Since high school, I have been helping people build websites and find the right hosting. When I launched WPBeginner in 2009, shared hosting was the most common recommendation due to its affordability and ease of use.
However, as the WordPress ecosystem grew, Managed WordPress Hosting became a game-changer for businesses needing enhanced performance, security, and support.
You may have noticed that managed WordPress hosting is more expensive than shared hosting, and you might wonder if it’s worth the extra cost.
Having worked with top hosting companies and used many for my projects, I’ve seen firsthand the benefits that managed WordPress hosting offers.
In this article, I’ll discuss the pros and cons of managed hosting and provide detailed comparisons of the top providers.
Here is why you should trust my recommendations:
- My team and I use these managed WordPress hosting companies ourselves, unlike other review sites. (See our editorial process)
- I don’t just rely on opinions. I test each managed hosting company with industry-standard tools to ensure speed, uptime, and performance.
- I have evaluated nearly two dozen top hosting companies and have spent over 1,000+ hours researching this page.
- My team conducts a WPBeginner user survey each year and gathers feedback about each hosting company from individual reviews, comments, and support interactions.
This guide results from more than 15 years of experience with my team and I (meet my team members). I have been diligently trying to find you the best managed WordPress hosting, and here are my top picks.
Top Picks (Quick Comparison)
| Host | Starting Price | Average Load Time | Best For | User Score | WPBeginner Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2.99/mo | 397 ms | 🏆 Best all-purpose WordPress hosting | 4.9/5 |
A++ (Review) |
| $2.69/mo | 374 ms | 🏅 Best for small businesses & blogs | 4.9/5 |
A++ (Review) |
| $30/mo | 448 ms | 🏅 Best for high-performance requirements | 4.8/5 |
A+ (Review) |
| $25/mo | 636 ms | Best for Business / eCommerce | 4.8/5 | A+ |
| $6.95/mo | 1.2 s | 🏅 High traffic & eCommerce | 4.8/5 |
A+ (Review) |
| $16.95/mo | 439 ms | Small businesses and personal sites | 4.7/5 |
A (Review) |
| $29.95/mo | 1.04 s | Businesses looking for VPS hosting | 4.8/5 |
A (Review) |
| $25/mo | 520 ms | Managed WordPress hosting for agencies | 4.7/5 | A |
| $9.95/mo | 560 ms | Web professionals & small businesses | 4.8/5 | A |
| $17.50/mo | 438 ms | High-traffic websites and businesses | 4.8/5 | A |
| $20/mo | 1.1 s | Web professionals & small businesses | 4.8/5 | A |
| $35/mo | 300 ms | Premium managed WordPress hosting | 4.9/5 | A- |
What Is Managed WordPress Hosting?
As WordPress has grown in popularity, now powering over 43% of websites, many web hosting providers have specialized in offering managed WordPress hosting.
Over the years, I’ve seen how this service has evolved into a concierge-level solution for WordPress users.
Managed WordPress hosting covers all the technical aspects of running a WordPress site. These include security, speed optimization, updates, daily backups, uptime, and scalability.
Having used various managed hosting providers, I can tell you that this convenience is unmatched.
The idea behind a managed WordPress hosting package is to give you a completely hassle-free experience so you can focus on running your business.
From my experience, this hands-off approach saves time and helps avoid the stress of dealing with server management.
One of the biggest benefits of managed hosting is the premium support. Instead of dealing with general support teams, you’re assisted by actual WordPress experts who truly understand the platform. This has been a blessing for me and many others.
Customers often describe managed WordPress hosting as “a Five-Star Hotel for WordPress” or “like having an army of WordPress experts on your side”—and in my experience, that’s a pretty accurate description.
Pros and Cons of Managed WordPress Hosting
While Managed WordPress Hosting sounds fantastic, I know from experience that it’s not the right fit for every website. Before deciding, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons.
Advantages of Managed WordPress Hosting
Blazing Fast: Managed WordPress hosting servers are optimized specifically for WordPress. I’ve seen firsthand how fast these servers can be, even during high-traffic spikes on my websites.
Security: Managed WordPress hosting companies have stricter security measures, actively scanning for malware and blocking hacking attempts. This layer of protection has saved me from potential threats more times than I can count.
Expert Support: The level of support is unmatched. Unlike other hosting services, the support teams are WordPress specialists. It’s like having a team of WordPress experts on speed dial.
