Deciding on the right hosting for your blog is a little tricky. There are so many companies out there and a billion different reviews. You might wonder where the right hosting for your blog is? Lately, I’ve noticed in blogging forums and Facebook groups that people are looking into the best hosting options for their blogs. Some of them are looking to switch from blogger to WordPress and some of them are tired of their blog loading slow or having multiple down times.
Before we get started, let’s go over a few hosting related definitions:
Visits (also called sessions) – According to Google, “A session is a group of interactions that take place on your website within a given time frame” A session or visit can include many pageviews. On the desktop mode, Google refers to sessions as visits. For the sake of this tutorial, I will be using the term visit as that is the term that most web hosts use.
Visits vs. Pageviews – Pageviews tell you how many times your blog or a particular page are viewed. Say I visit your blog, I land on your home page, then click your about page, then I go to your blog page. That is 3 pageviews, but only 1 visit. Pageviews are obviously a more exciting number, but we will focus on visits today.
Shared Hosting – Shared hosting is where multiple accounts share a single web server, each having their own domain name.
Managed WordPress Hosting – this is hosting that is 100% dedicated to WordPress sites. They focus on the things WordPress user’s need: security, speed, WordPress updates, plugin blacklists to protect your site, NO cpanel. It is more than paying for hosting, it’s almost like hiring someone to be on your team. They take care of you.
Obviously, there are many factors that go into picking a hosting company for your blog. There are also a lot of technicalities when it comes to hosting. Most companies list the following features: website space, bandwidth, suggested visits, and “extras” the package includes.
Website space
I talked to a few different hosting companies about their listed website space and here are some of the responses I got.
Your packages say that it includeds unlimited space, is that true? “Yes it really does mean unlimited storage space 🙂”
So, it doesn’t matter if my blog has 600 posts full of pictures? “Well, this is where it gets sort of technical. There is unlimited storage on our Shared plan. However, because it is a shared hosting plan that means that you are on a shared server. On a shared server you are sharing resources with other customers on that server. So that means that if you want your website to be huge, then you may notice your site loads slower than others”
I asked another company about their beginning package having 10GB of data, “Even big news websites don’t make up 10GB as a website alone, maybe with the backups they do, but generally 10GB is more than enough for a typical blog”
With this information, I’ve decided to break down the best hosting based on how much traffic your blog gets. I am an affiliate for some of the companies listed below, but only recommend them because I like them!
I always like to upgrade hosting before I hit the max for my current hosting, that way I know my blog is always performing its best!
0-5,000 Visits a month
This recommendation is for people who are brand new to blogging, with no content yet.
BlueHost Basic or Plus Plan
Bluehost has a super easy process for new bloggers. They also have affordable options, perfect for someone just getting started in the blogging world because you haven’t made any money from your blog/biz yet. You don’t need to have a tech savvy bone to install WordPress, you just need to be able to click a few buttons. Hopefully you’ll get heaps of new traffic and you’ll have to upgrade your plan before your first year is up. 🙂
Another great option: SiteGround StartUp
5,000 – 25,000 visits a month
SiteGround GrowBig
Hands down, SiteGround wins. Here’s a few reasons why I recommend SiteGround for most bloggers.
One of the biggest reasons I suggest SiteGround is that they guarantee 99% up time. That’s a big deal for me because I don’t like my site being down. Since I moved my blog over to SiteGround this has proven to be true! I have yet to notice a down time and my site loads faster than it did on my previous hosting.
SiteGround specializes in WordPress and offers a SuperCache (helps your blog load faster) and 30 backups! Their customer service and support is awesome. I frequently get the same person when I go to chat. I’m not sure if that is on purpose of if I just chat at the same time each day. Either way, I like it. Their chat response time is faster than most of the other services I’ve used. They have three data center locations to choose from – USA, Europe and Asia.
If you want your site to load fast, never have down time, and have great support, this is a great option for you. This is shared hosting.
Another great option: Flywheel Personal Plan
25,000 – 60,000 visits a month
SiteGround GoGeek
SiteGround is a perfect option for all the reasons mentioned above, you just need a plan with a little more juice to handle your traffic. This is shared hosting.
Another great option: Synthesis Personal
60,000 + visits a month:
Synthesis
If you’re getting this much traffic, you should be making enough money to justify VPS hosting. I have done a lot of research on WordPress managed hosting for my next hosting company. I have compared Flywheel, WPEngine, and Synthesis. All 3 are great options, but I’ve decided that Synthesis wins.
When it comes to pricing + whats included, Synthesis offers the best plans. Plus, they are Copyblogger (same company that runs StudioPress) so I know that it is quality hosting and the best customer service around. In addition to great hosting structure, technical support, backups, and malware monitoring they offer the following marketing tools: Site optimization, on-page optimization, keyword research, social media research, and influencer outreach tools. This is WordPress managed hosting.
Another great option: WP Engine
How do I know when I should upgrade hosting?
Numbers don’t tell all. So here are a two more questions to think about when deciding whether or not to upgrade your hosting.
- Is your blog loading slow?
- Do you have frequent down times?
If the answer is yes, it is probably time to move!
Skip the hassle of switching and upgrading.
