Best WordPress hosting providers
Through independent research and testing, our team of experts offers transparent and thorough reviews of web hosting providers. We use the same testing criteria for all providers to offer a fair and unbiased assessment of each hosting service.
Our in-depth articles include feedback about our hands-on hosting experience and other crucial information for potential customers.
Learn moreWordPress is one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) in the world. Whether you want to build a WordPress website or find a suitable provider to migrate an already existing site, you need the best host for WordPress.
The Cybernews research team and I tested 54 hosting providers and chose 7 best WordPress hosting services. We looked into WordPress-focused plans, features, performance, server locations, and overall price-to-value ratio.
Best web hosting for WordPress: top 7 sites ranked
- Bluehost – high-performance WordPress hosting
- Hostinger – cheapest WordPress hosting
- SiteGround – secure WordPress hosting
- DreamHost – managed WordPress hosting
- HostGator – WordPress hosting for beginners
- GoDaddy – enterprise WordPress hosting
- Flywheel – managed WordPress hosting
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.
Best WordPress hosting providers in 2024 – our detailed list
To help you choose the best web hosting provider for your WordPress site, the Cybernews team and I tested and evaluated 56 providers for a period of 1 to 2 months, looking into their performance, WordPress tools, additional features, and price.
1. Bluehost – best web hosting for WordPress overall
Cybernews rating | |
Pricing from | $1.99/month |
WordPress features | Automatic installation, WonderSuite AI site creation, staging |
Best deal | Get up to 81% OFF Bluehost |
Bluehost is my #1 WordPress hosting provider for beginners and experienced users alike. An intuitive dashboard, budget-friendly pricing, and plans optimized for WordPress and online stores are what makes Bluehost one of the best.
Bluehost WordPress plans, pricing, and features
With all Bluehost plans, you also get a free domain, SSL, unlimited bandwidth, and a free CDN. The WonderSuite is great for creating your site with AI, although I think Hostinger’s AI integration is more intuitive and produces overall better results. All Bluehost plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can choose from 4 pricing tiers:
- Basic – $1.99/month, 10 websites, 10GB storage, 40k visits/month, free email trial, free domain for the 1st year
- Choice Plus – $2.65/month, 50 websites, 50GB storage, 200k visits/month, free email trial, free domain for the 1st year
- Online Store – $5.45/month, 50 websites, 50GB storage, 200k visits/month, WooCommerce auto-install, automated real-time backups
- Pro – $9.99/month, 100 websites, 100GB storage, 400k visits/month, free domain and daily backups for the 1st year, free email trial
For more information on Bluehost WordPress performance and ease of use, check out our Bluehost WordPress hosting review.
Thanks to its intuitive interface and easy-to-use features, Bluehost is perfect for beginners. You can create your site with the help of an AI site builder, and enjoy excellent performance and top-tier WordPress-oriented features and plugins.
2. Hostinger – cheapest WordPress hosting on our list
Cybernews rating | |
Pricing from | $1.66/month |
WordPress features | AI WordPress assitant, AI website creator, AI trouble shooter, compatibility checker |
Best deal | Get Hostinger Website Builder, 87% OFF + free months |
Hostinger is another great WordPress hosting solution. It offers some of the cheapest subscription plans (starting from $1.66/month) compared to other options and includes unique AI tools for WordPress. Additionally, it is very easy to use and is the fastest host that we’ve tested so far.
Hostinger WordPress plans, pricing, and features
For WordPress hosting, Hostinger offers automatic WordPress installation, as well as free website migration and tools for managing general WordPress settings globally. Hostinger also stands out from SiteGround and DreamHost with unique features like the AI Assistant, the AI Troubleshooter to help identify and fix site errors, and the Compatibility Checker to improve the overall site performance. No matter which Hostinger plan you choose, a free SSL certificate, a custom domain (except for the Single WordPress plan), weekly backups, unlimited bandwidth, and up to 100 email accounts are available. You can choose from 3 managed WordPress plans:
- Premium – $1.66/month, 100 websites, 100GB storage, 25k visits/month
- Business – $2.51/month, 100 websites, 200GB storage, 100k visits/month, AI features, free CDN
- Cloud Startup – $6.45/month, 300 websites, 200GB storage, 200k visits/month, AI features, dedicated IP, free CDN
For details on performance testing results and ease of use, take a look at the Hostinger review.
