Web.com vs. WordPress (2018)

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Alexandra Leslie Alexandra Leslie Hosting Expert
“We tested WordPress & Web.com — The winner is WordPress!”

Site performance is top of mind for many when they think about a host’s impact on conversion rates. And they’re right to place speed and uptime high on the list. But design plays a huge role in visitor perception, too. If a site doesn’t look professional or aesthetically pleasing, visitors will bounce to a more visually pleasing competitor. Luckily, there are site building tools that ease the design process, and Web.com and InMotion Hosting give customers access to two great choices. InMotion is our top choice for WordPress hosting largely due to packages tailored specifically to the popular CMS. And InMotion’s proprietary site builder BoldGrid gives users a drag-and-drop environment to simplify WordPress site design. Web.com offers a turnkey site design service, giving customers access to its expert staff of designers. For the DIYers, Web.com’s site builder is a top choice to get up and running quickly. We’ve picked our winner. Read on to see the reasons why.

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WordPress review
Overall Rating
5.0/5.0 ★★★★★
Visit WordPress »
Web.com review
Overall Rating
4.2/5.0 ★★★★★
Visit Web.com »
Compare: Overall | Cheap Hosting | Dedicated | VPS | WordPress | Site Builder | Conclusion

Overall Hosting Comparison

WordPress review

Best Overall Rating

★★★★★ 5.0/5.0

WordPress, the #1 blogging platform and software that powers more than 26% of websites currently online, needs no introduction. The underlying software of WordPress.com, a browser-based website builder for... read more +

WordPress, the #1 blogging platform and software that powers more than 26% of websites currently online, needs no introduction. The underlying software of WordPress.com, a browser-based website builder for newbie site owners to stretch their website design wings, can be downloaded and installed for free via WordPress.org.

Many of the top hosting providers make the software even easier to access, however, by offering single-click installations for WordPress. WordPress hosting front-runner, InMotion Hosting will preinstall the platform for you at checkout.

Once the platform is successfully set up, site owners can begin browsing the theme marketplace, previewing site content before publishing to the web. Find the perfect theme, incorporate any plugins you'd like to extend your site's functionality, and begin drafting your first post! Whether you're building a blog or an online store — hosting on a shared server or your very own VPS — you can have a new WordPress site online in less than an hour. It only has to take a few minutes, but we're no stranger to perfectionism.

You'll have the support of the open-source community in your corner, as the WordPress core code is actively maintained by a team of all-star contributing developers. And just about any question you could imagine having has probably been asked and answered somewhere on the web. It's a long-standing, fast-growing family of fans, and we at HostingAdvice welcome you to team WordPress!

Whether you're looking for shared, cloud-based, or dedicated server WordPress hosting, we recommend InMotion. Throughout our review of the WordPress platform, we'll use InMotion's pricing, storage allowances, uptime rates, and support standards to illustrate the ease and excellence of building a website with WordPress and a WP-friendly host.

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Money Back Guarantee
90 days
Disk Space
Unlimited
Domain Name
FREE (1 year)
Web.com review

Best Overall Rating

★★★★★ 4.2/5.0

Web.com is known for offering both simple, no-frills hosting plans and a popular website builder. The initial signup rate is very attractive at just under $2; however, the regular rates for the second... read more +

Web.com is known for offering both simple, no-frills hosting plans and a popular website builder. The initial signup rate is very attractive at just under $2; however, the regular rates for the second month and thereafter aren't quite justified by the quality of hardware, support, or commerce features, in our opinion.

A free domain is included with each plan, which is a useful perk; however, the renewal rates are incredibly expensive at $37, so plan to move your site before the year is through.

Web.com has a very nice site builder, as well as support for WordPress, Drupal, Joomla, and most other popular open-source scripts. Furthermore, you can opt to have one of the company's experts design a custom site from scratch for you, which is incredibly appealing to business owners who don't want to get their hands dirty with code. From domains and SSL certificates to web hosting and social media promotion, Web.com offers full website lifecycle hosting services. Again, just be aware of renewal costs.

