TL;DR
The best web hosting for bloggers, especially those new to hosting, combines ease of use, reliability, excellent support, and scalability, all at an affordable price. Our top choices Cloudways (best for larger blogs) and Hostinger (best for smaller or new blogs) is selected for their all-round excellence as well as affordable pricing.
Cloudways
Cloudways is a systems integrator specializing in deploying solutions across various cloud platforms including Digital Ocean, Amazon AWS, and Google Cloud. Their business model is unique, functioning as a Platform as a Service (PaaS) provider rather than a traditional web server host.
Cheapest Hosting Plans Available
Number of Blogs Allowed in One Account
Cloudways Pros
- Topnotch server uptime and speed performance
- Good abstration over complex cloud server setups with integrated dashboard
- Outstanding customer support
- High scalability
- Easy server cloning, site staging, and website transfer
- Host unlimited applications in one account
- 25% discount for first two months with coupon “HOSTSCORE”
Cloudways Cons
- Getting expensive – Prices increased steadily for the past few years
- Limited trial period
Hostinger
Hostinger has swiftly risen from its humble beginnings in 2004 to become a globally recognized web hosting powerhouse, known for its affordable, user-friendly services and innovative technologies like the proprietary hPanel. With a commitment to excellence and a rapidly expanding team, Hostinger continues to redefine the web hosting landscape, making it easier for users around the world to establish their online presence.
Cheapest Hosting Plans Available
Number of Blogs Allowed in One Account
Hostinger Pros
- Affordable pricing
- Nine different data centers in four continents
- Good spread of hosting plans
- User-friendly control panel (hPanel)
- Wide range of payment options accepted
- Git environment available on shared hosting
- Additional 7% discount with coupon code “HOSTSCORE”
Hostinger Cons
- Price increase during the renewal
- Does not support Windows hosting
TMDHosting
TMDHosting is a full-service host and offer the gamut of hosting types ranging from shared all the way to dedicated servers. Plans are reasonably priced and come with significant value-added features. The company operates from data centers in five continents including South America and Africa, which is not often seen in market.
Cheapest Hosting Plans Available
Number of Blogs Allowed in One Account
HostScore
TMDHosting Pros
- Affordable pricing
- Choice of global data centres in six continents
- Easy-to-use centralized dashboard
- Free white glove migration
- Host unlimited websites in Business or Enterprise plans
- Outstanding customer support
- Reinforced DDoS protection for all shared hosting accounts
TMDHosting Cons
- Lowest shared plan does not support automatic backup
- Free domain has no privacy protection
- Price increase during the renewal
Fastcomet
While the brand may not be globally recognized, Fastcomet comes up aces when considering performance. It tacks along sterling support to bring it up to par with the best in the industry. If reliability is what you seek, look no further.
Cheapest Hosting Plans Available
Number of Blogs Allowed in One Account
Fastcomet Pros
- High-speed and reliable hosting
- Decent range of hosting plans
- Comprehensive support
- Excellent reputation
Fastcomet Cons
- Limited features on lower-priced plans
Kinsta
Specializing in a very specific niche of web hosting can be an extremely challenging thing to do but Kinsta has managed to succeed. The company offers users the unique opportunity to opt for extremely powerful web hosting that is designed around a single platform – WordPress.
Cheapest Hosting Plans Available
Number of Blogs Allowed in One Account
Kinsta Pros
- Outstanding server uptime and speed performance
- Choice of 30+ server locations
- Optimized for best WordPress site performance
- Plans auto-scale during visitor spikes
- Specialized WordPress support staff
- Highly developer-friendly
Kinsta Cons
- Expensive
- No email hosting
- No shared hosting
- Does not support cron jobs
- Some WordPress plugins banned
GreenGeeks
With their eco-friendly vision GreenGeeks has positioned themselves in a unique spot to offer hosting that some companies have bylaws mandating them to take advantage of – green hosting. Combined with above-average performance and a good spread of supporting technologies, they are an attractive option for many.
Cheapest Hosting Plans Available
Number of Blogs Allowed in One Account
HostScore
GreenGeeks Pros
- Returns 3x power consumed with renewable energy credits
- Affordable pricing
- Free daily backup for all shared hosting plans
- All plans support Perl, Python and Git
- Free website migration assistance
- Root access, control panel and cPanel/WHM included in reseller hosting plans
GreenGeeks Cons
- Price increase during the renewal
- Slightly lacklustre customer service
- Non refundable setup fees
Hostens
Hostens hosting plans come extremely feature-packed at highly competitive signup discount rates. Though their EU-only servers does present a bit of a potential disappointment for international customers.
