Sometimes, when a client has inadequate web host (or doesn’t have one at all) I get the question — which web host should I choose?
And I can’t blame them for asking. When it comes to choosing the right WordPress hosting services, the options can feel overwhelming. From budget-friendly options to premium white-glove providers, each claims to be the best.
But how do they really perform under the hood? As you may be aware, website speed is very important for the overall UX. Our Speed Loss Calculator allows you to project how much revenue your website loses due to its speed.
*I’ve written this article last year, and now I’m updating it with new/current data for it to stay relevant.
Table of Contents
- The four big ones — Woocommerce WordPress Hosting Services
- Methodology: Testing WordPress Hosting for Real-World Speed and Consistency
- WordPress Hosting Services Finalized Tests Data (e-commerce and blog page)
- Hostinger: Affordable and Reliable WordPress Hosting Services
- Cloudways: Solid WordPress Hosting for Speed and Performance
- Rocket.net: Champion with one goal in mind — WP Websites Performance
- Kinsta: Premium WordPress Hosting Services
- Conclusion on WordPress Hosting Services
- FAQ
The four big ones — Woocommerce WordPress Hosting Services
In this WordPress Hosting Services case study, I put four of my favorite top providers, each with its own merits — Hostinger, Cloudways, Rocket.net, and Kinsta — to the test, running a rigorous 100-tests case study to measure speed and reliability on both a blog page and a checkout page from one of my older, smaller, previously speed-optimized website.
This in-depth case study compares performance, customer support, and pricing to help you find the best WordPress hosting for your needs.
As its been quite some time since I’ve written 3 Best Web Hosting Providers for WordPress here’s its natural evolution.
Methodology: Testing WordPress Hosting for Real-World Speed and Consistency
For website I used one of my older, smaller websites (around 500MB), which was optimized for speed in the past. The website has a blog and a WooCommerce section, as I wanted to test both — this website is ideal.
Every of these four WP hosting services offers a free migration, but to make thing more efficient — I did it myself.
For the migration, I used a little plugin called MigrateGuru, and I can only recommend it as the best tool for the job—it does not have a size limitation, it’s quite simple to use, and it’s absolutely free.
All of the hosting plans on this WordPress Hosting Services case study had PHP version 8.3.
Why 100 Tests for WordPress Hosting Services case study?
To understand how each host performs, I ran a series of 100 tests across four hosts, using the plugin we developed — Speed Analyzer. It utilizes the Cloudflare network of CDN-s for TTFB tests and the Google PSI API for LCP/FCP.
Try it yourself, check your website speed, it’s free to use, and you can read more about it here.
For accuracy, I tested the blog page and checkout page on desktop and mobile devices, allowing me to capture First Contentful Paint (FCP) and Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) scores on multiple fronts. This approach for the WordPress Hosting Services case study helps smooth out any variability due to network conditions or server inconsistencies.
Using a speed-optimized blog and checkout page from one of my older projects ensured that the results reflect real-world scenarios for blogs and e-commerce alike. Multiple tests were conducted to obtain median values, as they provide a better baseline by minimizing outliers.
For the server performance test, I also used tools.keycdn.com, my go-to tool for testing server performance on various locations.
About the web host plans
For this WordPress hosting services article, I’ve targeted the plans at a medium-price niche. These plans are most interesting to medium-sized e-commerce websites and blogs, which are attractive to most small business owners and bloggers.
Needless to say, you can always upscale your plan if you outgrow your current one.
I won’t be listing hosting services special offer prices, as they are available for a short time. Instead, I’m using regular renewal prices. But you should be aware that occasionally (BF, for example), you can benefit from special offers.
Without further ado, here they are, the current four best WordPress hosting services for any pocket.
WordPress Hosting Services Finalized Tests Data (e-commerce and blog page)
-Green fields indicate the best results (or shared first place)
*For the WordPress hosting services testing purposes, I used the renewal price, which can be cheaper at the sales.
*Rocket.net customer service has not been properly tested. Unlike the others, whom I had used many times over the years, I didn’t have a reason to do so during the period when I used Rocket.net. Once I instructed them to turn on Persistent object cache for a client website, which they did within 24h. And there was no need to contact them about anything else — a praise for itself. Its customer service grade is mainly based on the interaction with their representative (and their documentation).
Here’s more in-depth information on the WordPress hosting services included in these tests.
Hostinger: Affordable and Reliable WordPress Hosting Services
For those seeking cheap WordPress hosting that doesn’t skimp on performance, Hostinger is a solid contender.
Their Business Woocommerce hosting plan, currently available at $13.99 (renewal price), despite its budget pricing, performed consistently well across mobile and desktop.
