So, you want a WordPress website and someone says “What kind of WordPress hosting are you going to get?”
Hosting you say? What’s that?
“Well, if you’re going to have a WordPress website, you want the best WordPress hosting you can find, right?”
And thus begins a long weekend of research. After a while, your eyes cross and all you can see are things like this...
There are so many types of hosting! They’re all great, but definitely not one-size-fits-all.
In this guide, we will deep dive into the world of WordPress Hosting and share everything you need to know in order to pick the right plan for your WordPress site!
What is WordPress hosting?
WordPress hosting is a type of web hosting specifically designed to optimize the performance and security of WordPress websites. This kind of hosting environment meets the technical requirements of WordPress and offers features that are beneficial for WordPress users such as pre-installed WordPress, automatic updates, backups, and advanced security features.
WordPress hosting can either come in shared or managed form. Shared WordPress hosting is a budget-friendly option, while managed WordPress hosting provides a more premium, hassle-free experience. In this article, we will explore more about how you can pick the most suitable hosting plan for your website.
Key factors for choosing your perfect WordPress hosting provider
Here, we'll delve into five pivotal factors you must consider when picking a WordPress hosting provider. These factors will pave the way for a smoother and more enjoyable WordPress experience.
Factor 1: User-friendly experiences
Starting out with WordPress might seem like navigating a labyrinth, especially if you're a newcomer. That's why you want a WordPress hosting provider that keeps things simple. Look for a provider with an easy onboarding process, intuitive control panels, and seamless access to everything you need to create and manage your WordPress site. The ability to manage your site, domain and email settings from a single, user-friendly interface can spare you frustration and precious time.
Factor 2: Robust security
Security is paramount in the digital world, and WordPress sites aren't exempt from potential threats. When selecting your hosting provider, look for one that prioritizes security. Seek features like:
- Malware scans
- Firewalls
- SSL certificates
- Regular backups
These security features help defend your website against data breaches and sensitive information leaks. On top of that, a dependable hosting provider should provide prompt updates to keep your site fortified against emerging security vulnerabilities.
Factor 3: Lightning-fast performance
A sluggish website can drive visitors away, even causing you to miss out on potential sales and tarnishing your search engine rankings — which can ultimately lead to less traffic on your site. To ensure top-tier performance, your hosting provider should offer high-speed servers, a content delivery network (CDN), and server-side caching. Opting for a provider with finely tuned servers and ample resources can keep your WordPress site running like a well-oiled machine, even when you experience surges in traffic.
Factor 4: Tool arsenal
The right tools can substantially elevate your WordPress site-building journey. Hunt for a hosting provider that dishes out an array of tools tailored to WordPress enthusiasts. Keep an eye out for features like:
- One-click WordPress installations
- Staging environments for trial runs
- Automatic software updates
- Compatibility with popular plugins and themes.
These types of tools can simplify tasks and streamline your workflow, turning your site-building venture into a more enjoyable and efficient endeavor.
Factor 5: Stellar support
When you hit a snag or have burning questions about your WordPress site, having swift and knowledgeable customer support is key. Prioritize a hosting provider that extends 24/7 customer support through various channels, such as live chat, email, and phone. Dependable support guarantees you can troubleshoot issues in a snap, minimizing downtime and ensuring a top-notch experience for your site's visitors.
While WordPress has democratized website creation for millions of site creators, the challenges it may present to you should not be underestimated. Selecting the right WordPress hosting provider is a pivotal stride that can ease many of these challenges and lay the groundwork for a triumphant online presence.
Whether you're a WordPress web designer, developer or a small business owner, GoDaddy's Managed WordPress hosting platform has your back. Experience "worry-free" WordPress and let us handle the technicalities, so you can focus on what truly matters - growing your business and enjoying the journey along the way.
Ready to explore the power of GoDaddy's new features? Check out GoDaddy’s Managed WordPress hosting platform and embark on your worry-free WordPress hosting journey today!
*Page load times compared to leading WordPress hosting providers Flywheel, Automattic, Siteground, Hostgator, Dreamhost, Namecheap, Hostinger, Bluehost and IONOS for page load times between January and March 2023. GoDaddy does not claim that Managed Word Press Hosting has the industry best page load performance. Actual performance may vary by region. Please see terms and conditions for any uptime guarantee.
