At the start of your website journey, one of the biggest decisions you’ll make is choosing a hosting provider. With so many options, it can feel overwhelming, but the right choice will set your site up for success. Let’s break it down.
What Is a hosting provider?
A hosting provider makes your website accessible on the Internet. Some platforms, like Shopify and Squarespace, include hosting, so you don’t have to think about it. But WordPress gives you two options:
- Hosting on WordPress.com (a managed service with built-in features)
- Choosing an independent hosting provider for more flexibility
Since Shopify and Squarespace don’t allow third-party hosting, let’s focus on WordPress hosting and what to consider when making your decision.
What to look for in a hosting provider
Reliability
Your website should always be accessible, so server uptime is a top priority. Frequent downtime means lost visitors and lost opportunities.
Security
An SSL certificate is a must. You’ve probably seen the warning “This site isn’t secure” on some websites. That happens when a site lacks HTTPS encryption. SSL protects your site, secures data, and even improves your ranking on Google.
Speed
Page load times impact both user experience and SEO. A slow website will frustrate visitors and hurt your rankings, so a fast hosting provider is essential — especially if you plan to scale.
Customer support
Tech issues happen. Having direct access to human support makes a huge difference when you need quick resolutions.
Which hosting provider should you choose?
Many people turn to Bluehost, but their lowest-tier plans can cause performance issues, making it harder to install templates. Instead, I recommend Simply.com, which offers:
- Reliable hosting
- Easy WordPress installation
- Better pricing than WordPress.com
By choosing an independent host, you’ll have more flexibility, better performance, and lower costs compared to WordPress.com — especially if you’re planning to use plugins and WooCommerce.
I hope this guide has made hosting decisions clearer! Have you found a provider you love? Let’s talk in the comments!