Daily Backups: Managed hosts take daily backups, so you can always revert if something goes wrong. I also recommend setting up your own backup solution using a plugin like Duplicator. However, it is good to have multiple backups just in case.
Automatic Updates: You don’t have to worry about core WordPress updates. Everything is handled automatically, which saves time, and you can focus on working on your site.
No Downtime: No matter how much traffic your site gets, your website will likely stay online. This has been crucial for my websites during high-traffic periods.
Dev Tools: Most managed hosts offer useful development tools like staging environments and version control. These tools have made testing site changes so much easier.
At this point, you might think these advantages sound great—but are there any downsides?
Disadvantages of Managed WordPress Hosting
Price: Managed WordPress hosting can be significantly more expensive than shared hosting. The base plans usually start around $20/month, while shared hosting can start as low as $1.99/month. But managed hosting becomes a pretty good deal if you factor in the cost of running a large website or hiring a system admin.
Limits: Since these servers are optimized for WordPress, you’re often limited to running only WordPress-based sites. Additionally, some plugins that slow down performance may be blocked.
Less Control: With managed hosting, someone else handles all the technical aspects, which means you have less control over changes.
Now that you’ve seen the pros and cons of Managed WordPress Hosting, you might wonder if it’s the right solution. Based on my experience, it’s ideal for those who want to focus on content and business rather than technical maintenance.
How Do I Test Each Hosting Company?
My Testing Methodology
I believe in transparency and want to show you how I evaluate and pick the best managed WordPress hosting companies.
In deciding which hosting companies to recommend, I prioritized the following:
- Speed and Server Response Time: I tested server response times to ensure fast website performance, improving SEO rankings and conversions.
- Ability to Handle High Traffic: I conducted stress tests to ensure the host could handle high traffic during peak times, like sales promotions.
- Price and Affordability: I recommend hosts that offer high value at affordable prices, catering to small businesses.
- Easy Refunds / Cancelation: I prefer hosts that offer a money-back guarantee and refunds to protect users. I don’t recommend hosting companies that make it difficult to cancel a subscription.
- Free Domain and SSL: I emphasize hosts that provide a free domain for at least the first year and free SSL for website security.
- Support Response Time: I look for hosts that offer 24/7/365 support with knowledgeable teams to address critical issues quickly.
The Testing Process
I signed up for each hosting company and created a dummy website using a default WordPress theme. I filled that website with dummy data, including media and images.
I then used independent third-party tools to monitor different areas of performance. Here are the tools I used:
- GrafanaLabs / K6 – For stress testing, I used K6 Tool by GrafanaLabs.
- Pingdom – For speed testing to calculate page load time. I ran multiple tests from different locations to get an average page load time.
- Bitcatcha – To collect average server response time.
- Uptime Robot – For uptime monitoring.
Other Things I Considered
- My personal experience while using a hosting company
- Other customer reviews
- Various usage scenarios for different customers
Need more help? Hire an expert! 🙋♂️
Need help setting up your website? Check out the WPBeginner WordPress Website Design service. For a small fee, my team of WordPress experts will help you set up a professional website that matches your goals.
The Best Managed WordPress Hosting Providers
Many WPBeginner readers have told me that finding the best managed WordPress host is like finding a needle in a haystack. There are too many to choose from, offering similar features.
I have narrowed it down to these top companies offering managed WordPress hosting. Let’s look at each one individually to see why I picked it and who should use it.
1. SiteGround
| Quick info:🔹Starting from $2.99/mo 🔹Free Domain: Yes 🔹Sites Allowed: 1 🔹Disk Space: 10GB |
SiteGround is consistently ranked as one of the top-rated managed WordPress hosting providers by my readers and the WordPress community.
It uses the Google Cloud platform, which makes the SiteGround servers blazingly fast and highly reliable.
I love SiteGround’s hosting control panel, which makes it easy for beginners to install WordPress and manage their websites and hosting accounts. At the same time, it offers advanced tools to power users to do more.
One thing that sets SiteGround apart is its customer service. Whenever my team needs help, their 24/7 support team is quick to respond and incredibly knowledgeable.
 |
| Performance |
| Uptime: 100% |
| Page load time: 397 ms |
| Avg. Response Time: 123 ms |
| WPBeginner Rating: A++ |
| User Rating: 4.9/5 |
| Best For: Best all-purpose hosting 🏆 |
Pros of Using SiteGround
- Incredibly fast and highly reliable hosting built on the Google Cloud platform
- 24/7 expert customer support and quick response times on live chat always make users happy.
