Best personal website hosting: making web hosting easy
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Are you looking to create a professional-looking personal website like a blog or a portfolio, yet the process seems too daunting?
A personal website is one of the most effective ways to represent yourself, your hobby, or your services online fast and easily. And it also makes it easy to monetize on it.
That being said, there are numerous hosting solutions claiming to offer the best web hosting for a personal site. My personal top solution is Bluehost.
To help you make an informed decision, together with the research team, I have tested a variety of hosts based on providers' interfaces and their intuitiveness, the variety of features included within the plans, uptime and site loading time, as well as customer support effectiveness, and value for money.
So read on to find the best personal website hosting that passed in-house testing.
Best personal website hosting: ranked
- Bluehost – best personal website host overall
- Hostinger – easy WordPress hosting for personal use
- SiteGround – speedy personal website hosting with optimization tools
- DreamHost – high-performance, intuitive personal website hosting provider
- HostPapa – user-centered personal website hosting with good support
- HostArmada – beginner-friendly host for personal project
Our in-house research team and expert writers work hand in hand to regularly test hosting services and provide accurate and fact-checked information. Discover the ins and outs of how we test and evaluate website hosting providers.
What is personal web hosting?
Personal web hosting is designed specifically for individuals who want a simple, affordable, and effective solution for hosting personal websites, blogs, portfolios, or hobby sites. Unlike business or enterprise web hosting, which often includes advanced resources and technical support, personal web hosting focuses on ease of use and affordability.
It usually provides basic features, such as a free domain, SSL certificates, and intuitive website builders, allowing users to create and maintain a website with minimal effort and technical knowledge.
Web hosting for personal websites – detailed list
If you’re wondering about where to host a personal website, we have tested quite a few top hosting providers to provide you with a shortlist of the best personal website hosts.
1. Bluehost – best affordable personal website host
| Features: | Automatic WordPress setup, free domain, SSL, website builder |
| Uptime: | 99.9% |
| Speed: | 361ms |
| Current deal: | Get up to 81% OFF Bluehost |
Bluehost is the best pick for personal WordPress websites, officially recommended by WordPress.org for its ease of use, reliability, performance and support. It's easy to use and takes care of all of the technicalities, while users get to enjoy good reliability and helpful tools. The prices are also good, starting at $1.99/month.
Why is Bluehost good for personal websites?
- AI-powered website builder – Bluehost’s AI tools assist in creating a personalized website design quickly and easily, perfect for personal branding.
- Beginner-friendly interface – Bluehost’s simple control panel makes setting up and managing your site easy, even for beginners.
- Free domain for the first year – Bluehost includes a free domain name for the first year, making it affordable to create your online presence.
- SSL certificate included – the host keeps your personal website secure and builds trust with visitors by enabling HTTPS encryption at no extra cost.
- Automatic WordPress updates – Bluehost handles WordPress updates for you, helping your site stay secure and up-to-date.
Performance. Bluehost’s performance is pretty reliable and fast. While there is no official uptime guarantee, the host delivers trustworthy performance. Just be mindful that Bluehost only has data centers in the US alone.
| Uptime: | 99.9% |
| Average response time: | 361ms |
| Fully built site loading time: | 1.8s |
Customer support. The provider offers 24/7 customer support via live chat and phone. Bluehost’s agents are very knowledgeable and speedy to help. Moreover, for an additional cost Bluehost also offers premium WordPress support service – Pro Design Live.
Pricing. Bluehost offers 4 shared hosting plans with prices starting at just $1.99/month with annual billing. Additionally, there’s also a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Visit our Bluehost review to learn more about the service.
2. Hostinger – beginner-friendly WordPress-centric hosting
| Features: | Free SSL, automatic backups, LiteSpeed web server, hPanel |
| Uptime: | 99.9% |
| Speed: | 511ms |
| Current deal: | Get up to 87% OFF Hostinger + free months |
Hostinger is an easy-to-use and affordable shared web hosting provider, ideal for hosting personal websites, starting at just $1.66/month. Not only that, the affordable pricing is matched with good performance and helpful customer service.
Why is Hostinger good for personal websites?
- User-friendly hPanel – Hostinger’s hPanel is straightforward and easy to navigate, ideal for users with little technical experience.
- Affordable pricing – Hostinger offers budget-friendly plans, making it a great option for personal websites without breaking the bank.
- Free SSL certificate – Hostinger includes a free SSL certificate, adding security to your website and protecting visitor data.
