5 best hosting platforms for WooCommerce & how to pick (2023)
Running an online store securely means choosing the best hosting platform. Establishing this strong foundation sets the stage for the rest of your business operations.
When a mere one-second delay can reduce your conversion rate by 7%, you need a web hosting service that’s fast and reliable.
WooCommerce is among the most popular eCommerce resources for online stores thanks to its wide range of features.
It’ll be even more effective when you choose a compatible hosting platform for your business based on your size, experience, and aspirations.
We’ve chosen the top 5 platforms for hosting WooCommerce in 2023. We’ll break down how to pick the right one for your business so you can operate securely and efficiently.
Let’s dive in!
What is WooCommerce hosting?
If you’re reading this, you probably already know that WooCommerce is a popular eCommerce plugin that enables WordPress sites to sell products and services online.
WooCommerce hosting refers to web hosting services that are specifically tailored for WordPress websites that use the WooCommerce plugin.
Since WordPress websites can have varying levels of complexity, it is important to choose a web hosting provider that can handle the demands of a WooCommerce website.
A good WooCommerce hosting provider will offer optimized server settings, fast website loading speeds, and reliable uptime.
Factors to consider when choosing a hosting platform for your WooCommerce store
With so many options available to you, narrowing down the best WooCommerce hosting providers can be a chore.
Our recommended factors are based on the most common pain points faced by eCommerce business owners.
Server performance and reliability
Established hosting brands will have a track record of providing stable websites that consistently perform throughout the year.
Reliable web hosts will have multiple server locations to keep the risk of your website becoming unavailable low.
Data backups
Did you know 60% of businesses that experience a data loss incident will shut down less than a year later? Your WooCommerce hosting needs to have reliable backups to reduce this risk.
Review their data backups to see how often they back up your data (such as every month or every three months). See if they include automatic back up features to save you time. You also need to double-check how long they store that information.
The last thing you need is being hit with a cyber attack, only to find out your web host stores your data for a limited time and you’ve lost critical business data.
Security
Almost half of all small businesses don’t know how to protect themselves against a cyber attack. The first step you can take is to choose a WooCommerce hosting plan with multiple security measures in place for you and your customers.
Reliable features that keep your business information safe include:
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- Two-factor authentication for passwords
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- Public key authentication
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- Administrative access features
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- Secure payments
You also need to keep your customer’s data safe, such as their credit card information or their email. Security features to keep their information safe include:
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- Encrypted data communication (such as an SSL certificate)
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- Encryption monitoring
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- Password management features
Note that almost all hosting providers bundle a free SSL certificate with their hosting plans.
Support and customer service
Whether you’re new to running a website or experienced, you need reliable customer support.
A WordPress website is a tricky ecosystem of plugins, custom themes, and automatic WordPress updates.
Ask any WordPress developer or webmaster and they’ll tell you they can be tricky to maintain, especially as they grow in scope.
If your site suddenly crashes or your data becomes compromised, you need professionals who can help you out fast.
Double-check your WooCommerce hosting service to see what kind of customer support they offer. They could have a 24/7 live chat feature, phone support, or even a dedicated agent for your business.
Pricing plans
Often, web hosts offer different pricing tiers to accommodate your budget.
While this is a flexible way of getting your business off the ground, be aware that different WooCommerce hosting tiers have different features.
A basic plan may have a limited amount of data you can store, while a more advanced plan may be better for scaling your business.
Scalability and flexibility
What are your goals for the next five years? If you have plans to expand your shop to new customers or even open up a new shop, you need WooCommerce hosting that’s scalable.
Scalability allows you to expand your eCommerce capabilities without switching over to a new host.
Website speed and performance
The importance of a fast website can’t be overstated enough. 70% of customers state that page speed is an important factor on whether or not they buy from an online store.
If you want the fastest possible WooCommerce hosting, consider looking for a host with several data centers or a VPS web host.
VPS is short for Virtual Private Server, giving you much faster web speed since you’re not sharing the server with other users.
Top 5 platforms for WooCommerce hosting
Our top 5 hosting platforms will provide you with fast and reliable WooCommerce stores.
Not only will you enjoy greater security running your online store, but your customers will also have a more frictionless browsing experience.
Bluehost
Are you just starting out with an eCommerce store? BlueHost provides the well-rounded and user-friendly experience beginner business owners need.
This established web host has earned a reputation for being dependable, flexible, and fast.
Their servers come with a diesel generator to remain active even during power outages, meaning your risk of a crashed site is extremely low. If you ever have questions or concerns, their 24/7 customer support will help you out.
Their eCommerce features are competitive, coming with both a high level of security as well as compatibility with common platforms such as osCommerce and ZenCart.
You can try out one of their demos before committing to one of two plans for your WooCommerce site – their Online Store or Online Store + Marketplace.
SiteGround
If you’re extra concerned about your ability to pay, SiteGround wants you to feel completely confident about your purchase. They’re so assured you’ll love their services, they offer a 30-day money back guarantee.