Hostinger offers hosting services that are fit for both beginners and seasoned users. It’s the perfect fit for businesses, freelancers, agencies, nonprofits, educational institutions, and even bloggers.
3. SiteGround – the most secure WordPress hosting
Cybernews rating | |
Pricing from | $2.99/month |
WordPress features | Automatic installation, staging, migration, security plugin |
Best deal | Get up to 83% OFF SiteGround + FREE TRANSFER |
SiteGround is one of the top-rated managed WordPress hosting solutions with excellent WordPress-centered services and an advanced site security suite with features like an anti-bot system and a dedicated security plugin. The entire hosting platform is focused on the CMS, offering custom management, security, and speed solutions to make it even more powerful.
SiteGround plans, pricing, and features
SiteGround offers auto WordPress installation, updates, and migration services. All plans include free SSLs, unmetered traffic, native CDNs, daily backups, caching, auto-migration, and email. SiteGround offers advanced security tools like constantly updated WAF, AI anti-bot system, 24/7 monitoring, automated backups with a redundant keeping policy, and a dedicated Security plugin. The SiteGround security suite is what truly sets it apart from Hostinger and Bluehost.
All SiteGround WordPress plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee:
- StartUp – $2.99/month, 1 website, 10GB storage, 10k visits/month
- GrowBig – $4.99/month, unlimited websites, 20GB storage, 100k visits/month, on-demand backup copies, staging
- GoGeek – $7.99/month, unlimited websites, 40GB storage, 400k visits/month, on-demand backup copies, staging, priority support, private DNS
For more information on SiteGround performance and ease of use, take a look at the SiteGround review.
Just like Bluehost's WordPress hosting, SiteGround’s WP hosting is also great for businesses that look for highly advanced website security. Additionally, I’d recommend it specifically for those building eCommerce stores. It supports popular eCommerce platforms, including WooCommerce and PrestaShop.
4. DreamHost – WordPress plans for managed hosting
Cybernews rating | |
Pricing from | $2.59/month |
WordPress features | WordPress website builder, staging, AI WordPress tools, business advisor |
Best deal | Get DreamHost, now 72% OFF |
DreamHost offers a variety of WordPress-focused plans, ranging from shared hosting to VPS solutions. DreamHost includes AI tools such as a website builder and a business advisor, as well as a 1-click staging environment. Overall, it offers plans and pricing for both beginner and professional users.
DremHost WordPress plans, pricing, and features
DreamHost features include such WordPress basics as auto-installation, updates, and website migration. DreamHost WordPress plans include a free domain, free SSL, daily backups, and domain privacy. However, the main selling point for me is a WordPress website builder, BoldGrid. Also, what sets DreamHost apart is the extra generous 97-day money-back guarantee for all shared hosting fees. DreamHost offers a variety of WordPress plans including basic, managed, and VPS subscriptions. Here’s what’s included in the starting tiers for each:
- WordPress Basic – from $2.59/month, shared resources, 1 website, free migrations, AI tools, low visits per month.
- DreamPress – from $12.99/month, isolated resources, 1 website, 1-click staging, free migrations, AI tools, high visits per month, on-demand backups,
- VPS WordPress – from $10.00/month, unlimited websites, 2GB RAM, 60GB storage, unlimited traffic, AI tools
DreamHost is chosen by big corporations, small startups, and even educational institutions, like UC Berkeley. Overall, this is a versatile hosting provider that caters to the needs of users small and big.
5. HostGator – WordPress hosting for complete beginners
Cybernews rating | |
Pricing from | $3.09/month |
WordPress features | 1-click WordPress installation, free migration |
Best deal | Get up to 81% OFF HostGator |
While best known for its affordable and very beginner-friendly shared plans, HostGator is excellent for WordPress website hosting as well.
