2024‘s Best WordPress Hosting Companies Compared (Manually Tested)

When I first started building WordPress sites, I didn’t pay much attention to hosting. It was just something I needed to get the site live, right? I figured most hosts were pretty much the same anyway. But after managing a few sites and switching hosts more than once, I quickly learned that choosing the right WordPress hosting provider can make or break your site’s performance, reliability, and even your budget.

Over the years, we’ve tried multiple hosting companies here at Themeisle, and I did go through a number of them for my own personal projects, too. Some were great for a while but eventually let me down with bugs or surprise price hikes (more common). Others started off promising but lacked essential features or made things overly complicated.

In this post, I’m sharing everything I’ve learned to help you find the best WordPress hosting provider for your needs in 2024.

First, if you’re in a hurry, take a peek at the chart below. It’s like a scoreboard that shows how these different hosting companies stack up against each other. And if you want more detail, click through to read the individual reviews of each platform.

Why listen to us

Over the years, we’ve put dozens of WordPress hosts to the test, focusing on key factors like uptime, speed, and user experience. To start, we’ve monitored uptime using tools that track exactly when a host’s servers go offline. Even brief downtime can lead to missed opportunities, so we’ve gathered literally years of data to see which hosts can actually deliver on their promises of reliability.

We’ve also spent a lot of time measuring site performance, especially load times and server response speeds. A slow website can quickly turn users away, and it doesn’t help your search engine rankings either. Similarly to uptime, we have lots of this data as well – we’ve done 16,400+ tests so far over the years.

On top of that, we gather feedback from real users who rely on these hosts daily. This feedback comes from our annual WordPress hosting surveys that we do over at WPShout (latest one). By combining this feedback with our own data, we’ve pinpointed the hosts that truly balance speed, reliability, and affordability.

Best WordPress hosting services: IN DETAIL

Here are the platforms that have made our shortlist of the very best offerings for hosting WordPress websites on the market.

Important! Our initial pool of hosts was around 20, but I narrowed it down here to just the 10 best.

💡 How to read this comparison? Click here.

For each host I list, I cover the pricing in several key ways:

• ✅ First, I focus on the entry-level plan in their lineup, since that’s probably what you’re most interested in. I’ll show you the introductory price * you’ll get as a new customer during the first term.
• ✅ I’ll also provide a longer-term calculation **, showing you what it would cost to stick with that host for five and ten years.

***

Web hosts do a lot to convince new users to sign up. Keep in mind, though, that you’re getting this low price for your first term only. Meaning, if your initial contract is valid for one year, then after that year, the price will increase. By how much? Keep reading.

Once your first contract is done, you’re going to need to renew at an increased price. I help you calculate what those long-term costs would be if you stay with the host for five and then ten years.

1. Kinsta

Kinsta is a top-tier WordPress hosting provider that’s all about speed, reliability, and room to grow. Starting at $29.17 per month, it’s definitely on the premium side, but you get what you pay for. Their entry-level plan can handle up to 25,000 monthly visitors – plenty for most sites. While they don’t throw in a free domain, Kinsta more than makes up for it with exceptional uptime and fast load times, especially if your audience is in the US or Europe.

What really sets Kinsta apart is how optimized it is for WordPress. Their infrastructure is built specifically to deliver top performance, and they have a global network of data centers that keeps your site running smoothly no matter where your visitors are. Managing your site is easy too, thanks to their intuitive control panel.

If you’re serious about growing your WordPress site and need a host that can keep up with your needs, Kinsta is a fantastic option. It’s an investment, but for the performance and peace of mind you get, it’s worth every penny. (Fun fact, we host our sister site, WPShout, on Kinsta.)

Key features for WordPress

• Free CDN and edge caching
• Automatic WordPress backups with a 14 day retention
• Free one-click staging environments
• Free malware removal
• Unlimited free migrations
• Human-only expert support
• Fully managed WAF with DDoS protection
• Built-in APM tool

Uptime last three months 𝒾We track the performance metrics of each of our test setups continuously. This includes their load times from multiple locations around the globe, and uptime percentage over the years. See the live status page of Kinsta linked below.

Performance this month

2. Bluehost

Bluehost is a go-to option for a lot of WordPress beginners, and it’s easy to see why. Starting at just $1.99 per month, it’s one of the most budget-friendly ways to get your site online. They throw in a free domain for the first year, plus one-click WordPress installation, so you can get everything up and running without much hassle.

