Featured Partners
1
Wix
$17 per month
Yes
Yes
2
Squarespace
$16 per month (annually)
Yes
Yes
3
BigCommerce
$39
Yes
Unlimited
4
Shopify
$29 per month
3 days free + First Month for $1
Drag & drop editor, AI Tools, Customize with 8k+ apps, Sell everywhere
Compare the Best WordPress Hosting Services of 2025
Company | Forbes Advisor Rating | Superlative | Starting Monthly Price | Pros | Cons | Expert Take | Learn More |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4.8 | $5.24 | Free nightly backups | Fewer server locations than leading competitors | A practical and easy choice for individuals without technical expertise | Read Forbes’ Review | ||
4.7 | $12.19 ($2.49 for 48-month term) | Optimized servers with fast load times | No free daily backups | A great choice for beginners but lacks free features on its entry-level plans | On Hostinger’s Website | ||
4.6 | $2.75 | Free migration service included in all plans | No free domain on basic and mid-level plans | Affordable, but there are customer concerns over frequent downtime | |||
4.3 | $2.50 for 1 month, then renews at $7 per month | Free InterShield Security | Limited data center locations | A robust hosting solution that doesn’t require a long-term commitment | Read Forbes’ Review | ||
4.3 | $8.99 | LiteSpeed web server with fast loading speeds | No free domain on basic plan and high renewal rates | Fast loading speeds and easy-to-use tools but lacks an intuitive interface | On MochaHost’s Website | ||
4.1 | $16.49 | High-speed performance with SSD storage | No automatic offsite backups with basic plan | Fast performance but has limitations for budget-conscious users | On InMotion Hosting’s Website | ||
4.0 | $1 per month | Strong security features such as DDoS protection | Complex user interface | An affordable and scalable choice for growing businesses | On IONOS’ Website | ||
3.8 | $17.99 | Free SSL certificate for all plans | High monthly cost and renewal rates | Valuable features but comes with additional costs | On GoDaddy’s Website | ||
3.8 | $5.95 | Affordable annual pricing | No SSL certificate included in basic plan | Great value with free key features but has high renewal rates | On Web.com’s Website |
9 Best WordPress Hosting Services Of 2025
It can be easy for business owners lacking technical expertise to be intimidated by hosting services. Hostwinds is an easy-to-use solution that also offers reliable performance. All of its shared hosting plans come with unlimited bandwidth and disk space, making it a strong choice for businesses that don’t want to worry about running out of website resources while they expand. Plus, free nightly backups in each plan mean security, and reliability won’t be compromised due to additional costs.
I also appreciate the user-friendly interface, which makes managing the hosting plan easy for web users of all levels, not just tech pros. This, combined with solid customer support, makes Hostwinds a great solution if you want a hassle-free hosting experience while growing your online presence.
Learn more: Read our full Hostwinds review.
We gather and analyze consumer sentiment from a range of sources to create the Consumer Sentiment Index to determine customer satisfaction levels for each feature outlined below. This data is designed to give you an idea of real consumer experience of the services and product we review. This data is currently separate from our overall rating out of 5
-
#8Customer Support and ServiceRanked 8 out of 9For Customer Support and Service
- 77% of people had positive sentiments
- 5% of people had neutral sentiments
- 18% of people had negative sentiments
77%5%18%Ranked 8 out of 9For Customer Support and Service- 77% of people had positive sentiments
- 5% of people had neutral sentiments
- 18% of people had negative sentiments
-
#4Performance and DowntimeRanked 4 out of 9For Performance and Downtime
- 61% of people had positive sentiments
- 8% of people had neutral sentiments
- 31% of people had negative sentiments
61%8%31%Ranked 4 out of 9For Performance and Downtime- 61% of people had positive sentiments
- 8% of people had neutral sentiments
- 31% of people had negative sentiments
-
#5Price and CostRanked 5 out of 9For Price and Cost
- 67% of people had positive sentiments
- 6% of people had neutral sentiments
- 27% of people had negative sentiments
67%6%27%Ranked 5 out of 9For Price and Cost- 67% of people had positive sentiments
- 6% of people had neutral sentiments
- 27% of people had negative sentiments
Hostwinds users seem split in experiences. Users either love it or hate it. Users love the pricing, easy setup and reasonable customer support which makes it a good choice on a budget.
However, other users complained of billing problems, lackluster customer support, problems with refunds and odd extra charges. The end result is a thoroughly mixed outlook that feels hit or miss for customer experiences.