HostGator WordPress plans, pricing, and features
For WordPress hosting, all HostGator’s plans include a free domain, SSL email, unlimited bandwidth, and 1-click WordPress installation. cPanel is also available for more advanced management tasks. Moreover, with HostGator hosting services, you can easily create subdomains. Each plan also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee:
- Baby plan – $3.09/month, 20 websites, 20GB storage, 2 vCPU cores
- Business plan – $4.59/month, 50 websites, 50GB storage, 3 vCPU cores, domain privacy, daily backups
- Pro plan – $11.70/month, 100 websites, 100GB storage, domain privacy, 5 vCPU cores, daily backups
HostGator is a perfect option for beginners who want to try out classic web hosting for their WordPress sites. However, it may seem a little basic and limited compared to Bluehost or Hostinger, which offer advanced WordPress support, tools, and builders.
6. GoDaddy – WordPress hosting for enterprises
Cybernews rating | |
Pricing from | $7.79/month |
WordPress features | Premium themes, WordPress site editor, automatic installations |
Best deal | GoDaddy coupon 30% OFF |
GoDaddy comes with all the essentials to easily start a WordPress website. Plus, premium themes and the editor are the perks you'll not find with other providers.
GoDaddy WordPress plans, pricing, and features
With GoDaddy, WordPress is installed automatically with domain and SSL setup. Moreover, there are premium themes and a WordPress website editor for those needing extra help when building a site – read the GoDaddy review for more details. All WordPress plans include a free domain, SSL, business email, automatic backups, and malware scanning. A 30-day money-back guarantee is available with all pricing tiers:
- Basic – $7.79/month, 1 website, 10GB storage, site optimizer
- Deluxe – $10.19/month, 1 website, 20GB storage, site optimizer, CDN, DDoS protection, testing environment
- Ultimate – $13.79/month, 3 websites, 30GB storage, site optimizer, CDN, DDoS protection, testing environment, SEO optimization, plugin manager, WooCommerce, priority support
If you need the ease of use and all the perks WordPress hosting can offer, GoDaddy is definitely a good option. I’d recommend it to business owners who are looking for a decently priced option with plenty of great features for effortless site-building.
7. Flywheel – best WordPress hosting for creative agencies
Cybernews rating | |
Pricing from | $13.00/month |
WordPress features | FlyCache, migrations, StudioPress themes, Genesis framework |
Best deal | Get up to 17% OFF Flywheel with annual plans + 2 months free |
As a WordPress-only managed cloud hosting provider, Flywheel is an addition to WP Engine’s network. Just like the former, it uses the same Google cloud infrastructure. At the same time, it is known as a solution for creatives who want to leave all the management tasks to the provider.
Flywheel WordPress plans, pricing, and features
Flywheel features offer staging, blueprints, and website cloning. These tools make it easier and faster for you to build, develop, and work on your WordPress site. Besides that, Flywheel also covers the more basic features you need for your WordPress site, like free migrations, updates, nightly backups, themes, SSL certificates, and malware cleanup. Flywheel comes with some speed-boosting tools, too. One of them is FlyCache – the provider’s proprietary caching technology. Otherwise, all plans include an SSL certificate, StudioPress themes, Genesis Framework, backups, and a 60-day money-back guarantee:
- Tiny – $13.00/month, 1 website, 5k visits/month, 5GB storage, 20GB bandwidth
- Starter – $25.00/month, 1 website, 25k visits/month, 10GB storage, 50GB bandwidth
- Freelance – $96.00/month 10 websites, 100k visits/month, 20GB storage, 200GB bandwidth
- Agency – $242.00/month, 30 websites, 400k visits/month, 50GB storage, 500GB bandwidth
Flywheel, being cheaper than WP Engine, is not just a business solution. You can use it as a personal high-power provider. However, agencies that want to keep technicalities to the pros can also highly benefit from this host.
WordPress hosting comparison
Rating | Price | Speed | Uptime | Data center locations | WordPress staging | Automated backups | Free domain | Storage | |
Bluehost | From $1.99/month | 361ms | 99.9% | The US | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | From 10GB | |
Hostinger | From $1.66/month | 511ms | 99.9% | The US, the UK, Netherlands, France, Lithuania, Brazil, Indonesia, and India | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | from 100GB | |
SiteGround | From $2.99/month | 217ms | 99.9% | The US, the UK, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Australia, and Singapore | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | From 10GB | |
DreamHost | From $2.59/month | 231ms | 100% | The US (Virginia and Oregon) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | 50 GB SSD | |
HostGator | From $3.09/month | 525ms | 99.9% | The US | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | from 20GB | |
GoDaddy | From $7.79/month | 341ms | 99.9% | The US, the Netherlands, and Singapore | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | From 10GB | |
Flywheel | From $13/month | 371ms | 99.9% | The US, Canada, the UK, Belgium, and Australia | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | From 10GB |
WordPress hosting testing methodology
To curate our list of the best WordPress hosting services, Cybernews experts first researched 56 hosting providers. Once we narrowed down the list to the top 7 WordPress hosting services, thorough in-house testing was performed. The testing process included purchasing hosting subscriptions from different providers and installing WordPress.
