You've got expertise and ideas you want to put out to the world, and a blog is a perfect place. Before you can create your content, you need a spot for your blog to land. You need a reliable site host to house your blog to get everything started right.<\/p>\n
Whether you're new to the blogging world or looking for a new hosting provider, we've got a few ideas to get you started. These eight hosting sites for blogs allow you to build your expertise and ensure that your blog is always up and running. Plus, we've answered some questions about hosting. Let's take a look.<\/p>\n
Your blog needs to have a location. The domain of your blog sits on a server somewhere, and a company runs, maintains, and monitors those servers to ensure that the customer-facing piece of your website is available.<\/p>\n
Once you get serious about blogging, you'll need to move off the branded free sites to your own simple domain name. Once that happens, it's time to look for web hosting services. A web host will allow you to migrate your website to its servers and set your content up for expansion \u2014 think eCommerce, affiliate links, or any number of other ways to monetize a blog.<\/p>\n
Good web hosting is affordable, but it should also offer you the bandwidth that you need to store your content. Photographers or artists may need more bandwidth than simple content bloggers, for example.<\/p>\n
You'll also need something that can scale as your viewers increase so that your site doesn't accidentally crash during your viral post's best days. Load times can also make or break your viewership as can site “uptime” or the amount of time a site is available.<\/p>\n
Balancing all these needs with your budget is a crucial part of getting your blog off the ground and ensuring that you look professional. Here are the web hosting options we love.<\/p>\n
These eight hosting providers are reliable and suit a variety of budgets. Let's find your perfect hosting spot.<\/p>\n
Bluehost is known for its super-fast speeds, allowing users with really robust websites to improve overall performance. It's designed best for WordPress sites and provides a full suite of features for an affordable price.<\/p>\n
Bluehost is officially recommended by the WordPress folks and provides users with a one-click website installation. You could potentially be up and running in just a few hours with everything working. If you've already got a blog going, this could help minimize disruption.<\/p>\n
If you're new to blogging, Bluehost's integration with WordPress is familiar and easy to use. It offers a variety of storage options and price points, allowing it to grow with your blog, not work against it. It's fast and scalable.<\/p>\n
The hosting provider offers a highly reliable service, providing a 99% uptime even with fast speeds. If something goes wrong, customer support is available 24\/7 to handle any issues and get your site back to normal again.<\/p>\n
It provides a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can install your site and play around, testing it to its limits. If it's not for you, you can cancel and receive your subscription back with no questions asked.<\/p>\n
The hosting provider comes with WordPress preinstalled, so there are fewer security loopholes. With robust customer service, you'll be able to integrate your site into Bluehost and ensure that everything is locked down.<\/p>\n
With a free domain and SSL certificate, you'll be able to guarantee the safety of your blog for your users. These things are available at all levels of your subscription.<\/p>\n
Bluehost makes it simple for users to import blogs or create new ones. The entire experience happens pretty fast, and customer representatives help smooth out any glitches. When you partner with Bluehost, you can take part in some affiliate programs if you so choose, or just build a robust site.<\/p>\n
Bluehost pros:<\/b><\/p>\n Bluehost cons:<\/b><\/p>\n If you're looking for unlimited hosting capabilities, there are few out there like HostGator. This hosting provider offers unlimited bandwidth for all its users, making it simple to keep your blog going if you experience sudden growth.<\/p>\n HostGator provides one-touch WordPress integration and offers an easy solution if you've already got a blog up and running. The site boasts over 99% uptime, with an average load time of just 479 milliseconds.<\/p>\n You get free site migration and the option to create a domain through their service. They'll ensure that a website is monitored through essential services and minimize disruption during growth.<\/p>\n The site can integrate directly with WordPress through simple uploading. The hosting provider gives you up to 45 days to try out the service. If you don't like it, you can always change it and get your money back before that deadline.<\/p>\n The site provides ultra-fast service and unlimited bandwidth for all its customers. This allows your website to grow quickly without the typical hitches some hosting providers have as you move through hosting tiers.<\/p>\n HostGator ensures you have an SSL certificate, a necessity if you plan to reach a variety of readers and audience members. And because it integrates directly with WordPress, you'll have fewer glitches as you migrate to the site.<\/p>\n They have reliable customer service to help you through any issues with your blog or website, so the reliability of performance is guaranteed.<\/p>\n The site offers one-click migration for WordPress sites and simple step by step directions for other site options. The host provides several tiers of operation, but with unlimited bandwidth, you'll have an easier time navigating the site.<\/p>\n Overall, this option is easy to use and easy to scale choice, providing a lot of flexibility for your hosting. Whether you're new to the world of blogging or have an established site, this offers the kind of performance to enhance both types of blogging.