November 18th, 200810 Best Wordpress Web Hosts Compared — 2009
You haven’t made the front page of Digg yet and your site hasn’t been unexpectedly shouted-out by your peers, but your WordPress solution crashes constantly. Are you nodding your head in agreement? Then we might have some answers for you, as you may not be using a WordPress-friendly hosting solution.
First, your host must carry PHP version 4.3 or higher and MySQL version 4.0 or higher for the WordPress databases run smoothly. WordPress recommends Apache or Litespeed as the “most robust and featureful” server for running WordPress, but any server that supports PHP and MySQL will do. With that said, what happens if you do make Digg’s home page? Will your server handle the traffic spike?
If you don’t need the flexibility provided by a full Web host, you might consider getting a free blog on WordPress.com. However, many Web managers like the flexibility and freedom provided by a full Web host. Hence, the following ten hosts that are built to handle all the possible problems a WordPress fanatic might face. Some of the sites are recommended by WordPress, others are featured WHDB hosts, and others are choices made through our trial and error.
The sites listed below all feature more than adequate PHP and MySQL features, so the major differences among the hosting solutions are the ability to handle traffic spikes and price. Although the sites are listed from most to least expensive, this pricing priority does not dictate the quality of any of the Web hosts listed below.
- Media Temple: One reason why WordPress recommends this Web host is because their hosting is primed for traffic spikes. Using clustered platforms, Media Temple makes sure that you site is ready for Digg’s front page or for any other unexpected shout-out. Customer support is personal, friendly and knowledgeable. Customers can use an online ticket system or call Media Temple directly at any time. Media Temple hosts companies such as Adobe, NBC Universal, Sony, Starbucks, and Time Inc., so you can count on high quality and a WordPress-friendly environment. Although prices are a bit high for personal sites, they’re entirely reasonable for any business. Currently, grid service for one site and many subdomains runs $20.00 per month.
- Laughing Squid: This Web hosting solution is a WordPress recommended site, but it’s independently owned and operated. They provide dependable and secure hosting services to artists, individuals, bloggers, non-profits and small businesses. Despite the nature of their focus on smaller sites, they are proud of this status. One of their goals is to “rescue you from the endless void of impersonal and unreliable web hosting.” But, Laughing Squid also is known for reliability and functionality. They offer four hosting plans, and all focus on using WordPress as a featured blogging software. The “Tiny Squid” option is their least expensive, and it runs between $8.00 and $10 per month.
- AN Hosting: This host has been serving WordPress users since 2003, and they’re one of the WordPress preferred hosts. AN Hosting provides unlimited MySQL databases, large disk space and tons of bandwidth. Users can add unlimited subdomains and expect a 99.9% uptime guarantee. AN Hosting has won numerous awards for customer service and support, and you can chat live with a sales person before you make any crucial decisions. Currently, you can snag an AN Hosting solution that supports any WordPress site for just $7.95 per month.
- HostICan: HostICan has become the preferred Web host for many WordPress users, and it’s recommended by WordPress. Their WordPress setup is so easy to use that beginners can get the hang of the one-click technology without blinking an eye. Hosting package includes 99.99% uptime guarantee, unlimited subdomains and MySQL databases. HostICan provides solid 24×7 customer support, and their support team has won awards for its swift ticket replies and for their best-of-class customer service. You can give this user-friendly hosting service a whirl at $6.95 per month for their base hosting service that includes a money-back risk-free guarantee.
- StartLogic: StartLogic, a WHDB featured host, provides two data centers in the Boston, MA area, and both networks include a pooled server environment that provides faster loading times and fewer service interruptions than traditional hosting infrastructures. Thousands of business the world over depend upon StartLogic for their advanced and easy-to-use system as well as their 24×7 toll-free technical support and 99.9% uptime guarantee. Currently, StartLogic offers a bargain with free setup and domain starting at $6.50 per month. However, if you don’t need the setup or domain, you can secure a hosting solution that supports WordPress for $5.95 per month.
- Dreamhost: Dreamhost is a WordPress-recommended hosting solution, as this company offers Web Hosting using Unix only with numerous service plans designed to fit the individual customer’s needs. Dreamhost also is a WHDB featured host. With a WordPress auto-install and upgrade, plenty of disk and storage space and a screaming bandwidth allowance, you can’t go wrong with Dreamhost. This company offers several packages with a wide range of monthly fees. With the longest money-back trial period in the industry (97 days), you can rest assured that - if this hosting solution isn’t right for you - you can move on after adequate time to make your decision. Currently, Dreamhost packages start at $5.95 per month.