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  • Frills-free web hosting
  • Support for most coding languages
  • FREE domain with plans
  • Well-known site builder included
  • Special signup rate: $1.95 for your first month of hosting!
  • Get started on Web.com now.
Money Back Guarantee
N/A
Disk Space
300 GB
Domain Name
FREE (1 year)

Cheap Hosting Comparison

WordPress review

Cheap Rating

★★★★★ 4.6/5.0

WordPress hosting is incredibly cost-competitive. The software itself is free, and most shared hosts offer WordPress packages in the $2- to $5-per-month ballpark. It's easy to get started, as hosts will... read more +

WordPress hosting is incredibly cost-competitive. The software itself is free, and most shared hosts offer WordPress packages in the $2- to $5-per-month ballpark. It's easy to get started, as hosts will often offer single-click installations for WordPress, and then you can begin browsing the thousands of themes available in the Appearance section of the WordPress dashboard. Customize to your heart's desire, click "Publish," and voila! You've got yourself a self-hosted WordPress website.

Whether you're looking to build an online presence for your brick-and-mortar or a blog for your interior design musings, WordPress is the ideal space in which to spread your website-building wings. The additional free resources you'll have at your fingertips include plugins (add-on software that extends the functionality of the WordPress platform), eCommerce tools, and features to optimize your website for online search.

By partnering with a cheap shared hosting provider, you'll get more than shared space on a server. To remain cost-competitive, most hosts include additional freebies such as a complimentary domain name registration, unlimited storage and email, and a few hundred dollars' worth of paid search marketing credits.

InMotion Hosting does all of the above, which is one of the many reasons we recommend the host as a true value offering in WordPress hosting. Get started today and enjoy free SSD storage, one-click installations for other WordPress-compatible tools, and business-class hardware at an ultra-affordable monthly rate.

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  • #1 site-building software is FREE
  • Install in 1 click with top hosts
  • FREE themes to customize your WordPress site
  • Works for eCommerce, blogging, galleries, and personal sites
  • Trusted by millions of website owners
  • Get started on WordPress with InMotion Hosting.
Money Back Guarantee
90 days
Disk Space
Unlimited
Domain Name
FREE (1 year)
Web.com review

Cheap Rating

★★★★★ 3.8/5.0

Web.com's initial signup rate of $1.95 should light up your board, but the regular rates upward of $5 a month make long-term cost a consideration when choosing this web host. These guys are known for... read more +

Web.com's initial signup rate of $1.95 should light up your board, but the regular rates upward of $5 a month make long-term cost a consideration when choosing this web host. These guys are known for code-free simplicity, with a pretty popular website builder. The cost is just a little high for the features offered.

A free domain name is included in all frills-free hosting and website builder packages; however, long-term cost raises a red flag again. To avoid the $37 renewal rates, just plan on moving your domain before the year's end.

Web.com has a very nice site builder with support for WordPress, Drupal, Joomla, and most other popular open-source scripts. The team offers decent support and reliability. We'd just recommend you be cognizant of rising costs down the road with renewal fees.

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  • FREE website builder or quote for a custom site built for you
  • Easy installs for WordPress, Magento, Joomla, and Drupal
  • FREE domain with web hosting plans
  • 24/7 support
  • Pay just $1.95 the first month (usually $5.95/month)
  • Get started on Web.com now.
Money Back Guarantee
N/A
Disk Space
300 GB
Domain Name
FREE (1 year)

Dedicated Hosting Comparison

WordPress review

Dedicated Rating

★★★★★ 4.9/5.0

If you're a mid-sized to large-scale online business, or if security and compliance are of utmost concern, you may be considering a dedicated server for your hosting needs. Dedicated resources come at a... read more +

If you're a mid-sized to large-scale online business, or if security and compliance are of utmost concern, you may be considering a dedicated server for your hosting needs. Dedicated resources come at a premium, but leading WordPress host InMotion makes it worth your while.

Should you opt for one of InMotion's dedicated hosting plans for WordPress, the team will download and install the software for you. Begin writing your site from scratch or get a jumpstart on design with a professional-looking theme. Either way, the end result will be blazing-fast page load speeds backed by an always-on uptime guarantee (99.999%).

InMotion Hosting dedicated servers feature SSD storage, rebootless kernel updates, full root access, and around-the-clock server monitoring. Plans include plenty of RAM, IP addresses, storage, and processing power, so your WordPress site is equipped to scale alongside your business.

WordPress is a robust, comprehensive platform for designing, deploying, and maintaining an exquisite and performant online presence, and it has a loyal community of contributing developers and avid users to show for it. Follow the forums, confide in the WordPress Codex, and spend some time getting to know the nuances of this incredible interface. You won't be disappointed.

