The WordPress platform needs two things to work. It needs a domain name and web hosting. Think of it this way, if your website is your house, then your domain name is the street address and your web hosting is the piece of land your house sits on. And just like your house, you want to build it on a good piece of land. This is why choosing a good web hosting company is a must if you want your WordPress website to succeed.
Web hosting companies number by the thousands and most can support a WordPress installation on their servers. However, WordPress itself recommends 3 web hosting companies. These are:
1) Bluehost
2) DreamHost
3) SiteGround
You can’t go wrong with any of these companies. All three offer 1-click WordPress installation, so you can quickly have a WordPress website without any hassle or headache involved. They also offer 24/7 support so if you have questions about web hosting or you need help setting up your site, then you can contact them anytime through a variety of communication channels.
However, they do have some differences in the services they bundle up with their hosting plans. For instance, Bluehost and Dreamhost both offer free domain names for their plans, but SiteGround does not. If you’re going to buy a domain name from SiteGround, you’d need to spend an extra $15.95/yr, so you may want to buy your domain name elsewhere.
When it comes to pricing, Bluehost offers the lowest price. If you lock yourself in a 3-year contract, then you’d only need to pay $2.95/mo for the basic plan. DreamHost offers the most expensive plan at $6.95/mo, and that’s if you get a 3-year contract!
If you want to try out which web host is best for your website, then you can sign up for each one. Both Bluehost and Siteground offer a 30-day money back guarantee while DreamHost offers 97 days. If you’re unhappy with the service, simply cancel it within their money back period, and you’ll get a refund. Plus, they will automatically cancel your 12-month, 24-month or 36-month contract.
While these 3 companies come highly recommended by WordPress.org itself, there are many more web hosting companies you can choose from. Just be sure to ask them first if they offer WordPress support, and if they do, then feel free to sign up for their hosting plans.