- Fast loading speeds – with optimized servers, Hostinger delivers quick loading times to enhance user experience on your website.
Performance. The host comes with perfect performance, thanks to powerful tech. These include fast SSD storage, the latest PHP versions, and fast LiteSpeed Web Server tech with caching already configured. Plus, you can choose a server location either in the US, Europe, or Asia.
| Uptime: | 99.9% |
| Average response time: | 511ms |
| Fully built site loading time: | 0.9s |
Customer support. You can reach Hostinger’s support team via 24/7 live chat or email. The customer support is very skilled and friendly, as well as quick to solve any occurring issues.
Pricing. The provider offers a very simple pricing structure where you can choose from 2 shared and 1 cloud plan. The prices start at as low as $1.66/month with a 4-year billing cycle. On top of that, there’s a standard 30-day money-back guarantee.
Visit our Hostinger review to learn more about the service.
3. SiteGround – easy-to-use and fast personal hosting option
| Features: | Native CDN, Ultrafast PHP, SuperCacher |
| Uptime: | 99.9% |
| Speed: | 217ms |
| Current deal: | Get up to 83% OFF SiteGround + FREE TRANSFER |
SiteGround is a very easy-to-use hosting for personal websites. It offers a variety of features that are well-suited for personal websites, including fast performance (99.99% uptime), secure hosting (real-time monitoring system), a custom control panel, and affordable plans.
Why is SiteGround good for personal websites?
- User-friendly management tools – SiteGround’s custom-built Site Tools make managing your website simple, even for those new to hosting.
- Advanced security measures – features like daily backups, a free SSL certificate, and proactive security monitoring help keep your site protected.
- Optimized for fast loading – SiteGround’s infrastructure is built to deliver fast loading times, ensuring a smooth experience for visitors.
- Automatic daily backups – daily backups are included at no extra cost, providing peace of mind with easy recovery options if needed.
Performance. In terms of speed and performance, SiteGround is a winner. During our in-house tests with a fully built WordPress site, SiteGround was up 99.9% of the time with an average speed of 217ms. For a personal website, this is more than enough.
| Uptime: | 99.9% |
| Average response time: | 217ms |
| Fully built site loading time: | 1.8s |
Customer support. The host offers all-rounded customer support – 24/7 live chat and phone. There’s also a ticket system and an extensive knowledge base.
Pricing. SiteGround has 3 plans – StartUp ($2.99/month), GrowBig ($4.99/month), and GoGeek ($7.99/month). Additionally, you can make use of a 30-day money-back guarantee.
To learn more about the provider, read our SiteGround review.
4. DreamHost – very secure and speedy personal hosting solution
| Features: | Free domain, SSL, domain privacy, automatic backups, website builder |
| Uptime: | 100% |
| Speed: | 231ms |
| Current deal: | Get DreamHost, now 72% OFF |
DreamHost is a WordPress-first provider that comes with generous server resources and affordable prices starting at $2.59/month. It also emphasizes privacy and offers various security features, making it a solid choice for those prioritizing security in their personal site hosting.
Why is DreamHost good for personal websites?
- Simple setup and control – DreamHost’s custom control panel is straightforward, allowing users to easily manage their site without technical expertise.
- Free privacy protection – DreamHost includes free domain privacy with all plans, keeping your personal information secure from the public WHOIS database.
- Reliable performance – with a 100% uptime guarantee, DreamHost ensures your site remains accessible to visitors at all times.
- Unlimited storage and bandwidth – ideal for personal sites with varied content, DreamHost’s plans offer unlimited resources to support your growth.
Performance. DreamHost is a highly reliable and fast hosting solution that comes with a 100% uptime guarantee. One thing to note is that the host’s data centers are located in the US alone.
| Uptime: | 100% |
| Average response time: | 231ms |
| Fully built site loading time: | 1.6s |
Customer support. DreamHost’s support can be reached via live chat (5:30 AM – 9:30 PM PT), phone, and 24/7 email tickets. Overall, the agents are knowledgeable and friendly too. Just be mindful that phone support is paid.
Pricing. When it comes to pricing, DreamHost is very straightforward. There are only 2 shared hosting plans to choose from with prices starting at $2.59/month with a 36-month billing. Moreover, it offers a very generous 97-day money-back guarantee.
DreamHost provides clear and straightforward plans that offer inclusive resources, coupled with good security features and a WordPress website builder.
Visit our DreamHost review to learn more about the service.