- Free nightly backups
- Automated website monitoring and support
- Unlimited bandwidth and disk space on all plans
- Fewer server locations than leading competitors
- No free domain name with basic plan
- Limited customization options with Weebly site builder
Specification | Details |
---|---|
Recommended by WordPress.org
|
No
|
Included SSL
|
Yes
|
Data Center Locations
|
Seattle, Dallas, Amsterdam
|
Customer Service Channels
|
24/7 via phone, live chat or email
|
Uptime Guarantee
|
99.9% uptime guarantee
|
Free Email
|
Yes, unlimited addresses
|
Website Builder
|
Yes
|
Best for Budget-Friendly Plans
Hostinger
$12.19 ($2.49 for 48-month term)
per month
Yes, 30 days
Yes
Overall, Hostinger is a top choice for beginners who want to get their site up quickly without breaking the bank. Its entry-level plans are affordable, and the interface is simple enough for most beginners to navigate easily.
It’s important to note that some common features included by competitors, such as automatic backups, a dedicated IP address and a free domain, are not included in Hostinger’s entry-level plans. While this might not be a dealbreaker, adding on these important features with additional costs could diminish savings compared to more expensive hosting services.
Paying month by month for Hostinger is actually more expensive. The most affordable plan prices with Hostinger require a 12- to 48-month term commitment, which brings the pricing way down to $2.49 per month. I find that Hostinger provides great performance and reliability for its price, making it a solid starting point if affordability and ease are your top priorities.
Learn more: Read our full Hostinger review.
We gather and analyze consumer sentiment from a range of sources to create the Consumer Sentiment Index to determine customer satisfaction levels for each feature outlined below. This data is designed to give you an idea of real consumer experience of the services and product we review. This data is currently separate from our overall rating out of 5
-
#1Customer Support and ServiceRanked 1 out of 9For Customer Support and Service
- 74% of people had positive sentiments
- 5% of people had neutral sentiments
- 21% of people had negative sentiments
74%5%21%Ranked 1 out of 9For Customer Support and Service- 74% of people had positive sentiments
- 5% of people had neutral sentiments
- 21% of people had negative sentiments
-
#1Performance and DowntimeRanked 1 out of 9For Performance and Downtime
- 54% of people had positive sentiments
- 13% of people had neutral sentiments
- 33% of people had negative sentiments
54%13%33%Ranked 1 out of 9For Performance and Downtime- 54% of people had positive sentiments
- 13% of people had neutral sentiments
- 33% of people had negative sentiments
-
#1Price and CostRanked 1 out of 9For Price and Cost
- 68% of people had positive sentiments
- 15% of people had neutral sentiments
- 17% of people had negative sentiments
68%15%17%Ranked 1 out of 9For Price and Cost- 68% of people had positive sentiments
- 15% of people had neutral sentiments
- 17% of people had negative sentiments
Hostinger’s low entry prices and beginner-friendly dashboard attract attention. However, others complain about price hikes during renewals and a lack of features in some plans that other hosts include, such as automatic backups and free domain registration for one year.
Overall, many customers feel that the low costs aren’t low enough to justify the lack of features and performance for starter plans and feel that they must upgrade to more costly plans to get reasonable hosting performance.
- Budget-friendly plans with longer-term commitment
- Optimized servers with fast load times
- User-friendly interface
- No free daily backups
- Limited customer service phone support
- Resource limits on shared plans
Specification | Details |
---|---|
Recommended by WordPress.org
|
Yes
|
Included SSL
|
Yes
|
Data Center Locations
|
Europe, Asia, North America and South America
|
Customer Service Channels
|
24/7 live chat
|
Uptime Guarantee
|
99.9% uptime guarantee
|
Free Email
|
Yes, up to 100 free domain-based email addresses
|
Website Builder
|
Pre-built templates
|
Best for Small Businesses
AccuWebHosting

Starting Price
$2.75
per month
Money-Back Guarantee
30 days
Free Domain
No

$2.75
per month
30 days
No
If you’re in need of a budget-friendly hosting option, then AccuWebHosting may be a good fit. I find this service to be a good starting point for small businesses or personal projects that don’t need advanced features offered by other services.
The free migration service included in all plans also makes this an attractive option for users who already have an established WordPress site but are looking to switch hosting services. With various customer support channels, you’ll be able to reach a representative whenever you need them.
There are drawbacks you should be aware of, including a lack of free domains on lower-tier plans, which are offered by competitors. Additionally, there have been customer concerns about downtime, which could impact your site’s reliability. While AccuWebHosting has its strengths in affordability and customer service, it’s worth considering your specific requirements to see if it aligns with your website’s goals.