When it comes to performance, Bluehost does a solid job. You’ll get reliable uptime and decent loading speeds, especially if your audience is in the U.S. or Europe. Their basic plan gives you 10 GB of storage, which is enough for most sites, and it can handle around 40,000 visits a month. Plus, their control panel is really straightforward, which is perfect if you’re not super tech-savvy.

In our user survey, Bluehost scored a 7.1 out of 10, which reflects its solid, dependable service. It’s a great option if you’re just starting out and need something affordable and easy to manage. Just keep in mind that the price jumps after the first year, so it’s worth considering if you’re planning to stick around for the long haul.

Key features for WordPress

• Free WordPress migration tool
• Free CDN – Cloudflare with argo routing
• Managed WordPress updates
• Managed PHP updates
• Static content caching
• Object caching
• WordPress staging site
• Web application firewall
• DDos protection
• Free malware scanning
• SSH and WP-CLI

Uptime last three months 𝒾We track the performance metrics of each of our test setups continuously. This includes their load times from multiple locations around the globe, and uptime percentage over the years. See the live status page of Bluehost linked below.

Performance this month

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Learn more: full Bluehost review

3. SiteGround

SiteGround is one of the top choices for hosting for many a WordPress enthusiast, especially if you value strong customer support and reliable performance. Starting at $2.99 per month, SiteGround makes it easy to get your site up and running with a simple WordPress installation. Plus, they offer 10 GB of storage on their basic plan, which is more than enough for most small- to medium-sized sites.

What really sets SiteGround apart is their 24/7 customer support. Whether you need help via live chat or phone, they’ve got you covered, and users often rave about the quality of their service. With phone support, though, the numbers sand availability depend on the country you’re logging from.

Overall, in our survey, SiteGround earned an impressive 8.33 user rating, reflecting how satisfied people are with their experience.

On the performance side, SiteGround delivers where it matters most. Their uptime is solid, and the loading speeds are also quick, providing a smooth experience for your visitors.

The only downside is the incredible price hike after your first contract term is done. Most customers are quite surprised when their monthly price goes up from $2.99 to $17.99, so be careful about that.

Key features for WordPress

• Free WordPress auto-install
• Free WordPress auto-migrator
• Automating WordPress updates
• SiteGround’s custom speed optimizer plugin
• SiteGround’s security optimizer plugin
• WP-CLI and SSH
• One-click WordPress staging
• Free CDN
• Anti-hack systems and help
• Spam protection
• Automated daily backup
• WooCommerce-capable

Uptime last three months 𝒾We track the performance metrics of each of our test setups continuously. This includes their load times from multiple locations around the globe, and uptime percentage over the years. See the live status page of SiteGround linked below.

Performance this month

4. Namecheap

Namecheap is one of the most affordable WordPress hosting options I’ve come across, with plans starting at just $1.58 per month. While it doesn’t have the sub-$1 deals it used to offer back in the day, it’s still a fantastic budget-friendly choice. On the basic plan, you can host one website, handle up to 50,000 monthly visitors, and get 10 GB of storage. The only downside is that it doesn’t include a free domain, but with prices this low, it’s still a great deal overall.

Even though Namecheap is one of the cheaper hosts, I’ve found that it holds up pretty well when it comes to performance. The uptime is reliable, and the load times are solid, especially for sites targeting US visitors. It also scored a reliable 8.03 in our survey among users.

If you’re like me and want a hosting provider that keeps things simple and affordable without sacrificing too much in the way of reliability, Namecheap is definitely worth considering. It’s perfect for anyone looking to get a site online without breaking the bank – just keep in mind that you’ll need to buy a domain separately. Namecheap is also one of the cheapest long-term hosts out there.

Key features for WordPress

• Easy-to-use dashboard to manage WordPress websites
• Easy backups and restores
• SFTP and database access
• Free CDN

Uptime last three months 𝒾We track the performance metrics of each of our test setups continuously. This includes their load times from multiple locations around the globe, and uptime percentage over the years. See the live status page of Namecheap linked below.

Performance this month

5. Rocket

• From: $25 / month, renews at $25 / month
• Full 5-year cost: $1,500
• Full 10-year cost: $3,000
• Sites allowed: 1
• Traffic/bandwidth: ~250,000 visits monthly
• Disk space: 10 GB
• Free domain: ❌

Rocket is one of the newer players in the WordPress hosting world, but it’s already made a strong impression with its fast, secure, and easy-to-use hosting. Starting at $25 per month, Rocket is designed for high-traffic sites, offering support for up to 250,000 monthly visitors and 50 GB of bandwidth. While they don’t include a free domain, Rocket makes up for it with exceptional performance. In fact,  we trust Rocket to host our own site , so we’ve seen firsthand how reliable they are.