- It is very beginner-friendly for new WordPress users. At the same time, it offers powerful tools for advanced users, such as WP-CLI, SSH access, 1-click staging sites, Free CDN, and easy domain management.
Best For
- Suitable for all kinds of WordPress websites, including business and online stores.
- A well-balanced overall hosting product makes it a flexible option for most websites.
SiteGround Performance Tests
Uptime
The SiteGround test site had an uptime of 100% during the last seven days of the screenshot.
Page load speed
The test site’s average page load time was 397 ms, tested on EU and US servers.
Response Time
I noticed amazing response times in the US, Canada, and Europe but comparatively slow in India.
Stress Testing
I gradually increased site traffic to up to 50 virtual users. SiteGround handled that traffic quite well.
My Experience: I use SiteGround to host the WPBeginner website, which is very large and has a lot of traffic. Here is the case study explaining why WPBeginner switched to SiteGround. Many of my partner businesses are also hosted on SiteGround. I have found SiteGround to be one of the most reliable WordPress hosting companies. (Read the full SiteGround review by my team and other SiteGround customers.)
2. Hostinger
| Quick info:🔹Starting from $2.69/mo 🔹Free Domain: Yes 🔹Sites Allowed: 1 🔹Disk Space: 50GB |
Hostinger is well known for offering affordable WordPress hosting without compromising on performance.
Hostinger uses LiteSpeed servers, which deliver fast load times for managed WordPress hosting. This makes Hostinger a good choice for websites that need quick performance on a budget.
Hostinger uses a custom control panel called ‘hPanel,’ which I have found to be extremely useful. It allows users to quickly install WordPress, manage updates, add new websites, and manage domain names and email addresses.
Their plans also include a free domain, SSL, and CDN, which adds more value. Hostinger is a good option for beginners and people looking to host multiple sites.
 |
| Performance |
| Uptime: 99.9% |
| Page load time: 374 ms |
| Avg. Response Time: 111 ms |
| WPBeginner Rating: A++ |
| User Rating: 4.8/5 |
| Best for: Small business & personal websites |
Pros of Using Hostinger
- Affordable managed WordPress hosting with good performance
- Fast LiteSpeed servers and free SSL included
- Beginner-friendly with an easy control panel and 1-click installs
Best for:
- Budget-conscious WordPress users
- Beginners creating their first website
- Websites needing fast load times without breaking the bank
My Experience: I found Hostinger to be the fastest WordPress hosting provider at this price point, making it a reliable option for managed WordPress hosting. My interactions with customer support were fast, and I found them highly skilled. (Read the full Hostinger review by my team and other Hostinger customers.)
Hostinger Performance Tests
Uptime:
The Hostinger test site maintained 100% uptime. However, this test has been running for a long time, and a more accurate uptime would be 99.99%.
Page load speed:
My test site had an average load time of 374 ms in the US. It was excellent in Europe, with 425 ms on average.
Response time:
Hostinger’s response times were excellent across the globe.
Stress testing:
I sent up to 50 virtual users to the test site. Hostinger handled the traffic without any issues.
3. Rocket.net
| Quick info:🔹Starting from $25/mo 🔹Free Domain: No 🔹Sites Allowed: 1 🔹Disk Space: 10GB |
Rocket.net is known for its high-performance managed WordPress hosting. Its unique cloud-edge network with integrated CDN ensures that your website loads incredibly fast, regardless of your visitors’ location.
I enjoyed using its custom control panel, which is very user-friendly, offering 1-click WordPress installs and staging environments. Their built-in security features include firewalls, malware scanning, and daily backups, giving you peace of mind.
Rocket.net delivered an amazing performance in tests, with an average load time of 448 ms and rock-solid stability under stress tests with up to 50 virtual users.
 |
| Performance |
| Uptime: 99.94% |
| Page load time: 448 ms |
| Avg. Response Time: 3 ms |
| WPBeginner Rating: A+ |
| User Rating: 4.9/5 |
| Best for: High-traffic and business websites |
Pros of Using Rocket.net
- Incredibly fast servers optimized for WordPress
- Excellent built-in security with firewall and malware protection
- User-friendly control panel and 1-click WordPress installs
Best for:
- High-traffic websites and businesses that need reliable, high-performance hosting
- Users who want premium hosting with enhanced security
My Experience: I found Rocket.net to be one of the fastest and most reliable managed WordPress hosting services I’ve tested. Their advanced cloud-edge network and excellent customer support make it a top choice for serious WordPress users. (Read my team’s complete Rocket.net review for more details.)