We gather and analyze consumer sentiment from a range of sources to create the Consumer Sentiment Index to determine customer satisfaction levels for each feature outlined below. This data is designed to give you an idea of real consumer experience of the services and product we review. This data is currently separate from our overall rating out of 5
-
#2Customer Support and ServiceRanked 2 out of 9For Customer Support and Service
- 76% of people had positive sentiments
- 5% of people had neutral sentiments
- 19% of people had negative sentiments
76%5%19%Ranked 2 out of 9For Customer Support and Service- 76% of people had positive sentiments
- 5% of people had neutral sentiments
- 19% of people had negative sentiments
-
#2Performance and DowntimeRanked 2 out of 9For Performance and Downtime
- 59% of people had positive sentiments
- 5% of people had neutral sentiments
- 36% of people had negative sentiments
59%5%36%Ranked 2 out of 9For Performance and Downtime- 59% of people had positive sentiments
- 5% of people had neutral sentiments
- 36% of people had negative sentiments
-
#2Price and CostRanked 2 out of 9For Price and Cost
- 72% of people had positive sentiments
- 6% of people had neutral sentiments
- 22% of people had negative sentiments
72%6%22%Ranked 2 out of 9For Price and Cost- 72% of people had positive sentiments
- 6% of people had neutral sentiments
- 22% of people had negative sentiments
AccuWebHosting is a budget-friendly, entry-level WordPress hosting option. As such, it doesn’t offer many of the extras other hosts offer, like free domain names for a year. Despite that, users report being happy with the features offered for the price and stable performance for the price range.
However, some customers report downtime and technical support issues, resulting in a mixed rating overall despite the initial easy setup.
- Free migration service included in all plans
- Various customer support channels
- Free SSL in basic plan
- No free domain on basic and mid-level plans
- Slow-to-load knowledge base
- Negative customer reviews on Trustpilot about frequent downtime
Specification | Details |
---|---|
Recommended by WordPress.org
|
No
|
Included SSL
|
Yes
|
Data Center Locations
|
North America, Europe, Africa and Asia
|
Customer Service Channels
|
Phone, live chat, ticket
|
Uptime Guarantee
|
99.9% uptime guarantee
|
Free Email
|
Yes, 5 to 1,000 addresses
|
Website Builder
|
Yes
|
Best for Flexibility
InterServer
Starting Price
$2.50 for one month, then renews at $7 per month
Money-Back Guarantee
Yes, 30 days
Free Domain
No
$2.50 for one month, then renews at $7 per month
Yes, 30 days
No
I find InterServer to be a solid hosting solution that’s appealing for users who need flexibility without being locked into a long-term commitment. If you’re a business owner who wants to try your hand at creating your own website before making a bigger investment in the technical side, Interserver’s flexible terms and easy interface make it a viable pick.
InterServer checks the boxes on all the characteristics important to me in a WordPress hosting service: good performance, reliability and solid security features. I’m impressed with its inclusion of InterShield, an in-house security solution that includes automatic virus scanning, machine learning firewall, an in-house malware database and the ability to block web attacks.
Overall, InterServer’s affordable prices and easy-to-use interface make it a great option if you’re looking to get started with hosting while maintaining flexibility as your business evolves.
Learn more: Read our full InterServer review.
We gather and analyze consumer sentiment from a range of sources to create the Consumer Sentiment Index to determine customer satisfaction levels for each feature outlined below. This data is designed to give you an idea of real consumer experience of the services and product we review. This data is currently separate from our overall rating out of 5
-
#7Customer Support and ServiceRanked 7 out of 9For Customer Support and Service
- 74% of people had positive sentiments
- 3% of people had neutral sentiments
- 23% of people had negative sentiments
74%3%23%Ranked 7 out of 9For Customer Support and Service- 74% of people had positive sentiments
- 3% of people had neutral sentiments
- 23% of people had negative sentiments
-
#5Performance and DowntimeRanked 5 out of 9For Performance and Downtime
- 42% of people had positive sentiments
- 10% of people had neutral sentiments
- 48% of people had negative sentiments
42%10%48%Ranked 5 out of 9For Performance and Downtime- 42% of people had positive sentiments
- 10% of people had neutral sentiments
- 48% of people had negative sentiments
-
#3Price and CostRanked 3 out of 9For Price and Cost
- 72% of people had positive sentiments
- 6% of people had neutral sentiments
- 22% of people had negative sentiments
72%6%22%Ranked 3 out of 9For Price and Cost- 72% of people had positive sentiments
- 6% of people had neutral sentiments
- 22% of people had negative sentiments
InterServer doesn’t offer a dedicated WordPress plan, and as such, a lot of customer feedback refers to other hosting packages. Specifically, InterServer’s VPS service receives complaints about provisioning delays and stability.