One of the reasons we chose Rocket is its user-friendly control panel and top-notch security features. They offer a enterprise level CDN, a web application firewall, and strong protection against malware. This means you don’t have to worry about security – Rocket’s got you covered. Plus, Rocket is also one of the fastest website hosts we’ve tested (more on that).

In the end, if you’re looking for a host that offers great performance, excellent security, and an easy-to-use platform, and you don’t mind paying a bit more for it, then Rocket is definitely worth considering.

Key features for WordPress

• Enterprise level CDN
• WAF
• Malware protection
• Free migrations
• Automated daily backups
• Backup retention of 14 days

Uptime last three months 𝒾We track the performance metrics of each of our test setups continuously. This includes their load times from multiple locations around the globe, and uptime percentage over the years. See the live status page of Rocket linked below.

Performance this month

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Learn more: full Rocket review

6. Hostinger

Hostinger has really impressed me as a hosting option for WordPress, especially when it comes to balancing affordability and performance. Starting at just $2.49 per month, it’s one of the most budget-friendly hosts out there. They throw in a free domain for the first year, plus SSL and one-click WordPress installation, which makes getting your site online easy even if it’s your first time doing this.

From my experience, Hostinger delivers reliable uptime and solid speeds, and that’s backed up by our survey, where users gave it an 8.11 rating, and it’s actually been the most popular host among our survey respondents. Their basic plan gives you 100 GB of storage and lets you host up to 100 websites, which is a huge bonus.

If you’re looking for a hosting provider that’s easy on the wallet but still offers great features and support, Hostinger is definitely a solid choice.

Key features for WordPress

• Free one-click WordPress installation
• Free pre-built templates
• WordPress auto updates
• WordPress vulnerabilities scanner
• WordPress compatibility checker
• WordPress multisite enabled
• WP-CLI and SSH
• Starter WooCommerce package – sell up to 10 products

Uptime last three months 𝒾We track the performance metrics of each of our test setups continuously. This includes their load times from multiple locations around the globe, and uptime percentage over the years. See the live status page of Hostinger linked below.

Performance this month

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Learn more: full Hostinger review

7. Flywheel

Flywheel has been my go-to managed WordPress host for years, and honestly, it’s my favorite. Starting at $13.00 per month, Flywheel offers an affordable entry point into the world of managed hosting, making it a great option if you want to take the hassle out of running your WordPress site. You can host one site with support for up to 5,000 monthly visitors, which is perfect for smaller projects or blogs.

What I love most about Flywheel is how user-friendly it is. Even if you’re not tech-savvy, their control panel is incredibly easy to use, making site management feel effortless. The whole experience is designed to be hands-off, so you don’t have to worry about the backend details.

If you want a host that lets you focus on your site while they handle all the technical stuff, Flywheel is hard to beat. Flywheel has also consistently been in the top 3 of the fastest loading hosts that we’ve tested.

Key features for WordPress

• FlyCache (with custom exclusions for common WordPress plugins and themes)
• CDN (powered by Fastly)
• 10 StudioPress themes included
• Genesis framework included
• Plugin security alerts
• Blueprints (save your existing site as a blueprint and reuse in other projects)
• Billing transfer (when developing for clients)
• Local development environment (called Local)
• Staging sites
• Nightly backups
• SSH gateway
• Site cloning

Uptime last three months 𝒾We track the performance metrics of each of our test setups continuously. This includes their load times from multiple locations around the globe, and uptime percentage over the years. See the live status page of Flywheel linked below.

Performance this month

8. A2 Hosting

A2 Hosting is a solid contender in the WordPress hosting space, offering strong performance at budget-friendly prices. Starting at $2.99 per month, you’ll get 10 GB of disk space, unmetered bandwidth, and the ability to host one site. While they don’t include a free domain, A2 Hosting delivers reliable uptime and good loading speeds, making it a good choice for smaller sites or personal projects.

What I really like about A2 Hosting is their flexible pricing model. Unlike many hosts that lock you into long-term contracts, A2 allows you to pay month-to-month, so you can cancel anytime. However, the monthly option does come at a higher cost ($10.95 to start), so it’s something to keep in mind if you’re budgeting carefully.

Based on our survey results, A2 Hosting earned a solid 7.76 user rating, which reflects its consistent performance and helpful customer support. Their 24/7 “Guru Crew” support team is always available to help with any WordPress-related issues, which I’ve found to be a nice safety net when something goes wrong.