<\/p>\n HostGator Pros<\/b><\/p>\n Cons<\/b><\/p>\n Dreamhost offers a completely customizable panel designed to open your site up to the designs of your wildest dreams. The site host provides a reliable 99.5% uptime and speeds of around 700 milliseconds for load time, but it's the dashboard that shines.<\/p>\n It's much easier to migrate to Dreamhost than migrate off, but with such intuitive controls, you may never want to. There is a free plug-in for WordPress migration, and the site is built for scale no matter where you are in your blogging career.<\/p>\n You'll be able to take advantage of cloud-based hosting designed to accommodate more substantial scale websites. These are affordable and offer enterprise-level blogging if that's your thing.<\/p>\n The site provides you with almost four months of a money-back guarantee so you can really get in there and make it your own. The option to migrate isn't quite as seamless as some of the others if you're coming from WordPress already, but with the new plug-in, you won't get stuck.<\/p>\n Customer service is excellent and can help you overcome hurdles or make decisions about your hosting packages. The live chat feature is available only during business hours, however, leaving you with email support if you operate outside those. Technical support is extra.<\/p>\n It comes with the SSL certificate keeping your site secure for your audience. It's a WordPress recommended site, so integration is less likely to happen haphazardly or create security loopholes.<\/p>\n While technical support is extra, if you happen to go for managed support packages, this comes included. Those of you just starting out may want to spring for the extra even with beginner\/basic packages.<\/p>\n If you're a developer or you know your way around a web creator, you will have a much better time with the dashboard. Even if you aren't, the unique panel is more user friendly than the traditional cPanel for many people.<\/p>\n With excellent customer support in a live chat during business hours, you shouldn't have trouble navigating through any of the features for Dreamhost.<\/p>\n Dreamhost Pros<\/b><\/p>\n Cons<\/b><\/p>\n If you're concerned about the environmental footprint of web hosting, GreenGeeks is your answer. While they aren't a household name like some of the other options, they do boast renewable energy sources for their hosting services.<\/p>\n You don't sacrifice service with the service offering several different package tiers and good bandwidth for various varieties of blogging levels. These options are affordable and come with the security you'd expect of larger hosting sites.<\/p>\n It offers free site migration and technical support at various stages of the integration. With 99.4% uptime and loading speed of around 515 milliseconds, it's a good option for beginning bloggers with an environmental focus.<\/p>\n The site makes it easy to migrate your blog to the platform or offers free domains through their registry. You don't need to sacrifice speed or bandwidth to pay closer attention to the environment.<\/p>\n They provide customer service through live chat and email 24\/7, but you'll only have phone support during certain hours of the day. While these extend to midnight eastern time, you will have to operate within those hours wherever you are in the world.<\/p>\n The site host provides the necessary SSL certificate for your site, and all plans include daily backups for safety. The company remains up to date with the latest security plug-ins and offers a robust set of features to protect you and your audience.<\/p>\n There are auto-updates to your WordPress site to keep loopholes closed and to provide a proactive security approach, not just reactive.<\/p>\n GreenGeeks provides a one-touch migration for WordPress and a simple approach for other sites. They have domains and plenty of packages to cover a range of features. Creating and monitoring your site is simple, and the support is excellent.<\/p>\n Overall, the hosting is simple to use, and it provides comprehensive features and support. You'll be able to get your blog up and running fairly quickly and experience minimal disruption.<\/p>\n GreenGeeks Pros:<\/b><\/p>\n Cons<\/b><\/p>\n Siteground provides a simple solution for web hosting but includes a robust set of customer service features. You'll be able to migrate your site to your new host with a simple one-click function, and Siteground is one of WordPress's recommended three options.<\/p>\n As a leader in shared hosting, Siteground offers ultra-fast and ultra-secure choices for small or large blogs. Many of the features you'll get are automatic, and the host provides continual updates to ensure optimal performance.<\/p>\n Pricing is more expensive than some of the other options, especially if you need more than just the basic package. If you need a genuinely complex hosting option for your website, this is the way to go.<\/p>\n Siteground offers integrated customer support from the beginning stages and as your blog grows and scales. The phone, chat, and email options are available around the clock, so you'll never get stuck with something you don't understand.<\/p>\n Aside from that, robust features and complexity built right in ensure that whether you're a beginning blogger or blogging is part of a much larger picture, the site will be able to handle your needs.<\/p>\n Siteground has many hosting options allowing for different levels of security. Each one offers a robust security package that's automatically updated and provides new features in a proactive stance.<\/p>\n You'll get the necessary SSL certificate, and with dedicated servers, you'll be able to scale safely later on if your needs change.<\/p>\n With the type of robust customer support offered around the clock, there's little you can't do with the site. They're known for their robust options and excellent customer service, and the experience overall is no different.