Overall, the company as a whole also draws ire for billing issues, although most are happy with the customer service.
- Free InterShield Security
- Unlimited storage space and data transfer
- 24/7 customer support
- Limited data center locations
- Outdated interface
- No free domain with hosting plans
Specification | Details |
---|---|
Recommended by WordPress.org
|
No
|
Included SSL
|
Yes
|
Data Center Locations
|
New Jersey and California
|
Customer Service Channels
|
Available 24/7 by phone, chat, email
|
Uptime Guarantee
|
99.9% uptime guarantee
|
Free Email
|
Yes, unlimited addresses
|
Website Builder
|
Yes
|
If fast loading speeds are of utmost importance to you, Mochahost could be a good fit for your hosting needs. Its user-friendly platform makes creating and managing your site easy, even if you don’t have technical web experience. I think this is a great option for business owners who want to get their site online quickly without being slowed down by complicated setups.
The hosting service has flexible resource allocations, which means if your website has a sudden spike in traffic, it’s able to accommodate the surge without your site going offline. Although Mochahost is a top pick for speed, it doesn’t offer the same value as competitors. For example, it doesn’t offer a free domain on basic plans, only offers premium daily backups on the most expensive plan and has high renewal rates.
Overall, Mochahost is a solid choice if you prioritize ease of use and good performance over bundled features.
Learn more: Read our full Mochahost review.
We gather and analyze consumer sentiment from a range of sources to create the Consumer Sentiment Index to determine customer satisfaction levels for each feature outlined below. This data is designed to give you an idea of real consumer experience of the services and product we review. This data is currently separate from our overall rating out of 5
-
#3Customer Support and ServiceRanked 3 out of 9For Customer Support and Service
- 93% of people had positive sentiments
- 1% of people had neutral sentiments
- 6% of people had negative sentiments
93%1%6%Ranked 3 out of 9For Customer Support and Service- 93% of people had positive sentiments
- 1% of people had neutral sentiments
- 6% of people had negative sentiments
-
#8Performance and DowntimeRanked 8 out of 9For Performance and Downtime
- 40% of people had positive sentiments
- 4% of people had neutral sentiments
- 56% of people had negative sentiments
40%4%56%Ranked 8 out of 9For Performance and Downtime- 40% of people had positive sentiments
- 4% of people had neutral sentiments
- 56% of people had negative sentiments
-
#7Price and CostRanked 7 out of 9For Price and Cost
- 56% of people had positive sentiments
- 3% of people had neutral sentiments
- 41% of people had negative sentiments
56%3%41%Ranked 7 out of 9For Price and Cost- 56% of people had positive sentiments
- 3% of people had neutral sentiments
- 41% of people had negative sentiments
Mochahost offers WordPress-specific and general hosting with mixed reviews. Many users love the customer service team and their deep knowledge of the products. However, others report customer service issues and poor communication.
Other concerns include pricing, and a few accuse the host of not honoring lifetime discount offers. Migration is another sore point, with users reporting technical troubles following migrations.
- LiteSpeed web server with fast loading speeds
- 24/7 support
- Easy-to-use website builder
- No free domain on basic plan
- High renewal rates
- Premium daily backups only available on most expensive plan
Specification | Details |
---|---|
Recommended by WordPress.org
|
No
|
Included SSL
|
Yes
|
Data Center Locations
|
Texas and Illinois
|
Customer Service Channels
|
Support tickets, live chat, phone
|
Uptime Guarantee
|
99.9% uptime guarantee
|
Free Email
|
No
|
Website Builder
|
Yes
|
Best for Speed Optimization
InMotion Hosting
$16.49
per month
Yes, 90 days
Yes
I find speed to be one of the most important features of a hosting service—what good is a slow-loading website? Not much. InMotion Hosting includes NVMe SSD storage in most plans, which leads to improved load times and better user engagement. All of its plans include a free domain and SSL, which is where some competitors fall short.
While its most basic plan includes standard features, if you’re looking to choose your data center location or have more advanced features such as a dedicated IP, dedicated opcode cache pool or manage multiple sites, you’ll have to pay more to access these features. Overall, InMotion Hosting is a solid choice if you value performance, but some more specific features may end up costing you more.
Learn more: Read our full InMotion review.