Key features for WordPress

• Free white glove site migration
• Comprehensive security suite
• Core automatic backups
• WP Toolkit by cPanel (lets you manage your installation, update elements, lists possible vulnerabilities, helps debug, control wp-cron, shows the overall status and condition of your WordPress installation)
• A2’s own A2 Optimized plugin that helps to make your site faster
• The higher tier Managed WordPress hosting has more WordPress-specific features, but frankly it’s not that worth the investment

Uptime last three months 𝒾We track the performance metrics of each of our test setups continuously. This includes their load times from multiple locations around the globe, and uptime percentage over the years. See the live status page of A2 Hosting linked below.

Performance this month

9. Cloudways

Cloudways is a unique player in the WordPress hosting world, offering cloud hosting through top providers like DigitalOcean, Linode, Vultr, AWS, and Google Cloud. Starting at $11.00 per month, it gives you the flexibility to choose your cloud provider, server size, and even location, which puts you in full control of your hosting environment.

With 25 GB of storage and 1 TB of bandwidth, Cloudways can handle multiple sites with ease, and there’s no limit to the number of websites you can host.

What I really appreciate about Cloudways is how it combines the power of cloud hosting with a user-friendly interface. Even though it’s more advanced than typical shared hosting, setting up a WordPress site is surprisingly easy, and their platform makes server management simple, even if you’re not a tech expert.

While Cloudways doesn’t include email hosting, they offer easy integrations with services like Google Workspace and Rackspace for affordable email solutions. Cloudways has gained a reputation for solid performance and flexibility, too, making it an excellent choice if you’re looking for a hosting provider that offers more control and scalability than traditional hosts.

Key features for WordPress

• Lets you run WordPress on established cloud hosting platforms like Digital Ocean, Vulture, AWS, without the hassle of having to deal with the server setups by hand
• Easy installers for WordPress
• Free Object Cache Pro (Worth $95/mo)
• Free SSL certificates
• Free migration
• Built-in Cloudflare CDN
• Dedicated firewalls
• Staging environment
• Auto healing
• Free migration
• Automated backups
• Unlimited application installations

Uptime last three months 𝒾We track the performance metrics of each of our test setups continuously. This includes their load times from multiple locations around the globe, and uptime percentage over the years. See the live status page of Cloudways linked below.

Performance this month

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Learn more: full Cloudways review

10. WordPress.com

• From: $2.75 / month, renews at $2.75 / month
• Full 5-year cost: $177
• Full 10-year cost: $345
• Sites allowed: 1
• Traffic/bandwidth: unmetered
• Disk space: 6 GB
• Free domain: ✅ (first year)

This might be coming from the left field, but I just can’t ignore the commercial leg of the official WordPress landscape.

WordPress.com is a fully hosted platform built by the same team that’s responsible for most of the WordPress software itself. It can be perfect if you’re looking for a hands-off approach to managing your website. Starting at $4 per month on a one-year plan, it takes care of everything from software updates to basic security and backups, so you don’t have to worry about the technical side of things.

One thing to keep in mind, though, is that WordPress.com limits your ability to customize the backend. If something goes wrong, you’re reliant on their support team to fix it, with no direct access to troubleshoot yourself. On the lower-tier plans, you’re also restricted in terms of themes and customization options. It’s enough to get a basic site up and running, but you’ll need to upgrade to more expensive plans for greater flexibility and features.

A major drawback of the $4 plan is the lack of support for third-party plugins, which you only get on the $25 per month plan. Without plugins, you’re limited to the built-in features provided by WordPress.com, which might be fine for a simple blog or basic website but could feel restrictive if you need more advanced functionality. Overall, WordPress.com is a solid choice for ease of use and minimal maintenance, but it’s not ideal if you want full control over your site’s customization and features.

Key features for WordPress

• Frankly, the features of WordPress.com are the features of WordPress, just a bit limited
• You get basic security and backups handled for you
• Everything about the technical performance of your website is handled by the team behind WordPress.com
• Offers a limited number of themes for you to choose from
• Comes with limited customization options
• Allows you to use third-party plugins only if you get the $25/mo plan

Final recommendations

I don’t want to recap everything once again here, so let me just give you my top three recommendations based on some common use cases:

I hope this guide has helped you find the best WordPress hosting option for your site! Whether you’re looking for something affordable, feature-packed, or built for power users, there’s definitely a host here that’ll fit your needs.

If you have any questions or want to share your experience with any of the hosts mentioned, feel free to drop a comment below! I’m happy to help clarify anything.

WordPress hosting FAQs