Why choose "worry-free" Managed WordPress from GoDaddy
Now that you know that user-friendliness, security, performance, tools, and support are critical factors when picking a WordPress hosting provider, let's unveil the reasons why Managed WordPress from GoDaddy is your best choice for hosting your WordPress site.
Reason #1: All-in-one WordPress hosting that simplifies site creation
Time is of the essence, and we value both your time and your business aspirations.
Not only can you purchase WordPress hosting, email, and domains from us, but you can also effortlessly manage everything under one roof, and we make it super easy for you to create new WordPress site quickly with our new AI-powered onboarding experience.
AI helps publish your WordPress site faster!
With GoDaddy's groundbreaking AI-powered Managed WordPress site-creation experience, establishing new WordPress sites can be faster.
By asking you questions about your business and preferences, our intelligent AI engine furnishes you with a substantial head start, complete with pre-generated content and images.
Then, customize the content to align with your vision, and voilà — your site will be up and running in no time.
Reason #2: Do what you love, let us worry about the technical details
GoDaddy lets you focus on doing what you love while we handle some of the more time-consuming technical aspects to help your site stay secure and up to date with the latest WordPress software. Our Managed WordPress hosting plans include:
- Smart WordPress plugin updates with built-in regression testing (to help you ensure that nothing breaks when your plugins are updated to the latest version)
- Latest version of PHP
- Regular malware scanning and removal
- Daily backups
- Free SSL certificate*
- Robust Web Application Firewall (WAF)
- WordPress experts are available 24/7/365
Reason #3: Lightning-fast WordPress sites
Speed is a game-changer, particularly in today's fast-paced digital realm. Sluggish page load times can cost you valuable sales, lost customers and even dent your search engine rankings.
Up to 2x faster page load times than the competition*
GoDaddy has turbocharged its Managed WordPress platform with the Cloudflare Enterprise CDN, enhancing your site's performance with 270+ global points of presence.
Our independently verified improvements in server response time (SRT), page load time (PLT), and time to first byte (TTFB) deliver page load times up to twice as fast as the competition*, ensuring seamless browsing experience for your visitors.
Reason #4: Tools for beginners and pros alike
Whether it's migrating an existing site, creating a new site, or simply ongoing site and client management, GoDaddy Managed WordPress hands you the tools you need to customize your site to perfection.
Free WordPress site migrations
With our user-friendly WordPress site migration wizard, you can quickly migrate your existing WordPress site to GoDaddy Managed WordPress in a few simple steps.
And if you're in a bind, fret not — we're here for you 24/7.
Editor's Note: Not sure how to get started on migrating your website? Check out our guide!
Are you a WordPress designer or developer?
We're fully aware that client interaction and collaboration can be time-consuming for WordPress designers and developers.
With GoDaddy AI integrated into The Hub by GoDaddy Pro, our site and client management dashboard, you can draft:
- Customer proposals
- Invoices
- Communication
in a fraction of the time.
This leaves you with more hours to focus on what you adore — crafting beautiful websites!
Reason #5: WordPress experts are here to help when you need them
Still not sure what you need? Give our friendly WordPress hosting guides a call, day or night.
We love to help!
We're here to assist, even if you're not yet a part of our family.
Connect with us on the GoDaddy Managed WordPress product page via chat.
Choosing the best WordPress hosting plan is easier than you think
As more and more small businesses start to see the value of a website and look to get their businesses online, choosing reliable, high-performing and cost-efficient WordPress hosting for your clients may seem complex.
But it doesn’t have to be. It ultimately starts with one simple question.
Will you be hosting your client’s websites in your account or their account?
If you’re unsure, give this article a quick read. It will help you decide if it makes more sense to add:
- Individual WordPress Hosting plans to each client’s account as you acquire new clients OR
- A WordPress Hosting Pro plan to your account once to manage all clients going forward
GoDaddy’s WordPress hosting plans give you the same access to WordPress you’re used to — along with some awesome features to help make running a website easier for you and your clients.
From there, decide on features, how much storage you’ll need for the content, the number of monthly visitors, and your budget.
If you answered hosting in your client’s account:
Our individual WordPress hosting plans will be your best bet. You can use GoDaddy Pro to earn rewards setting your clients up with a new hosting plan and manage the website from within their account.
GoDaddy Pro is free and designed to make your life easier.
Here's how it works
- If you haven't added any clients yet, you'll see the Add a Client screen. If you've already added a client, click Add another client.
