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WordPress hosts often claim you need to buy an expensive hosting plan to get the best performance out of your website – but is that just marketing hype to make you pay more?
I’m here to tell you that while you don’t need an expensive hosting plan to build a WordPress website (though some of those premium features are very nice), you don’t want to be stuck with a slow, unreliable provider, either. Even a simple, low-traffic website needs a decent amount of storage space and bandwidth – as well as a solid uptime (and guarantee).
I’ve researched and tested dozens of cheap WordPress hosting services to find the ones that offer the best value for your money anddeliver on performance. My top recommendation for budget-friendly WordPress hosting has to be Hostinger. Not only is it one of the least expensive providers, it also offers one of the top loading times for WordPress sites – thanks to a level of optimization you’ll usually get with more expensive hosts.
Read on to learn all about Hostinger and the other alternatives that make up my list.
What We Look For in the Best Cheap WordPress Hosting Providers
To find the WordPress hosting providers that give you the most value, I’ve focused on the following features during my research:
Managed services. While you don’t necessarily need a managed WordPress plan, they can be useful – especially if you’re not familiar with WordPress hosting or simply don’t have time to take care of updates, optimizations, backups, and database maintenance on your own. I looked for hosts that offer affordable managed services that go beyond the sporadic core updates.
Generous plans. I’ve only considered web hosts that give you plenty of storage space and bandwidth in addition to other valuable features like pre-configured caching for WordPress, backups, SSL certificates, and free domain names.
Reliable uptime. I looked for hosts with a solid uptime (of at least 99.9%) backed by an SLA and compensation for excessive downtime. Promises are not enough, though, so the Website Planet team also tested these hosts’ uptime to make sure they’re really as reliable as they claim to be.
Free security features. Cleaning up your website after it’s been compromised can cost you both time and money. You can prevent this with a comprehensive security suite and tools like malware scanners and web application firewalls. I looked for hosts that won’t charge you extra to keep your website safe. Some of them will even help you diagnose and fix your website if it’s hacked.
Scalability. If (or when) you outgrow your plan, scaling up to a more powerful plan shouldn’t be difficult. I looked for providers with hosting options like VPS, cloud, and dedicated servers so you won’t have to face the cost and inconvenience of migrating to another host.
Hostinger’s affordable managed WordPress hosting comes packed with free tools, including an AI assistantHostinger is by far the most affordable managed WordPress hosting provider on my list. Especially for long-term plans, you can get an outstanding deal without compromising on resources, performance, or reliability. For example, the WordPress Premium plan starts at $2.99/month and comes with 100 GB of storage space, unlimited bandwidth, a free domain name for one year, and up to 100 email accounts.
WordPress is not pre-installed, but you can easily set it up yourself using the Auto Installer in hPanel, Hostinger’s custom-designed control panel. All Hostinger plans come with SSD or SSD NVMe storage and run on LiteSpeed web servers for improved loading speeds. Plus, your WordPress installation is preconfigured for performance, so you don’t have to spend hours tweaking the settings yourself.
The only real disadvantage with Hostinger is that its renewal fees are quite steep. That said, Hostinger’s prices are still considerably lower than the industry average, even after renewal.
A free domain name is included with some hosting plans from Hostinger
Features
Automated WordPress updates. If there’s a new patch for WordPress or any of its plugins, Hostinger applies it for you. This frees up time for you to focus on your website, and it prevents your account from becoming vulnerable to hackers.
Automated backups. Hostinger includes weekly automated website backups on the Premium plan and daily backups stored for 7 days on the Business and Cloud Startup plans. You’ll have peace of mind knowing that you can restore a previous version of your site if something goes wrong.
Preinstalled caching. It’s easy to improve your website’s performance when all the tools you need are already installed. With Hostinger, you can access and control the LiteSpeed cache plugin for WordPress straight from your dashboard.
Data centers around the world. You can bring your website closer to your audience by choosing the right data center location. This way, your site will load faster for most visitors. Hostinger gives you multiple options across nine regions: the US, the UK, Brazil, the Netherlands, France, India, Lithuania, Singapore, and Indonesia.
