Best Web Hosting for WordPress: Consumer Reports’ Picks
You’ve built a nice-looking blog around a theme you love and are proud of. Now it’s time to launch it into the world and begin building an audience.
To do this, you’ll need a website. And given that you’re a tech-savvy individual, naturally you’ll turn to your smartphone to help with the process. Naturally.
So you’ve signed up for a website hosting account from one of the big web hosting providers like Bluehost, Dreamhost, or HostGator. You’re now ready to build your audience with your blog posts. And to grow your blog, you’ll need a good theme, an email list, and traffic.
If you’re wondering where to start, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a list of the best web hosting for WordPress, as rated by consumers based on several criteria, including pricing, features, performance, and support.
1. Bluehost
Budgets, user experience, and features, all rank highly on this list. Especially when comparing it to the two other major players, Bluehost beats both Dreamhost and HostGator in all three categories.
This web host is very affordable and boasts incredible features that you would normally find in more expensive web hosts. For example, you get free domain privacy, free backups, and shared hosting with 1-click installers for WordPress, Joomla, and more.
Additionally, you can use all the major browsers (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, and Safari) on their platform without having to worry about your site being blocked by security software.
2. Dreamhost
This web host’s standout features are its excellent prices and the platform’s reputation for being more secure than other, pricier web hosts.
Although Dreamhost is affordable, it doesn’t compromise on quality. In fact, it offers a free domain privacy feature, free backups (every month), and a free SSL certificate (for one year).
It also claims to be more secure than other web hosts and offers a Free DDoS Protection Plan that will protect your site from hack attacks.
Like Bluehost, Dreamhost is a popular choice among bloggers, especially as it offers shared hosting plans that start as low as $2.95 per month. So if you’re looking for a low-cost web host that offers reliable performance and protection, dreamhost is the perfect choice.
3. Hostgator
Like Dreamhost, Hostgator is another web host that offers great performance for a low price. In fact, it’s one of the most popular choices among small businesses and bloggers. But in this case, speed is not one of its priorities.
Like in the case of Bluehost and Dreamhost, Hostgator’s standout feature is its extremely affordable pricing. For example, you can get a free domain privacy feature, free backups, and shared hosting with 1-click installers for WordPress, Joomla, and more for just $2.95 per month.
However, if you’re looking for a host that prioritizes security and speed, consider moving to Bluehost or Dreamhost.
4. Bluehost Vs Dreamhost Vs Hostgator
Now that you have an idea of the top three web hosts, let’s compare them side-by-side.
As you might expect, these three web hosts are pretty similar when it comes to features and pricing. But one place where they really diverge is in the support they provide. While all three provide great user experience and value, as a minimum, Dreamhost and Hostgator both offer 24/7 premium support by phone or email. Bluehost’s customer support isn’t as vibrant and available as those providers’, but it does offer live chat support during certain hours (weekdays).
Additionally, all three web hosts offer a simple, 1-click installation for WordPress, Joomla, and other popular content management systems. However, if you have no technical expertise, go with Bluehost or Hostgator because they’re a little simpler to use.
What About The Extras?
If you’re looking for value for money, none of the above web hosts are really a good choice. However, if you’re looking for features, Dreamhost and Hostgator boast a few extra goodies that Bluehost doesn’t offer. For example, you’ll get free backups, free domain privacy, and a free dedicated IP (for one year).
Additionally, Dreamhost offers some extra security features and tools that you don’t get with Bluehost. Examples include a security key ($2.95 per month for one year), firewall protection, secure cookies, and more.
Is Any Of These Suitable For My Blog?
As mentioned above, all of these web hosts offer shared hosting plans that support WordPress, Joomla, and other CMSes. So if you use one of these content management systems on your blog, then any of these web hosts will do.
But if you prefer to run your blog independently of a content management system, then go with Bluehost or Hostgator because they offer dedicated IP addresses and free domain privacy. Dreamhost charges extra for these features (but you can get a free domain privacy feature with a free trial).
Is It Safe To Use These Web Hosts?
As a minimum, all three web hosts offer basic hosting safety features like malware protection, firewalls, and DDoS protection. But if you’re looking for extra layers of defense, then Hostgator and Dreamhost both offer a free DDoS Protection Plan. This plan will help protect your site from hack attacks and data leaks. It also offers a free domain privacy feature, free backups, and a free SSL certificate.
In short, if you’re looking for basic security, then Bluehost and Hostgator are both safe options, but if you’re looking for extra features Hostgator and Dreamhost are the clear winners.
The Verdict:
In our opinion, the perfect web host for WordPress should strike a balance between performance, support, security, and simplicity. If you’re searching for a web host that can handle heavy traffic, has a reputation for delivering fast speeds, and is secure, then Bluehost is the perfect choice. But if you’re looking for a web host that is simple to use, costs less money, and has additional perks, then consider moving to Dreamhost or Hostgator. However, if you’re searching for a web host that offers 24/7 support, then choose Hostgator or Dreamhost because Bluehost does not provide this feature. Finally, if you’re looking for value for money, avoid all of these hosts because they do not offer enough extra perks to make up for the lack of features.