- In the Add a Client form, enter the client's First name, Last name, and Company. When you're done, click Save.
- Click Request access and choose whether you want product access or product and purchase access.
- Enter the client's Email address and select Send email.
We'll email the client your request for account access. When the client accepts your request, we'll email you a final confirmation.
From there, the next step is to decide which individual WordPress Hosting plan is right for your client.
Ultimate
Starting with the Ultimate plan because it provides the most value for a standard WordPress website. We throw in a free SSL Certificate for the life of the hosting ($74.99/year value), unlimited malware removal and hack repair ($83.88/year value), unlimited storage and visitors, free business email for the first year, website backup protection with 1-click restore, free domain, automatic daily malware scan, SEO optimizer, 1-click testing site, and a $550 marketing credit to Google, Yelp and Bing.
Basic
The Basic starter plan includes 30 GB of storage, ideal for 25k visitors a month, comes with free business mail for the first year, website backup protection 1-click restore, a free domain and daily malware scans.
Deluxe
A tier up from Basic for single WordPress hosting is the Deluxe plan, with 75 GB storage of storage, ideal for 100k visitors per month, free business email, website backup protection, and SEO optimizer.
eCommerce
And if you're client is in need of an online store, our eCommerce plan is your best bet. Not only is this plan optimized for eCommerce WordPress sites, we've partnered with WooCommerce to bring your tons of free premium extensions including Subscriptions, Follow-Ups and more. These premium extensions are absolutely free for the life of the plan.
It also comes with all the same features as the Ultimate plan like the free business email, free SSL certificate, free malware removal & hack repair, and the SEO optimizer.
And that’s the lowdown on our individual WordPress hosting plans, all of which include our nifty WordPress hosting themes (pre-built themes that are a breeze to customize with a drag-and-drop editor). Simply choose your type of business and we provide a ready-made site for you — with relevant images. Or, put your own unique touch on it and choose from a bevy of WordPress themes and plugins. Your call.
Interested in our individual WordPress hosting plans? You can get started here.
If you answered hosting in your account:
Our Managed WordPress Hosting GoDaddy Pro/bulk plans will be your best option. For these plans, the “managed” part of Managed WordPress Hosting means the server management tasks and maintenance of the server is handled by us to optimize WordPress sites.
We:
- Make sure your system is configured for your load
- Regularly manage backups
- Keep an eye on security issues
- Update core versions as needed
All bulk plans include a free SSL Certificate for the life of the hosting, unlimited storage and visitors, free business email for the first year, website backup protection with 1-click restore, free domain, automatic daily malware scan, SEO optimizer, 1-click testing site, and a $550 marketing credit to Google, Yelp and Bing.
Additionally, the GoDaddy Pro 30% discount can be applied to new, qualifying purchases and if applicable will show up in the final stage of the purchase. Additionally, as a member, you’ll also get reward points that can be redeemed on a future qualifying product purchase.
Pro 5
For 5 WordPress sites, our Pro 5 plan includes 50 GB storage, free SSL certificates for the full term, backups up to 90 days, 5 staging sites, free site-maintenance tools, automatic daily malware scans, free domain and professional email for the first year.
Pro 10
10 or more WordPress sites? Our Pro 10 plan includes 80 GB storage, free SSL certificates for the full term, backups up to 90 days, 10 staging sites, free site-maintenance tools, automatic daily malware scans, free domain and professional email for the first year.
Pro 25
25 WordPress sites? Our Pro 25 plan includes 100 GB storage, free SSL certificates for the full term, backups up to 90 days, 25 staging sites, free site-maintenance tools, automatic daily malware scans, free domain and professional email for the first year.
Pro 50
And for the advanced WordPress pro, if you’re designing and developing 50 WordPress sites, then the Pro 50 plan has your name all over it. It includes 200 GB storage, free SSL certificates for the full term, backups up to 90 days, 50 staging sites, free site-maintenance tools, automatic daily malware scans, free domain and professional email for the first year.
Interested in getting started? You can view our Pro plans here.
Included in all our WordPress Hosting plans:
GoDaddy Pro premium features free
Get all the 21 GoDaddy Pro Features (paid and free) for free with ANY of the WordPress hosting plans. These features include uptime monitoring, advanced client reporting, link monitoring, seo ranking reports and more.
Industry-leading page-load times.
Faster sites deliver better business results and a 99.9% uptime guarantee to keep your clients happy.