IONOS has you covered with a full security suite and a 99.98% uptime guarantee
As far as low-cost WordPress hosting goes, IONOS is a win-win option. Its hosting plans are heavily discounted to just a few dollars per month – sometimes you can score a deal for your first 6 months or receive up to 50% off if you sign up for a long-term commitment. Surprisingly, its mid-range Grow plan is the most affordable at a discount. It includes 12 months of free Jetpack backups and a smart caching plugin.
Even more surprising is that IONOS’ managed WordPress plans cost the same as its unmanaged options. Regardless of which one you choose, all WordPress hosting plans are packed with most of the same features, including a free domain for a year, free SSLs, SiteAnalytics, and security tools. IONOS’ dedicated resources is one of its unique features, with RAM ranging from 9 GB to 20 GB.
However, do note that IONOS’ renewal rates are higher than some of the other cheap WordPress hosts on this list. All WordPress plans also limit you to 1 site, so if you want to host multiple sites you’ll have to sign up for separate plans. Some similarly priced shared hosting plans from Hostinger and InterServer will allow you to create hundreds or even an unlimited number of sites.
A free domain name is included with some hosting plans from IONOS
Features
Customizable or automatic updates. With IONOS’ unmanaged WordPress plans, you can modify your core, plugin, theme, and PHP update settings. In contrast, its managed plans include automatic updates.
Isolated hosting. IONOS hosts your WordPress site in an isolated, single-site environment. This improves your site performance and gives your site an extra layer of security.
Free DDoS shield. IONOS’ DDoS shield keeps your site secure from denial-of-service attacks. It works by filtering suspicious traffic so your website won’t be overwhelmed with illegitimate traffic.
Developer-friendly features. IONOS’ unmanaged WordPress plans will give you access to SSH/SFTP. From here, you can manage your WordPress website directly from the command line by using WP-CLI.
A2 Hosting gives you the choice of managed or unmanaged WordPress hosting
A2 Hosting scores high on our list because it provides WordPress-compatible shared hosting plans with secure hosting at an affordable price. The Startup plan starts at only $2.99/month. While you can only host one website, you’ll get 100 GB of storage, unmetered bandwidth, and an unlimited number of email addresses, which is enough for a substantial blog or business site. But it’s the extra free features that really make A2 Hosting stand out.
All shared plans come with a one-click installer for WordPress, as well as the A2 Optimized WordPress plugin. To make sure that your WordPress website is performing at its best, all you have to do is install and run the plugin, which automatically configures your WordPress site’s performance and security settings.
If you want a more powerful server and more features, you can upgrade to one of A2 Hosting’s shared Turbo or managed WordPress plans. All these plans are hosted on A2 Hosting’s proprietary Turbo Servers, which can manage heavier traffic loads and more complex WordPress sites.
Anytime money-back guarantee. A2 Hosting offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. However, even after the first month of hosting, you can still get a prorated refund for the remainder of your term. This makes all A2 Hosting plans virtually risk-free.
Free Jetpack license. Jetpack is a plugin designed specifically for WordPress security, performance, and marketing. A2 Hosting’s Managed WordPress plans include either a free or paid Jetpack daily backup license and security.
Turbo servers. All shared Turbo and managed WordPress plans run on A2 Hosting’s best infrastructure. Referred to as Turbo, these servers host fewer accounts and are equipped with LiteSpeed technology for improved performance. You also get several built-in cache plugins for WordPress for even faster loading times.
Free security tools. A2 Hosting’s Perpetual Security solution comes with reinforced DDoS protection, a dual firewall, a malware scanner, and free SSL certificates. Everything is preconfigured for WordPress and neatly integrated into your dashboard.
InterServer offers both WordPress-optimized shared plans and WordPress VPS hosting
InterServer is one of the most affordable hosts out there. It offers only one shared hosting plan, which is optimized for WordPress. For the set price of $2.50, the Standard Web Hosting plan includesunlimited SSD storage, email accounts, and bandwidth – plus you can host an unlimited number of sites. It includes features like the InterShield Security Suite, 1-click installs for 450+ web apps, and free SSLs.