We gather and analyze consumer sentiment from a range of sources to create the Consumer Sentiment Index to determine customer satisfaction levels for each feature outlined below. This data is designed to give you an idea of real consumer experience of the services and product we review. This data is currently separate from our overall rating out of 5
-
#6Customer Support and ServiceRanked 6 out of 9For Customer Support and Service
- 66% of people had positive sentiments
- 3% of people had neutral sentiments
- 31% of people had negative sentiments
66%3%31%Ranked 6 out of 9For Customer Support and Service- 66% of people had positive sentiments
- 3% of people had neutral sentiments
- 31% of people had negative sentiments
-
#7Performance and DowntimeRanked 7 out of 9For Performance and Downtime
- 29% of people had positive sentiments
- 5% of people had neutral sentiments
- 66% of people had negative sentiments
29%5%66%Ranked 7 out of 9For Performance and Downtime- 29% of people had positive sentiments
- 5% of people had neutral sentiments
- 66% of people had negative sentiments
-
#6Price and CostRanked 6 out of 9For Price and Cost
- 46% of people had positive sentiments
- 10% of people had neutral sentiments
- 44% of people had negative sentiments
46%10%44%Ranked 6 out of 9For Price and Cost- 46% of people had positive sentiments
- 10% of people had neutral sentiments
- 44% of people had negative sentiments
People generally praise InMotion Hosting for reliable performance and a great customer service team. However, some report issues with downtime, slow load times and confusing processes.
Pricing is another sticking point over steep increases at renewal time. Some are also concerned about missing features that they thought were advertised as available. Some note this seems to be part of a general decline in quality over time for the host.
- High-speed performance with SSD storage
- U.S.-based customer support
- 90-day money-back guarantee
- No automatic offsite backups with basic plan
- Phone support only available on more expensive plans
- Dedicated IP address only included in highest-tier plan
Specification | Details |
---|---|
Recommended by WordPress.org
|
No
|
Included SSL
|
Yes
|
Data Center Locations
|
U.S. and Amsterdam
|
Customer Service Channels
|
Phone, chat and ticket
|
Uptime Guarantee
|
99.99% uptime guarantee
|
Free Email
|
Yes, 10 to unlimited addresses
|
Website Builder
|
Yes
|
Best for AI tools
IONOS
$1 per month for the first year
Yes, 30 days
Yes
If you’re looking for an affordable and scalable hosting option, IONOS is a solid choice. It offers a range of plans that can easily accommodate your needs as your business expands. What appeals the most to me about IONOS is this scalability—you can start small and upgrade your traffic capabilities and features as your business grows.
One unique feature I find useful is its AI tools, namely its AI website creation, which helps you create a custom website after answering just a few questions, and its AI chatbot which offers 24/7 assistance. Keep in mind that the interface of IONOS is somewhat advanced, which can make this a difficult tool for newcomers to navigate. If you’re willing to put in the effort to learn the interface, then IONOS’ benefits of scalability, strong performance and competitive pricing can pay off in the long run.
Learn more: Read our full IONOS review.
We gather and analyze consumer sentiment from a range of sources to create the Consumer Sentiment Index to determine customer satisfaction levels for each feature outlined below. This data is designed to give you an idea of real consumer experience of the services and product we review. This data is currently separate from our overall rating out of 5
-
#9Customer Support and ServiceRanked 9 out of 9For Customer Support and Service
- 63% of people had positive sentiments
- 3% of people had neutral sentiments
- 34% of people had negative sentiments
63%3%34%Ranked 9 out of 9For Customer Support and Service- 63% of people had positive sentiments
- 3% of people had neutral sentiments
- 34% of people had negative sentiments
-
#6Performance and DowntimeRanked 6 out of 9For Performance and Downtime
- 43% of people had positive sentiments
- 11% of people had neutral sentiments
- 46% of people had negative sentiments
43%11%46%Ranked 6 out of 9For Performance and Downtime- 43% of people had positive sentiments
- 11% of people had neutral sentiments
- 46% of people had negative sentiments
-
#8Price and CostRanked 8 out of 9For Price and Cost
- 32% of people had positive sentiments
- 11% of people had neutral sentiments
- 57% of people had negative sentiments
32%11%57%Ranked 8 out of 9For Price and Cost- 32% of people had positive sentiments
- 11% of people had neutral sentiments
- 57% of people had negative sentiments
IONOS skews toward hosting for larger companies instead of WordPress-only plans. Users tended to talk about VPS hosting specifically and the wide variety of hosting options. Customer service sentiment was mixed, with some praising the support team and others feeling it wasn’t as good as it could have been.