5. HostPapa – beginner and business-oriented hosting provider
| Features: | Free domain, SSL, email accounts, 1-on-1 training, cPanel |
| Uptime: | 99.9% |
| Speed: | 1.19s |
| Current deal: | Get HostPapa, now 74% OFF |
HostPapa is a hidden gem for users that need extra support. With plans starting at $2.36/month, the host offers a standard user-friendly interface ideal for beginners combined with personal customer support options.
Why is HostPapa good for personal websites?
- Easy-to-use cPanel – HostPapa provides a user-friendly cPanel interface that is perfect for beginners to manage their websites with ease.
- Free website migration – HostPapa offers free website migration, making it easy to transfer your site if you’re switching from another host.
- Unlimited bandwidth – HostPapa’s plans come with unmetered bandwidth, giving personal sites the flexibility to grow without limitations on traffic.
- 24/7 support and 1-on-1 training – HostPapa provides 24/7 support and even offers a free 30-minute one-on-one training session to help you get started.
Performance. HostPapa is excellent when it comes to uptime. While the host gives a standard 99.9% uptime guarantee, much better results can be expected. Alternatively, its server responsiveness could be better. Regardless, HostPapa has data centers in the US, Canada, and Europe.
| Uptime: | 99.9% |
| Average response time: | 1.19s |
| Fully built site loading time: | 1.5s |
Customer support. Traditional customer support can be contacted via 24/7 live chat, email, or phone. However, HostPapa offers one free one-on-one-training session by professionals too. As a whole, provider agents are knowledgeable, speedy, and effective in helping out.
Pricing. HostPapa presents 4 separate shared hosting plans, with prices starting at $2.36/month and going up to $10.36/month. Additionally, if you wish to test the services risk-free, there’s also a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Visit our HostPapa review to learn more about the service.
6. HostArmada – beginner-friendly host with all the essentials
| Features: | Free SSL, free domain, LiteSpeed web server, cPanel |
| Uptime: | 99.9% |
| Speed: | 412ms |
| Current deal: | Get up to 75% OFF HostArmada! |
HostArmada is another great hosting solution for personal websites due to its performance reliability as well as feature-rich plans. Not to mention that its prices start from as little as $2.49/month.
Why is HostArmada good for personal websites?
- Optimized server locations – with data centers across multiple continents, HostArmada ensures fast loading times by letting you choose the closest server to your audience.
- Easy-to-use cPanel – HostArmada provides an accessible control panel that is perfect for users new to web hosting.
- Daily data backups – HostArmada includes daily backups in all plans, offering peace of mind with reliable data protection.
- Advanced security tools – equipped with features like firewalls and malware detection, HostArmada helps keep your site secure.
Performance. During our tests, HostArmada demonstrated a perfect 99.9% uptime score with zero outages. The response time was solid as well, averaging at 412ms. Plus, with 9 data centers around the world, you’ll find some in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Sadly, the LiteSpeed web servers are only available with the most expensive tier.
| Uptime: | 99.9% |
| Average response time: | 412ms |
| Fully built site loading time: | 1.6s |
Customer support. You can contact HostArmada’s customer support via a 24/7 live chat, email, and phone support. The agents we contacted were very quick to respond and explained everything in depth.
Pricing. This host offers 3 shared hosting plans with prices starting from $2.49/month when purchasing it long-term. Additionally, you can make use of a generous 45-day money-back guarantee.
You can learn more about the service in our HostArmada review.
Personal website hosting compared
| Provider | Bluehost | Hostinger | SiteGround | DreamHost | HostPapa | HostArmada |
| Brand |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Rating | ||||||
| Interface | Native interface +cPanel | hPanel | Site Tools | Native interface | Native interface +cPanel | Native interface +cPanel |
| Free domain | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Free SSL | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Uptime | 99.9% | 99.9% | 99.9% | 100% | 99.9% | 99.9% |
| Average response time | 361ms | 511ms | 217ms | 231ms | 1.19s | 412ms |
| Site loading time | 1.8s | 0.9s | 1.8s | 1.6s | 1.5s | 1.6s |
| Data centers | The US | The US, Europe, and Asia | The US, Singapore, Australia, the UK, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands | The US | The US, Canada, and Europe | The US, Europe, Asia, and Australia |
| Price | From $1.99/month | From $1.66/month | From $2.99/month | From $2.59/month | From $2.36/month | From $2.49/month |
Personal website hosting ranking methodology
At Cybernews, our approach to evaluating web hosting providers for personal use is systematic and thorough, ensuring we provide reliable recommendations for those looking to host personal websites. To identify the best hosting for personal websites, together with the Cybernews research team, I analyzed 56 hosting providers, assessing various factors to ensure suitability for individuals needing accessible and affordable solutions.
