How to Choose the Best WordPress Hosting in 2024 (Compared)

My Testing Methodology

Transparency is important to me, so I want to share how I evaluate each hosting company. Knowing my process will help you understand why I recommend these WordPress hosts.

When deciding which hosting companies to recommend, I focus on several key factors:

• Speed and Server Response Time: I test server response times to ensure your website loads quickly. Fast performance boosts SEO rankings and improves the user experience.
• Ability to Handle High Traffic: I run stress tests to see if the host can handle traffic spikes during peak times, like during a sales promotion or holidays.
• Price and Affordability: Higher hosting costs can be discouraging for many users. I look for hosts that offer great value at affordable prices, which is ideal for small businesses.
• Easy Refunds/Cancellation: I prefer hosts that offer a money-back guarantee and make it simple to cancel if needed.
• Free Domain and SSL: I highlight hosts that provide a free domain for at least the first year and free SSL certificates for security.
• Support Response Time: I value hosts with 24/7 support from knowledgeable teams who can quickly address issues. I also look at their support documentation for more advanced DIY users.

The Testing Process

I signed up with each hosting company and set up a test website using a default WordPress theme. I filled the site with dummy content, including media and images.

Then, I used independent third-party tools to monitor various performance metrics. Here are the tools I used.

Tools I Used for Testing

To ensure accurate and reliable results, I used several industry-standard tools:

• K6 by GrafanaLabs: For stress testing, I used K6 to simulate high-traffic scenarios and see how each hosting provider handles load under pressure.
• Pingdom: I performed speed tests using Pingdom to calculate page load times. I ran multiple tests from different locations to get an average page load time.
• Bitcatcha: To measure server response times globally, I used Bitcatcha, which provides average response times from various locations worldwide.
• Uptime Robot: To monitor uptime, I relied on Uptime Robot to track the availability of each hosting provider over an extended period.

Other Factors I Considered

• Personal Experience: My hands-on experience with each hosting company significantly influenced my evaluations.
• Customer Reviews: I looked at other customer reviews to gain a broader perspective on user satisfaction and common issues.
• Different Use Cases: I considered various usage scenarios to ensure that the hosting providers meet the needs of different types of websites and users.

When I first started with WordPress, I was pleasantly surprised by how lightweight it was. WordPress is designed to be compatible with almost all good web hosting companies.

In fact, WordPress’s requirements are quite minimal:

• PHP version 7.4 or greater
• MySQL version 5.7 or greater OR MariaDB version 10.3 or greater
• HTTPS support (SSL certificate)

That’s it! You can run WordPress on their servers if a hosting provider supports these basic requirements.

Most of the hosting companies that I recommend know WordPress well and meet these requirements. However, I always suggest using a hosting provider that keeps its server environment up-to-date to ensure optimal performance and security.

When choosing a WordPress host, it’s a good idea to look for features like one-click WordPress installation, automatic updates, and dedicated WordPress support. These features can make your life much easier, especially if you’re new to building websites.

I’ve learned that while speed, security, and reliability are vital when selecting WordPress hosting, understanding your needs is equally important. You can save time and money by evaluating what you require beforehand.

Evaluating Your WordPress Hosting Needs

There are various types of hosting services available, and choosing the right one depends on your website’s goals. Let’s explore these options to help you make an informed decision.

Free WordPress Hosting

Free website hosting might sound appealing, but it often has significant drawbacks. In my experience, these services can be unreliable, may force ads onto your site, or require you to include their links. This can undermine your site’s professionalism and user experience.

If you’re serious about your website, I recommend avoiding free hosting services.

Shared WordPress Hosting

Shared hosting is the most popular choice for beginners because of its affordability and ease of use. Your site shares server resources with other websites, which helps keep costs low.

However, be cautious of promises like “unlimited” resources. Hosting providers may impose limitations if your site consumes excessive resources.

Shared web hosting is ideal for small businesses and blogs just starting out.

WordPress VPS Hosting

A Virtual Private Server (VPS) offers more control and flexibility than shared hosting. It’s like having your own dedicated portion of a server, allowing for better performance and customization.