Other concerns included billing practices, renewal pricing and processing and cancellation issues. Overall, most users seem to note that the biggest issues were hard selling and extra fees.
- Affordable pricing
- Strong security features such as DDoS protection
- Scalable solutions for growing businesses
- Complex user interface
- No free site migration
- Mixed customer support reviews on Trustpilot
Specification | Details |
---|---|
Recommended by WordPress.org
|
No
|
Included SSL
|
Yes
|
Data Center Locations
|
U.S. and Europe
|
Customer Service Channels
|
24/7 via phone and online support
|
Uptime Guarantee
|
99.98% uptime guarantee
|
Free Email
|
Yes, 1 to 10 addresses
|
Website Builder
|
Yes
|
Best for Database Management
GoDaddy
Starting Price
$17.99
per month
Money-Back Guarantee
Yes, 48 hours to 30 days, depending on the plan
Free Domain
Yes
$17.99
per month
Yes, 48 hours to 30 days, depending on the plan
Yes
GoDaddy is one of the most well-known hosting services, but it’s the most expensive provider on our list. Site migration, for example, will run you an additional $200 per site on top of any plan fees you may pay—something cheaper competitors offer at no extra cost.
Some interesting features GoDaddy offers include SEO AI tools that will help increase your site’s visibility, plugin managers and web application firewalls. These features can help improve your site’s traffic and functionality with minimal effort. GoDaddy also excels in database management, offering tools that are easy to use and reliable. With integrated cPanel access, managing databases is simple, even for those who are not highly technical.
Be sure to consider whether or not you’ll use all of GoDaddy’s bells and whistles before signing up to determine if it’ll be worth the cost for your business.
Learn more: Read our full GoDaddy review.
We gather and analyze consumer sentiment from a range of sources to create the Consumer Sentiment Index to determine customer satisfaction levels for each feature outlined below. This data is designed to give you an idea of real consumer experience of the services and product we review. This data is currently separate from our overall rating out of 5
-
#4Customer Support and ServiceRanked 4 out of 9For Customer Support and Service
- 47% of people had positive sentiments
- 0% of people had neutral sentiments
- 53% of people had negative sentiments
47%53%Ranked 4 out of 9For Customer Support and Service- 47% of people had positive sentiments
- 0% of people had neutral sentiments
- 53% of people had negative sentiments
-
#3Performance and DowntimeRanked 3 out of 9For Performance and Downtime
- 43% of people had positive sentiments
- 14% of people had neutral sentiments
- 43% of people had negative sentiments
43%14%43%Ranked 3 out of 9For Performance and Downtime- 43% of people had positive sentiments
- 14% of people had neutral sentiments
- 43% of people had negative sentiments
-
#4Price and CostRanked 4 out of 9For Price and Cost
- 33% of people had positive sentiments
- 0% of people had neutral sentiments
- 67% of people had negative sentiments
33%67%Ranked 4 out of 9For Price and Cost- 33% of people had positive sentiments
- 0% of people had neutral sentiments
- 67% of people had negative sentiments
Over the years, GoDaddy has collected more than its share of unflattering nicknames. Overall, it has mixed reviews, with users who love it or absolutely despise it. Mixed results span all areas of the service, from customer service to billing.
Common complaints include poor server performance, frequent upselling and dismissive customer support personnel. Some users also report problems with possible blocking of auto migration tools when trying to leave the host.
- Free SSL certificate for all plans
- Free AI creation tools for all plans
- Global data centers
- High monthly cost and renewal rates
- No free website migration
- Mixed reviews on Trustpilot about customer support
Specification | Details |
---|---|
Recommended by WordPress.org
|
No
|
Included SSL
|
Yes
|
Data Center Locations
|
U.S, Europe and some AWS use
|
Customer Service Channels
|
24/7 phone, text, live chat
|
Uptime Guarantee
|
99.9% uptime guarantee
|
Free Email
|
Yes, five trial addresses
|
Website Builder
|
Yes
|
If you’re just starting out, Web.com can provide great value for your hosting needs. It’s an affordable and straightforward hosting solution with user-friendly tools that can empower those without technical backgrounds to create a functional website. All of its plans include unmetered bandwidth, which means you won’t incur extra charges as your business grows.
I find one downside of Web.com to be its renewal rates; annual plan costs more than double upon renewal. It’s also important to note that there is no money-back guarantee with Web.com, which makes trying it a riskier investment than other services on our list. Overall, Web.com is a solid choice if you want a drag-and-drop website builder and know you will have a smaller website.
Learn more: Read our full Web.com review.
