WordPress hosting: what matters
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Core requirements
Check supported PHP and database versions, HTTPS, backups, update controls, and available support. Confirm requirements with WordPress and the host.
Shared versus managed
Shared hosting can be sufficient for a new site; managed services may reduce maintenance tasks. The labels alone do not establish performance.
Compare the full offer
Evaluate renewal cost, restore options, staging, resource limits, and migration assistance—not only the advertised first-term price.
Check the current offer
Compare the full checkout amount, renewal terms, and included features before purchasing. We may earn a commission if you use this link.
View Bluehost hosting plansThe WordPress compatibility baseline
WordPress.org currently recommends PHP 8.3 or later, MariaDB 10.11 or MySQL 8.0 or later, and HTTPS. Confirm the latest requirements with WordPress.org because versions change. Compatibility is necessary, but it does not tell you how a host performs under your theme, plugins, or traffic.
A useful trial checklist
Install a representative theme, add your essential plugins, create a backup, restore a copy in a safe environment, and test support with a specific question. If you cannot test before purchase, verify the refund terms and document the limitations of the comparison.
Technical reference: WordPress.org hosting requirements. Verify current recommendations before installing.
Put this guide to work
Use this short worksheet before making changes or purchasing a service. Keep your answers with your website records so you can revisit them when your needs or contract change.
- Core requirements: Check supported PHP and database versions, HTTPS, backups, update controls, and available support. Write down what this means for your own website, identify the information you still need, and verify it using your current account or the relevant provider’s documentation. Do not substitute a general marketing claim for a plan-specific answer.
- Shared versus managed: Shared hosting can be sufficient for a new site; managed services may reduce maintenance tasks. Write down what this means for your own website, identify the information you still need, and verify it using your current account or the relevant provider’s documentation. Do not substitute a general marketing claim for a plan-specific answer.
- Compare the full offer: Evaluate renewal cost, restore options, staging, resource limits, and migration assistance—not only the advertised first-term price. Write down what this means for your own website, identify the information you still need, and verify it using your current account or the relevant provider’s documentation. Do not substitute a general marketing claim for a plan-specific answer.
If an answer is uncertain, pause that part of the decision and verify it. For changes to a live site, make a restorable backup first and test the result before deleting the previous configuration.
Related guides
Sources and verification
Provider-published information is not independent performance testing. Features and prices can change.