TL;DR
The best WordPress hosting provides the perfect blend of speed, reliability, and WordPress support to ensure your site runs smoothly. In this guide, we’ll explore top hosting options (including Cloudways, Hostinger, and ScalaHosting), key features to look for, and how much you can expect to pay, helping you make an informed decision for your WordPress site.
Cloudways
We’ve used Cloudways to run high-traffic volume WordPress sites, multi-sites, and everything else. It may not be the cheapest, but it won’t break the bank. A single CPU and two gigs of RAM will handle most typical WordPress sites.
Thanks to the Cloudways dashboard, managing those sites is also effortless. Everything from site migration to backups and cloning can be done in a few clicks. The convenience is way beyond what we’ve seen at higher price tags.
You’ll need to monitor specific resources, like storage space. You get less than most competitors provide, but that will only matter if you ignore SEO and overload your WordPress site. Not a great idea in any case.
WordPress Hosting Plans
Number of WordPress Installs Allowed
HostScore
Cloudways Pros
- Topnotch server uptime and speed performance
- Good abstration over complex cloud server setups with integrated dashboard
- Outstanding customer support
- High scalability; Autonomous plan supports auto-scaling
- Easy server cloning, site staging, and website transfer
- Host unlimited applications in one account
- 25% discount for first two months with coupon “HOSTSCORE”
Cloudways Cons
- Getting expensive – Prices increased steadily for the past few years
- Limited trial period
Hostinger
For a host that’s known for its budget-oriented offerings, Hostinger breaks from the norm regarding its WordPress plans. It offers Managed WordPress hosting packages across several platforms, from shared to Cloud servers.
The minimum number of sites you can host on these starts at 100, whereas most competitors will begin at single-site offerings. Additionally, you get all the regular trimmings like free email, unmetered bandwidth, a free domain name, and backup systems.One downside, however, is that the cheapest plan in its WordPress range has severe limitations. For example, you can’t install WooCommerce, create on-demand backups, or use staging sites.WordPress Hosting Plans
Number of WordPress Installs Allowed
HostScore
Hostinger Pros
- Very cost-effective – Lowest plan starts at $2.99/mo and support up to 100 websites
- Nine different data centers in four continents
- Good spread of hosting plans
- User-friendly control panel (hPanel)
- Wide range of payment options accepted
- Git environment available on shared hosting
- Additional 7% discount with coupon code “HOSTSCORE”
Hostinger Cons
- Price increase during the renewal
- Does not support Windows hosting
ScalaHosting
Regarding WordPress, ScalaHosting understands that there’s nothing better than having many choices. They cater to all WordPress lovers, from those wanting cheap WordPress hosting to unlimited WordPress resources and even power-hungry pros.
All their WordPress plans include unlimited email and databases. More importantly, the cheapest WordPress plans allow you to access staging, Git, and WP-CLI. It’s a lot of love that starts at low prices.
The only downside is that real-time malware protection only gets included once you get past the most basic plan. However, since we’re talking about WordPress, you can easily use a plugin to satisfy that need.
WordPress Hosting Plans
Number of WordPress Installs Allowed
HostScore
ScalaHosting Pros
- Outstanding hosting uptime and speed performance
- Affordable pricing
- Anytime unconditional Money-back Guarantee
- Automated backup with 7 restore points
- Generous offer in server resources – Even the lowest shared plan gets unmetered bandwidth and unlimited emails
- NVMe SSD storage for all shared hosting plans
- Innovative technology – SPanel, SShield, SWordPress
ScalaHosting Cons
- Price increase during the renewal
Kinsta
Kinsta is practically a legend when it comes to WordPress. It’s one of the few hosts that have built an entire business around this popular platform. However, Kinsta primarily caters to the high-performance market, so don’t expect their plans to come cheap.
That said, performance excellence is almost guaranteed. These guys are WordPress professionals, and their work is always top-of-the-line. Although they are now open to several more apps, they are always controlled and optimized by Kinsta.
Hosting any WordPress site on Kinsta will be rock-solid thanks to their foundational use of Google Cloud. When people say a company is serious about its business, they were probably thinking of Kinsta.
WordPress Hosting Plans
Number of WordPress Installs Allowed
Kinsta Pros
- Outstanding server uptime and speed performance
- Choice of 30+ server locations
- Optimized for best WordPress site performance
- Plans auto-scale during visitor spikes
- Specialized WordPress support staff
- Highly developer-friendly
Kinsta Cons
- Expensive
- No email hosting
- No shared hosting
- Does not support cron jobs
- Some WordPress plugins banned
WP Engine
For many products and services, there are specialists, and then there are specialists. WP Engine is the latter when it comes to anything WordPress-related. Over the years, they’ve built their entire business around this platform alone.
Unlike most hosting companies, WP Engine only provides WordPress on Cloud-based platforms. It’s a managed solution that lets you focus on your content and business instead of technicalities. However, that also means cheap WordPress hosting is out of the question.
