Help me choose

WordPress hosting

When a WordPress plan is worth paying for, and when ordinary shared hosting is fine.

Not tested hands-on yet. This page is based on what the host publishes and on general buying advice. We have not bought this plan or measured its speed or uptime, so we give no scores. Check prices on the host's own site, because they change often.

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WordPress runs on almost any host, so a WordPress plan is really a bundle of upkeep: caching, updates, staging copies and support staff who know the software. It earns its price when your site makes money or when you would rather not maintain it yourself.

Shortlist, unranked

HostFits
BluehostBeginners who want WordPress installed for them
CloudwaysGrowing sites that want managed cloud servers
Rocket.netSites that want a fully managed WordPress service
SiteGroundSmall sites that want built-in staging and caching tools

What to check before you buy

  • Renewal price. Find the price you will pay after the first term, and compare hosts on that figure.
  • Term length. The lowest advertised price usually requires paying for several years up front.
  • Limits behind “unlimited”. Read the fair-use terms for CPU, memory and file count.
  • Backups. Ask how often they run, how long they are kept and whether restoring costs extra.
  • Refund window. Confirm how long it lasts and whether domain fees are refundable.
  • Leaving. Check that you can download your files and database and move your domain without a fee.