- PowWeb: PowWeb calls their system a “Load-Balanced” hosting solution, which helps to handle traffic spikes and eliminates all single points of failure. It’s the same system that many large corporations use when hosting mission-critical Web sites, so you can rest easy knowing that your WordPress site will flow smoothly - even if you’ve accumulated several databases. Additionally, this WHDB featured host uses its own equipment and their downtime is minimal as they monitor their system constantly. Their team also provides customers with excellent support through support forums, a blog, eTickets, by phone and through online technical support. Finally, PowWeb provides various payment options, so you can pay monthly or up to two years in advance. PowWeb now starts at $5.77 per month for their “All in One” Web hosting that includes WordPress features.
- Go Daddy: Although Go Daddy is known for its domain registration capabilities, they’re building a huge reputation for their reliable hosting at bargain-basement prices. Go Daddy is connected to multiple diverse upstream providers with rocket-fast Tier-1 bandwidth and a 99.9% uptime guarantee. They employ 24×7 support personnel, so you can have questions answered at any time through tutorials, email, online tickets, phone and community support. Even their budget-priced solutions are adequate for WordPress users, so you can build upon a basic plan and work upwards as your site grows. Currently, this WHDB featured host offers an economy plan for two months at $4.99 per month.
- Blue Host: Blue Host is one of the sites recommended by WordPress, as hosting services include unlimited disk storage, unlimited data transfer, and the ability to host unlimited domains on one account. Also, Blue Host provides for as many as 50 MySQL databases. Blue Host boasts 24×7 network monitoring, 99% uptime guarantee, mirrored storage backups and no hidden fees. According to the host, they were voted best technical and customer support for four years, from 2004 through to 2008. All hosting accounts are paid up front and in full at sign up, but hosting comes with a 30-day money back guarantee. Currently, users can sign up with Blue Host for $4.95 per month, a two-dollar per month savings.
- Dot5 Hosting: This hosting solution has won the “Best Budget Hosting by Hosting-Review and “Best Web Host” by Top-10-Web-Hosting. They’re known for their ability to host everything from small personal sites to the busy commercial site with several databases. Dot5 Hosting guarantees maximum uptime along with mirrored storage backups, and they provide more than adequate hosting power for any WordPress user. Their hosting plans range from quarterly to two years, and their 24×7 call center technical support is included with any plan. Currently, Dot5 Hosting provides WordPress solutions at $3.95 per month.
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November 18th, 2008 at 11:00 am
I don’t recommend Go Daddy to anybody. They have good hosting, but they have somewhat shady and dishonest business practices and an unreasonable ToS.
November 18th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
Great info, I’m personally just getting into Wordpress(ing) and this will help me lots! Thank you!!
November 21st, 2008 at 11:55 pm
I’ve had bad experiences with both Go Daddy and Dream Host. Go Daddy’s personnel were difficult to deal with. They left absolutely no room for explanation or negotiation in their terms of service. As for Dream Host, their service was completely unacceptable. I had all too frequent down time and no compensation in return.
I would recommend Host Color (http://www.hostcolor.com/). They don’t get written up very often because of their relatively small size, but they really work for their fee. They have stellar customer service and blog hosting specifically tailored to Wordpress.
November 22nd, 2008 at 8:46 am
1. I agree with Covarr, to an extent. Use GoDaddy for domain names, not for hosting. I don’t think their business practices are “shady and dishonest” but they do pretty much suck for hosting.
2. How this can be called “10 Best Wordpress Web Hosts” is beyond me. First, there are at least two other hosting services here that have had enough negative press that they should be avoided. Second, there are some excellent hosting services that don’t appear here: unless you’ve tried and/or throughly reviewed them all (or at least the major ones), to call the ones listed “the 10 best” is misleading, to say the least. And third, when you are comparing hosting services, you need to specify whether you are talking about shared hosting (ALL shared hosting has problems due to the very nature of shared hosting), VPS, or dedicated hosting - otherwise, the comparisons are meaningless.