WordPress Hosting support
Our support staff is here anytime you need, 24/7/365. Reach out to an expert — they know their stuff.
Automatic site migration tool
Migrate your WordPress website over with only a few clicks of a button using our automatic site migration tool.
Caching and CDN
Website performance is crucial for you and your clients which is why we’ve included built-in caching and a content delivery network for your website’s assets.
Staging
Test site changes, PHP, theme updates and plugin changes before pushing them live.
phpMyAdmin
Easily access and manage your WordPress database.
SSH access with WP-CLI and GIT
Let your command-line skills fly with advanced tools to get tasks done quickly.
Free website templates
Professionally designed templates are included to help jumpstart your design process.
File Manager
Access and manage your files easily using our newly added file manager without needing to use any 3rd party software.
Free image library
Access over 10,000 royalty-free images to legally source high-quality images.
In the fast-paced world of WordPress hosting, GoDaddy has been on a relentless journey to provide the best managed WordPress hosting experience for our customers.
Over the past year, we've made significant strides in launching new features and enhancing the performance and reliability of our Managed WordPress hosting platform.
With the integration of a global Cloudflare CDN, the latest server hardware running on NVMe SSDs, innovative new AI-based features and a WordPress-optimized hosting stack, we're proud to announce that GoDaddy Managed WordPress hosting has become an industry leader — in both managed WordPress hosting performance and uptime.
But why do performance and uptime matter?
Whether you're running a WordPress blog, an ecommerce store on WooCommerce, or simply a WordPress website, the speed at which your pages load and how often your site is down has a profound impact on user experience, conversion rates, and search engine rankings.
- User experience: Slow-loading websites or those that experience downtime frustrate visitors and can drive them away. A seamless browsing experience, on the other hand, keeps users engaged and encourages them to explore your website further.
- Search engine rankings: Search engines like Google consider page speed as a ranking factor. Faster websites tend to rank higher in search results, increasing visibility and attracting more organic traffic.
- Conversion rates: How quickly your website loads directly influences conversion rates. Faster websites lead to higher conversion rates, which means more sales, sign-ups, or other desired actions.
How we measure performance and uptime
To demonstrate the remarkable progress that GoDaddy has made in delivering high-performing and reliable managed WordPress hosting in 2023, we partnered with Catchpoint, a third-party leading application performance monitoring company.
Over the past year, we asked Catchpoint to conduct global performance and uptime monitoring, comparing GoDaddy Managed WordPress hosting with alternate WordPress hosting providers, including but not limited to Flywheel, Siteground, Bluehost, Hostgator, Namecheap, Hostinger, Dreamhost, WordPress.com, and IONOS.
The latest global WordPress hosting benchmark results
Today, we would like to share with you the latest global WordPress hosting benchmark results for Q3 2023, broken down by the regions that Catchpoint benchmarked:
India: In India, GoDaddy Managed WordPress hosting once again outperformed the competition, boasting the second fastest average response time and an impressive 99.93% uptime.
North America: In North America, GoDaddy Managed WordPress hosting delivered average response times that were virtually identical to the fastest-performing managed WordPress hosting provider that we tested. Additionally, GoDaddy achieved an impressive 100% uptime.
Latin America: In Latin America, GoDaddy Managed WordPress hosting took both the performance and uptime lead, delivering the fastest average response times among all competitors, along with a flawless 100% uptime record.
Europe: In Europe, GoDaddy Managed WordPress hosting delivered the second-fastest average response times, coming very close to the top-performing competitor. With a measured average 99.98% uptime rate, you can rely on your website to stay online and responsive, even in this highly competitive market.
What's next for GoDaddy Managed WordPress?
While we're proud to have achieved industry-leading performance and uptime as proven through the independent benchmarks that were run by Catchpoint throughout 2023, our journey doesn't end here.
We're committed to making GoDaddy Managed WordPress hosting the #1 managed WordPress hosting platform globally.
We're continuously innovating and refining our services to bring you even faster loading times, greater reliability, and an exceptional managed WordPress hosting experience.
Stay tuned as we work tirelessly to exceed your expectations and provide you with the best managed WordPress hosting platform available.
Now featuring AI, WordPress Hosting from GoDaddy is set to change the website-creation game
In today's fast-paced digital world, time is money. And as WordPress users and designers or developers, we understand the importance of optimizing efficiency without compromising quality. That's why GoDaddy is proud to introduce our latest AI features and product enhancements for our WordPress Hosting.