Considering their impressive range of features, it’s unlikely you’ll be dissatisfied. This web host offers a robust WooCommerce pricing plan list with a wide range of features.
Not only do they either transfer or install your website for free, they offer several layers of security, unlimited databases, and a daily backup feature.
Simply put, SiteGround is one of today’s best resources for feeling confident as an online shop owner.
Alongside their 30-day money back guarantee, they provide three price tiers for WooCommerce – StartUp, GrowBig, and GoGeek. They also occasionally have limited-time discounts, so keep a close eye on them while exploring your options.
WP Engine
Do you plan on running multiple eCommerce sites? WP Engine offers a WooCommerce plan that comes with three possible sites, an ideal option for business owners thinking of expanding.
You can also get started extremely quickly. What sets WP Engine apart from other WooCommerce hosting providers is their 1-Click Store Creation, able to provide an instant store with a relevant theme.
Innovative ideas aside, they still have many classic web hosting features to help you run your store securely.
You’ll get threat blocking and security, SSL certificates, and either daily automatic backups or on-demand backups.
WP Engine offers a wide range of plans to ensure you stay within your budget – eCommerce Startup, eCommerce Professional, eCommerce Growth, eCommerce Scale, and eCommerce Custom.
Kinsta
If you’re wondering just how fast your eCommerce store can load, Kinsta has your answer. This web hoster has gone the extra mile to speed up its WooCommerce web hosting capabilities.
Their impressive speed comes from having more server resources — their massive data center spans five continents, ensuring you’ll always have the right option for your website.
All of their plans automatically come with their free premium CDN, located in over two hundred cities to speed up your site further. Free migration is available if you want to switch from another hosting plan.
Their plans are varied depending on your experience level and size. You have the Starter, Pro, Business 1, Business 2, and Business 3. You can try out their free demo and still have a 30-day money-back guarantee once you pick a plan.
Liquid Web
With a name like Liquid Web, you know this WooCommerce hosting service is going to be fast. Alongside dedicated servers, they also have some of the best customer service in the industry.
Running a website can be a daunting experience for the first-time business owner. They offer multiple ways of contacting them 24/7, such as their live chat feature, phone option, and helpdesk.
However, their WooCommerce hosting is intuitive enough that you’ll learn the ropes quickly.
They’ve recently added useful tools such as Sales Performance Monitors, Plugin Performance Monitors, and several Performance Tests.
These allow you to study and respond to the stats of your site on an ongoing basis. Whether your loading times are starting to lag or your payment gateways aren’t functioning, you’ll know quickly.
Just how many plans can you choose from? LiquidWeb offers an impressive seven plans based on experience level and size – Starter, Starter+, Creator, Merchant, Standard, Growth, and Enterprise. Even better, any new order donates to the non-profit No Kid Hungry.
Comparison of the top 5 hosting platforms for WooCommerce
Each WooCommerce hosting provider comes with dozens of features for you to choose from. We’re going to compare each one so you can speed up your decision process.
Key features and capabilities of each platform
BlueHost provides user-friendly and accessible WooCommerce hosting, already compatible with many eCommerce platforms such as osCommerce and ZenCart.
If you’re signing up with BlueHost for the first time, you get a free domain.
SiteGround has a dedicated server and many security features. It’s often more budget-friendly due to their ongoing discounts on all of their monthly plans.
WP Engine is a great option for business owners with multiple sites or on a strict timeline.
Their WooCommerce plan automatically comes with three sites, while their 1-Click Store Creation makes it easy to start selling fast.
Kinsta is one of the fastest web hosters around thanks to its massive data centers and dozens of locations. They offer an additional CDN with all their plans to speed things up further.
Liquid Web offers the widest range of plans on top of robust performance monitoring tools.
Their customer service is also particularly attentive, one of the best WooCommerce hosting features for beginning store owners.
Pros and cons of each platform
BlueHost offers solid WooCommerce hosting for beginners with well-rounded features, affordable prices, and a free domain for first-time buyers.
You’ll get access to essentials such as SSL certificates, eCommerce platform integrations, and good speed.
However, they’re still not the fastest web host around, which may be a problem for high-traffic businesses or business owners who want to continue scaling.
SiteGround is a budget-friendly option with security features such as a web application firewall (WAF) and anti-bot systems.
They also have ongoing discounts that slash their monthly plans significantly. Their shared hosting features can still be a little slow and you need to be mindful of your plans concerning data space.
WP Engine is already in WordPress, so you can keep your store in one convenient place. You get access to automatic security updates as well as the ability to choose your favorite WooCommerce plugin.
Their customer service may be a little slow to respond, so this may be a better option for experienced business owners.
Kinsta is a lightning-fast premium web hosting option with multiple server locations around the world. They cost a lot as a result, so keep this in mind if you’re on a tight budget.
They also don’t have the widest variety of plans, but you still get a 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re dissatisfied.
Liquid Web provides useful performance monitoring tools to give you consistent control over your shop functions.
You’ll also have around-the-clock customer service to ensure your experience is a positive one. While a little expensive, they’re a great pick for business owners of different experience levels.