Aside from offering ridiculously cheap WordPress-optimized shared hosting, InterServer also has some of the most affordable WordPress VPS hosting on the market. The best part? The prices quoted for its shared and WordPress VPS plans are full price. No big – but short-lived – discounts that turn into a considerably high long-term cost after renewal.
InterServer is an excellent option if you dread the idea of migrating – whether because of price hikes or a need for higher-spec hosting. If you make the switch to InterServer’s WordPress VPS cloud hosting, you can get the same low prices along with dedicated resources and improved performance. However, InterServer may not be the most user-friendly service out there. Its setup isn’t exactly streamlined and the user interface could use an upgrade.
Choice of control panels. InterServer’s shared hosting plans come with the DirectAdmin control panel. However, you can also opt for cPanel hosting if you prefer.
Free Inter-Insurance. In the event of a hack or similar breach, the InterServer security team will investigate, restore your site, and prevent future issues.
Caching solutions. If your website experiences heavy request loads, InterServer’s Inter-Proxy solution will automatically cache your content with its range of tools, ensuring consistent performance.
Pre-installed WordPress and performance plugins. InterServer’s WordPress VPS plans come with the latest version of WordPress pre-installed. The plans are also preconfigured with FastCGI, NGINX caching, and OPcache PHP caching software so you don’t have to worry about sorting this out yourself.
FastComet’s managed WordPress hosting handle all your site maintenance for just a few dollars per month
FastComet is a low-cost web host with a great set of features for WordPress and an impressive fleet of data centers around the world (including four in Asia and Australia and one in South America). FastComet’s shared hosting plans come with SSD NVMe storage, daily off-site backups, free SSL certificates, enhanced security for WordPress, and free migrations.
The entry-level Starter plan includes 10 GB of storage, unmetered bandwidth, and a one free website transfer. For just a few dollars more, the premium FastCloud Extra plan gives you access to four times more CPU and RAM, five different types of caching, and more.
The FastCloud Extra plan could be worth the investment if you’re running an e-commerce website. But if you don’t need the extra power, I recommend starting with the entry-level Starter plan. Just bear in mind that FastComet doesn’t offer the best performance in Europe, with site loading speeds of about 2 seconds or more.
FastGuard WordPress security. WordPress is known to be vulnerable to hacking and malware, so the FastGuard WordPress security suite is immensely valuable. It includes a regularly updated Web Application Firewall (WAF), DNS and DDoS protection, and malware protection and repair.
Getting Started Kit. FastComet provides a fast way to get your website started with this set of freebies. The Getting Started Kit includes a drag-and-drop website builder plugin for WordPress, complete with 350+ page templates and elements.
Priority WordPress support. Not only is FastComet’s support team available 24/7 to help solve technical problems, but there’s also dozens of tutorials and step-by-step guides for learning more about WordPress and fixing common issues.
Hacked site recovery. FastComet’s point-and-click site restore tool will help you recover your hacked website for free. This feature is included in all managed WordPress hosting plans.
SiteGround’s WordPress plans are an extension of its shared hosting but come useful WordPress features
SiteGround was created with beginners and developers in mind, which means that you can take advantage of its user-friendly WordPress features or dive into its developer tools – all on the same plan.
Plans come with pre-installed WordPress and run on NGINX web servers that are specifically optimized for WordPress. They also offer the SuperCacher, a handy caching tool that combines NGINX and Memcached technology for a faster WordPress website. You can easily activate it via SiteGround’s in-house Site Tools control panel.
TheGrowBig plan packs the most value at $2.99/month, especially if a speedy website is your priority. Its Ultrafast PHP setup promises faster page response times, lower memory usage, and increased server capacity to handle traffic spikes. Just keep in mind that although you can host unlimited websites, you’ll only get 20 GB of storage to share across sites.
A free domain name is included with some hosting plans from SiteGround
Features
WordPress Starter tool. This tool will guide you through every step to create a beautiful, functional WordPress website with SiteGround. Several templates are included, and you don’t need any coding skills to add functionalities like a contact form or portfolio to your site.
WordPress staging environment. It takes only a couple of clicks to clone your website and safely test new changes before pushing them live. The staging tool is included in the GrowBig and GoGeek plans.