With the integration of AI technology, we aim to empower you to grow your business, automate tedious tasks, and streamline your workflow. Let's dive into the exciting world of GoDaddy's AI-powered advancements.
Disclaimer: When using AI tools, avoid entering sensitive information and always review output for accuracy. Additionally, this content is for demonstration purposes only; it does not represent any affiliation, endorsement or sponsorship with the companies mentioned. All trademark rights belong to their respective owners. Third-party trademarks are used here for demonstrative and educational purposes only, use does not represent affiliation.
Launch your business in minutes with GoDaddy Airo™
AI-powered onboarding: Get up and running faster
Time is of the essence when launching a new website. Thanks to GoDaddy's exclusive AI-powered onboarding process, you can now publish your site faster. During the onboarding process, we ask you key questions about your business and website preferences.
Our AI engine then generates compelling copy and suggests relevant images, giving you a head start in creating your dream website. You can further customize and adjust the content until it perfectly aligns with your vision.
You can select a brand voice to ensure content has the right tone. Our AI will also make page recommendations based on your website's goals and industry, and select from a range of pages best suited for your online presence.
We've also expanded our image library to give you more choices for imagery that's geared toward your industry.
Efficient client management with AI in The Hub by GoDaddy Pro
Client communication and collaboration are crucial aspects of a web designer or developer's workflow. However, these tasks can often be time-consuming and divert your attention from creating stunning websites.
But with AI integrated into The Hub by GoDaddy Pro, our site and client management dashboard, you can now automate client proposals, invoices, and communication.
Our generative AI feature ensures that you can create compelling content for client collaboration and communication effortlessly.
Streamlined proposal & reporting process
Writing proposals and generating reports have traditionally been manual, time-consuming tasks for professionals. Thankfully, with AI communication tools integrated into our WordPress Hosting, you can automate these processes.
Our AI-powered system can generate proposals and reports based on the information you provide, saving you valuable time and effort. This means you can focus more on growing your business and less on running it.
Enhanced content creation & optimization
Content is king, and GoDaddy's AI tools ensure that you have a competitive edge in the realm of content creation and optimization.
Our AI-powered technology helps you generate engaging, SEO-optimized content by analyzing keywords and industry trends.
This enables you to attract more organic traffic and boost your website's visibility. Additionally, our AI-driven optimization tools provide valuable insights and recommendations to enhance your website's performance and user experience.
With our addition of improved AI prompts, you'll see high-quality content your visitors may find even more compelling.
Personalized support & assistance
At GoDaddy, our AI-powered chatbots are designed to assist you with any queries or technical issues you may encounter.
Whether you need help with website setup, troubleshooting, or general guidance, our AI chatbots will provide prompt and personalized assistance, ensuring a seamless experience throughout your journey.
GoDaddy's AI-powered enhancements for WordPress Hosting are set to revolutionize the way WordPress users and website designers or developers manage their websites and clients.
From faster onboarding to automated proposal generation, our AI tools are designed to help you save time, increase productivity, and allow you to focus on what you do best – creating stunning websites.
Ready for AI to turbocharge your WordPress workflow?
With GoDaddy, you can harness the power of AI to grow your business, streamline your workflow, and achieve remarkable results. Embrace the future of web development with GoDaddy's AI product enhancements!
Getting started with a WordPress hosting plan
Getting started with either the individual or pro plans is identical. Once added to your account, you will be given three different options:
- View Templates
- Manual WordPress setup (for experienced users)
- Migrate an existing WordPress site.
Even if you’re a seasoned pro, we recommend checking out the templates available to use for your new site. It can help speed the building process and it uses the native WordPress block editor and CoBlocks.
We hope this helped you choose your WordPress hosting plan?
In this post, we’ve given you the lowdown on:
- Individual vs. bulk WordPress hosting plans
- Preferred storage capacity
- Security
- The perks of managed hosting
Feel free to chat with one of our WordPress hosting experts or poke around our site and research our WordPress Hosting for single sites or our Managed WordPress for 5, 10, 25 or 50 sites.
Also, keep in mind that these hosting plans are flexible, and when your WordPress business outgrows them as your business grows (and we’re rooting for you when it does), it’s no problem to level up to a plan that fits you better.
Happy hosting.
Editor's Note: This article contains content written by Topher Derosia, Michael Roehricht and Justin Nealy.