VPS hosting suits medium-sized businesses, high-traffic blogs, and developers needing specific server configurations. If you’re not tech-savvy, then consider a managed VPS instead, where the hosting provider handles maintenance and updates.

WordPress Dedicated Server Hosting

Dedicated hosting gives you an entire server for your website. This means maximum performance, control, and security but is more expensive.

I only recommend dedicated servers for large businesses and high-traffic websites that require robust resources and customized server settings.

Managed WordPress Hosting

Managed WordPress hosting is a hands-off solution where the provider handles all technical aspects like updates, security, and backups. They optimize your site for performance and handle any technical issues.

While it can be more expensive, it’s worth considering if you prefer not to manage the technical side of running a website. It’s great for established bloggers and businesses that can justify the investment.

Making Your Decision

Understanding these hosting types helps you choose the best option for your needs. Over the years, I’ve tested and worked with all the top hosting companies. The providers I recommend offer excellent service and support, and I’ve personally hand-picked them based on my experience.

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Uptime

In my tests, Bluehost maintained an uptime of 99.98%, ensuring the website is accessible almost all the time.

Page Load Speed

The average page load time was around 1.2 seconds. While acceptable, it can be improved with caching plugins and optimizations.

Response Time

Bluehost showed consistent response times across various locations, averaging around 144 ms in the U.S.

Stress Testing

Under a load of up to 50 virtual users, Bluehost’s servers handled the traffic smoothly without significant slowdowns.

Uptime

In my tests, SiteGround maintained an uptime of 100%, meaning that the website was always accessible to visitors.

Page Load Speed

The average page load time was an impressive 397 ms, making it one of the fastest hosting providers I’ve tested.

Response Time

SiteGround showed excellent response times globally, averaging around 123 ms, meaning your site will load quickly for visitors worldwide.

Stress Testing

Under a load of up to 50 virtual users, SiteGround’s servers performed exceptionally well, handling traffic spikes without any issues.

Uptime

Hostinger consistently maintained an uptime of 100% during testing, ensuring the website stayed accessible.

Page Load Speed

The average page load time was 374 ms, one of the fastest among affordable hosting providers.

Response Time

Hostinger’s LiteSpeed servers performed exceptionally well, with an average response time of 210 ms globally.

Stress Testing

During stress tests with up to 50 virtual users, Hostinger’s servers handled the load efficiently, making it a reliable option for growing websites.

Uptime

DreamHost maintained an uptime of 100% during my tests, ensuring reliable availability for your website.

Page Load Speed

The average page load time was 439 ms, making DreamHost a solid performer in speed.

Response Time

DreamHost’s servers averaged a response time of 137 ms across various locations, ensuring quick loading times for visitors worldwide.

Stress Testing

DreamHost handled up to 50 virtual users without significant slowdowns during stress tests, proving a reliable option for growing websites.

Uptime

During my testing, A2 Hosting achieved an uptime of 99.97%, which is consistent website availability.

Page Load Speed

The average page load time on their Turbo Servers was 438 ms, which is faster than many shared hosting providers.

Response Time

Response times were consistent across regions, averaging around 123.9 ms.

Stress Testing

Under stress testing with up to 50 virtual users, A2 Hosting maintained stable performance without significant slowdowns.

Uptime

HostGator achieved an uptime of 100% during my testing, which is excellent for shared hosting plans.

Page Load Speed

The average page load time was 989 ms, which is good for small to medium-sized websites.

Response Time

Response times were consistent across major locations, averaging 230 ms in the U.S.

Stress Testing

HostGator performed well during stress testing with up to 50 virtual users, maintaining stable speeds without major slowdowns.

If you want to build a WordPress website, then you’ll need web hosting. Your hosting server stores your website’s files, and every website online uses a hosting provider.

Yes, there are free hosting providers, but I don’t recommend them. Free hosting often includes hidden drawbacks like ads, malware risks, and sudden shutdowns. If you’re serious about your website, it’s best to avoid free hosting. For more details, check out why free websites aren’t a good idea.