I carefully considered how easy it was to install WordPress and set up a website. Then, I assessed the performance of each host throughout a 2-month period. I used the GTmetrix tool to check the loading time, uptime, and other factors.
To learn how we test hosting providers, refer to our guide. Here’s a quick summary of how I tested and ranked the top WordPress hosting services:
- WordPress tools (25%). During the initial assessment stage, we made sure that all the providers offered WordPress-specific plans and tools. That includes easy WordPress installation, plugins, management systems, and themes.
- Performance (20%). During the testing stage, I created mock-up sites with each hosting provider and then tested their performance with GTmetrix. I tested website uptimes, load times, and speed. Then I compared the data with the industry standard. In addition, I paid close attention to the server location options, as they can affect the overall website performance. The top hosts on this list offer a variety of server locations.
- Security tools (20%). During this step, I also analyzed the WordPress hosting providers in terms of security. I checked whether they offer free SSLs, automatic backups, and some additions like malware detection tools and firewalls. Only providers that offered adequate security tools passed on to the testing stage.
- Additional features (15%). While testing the products, I also noted all of the additional features that are available to users, including website builders, server optimization tools, email accounts, and more.
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Price (20%). To determine if the provider is worth your attention, I also measured its price-to-value ratio, the best price deal, and scalability options. The providers on this list offer a range of different price points, which ensures that everyone can find the right fit.
Video review
Tired of reading? Check out our quick video review of the best WordPress hosting providers and their superb deals.
What is WordPress hosting?
WordPress hosting is a type of web hosting that is designed specifically for the WordPress CMS. As the most popular content management system in the world, it supports 800M+ websites. While it’s similar to normal shared hosting, it is considered more secure and can offer better performance.
Since WordPress is used by businesses, eCommerce stores, educational institutions, and other entities, it has to offer fast load times. WordPress hosting is optimized to ensure that pages load fast and that response times are quick. Security is another attribute that’s important for WordPress hosting clients, which is why service providers usually provide regular malware scans, automated updates, and other special security measures.
Because WordPress hosting is often employed by businesses that rely on optimal services, customer support is often more advanced and specifically tailored for WordPress troubleshooting.
Overall, if you’re managing WordPress sites, there are many great benefits to using specialized WordPress hosting services.
Do I need web hosting for WordPress?
WordPress hosting can be great for building and managing WordPress websites with a lot of traffic and requires stable performance. Managed WordPress hosting is especially great for beginners who don’t have the experience to set up and manage WordPress websites on their own. Businesses can also benefit from managed WordPress hosting: it can significantly improve security and scalability at a fraction of the cost.
However, small sites with low traffic should avoid WordPress hosting as standard shared hosting can satisfy all their performance requirements. Additionally, WordPress hosting can be pretty expensive, so I don’t recommend it for budget-conscious users.
WordPress hosting is just another type of specialized hosting. In truth, it’s not much different from shared or cloud hosting, and most of the time, WordPress plans are just a marketing strategy. Hosting for WordPress usually simply includes a pre-installed WordPress on top of the features you can get with any plan. Most shared or cloud hosting providers let you install WordPress as a content management system, so chances are that you don’t need specialized WordPress hosting at all. I recommend going deep into comparing regular shared, VPS, or cloud hosting with WordPress plans to see which features are different. That way, you can make sure you don’t overpay for a WordPress plan that doesn’t add that much value.
How to choose the best WordPress hosting
The sheer number of providers offering WordPress hosting can be overwhelming. To make an informed decision on which one to choose, evaluate these 4 specific metrics steps:
- Features. Consider what the hosting provider offers specifically for WordPress. I always appreciate WordPress migrations and staging environments, since they make the site easier to manage. Other features, such as AI site creators, troubleshooters, and various WordPress-specific assistants can also be helpful.
