WordPress is a popular content management system being used all around the world. According to a popular estimate from W3Tech, more than 43% of all the websites on the internet are using WordPress as their CMS. Hence, hosting providers are providing specialized hosting for WordPress to facilitate WordPress-based websites.

What is WordPress hosting?

WordPress hosting is specially designed for WordPress websites for optimal performance. It is different from traditional hosting because in this case the servers are optimized for WordPress platform. It is compatible with WordPress and its latest version and its updates. An important point here is that, it is not necessary that we use WordPress hosting for every WordPress website, however it does makes things easier.

How to Choose the Best WordPress hosting provider?

These are some of the features which you must look for before selecting a hosting provider. These are not limited to WordPress hosting service providers only, but generally to other providers too.

Performance and Uptime

The performance of a website is directly effected by the performance of the hosting servers. If the servers are not working properly and they go offline often, the website will be down and the users will not trust the site. Also speed and response time is very important. Users do not tolerate slow and lagging web experience. Choose the fastest WordPress hosting provider as well as one with a reliable and robust infra-structure.

Pricing Plans

Pricing is an important factor when it comes to choosing a hosting service for your website. There are also options available for free web hosting but it is better to stay clear of these as most of them provide low quality service with slow-speed shared servers. Also, the support options are not good. Usually a good option is Pay-as-you-Go pricing where you have to pay for only the resources that you are using. Many hosting providers like Cloudways offer a multitude of hosting plans so all types of users can choose according to their affordability.

Security

Security is a major concern when it comes to online platforms as they are under the attack of numerous malware, viruses and bot attacks. That is why go for a hosting service that provides free SSL support, firewalls and other security options.

Support

It is required to take the help of support a number of times when you are managing a website. Migration, scaling, updates, backups, all these tasks often require troubleshooting and support from providers. Most of the hosting services claim to provider 24/7/365 support. It is best to check the quality of service from the online reviews and customer forums so that you can make an informed decision.

Positive online reviews

Online reviews also provide a good option to understand how the hosting provider works. Check out the reviews from reliable platforms like G2, Trustpilot or TrustRadius. Make sure to choose a hosting service that has a good reputation and people are giving a favorable review for the service.

Following is detailed process of how to check the online reviews.

Search Engines: Start by using search engines like Google to look up the name of the hosting service followed by keywords like "reviews," "customer feedback," or "user experiences." This will lead you to various review websites and forums where users share their opinions.

Review Websites:Visit popular review websites that specialize in hosting services and tech products. Some well-known options include:

Trustpilot: Offers user-generated reviews and ratings for a wide range of services.

Capterra: Provides reviews and comparisons for various software and hosting services.

HostAdvice: Focuses specifically on hosting services and offers detailed user reviews.

Web Hosting Talk: A forum where users discuss and review different hosting providers.

Social Media: Check the hosting service's official social media profiles (like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn) for comments and reviews from customers. Social media platforms often allow users to leave reviews and share their experiences.

Web Hosting Communities: Look for online communities and forums related to web hosting. Websites like Reddit and Quora have active communities where users often discuss hosting services and share their opinions.

YouTube: Search for video reviews or tutorials related to the hosting service on YouTube. Many users create video content where they discuss their experiences and offer insights.

Online Tech Publications: Check out reputable tech publications that might have reviewed or compared hosting services. These reviews tend to be more detailed and thorough.

Check for Consistency: While reading reviews, try to look for patterns and consistent themes. If multiple reviews mention similar strengths or weaknesses, it can provide a more accurate picture of the hosting service's quality.

Consider the Source: Be mindful of the source of the reviews. Some reviews might be biased or fake. Look for reviews from verified customers or sources with a reputation for honest and balanced assessments.

Review Dates: Pay attention to the dates of the reviews. Hosting services can change over time, so recent reviews are often more relevant.

Overall Satisfaction: Focus on overall trends in satisfaction rather than isolated negative reviews. No service is perfect, but if the majority of reviews are positive, it's a good sign.

Specific Features: If there are specific features or aspects of the hosting service that are important to you (e.g., customer support, uptime, performance), pay special attention to reviews that address those aspects.

Remember that everyone's experience can be different, so take a balanced approach when evaluating reviews. Don't rely solely on reviews; consider reaching out to the hosting service directly to ask questions and clarify any doubts you might have.
Following are some of the Top Hosting providers available in the market

Bluehost:

Shared Hosting: Starts around $2.75 to $5.45 per month (for the first term).
WordPress Hosting: Starts around $2.95 to $5.95 per month (for the first term).
VPS Hosting: Starts around $18.99 to $59.99 per month.
Dedicated Hosting: Starts around $79.99 to $119.99 per month.

HostGator:

Shared Hosting: Starts around $2.75 to $5.95 per month (for the first term).
WordPress Hosting: Starts around $5.95 to $9.95 per month (for the first term).
VPS Hosting: Starts around $19.95 to $39.95 per month.
Dedicated Hosting: Starts around $89.98 to $139.99 per month.

SiteGround:

Shared Hosting: Starts around $6.99 to $14.99 per month.
WordPress Hosting: Starts around $6.99 to $14.99 per month.
Cloud Hosting: Starts around $80 to $240 per month.
Dedicated Hosting: Starts around $269 to $729 per month.

A2 Hosting:

Shared Hosting: Starts around $2.99 to $14.99 per month.
WordPress Hosting: Starts around $2.99 to $24.46 per month.
VPS Hosting: Starts around $5 to $100+ per month.
Dedicated Hosting: Starts around $99.59 to $290.49 per month.

Hostinger:

Shared Hosting: Starts around $1.39 to $4.99 per month.
WordPress Hosting: Starts around $1.99 to $11.59 per month.
VPS Hosting: Starts around $3.95 to $29.95 per month.
Cloud Hosting: Starts around $7.45 to $37 per month.