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When you’re starting a new website, the hope is that it will continue to grow and attract new visitors for years to come. The best way to ensure this happens is to go with a site management platform and host that can give your site the required support to make it a success.
WordPress is a popular choice for building a new site – one that more than 74 million sites choose to use. There are two types of WordPress hosting – WordPress.com, which provides basic site-building and hosting services for free; and WordPress.org, a free software that can be installed into another hosting service. The latter is referred to as self-hosted WordPress because you choose an external host on which you then use the WordPress software to build your site. Self-hosted WordPress is the best option if you want the broadest range of features with superior technical specifications and functionality.
There are many WordPress-savvy hosting companies from which to choose. Anthony, a web developer I know, works with many clients who have chosen WordPress for their sites for its ease of use, freedom to customize, and integration with other tools. Even he can get overwhelmed with the options for WordPress hosting because every client has different goals and priorities. All of his clients want great performance and reliable uptime, but they can’t all afford the most robust services. Many of them are complete beginners and know next to nothing about web hosting.
With people like Anthony and his clients in mind, we’ve selected the best WordPress hosting services for absolute beginners. These options are friendly to those who aren’t familiar with web hosting or running a site. Our rundown of the highest performing providers gives insight into what makes a good hosting service, helping novice website owners (and those advising them) prioritize the features they want.
Best WordPress Hosting Overall
To get a sense of how popular WordPress is, consider this: WordPress has been downloaded more than 44 million times and counting – and these downloads are being used in WordPress hosting environments. Though you may be just one of many WordPress users, you still want to choose a host that’s best for your site. Selecting the WordPress host that is right for your specific website is a matter of knowing what you aren’t willing to compromise on. Reliable uptime and high performance are key features of any host. The exact statistics on these features can vary from service to service, but we consider this an area of high importance.
WordPress hosts optimize their services for WordPress, so you’ll want to also look for reliable support, easy installation, and integration with other applications. Consider whether you want to fully manage your own site or have a hands-off approach and let the hosting company manage it. Also think about the size of your site and how fast you want it to load, as this will determine which of the different types of host offerings you choose, whether it’s shared hosting, a virtual private server, or a dedicated server.
Many other factors come into play when selecting a host, and the process of evaluating them can be daunting. Our list of top WordPress hosts overall narrows down the options for you. Looking at the wide range of hosts on the market, we compared their features and pricing and came up with a list of hosts that give customers the best quality of service. WordPress users of all types of websites will find a solution here that fits their needs.
1.
InMotionHosting.com
- WordPress pre-installed with NGINX server caching
- FREE SSL certificate and unlimited bandwidth
- Optional automatic plugin, theme, and core updates
- Host unlimited WordPress sites on one account
- Premium themes and plugin subscriptions
- Get started on InMotion now.
InMotion: Our Expert's Review
| Money Back Guarantee | Disk Space | Domain Name | WordPress Hosting Plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90 days | Unlimited | FREE (1 year) | www.inmotionhosting.com/wordpress |
2.
Bluehost.com
- Recommended by WordPress since 2005
- Automatic installation and updates
- FREE SSD storage and SSL certificate
- FREE domain registration and email
- 63% discount exclusively for HostingAdvice shoppers
- Get started on Bluehost now.
Bluehost: Our Expert's Review
| Money Back Guarantee | Disk Space | Domain Name | WordPress Hosting Plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 days | 50 GB SSD - Unlimited | FREE (1 year) | www.bluehost.com/wordpress |
3.
A2Hosting.com
- FREE Cloudflare CDN and 1-click installs for WordPress
- Turbo Server, SSD speed boost, and A2-optimized caching
- A2-optimized WP plugins for performance and security
- SSL certificates, PayPal integration, and 24/7 support
- FREE HackScan and KernelCare
- Get started on A2 Hosting now.
A2 Hosting: Our Expert's Review
| Money Back Guarantee | Disk Space | Domain Name | WordPress Hosting Plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anytime | Unlimited RAID-10 | $14.99 | www.a2hosting.com/wordpress |
See more WordPress hosting recommendations »
Best “Cheap” WordPress Hosting
For some website owners, the cost of the web host is a top consideration. The good news is there are plenty of hosts that provide high-quality services that won’t exceed even the most conservative of budgets. You can still get reliable performance and security with more affordable options. With providers whose services cost less, you won’t be getting all the bells and whistles, but you can still select a provider who has the features that are most important to you.