We gather and analyze consumer sentiment from a range of sources to create the Consumer Sentiment Index to determine customer satisfaction levels for each feature outlined below. This data is designed to give you an idea of real consumer experience of the services and product we review. This data is currently separate from our overall rating out of 5
-
#5Customer Support and ServiceRanked 5 out of 9For Customer Support and Service
- 68% of people had positive sentiments
- 2% of people had neutral sentiments
- 30% of people had negative sentiments
68%2%30%Ranked 5 out of 9For Customer Support and Service- 68% of people had positive sentiments
- 2% of people had neutral sentiments
- 30% of people had negative sentiments
-
#9Performance and DowntimeRanked 9 out of 9For Performance and Downtime
- 12% of people had positive sentiments
- 6% of people had neutral sentiments
- 82% of people had negative sentiments
12%6%82%Ranked 9 out of 9For Performance and Downtime- 12% of people had positive sentiments
- 6% of people had neutral sentiments
- 82% of people had negative sentiments
-
#9Price and CostRanked 9 out of 9For Price and Cost
- 8% of people had positive sentiments
- 3% of people had neutral sentiments
- 89% of people had negative sentiments
8%3%89%Ranked 9 out of 9For Price and Cost- 8% of people had positive sentiments
- 3% of people had neutral sentiments
- 89% of people had negative sentiments
While Web.com’s hosting has plenty of features, customers take a rather pessimistic view of the service overall. Customer support is a particular sticking point, with people noting long wait times and poor outcomes.
Other concerns raised include accusations of unethical practices, unexpected charges and domain cancellations. However, customers are mostly satisfied with the website builder tool.
- Affordable annual pricing
- All plans include free domain
- All plans include unmetered bandwidth
- No SSL certificate included in basic plan
- High renewal rates
- Long-term commitments for the most affordable prices (3 years)
Specification | Details |
---|---|
Recommended by WordPress.org
|
No
|
Included SSL
|
No
|
Data Center Locations
|
U.S.
|
Customer Service Channels
|
Email, live chat, phone
|
Uptime Guarantee
|
99.9% uptime guarantee
|
Free Email
|
Yes
|
Website Builder
|
Yes
|
Methodology
Our methodology consists of scoring categories we determined to be the most important to business owners looking for hosting services, ranging from value to performance. We tested and rated more than 19 providers to determine which ones rank highest on our criteria. The rubric considers four main areas of information when scoring the data, looking at 32 key data points.
Decision Factor | Scoring Weight | Description |
---|---|---|
Value | 26% | Evaluated based on pricing availability, trial periods, subscription costs and price increases after introductory periods. The cheaper the price, the better the score. |
Service and Support | 8% | Evaluated based on the availability of live chat, phone support, email support and self-help knowledge bases. Live chat and phone support available 24/7 received the highest scores. |
Consumer Sentiment | 40% | Trustpilot ratings of 3.5 or higher were taken into account, with a simple yes/no scoring method. |
General Features | 26% | We considered features such as unlimited storage, bandwidth, one-click WordPress installation, cPanel availability, free domain name, free SSL certificates and uptime guarantees. |
Why You Can Trust Forbes Advisor Small Business
The Forbes Advisor Small Business team is committed to providing unbiased rankings and information with full editorial independence. We use product data, strategic methodologies and expert insights to inform all of our content to guide you in making the best decisions for your business journey.
Learn More: How We Evaluate Web Hosting Services
- 19 Companies Evaluated
- 32 Decision Factors Considered
- Four Levels of Fact-Checking
- Hands-On Testing
How To Choose the Best WordPress Hosting Service
When considering a WordPress hosting service, there are multiple factors to ensure your website is functional, reliable and can grow with your business. Here are the most important features to evaluate before selecting a provider to host your WordPress website.
Essential WordPress Hosting Features
A functional, secure website is essential to serving your customers and growing your business. The following features should be considered closely when choosing a WordPress hosting service:
- Speed: A slow website can lead to higher bounce rates, which can have a plethora of consequences, including customer dissatisfaction and low SEO rankings. Look for hosting services with fast speed times, preferably under 200ms, to keep Google and customers happy.
- Uptime and reliability: You’ll want to choose a hosting service that offers a 99.9% uptime guarantee to ensure your site will always be online and accessible to customers.
- Security: Built-in security can help keep your website and customer information secure.
- Scalability: Look for a service provider that offers flexible options to increase storage as your business and traffic expands.
- Customer support: Be sure to check forums and verified business review websites, such as Trustpilot, to understand the quality of a service’s customer-support capabilities.