Rocket.net Performance Tests
Uptime:
My Rocket.net test site maintained 99.94% uptime during testing.
Page load speed:
The test site loaded in 448 ms on average, tested on US and EU servers, and the fastest page load time was 270 ms.
Response time:
Rocket.net’s response times were excellent worldwide, with an average of just 3.8 ms.
Stress testing:
Rocket.net handled traffic spikes smoothly, with consistent performance during tests with up to 50 virtual users.
4. WordPress.com
| Quick info:🔹Starting from $25/mo (Business) 🔹Free Domain: Yes (with paid plans) 🔹Sites Allowed: 1 🔹Disk Space: 3GB (upgradable) |
WordPress.com is a fully hosted platform created by Automattic, and it’s a top choice for small businesses and online stores. While it shares its name with the open-source WordPress.org project, they are different.
WordPress.com is a fully managed hosted service where most of the technical details are managed for you, while WordPress.org is self-hosted software that you install and manage on your own. For more details, see this comparison of WordPress.org vs. WordPress.com.
I recommend WordPress.com’s Business plan ($25 /mo). It’s made for small businesses and lets you install plugins and themes.
For those who want to start an online store, I recommend WordPress.com’s Commerce plan ($45/mo), which is the platform built for WooCommerce and other online stores.
 |
| Performance |
| Uptime: 99.95% |
| Page load time: 636 ms |
| Avg. Response Time: 4.7 ms |
| WPBeginner Rating: A+ |
| User Rating: 4.5/5 |
| Best for: Business / eCommerce websites |
Pros of Using WordPress.com
- Fully managed platform where you don’t have to worry about security and updates
- Super fast servers with no bandwidth limitations
- Easy-to-use dashboard and built-in features to get you started
Best for:
- Businesses that need managed hosting without worrying about security and updates
- Online stores that need reliable uptime and performance
My Experience: WordPress.com offers a simple, hands-off approach to website creation. However, the free and lower-tier plans can feel restrictive compared to self-hosted WordPress.org. If you need flexibility and control, I recommend the self-hosted version.
WordPress.com Performance Tests
Uptime:
My WordPress.com test site maintained 99.95% uptime during testing.
Page load speed:
My test site had an average load time of 636 ms tested on US servers.
Response time:
WordPress.com performed well globally, with an average response time of 4.7 ms.
Stress test:
I sent 50 virtual users to my test site, and WordPress.com performed well under increased traffic.
5. Bluehost Cloud
| Quick info:🔹Starting from $29.99 🔹Free Domain: Yes 🔹Sites Allowed: 1 🔹Disk Space: 10GB |
Bluehost Cloud is a managed cloud hosting service perfect for high-traffic websites, eCommerce stores, and experienced users.
Due to its cloud technology, Bluehost Cloud offers excellent speed and uptime. This hosting plan is a great choice for users who want the scalability and reliability of the cloud without breaking the bank.
One of the best features of Bluehost Cloud is the ability to scale resources instantly as your site grows. With a user-friendly control panel and 1-click WordPress install, Bluehost Cloud is a solid choice for businesses.
It also offers extra security features like SSL, real-time security scans, and DDoS protection.
 |
| Performance |
| Uptime: 99.98% |
| Best for: High-traffic sites and eCommerce 🎖️ |
| Avg. Response Time: 153 ms |
| WPBeginner Rating: A+ |
| User Rating: 4.7/5 |
| Best for: High traffic sites and eCommerce 🎖️ |
Pros of Using Bluehost Cloud
- Ultra-fast cloud hosting with reliable performance
- Scalability to handle increased traffic as your site grows
- Beginner-friendly with easy 1-click WordPress installation
Best for:
- Businesses and online stores that need managed hosting
- High traffic websites
My Experience: My team and I have been Bluehost customers for a long time. Having used several of their hosting services, I can confidently recommend Bluehost to any WordPress user. Bluehost Cloud offers a great mix of affordability and premium performance. It’s a good choice for those looking to scale their site. (Read the full Bluehost review by my team and other Bluehost customers.)
Bluehost Performance Tests
Uptime: My Bluehost test site maintained 99.98% uptime.
Page load speed: My test site had an average load time of 417 ms. It was particularly impressive in the US East Coast where page load time averaged around 255 ms.