It has scored the highest (or shared the highest scores) in the following categories:
- checkout page test for PSI mobile FCP
- won by a margin on price scoring
Pushing its WordPress hosting services top scores tally to 2. It is a truly formidable feat for a web host plan with a fraction of the cost of other contenders.
What I really like about them is the fact that they offer everything you may need, with no hidden costs. They may not be the fastest in the bunch, but they have everything you need for a budget price. And they have my respect for it.
As you can see for the TTFB, CDN performed well, and the Hostinger scored solid across the globe.
Use my affiliate link to receive a 20% discount automatically. You can also use their BF sale discount while it lasts.
Cloudways: Solid WordPress Hosting for Speed and Performance
When it comes to the fast WordPress hosting, Cloudways is always among them. For this WordPress hosting services article, I used their Small, currently available at $28, had the best test results (2) across categories, reflecting its cloud infrastructure and robust server configurations that enhance performance across the board.
It’s not a surprise that Cloudways has scored the highest in the following categories:
- desktop blog pages FCP scores
- desktop blog pages LCP scores
As you can see for the TTFB, Cloudways scored better timings near the test server location (Frankfurt/GE) then Hostinger did, but lack of CDN on trial account didn’t bode well for the further away areas. As it was expected.
Annoying part of Cloudways is that you need to pay extra for many things (CDN, email, persistent object cache…), and they are a little more complicated to figure out. But once you do, you rarely turn back.
Most of my clients are on Cloudways because of their solid infrastructure, and they were my No. 1 suggestion up to this year.
Here’s a Cloudways promo code: WPSERVICE25. You can use it to get -25% off for 1 month (first invoice), this code should be permanent.
They are running a BFCM campaign—a limited-time offer (Valid Till 10th November 2025).
Here’s what you’ll get with the BF Offer:
- 50% OFF for 3 months + 50 FREE migrations + $50 Free Hosting Credits
How It Works:
Use my unique affiliate link and enter this Promo Code: EARLYBFCM5050
Rocket.net: Champion with one goal in mind — WP Websites Performance
And we have a new winner! Rocket.net was established 2020. By their own words:
Next generation WordPress hosting. We’re all about putting your site on the edge
And I found that to be true, after thorough testing, their web hosting services came up on top. Second to none. And their double-digit TTFB is particularly impressive.
Rocket.net scored highest (or shared the highest scores) in the following categories:
- blog pages PSI mobile FCP score,
- TTFB for both mobile/desktop,
- checkout page mobile LCP,
- checkout page desktop FCP and LCP
Their horse for this race is the Starter plan, currently priced at $30 per month.
Rocket.net scored highest in 6 categories in total. Their hosting server showed the best consistency in these tests and scored best in most categories, which is impressive.
As you can see from the TTFB test, their servers often scored in double-digit territory. Rocket.net utilizes Cloudflare Enterprise CDN in all plans, and they have optimized it to perfection. But that’s not all you get with signing up; they offer WP Rocket and persistent object cache included for free in all of their plans.
Furthermore, their dashboard/CPanel is very clear and easy to use. Unlike with Cloudways policy, here are no hidden fees, everything is clearly presented, and easy to use.
The only thing I find lacking is the fact that Rocket.net does not offer email service. You’ll need to use external email service for your website if you switch to Rocket.net. It’s not a deal breaker for me, but it’s something you should be aware of.
I can and I will recommend them to all my clients who value speed in their WordPress websites.
Kinsta: Premium WordPress Hosting Services
From the moment you log on to their website, you know Kinsta is different. Everything — the design of their pages, styling, articles, documentation, and support—is meticulously designed to provide a unique feeling.
But only if you can pay for it. For example, their persistent object cache (Redis) is not included in the hosting plan prices, and you’ll have to dish out another $100/site per month to activate it. I consider persistent object cache a must for e-commerce or any other database-heavy website.
For those who can stomach it, and where budget is not limited, you are not buying only a web hosting service; you are buying the whole experience, an entrance into the Kinsta family.
Kinsta has been with us a long time. They found their place under the sun a long time ago, and their services are appreciated by major clients around the globe. And all of that comes with a higher price.
Kinsta scored highest (or shared the highest scores) in the following categories:
- blog page PSI mobile LCP score,
- blog page PSI desktop FCP,
- Custome service and documentation
Their hosting plan for this WordPress hosting services article is the Single 40GB, currently priced at $50 per month. Actually, when I asked for their Single 40GB plan, a Kinsta representative kindly set me up with a custom trial account that was not exactly Single 40GB, but assured me it was closest to it.
Kinsta scored highest in 3 categories in total. Their hosting server showed excellent consistency in these tests.