November 22nd, 2008 at 9:23 am
I’m a current user of GoDaddy. GoDaddy is good enough for what I paid, it’s ok. But after this 24 months I’ll move to another one because their hosting control panel working so slow (ie. creating, backing up database, create a sub domain…), I have to wait at least from 30s to over 10 minutes for these tasks.
November 22nd, 2008 at 9:27 am
Ah, addition is: they block too much things that feature functions of WordPress plugins.
I can’t use SMTP of another providers to send mail in WordPress (plugin installed) because GoDaddy blocked some port as 465 or 587 (Gmail).
November 22nd, 2008 at 5:44 pm
I have to comment on this one. I have used Powweb and Dreamhost and I had very very slow sites and a lot of downtime. I had very poor support and even told them I would switch if my problems were not fixed. I grew tired of contacting support. At first your site is fast but soon the server you are on is overloaded and way to slow. I would get so frustrated trying to build my site because it was that slow. I couldn’t make it 6 months with either one before I had to switch. I would not recommend these 2 providers to anyone. I think you will be very sorry and waste a lot your time rebuilding your site like I did.
I even complained to WordPress for recommending them, this is why I tried them out when I was looking for a WordPress Blog host. But I see that they still recommend them. I switched providers and have been with Hostgator for about 2 months now and so far I am very pleased. They cost a little more but well worth it. My site is much faster now and no downtime.
November 23rd, 2008 at 6:07 am
I highly recommend GoDaddy. They have good hosting, and a lot of services that other hosts don’t offer - or other hosts offer at a high price.
They are honest and helpful, When I bought something last time I had a discount code and the person taking my call told me that he had a better code available, which saved me an additional 15% in addition to the 15% I was getting.
Their tech support is the best.
I recently had an issue and called for support as well as a purchase. Instead of making the sale and passing the call, the sales agent remained on the call, put me on hold and go the solution to my problem. HE gave me a direct line to call back if the fix didn’t work (it did work) so he could make sure that I got to the right person.
Since GoDaddy is the biggest, they have the best prices. To get a better price, Google “godaddy promo code” and you will find reductions for anything from a $10 purchase to a $700 (or more) and the more you spend, the bigger the discount.
People that don’t like GoDaddy are usually beginners that can’t follow basic instructions.
November 23rd, 2008 at 10:40 am
I love GoDaddy. I used them for hosting three blogs and a phpBB board and I’ve had nothing but good luck with them. I’ve heard the horror stories, but it’s never been my experience.
November 23rd, 2008 at 3:11 pm
I have been with DreamHost since 2003 and I would recommend them to anyone. I have not had any issue with downtime and their automatic installations of applications (especially WordPress) are second to none. Lots of bang for your buck!
November 23rd, 2008 at 3:13 pm
BLUEHOST BLOWS.
They blocked my account because of traffic spikes and also forced me to move my email to another provider because they couldn’t find a way to deal with incoming mail amounts I was getting.
Funny, now I route through gmail and it’s no issue at all.
I’ve had Dreamhost and they were good.
I’m looking at GoDaddy mostly because they have my 120+ domains already, so why not host in the same spot?
As for the shady business practices alleged above, if you don’t take hold of the reins and take advantage of cash parking yourself, then why wouldn’t you expect your domain holding company to do so? Not hurting anyone and it allows them to keep their prices affordable.
November 23rd, 2008 at 8:42 pm
Thank you so much for this first of all. Then I’d like to say for someone who is constantly learning about the tech world this blog was extremely useful. I moved my companies websites to wordpress by recommendation of my assistant using blue host. And they are really nice even to us not knowing to muchers
Thanks again. Chris Brogan thanks for leading me here.
November 25th, 2008 at 7:01 am
and I will add that Media Temple is falling apart their “Grid Servers” are down weekly if not daily. The speed has gone from fast to slow.
November 26th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
–
dreamhost is fantastic.
also, they provide free hosting to non-profit organizations.
http://wiki.dreamhost.com/index.php/Non-profit_Discount
blessings
November 29th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
I steer people clear of GoDaddy, Dreamhost and PowWeb. The host I recommend to people for shared hosting is A Small Orange. Consistently good customer service.
November 29th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Why hostgator is not in the list?
November 30th, 2008 at 5:40 am
Well, you have a list of hosts here. But how many have you tried?
I am on AN Hosting and trust me, it has downtime issues often. So I wouldn’t recommend AN Hosting to anyone.