Best WordPress Hosting Company 2017: An In-Depth Comparison of the Best WordPress Hosting Companies
Hosting is arguably one of the most important aspects of a personal or business website. After all, it’s where you’ll find your content — whether that’s a blog, a forum, or whatever. Plus, it’s where you’ll find the images, graphics, and multimedia that comprise your content.
While it’s not necessarily vital that you have the best wordpress hosting company, it is important to have a company that you can trust. Especially since you’re going to be publishing content that you care about and potentially spending lots of money with. So, how does the market rate for hosting services? Let’s take a look.
1. Bluehost
When we first launched Best WordPress Hosting Company, we did so because we believed there was a lack of transparency in the hosting market. And, while there are many positive aspects to Bluehost (more on that in a bit), we also recognize that there are a few drawbacks. Chief among them is the lack of transparency. Because, at the end of the day, you’re going to be dealing with a company that is essentially in the hosting business to make money, not to uphold the interests of the consumer.
In response to this problem, we’ve compiled a list of the best wordpress hosting companies based on four factors: pricing, features, performance, and reliability. And, no, we’re not going to tell you who Bluehost is on this list because we don’t want to highlight them as the best just because they’re popular. And, while there are many advantages to being the #1 web host in the world, we don’t want to rely on that to make money.
So, without further ado, let’s get into the list. But before we do, let’s discuss what makes Bluehost special.
Transparency
We all love Bluehost for many reasons. Chief among them is the transparency. Unlike some other hosting companies, Bluehost is extremely upfront about all the details of their plans and prices. They don’t try to hide anything from their users. And, for the most part, they don’t overcharge their customers. So, if you’re looking for a hosting company that is going to take care of them, you can’t go wrong with Bluehost.
Another great thing about Bluehost is that they are committed to keeping their prices low. So, if you’re looking for a truly great deal, you have to check them out.
Security
Another important consideration when choosing a web hosting company is security. After all, you’re going to be putting a lot of personal information and credit card details on the internet for everyone to see. So, it’s crucial that you feel secure doing that, especially since some of the more expensive hosting companies are more secure than the cheaper ones. With the cheaper web hosts, you’re going to be more vulnerable to hacks, data breaches, and other security issues.
Fortunately, Bluehost takes security seriously. So much so that they employ military-grade security systems and personnel to protect their users’ data. Also, Bluehost is part of the Cloudflare network, which stores and serves websites. So, in the event of a hack, your data is more likely to be safe. Cloudflare also offers free security audits for customers.
Support
Another important factor to consider when choosing a web host is support. You’re going to be dealing with a company that is, in some way, responsible for managing the servers and platforms that your website runs on. So, it’s essential that they are available and responsive to help you with whatever tech support you may need.
Luckily, Bluehost is more than capable of providing excellent support. They are available 24/7 via live chat, email, and phone. So, if you have any questions about setting up your website, figuring out a glitch, or just want to talk shop, Bluehost is always a good choice.
Reliability
Reliability is, in many ways, the final checkbox on our list of criteria for the best wordpress hosting companies. You’re going to be relying on this company to provide you with a stable platform. After all, you don’t want to be scrambling to fix a problem that they’ve had for a while and are just now acknowledging. So, it’s important that they are able to provide a reliable service at all times.
Thankfully, Bluehost has a proven track record of providing a stable and secure platform for their customers. In the event that they do encounter problems, their team is available to help fix them. And, even when they can’t fix the problem, they’ll acknowledge it and issue an outstanding refund. So, in the end, you’re getting a service that is reliable and secure.
Overall, Bluehost is a great choice for anyone who is looking for a solid web hosting company. Especially since they provide a limited amount of features for free and then charge you a modest amount for the rest. So, while their prices are fairly low, you’re getting a lot in return. Especially since you’re getting a reputable company with a good history and a team that is available to help you should you need them. Bluehost is also a part of the Cloudflare network, so your data is more secure. And, last but not least, they offer a money-back guarantee if you meet the right criteria.
2. WP Engine
The 2nd spot on our list of best wordpress hosting companies goes to WP Engine. Similar to Bluehost, WP Engine is a web hosting company that is committed to providing a secure and stable platform for their customers. And, like Bluehost, WP Engine is also a Cloudflare customer. So, in the event of a hack or data breach, your personal data is more secure. And, similar to Bluehost, WP Engine offers a money-back guarantee should you meet the right criteria.
Features
Now, this is where we’re going to split hairs a bit. WP Engine provides a lot of features for free. But, you have to pay to use some of those features. For example, you have to pay to make a dedicated IP. Or you have to pay to reseller hosting. Also, with many of the larger hosting companies, you have to meet certain criteria to get the most out of their plans. But, with WP Engine, you can simply choose a plan that suits your needs and then enhance it with the add-ons that you desire.
Pricing
Another great thing about WP Engine is that their pricing is very flexible. And, for the most part, it’s fairly inexpensive. We couldn’t leave out this aspect because, quite frankly, pricing is one of the most important factors in choosing a web hosting company. Especially since you’re going to be investing in something that you intend to use on a regular basis. So, the lower the better when it comes to pricing. And, often times, the cheaper the host, the more limited the service. But, with WP Engine, you’re getting what you pay for because their pricing is very affordable and they provide a sufficient amount of features. Essentially, they are betting that you’ll be satisfied with what you get for what you pay.
Performance
Last but not least, we have performance. Now, with a lot of the larger hosting companies, you have to manage a server which can be a little cumbersome. Especially if you’re not tech-savvy. So, if you have the skills and are willing to learn, you can greatly enhance your experience by managing your own server instead of relying on someone else to do it for you. This is why performance is a key consideration when choosing a web hosting company.
And, quite frankly, the flexibility and functionality of a dedicated server vastly outweights the performance issues that you may encounter with the more affordable web host companies. Because, often times, the performance issues are minor and can be fixed with some additional tweaking. But, with a dedicated server, you’re getting what you pay for and there’s no turning back. Except, of course, if you decide to cancel the service.
In the end, if you’re looking for a web host company that is going to take care of all the technicalities so that you can simply focus on creating content, you can’t go wrong with WP Engine. Especially since they provide a great user experience with their affordable plans. Also, they stand behind their products with a 30-day money-back guarantee should you meet the right criteria.