WordPress security patching. SiteGround doesn’t wait for security patches to be released by developers when vulnerabilities are discovered – instead, it develops and applies its own patches, so you don’t have to worry about WordPress’ security issues.
Specialized tech support. While most web hosts offer support only for issues related strictly to their platform, SiteGround also provides 24/7 specialized assistance for WordPress. I can’t fault SiteGround for its technical support knowledge – but I did have to wait a while for a response.
InMotion Hosting has great WordPress features for both experts and beginners
With plenty of WordPress optimizations, NGINX web servers, and SSD storage on all plans, InMotion Hosting is a great low-cost hosting choice. There are four WordPress hosting plans that are pre-configured for optimal performance.
Additionally, it’s one of the few hosts that offer managed WordPress VPS hosting. The plans are powered by InMotion Hosting’s purpose-built cloud servers and UltraStack caching system. Although it’s a big contender for surprisingly affordable and powerful WordPress VPS hosting, InMotion Hosting does charge for some essential services, including domain privacy and backups.
If you love freebies and low prices, HostArmada may be for you
HostArmada is another inexpensive host offering shared hosting plans optimized for WordPress. However, what sets HostArmada apart is that its hosting services are completely cloud-based. This allows for faster deployment, more consistent uptime, and extra secure storage.
HostArmada’s WordPress hosting plans feature dedicated RAM and vCPU resources, automatic daily backups, and a 45-day money-back guarantee. These plans start at just a few dollars a month, including the priciest Speed Reaper plan. That said, HostArmada’s renewal rates are steep – usually around 4 times the discounted term.
Which Cheap WordPress Hosting Provider Is Right for You?
When considering WordPress hosting, affordability does not necessarily indicate poor quality. Each service on my list demonstrates excellence in various aspects on top of low prices.
For a WordPress hosting solution that takes care of updates, backups, and security for you, Hostinger is my go-to choice1. Not only is it one of the cheapest options with a long-term plan, but its WordPress plans also offer the best value for money. And it came out on top in our performance tests, too.
For a web host packed with features, IONOS is my top pick1. Not only does it offer both unmanaged and managed WordPress hosting, but both are priced exactly the same. The main difference is that the managed option includes automatic updates and lacks root access.
If you’re looking for a risk-free option, A2 Hosting is a good choice1. You get premium features like the A2 Optimized for WordPress plugin and you can ask for a prorated refund at any time.
If you need more context, you can use this table to compare the key features of our top affordable WordPress hosts:
Standout feature
Optimization tools included
Free domain (on selected extensions)
Starting price
Hostinger
Very low prices for long-term plans, outstanding performance
Hostinger is one of the cheapest WordPress hosting providers, starting at just $2.99/month. It offers features and performance comparable to what you’d get with premium services but for half the cost. Its shared plans are not only WordPress-compatible but suitable for use with many other popular CMSs and web apps as well.
Which web hosting provider is the best for WordPress hosting?
What’s the difference between managed WordPress hosting and unmanaged WordPress hosting?
With managed hosting, your host takes care of all or some essential maintenance, like updates, security monitoring, patching, and backups. Sometimes, WordPress is pre-installed for you too. IONOS’ managed WordPress plans fall into this category. With unmanaged hosting, you have to take care of maintenance yourself.
Can I build a WordPress website without paying for web hosting?
Technically, the answer is yes. WordPress.com is a web building platform and host that offers a “forever-free” plan under its subdomain. But while there are free hosts out there, I don’t recommend them above an almost-free or cheap option, which is more secure and allows you to link your domain name. You can check out our list of the best web hosting services for more affordable WordPress hosting options.
A freelance author, graphic designer, and photographer, Caitlin Greyling writes about web hosting, web builder software, graphic design, tech, and electronics, and has published hundreds of product reviews and comparisons for Website Planet, The Daily Mail, and Durability Matters. Her creative and technical knowledge has been showcased at PictureCorrect, Photutorial, and others. She is currently studying for an NCTJ diploma in journalism. When Caitlin’s not working, she’s exploring nature with her son and dog or relaxing at home with her cat.
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