WP Engine also offers solutions for headless WordPress hosting. This allows for the possibility of highly customized front-ends driven by WordPress’s proven powers. This granular control also means the potential for much better performance—if done right.
WordPress Hosting Plans
Number of WordPress Installs Allowed
WP Engine Pros
- Outstanding server uptime and speed performance
- Round-the-clock WordPress-specialized support
- Developer-friendly environment
- Genesis framework and StudioPress themes included
- Choice of 20+ server locations in four continents
WP Engine Cons
- Email hosting services not included
- Only WordPress plans available
- Bandwidth and some server resources are highly limited
- No white-glove site migration
InMotion Hosting
InMotion Hosting WordPress plans fit into many categories since they’re so agile. Primarily, you can choose from some great standard plans if you want cheap WordPress hosting or unlimited resources.
However, InMotion also offers Managed WordPress plans on “Platform i.” These are souped-up WordPress installations running on highly specialized servers. You get near VPS-style resources and extremely granular control over WordPress.
These plans are more than just going through the motions (pardon the pun). They offer things like PHP workers, playground environments, and security enhancements that will make your eyes bulge in disbelief.
WordPress Hosting Plans
Number of WordPress Installs Allowed
HostScore
InMotion Hosting Pros
- Affordable pricing
- Lowest shared hosting plan supports Python, Node.JS, Ruby and GIT version control
- Choice of data center locations in the United States and Europe
- Free AutoSSL
- Built-in hack, DDoS, and malware protection
- 90-day money back guarantee
- Free website migration services
InMotion Hosting Cons
- Lower shared hosting plans lack speed optimization
- Price increase during the renewal
BlueHost
Bluehost is a longstanding name in the web hosting game. Over that time, it’s steadily moved forward as technologies mature, especially for critical platforms like WordPress. That means it’s built a solid offering in this range, from cheap WordPress hosting to Cloud-based plans.
Even the cheapest WordPress hosting plan here (and they start very cheaply) gets a free year’s registration of a domain name and custom WordPress themes. However, what’s not so much to love is the resource limitations. Additionally, the free SSL is only for the first year.
Things change once you get past the lowest tiers, and better plans are jam-packed with goodies. For example, you can start getting WordPress online store features, like store analytics, booking appointments, shipping labels, and more.
WordPress Hosting Plans
Number of WordPress Installs Allowed
HostScore
BlueHost Pros
- Free domain name with all shared hosting plans
- $100 free ad credits with all plans
- Comprehensive and easy-to-navigate knowledgebase
BlueHost Cons
- Renewal fees can be significantly higher
- Many upsells on additional features
- Add-ons can get expensive
- Only US-based servers
- Customer support can be better
What is WordPress Hosting?
A WordPress Hosting is a web host that accommodates blogs or websites built with WordPress. Typically, when we say “WordPress Hosting” – it refers to hosting services that are specifically optimized to enhance the performance, security, and reliability of WordPress sites.
Technically, there is no such thing as “WordPress Hosting’. Any web host that supports PHP 7.4 (or higher) and MySQL 8.0 (or higher) can host a WordPress site. Any conventional shared hosting that supports one-click WordPress installation and offers WordPress development tools, such as WordPress staging environments and caching solutions, can be an excellent host for your WordPress site.
Types of WordPress (WP) Hosting
Because different websites have different needs – hence understanding the different types available in market an help you make an informed decision that best fits your website. Here’s a breakdown of the most common types of WordPress hosting:
| Type of Hosting | Advantages | Drawbacks | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared WP Hosting | Affordable, easy to set up, plenty of choices in market | Limited resources, potential for slower load times, less server control | Beginners, small websites, blogs |
| Managed WP Hosting | Optimized for WordPress, enhanced security features, expert support | Expensive, less control over certain aspects of the server | Users needing less technical management |
| VPS WP Hosting | Dedicated resources, better performance and stability, greater control and customization | More expensive than shared hosting, requires some technical knowledge to manage | Growing websites with higher traffic |
| Dedicated WP Hosting | Maximum performance and speed, complete control over server configuration | Expensive, requires technical expertise to manage | Huge websites with high traffic volumes |
| Cloud WP Hosting | Scalable resources, reliable, pay-as-you-go pricing models | Can become expensive with increased usage, setup can be complex at times | Websites with rapid growth or fluctuating traffic |
Which Web Host is Best for My WordPress Site?
The definition of “Best WordPress Hosting” is ultimately up to you.
There is no universally “best” WordPress hosting – every site is different, and each organization has its own unique needs and preferences. It’s like asking which fruit in a fruit basket is the best; you’ll likely get varied opinions because the answer depends on individual tastes and requirements.
The ideal hosting for your WordPress site depends on your specific needs – whether you’re on a tight budget or require integrated email hosting. Only you can determine what the best hosting solution means for your site.
