Unbeatable WordPress Hosting

Whether you're in the web biz or not, WordPress is likely a household name, a common element in the conversation surrounding website creation. And that's no surprise, considering that WordPress currently powers more than 30 percent of the web — a significant chunk of cyberspace.

Not only is WordPress a good option for beginners, but it also boasts scalability and advanced offerings for seasoned website owners looking to upgrade, grow, and expand. WordPress offers anyone-can-do-it usability with versatility and functionality perfect for building your own unique, high-performance website. You also have the added benefits of customizability, open-source flexibility, and a knowledgeable, diverse web community to collaborate with and reference if you get stuck.

Plus, getting started with the WordPress platform is free and often takes less time than vacuuming your living room or choosing the next show to binge watch.

WordPress Basics

Ready to get up and running with WordPress? Like we said, getting started is simple — no fancy tools, high-end budget, or technical expertise required.

1. Pick a domain name. Your domain is the unique web address where your website can be found — for example, YourName.com or WeLoveDogs.com. You get the idea. You buy domain names from a domain registrar or a web hosting company like us — we happen to be both! Keeping your domain registration and web hosting account under one roof makes managing your online presence even easier.

2. Purchase web hosting. You'll need access to a web server via a web host so that your site's data and files can be transmitted to anyone who visits your domain name. Hosting providers often offer a variety of packages based on the type of site you want to create, and on the individual needs and goals of your website. Want a top-of-the-line hosting account for your website? We've got you covered.

3. Download and install WordPress. With DreamHost's DreamPress hosting plan, WordPress comes pre-installed. Yep, kick back and relax; there's no extra work. If you choose to go the Shared hosting route, we give you the option to pre-install WordPress when you sign up. Of course, if you want to install it later, you can always use our one-click installation option. Simple!

4. Customize your site to match your brand. Outfit your website with a quality theme and a few plugins to add extra features. Start simple. You can always build more over time.

5. Start creating content — blog posts and web pages — for your site. Give your site's visitors a reason to engage with you.

See? Getting started with WordPress isn't so bad. You didn't even break a sweat!

WordPress Crash Course

No pressure, but you've got a big decision to make. The web hosting service you choose will affect how well your site performs, how large it can grow, and how easy it will be to build and maintain.

We know you've got a lot of hosting companies to choose from. How can you sift through the noise to find the hosting service that works best for you?

DreamHost stands out from the crowd. We're one of the last independently-owned and operated web hosts in the business. We've grown from dorm-room beginnings in 1997 to helping more than 400,000 customers in over 100 countries. We proudly host over 1.5 million websites, WordPress blogs, and applications for designers, developers, small businesses, and more from our data centers in Ashburn, Virginia, and Hillsboro, Oregon.

We are committed to powering your web goals — whether you're ready to take total control of a server or want our experts to handle the details. All the things you need in a web host — performance, privacy and security, scalability, and platform-specific optimization — are what we offer in spades.

Our Company Values

The truth is, there are a lot of hosting options out there, so it can be hard to choose a plan. We get it. So think for a minute about the kind of site you want and the role you want to play in managing it.

DreamHost provides a range of WordPress-specific options to meet your site's individual needs. Let's dissect some of the more popular plan possibilities.

Shared WordPress Hosting: The tried-and-true traditional hosting option that many website owners start with. Because it's the most affordable way to get all the basics for your WordPress website, it's perfect if you're new to WordPress. This beginner-friendly plan is a simple and low-cost option that can get you on your feet before you're ready to upgrade.

Managed WordPress Hosting: Leave the heavy lifting of WordPress site maintenance to us. With our DreamPress plan, you get optimized WordPress hosting — extreme cloud performance and security, all hassle-free so you can focus on what really matters: building your business. Plus, you get access to expert 24/7 support and advanced tech.

VPS Hosting for WordPress: Managing multiple WordPress sites? This plan option is the ideal way to support multiple WordPress websites, boasting a high-end performance platform, isolated resources, and greater backend control. VPS Hosting for WordPress allows for growth and scalability, making it a perfect, total-package plan for advanced websites owners.

Have lots of traffic or manage multiple sites? You can opt for a dedicated server or DreamHost's cloud hosting. Our team can even spin up custom hosting packages to fit your goals and budget.

Our Guide to Managed WordPress Hosting

Instead of trying to keep track of a hefty list of site to-dos, Managed WordPress Hosting is a no-hassle option.

With this type of plan, your web hosting provider takes care of many of the key responsibilities of site management and performance so you're freed up to focus on other important site duties, like creating content and marketing your website. You build your brand; we'll handle the rest.

Plus, your provider can provide an optimized hosting environment specific to the platform, and you have access to rich WordPress resources and an ever-expanding community of experts. It's a perfectly-balanced solution and a timesaver guaranteed to simplify your site management.

Do You Need Managed WordPress Hosting?

We're all about making your website dreams a reality. So our services cater to making your most crucial site functions as simple as possible. Plus, we provide plan options that allow you to be as involved — or as hands-off — as you want.

DreamPress is our premium managed WordPress hosting service. It's an ideal choice for the person who wants extra performance, scalability, and flexibility from their WordPress site with minimal fuss and without the pressure of handling tricky technical details.

And DreamPress is more than just great technology. Users get access to top-tier WordPress support with quick response times in addition to premium features.

DreamPress FAQs

It depends! With a Managed WordPress Hosting plan, your hosting provider looks after any server resources specific to your WordPress installation. This means the host will take care of site chores such as installing the platform, keeping it updated, and performing backups. Plus, your server will be optimized specifically for WordPress with powerful built-in technology like caching.

The benefits of managed hosting?

• Better performance
• Access to platform-specific support
• Scalability as your site grows

Managed WordPress hosting is an excellent option if you need your web host to do the heavy lifting of keeping your platform updated and secure, so you can focus on your content and not sweat the technical details.

Shared hosting for WordPress is also a popular site solution and has its own benefits. If your website is brand new, Shared WordPress Hosting may be a good starting place. While it usually offers fewer features than managed hosting — like limited server space, performance, software, and support options — you can build your site and grow an audience before you need to upgrade — and at more affordable pricing.

So when choosing a plan, start where you are. Are you new to the website game and looking for a simple, budget-friendly option, or can you already boast a thriving site that needs advanced support and features? Whatever your situation, it's time to weigh the different plans based on your personal needs.

Managed vs. Shared Hosting

Let's talk numbers. What is the actual cost of setting up a WordPress site? Short answer: it depends. But no matter the route you choose, WordPress isn't a budget-breaker.

WordPress is free, open-source software that anyone can access and modify.

To get your own fully-functional website running, you'll need to register a domain and secure web hosting — if you team up with DreamHost, you can get your domain name included free with an annual hosting plan.

When you're ready to customize your site, you can utilize the free themes and plugins offered in the WordPress directory. If you're looking for premium themes or plugins, the cost increases.

With that knowledge in hand, you can balance the range of functionality you want out of WordPress, the extras you need, and the plan that fits best with your budget. Setting up a quality website with WordPress doesn't have to cost you your life savings. It just makes good (dollars and) sense.

How Much Will Your Site Cost?