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  • Robust blogging platform meets resource-capable dedicated servers
  • Ideal for fast-growing sites and enterprise
  • InMotion guarantees 99.99% uptime for your WordPress site
  • 1-click software installation for WordPress
  • FREE SSD storage
  • Get started on WordPress with InMotion Hosting.
Money Back Guarantee
30 days
Disk Space
500 GB - 1.2 TB SSD
Domain Name
FREE (1 year)
Web.com review

Dedicated Rating

★★★★★ N/A

Web.com does not currently offer this type of hosting. We would not recommend choosing this host for this hosting category.

VPS Hosting Comparison

WordPress review

VPS Rating

★★★★★ 4.9/5.0

Virtual private servers yield the utmost flexibility at a cost-effective price point. Some of the most performant and popular websites in the world are powered by VPS hosting, and the same can be said of... read more +

Virtual private servers yield the utmost flexibility at a cost-effective price point. Some of the most performant and popular websites in the world are powered by VPS hosting, and the same can be said of the WordPress platform. From the New York Post and Fortune.com to Spotify and Beyonce.com, millions of websites run on WordPress. HostingAdvice is backed by a virtual server and managed via the WordPress platform. It's a match made in hosting heaven.

For your VPS and cloud hosting needs, we recommend InMotion Hosting for WordPress. The company touts enterprise-grade hardware, and solid-state drives come standard, accelerating performance with up to 20x faster page loads. With your choice of datacenter locations, East or West Coast, InMotion delivers all the flexibility, performance, and security the VPS niche can offer.

Once your virtual server is provisioned and WordPress is installed, you can choose to write your HTML from scratch or take a head start with one of thousands of themes. Extend your site's functionality with plugins for eCommerce, page caching, comment moderation, and other essentials for a modern web presence.

Backed by an active, open-source developer community, the WordPress interface is easy to befriend, and just about any question you have about bugs or updates has probably been answered in the Codex or community forums.

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  • Instantly provision your VPS and install WordPress with 1 click
  • SSD speed gives your WordPress site a performance boost
  • WordPress is trusted as the #1 site builder platform
  • InMotion is trusted as the #1 WordPress VPS host
  • Tons of support available via your host and online forums
  • Get started on WordPress with InMotion Hosting.
Money Back Guarantee
90 days
Disk Space
75 GB - 260 GB SSD
Domain Name
New or Transfer
Web.com review

VPS Rating

★★★★★ N/A

Web.com does not currently offer this type of hosting. We would not recommend choosing this host for this hosting category.

WordPress Hosting Comparison

WordPress review

WordPress Rating

★★★★★ 5.0/5.0

Good news, website owners: The software that powers upward of 25% of websites is free and open for public enjoyment and customization! WordPress is ready for download at WordPress.org, and the team is... read more +

Good news, website owners: The software that powers upward of 25% of websites is free and open for public enjoyment and customization! WordPress is ready for download at WordPress.org, and the team is actively maintaining its core code. So long as you stay current with your WP software versions and install plugins with caution, the site-building possibilities and benefits of WordPress are seemingly endless.

It should come as no surprise that many of the web's most trusted hosts have zeroed in on the popularity of WordPress, offering single-click installations for the software and WordPress-specific optimizations for performance, security, and support.

Once you get up and running with a WordPress host, you can choose from thousands of free and paid themes — premade website templates that expedite your site design process, allowing you to skip to the content and customization. For a what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) experience, we recommend installing BoldGrid, a site builder tool that layers on top of the WordPress platform to create a drag-and-drop site builder environment. InMotion will install BoldGrid for you at checkout as well, making WordPress setup a non-issue.

Incorporating additional plugins, apps, and scripts extends the robust functionality of the WordPress interface. From calendar widgets to page caching for performance, there's essentially a plugin for every WordPress need. Integrating payment processing tools, such as Shopify and PayPal, converts your traditional site into a transaction-ready virtual marketplace. Cultivate a following with commenting apps, like Disqus, and link your social media accounts. What's more, WordPress hosts often throw in free paid search advertising credits to help you kickstart your marketing efforts.

WordPress remains the most popular platform for building a beautiful online presence from scratch. It's relied on by hosting novices and seasoned developers alike, and we're confident the software, matched with InMotion Hosting hardware, will deliver everything you need to establish and grow your next website.

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Money Back Guarantee
90 days
Disk Space
Unlimited
Domain Name
FREE
Web.com review

WordPress Rating

★★★★★ N/A

Web.com does not currently offer this type of hosting. We would not recommend choosing this host for this hosting category.