Response time: Response times were strong in the US and Europe but slower in Asia and Australia.
Stress testing: I gradually increased traffic to 50 visual users, and Bluehost handled it smoothly without performance drops.
6. DreamHost
| Quick info:🔹Starting from $16.95/month 🔹Free Domain: Yes 🔹Sites Allowed: 1 🔹Disk Space: 30 GB |
DreamHost is officially recommended by WordPress.org. It is one of the oldest hosting companies in the business with an excellent track record. Overall, it offers highly optimized managed WordPress hosting with blazingly fast servers.
I found DreamHost to offer the perfect balance of affordability and performance. They offer a free domain with privacy protection, automatic daily backups, and built-in security, making DreamHost a popular choice for bloggers and small business websites.
My tests showed that DreamHost’s servers are fast and can handle traffic spikes well, especially when you turn on their caching feature. DreamHost also includes a custom control panel, making it easy for beginners and advanced users to manage their websites.
 |
| Performance |
| Uptime: 99.82% |
| Page load time: 439 ms |
| Avg. Response Time: 255 ms |
| WPBeginner Rating: A |
| User Rating: 4.7/5 |
| Best for: Small businesses and bloggers |
Pros of Using DreamHost
- Officially recommended by WordPress.org
- Free domain with privacy protection
- Highly optimized managed WordPress hosting servers.
Best for:
- Small business websites, bloggers, and personal websites
- Users needing reliable and affordable hosting with great features
My Experience: My team has been using DreamHost for a few smaller projects. It is a reliable, managed WordPress hosting option for small businesses and bloggers. Their fast load times, reliable uptime, and extra features like free SSL and 1-click installer make them an excellent choice for WordPress users. (Read the complete DreamHost review for more details.)
Dreamhost Performance Tests
Uptime:
My DreamHost test site maintained 99.82% uptime during testing.
Page load speed:
The test site loaded with an average of 439 ms while tested on US and EU servers.
Response time:
Response times were particularly fast in North America and Europe, averaging 255 ms.
Stress testing: DreamHost handled traffic spikes efficiently, especially with caching enabled, achieving an average of 45 requests per second during tests.
7. Scala Hosting
| Quick info:🔹Starting from $29.95/mo 🔹Free Domain: Yes 🔹Sites Allowed: Unlimited 🔹Disk Space: 50GB |
Scala Hosting is a popular host in the managed WordPress VPS cloud hosting sector. Known for its speed, security, and customer support, Scala Hosting offers excellent performance for users needing reliable, cloud-based hosting services.
I liked Scala Hosting’s proprietary SPanel, an alternative to cPanel that simplifies website management. Every plan includes a free SSL, free domain, and free website migration, making it a great option for beginners and growing businesses alike.
Your website remains secure with its built-in SShield cybersecurity protection. Scala Hosting’s ability to scale resources easily and affordably makes it an attractive option for users who need flexibility in their hosting.
 |
| Performance |
| Uptime: 100% |
| Page load time: 1.04 s |
| Avg. Response Time: 120.4 ms |
| WPBeginner Rating: A |
| User Rating: 4.8/5 |
| Best for: Businesses looking for VPS hosting |
Pros of Using Scala Hosting
- Speed-optimized VPS hosting with faster NVMe SSD storage
- Free SSL, domain, and website migration included
- Scalable plans with a user-friendly control panel (SPanel)
Best for:
- Businesses needing flexible and secure VPS hosting
- Sites with growing traffic or needing extra security
My Experience: Scala Hosting performed exceptionally well in my tests, with fast load times and top-notch security. Their live chat support is responsive, and their unique features, like SPanel, make managing websites easier for users of all skill levels. (For more details, check out the complete Scala Hosting review.)
Scala Hosting Performance Tests
Uptime:
My Scala Hosting test site maintained 100% uptime during testing.
Page load speed:
The test site loaded an average of 1.04 seconds and tested from US and EU servers.
Response time:
Response times were excellent, averaging just 120.4 ms globally, with faster results in the US and Europe.
Stress testing:
Scala Hosting handled up to 50 concurrent users smoothly during stress tests, maintaining a stable average response time of 457 ms.
8. Pressable
| Quick info:🔹Starting from $25/mo 🔹Free Domain: No 🔹Sites Allowed: 1-50 depending on plan 🔹Disk Space: 20GB (upgradable) |
Pressable is a fully managed WordPress hosting provider built on the Automattic WP Cloud platform, the same infrastructure that powers WordPress.com and WooCommerce. It’s known for delivering top-tier performance, 100% uptime, and a seamless experience for agencies, developers, and businesses.
