What’s The Best Managed WordPress Host in 2024?

Last Updated: June 8, 2024

Image: Shutterstock/Tero Vesalainen

One thing I’ve learned after using many different web hosts throughout my online career is that the most popular companies aren’t necessarily the most reliable.

Some of the most oversold web hosts that have terrible outsourced support are widely touted as the “best” on review/affiliate sites, which makes finding a truly reliable service a challenging task for a beginner.

Anyway, in this post I’d like to share my own list of the most reliable WordPress hosts I’ve come across so far.

Best WordPress Hosting Providers in 2024 (IMO)

The following are five WordPress hosting providers I’d recommend in 2024. Some of these are premium services and some are more affordable.

1. Pressable

Pros

• Run by Automattic (owner of WordPress.com)
• Fast cloud servers with NVMe SSD storage
• High performance for demanding/e-commerce sites
• 100% uptime guarantee
• Free global CDN
• Simple and easy-to-use interface
• Malware scanning and hack recovery
• Skilled support team available 24/7

Cons

• Email is a paid add-on (third-party provider)
• No “push” function in the staging tool

Pressable is one of the most professional providers of managed WordPress hosting. This service is run by Automattic and it is exclusively focused on fully managed hosting for WordPress sites that need high and stable performance.

If you don’t know it already, Automattic is the company that owns the WordPress.com platform, the WooCommerce plugin, and a few other WP projects and products. Automattic is owned by the co-founder of the WordPress system: Matt Mullenweg, although it operates independently from the WordPress Foundation (WordPress.org).

Pressable’s main attraction is that it is managed by a well-versed team that has an extensive experience with both WordPress and WooCommerce.

I haven’t come across many other hosts that offer the same level of expertise at the same price point offered by these guys.

Besides that, these are some of the technical features I like about this service: NVMe SSD storage, cloud infrastructure with automatic failover, 100% uptime, free CDN, simple control panel, and the Jetpack Security plugin (for site security + real-time backups).

And another reason why I recommend Pressable over other managed WP hosts like Kinsta and WP Engine is that they give each site plenty of PHP workers without having to upgrade your plan. This is a huge performance advantage for e-commerce and other dynamic types of sites.

2. Cloudways

Pros

• Managed cloud server instances
• Dedicated and scalable resources
• Optimized built-in caching
• Staging environment
• Several global server locations
• Automatic backup and restore tool
• Cloudflare Enterprise CDN (add-on)

Cons

• Email is a premium add-on
• Backup storage is a paid add-on
• Free-tier support is limited
• Premium support is a costly add-on

If you ask developers on Reddit and other online communities about the best hosting solution for WordPress, many would say get a cloud server from one of the big providers, such as DigitalOcean, AWS, etc.

As far as performance is concerned, nothing outmatches using a dedicated server with its own dedicated computing resources (CPU and RAM). But in this case, we’re talking about a virtual cloud server, which is a more flexible and cost-effective option.

Cloudways offers managed cloud servers for WordPress and any other PHP apps. You don’t need to know anything about server administration because they handle that for you.

You can select a plan from one of three cloud providers — DigitalOcean is the most affordable option for a new site, but if you want better computing power for a heavy site, choose either AWS or Google Cloud.

Now, if you’re used to cPanel, you may find the Cloudways control panel not as convenient in some parts. For example, there is no web-based file manager, but instead you can access your server’s files using an external SFTP/SSH client. There is a basic database manager, but for large databases (larger than 200 MB), you’re gonna have to use an external client too.

Another drawback of Cloudways for beginners is that their free standard support only covers basic issues related to the infrastructure and platform. If you need support for app-related issues and customizations, you’ll have to purchase an Advanced or Premium support add-on, which doesn’t come cheap.

3. HostArmada

Pros

• Stable shared cloud hosting
• Generous RAM and CPU limits
• Several global server locations
• cPanel with WP Toolkit
• Malware protection
• Secure and isolated accounts
• Outgoing email filtering (send from clean IPs)
• Daily offsite backups

Cons

• Limited database size in shared plans
• Not all plans include LiteSpeed

HostArmada is a good choice if you are launching a small WordPress website or blog on a limited budget.

Their shared cloud hosting plans are fairly priced and you get a considerable initial discount, so you can get a whole year of service at a nice bargain price.

Server performance is excellent and the servers are well protected against various security threats via a firewall and a malware scanner.

But do pay attention to the different features included in each plan because there are some significant differences. For example, the LiteSpeed web server is only available with the high-end Speed Reaper plan.