Pricing plans and costs for each platform
BlueHost offers just two plans for WooCommerce – Online Store and Online Store + Marketplace. The former is $29.95/mo and the latter is $49.95/mo.
You can get a discount depending on whether you pay monthly or yearly. First-time buyers get a free domain.
SiteGround offers three plans – StartUp, GrowBig, and GoGeek.
The first is $14.99/mo, the second is $24.99/mo, and the third is $39.99/mo. They sometimes have discounts that slash the price in half or even more.
WP Engine technically has one plan – their eCommerce Solutions For Woo. This plan separates into several sub-plans including eCommerce Startup, eCommerce Professional, eCommerce Growth, eCommerce Scale, and eCommerce Custom. They range from $28.80 to $280/mo (not including the Custom).
Kinsta has five plans – Starter, Pro, Business 1, Business 2, and Business 3. This price ranges from $35/mo to $340/mo with discounts for yearly purchases. You also get the first two months free and a 30-day money back guarantee.
Liquid Web has seven plans – Starter, Starter+, Creator, Merchant, Standard, Growth, and Enterprise. The price range is broad, starting from $19/mo to $449.55/mo.
Customer support and user experience
BlueHost has excellent customer service. They provide 24/7 via phone or chat. They generally have positive ratings from current and past customers.
SiteGround has customer service frequently referred to as timely and dependable. They provide 24/7 support via phone, chat, or support tickets.
WP Engine has a reputation for providing helpful and friendly customer service. You can contact them via chat, phone, or a contact form.
Kinsta has consistently high ratings for both technical and general customer support. You can contact them through phone, email, or a support ticket.
Liquid Web is well-known for providing flexible methods of contact with 24/7 phone, email, and live chat. Many customers enjoy how easy it is to get live support over the phone.
How to pick the right hosting platform for your business
Now that you’ve got a good idea as to which WooCommerce hosting plan can benefit your online business, which is best for you?
Every business has unique challenges, so we’ll show you how to find the best WooCommerce hosting for your needs.
Identify your business needs and goals
Are you a beginner online store owner or do you have several years of experience? Perhaps you’re thinking of expanding your shop into several storefronts over the next few years.
Your current business needs and future goals need to match your web host. While you can always change web hosts later, it’s easier to find a more flexible one now.
Determine the budget for your online store
This area is more straightforward, but you should still give it some thought. Your WooCommerce hosting provider should have flexible pricing plans so you can scale effectively.
We also recommend keeping an eye out for additional discounts, whether limited-time only or based on the subscription type.
Evaluate the features and capabilities of each platform
While you just got done analyzing the best hosting providers, give yourself time to consider each platform’s capabilities.
Some details seem appealing at the moment, but may not be applicable to your business model.
For example, you may love the idea of a lightning-fast website with a private web host. If you’re a small business with low web traffic, this expense might not be worth it.
Consider the user experience and customer support
Do you regularly need to check in with technical support or do you prefer to handle things yourself? Either way, we recommend picking a web host with a reputation for fast and reliable responses.
You may be fine with live chat, while other business owners may prefer to speak over the phone.
Take advantage of free trials and demos
Many web hosts offer convenient free trials and demos to give you a taste of what’s to come. Even if you’re sure you want to pick a web host, try a demo just to be on the safe side.
You may find out you don’t like the interface or that there are features you don’t actually need.
WooCommerce hosting FAQs
What is managed WooCommerce hosting?
Managed WooCommerce hosting is a type of web hosting service that is specifically designed to optimize the performance and security of online stores built on the WooCommerce platform.
Managed WooCommerce hosting providers offer a range of services such as automatic updates, advanced security features, optimized server configurations, and expert support to ensure that online stores built on WooCommerce run smoothly and efficiently.
What is a managed WordPress site?
A managed WordPress site is a web hosting service that is specifically designed to optimize the performance and security of WordPress websites.
Managed WordPress hosting providers offer a range of services such as advanced security features, expert support, and automatic updates to ensure that WordPress sites run smoothly and efficiently.
Managed WordPress hosting providers typically handle tasks such as website backups, software updates, security monitoring, and site optimization, which allows website owners to focus on creating and publishing content.
All the WooCommerce hosting solutions featured in this post offer a managed WordPress site option.
Final thoughts
Choosing a great web host sets the stage for everything to come. You ensure you’ll be able to scale your business, protect your data, and deliver a consistently high customer service experience.
Our top recommendations for the best WooCommerce hosting providers are BlueHost, SiteGround, WP Engine, Kinsta, and Liquid Web.
They all provide a powerful foundation of security features, flexible pricing plans, and top-notch customer service for your WordPress site.
However, they also differ when it comes to budget, experience levels, and certain unique features (such as 1-Click Store Creation).
Once you choose the most suitable platform, you’ll be able to put the majority of your energy where it needs to be – running a fantastic online store.
That’s where SkuVault comes in as well.
We can assist you in automating and streamlining your inventory management tasks, so you can focus on growing your business. Check out our features page or schedule a live demo today
Want to learn more about starting or scaling a successful eCommerce business?
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