<\/p>\n Upgrades are smooth, and with a 30-day money-back guarantee, you'll be able to test out all the features you need to ensure that this is what you want. While it may be overkill for some simple operations, it's one of the best choices if you have big plans for your blog.<\/p>\n Siteground Pros:<\/b><\/p>\n Cons:<\/b><\/p>\n Godaddy offers a wide variety of hosting options, giving you some of the most robust features if you're experimenting with the type of blog and the type of site you're building. It's useful for building and tearing down and doing it again.<\/p>\n They're the largest domain registrar in the world and have a significant brand presence. With excellent uptimes of around 99.97% and quick load times of 500 milliseconds, you'll get performance along with the features.<\/p>\n Most users are interested in blogging for the first time when they find their way to Godaddy, and the site offers domain names and simple migration. The site has plenty of customer support options as well, with free backups daily.<\/p>\n Godaddy offers email and live chat support, but it's the phone support that really shines. You'll be able to reach them around the clock with any issues, and they have fast resolution times. You'll get excellent bandwidth and can host as many websites as you like. You also get free domain renewal.<\/p>\n Building a site with Godaddy is simple and straightforward, whether you have one or 100 locations. You'll get good uptimes and automatic updates to keep your sites up and running no matter what. You can also opt in on free business emails.<\/p>\n You'll get the necessary SSL certificates with your registration, and Godaddy continually updates your blog to be compliant with the latest security. It's straightforward to migrate a site to the hosting provider, helping reduce security loopholes and maintain compliance.<\/p>\n With continual monitoring and daily backups, your site will run smoothly, and you'll remain in compliance with the latest security options.<\/p>\n Godaddy is quite popular with the blogger crowd because of the number of features associated with the site. One-click site migration makes it simple to switch if you're already established, or you can shop for a domain and website right from the hosting provider itself.<\/p>\n The features may take some getting used to, but once you've conquered the small learning curve, it's easier to maintain your blog than you think. It can provide the tools you need without being so complex that you can't take advantage of them all.<\/p>\n Godaddy pros:<\/b><\/p>\n Cons:<\/b><\/p>\n If the only thing you're after is speed, this is the way to go. A2 Hosting boasts a 99.99% uptime rate guaranteed, and with WordPress loading at around 392 milliseconds, this is the one to beat.<\/p>\n Aside from speed, the host provides free site migration and good customer support if you run into an obstacle. They also offer a money-back guarantee at any time. Once you cancel, you'll be refunded the price of that month, making this one a low-risk choice.<\/p>\n A2 hosting features are typically good, and the higher tiers have a robust set of features designed for professionals and beginners alike. They aren't an official WordPress pick, but they have optimized their servers for WordPress. If that's where your blog is, you'll be pleased.<\/p>\n A2 Hosting provides not only the fastest hosting around, but it also offers you more robust features with their top tier plans. Those features disappear with the basic options, but you should still have enough choices to build your blog as you need to.<\/p>\n They provide phone, email, and chat support around the clock along with ticket functions designed to streamline the support process. It's fast and gets results quickly.<\/p>\n A2 Hosting provides the SSL certificate you'll need to keep your audience feeling secure. With excellent security features and monitoring plus automatic updates, you'll remain in compliance and help ensure there are no loopholes.<\/p>\n The ease of integration also helps lock down any potential security issues as you migrate. You'll launch your site with no concerns and receive the same security support regardless of where you are in your website growth.<\/p>\n While the basic tier doesn't support the robust features of the upper levels, speed is the same regardless of the choice of package. Overall, most users find the experience pleasant and the site easy to work with.<\/p>\n Once you've migrated your WordPress or another site to the hosting provider, you'll be ready to go with minimal disruptions. Support can get you over any obstacles, and the unlimited storage and data transfer help you grow and scale.<\/p>\n A2 Hosting pros:<\/b><\/p>\n Cons:<\/b><\/p>\n If the cost is the only thing that matters, consider a hosting plan through Hostinger. This site features programs that start at less than a dollar per month. It has plenty of basic features for bloggers to host a site and good customer service to aid in the transition.<\/p>\n The company offers that price for a period of up to two years if you're willing to pay upfront, and with a simple trial period, you'll be able to tell if you're willing to invest.<\/p>\n Single site hosting plans are still pretty cheap, even if you don't pay that much upfront. Overall, it's one of the best ways to get your blog set up at a rock bottom budget.<\/p>\n Hostinger doesn't feel like a cheap host. It has good features and allows you to play around with more robust options as you move through the tiers. They do have some upselling happening, but it's mild compared to other options on the list.<\/p>\n They have good customer support to help with migration and obstacles to your site, with uptimes of around 99.9% and pretty fast loading times. You have the option of several bandwidth choices, including unlimited for affordable rates.