The cost depends on your needs and can range from $100 to $30,000. WordPress itself is free, but hosting and domain names are paid services. Additional costs can include themes, plugins, or other tools. Here’s a complete guide on how much it costs to build a WordPress website.

No, you can purchase your domain from a domain registrar like Domain.com and use a different WordPress hosting provider. However, many hosting providers include a free domain with their plans, which simplifies the setup process if you don’t already own a domain.

Yes, you can. All the hosting providers I recommend include SSL certificates, which are essential for eCommerce. If you’re looking for specialized hosting, check out my comparison of the best WooCommerce hosting.

All the hosting providers I recommend include a 1-click WordPress installation feature. For more details, follow my guide on how to install WordPress.

Traffic capacity depends on your hosting plan. Most shared hosting plans can handle 1,000 to 2,000 daily visitors if your site is optimized for performance. As your site grows, your hosting provider may recommend upgrading to VPS, dedicated, or managed hosting. For more details, see my guide on how much traffic WordPress can handle.

I recommend Bluehost for beginners because of their user-friendly features. While GoDaddy is also a good option, their hosting is slightly more complex to use. For a detailed comparison, check out Bluehost vs. GoDaddy hosting.

I always recommend long-term plans. They’re significantly cheaper than monthly plans, which often cost almost double. If you’re serious about your website, then choosing a 12- or 24-month plan is a smarter option.

cPanel is a popular control panel used by many WordPress hosting companies. While you don’t need cPanel, it simplifies tasks like installing WordPress and managing email accounts.

Many hosting providers now offer custom dashboards for a more user-friendly experience, making it easier to manage your website without needing cPanel.

Yes, you can switch providers if you’re unhappy. Most hosting companies offer free migration services to make the transition smooth. If you prefer to handle it yourself, follow my guide on moving WordPress to a new host.

Yes, the data center location impacts your site’s performance in specific regions. For example, if your audience is in the US, you should choose a US-based data center. Or if your audience is in Europe, select a European data center.

If you’re unsure, you can start with a US-based center and use a WordPress CDN later to improve performance globally.

Most hosting companies offer add-ons like website builders, email tools, or SEO features. You don’t need these when starting out. I recommend unchecking unnecessary options during signup and focusing on WordPress hosting.

If you need these features later, free alternatives are often available. For recommendations, check out my list of must-have WordPress plugins.

Yes, most hosting companies let you create branded business email addresses for free. However, I recommend using Google Workspace (formerly GSuite) for better reliability and features.

Yes, most hosting providers offer daily backups. However, I always recommend using a WordPress backup plugin to maintain your own backups for added security.

WP-CLI is a command-line interface for WordPress. It helps developers manage WordPress sites efficiently by allowing updates, plugin installations, and more without a browser.

While beginners don’t typically need it, it’s a great tool for developers and is included among the most reputable hosting providers.

SiteGround and Hostinger are excellent for SEO because of their fast servers and multiple data center locations. Both also come pre-installed with the All in One SEO plugin, which is free and highly effective.

SiteGround is my top recommendation for developers, offering tools like staging, WP-CLI, and Git access. Hostinger is another great budget-friendly option with fast servers.

WP Engine and SiteGround Enterprise are the top options for enterprise WordPress hosting. Both offer advanced security, scalability, and dedicated support. Other options include WordPress.com VIP, Pagely, and Kinsta.

Hostinger is the fastest for shared hosting, while WP Engine and SiteGround offer exceptional speed for higher-tier hosting plans. See my performance test results for more details.

Bluehost ($1.99/month) and DreamHost ($2.59/month) offer excellent service at a low cost, making them the best options for cheap WordPress hosting.

Yes, there are thousands of hosting companies, but I’ve focused on the best options to avoid overwhelming you. Other notable providers include WordPress.com, WP Engine, Flywheel, Kinsta, Cloudways, GoDaddy, LiquidWeb, and more.

My top 3 choices for the best WordPress hosting companies are:

• Bluehost – Best overall WordPress hosting (great value).
• SiteGround – Best WordPress support in the industry (premium hosting).
• Hostinger – Best WordPress hosting for small businesses.

No, this last question is not a joke. I seriously get this question even after referring people to this guide.