Another thing to note is the database quotas that are set for each plan. They have relatively strict limits on database size, table size and query execution time compared to other hosts. That’s why this service may not be suitable for large websites as well as those that make heavy database calls.

4. SiteGround

Pros

• Reliable Google Cloud infrastructure
• SG Optimizer plugin for advanced caching options
• Staging tool with one-click push function
• Free CDN with 10 GB monthly traffic
• Multiple server locations (USA, Europe, UK, etc.)
• Automatic backups for the last 30 days
• Helpful 24/7 live chat support

Cons

• Renewal prices are relatively high
• Disk space is a bit low for the price
• Staging not available with the entry-level plan
• Priority support is only for the high-end plan

SiteGround is an excellent web host for beginners. They have a very simple and all-inclusive platform that can get your new WordPress site up and running without much hassle.

In addition to having a friendly support team available around the clock, you can learn a lot from their comprehensive knowledge base articles, how-to guides, and video tutorials.

SiteGround offers massive discounts for new customers, but be sure to take note of the renewal price because it’s gonna be much higher than the initial price. Some customers have complained about this, although to be fair, the company does list the regular price for each plan next to the one-time discounted price. Make sure you are fully aware of this before you proceed with your order.

5. A2 Hosting

Pros

• Lots of NVMe disk space
• High RAM/memory
• Unlimited monthly bandwidth
• Local and remote backups
• LiteSpeed server and cache
• Staging via WP Toolkit in cPanel
• Malware protection by Imunify360

Cons

• Renewal price is a bit high
• They keep changing plans and pricing

A2 Hosting may not be a cheap host, but considering some of the premium features included in their plans, especially the speed-optimized Turbo plans, I’d argue their prices are quite reasonable.

I am using A2 Hosting for one of my WordPress sites and I’ve never had any major issues with the service. Performance is generally stable, although my site has experienced some slow loading on occasion, which is rather common with shared web hosting.

They have a few different types of plans: the low-cost shared hosting plans are good enough for a small blog or personal site, while the WordPress-optimized plans offer better performance and increased server resources for more dynamic and larger sites.

I think A2 Hosting is a particularly good choice if you are looking to host multiple WordPress sites without spending a fortune on a dedicated solution.

Unlike other cheap hosts that advertise “unlimited websites” but then give you limited server resources that are barely enough for one medium-traffic site, A2 Hosting gives you more generous resources with their Turbo plans (more memory, concurrent database connections, inodes, etc.)

What is The Best WordPress Hosting For Small Business?

Pressable and SiteGround are two of the best WordPress hosting services for small business. They both tick all the boxes that matter the most to small business website owners, including solid and stable performance, maximum uptime and a competent support team that is available 24/7.

For technically experienced users, you can get more bang for your buck with a managed DigitalOcean cloud server via Cloudways. The standard support service at Cloudways is limited to server and platform issues, so don’t expect much help from them in case you encounter a problem with your own site, but they do offer advanced support as a paid add-on.

What is The Best WordPress Hosting For Beginners?

I think HostArmada and SiteGround are two great WordPress hosts for beginners. Both offer an easy-to-use control panel, plenty of educational materials and friendly support agents.

HostArmada plans are less costly, but SiteGround is more suitable for larger sites because they don’t have strict database limits like HostArmada does.

What is The Best WordPress Hosting For E-Commerce?

E-commerce WordPress sites running WooCommerce consume a lot of processing power and other server resources, and so you need a hosting plan that packs a lot of punch.

Pressable would be one of my top recommendations for hosting an e-commerce WordPress site. Not just because of the excellent performance and uptime, but also because it is managed by the WP-skilled folks at Automattic (the developer of WooCommerce).

What is The Best WordPress Hosting According to Reddit?

You’ll discover different opinions on Reddit about the best option for hosting WordPress sites. Most developers and technically experienced users would recommend deploying a cloud server instance at one of the top providers, such as DigitalOcean, AWS, etc.

As far as shared WordPress hosting goes, some of the most reliable providers according to Reddit users include Krystal and SiteGround.

And for those interested in premium managed WordPress hosting for business and professional sites, three of the top recommendations on Reddit are WP Engine, Kinsta and Pressable. I personally prefer Pressable because of their transparent pricing and WP-skilled support agents.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Managed WordPress Hosting Worth The Extra Cost?

The answer depends on various factors including the specific features of the service in question, your site’s requirements, your technical experience, and your budget.