I loved their superior customer support and ease of use. Their built-in tools, such as Jetpack Security, a global CDN, automatic updates, and real-time backups, help you keep your sites secure and fast. You get unlimited free site migrations and access to developer tools like SSH, WP-CLI, and Git integration.
Whether you need to host a WooCommerce store, a high-traffic website, or manage multiple client sites, Pressable’s scalable plans ensure your site stays fast and secure even during traffic spikes.
 |
| Performance |
| Uptime: 100% |
| Page load time: 520 ms |
| Avg. Response Time: 12 ms |
| WPBeginner Rating: A |
| User Rating: 4.7/5 |
| Best for: Creators / small businesses |
Pros of Using Pressable
- Built on the same infrastructure as WordPress.com for reliable performance
- Includes Jetpack Security, global CDN, and automated backups
- Real-time failover and geo-redundant architecture ensure maximum uptime
Best for:
- Businesses looking for premium managed WordPress hosting
- High-traffic sites needing scalable performance
- WooCommerce stores and businesses
My Experience: I found Pressable extremely easy to use. Its incredible performance made it a reliable choice for all types of websites. I was also delighted by the fast customer support responses in live chat and the excellent documentation available for DIY users.
Pressable Performance Tests
Page load speed:
My Pressable site loaded quickly from US and EU servers, and the average score was 520 ms.
Response time:
Pressable response times were excellent all over the world.
Stress test:
Pressable also performed really well during my stress tests.
9. A2 Hosting
| Quick info:🔹Pricing: $9.95/month 🔹Free Domain: No 🔹Sites Allowed: Unlimited 🔹Disk Space: 10GB |
A2 Hosting is a reliable, multi-purpose WordPress hosting provider. They offer managed WordPress hosting backed by a 99.9% uptime commitment and a highly rated Guru Crew support team.
Their starter shared hosting plans are affordable and offer good value. For premium performance, I recommend their managed WordPress plans, which start from $9.95/mo.
A2 Hosting also excels in customer support, offering 24/7/365 help through their Guru Crew and free site migrations.
 |
| Performance |
| Uptime: 99.9% |
| Page load time: 560 ms |
| Avg. Response Time: 121 ms |
| WPBeginner Rating: A |
| User Rating: 4.6/5 |
| Best for: Small businesses / personal sites |
Pros of Using A2 Hosting
- Their managed WordPress hosting plans offer a good balance of performance and affordability
- Pre-configured security and speed optimizations with A2 Optimized WordPress
- Excellent customer support with 24/7 Guru Crew assistance
Best for:
- DIY small business or personal websites
My Experience: A2 Hosting offers excellent performance and support. Their fast Turbo servers and pre-configured WordPress setup make them a good choice for WordPress users who want speed without the hassle of extensive configurations. (Read the A2 Hosting review for more customer reviews.)
A2 Hosting Performance Tests
Uptime:
My test site on A2Hosting showed an excellent uptime of 99.94%.
Page load Speed:
The test site on A2 Hosting averaged around 438 ms when tested from US and EU servers.
Response Time:
On average, the response time for A2 Hosting’s managed WordPress was around 123.9 ms, the fastest on the US East Coast.
Stress Testing:
A2 Hosting blocked around 40 requests during stress testing, 0.35% of 11,300 requests. I believe the performance had a low failure rate, which can be addressed by adjusting server resources.
10. Liquid Web
| Quick info:🔹Pricing: Starting at $20/month 🔹Free Domain: No 🔹Sites Allowed: 1 🔹Disk Space: 15GB (upgradable) |
Liquid Web is a WordPress managed VPS hosting provider known for its performance and scalability. It’s designed for high-traffic websites and businesses that need reliable uptime. Liquid Web offers a fully managed service that handles everything from server maintenance to security updates.
Thanks to its optimized infrastructure, including SSD storage, Cloudflare CDN, and automatic server scaling, it provides fast and reliable hosting. This ensures your website can handle large traffic spikes without slowing down.