- Security. WordPress sites, like many sites, may be vulnerable to cyber attacks such as DDoS, malware, breaches, and others. Look into which security features the host offers, including SSL certificates, firewalls, malware and DDoS protection, and perhaps even specialized plugins for WordPress site security.
- Site size. You need to carefully evaluate how big your site will be and how much traffic you expect it to attain. Cheaper WordPress hosting plans normally support smaller sites with lower traffic (<5000 visitors). More expensive plans can support bigger sites with more traffic (>5000 visitors).
- Site load time. I recommend choosing a hosting provider that can guarantee your site will load in less than 2 seconds. Any more than that and your potential visitors will abandon your site.
- Uptime guarantee. You also want to make sure that your site has great uptime – no less than 99%. This will ensure that your site is accessible most of the time, and you will not lose potential visitors because of frequent downtime.
- Customer support. While customer support might be hard to evaluate in numbers, you can test some providers before subscribing to their services. You can do that by reaching out to customer support via phone, live chat, or email and check how quickly they respond.
What is the best operating system for WordPress hosting?
Linux is the best operating system for WordPress. Since WordPress runs on PHP, it is much easier to configure it on Linux OS. Tools such as MySQL, Apache, Node.js, and others are also more accessible. However, if you need specific applications or control panels such as Plesk, you may also consider Windows.
How much does it cost to host a website on WordPress?
WordPress itself is a free content management system, but hosting WordPress with a hosting provider can cost anywhere from $1 to $300 per month, depending on the resources you require. Managed WordPress hosting will be more expensive than semi-managed or unmanaged hosting. Additionally, you can opt for a simple shared hosting plan, or take a look at our list of the cheapest WordPress hosting providers, with prices starting at just $1.00/month.
Final thoughts
When it comes to hosting your WordPress website, choosing the best provider might be a challenge simply because of the sheer volume of providers who offer the service. We researched 54 hosting providers to select the best options. We then tested them thoroughly to evaluate which ones are best suited for WordPress site hosting.
My top pick for WordPress site hosting is Bluehost. It can offer excellent uptime, a great variety of features, and terrific customer support. Hostinger is another great option for hosting your WordPress site because it can offer strong security features, AI assistance, and excellent performance. Both providers come with budget-friendly plans and intuitive user interfaces.
More WordPress articles you may be interested in:
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3 Best enterprise WordPress hosting providers compared: discover the best enterprise WP hosts
Best hosting for WordPress FAQs
Do I need hosting if I use WordPress?
Yes, you need hosting to use the WordPress.org content management system or to build a website with WordPress. WordPress.com offers hosting plans, however, they are very basic and limiting. My favorite WordPress hosts are Bluehost and Hostinger. Both are very cheap and offer great performance and additional WordPress-focused features.
Can I host on WordPress for free?
Yes, it’s possible to host on WordPress for free, but it’s not recommended. Premium WordPress hosts can offer the security and performance features that will take your website to the next level. Free hosts, however, can rarely offer the services to support your site appropriately. Luckily, many hosts offer free plans and money-back guarantees.
Which is the fastest hosting for WordPress?
Hostinger is the fastest WordPress hosting provider. Based on our testing, this website hosting provider loads in 511ms, fully loads a normal site in 0.8s, and has a 100% uptime guarantee.
What is the best hosting for WordPress SEO?
Bluehost and Hostinger are my top hosting providers for WordPress which also include SEO tools to optimize your site's performance with search engines. For example, Hostinger offers useful SEO plugins for your site, and Bluehost includes SEO Tools in the marketing tools suite (at an additional cost).
How do I migrate my WordPress site?
You can migrate your WordPress site yourself manually, via control panel or plugin. Besides that, the majority of WordPress providers on this list also offer free migrations.
How do I secure my WordPress hosting?
There are a couple of ways to secure your WordPress hosting. That includes securing your login procedures and selecting a secure WordPress hosting provider, like our top-rated and trusted Bluehost. In addition, consistently update your WordPress versions and the latest versions of PHP. You can also get additional security plugins and enable SSL.
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