One of the biggest benefits of using WordPress to build your site – other than it being simple and straightforward – is that it’s completely free. However, when you use the free version at wordpress.com, you’ll need to remember that web hosting isn’t included. But that’s not a problem – there are a number of excellent hosting services that specialise in hosting websites built on WordPress, and SiteGround is one of them.
What is SiteGround?
SiteGround is a WordPress hosting service that makes WordPress maintenance a piece of cake. As well as hosting your site, it also assists with a range of backend maintenance tasks, including security, performance, and uptime, leaving you with more time to focus on growing and developing your site.
Unlike some others out there – e.g. WP Engine – SiteGround isn’t designed exclusively for WordPress. It hosts small and medium-sized websites across a number of different platforms. But don’t let that put you off. It’s still considered to be one of the best options for WordPress and WooCommerce websites.
How much does SiteGround cost?
SiteGround is very affordable, with prices starting from just £5.99 per month + VAT. This starter package allows you to host one website, giving you 10GB of web space and supporting up to 10,000 monthly visits. If you need more, the GrowBig package (5 websites, 20GB of space, and 25,000 visits) costs £8.99 per month. It’s just £12.99 per month for GoGeek (10 sites, 40 GB of space, and 100,000 visits).
Unfortunately, there’s no free trial to allow you to get to grips with SiteGround. However, the service does offer a 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied with the service that you’re receiving.
How do you get started with SiteGround?
- Choose the right pricing tier for you and click ‘Get Plan’ on the SiteGround website
- When prompted, register a new domain, or enter the domain of your existing WordPress website
- Enter your details to complete account setup and receive your login info
That’s all there is to it. To begin using SiteGround’s hosting services, you’ll need to decide if you want to host a brand new WordPress website, or if you want to migrate an existing site to SiteGround’s servers.
How do you set up a new WordPress website with SiteGround?
- Log in to your SiteGround dashboard and select ‘Set Up Site’
- In the next section, click on ‘start a new website’
- Here, you’ll have a choice of application for building your site. Select ‘WordPress’
- Setup the login details for your site’s backend and start building your website
- Click ‘Finish’, and the SiteGround setup wizard will automatically install your new site on WordPress
How do you host an existing site with SiteGround?
If you already have a WordPress website that you want to move over to SiteGround, you’ll need to migrate it from its old hosting provider to its new one. You can choose to do this manually, or have SiteGround’s team of experts do it for you. However, most people opt for the in-between option; using SiteGround’s WordPress Migrator plugin. This migrates your existing WordPress website automatically.
You’ll find the WordPress Migrator plugin in Site Tools > WordPress > Migrator. It’s 100% free to use.
Pros and cons of SiteGround
Pros
- Support is excellent, with the customer care team available 24/7
- Any WordPress plugins you use are automatically updated to boost site security
- SiteGround hosts websites on Google’s Cloud which is known for speed and reliability
- There’s a comprehensive knowledge base with plenty of helpful information for beginners
Cons
- Some features, like on-demand backups and staging, are only available in higher pricing tiers
- Priority support is given to GoGeek customers, so lower-tier customers could be waiting longer
- It’s not WordPress exclusive, so interests are divided across a variety of applications
- Not everything is included in the price (e.g. migration by SiteGround agents costs extra)
SiteGround alternatives
SiteGround is definitely one of the best WordPress managed hosting services out there today. In fact, it’s recommended by Woo, WordPress.org, and Yoast. But not every hosting service will be right for every website. It’s always a good idea to look into alternatives to ensure you’re choosing the best option for you, your business, and your website. If SiteGround isn’t ticking all your boxes, one of the following options might.
WP Engine
The biggest advantage that WP Engine has over SiteGround is that it’s exclusive to WordPress, so absolutely every feature has been designed to benefit WordPress users specifically. Because of this, WP Engine-hosted sites can run at speeds up to 40% faster than those hosted on other platforms. The award-winning managed hosting service is probably one of the most well-known in WordPress circles. It offers a whopping 12 different packages, giving you a range of choice and scalability options.
Flywheel
Flywheel and WP Engine are about as close to the same thing as you can get. They’re actually part of the same company. So if you’re looking for a SiteGround alternative and can’t decide between Flywheel and WP Engine, don’t worry too much about it. They both offer very similar features and support. The big reason to choose Flywheel is its ‘Tiny’ plan, with just 5GB of storage and up to 5000 monthly visits. If your website is very small, you probably won’t find a plan anywhere that’s as good as this one is.
SiteGround summary
If you’re looking for WordPress hosting – either for a new website you’re building, or for an existing website – give SiteGround a try. SiteGround prioritises the three aspects that everyone should look for in WordPress hosting – speed, security, and reliability. This ensures that websites perform optimally for every visitor. Today, SiteGround is used to host more than 2,000,000 unique domains, making it one of the most widely used WordPress managed hosting services around. But if you feel that it’s not quite the right choice for you, keep an eye on our blog. Here, you’ll learn more about other WordPress hosting options available.