One of Liquid Web’s standout features is its 24/7/365 support team of WordPress experts, who are always available to help resolve issues quickly.
 |
| Performance |
| Uptime: 99.98% |
| Page load time: 438 ms |
| Avg. Response Time: 215 ms |
| WPBeginner Rating: A |
| User Rating: 4.6/5 |
| Best for: High traffic sites / advanced users |
Pros of Using Liquid Web
- Top-tier performance with scalable infrastructure
- Fully managed hosting, including automatic updates and server maintenance
- 24/7 expert support specializing in WordPress
Best for:
- High-traffic websites needing premium performance
- Developers and agencies
My Experience: Liquid Web consistently performs well in tests, delivering excellent uptime and fast page load times. Their managed VPS hosting service makes scaling your website for traffic spikes easy. (Read the full Liquid Web review for more details.)
Liquid Web Performance Tests
Uptime:
My Liquid Web test site maintained 99.98% uptime during testing.
Page load speed:
The test site loaded in an average of 438 ms, tested on US and EU servers.
Response time:
Liquid Web’s response times were excellent, averaging 215 ms globally.
Stress Test:
I tested Liquid Web’s performance for traffic spikes by sending up to 50 virtual users. It performed quite well under the increased traffic.
11. InMotion Hosting
| Quick info:🔹Starting from $20/mo 🔹Free Domain: Yes 🔹Sites Allowed: Unlimited 🔹Disk Space: 100 GB SSD |
InMotion Hosting offers fast and reliable managed WordPress plans with a variety of features. Known for their excellent customer service and high-performance servers, they are a balanced choice for beginners and small businesses.
InMotion Hosting’s plans include a free domain, unlimited email, and free SSL certificates. Their optimized WordPress hosting includes advanced caching for faster load times and secure NVMe SSD storage for increased performance.
What stands out is their 24/7 U.S.-based support and a 90-day money-back guarantee. They also offer free website migrations, which is great for users looking to switch from another host.
 |
| Performance |
| Uptime: 99.99% |
| Page load time: 1.1 s |
| Avg. Response Time: 120.8 ms |
| WPBeginner Rating: A |
| User Rating: 4.8/5 |
| Best for: Small business / personal sites |
Pros of Using InMotion Hosting
- Free SSL, domain, and website migrations
- Generous storage and bandwidth
- 24/7 U.S.-based customer support
Best for:
- Small businesses and personal websites
My Experience: InMotion Hosting has consistently delivered reliable performance in tests. Their focus on customer support and good infrastructure makes them a good choice for WordPress hosting. (Read the full InMotion Hosting review for more details.)
InMotion Hosting Performance Tests
Uptime:
The InMotion Hosting account gave 100% uptime for the testing period. However, I expect it to be around 99% on average as the test continues to run for more days.
Page load speed:
The test site had an average load time of 1.11 ms, tested on various servers.
Response time:
InMotion Hosting performed well globally, with an average response time of 120.8 ms.
Stress Test:
I tested InMotion Hosting for traffic spikes by sending up to 50 virtual users. It handles those requests quite well.
12. Kinsta
| Quick info:🔹Starting from $30/month 🔹Free Domain: No 🔹Sites Allowed: 1 🔹Disk Space: 10GB |
Kinsta is a managed WordPress hosting provider known for their speed and developer-friendly features. Their hosting is built on Google Cloud’s premium tier network, which ensures optimal performance even during high traffic spikes.
Kinsta offers free CDN integration, daily backups, and automatic scaling to handle traffic surges without downtime. Their enterprise-level DDoS protection, security monitoring, and malware removal ensure your site stays safe and secure.
Kinsta’s unique MyKinsta dashboard makes it easy to manage your WordPress site. Their 24/7 support team is staffed with WordPress experts who can assist with any issues in under two minutes. Overall, Kinsta is an ideal choice for high-traffic sites that need reliable and fast hosting.
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| Performance |
| Uptime: 99.9% |
| Page load time: 300 ms |
| Avg. Response Time: 215 ms |
| WPBeginner Rating: A- |
| User Rating: 4.9/5 |
| Best for: Growing businesses and agencies |
Pros of Using Kinsta
- Built on Google Cloud for optimal speed and reliability
- 24/7 expert WordPress support with fast response times
- Free CDN, DDoS protection, malware removal, and daily backups included
Best for:
- High-traffic WordPress sites that need reliable performance
- Businesses and agencies looking for premium managed hosting
- Developers seeking advanced tools and scalable infrastructure
My Experience: I liked Kinsta’s performance and security features. It’s packed with technology that ensures fast speeds, top-notch security, and scalability, making it a great choice for medium and large websites.