InterServer checks the box on all of these essential features. Where it really shines, however, is with security. InterShield Security is included with all of its plans and prevents attacks with an automatic virus scanner, machine learning firewall and an in-house malware database.
Value
When considering a WordPress hosting service, it’s important to consider more than just its price to determine the value it may bring to your business. A cheaper price may not always be the best deal if basic features are required as add-ons; conversely, a more expensive product doesn’t always mean you’re getting the best service in terms of speed and security.
Hostinger, for example, is a budget-friendly service option that provides excellent value with its wide range of included services in lower-tier plans, including unlimited bandwidth, SSD storage and strong uptime guarantees. It also includes free SSL certificates and 24/7 customer support, which some competitors lack.
Check out our guide on website hosting costs to learn more.
Bandwidth
Bandwidth refers to the rate at which data is transferred between a website and a visitor over a given time period, usually per second. A WordPress hosting service with high bandwidth is essential for a functioning website with a good user experience. Insufficient bandwidth can lead to slow load times, crashes during traffic spikes and overall poor user experience.
Not only do you want a sufficient amount of bandwidth for your site, but you want to choose a hosting service that allows you to scale your bandwidth as you grow. For example, IONOS offers performance-level upgrades for as little as $2 per month, and this can be downscaled if needed. Web.com offers unmetered bandwidth, which means there isn’t a hard cap on bandwidth usage.
Storage Limits
Inadequate storage for your website can put you at a disadvantage. Storage refers to how much space on the hosting service’s server is allocated for your website’s data; that includes text files, images, videos, plugins and proprietary databases. If you don’t have enough storage, your site’s functionality will suffer.
AccuWebHosting, for example, offers different storage limits based on its plans, ranging from 1 to 4GB RAM. If you have high-resolution photos, video content and additional pages on your website, you’ll likely need more than 1GB. If you’re not sure how much storage space you need, consider a WordPress hosting service with unlimited storage, such as Hostinger.
Traffic Limits
Traffic refers to the amount of visitors to your website during a given timeframe. Some WordPress services incorporate traffic limits in their plans; Hostinger, for example, supports about 25,000 monthly visits on its most basic WordPress hosting service plan. If your site exceeds any monthly traffic limits, your load times may slow down, the site may become unresponsive or it may go down temporarily, which means visitors won’t be able to access your content—and you could lose out on sales. If you plan on doing promotions and having high-traffic days, consider a plan with high-traffic capabilities.
Managed or Unmanaged Hosting
If you’re opting to use WordPress to create a website, you likely don’t have the technical skills to develop your website from scratch. That means you also likely don’t have the technical skills required to manage and maintain your server and infrastructure on your own.
Managed hosting refers to a hosting provider taking care of server maintenance and management for you such as security, backups, software updates and technical support. Unmanaged hosting requires you to take care of these tasks on your own. Most WordPress users should look for a managed hosting service to ensure their site is properly taken care of to avoid downtime and security breaches or troubleshoot problems. Nearly all of the services on our list are managed hosting services.
Which WordPress Hosting Service Is Best for Your Business?
Picking a suitable hosting service for your WordPress site depends on a variety of factors, including the type of site you manage, how much traffic you expect to see each month, your technical level and budget, to name just a few factors.
A few examples of services best suited for certain business owners include:
If your business has 10 or fewer people and you are looking for cheap software without bells and whistles, choose InterServer or Hostinger. Both services have affordable prices with straightforward features that are easy to use. InterServer offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, which gives you a no-risk initial investment.
If you’re technical-savvy, choose IONOS. This service is known for its advanced interface, which gives skilled users more capabilities for customization and development. Another advantage of IONOS is its ability to scale as your business grows.
If you plan on running promotions and seeing increased traffic days, choose Hostwinds. This service comes with unlimited storage space, so you won’t incur extra costs on high-traffic days.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is a WordPress hosting service?
A WordPress hosting service is a website hosting service specifically for websites built with WordPress. These services provide technical support, security and performance capabilities for WordPress websites.
Can I build a WordPress site without hosting?
Yes, there are ways you can build a WordPress site without hosting, but it won’t be visible on the internet. A web hosting package works with domain pointing to make your website viewable, plus provides security measures and makes it fully functional. WordPress offers a free hosting service, but it comes with limitations such as giving your website URL a subdomain, the inability to place ads on your site and blocking custom plugins and themes.
How do I transfer my WordPress site to a new host?
Transferring your WordPress site to a new host requires undergoing a site migration process. Many WordPress hosting services offer this in their plans as a free or add-on service.