Since writing this post, there’s a new host in town: StudioPress Sites. Sites takes the hassle out of just about everything. No complicated cpanels. Sites is a “Managed WordPress hosting that gives you more power with less worry.” WordPress is auto installed, it comes with 20 different premium Genesis themes, they’ll never block your traffic on a viral day, and the best support around!
Your turn!
What hosting company are you with? Why did you pick them?
Thank you for your posts on hosting plans. I am new to this way of blogging and I found the information you wrote very helpful. 😉 I started on a wordpress.com, but I am now considering moving to wordpress.org. Thanks 😉
Hi Mafalda, I’m glad you found this helfpul. WordPress.com is a great place to start out, but many people grow out of that platform. You can also check out my wordpress vs wordpress post! Let me know if you have any questions about your move.
I love how you break down your hosting categories by numbers of site visits! In my research on hosting options, I have only come across articles that measure categories with vague words like “successful” or “just starting out.” As a newbie, I have no experience that allows me to translate those words into actual numbers. Thank you!
I’m glad you found this helpful Anita. I’m not sure that even people who have been blogging for a long time know how to translate “successful” and “just starting out”. Good luck with choosing your hosting, you really can’t go wrong with any of the above mentioned.
Yes, hosting is one of the major factor in building a online presence or business, a lot of depends on hosting, but you did a great job by sharing this nice article with us.. thanks you!!
Thank you!
Thank you so much for your awesome, awesome review! Based on your suggestion (and seconded by some other bloggers on a FB group) I just moved over from bluehost to SiteGround. I’ve been getting notices at least once per DAY that my site was down on bluehost for the past two weeks and I was just fed up.
SiteGround – so quick, easy, and painless! They moved my blog over for free and the customer service rocked. So happy to have found my new hosting home 🙂
I’m so glad you love SiteGround – their free migrations are one of the biggest perks. Wishing you a great year of no down time!
Thank you so much for the information. I hadn’t even considered SiteGround but it looks like a great choice for what I am looking for! I can’t wait to try it!!
Hopefully you love it. I’ve been really impressed. They can even help you switch over from WordPress.com, so make sure to talk to tech support.
I hope to start a blog soon and want to feel confident in my web hosting choice. I am trying to choose between Bluehost’s storage and prices and Siteground’s uptime! Any advice?
Tough call. They are both great services.
A note about “unlimited” storage though. Just because bluehost offers unlimited storage, does not mean that it is suitable for sites with large content. The starter hosting plans have 2000+ accounts on one server, so if everyone took advantage of unlimited storage, you’d have one slow blog.
Siteground limits actually protect your site from being bogged down.
Bluehost is the most inexpensive option (especially when you click through my links for the extra discount) for the starter plans. As for the middle plans, SiteGround has a higher dollar amount, but includes more features.
Bluehost is fully refundable at anytime, whereas you only have 30 days woth Siteground.
That probably doesn’t help much. For new blogs, you really can’t go wrong with either. I do have a deal this month going where I am giving away a Genesis child theme from studiopress.com if you purchase bluehost through my links.
Hi there! Great article choked full of useful hosting tips and facts.
As a WordPress developer I can honestly say I’ve worked with many web hosting companies. I’m rather impressed with the quality of hosting available at IPWRD : https://ipwrd.com – they are WordPress hosting specialists but also host non-WP sites.
IPWRD’s shared hosting boasts VPS performance at shared pricing — which is almost unheard of! Their support is friendly and really went out of their way to assist me!
If we are on Bluehost and hit higher numbers than you gave, should we move?
Also, how do you know how many GB your blog is? Is that the “disk space” in the cPanel?
Sorry to ask so many questions, this is just something I want to feel confident about.
Not necessarily. I always like to move before my numbers hit the hosts recommendations, that way I know my site is moving smoothly. If you are comfortable with your site load speed and up time – then you don’t have any reason to move.
Yes, the GB is the disk space in your cpanel, usually in the left sidebar.
This was great! My hosting expires next month and I’m looking to get off of Dream Host because it’s so expensive!
SiteGround will move your site over for free! Which is a big perk to me, because I don’t like to deal with the headache of changing servers!
They’ll actually only do it if you’re under 1GB.
Drats! I didn’t realize there was a GB limit. I’m sure you already checked, but I did a little more research and it is $50/hr for migrating after 1GB, 5-6 GB website can be transferred for 50$ one time fee.
The guy I spoke to said it was $50/hr and would take a couple of hours for my site which is 5.5GB.
Well that’s not very consistent!
You’ve got a pretty good sized blog! You’ll have to let me know what hosting company you decide on.
I have been using Nexcess, which I found through their excellent Magento hosting originally, but then realized they have great managed WordPress hosting as well. The reason I like them is because they have great service and a super knowledgeable and friendly support staff. These guys are as good as it gets.
I’ll have to look into them, thanks!
Kristie I’m so happy that you wrote this post. It’s a great breakdown of a very confusing subject for those of us who are new and exploring self hosting.
I’m still wondering if all of my posts and images from my blog will fit into the storage limits that siteground offers. 6 years of blogging is a lot of “stuff”. LOLD
I still am going back and reading your very informative email about themes. Thank you for that.
Jen
I used SiteGround because you told me to 🙂 My site is SOOO much faster and I LOVE it. I’m hoping I will have reason to upgrade very soon!
Yes, having to upgrade is always a good thing!