best managed wordpress hosting
The best managed WordPress hosts are not only fast and reliable, but offer all the features and support to make ‘managing’ your WordPress site a piece of cake.
So, after putting in some serious work testing out speed and uptime, plus testing over 95 WordPress test sites across 45 different hosts, we’ve landed on QUAPE as our top pick for managed WordPress hosting.
Managed WordPress hosting is like having your own personal website genie—handling all the behind-the-scenes stuff so you can focus on what matters. It’s perfect for folks who want results without getting tangled up in the technical weeds.
But not all managed WordPress hosts are created equal. These are the ones that aced our tests and snagged our seal of approval.
7 Excellent Managed WordPress Hosting Services
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1. QUAPE
Speed
Excellent
Overall Rating
Price (SGD)
S$25/mo
Key Features
- 100GB NVME
- Free Migration & Optimizations
- Backup Service Daily
- 24/7 Ticket Support
After setting up numerous test sites and crunching the data, we’ve made a decision. QUAPE takes the crown as our top choice for managed WordPress hosting.
Sure, they’re a well-known name you’ve likely come across. But what really sets them apart is how they’ve made it super simple for anyone, even complete beginners, to create, launch, and handle a WordPress site. Their Managed WordPress plans, offer incredible value and simplicity.
QUAPE has been around since 2006 and operates its global business from Singapore. It’s a full-service web host that covers almost all hosting plans. That includes shared hosting, cloud hosting, and VPS.
Whether you’re running a personal blog, small business website, or eCommerce site, QUAPE has you covered. The company is known for its affordable pricing and 24/7 customer support. However, it may surprise you that it ranks well in speed performance.
QUAPE’s performance
QUAPE offers WordPress plans that run on shared hosting. If you want to use VPS, they have the option available, but you’ll need to self-install WordPress. However, what amazes me is that even their shared hosting WordPress plans boast impressive speeds.
| US (W) | US (E) | London | Singapore | São Paulo |
| 41 ms | 41 ms | 100 ms | 190 ms | 139 ms |
| Bangalore | Sydney | Japan | Canada | Germany |
| 233 ms | 172 ms | 125 ms | 30 ms | 111 ms |
QUAPE’s pricing
- WP Essential– S$25.00 per month
- WP Professional – S$50.00 per month
- Enterprise – S$100.00 per month
What’s not good with QUAPE’s
- No data centres outside the Singapore. However, their average worldwide speed is still great!
Learn more about QUAPE
- Visit QUAPE to find out more.
2. DreamHost
Speed
Overall Rating
Price
Key Features
- Unlimited email
- 60GB SSD
- 1-click staging
- Free daily backup
- 100% uptime guar.
“Managed Hosting as it should be: fast, feature-rich and affordable, even for beginners.”
Typically, anyone looking for Managed WordPress hosting wants something as hands-off as possible. DreamHost has essentially thought of every possible annoying part of running a website – whether that’s designing it or updating the latest security patches – and takes it off your shoulders. You can then focus on the important business of growing your business.
All of DreamHost’s plans give you automated backups (to keep your site safe), built-in caching (no need to implement anything) and free site migrations. Their team is highly-trained in WordPress and manages all your security updates and server optimization, so your site stays safe and speedy without you needing to think twice about it.
| US (W) | US (E) | London | Singapore | São Paulo |
| 70 ms | 2 ms | 77 ms | 242 ms | 117 ms |
| Bangalore | Sydney | Japan | Canada | Germany |
| 194 ms | 210 ms | 169 ms | 16 ms | 87 ms |
They scored a top-notch A+ ranking and were the fastest hosts on this list! As expected, server loading speeds got slower in regions that were further away from their data centers (both in the US). But if your audience is based near the Americas, your WordPress site should be lightning-fast.
DreamHost pricing
- DreamPress – $16.95 per month
- DreamPress Plus – $24.95 per month
- DreamPress Pro – $71.95 per month
What’s not good with DreamHost
- No data centres outside the US, which means slower speeds for those with audiences in Asia or Oceania. However, their average worldwide speed is still great!
- Live chat support is limited to 5:30AM – 9.30PM Pacific Time. However, they do have a round-the-clock ticketing system.
Learn more about DreamHost
- Visit DreamHost for more information.
3. Kinsta
Speed
Excellent
Overall Rating
Price (USD)
$35 /mo
Key Features
- Google Cloud powered
- Daily backups
- WP expert support
- Cloudflare & SSL
- 24/7 monitoring
“Ideal for mid-large businesses & enterprises.”
