Keys to Finding the Best Joomla Hosting Services: Definitions and Recommendations
Alexandra Anderson
Contributing Expert
Fun fact: The name for the popular content management system Joomla is derived from the Swahili word jumla which means “together as a whole.” This embodies the spirit of the community behind one of the leading open-source software platforms.
Here, we bring together the main details you should file away before choosing a web host for your next Joomla project.
What is Joomla Hosting?
Put simply, Joomla hosting is merely a hosting solution where a site owner can operate a Joomla website.
Joomla is a popular content management system that’s free for everyone and can be installed almost anywhere, making it easy to find a Joomla web hosting plan.
Many people searching for Joomla hosting mistakenly think they need a specialized Joomla server, assuming it’s a unique type of hardware. Let’s set the record straight: Joomla is the software you can install on any server.
When compared to the other open-source CMS titans like WordPress and Drupal, however, Joomla is the only one to support ecommerce right out of the box — no additional plugins required.
The top Joomla hosting solutions we talked about earlier make downloading and installing the software on any server you choose incredibly simple.
Joomla Hosting Basics
Getting ready to take a leap of faith with your first Joomla installation? Never fear!
We encourage you to use our suggestions above to choose a top Joomla hosting service, or feel free to explore options on your own. To make sure your Joomla site thrives, there are three key things you’ll need:
- A domain name: To accommodate your domain name needs for your Joomla web project, leading hosts often include a free domain registration at signup. Bluehost and HostGator grant customers a one-year domain name registration, which eases one financial burden that comes with launching a new website.
- A hosting platform: As with WordPress, Joomla users can launch test sites for free under a Joomla subdomain. However, we recommend actually installing the software in a self-hosted environment to completely leverage your brand’s professionalism and online power. The best companies for the job, which top our Joomla hosting reviews, are those touting one-click installations — you can be up and running in mere minutes.
- The Joomla software: Lastly, Joomla hosting is pretty much impossible without Joomla itself. The latest version of the open-source CMS is available for download through the platform’s website or via popular control panels like cPanel or Plesk, which tend to include the Softaculous auto-installer for popular apps and scripts.
Once you’ve narrowed down your options, it’s crucial to evaluate web hosts by the disk space and bandwidth they provide, as well as any additional perks like an SSL certificate or a content delivery network.
Keep in mind: As you search for a Joomla hosting provider, you might come across free Joomla hosting. While it may be tempting to cut costs, we highly recommend choosing a paid service over a free Joomla host. Free plans often lack the technical support, security, and features that paid hosting services offer.
Best Joomla Shared Hosting: HostGator
No better Joomla hosting provider to turn to than the experts at HostGator. Featuring unlimited disk space and bandwidth, each hosting account is perfectly poised to give each Joomla site owner what they want.
HostGator offers a budget-friendly option that’s user-friendly for beginners yet engaging for experienced developers. Their shared Joomla hosting plan includes extra perks like email marketing tools and plenty of storage for your MySQL database.
Best Joomla Hosting With SSDs: hosting.com
As with any type of website, speed is obviously important — that’s why Hosting.com ranks near the top of our list. Each server is equipped with SSDs and NVMe storage that boasts page load times up to 20 times faster.
The company’s web hosting service exemplifies pedal-to-the-metal speed. Even though these tips to improve Joomla performance may be less important to hosting.com customers, each millisecond matters.
Best Joomla Cloud Hosting Plan: SiteGround
Look no further than SiteGround for your Joomla cloud hosting needs. The hosting company recently moved its entire operations to Google Cloud Platform infrastructure, ensuring premium performance and reliability.
While SiteGround’s pricing might seem a bit high compared to others on our list, the value it provides is truly exceptional. This hosting service is renowned for its innovative solutions, such as custom caching, robust security, and support systems that effortlessly connect you with the right Joomla experts.
Best Joomla Hosting for Small Business: InMotion Hosting
For larger-scale content management projects or online storefronts, you may require a virtual private server, or VPS. With a free cPanel/WHM license, InMotion Hosting lets you launch your Joomla VPS project quickly.
But that’s not all — every plan from the Joomla hosting company comes with SSD-powered servers by default. This means the content you manage with Joomla loads up to 20 times faster than usual.
How to Compare Joomla Hosts
We’ve certainly introduced a lot of web hosting terminology to you quickly. If you’re just beginning to find a Joomla host, it might seem overwhelming. But here’s the good news: choosing a Joomla host is simpler than it seems.
To make sure you don’t end up with buyer’s remorse, you should consider three main factors before pulling the trigger on a plan: price, customer support, and features. To compare plans, take notes on these three points.
Here are few tips to help you with your decision-making:
- Determine your budget and rank hosts based on price.
- Compare what type of support each host offers.
- Finally, weigh the features you get in each plan.
Look for hosts offering a free domain name, free SSL certificate, one-click installations, and SEO tools. Also, ensure you have 24/7 access to helpful agents, so you’re never alone on your hosting journey.
Features to Look for With the Best Joomla Hosting
After thoroughly reviewing the top web hosts for Joomla, we’ve pinpointed some standout features shared by the best plans. From straightforward software setup to reliable 24/7 support, top Joomla hosts provide these vital elements:
- 1-click Joomla installations via cPanel or Plesk
- Generous storage and site traffic allowances
- Performance-enhancement features (such as SSD-powered speed or integrated caching)
- Ecommerce-specific features for those managing profit-related content
- A free domain at which to host your Joomla project
- 24/7 expert support, live chat/phone options, and a knowledge base
- An uptime guarantee of at least 99.9%
The Joomla community has come together to build a powerful, well-maintained, and high-capacity CMS. By choosing the expert-recommended hosts above, you’ll tap into some of the finest Joomla hosting available, making it easy to realize complex web projects with a reliable technology and service partner.
