WordPress is the content management system (CMS) responsible for powering over 25% of all websites. We’ve reviewed dozens of hosts that offer WP-friendly plans to come up with our top 5. The top spot this year belongs to WP Engine, for their knowledgable support and sole focus with WP users.
Number 1: WP Engine
Overview: The name says it all. WP Engine exclusively hosts WordPress users and will make your site lightning fast, but it comes with a higher price tag.
Summary: If you have a WordPress site that aims to be high traffic and state of the art, then give WP Engine a close look. Their plans are more than you’d see at a “normal” host, starting $29/mo. The price is on par with their service and abilities. Everyone on the team is a WP expert, and the platform is built to maximize the speed on every site they host. The proactive security is also a selling point. Their software seeks out potential flaws and openings for malware and shuts them off before an issue occurs. If you want a starter WP host for your blog or small business, this one isn’t for you. However, if your site is destined for tons of visits and high demand files, take notice.
Number 2: SiteGround
Overview: Top of the line hardware, site speed tools, and WP expert knowledge make SiteGround the number one choice for WordPress in our book.
Summary: This is a great host for any type of site, but WordPress users are wise to take notice. The shared plans are great for this CMS. Your files will be hosted on SSD drives and you’ll have access to their specially build caching plugin (Supercacher) which work together for increased site speed. Safety is a top priority with every plan including automatic backups, updates, and redundant server security. SiteGround employs a team of WP experts that respond in around 10 minutes to support tickets. All of the normal features are there, including 1-click installs, and some unique items too. One of them is the ability to stage changes to your site and test them before they “go live”.
Read our full SiteGround review here.
Number 3: BlueHost
Overview: This company adopted and catered to WP early on, and became the first host to receive the recommendation from WordPress themselves.
Summary: As one of the first to show love to WordPress, it’s no surprise to see the host is still rolling out the red carpet to it’s users. Their shared plans will work, but BlueHost has created specific plans just for WP. While they are a bit more expensive, it’s worth it for high traffic and sites that require a lot of resources. The basic plan allows for up to 100 million unique visits a month. You probably can’t run at that level on a shared server. You’ll be on a specific CDN for increased speed and have access to their 100% U.S.A. based WordPress experts. You’ll also be secure with SiteLock security.
Read our full BlueHost review here.
Number 4: InMotion
Overview: If you want a professional-looking DIY WordPress site that can be up and running quickly, InMotion can help.
Summary: WP makes building a site way easier than most other CMS, but it can still have a learning curve. InMotion has made it easy for anyone to have a nice-looking website launched in “under an hour”. The primary tool to do so is their site builder, BoldGrid. This plugin includes multiple themes and drag and drop customization options. Most hosts have site building tools, but few are built specifically for WordPress (like BoldGrid). Your site will look better than most other DIY sites, and it’ll take you far less time. InMotion is also a solid all-around host that caters to small businesses due to their speed and simplicity.
Read our full InMotion review here.
Number 5: GoDaddy
Overview: GoDaddy does everything, and WordPress is no exception. For about as much as their shared plans, you can have powerful WP specific hosting.
Summary: If a host offers a specific plan for WordPress (many now are), it’s usually priced higher than a standard shared plan. GoDaddy has WP-specific plans starting at $3.99/mo and topping out at $13.99/mo. The features are there too. Some of the features you’ll get include site staging, an SEO plugin, and the the higher two plans include a free SSL. The SEO plugins are really a fogazi, though, as nowadays people have free access to premium plugins like Yoast.
Read our full GoDaddy review here.
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