How to Pick the Best WordPress Host
There are plenty of hosting companies out there to choose from and most of them will meet the minimum WordPress requirements for under $10 a month. Before you purchase a hosting plan though, there are some things you need to know.
Does the host provide adequate storage, bandwidth and databases?
These features vary a great deal on hosting packages. Too few of any of these three features and you will run into problems down the road as your site continues to grow. When you are comparison shopping, keep these items in mind. The hosts recommended on this site all provide unlimited storage, bandwidth and databases.
Is Fantastico or 1 Click Wordpress Installation Available?
Sometimes simple is better. Installing WordPress and remembering to update it whenever a new version comes available can be somewhat complicated and time consuming. Installing WordPress involves downloading the software from the developer’s site, uploading it to your site, creating a database, and then installing the software on your site.
The best WordPress hosts include a feature called Fantastico right in their control panel that will do all this for you automatically in just seconds. Better yet, when WordPress releases a new version you can automatically upgrade with Fantastico without having to download the latest version, upload and install it, and worry about making a mistake that might mess up your site.
Can you add additional domains to an existing hosting plan?
Some hosting plans allow you to add additional domains to your existing package. If down the road you decide you want to start a new site, you only need to register a new domain with a registrar, like GoDaddy, and then add it to your existing package instead of going out and purchasing another hosting package. Maybe you never plan on creating another site, but since this feature is included when you go with some of the best WordPress hosting plans, you might as well pick a host that includes this offer.
What is the price of hosting plan?
You can find hosting packages that start at a couple bucks a month but they often skimp on some of the important things we have outlined already. Before you decide to go with a cheap plan make sure it has everything you need. When you can find a great plan for about a quarter a day or $5 – $10 a month that has everything you need there really is no reason not to go the super cheap hosting route.
What kind of support options are there?
A host with great support makes all the difference. Nothing is more frustrating then when your site is down and you can’t get a hold of anyone to help you get it back up. The hosts recommended on this site all have award winning customer service departments.
Summary and Hosting Recommendations
We have covered all the things that are important to look at when you are looking to picking the best WordPress host for your site. If you pick a host that meets all the criteria we’ve discussed, you’re setting your site up for success. With that being said, the following hosts meet and exceed all the criteria mentioned here and represent best of the best in Wordpress Hosting packages.
Hostgator reigns as the Best WordPress Host with Unlimited Diskspace, Bandwidth, Databases, Domains, and Email accounts. Fantastico Delux gives your 1-Click Auto Wordpress Installation and 1-Click WordPress updates whenever a new version is released. Award winning support via Email, Phone, Live Chat, Forums means quick solutions to any problem you may run into. Plus Hostgator provides a 99.9% Uptime Guarantee so you’ll hardly ever have to worry about site downtime. And with over 1.8 million hosted domains, Hostgator has all the experience you could ever ask for. Pricing for the unlimited package quoted starts at $7.95 a month and no contract is required.
Sepcial Discount: Use this promo link and the coupon code wordpress to get your first month of HostGator WordPress Hosting for a penny!
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