Less expensive providers range in their offers just like the higher priced options. These might include investment in secure and high-performing servers, responsive 24/7 customer service, and automated data backups. We’ve reviewed the cheapest WordPress hosting options and have come up with a winner that outperforms the rest. Read on to find out more about our top pick!
4.
1and1.com
- $1/month for 6 or 12 months
- No hidden costs - pay just $6 or $12 at checkout
- Easy setup and 24/7 support
- FREE domain and FREE domain transfer
- Up to 500 GB storage, 500 databases, 500 email accounts
- Get started on 1&1 now.
1&1: Our Expert's Review
| Money Back Guarantee | Disk Space | Domain Name | Cheap Hosting Plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 days | 100-500 GB SSD | FREE (1 year) | www.1and1.com/shared |
See more cheap WP hosting recommendations »
Best “Website Builder” WordPress Hosting
WordPress is already an intuitive and easy-to-learn platform. With its WYSIWYG editor and a seemingly endless supply of themes available, WordPress is a platform that was built with the beginner in mind (but that’s also equipped with tools for the advanced user). Website builders like BoldGrid take this ease of use one step further by layering website-building tools over the WordPress environment. BoldGrid has a number of official host providers that support it, including its parent company of the founding development team InMotion Hosting.
Users with little technical experience will find BoldGrid’s interface makes building a site with WordPress a stress-free experience. Easily drag and drop the elements you want into your site to create the website you envision. If you’re a more technically advanced user, BoldGrid will make your site building more efficient. Read on below to learn more about our top builder recommendation for WordPress website building.
5.
BoldGrid.com
- FREE drag-and-drop WordPress website builder software
- WordPress pre-installed by the InMotion Hosting team
- Pre-built and customizable content with GridBlocks
- FREE WordPress themes with mobile/tablet editing views
- PayPal integration and shopping carts available
- Get started on BoldGrid now.
BoldGrid: Our Expert's Review
| Money Back Guarantee | Disk Space | Domain Name | WordPress Website Builder Hosting Plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90 days | Unlimited | FREE (1 year) | www.inmotionhosting.com/boldgrid |
See more website builder hosting recommendations for WordPress »
Best “Blog” WordPress Hosting
WordPress is commonly used as a platform for hosting a blog. If you need a web host for a blog, you may not need some of the features that someone running a full website would need, although this depends on your content. Site speed and uptime reliability are still going to be important factors, especially if your blog incorporates images and video. Blogs are dependent on their readership and you want your site to stay up and running without interruptions.
Easy, no-nonsense site and server management is also an important feature for blogs so you can focus your time on creating content. Blog users would be wise to consider how well a host can support the blog’s future growth. Hosts that offer scalable solutions for server type, storage, and add-on tools are the best bets. Our top pick for the best blog host has a winning combination of the most desirable features for hosting a blog.
6.
InMotionHosting.com
- FREE domain and transfer, with WordPress pre-installed
- Host unlimited WordPress sites on a single account
- Unlimited bandwidth, plus FREE data backups and SSL
- User-friendly, 3-step Wizard for Google apps integration
- SPAM Safe™ email with IMAP support
- Get started with InMotion now.
InMotion: Our Expert's Review
| Money Back Guarantee | Disk Space | Domain Name | Blog Hosting Plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90 days | Unlimited | FREE (1 year) | www.inmotionhosting.com/blog |
See more blog hosting recommendations »
Best “eCommerce” WordPress Hosting
There’s a lot to consider when setting up an online store. One requirement is a host that supports eCommerce functions. Working with a host that understands the needs of businesses for their online presence is essential. Good product display and management will ensure that customers can easily view and learn about your products. Payment processing tools allow for easy transactions on both the customer and business owner ends of the experience.
Another thing to consider for hosting an online store is how well the host allows for marketing and search engine optimization. According to Forbes and many other sources, investing in SEO is key for online businesses. You’ll ideally have access to tools that allow you to help people searching online for your products find them in your store. Because you’ll be dealing with financial transactions, optimal security is a must, as well as 24/7 support to keep business flowing. Find out below which hosting company we selected as our favorite eCommerce host for WordPress is, based on reviews of the market competitors.