Site Builder Hosting Comparison

WordPress review

Website Builder Rating

★★★★★ 4.8/5.0

While WordPress is technically blogging software, it's been called a website builder, a content management system, and even an eCommerce platform — basically, a website-building multitool. Because it's... read more +

While WordPress is technically blogging software, it's been called a website builder, a content management system, and even an eCommerce platform — basically, a website-building multitool. Because it's open-sourced, the core code can be adapted to meet virtually any website need, and the wealth of plugins and WP-friendly apps built by third-party developers makes this platform a go-to for website owners around the world.

For added site-building functionality, we recommend downloading and installing BoldGrid, which functions on top of the WP interface to act as a drag-and-drop content management system. This is especially useful for first-time site owners or nervous hosting newbies. Basically, BoldGrid takes away the one dig against WordPress, its semi-steep learning curve, by transforming the backend environment into a what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) website editor. Best of all, both WordPress and BoldGrid are 100% free, and the InMotion Hosting team will set up the platforms for you at checkout.

Once WordPress is installed and configured, you can begin designing one of two ways: Upload your own HTML files and style sheets and continue customizing in the backend, or choose from a library of thousands of premade website themes. Paired with the abundance of plugins for extensibility, the WordPress interface brings utmost flexibility from a site construction and customization point of view.

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  • Intuitive, drag-and-drop site builder BoldGrid sits atop WordPress
  • Developed and supported by the InMotion Hosting team
  • Responsive themes so your WP site looks good on any device
  • FREE to download WordPress software
  • SEO-friendly end result
  • Get started on BoldGrid for WordPress now.
Money Back Guarantee
90 days
Disk Space
Unlimited
Domain Name
FREE (1 year)
Web.com review

Website Builder Rating

★★★★★ 4.7/5.0

#8 out of 10 in Website Builder Hosting reviews

Aimed at first-time users and customers seeking simplicity, Web.com offers a very quick and easy solution for getting a website online. The company's dedicated support staff is great about helping folks... read more +

Aimed at first-time users and customers seeking simplicity, Web.com offers a very quick and easy solution for getting a website online. The company's dedicated support staff is great about helping folks without programming experience get their site running and performing as they desire. For those who just want to throw a fairly simple webpage up online, Web.com is fantastic.

Web.com includes a free domain name, which is a perfect for first-time site owners. Customers will also be set up with a custom email address matching that new domain for a polished, professional look.

Though aimed at the new-to-hosting crowd, Web.com shouldn't be overlooked by those with a little technical know-how. The hosting plans have unlimited storage and bandwidth, so you have room to grow together as well.

Featuring hundreds of templates and customizable layouts, Web.com has what you need to get a unique, professional site. Thousands of stock images are also at your disposal, so you’ll have no trouble standing out from the crowd.

Finally, the cost of this service is incredibly low and allows you to cancel at any time. Having a great website builder and hosting for such a low price is hard to beat.

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  • 24/7 tech support
  • Large collection of stock images
  • Hundreds of templates for sites, blogs, and online stores
  • Unlimited storage for photos, videos, and music files
  • FREE domain name with signup
  • Get started on Web.com now.
Money Back Guarantee
30 days
Disk Space
Unlimited
Domain Name
FREE (1 year)

WordPress vs. Web.com - Our Conclusion

Alexandra Leslie Alexandra Leslie Hosting Expert
“We tested WordPress & Web.com — The winner is WordPress!”

When it comes to facilitating stellar site design, our winner soars above the competition. Web.com’s team of experts can build a custom site specifically tailored to your brand. But, depending on complexity and functionalities, such as eCommerce solutions and shopping carts, the prices can get quite high. Thankfully, Web.com’s WYSIWYG site builder offers a cheaper, no-code option to easily create your own custom online property. Not to be outdone, however, InMotion’s managed WordPress hosting and proprietary site builder is tough to beat. If you’re powering a site with WordPress, InMotion can provide the features, including BoldGrid, free SSDs for performance, and automatic updates and security patches, necessary for success. Take a look at our full review of each host for an in-depth look at the pricing structures and features that might be right for you.

WordPress review
Overall Rating
5.0/5.0 ★★★★★
Visit WordPress »
Web.com review
Overall Rating
4.2/5.0 ★★★★★
Visit Web.com »

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