platform and its plugins occur automatically. Customers also receive even more in the way of WordPress-related features and benefits.
VPS stands for a virtual private server. These services involve renting an operating system on a physical server. They provide better performance and more customization than shared alternatives.
Dedicated hosting is like a VPS, except customers buy an entire physical server. Dedicated services offer optimal performance and control over hardware and software configuration.
There is still much to consider when purchasing a targeted solution like WordPress hosting. As always, it’s crucial to weigh up the pros and cons before you commit to a service. We hope this guide helps you come to an informed decision.
What do you think of our top-10 ranking? Do you have any experience with any of the providers featured in this review? Let us know!