7.
SiteGround.com
- 1-click installs for eCommerce tools like WooCommerce
- FREE eCommerce plugin for WordPress
- Daily backups, a CDN, and FREE Weebly site builder
- Test changes to your online store within the staging area
- 24/7 support delivered by eCommerce gurus
- Get started on SiteGround now.
SiteGround: Our Expert's Review
| Money Back Guarantee | Disk Space | Domain Name | eCommerce Hosting Plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 days | 10 GB - 30 GB | New or Transfer | www.siteground.com/ecommerce |
See more eCommerce hosting recommendations »
Best “Personal Website” WordPress Hosting
When looking for a host for your personal website, you’ll have different considerations than a business or even a blog owner. There’s typically less content to manage and update. However, you still want to have optimal uptime and site speed so people who find your site can access it freely. As your main online presence, your personal site should perform well. Security is important, too, because you don’t want anyone hacking your personal web presence.
Website-building software is ideal for creating a personal website because it will get your site up in as little time as possible. Most people building a personal website want to get it up and running in a week or less, which is totally doable, according to career advice site The Muse. Below, we reveal the hosting service we think best covers the needs of people building a personal website with WordPress.
8.
InMotionHosting.com
- WordPress pre-installed with NGINX server caching
- FREE SSL certificate and unlimited bandwidth
- Optional automatic plugin, theme, and core updates
- Host unlimited WordPress sites on one account
- Premium themes and plugin subscriptions
- Get started on InMotion now.
InMotion: Our Expert's Review
| Money Back Guarantee | Disk Space | Domain Name | WordPress Hosting Plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90 days | Unlimited | FREE (1 year) | www.inmotionhosting.com/wordpress |
See more hosting recommendations for personal sites »
Best Beginner-Friendly WordPress Hosting Alternatives
WordPress may be the most popular website-building platform, but other heavyweights certainly give WordPress some healthy competition. Wix and Weebly are popular platforms to consider as alternatives to WordPress. Like WordPress, they’re both intuitive and beginner-friendly, each with its own unique functionality, and are good for people on a budget.
9.
Wix.com
- No coding skills needed with drag-and-drop website builder
- 100s of templates with industry-specific designs
- Add features via the App Market
- Build an eCommerce store easily
- Build small sites on a budget
- Get started on Wix now.
Wix: Our Expert's Review
| Money Back Guarantee | Disk Space | Domain Name | Website Builder Hosting Plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 days | 500 MB - 20 GB | Transfer | www.wix.com/site-builder |
10.
Weebly.com
- Direct access to the popular site builder offered by most shared hosts
- Fully hosted, drag-and-drop site-building and marketing platform
- Choose from 100s of customizable, professional-looking themes
- Market your site with $100 in paid Google advertising credits
- eCommerce-ready and SEO-friendly
- Get started on Weebly now.
Weebly: Our Expert's Review
| Money Back Guarantee | Disk Space | Domain Name | Website Builder Hosting Plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 days | 500 MB - Unlimited | FREE (w/ paid plans) | www.weebly.com/site-builder |
See more WordPress alternatives for beginners »
Wix is an industry leader in simple web design. Its drag-and-drop functionality and WYSIWYG editor are so intuitive that beginners will only need a little time to get used to the platform before feeling comfortable. With thousands of templates to choose from, any type of business or individual can find a look and feel that matches their style.
Weebly has credibility on par with WordPress and Wix. About 40 million websites are built on Weebly, and signing up for yours is as simple as entering your email to get a free account. The many available themes will give you ample room to play with your site’s appearance. Easily add, arrange, and customize text and images and increase your site’s functionality with add-on tools.
When Paired with the Right Host, WordPress Welcomes Beginners!
Creating a site with WordPress can be easy and fun. We recommend you choose a host for your WordPress site that will keep things simple and breezy. Whether you are a business owner, blogger, or individual professional with a personal site, there’s no need to complicate your hosting experience.
Anthony, the web developer who works with many beginning website owners, often gets asked about web hosting. His clients aren’t in the market for complex solutions – they want them to be straightforward and manageable. Our selections for WordPress web hosts would be ideal for Anthony’s clients who are new to the web – and any of our readers who fall into that category, too!
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