Kinsta Performance Tests
Uptime:
My Kinsta test site didn’t record any downtime during the testing period.
Page load speed:
My demo site on Kinsta loaded quickly from US and EU locations with an average page load speed of 635 ms.
Response time:
The response time was excellent for locations around the world.
Stress test:
To see how a test site on Kinsta would perform under traffic, I sent up to 50 virtual users. It performed very well, with an excellent response time (57 ms) throughout the test.
My Verdict: Which Is the Best Managed WordPress Hosting?
Still wondering which managed WordPress hosting is best for you? To answer that, you need to understand that each WordPress website has different needs.
For instance, some websites may need eCommerce features, which require more hosting resources, while others may need more bandwidth to handle more traffic.
Here is my top pick of the best fully managed WordPress hosting providers.
I used my testing methodologies, user feedback, personal experience, and pricing to choose them. I have also picked them based on who they are most well-suited for.
1. SiteGround
🏆 Best For Any Kind of WordPress Website
I recommend SiteGround for hosting any kind of WordPress project. It perfectly balances performance, affordability, security, and scalability. If you are unsure about your hosting needs, I suggest you go with SiteGround, and you will be in good hands. My team hosts several websites, including WPBeginner, on SiteGround and has found them to be one of the most reliable hosting providers I have used.
2. Hostinger
🎖️ Best Personal and Small Business WordPress Hosting
If you are starting a new WordPress website for your business or personal projects, I recommend Hostinger. They offer an easy-to-use hosting control panel with excellent customer support. I like the performance boost they have achieved using Litespeed web servers and caching. My team has been using Hostinger for several projects for years. The customer feedback about their reliability and support is hugely positive.
3. Rocket.net
🚀 Best for high-performance requirements
If you’re looking for a hosting provider focused on speed and security, I recommend Rocket.net. Their platform includes a built-in CDN and Web Application Firewall (WAF) for added protection and faster page loading times. My team has seen excellent performance from Rocket.net, making it a great choice for users who prioritize speed and site security.
4. WordPress.com
🌍 Best for Business / eCommerce
For those who want a fully managed WordPress experience without the technical complexities, I recommend WordPress.com’s Business and Commerce plans. They are a great option for beginners who prefer a simplified setup, automatic updates, and no server management at all. Their performance is extremely reliable and consistent, and they have faster page load times regardless of your visitors’ location.
Why Trust WPBeginner?
At WPBeginner, we’re a dedicated team of people with over 16 years of experience in WordPress, design, and online marketing.
- Our WordPress experts thoroughly test and evaluate each WordPress hosting company we recommend. (See our editorial process)
- We use industry-standard benchmarking tools to monitor the performance of each hosting company we recommend.
- Having helped over 250,000 WordPress users start their websites, we continuously learn from customer feedback and adjust our recommendations to address their needs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Managed Hosting
Here are the answers to some of the most common questions my readers have asked about using managed hosting.
Do I need managed WordPress hosting to start my website?
Managed WordPress is a premium hosting service that costs extra and is suitable for websites that need higher performance. If you are just starting out, then you can start with any affordable WordPress hosting provider. I recommend checking our guide on how to make a website for more details.
Can I install plugins on managed WordPress hosting by myself?
Yes, you can. Managed WordPress hosting makes it easy to update all your plugins automatically from the dashboard. It doesn’t stop you from installing WordPress plugins. However, some managed hosting companies may block some plugins that are not compatible with their hosting environment.
Can I install WooCommerce in managed WordPress hosting?
Yes, you can. WooCommerce allows you to add an online store to your website. You can install it on your managed WordPress hosting like you would install any other plugin. You can also see our comparison of the best WooCommerce hosting companies.
How much does it cost to build a website on managed WordPress hosting?
The total cost of your website is calculated based on hosting costs, domain name, and SSL certificate. The cost of maintaining your website will grow as it grows. We have created a detailed guide on how much it costs to build a website, with breakdowns for different scenarios and tips on controlling your costs.
How do these managed hosting companies compare to other providers?
Beginners often ask how these managed WordPress hosting options compare to other options advertised elsewhere, such as WP Engine, HostGator, Nexcess, Flywheel, etc. The companies we picked meet our criteria of offering the best combination of customer service, reliability, performance, and features. See our methodology section above.
I hope this guide helped you find the right managed WordPress hosting provider to meet your requirements and budget. I’d be happy to hear about your experience, and if you have any more questions, feel free to message me.
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