Generally speaking, managed WP plans come preoptimized for improved performance and security. This often includes more server resources (CPU, RAM, I/O, etc.) and some integrated tools to help you manage your WP site.

Technical support is usually more hands-on and more experienced with WordPress issues compared to regular shared web hosting support.

For a small business site, an apt managed WordPress plan is arguably worthwhile as it can save the owner a lot of time and effort.

How to Choose The Fastest WordPress Host?

The type of hardware and software used by the server, as well as the technical specifications of the plan, can all affect the speed of your site.

The following are some of the main factors to consider when looking for a fast WordPress hosting service.

• SSD storage: WordPress constantly reads and writes data from and to the server’s storage device. SSD drives provide high enough I/O rates for most sites. NVMe SSD would even be faster, especially for e-commerce and other dynamic sites.
• Computing resources: You’ll need adequate CPU and RAM for your site to process all requests in a smooth and timely manner, both during normal traffic hours and during periods of traffic spikes. Consult with the support team about the right plan for your site.
• Web server software: Look for companies that use the LiteSpeed web server software, which offers the best out-of-the-box performance and speed for WordPress sites.
• Server cache: There are different server-side caching systems and configurations that can be implemented to speed up the loading of static and dynamic content. External caching via a global CDN would make your site load faster for users in different worldwide locations.

How to Secure a WordPress Site?

Here are some essential steps you can take to secure your WP site:

• Strengthen your login credentials: Use a unique username for the primary administrator account other than the easily guessable “admin”. As for the password, use a combination of lowercase and uppercase letters, numbers, and special characters.
• Keep it up to date: Make sure to promptly install any available updates or new versions of the core WordPress system, themes, and plugins (including inactive ones). Enable automatic updates if the option is available.
• Use authentic themes: You should only download the theme you’re going to use for your site from the official WordPress.org site or from the official website of its developer. Don’t use nulled themes or those shared on forums, social media, etc.
• Only install trusted plugins: Make sure that any plugins you are going to install on your site are made and supported by a trustworthy company or developer.
• Use a security plugin: WordPress doesn’t come with a standard security tool, so you’ll have to use a third-party plugin to create custom security configurations for your site.
• Choose a secure host: It is critically important that the web server that hosts your site is well protected against external and internal security threats. Look for providers that utilize a comprehensive real-time threat scanning tool, such as Imunify360.

If you’d like to learn more about securing a new WordPress site, I recommend you watch the following in-depth video by Wordfence (one of the leading security plugins for WordPress).

Is Cheap WordPress Hosting Bad?

While price isn’t necessarily an accurate indicator of service quality, you should always remember the old adage that you get what you pay for.

Cheap web hosting plans usually come with very restrictive limits on server resources, such as CPU and RAM usage, maximum I/O rate, number of processes and database connections, database size, and others.

Oftentimes, website owners only find out about such low limits as their site grows in size and traffic and it suddenly starts loading slowly and/or constantly returns error messages.

But that doesn’t mean a more expensive service will necessarily give you better performance or support. In fact, some of the worst hosting providers out there happen to be among the most expensive ones.

You should look for a reasonable balance between technical specifications, support service, and cost.

In case of managed WordPress hosting, a price ranging from $10 to $30 per month for a low-mid tier plan would be reasonable. But again, it all depends on what’s under the hood (server hardware and software), and who’s behind the wheel (the support technicians).

References

• “Webhosting : Everything from shell accounts to cloud hosting.” Reddit (link: https://www.reddit.com/r/webhosting/)
• Nick Schäferhoff (December 26, 2022) “What is Managed WordPress Hosting: A Complete Guide for Beginners.” WordPress.com (link: https://wordpress.com/go/website-building/what-is-managed-wordpress-hosting/)
• “What is NVMe SSD technology?” Kingston Technology (link: https://www.kingston.com/en/ssd/what-is-nvme-ssd-technology)
• Lisa Clarke (March 7, 2022) “LiteSpeed Cache Boosts WordPress Performance.” LiteSpeed Blog (link: https://blog.litespeedtech.com/2022/03/07/boost-wordpress-performance-hostinger/)
• “What is caching? | How is a website cached?” Cloudflare (link: https://www.cloudflare.com/learning/cdn/what-is-caching/)
• Rob Pugh (June 30, 2023) “WordPress Security: How to Secure Your Site from Hackers.” Jetpack (link: https://jetpack.com/blog/guide-to-wordpress-security/)