Kinsta’s big selling point is that it’s powered by Google Cloud, which they claim makes them faster than their competitors. We certainly were impressed with the speed of our Kinsta-hosted test site, which scored an A+ rating. They provided super fast response speeds across the US. They’re also the host of choice for Ubisoft and Asos, so they are no stranger to demanding clients.
Their smallest package costs $100 $35 – updated Jun 2022 – so Kinsta is an option tailored for businesses, bigger sites, and higher budgets.
But if you need that much power, Kinsta has it in bucketloads. The service checks your website once a minute for security and support. You can choose your own CDN. and boasts all the developer tools you could want (including a bespoke dashboard that is beautiful and intuitive).
In terms of support, Kinsta’s team responds quickly to our tickets, and clearly knows their stuff when it comes to all things WordPress. Their entire support team is composed of high-level WordPress developers and experts, which should help you resolve any issues quickly. You’re in safe hands here.
Kinsta pricing
- Starter – $35 per month
- Business 1 – $115 per month
- Enterprise 1 – $675 per month
What’s not good with Kinsta
- It’s more expensive than many hosts on this list. Kinsta’s smallest plan now starts from $35 /month.
- No email hosting. Kinsta recommends G Suite for email hosting ($6 /mo for Basic plan)
Learn more about Kinsta
- Visit Kinsta to find out more!
4. HostPapa
Speed
Excellent
Overall Rating
Price (USD)
$39.95 /mo
Key Features
- 50GB SSD
- 1 website
- Free WordPress migration
- Daily offsite backups
- PapaSquad support
“Well-rounded host with great support, suitable for all types of sites.”
We’ve been impressed with them for years and their server speeds have consistently scored top A+ scores on our speed test tool. So we were happy to see them launch Managed WordPress plans in 2022! Finally!
With 3 fast data centers in the US, Canada and Amsterdam, and budget-friendly prices, we think HostPapa makes for a great no-frills optimized WordPress solution.
They’ve piled lots of great features into their interface, so you won’t need to fuss around and look for / pay for extra plugins for your WordPress site. Highlights include:
- Being able to automate CDN configuration, core updates, plugin updates and more by default or in a few clicks.
- Optimizing your site performance with Full Page Caching
- Free WordPress site migrations
- Software boosters like WordPress Super Caching to help speed up site loading
HostPapa also offers great security features packaged up into their ‘Website Security Suite’ that gives you enterprise-grade WordPress protection. For one – you get not one, but two firewalls PLUS real-time malware scanning and offsite daily backups made automatically.
Finally – we just love their support team, AKA the ‘PapaSquad’. They’re highly trained in WordPress and you can even schedule a 30-minute training session with them to answer any WordPress or website questions you have!
HostPapa pricing
- Launch – $19.95 per month
- LaunchPlus – $39.95 per month
- LaunchPro – $69.95 per month
What’s not good with HostPapa
- They don’t yet have any datacenters near to Asia or Australia.
Learn more about HostPapa
- Visit HostPapa to find out more!
5. Cloudways
Speed
Good
Overall Rating
Price (USD)
$13 /mo
Key Features
- Cloud hosting
- Responsive support
- CloudwaysBot
- Scalability
- No contracts
“Managed cloud hosting for everyone.”
Cloudways is a managed cloud hosting provider. It’s a little different from many traditional web hosts in that you can choose to deploy WordPress through Cloudways on the cloud of your choice, like AWS, Digital Ocean and Linode. Cloud hosting is much more powerful and reliable than traditional VPS.
As for features, Cloudway’s managed WordPress hosting comes with 24/7 support and free migration across all packages. Advanced options come with GIT integration, staging URLs, and managed backups. There’s also an intuitive and user-friendly control panel – something that a lot of cloud hosts don’t have. We also just love their pay-as-you go model – it’s much more flexible than most pricing plans.
Cloudways pricing
- Digital Ocean – starting from $12 per month
- VULTR – starting from $13 per month
- Linode – starting from $12 per month
- AWS – starting from $36.51 per month
- Google Cloud – starting from $33.18 per month
What’s not good with Cloudways
- Cloud hosting can be a little technical, but the user-friendly control panel does help smooth out the process.
- Cloudways is built on top of other cloud hosting facilities. They have minimum control over the hardware.
Learn more about Cloudways
- Find out more at Cloudways official website.