As you can see from the TTFB test, their servers scored similarly to others. The website uses CDN, response headers were hit, but the West Coast USA and Asian-Pacific area (except the Australia) failed to score green. Their CDN results are similar to Cloudways, and lagging behind Rocket.net.
Their support and documentation is top-notch. Something you’d expect to justify their higher prices and their place in this WordPress hosting services article.
And they have the right to brag with up to 99.99% SLA backed uptime guarantee.
If you’d like to read more about Kinsta, dive deep into our Kinsta’s dedicated article.
Kinsta will probably run Black Friday/Cyber Monday promotion, offering a 50% discount on all plans for new customers, as they did last year. *This is only my opinion.
This offer will probably run from November 17th until December 2, 2025, making it an ideal time to experience Kinsta’s premium hosting services at a reduced price.
Conclusion on WordPress Hosting Services
For this article and a series of comprehensive performance tests, I’ve chosen entry-level to medium e-commerce hosting plans. Each hosting service above also offers more expensive plans for more demanding websites.
All hosting plans include CDN, free migration service, and more—everything you’ll need for your WooCommerce or Blog website. I suggest you check their respective websites for more details about the plans.
I’ve used them all for years and find them reliable and worth recommending.
The test results weren’t entirely unexpected, as they all handled my testing website with ease. I suspect we’d see more difference between them on a heavier website with a larger database.
Remember to scale your WordPress hosting services server needs not only for speed/performance needs you need to consider if the plan you are looking at has enough bandwidth, CPU/RAM power, and storage.
Key Takeaways
In conclusion, choosing the right WordPress hosting service depends on your specific needs and budget. Each website is unique and distinct. One may prioritize speed, another reliability, and so on.
- Hostinger: The best cheap WordPress hosting option for stable performance without breaking the bank. A true low-budget king.
Hostinger has everything you might need. - Cloudways: In our tests, it demonstrated itself as a fast WordPress hosting service with high green scores, making it ideal for those seeking speed and scalability. A solid performance choice, but be aware of their dashboard and additional costs on many items.
You can find free persistent object cache on their 4 GB plans or above. - Rocket.net: 2025 winner when it comes to speed and what it offers. A true best buy and editors choice. If you value speed and simplicity you’ll choose Rocket.net! They include Cloudflare Enterprise CDN, persistent object cache and WP Rocket with not extra cost.
- Kinsta: Premium service with outstanding customer support, tailored for businesses that need white-glove WordPress hosting services.
Their persistent object cache (Redis) is paid extra.
Can you justify their higher price for the experience they offer? Only you can tell how much your website is important.
If you liked this article, maybe you’d like to know which is the best caching plugin for your WordPress website?
Feel free to reach out to us if you encounter any issues or would like a professional to optimize your website’s speed. WordPress speed optimization service is our forte. Find out why we are top-ranked worldwide for it and why top WordPress plugin companies write about our speed optimization service.
Explore our speed optimization packages to enhance your website’s performance and join our growing list of satisfied clients.
FAQ
What is the best WordPress hosting service for speed?
If we look only at the speed at current tests WPservice.pro conducted — Rocket.net won in front of Kinsta/Cloudways as the fastest WordPress hosting service in our tests, with the most green scores in key performance areas.
Is Hostinger a good choice for cheap WordPress hosting?
Yes, Hostinger offers reliable and affordable WordPress hosting, making it an excellent option for budget-conscious site owners.
Why is Kinsta recommended for premium hosting?
Kinsta provides white-glove service, with a perfect support score, ideal for high-stakes business websites that need dependable customer assistance coupled with top performance.
What is the best hosting for WooCommerce?
There is no straightforward answer to that question. If the budget is the issue — I’d recommend Hostinger and its Litespeed servers, if budget is not an issue — go with Rocket.net, and Kinsta/Cloudways for anything in between.
Disclaimer: This is NOT a paid article; none of the providers paid me. However, this article contains affiliate links that help WPservice.pro, and you may get a discount.
Founder of WPservice.pro
Dalibor is a master of web excellence. With a Bachelor of Science (BS) in civil engineering, Dalibor had an unusual road to end up in IT. Cultivating deep expertise in WordPress website speed optimization, meticulous maintenance, development, and search engine optimization (SEO) while preserving his engineering approach to problem-solving.
Having completed over 90 projects and achieved a top-rated status (on Upwork) in the highly competitive digital niche, Dalibor is a proper authority on enhancing performance and ensuring websites look exceptional and perform flawlessly.
Dalibor is a published writer and an avid learner who continually explores and embraces the latest digital trends. With a commitment to quality and a keen eye for detail, Dalibor is your trusted guide to achieving web success.