Top 10 WordPress Hosting Companies
WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) around. For those looking to run a blog or website on the platform, it’s a great choice as it’s free, open source, and very easy to use. But just because something is free doesn’t mean it’s not difficult to use. In fact, there are a number of challenges that arise when trying to use WordPress in your organization.
Hosting is one of the main considerations when choosing a WordPress hosting plan. After all, you’ll need somewhere to publish your content. Fortunately, there are a number of hosting providers that take the pain out of choosing a plan, and help you get up and running with a WordPress blog or website in no time at all.
In this article, we’ll discuss the top 10 WordPress hosting companies, based on the strength of their service, support, and performance. If you’re looking to launch a new blog or website, or need help choosing the right hosting plan for your needs, this article is for you.
1. Bluehost
Bluehost is the original hosting provider for WordPress and is also widely regarded as one of the best overall. The service launched back in 2008 and since then, has evolved to offer premium hosting plans with a variety of features. As the name would suggest, the service is housed in an ocean-worthy data center and offers support via email 24/7, plus phone calls from 10 am to 6 pm MT (North American days).
If you’re looking for a free, basic plan, then Bluehost will likely be your first choice. With that said, the hosting company does offer a premium plan with increased features for just $2.95 per month. Alternatively, you can sign up for a longer term (12 months) plan at the same cost, with the option to renew your subscription annually.
2. HostGator
HostGator is another popular option amongst bloggers and website owners. Launched in 2002, the hosting company has expanded to over 20 countries and has more than 500,000 customers.
The service offers shared hosting plans with either Linux or Windows operating systems. You’ll also get free backups, free domain privacy, free caching, and free weekly content upgrades. On the downside, you’ll need to maintain the servers yourself, and there is no live chat support available. However, given HostGator’s popularity, you may be able to get some help via email if you need to.
The best part about HostGator is that they offer a money-back guarantee if you meet the right conditions. This way you can try out their shared hosting plan and if you don’t like it, you can ask for a refund.
3. Justhost
Justhost is a WordPress hosting company that was acquired by HostGator in 2016. As the name would suggest, the service is committed to offering exceptional performance for your website or blog. You’ll want to choose this option if you’re looking for a reliable and affordable solution.
Justhost offers a variety of hosting plans that come with either Linux or Windows operating systems and include features such as free backups, free domain privacy, free WordPress auto-install, and free daily site stats. These plans start at $2.95 per month and go up depending on the features you need.
4. WP Engine
WP Engine is another hosting company dedicated to offering exceptional performance for your WordPress website or blog. The company launched in 2011 and has since expanded to over 20 countries. Similar to Justhost, WP Engine offers a variety of hosting plans that come with either Linux or Windows operating systems and include features such as free backups, free domain privacy, free WordPress auto-install, and free daily site stats. For those on a tight budget, WP Engine also offers a free basic plan with limited features.
Unlike the other providers on this list, WP Engine doesn’t offer a money-back guarantee, but it is one of the most popular WordPress hosting companies, which should give you some peace of mind.
5. Host4Evisa
Host4Evisa is a Canadian company that offers various web hosting services, including WordPress hosting. The service was founded in 1996 and now has over 20,000 customers across the world, with more than half of the customers located in the U.S.
You’ll want to choose this company if you’re looking for a Canadian host that offers some excellent features, including free backups, free domain privacy, and free WordPress auto-install.
You’ll also need to register for a free account if you want to test out their service, as there is no public demo available.
6. DreamHost
DreamHost is a WordPress hosting company that was acquired by EIG back in 2016 for a whopping $16 million. Similar to the other companies on this list, DreamHost’s offerings include shared hosting plans with Linux or Windows operating systems and include a variety of features, such as free backups, free domain privacy, free WordPress auto-install, and free daily site stats. The best part about DreamHost is that you can get an instant, money-back guarantee if you meet the right conditions. This way you can try out their service without risking any money.
The downsides to DreamHost are the same as the other hosts on this list, namely, you’ll need to keep the servers yourself and there is no live chat support available. Still, given their size and reach, you may be able to get some help via email if you get stuck.
7. 123 Hosting
123 Hosting is probably the best value on this list and also one of the most popular WordPress hosting providers. It was launched in 2013 and now has more than 500,000 customers worldwide. For those looking for a Canadian host that offers some excellent features and values, 123 Hosting is a great choice. Their shared hosting plans start at just $2.95 per month and include features such as free backups, free domain privacy, and free WordPress auto-install. Plus, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee for new customers.
The downsides to 123 Hosting are the same as the others on this list. You’ll need to keep the servers yourself and there is no live chat support available. Still, given its popularity and value, you may be able to get some help via email if you get stuck.
8. Greenhost
Greenhost is another popular WordPress hosting provider and has been around since 2011. It’s based in the U.S. and now has offices in Canada, U.K, and Germany. Similar to the other hosts on this list, Greenhost offers a variety of hosting plans that come with either Linux or Windows operating systems and include features such as free backups, free domain privacy, free WordPress auto-install, and free daily site stats. For those on a tight budget, Greenhost also offers a free plan with limited features.
The downsides to Greenhost are the same as the others on this list. You’ll need to keep the servers yourself and there is no live chat support available. However, given its popularity and value, you may be able to get some help via email if you get stuck.
9. Liquid Web
Liquid Web is a web host that was started in the U.S. back in 2002 and now has offices in Canada, U.K, and Italy. The company focuses on providing exceptional performance for their customers and offers shared hosting plans with either Linux or Windows operating systems. You’ll get a free domain with your hosting plan and can connect your existing domain to your new hosting account (included in the plan).
The best part about Liquid Web is that they offer a money-back guarantee if you meet the right conditions. This way you can try out their shared hosting plan without risking any money.
The downsides to Liquid Web are the same as the others on this list. You’ll need to keep the servers yourself and there is no live chat support available. However, given its popularity and value, you may be able to get some help via email if you get stuck.
10. WPEngine
Last but not least, we have WPEngine. Similar to the other hosts on this list, WPEngine offers various hosting plans that come with either Linux or Windows operating systems and include features such as free backups, free domain privacy, free WordPress auto-install, and free daily site stats. They also offer a money-back guarantee if you meet the right conditions. This way you can try out their service without risking any money.