6. WP Engine
Speed
Excellent
Overall Rating
Price (USD)
$39 /mo
Key Features
- Fully managed
- GeoTargeting
- Daily backups
- Malware scan
- Firewall, CDN ready
“It’s one of the most well-rounded options out there.”
WP Engine are perhaps the biggest name in managed WordPress hosting. They were one of the first to offer it, and now provide hosting for Cancer Research, Rightmove, HTC and a variety of other big-name clients.
The entry level option, ‘Startup’ is generous, offering a staging environment, one click backup, and free site migration. It’s perfect for up to 25,000 visitors per month, but you’ll have to upgrade to unlock more resources and 24/7 phone support.
Their server is located on the East Coast of the US, so the server speed is faultless if your audience is based there. I also love their 60-day money-back guarantee, so if it’s not working out, you can simply cancel it. In short, it’s very solid and extremely easy to use – even for newbies.
WP Engine pricing
- Startup – $20 per month
- Professional – $44 per month
- Growth – $113 per month
- Scale – $275 per month
What’s not good with WP Engine
- It’s more expensive than many competitors, but they do back it up with strong service and reputation.
- WP Engine has a list of prohibited plugins, which is worth looking at before you commit.
- 24/7 support is only available to premium customers.
Learn more about WP Engine
- Find out more at WP Engine official website.
7. Bluehost
Speed
Good
Overall Rating
Price (USD)
$19.95 /mo
Key Features
- Unlimited websites and storage
- Jetpack integration
- Resource protection
- Automatic backup
- 24/7 support
“Suitable for small sites & beginners.”
A complete managed WordPress host isn’t the right option for everyone, particularly newer or smaller websites. In that case, a cheaper option will be more than adequate. And Bluehost is one of the best budget options out there.
Their speed is consistently fast across the US and is especially zippy from the West Coast – coming in at 23 ms! And whilst we wish it had more data centres around the world (there’s only one in the US, and in India), their global average speed is still very decent at 153 ms.
It’s secure, and 24/7 customer support is available as standard. Unlike some hosts like Inmotion Hosting with no CDN included, Bluehost supports Cloudflare.
Plus – Bluehost has been is recommended by WordPress.org since 2005!
Bluehost pricing
- Build – $19.95 per month
- Grow – $29.95 per month
- Scale – $49.95 per month
What’s not good with Bluehost
- There’s no free site migration.
- Some reports have cited slow load speeds and support responses.
Learn more about Bluehost
- Visit Bluehost official site to find out more.
What Is Managed WordPress Hosting?
Managed WordPress hosting is a comprehensive service for effortlessly hosting and managing a WordPress site. It relieves users from technical burdens such as server maintenance and performance tuning. Such server-related tasks are managed by the WordPress hosting provider. This allows users to concentrate on creating content or growing their business.
How Does Managed WordPress Hosting Work?
Managed WordPress hosting works by having host providers actively manage important but technically tedious tasks on an ongoing basis. The web host’s support team takes care of WordPress updates (core, plug-ins and themes). The host also absorbs tasks like site optimizations, security monitoring, and routine backups. These operations work seamlessly in the background which allows site WordPress owners to remain hands-off.
How Is Managed Different from Regular WordPress Hosting?
Managed WordPress hosting is different from regular WordPress hosting because it shifts critical technical responsibilities from the user onto the web host. Users of managed WordPress hosting do not need to worry about maintaining their server. In regular (unmanaged) WordPress hosting, the user is responsible for staying on top of these tasks. Regular WordPress hosting users therefore need to have appropriate technical skills to keep their site safe and online.
What Is The Cost Of Managed WordPress Hosting?
The cost of managed WordPress hosting ranges from $5 to $50 per month. The exact figure depends on the level of host involvement and the exact managed services provided. This overall price range includes managed services and 24/7 access to a team of WordPress experts. You get key features like Nginx or LiteSpeed, Solid State Drives (SSDs) or NVMe storage. You also get PHP workers and multi-level caching across pages, databases, and server levels. The lower-priced Managed WordPress Hosting plans use shared hosting environments. The higher-end options offer cloud infrastructure.
Can I Use Cheap Managed WordPress Hosting?
Yes, you can use cheap managed WordPress hosting. This is ideal for budget-conscious individuals or small businesses who don’t want the hassle of routine website maintenance and upkeep. The cheapest hosting options come with limitations. This includes capped server resources, limited caching technologies, and the absence of WordPress staging environments.
What Are The Benefits Of Using Managed WordPress Hosting?
