What Is the Best WordPress Hosting Plan for Your Site?

WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems around, powering millions of websites and blogs. The most common question for any website owner or administrator is: which host should I choose for my WordPress site? There are a variety of variables to consider, ranging from price to features, so you’ll need to make a list of what’s most important to you and create a plan of action around which hosting plan to go for.

Features

One of the first considerations you need to make is whether you need free or premium features for your host. You’ll also want to look at the various tools that are included with your chosen plan to see if they’re sufficient for your needs or if you’ll need to invest in additional features. Some of the more common free features that come with most web hosts are:

• web space
• a free domain
• countless blogging capabilities
• free backups
• free changes to website name
• free logo design
• free dedicated IP
• and more

Additional features that you might need for your website might include a free SSL certificate for your site (more on this later), a free custom domain, a free dedicated IP for your site, or 24/7 customer support via live chat or phone. You should look for a web host that offers these extra features without charging you a penny. If you’re looking for a free web hosting plan, be sure to read our in-depth review of the best free WordPress hosting.

Price

Another important consideration is price. Just because you want the best hosting plan doesn’t mean you have to break the bank. Remember, the price of a plan varies by the size of the plan you choose. For example, the basic plan from Bluehost, one of the most popular web host companies, is $2.95 per month. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, this is the perfect fit. You can sign up for a free trial of Bluehost at www.bluehost.com.

One of the more reputable companies in the web hosting industry is WP Engine. One of the great things about this company is that they offer a free domain for one year along with their premium plan. If you’re looking to launch a site and don’t need a free domain, this is a good option, as well. Just note that premium support is limited to ticket submissions and requires a paid upgrade. Still, if you can live with mediocre service and a bit of a learning curve, you can’t go wrong paying a bit more for a plan that offers more features.

Performance

Performance is another key consideration when choosing a host for your WordPress site. Just because your website is hosted on the best possible platform doesn’t mean that it will function at its optimum capacity. For example, a shared hosting plan from Bluehost, as mentioned above, limits the performance of your site due to the presence of other sites on the same server. If speed and performance are a concern for your site, look for a hosting plan that is designed for high traffic levels or that offers dedicated IP addresses.

Along with performance, you also need to look at the uptime of the host to ensure that your site will always be available. In general, we recommend that you aim for an uptime of at least 99.9% to secure a good level of reliability from your web host. Fortunately, with the right amount of planning and research, you can guarantee that your site will be up and running smoothly.

Security

Keeping your site secure is one of your top priorities. After all, any data that you don’t securely store on your site can be accessed by any malicious person or hacker. It’s important to host your site on a secure environment that is monitored by an experienced team of professionals. If you’re looking for a reliable host that offers security through the use of features such as HSTS, free SSL certificates, and IP restrictions, look no further. Bluehost is easily one of the most secure hosts available, and with the additional features mentioned above, it’s clear why this company exists. If security is a concern, Bluehost is the clear choice for you.

As we mentioned above, not all secure hosts are created equal. Some hosts, like Bluehost, go beyond the basics and implement additional security features that will make your site more difficult for hackers to penetrate. If you’re looking for a proven host with a solid reputation for security, take a close look at HostGator. Like other hosts, HostGator offers a basic free plan with limited features, as well as higher-tiered plans that include additional security tools. The important thing to keep in mind is that no matter which plan you choose, you can rest assured that your site is as secure as possible.

Ease Of Use

Even if you’re a tech-savvy person who has set up multiple servers and knows what a VPN is (Virtual Private Network), you might still have trouble handling day-to-day tasks related to your website. After all, not everything is as simple as it seems and using a different platform might require a complete overhaul of your existing workflow. If you’re looking for a host that is simple to use and has the basic necessities, you should try out HostGator. They make setting up a website completely free, so there’s no learning curve to worry about. In addition, their customer service is available 24/7 via live chat or phone, which might come in handy if you have any questions regarding setting up your website.

Bandwidth

Bandwidth is another important consideration when choosing a hosting plan. Just because your site doesn’t have tremendous traffic doesn’t mean that it won’t consume a lot of bandwidth. Every day, hundreds of thousands of websites and blogs are launched around the world. If you’re looking for a host that has sufficient bandwidth to handle your site’s peak traffic, look for a plan that has a SuperCacher or Cloudflare plugin. These plugins are part of a service that offers free caching and increased security, freeing up more bandwidth for you.

In the end, not every hosting plan fits every website. Some plans are simply not made for the heavy traffic that a professional news website might generate. If you’re looking for a plan that is suitable for use with a blog or a personal website, you should try out HostGator as it offers great value for the money.