Essential Steps for WordPress Hosting Novices
Starting a new WordPress website can be an exciting journey, but choosing the right hosting provider can sometimes feel overwhelming. Here's a simplified guide to help you make an informed decision.
Beginner-Friendly WordPress Hosting Options
When you're just starting out, it's essential to focus on what feels manageable and offers good value for money. Here are some beginner-friendly options that prioritise easy WordPress installation, a clean dashboard, reliable customer support, automatic backups, built-in security, and decent speed:
- Hostinger is a popular choice due to its affordable plans starting around $2.69-$2.99/month. It offers an intuitive custom control panel (hPanel), one-click WordPress installation, managed automatic updates, free SSL, Cloudflare protection, and automatic backups. Hostinger uses LiteSpeed servers for fast loading and provides 24/7 multilingual customer support. It also offers a free domain for the first year and supports multiple websites with a free migration tool [1][2].
- Bluehost is officially recommended by WordPress and is one of the top choices for beginners. It offers free domain registration for one year, automatic WordPress installation, daily backups, SSL certificates, and 24/7 customer support via live chat, email, and phone. Bluehost provides a clean dashboard, free access to premium WordPress themes and plugins, free CDN, and unmetered bandwidth. It is reliable for uptime and page speed, making it an excellent choice for small business websites and new WordPress users [3][5].
- SiteGround is designed specifically for WordPress users, featuring free auto-installation, a simple migration tool, strong security features, fast servers, and professional 24/7 support. While SiteGround tends to be slightly more expensive than Hostinger or Bluehost, it is noted for its ease of use and robust performance suitable for beginners learning WordPress management [4].
Other Affordable Options
Depending on your specific needs or budget, you might also consider DreamHost, InMotion Hosting, or WordPress.com. DreamHost offers an easy-to-use panel with a free domain, while InMotion Hosting is good for hosting multiple sites with solid features. WordPress.com offers fully managed hosting for those wanting a hands-off approach [5].
Choosing the Right Hosting for Your Needs
Remember, don't overthink your first hosting plan. What matters is getting your site online and learning as you go. You can always move to a better host later if you outgrow your current plan.
For small blogs or experiments, shared hosting like Bluehost or Hostinger is more than sufficient. However, if your site is expected to grow or is tied to your income, managed hosting is worth the investment. SiteGround, for instance, offers a well-known hosting service that is easy to navigate for beginners, with pre-installed WordPress, a simple dashboard, 24/7 live chat and support ticket support, security features, speed tools, and is good for beginners who want a solid foundation with room to grow.
Good hosting makes your site feel responsive and reliable, while bad hosting can make even a well-designed site feel broken. So, take your time to choose the right hosting provider for your WordPress website.
[1] - https://www.hostinger.com/ [2] - https://www.hostinger.com/reviews [3] - https://www.bluehost.com/ [4] - https://www.siteground.com/ [5] - https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-tutorials/best-wordpress-hosting/
Technology plays a crucial role in the smooth functioning of your WordPress website, and choosing the right hosting provider is one of the most important technology-related decisions you'll make. Some beginner-friendly options include Hostinger, Bluehost, and SiteGround, each offering easy WordPress installation, a clean dashboard, reliable customer support, automatic backups, built-in security, and decent speed.