There are three benefits of using managed WordPress hosting. The first benefit is optimized performance. Managed WordPress hosting provides server stacks and features tailored to optimize WordPress speed and stability. The second benefit is enhanced security. This is because the host has familiarity with common WordPress vulnerabilities and conducts regular security scans and fast patch updates. The third benefit is you get access to a team of high-level WordPress experts. This allows you to get fast assistance with WordPress-specific issues without needing to hire expensive dedicated engineers.
What Are The Limitations Of Using Managed WordPress Hosting?
There are two limitations of using managed WordPress hosting. The first limitation is the higher cost compared to regular hosting. This is because of the higher level of expertise and time-saving services provided. The second limitation is that users have less control over server configuration and plugins. The hosting provider manages these aspects to keep your site safe but this limits customization options for advanced users like WordPress developers.
What Makes A Fast Managed WordPress Hosting?
Fast managed WordPress hosting is a service that delivers an average global response time of 180 milliseconds or below. This is achieved through various speed-enhancing features like using cloud hosting infrastructure for dedicated and scalable resources. Opcode caching and object caching for WordPress databases help enhance request processing. Fast managed WordPress hosting also uses content delivery networks (CDNs) to improve time to first byte (TTFB) worldwide. It also relies on SSD or NVMe SSD for faster data storage and retrieval.
Can I Install Plugins On Managed WordPress Hosting By Myself?
Yes, you can install plugins on managed WordPress hosting by yourself. You do this by navigating to the “Plugins” section of your WordPress dashboard. Note that most managed WordPress hosting providers restrict the installation of certain plugins. This restriction is for security and performance reasons since unstable or poorly-coded plugins can introduce vulnerabilities to your site. The restricted plugins are third-party ones and often related to caching, backup, and image optimization. Check with your hosting provider to see which specific plugins are restricted and cannot be installed by yourself.
Can I Migrate Away From Managed WordPress Hosting?
Yes, you can migrate away from managed WordPress hosting. This involves either migrating to a regular (unmanaged) WordPress plan of the same host, or to a new web host’s WordPress hosting. The migration process is handled by yourself or by seeing support from the web host. Most hosting providers offer WordPress migration assistance as part of their services.
What Can I Do When I Outgrow The Managed WordPress Hosting?
When you outgrow the Managed WordPress hosting plan you are using you can upgrade to a plan powered by VPS (Virtual Private Server) or cloud hosting. Both are scalable types of hosting that allow you to adjust the server resources (storage, bandwidth, CPU, RAM) allocated to your WordPress site. This flexibility allows for easy scaling in line with your WordPress site’s expansion.
How Scalable Is Managed WordPress VPS Hosting?
Managed WordPress VPS hosting is much more scalable than managed WordPress hosting in a shared environment. Managed WordPress VPS hosting is the combination of managed WordPress hosting and VPS hosting. VPS hosting utilizes a single physical server that is divided into multiple virtual servers each with its own resource set (CPU, RAM, and storage). You can easily scale these resources by upgrading or downgrading your VPS plan tier. The scalability of VPS plans is only limited by the available resources on a single server.
How Scalable Is Managed WordPress Cloud Hosting?
Managed WordPress cloud hosting offers the highest level of scalability among all Managed WordPress hosting options. Managed WordPress cloud hosting refers to managed WordPress services powered by cloud hosting. Cloud hosting lets a website pull resources from a network of interconnected servers. The scalability of cloud hosting plans is only limited by the total number of physical servers owned by the providers. Cloud hosting is unique for its reactive scalability. This means the server resources can automatically adjust based on the incoming traffic. This ensures optimal performance at all times.
What Is Managed WooCommerce Hosting?
Managed WooCommerce hosting is a type of managed WordPress hosting that comes pre-installed with the WooCommerce plugin. WooCommerce is a powerful eCommerce plugin that enables users to turn their WordPress sites into fully functional online stores. It offers a range of features for selling products and services, managing inventory, and processing payments. Managed WooCommerce hosting thus offers a convenient hosting solution for online merchants.
How Does WooCommerce Benefit from Managed WordPress Hosting?
WooCommerce benefits from managed WordPress hosting in three ways. Firstly, it automates WooCommerce testing. This means the web host runs regular checks to ensure critical functions like checkout, login, and payment processing are always operational. Secondly, it actively monitors and patches WooCommerce-related vulnerabilities. This offers protection even before official software security updates are released. Finally, it ensures that WooCommerce sites meet Payment Card Industry standards (PCI). This is crucial for securely processing credit card transactions and protecting customer data.