What Makes a Host Great for WordPress?
That said, however, a great WordPress hosting provider should offer a typical set of features designed to enhance the performance, security, and usability of your WordPress site.
Here are some key features to look for:
1. User Friendly
- One-Click WordPress Installer: Simplifies the installation process of WordPress, allowing users to get started quickly without technical expertise.
2. Optimized Performance
- Server Configuration: Servers are specifically configured to meet the unique requirements of WordPress, resulting in faster load times and improved site performance.
- Server-Side Caching: Technologies like Varnish or Redis are used to speed up content delivery by caching frequently accessed data.
- Object Caching: Reduces your WordPress site load times by caching database queries.
- CDN Integration: Distributes content across multiple servers worldwide, reducing latency and improving your website load times for global visitors.
3. Enhanced Security
- Regular Updates: Automated updates for WordPress core, themes, and plugins to protect against vulnerabilities.
- Web Application Firewall (WAF): Protects against common threats such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS).
- DDoS Protection: To safeguard the site against distributed denial-of-service attacks.
- Automated Backup Solutions: Regularly scheduled backups to ensure data can be restored in case of loss or corruption.
4. Scalability
- Resource Allocation: Easy scalability to accommodate increased traffic and resource demands. Some providers, such as Cloudways, support WordPress auto-scaling, allowing websites to navigate seamlessly through sudden traffic spikes (learn more).
- Flexible Plans: Options to upgrade plans as your website grows, ensuring that you always have the resources you need.
5. Specialized Support
- Expert Assistance: Support teams specialized in WordPress are available to assist with troubleshooting and optimization.
- 24/7 Availability: Round-the-clock support to quickly resolve any issues that may arise.
How Much to Pay for WordPress Hosting?
The Right Price to Pay
The cost of WordPress hosting varies widely based on the type of hosting you choose – which, ultimately, depends on the type of WordPress site you are running.
Shared WordPress hosting is the most budget-friendly option, typically costing between $3 to $10 per month, making it ideal for beginners and small blogs with low traffic.
Managed WordPress hosting, which offers optimized performance, enhanced security, automatic backups, and 24/7 expert support, ranges from $20 to $300+ per month. This option is suitable for small to medium-sized businesses and high-traffic blogs.
For those needing more control and better performance, VPS WordPress hosting costs between $20 to $80 per month, providing dedicated resources, greater control over server settings, and enhanced security.
Dedicated WordPress hosting is the premium option, priced at minimum $150 per month and up, offering complete control over a dedicated server. Generally we only recommend this option for large enterprise WordPress sites with specific requirements.
To give a more accurate estimation of your WordPress hosting cost, try using our Web Hosting Cost Calculator. Just tell us more about your sites and the free tool will recommend the right price to pay for your web host.
Factors Influencing WordPress Hosting Cost
From cheap shared hosting to high-performance managed WordPress hosting, there are options available for every type of WordPress site. The three key factors influencing your WordPress hosting cost are:
Server Resources
The cost of WordPress hosting is largely influenced by your website’s traffic and resource needs. High-traffic websites require more powerful hosting plans to handle the volume, which increases costs. Additionally, websites with heavy media, complex databases, or high levels of interactivity demand more resources, driving up the price.
Addon Features
Another significant factor is the features and add-ons included in the hosting plan. Enhanced security measures, such as off-site backup, advanced firewalls, and dedicated WordPress expert support, can increase costs. Performance optimization tools like CDNs and caching solutions also add to the expense.
Billing Cycles
Your host billing cycles also play a role: Opting for annual payments often reduces the overall cost compared to monthly billing. For example, Kinsta entry plan costs $35/mo when pay by monthly and $30 when you subscribe on annual basis.
Also, promotional discounts for new customers can offer temporary savings. For instance, if you signup to Hostinger WordPress hosting today – not only you’ll get up to 75% discount but also free two months of subscription.
Final Thoughts
Do User Reviews Matter?
Finding the best WordPress hosting for your site involves careful consideration and research. Reviews, whether from random users on Reddit or professional review sites like ours, can be a great starting point for understanding the strengths and weaknesses of hosting providers.
However, it’s important to remember that reviews often reflect extreme experiences – people who are either very satisfied or very dissatisfied with the service.
To get a balanced view, pay special attention to how well the hosting providers deliver on their promises. Compare user feedback with the claims made on the company’s website. Look at aspects such as customer service, hosting features and performance, as well as pricing policies. This holistic approach will give you a clearer picture of what to expect.
Try It Yourself
While reviews are helpful, nothing beats testing the service yourself. Most hosting companies offer a money-back guarantee or a trial period, allowing you to try their services risk-free. Use this opportunity to see if the hosting provider meets your specific needs and preferences.
In the end, it’s about finding the WordPress hosting that best fits your unique needs and comfort level. Trust your research and instincts to make the right choice for your WordPress site.