Here’s how I tested and ranked the providers:
- Ease of use (30%). Since personal website hosting typically appeals to users with limited technical expertise, ease of use is essential. I evaluated each provider’s control panel, setup process, and overall user interface to determine how beginner-friendly it is.
- Performance and uptime (30%). Reliability is crucial for personal sites. I used tools like GTmetrix to monitor loading speeds and uptime over a period, ensuring each provider delivers smooth and consistent performance without frequent downtime.
- Value for money (20%). Cost-effectiveness is important for personal users. I reviewed pricing structures, focusing on features offered for entry-level plans, such as SSL certificates, free domains, and other essentials. We also assessed renewal rates to ensure long-term affordability.
- Security and additional features (20%). Security and extra features like SSL, malware protection, and privacy tools are necessary for safeguarding user data. I assessed each provider’s security measures, as well as optional add-ons, such as website builders or CDNs, that enhance the user experience.
Based on in-house testing and the gathered results, I ranked each provider from 1 to 6, presenting the best options for personal website hosting. This ranking aims to help users make informed decisions suited to their needs and budgets.
What should I look for in personal website hosting?
When choosing personal website hosting, consider features that suit your needs without overloading you with business-level complexity. Start by looking for essential elements like a free domain, SSL certificate, and an intuitive interface or control panel (like cPanel or hPanel) to simplify setup and management.
Reliable uptime ensures your site stays accessible, while a fast response time and quick loading speeds improve user experience. Additionally, check for data center locations, especially if you want to serve a specific region more efficiently.
Finally, evaluate the pricing of the preferred hosting provider and make sure the chosen plan fits within your budget while offering all the core features necessary for a smooth-running personal site.
How much does it cost to host a personal website?
Personal website hosting services can vary from around $1 to $10-30 a month. Besides hosting costs, there are other expenses to consider, such as the domain name, additional features, and web development. Below, I've broken down the costs of each element separately.
- Personal web hosting costs from $2 to $10/month.
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Domain names can be free or cost as much as $20/year. If you choose a web hosting plan, many providers include a free domain for the first year. After that, domain renewal prices typically start at around $10 per year, depending on the domain extension.
- Extra features. Additional features like SSL, CDN, and advanced security can cost from $1 to several hundred dollars, based on the level of service.
What’s the difference between personal website hosting and business hosting?
Personal website hosting is designed for individuals needing a simple, affordable solution for personal projects like blogs, portfolios, or hobbies. It focuses on ease of use, often including a free domain, SSL, and a website builder, making it ideal for beginners or small-scale sites.
Business hosting, on the other hand, is built to handle the higher demands of professional websites. It offers more resources, scalability, and enhanced security, catering to growing businesses or eCommerce needs. In essence, personal hosting covers the basics, while business hosting is geared toward performance, reliability, and growth.
Final thoughts
Creating a personal website, especially if you’re doing it for the first time, might seem like a daunting process. But it doesn’t have to be. Especially if you have a clear vision of how your personal website should look and how much you’re willing to spend.
The fastest way to create a site is by hosting it with a reputable provider, so we have tested dozens of potential candidates to shortlist the best personal website hosting solutions that are simple to use, do not cost a ton, yet still provide you with all the necessary features in one place.
With its intuitive control panel, strong value for money, and performance optimizations, Bluehost is a great option for both beginners and experienced users. Of course, other providers on this list also offer solid features and competitive options, making them worth exploring based on your specific needs.
Personal web hosting FAQs
What is the best hosting for a personal website?
The best way to build a personal website is to use a reliable, beginner-friendly hosting platform like Bluehost. It offers a free domain, customizable templates, and an easy-to-use website builder, making it simple to create and manage a personal site without technical expertise.
What type of hosting do I need for my website?
The type of hosting you need depends on your website's purpose and expected traffic. For a personal blog or portfolio, shared hosting is affordable and sufficient. For higher traffic or business sites, consider VPS or cloud hosting for better performance. For eCommerce or large sites, dedicated hosting provides the most resources and control.
Do I need a domain for a personal website?
Yes, you need a domain for a personal website if you want a unique web address. Many hosting providers, like Bluehost, offer a free domain with their plans, making it simple to set up your site.
Can I use .com for a personal website?
Yes, you can use a .com domain for a personal website. It’s a popular choice and gives your site a professional look, making it easy for visitors to remember.
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