Cheapest Hosting Plans Available
Number of Blogs Allowed in One Account
Hostens Pros
- Highly competitive pricing
- Support Ruby and Python in all shared hosting plans
- Daily backup included in all shared hosting plans
- Choice of 10 distributed data centers in seven countries
Hostens Cons
- Price increase during the renewal
- Limited storage in shared hosting plans
- Hosting upgrade to VPS only (lack higher hosting capacity)
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Blog Hosting
Blogs come in many sizes, from the small one-man operation to those run by fortune 500 companies. The main difference between these and ordinary websites is that blogging platforms are designed to handle dynamic content.
Factors | Why It Matters to Bloggers? |
---|---|
Ease of Use | New bloggers need a hosting service that is straightforward to set up and manage. Look for web hosts with user-friendly control panels, which allow easy management of your website, domains, and hosting features. cPanel and hPanel (Hostinger) are two newbies-friendly hosting control panel we recommend. |
Reliability and Uptime | Your blog needs to be accessible around the clock. Choose a hosting provider that guarantees high uptime (the industry standard is 99.9%). This ensures your blog is always available to your readers. |
Customer Support | Reliable customer support is vital – especially for beginners who might encounter technical issues or have questions. Opt for hosting services that offer 24/7 support through various channels like live chat, email, and phone. |
Pricing and Scalability | For new bloggers, finding an affordable hosting plan is important, but it’s also crucial to consider future growth. Look for hosting providers that offer a range of plans (Shared, VPS, Cloud, Dedicated). |
Security Features | The internet is fraught with security threats. Choose a host that provides robust security features, including SSL certificates, auto malware scanning, and regular backups. |
Performance (Speed) | our blog speed affects user experience and Google search ranking. Select a host that uses solid-state drives (SSDs), offers content delivery network (CDN) integration, and has data centers close to your target audience for optimal loading times. |
Content Management System (CMS) Compatibility | Most bloggers use a CMS like WordPress for ease of publishing and managing content. Ensure the hosting service is optimized for your chosen CMS, offering one-click installations and (ideally) certain level of supports on your chosen CMS. |
Additional Tools & Features | There are features and tools, such as zapier integration, easy SSL installer, email hosting, WordPress staging, built-in cache system, that help you build parts of your blog quickly and reduce the need for technical knowledge. The more tools your blog hosting provide, the less you have to do, leaving you more time to focus on content and monetization. |
How Much Does It Cost to Operate a Self-Hosted Blog?
The minimal annual cost for running a basic self-hosted blog can start from around $100 (for very basic, low-traffic blogs using shared hosting and free themes/plugins) and can go up to several thousand dollars for high-traffic blogs requiring custom design, development, and premium hosting services. It’s important to carefully plan and budget for both initial and ongoing expenses to ensure the sustainability of your blog.
Here’s a breakdown of potential costs associated with a self-hosted blog:
Domain Name
Typically ranges from $10 to $20 per year for standard domain extensions like .com, .net, or .org. Premium domains can cost significantly more.
Web Hosting
- Shared Hosting: $3 to $10 per month for basic shared hosting plans, ideal for new bloggers with a tight budget. It’s affordable but shares resources with other websites on the same server. Recommended shared blog hosting – Hostinger and TMD Hosting.
- Managed WordPress Hosting: $25 to $100+ per month for managed services specifically optimized for WordPress, offering enhanced performance and security. Recommended Managed WP hosting – Kinsta.
- Cloud Hosting: $20 to $100 per month for more power and control, allowing you to adjust resources based on traffic demands. Recommended cloud blog hosting – Cloudways.
Content Management System (CMS)
Popular blog CMS like WordPress.org is free to download and use. However, there may be costs associated with premium themes or plugins.
- Themes: Free to $100+ (one-time fee) for premium themes.
- Plugins: Free to $200+ (annual or one-time fee) for premium plugins that add functionality.
Blogging CMS to Try Out
Although WordPress holds the lion’s share of the blogging market there are many other options available for bloggers. Some blogging software can be setup in just a few clicks using an auto-installer. Some blogging platforms include read-to-use solutions where you can simply sign up for an account and start writing. Top options include;
- Typepad – This subscription-based blogging platform offers bloggers a quick and easy way to get started. Just sign up for an account, customize your site and you’re ready to go.
- Medium – More than your average blogging platform, Medium is an entire ecosystem where subscribers not only share content but also help drive readership to one another.
- Blogger.com – Having been around for 20 years now, Blogger.com is one of the oldest ready-to-run blog platforms around. Basic accounts here are free.
- Ghost – Whether you want to use a ready-made blog platform or install one on your own blog host, Ghost can do either. It’s open source but isn’t exactly the cheapest option around.