<\/p>\n All the tiers have a free SSL certificate. Certain tiers have daily backups and provide dedicated resources to ensuring that your site is maintained and remains compliant. With simple site migration, you'll get fewer security loopholes as well.<\/p>\n The site doesn't feel like a bargain site with so many features. Bloggers can stay on budget and create their sites without extending or sacrificing the features they need.<\/p>\n Learning the dashboard is a simple process and the month to month pricing makes it easier to sign up if you aren't ready for a massive investment just yet. Overall, this is a solid bargain alternative to some of the other options on the list.<\/p>\n Hostinger Pros:<\/b><\/p>\n Cons:<\/b><\/p>\n If you're still unsure how to make the best decision for your blog, here are a few things you need to consider as you decide.<\/p>\n A free blog is fine if you aren't trying to build a living or make money in any way. Free blogs don't have domain branding and offer limited features, even within simple editing tools.<\/p>\n Moving to an official hosting site provides branded domains and up-levels your professionalism. You'll need to look like a professional if you want to make a living from your blog. You'll also get more robust customer service and security features.<\/p>\n One of the most significant features of your hosting provider, as opposed to a free blog site, is controlling your own content. The host only serves as a place for your website to live. With nonbranded, free sites, your content could disappear at any time.<\/p>\n You don't want to spend years building a site and an audience only to lose it all one day. You won't get ranked as well on Google rankings, and you don't own your content. That's a dealbreaker for a professional blogger.<\/p>\n Unless you're an enterprise or dealing with some seriously sensitive data, you'll want a shared hosting provider. Your content will exist on the same server as other websites, but still have all the controls and branding of a self-hosted domain.<\/p>\n This can help you save money as you learn all about hosting and building a website. You'll get an affordable hosting provider and can get set up right away.<\/p>\n Self-hosting does have some drawbacks. You may experience some website downtimes if other sites on the same server are taken down. You might also have some trouble with site maintenance as a smaller site.<\/p>\n However, these occurrences are still rare, and the chance is an excellent tradeoff for affordable hosting. You'll get the branding, support, and maintenance you need without shelling out huge bucks for a single server option.<\/p>\n Cloud hosting options involve spreading out your site among several different servers in the cloud. If you're building a bigger site, you'll be able to guarantee your site's uptime with more reliability.<\/p>\n Cloud hosting also allows you to scale with ease because you can easily add more or fewer server locations to handle the increase or decrease in bandwidth. You will end up shelling out more for this type of hosting, but it will serve you better if you're looking for quick scale.<\/p>\n If you think you'll have more than 50,000 to 75,000 unique visitors per month, it could be time to scale up to cloud hosting. You won't want to lose revenue if your site goes down through no fault of your own. Cloud hosting can help you build in scale from the very beginning.<\/p>\n There are a few things you need to consider as you choose the right site host for you.<\/p>\n No matter what your needs as a blogger are, there are hosting options out there for you. Consider what type of blog you have and what your plans are for growth. Deciding these things upfront can help you narrow down what you need.<\/p>\n All the choices on our list are reliable and provide enough shared hosting and cloud features to help you grow. All you need is to decide on your content and allow the hosting provider to work its magic.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" You’ve got expertise and ideas you want to put out to the world, and a blog is a perfect place. Before you can create your content, you need a spot for your blog to land. You need a reliable site host to house your blog to get everything started right. 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HostGator \u2014 Best For Scaling<\/h3>\n
Site And Support<\/h4>\n
Security<\/h4>\n
User Experience\u00a0<\/b><\/h4>\n
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Dreamhost \u2014 Best For Developers<\/h3>\n
Site and Support<\/h4>\n
Security<\/h4>\n
User Experience<\/h4>\n
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GreenGeeks – Best For Environment Enthusiasts<\/h3>\n
Site and Support<\/h4>\n
Security<\/h4>\n
User experience<\/h4>\n
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Siteground \u2014 Best Customer Service Options<\/h3>\n
Site and Support<\/h4>\n
Security<\/h4>\n
User experience<\/h4>\n
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Godaddy \u2014 Best For Experimentation<\/h3>\n
Site and Support<\/h4>\n
Security<\/h4>\n
User experience<\/h4>\n
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A2 Hosting \u2014 Best For Speed.<\/h3>\n
Site and Support<\/h4>\n
Security<\/h4>\n
User experience<\/h4>\n
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Hostinger \u2014 Best Budget Option<\/h3>\n
Site and Support<\/h4>\n
Security<\/h4>\n
User experience<\/h4>\n
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Frequently Asked Questions About Choosing Hosting<\/h2>\n
Why Do You Need Hosting?<\/h3>\n
What Type Of Hosting Do I Need?<\/h3>\n
What About Cloud Hosting?<\/h3>\n
How To Choose The Right Site Host<\/h2>\n
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Choosing the Right Host<\/h2>\n