- Serendipity – Serendipity is a PHP-powered weblog engine which gives the user an easy way to create and maintain a blog.
Design and Development
Cost for blog design and development varies widely. DIY using themes and plugins can be low cost or even free, but custom design and development can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.
Security and Utilities
- SSL Certificate: Free with Let’s Encrypt or up to $200+ per year for premium certificates.
- Backups: Free to $100 per year for premium backup solutions.
- Security Plugins: Free to $200+ per year for advanced features.
- Email Hosting: Free to $6 per month per user for professional email addresses that match your domain name (email@yourblogname.com), depending on the hosting provider. Commonly, a simple email hosting is included in shared hosting plan.
Marketing and SEO Tools
Costs vary based on the tools for SEO, social media management, email marketing, etc. It can be totally free, and monthly subscription fees can go up to $100/mo easily.
Content Creation
Blog content creation costs vary significantly based on whether you opt for DIY methods or professional outsourcing. For bloggers who choose to create content themselves, expenses are relatively low, primarily involving time and potentially modest costs for tools like grammar checkers, graphic design software, and video editing programs. These tools range from free to subscription-based services, allowing for a broad spectrum of quality and complexity in content production.
On the other hand, hiring professionals for writing, graphic design, or video production can elevate content quality but also significantly increases costs. Freelance rates vary widely, from cents per word for writing to hundreds or even thousands of dollars for custom graphic design and video production projects.
Furthermore, the use of stock photos and videos can serve as a middle ground, offering cost-effective yet quality content options, with prices fluctuating based on licensing and subscription models.
This balance between cost and content quality is crucial; initially, a blog may thrive on DIY content creation supplemented by strategic investments in tools or services. However, as it grows, allocating budget towards professional content creation and SEO optimization can significantly impact the blog’s success, enhancing both its appeal and its position in search engine rankings.
Free Blogging Tools We Recommend
- Grammarly: A writing assistant that helps you correct grammar errors and improve your writing style.
- Canva: An intuitive graphic design tool with templates for creating blog graphics, social media posts, and more.
- Hemingway Editor: Helps simplify and strengthen your writing by highlighting complex sentences and suggesting improvements.
- ChatGPT: A powerful AI-driven tool that can assist in generating article ideas, drafting content, and providing suggestions for improving readability and engagement.
- Ubersuggest: Offers keyword suggestions, SEO insights, and content ideas to help you plan your blogging strategy.
- Google Search Console: Helps monitor your site’s presence in Google search results and identifies issues affecting your visibility.
- Buffer: Allows you to schedule posts, analyze performance, and manage all your social media accounts from one dashboard.
- Hootsuite: Another powerful tool for scheduling social media posts across different platforms, tracking mentions, and engaging with your audience.
- Unsplash: Offers high-quality, royalty-free images that you can use on your blog and social media.
- Trello: A versatile project management tool that helps you organize your blogging tasks, editorial calendar, and collaborations.
- Google Docs: A cloud-based document editor that allows for real-time collaboration and easy sharing of drafts and final posts.
Frequent Asked Questions
What blogging platform should I use?
Your choice of blogging platform should be based on ease of use, customization needs, and budget. WordPress is highly popular due to its flexibility and extensive plugin ecosystem. Other platforms like Blogger or Squarespace also offer user-friendly interfaces for beginners.
Is there free web hosting suitable for bloggers?
Yes, there are free web hosting services suitable for new bloggers, such as WordPress.com, which offers a free basic hosting plan, and Blogger by Google, providing a straightforward platform for blogging with Google’s reliable hosting. However, free hosting typically comes with limitations on customization, domain name, and bandwidth, which might affect the scalability and professionalism of your blog.
How do I choose the right hosting service for my blog?
Choosing the right hosting service involves considering factors such as reliability (look for 99.9% uptime), scalability (options to upgrade as your blog grows), customer support (24/7 access via multiple channels), and ease of use (user-friendly control panels). Additionally, consider whether the hosting service is optimized for your chosen content management system, like WordPress, and check for any additional features such as SSL certificates, backups, and security measures that are included in the plan.
How often should I post new content on my blog?
The frequency of posting depends on your capacity to produce quality content and your audience’s expectations. Consistency is key. Whether it’s once a week or twice a month, a regular schedule helps build audience anticipation and improves SEO.
How can I drive traffic to my blog?
Drive traffic by optimizing your content for search engines (SEO), sharing posts on social media, engaging with your community through comments and forums, and guest posting on other blogs. Utilizing email marketing to notify subscribers about new posts can also increase traffic.
How do I make money from my blog?
Monetize your blog through various channels such as affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, selling digital products or services, and display advertising. Diversifying your income streams can help increase your earnings potential.