When I first looked into hosting WordPress on Google Cloud, I thought, “This could be the upgrade I’ve been waiting for.”

The idea of running my site on the same infrastructure powering Google Search and YouTube? That was exciting. But it also raised a lot of questions.

There’s no question that Google Cloud offers serious speed and reliability. But I quickly realized that it’s not built with beginners in mind. Between managing virtual machines, setting up your server, and configuring DNS, it’s easy to get stuck.

The good news is that you don’t have to do it the hard way. Whether you want a simple managed solution or you’d rather roll up your sleeves and do it all yourself, I’ll show you both options.

By the end of this guide, you’ll know exactly how to host WordPress on Google Cloud and which path I recommend based on real-world experience.

Why Host WordPress on Google Cloud?

Google Cloud is known for speed, stability, and high-powered infrastructure. It powers everything from YouTube to Gmail, and it’s built to handle huge amounts of traffic without any issues.

That’s why a lot of website owners, including myself at one point, start thinking: “If I host my WordPress site on Google Cloud, won’t I get the same performance?”

And in theory, yes — you can. But there’s a big difference between having access to Google Cloud and actually knowing how to use it well for WordPress. It’s like buying a race car without knowing how to drive it.

That’s where most people get stuck. The platform itself is amazing, but it’s built for engineers and DevOps teams, not regular WordPress users trying to publish content or grow an audience.

So if you’ve been wondering whether Google Cloud is the right choice for your WordPress site, you’re not alone.

In the next section, I’ll show you the easiest way to tap into its power, without having to configure anything manually.

After that, I’ll walk you through two hands-on methods if you prefer the DIY route.

You can use the jump links below if you want to skip ahead:

Method 1: Use SiteGround to Host WordPress on Google Cloud

If you want the speed and reliability of Google Cloud without the technical setup, then SiteGround is the option I recommend — and personally use.

We also host WPBeginner on SiteGround. Describing the move, Syed Balkhi, founder of WPBeginner, wrote:

After testing SiteGround across multiple projects and seeing how well their platform handled real-world demands, I knew it was the right move for WPBeginner.

Syed Balkhi

For more details, see the reasons why WPBeginner switched to SiteGround or take a look at my in-depth SiteGround review.

SiteGround runs its entire platform on Google Cloud infrastructure, so you get the same performance without having to manage it all yourself.

You don’t need to worry about setting up servers, installing software, or handling updates. Everything from performance tuning to WordPress security is already taken care of. You just log in, install WordPress, and start building your website.

SiteGround makes it easy for anyone to get started. Their dashboard is clean and beginner-friendly, and you get powerful features out of the box, including automatic caching, free CDN, daily backups, built-in security, and one-click staging environments.

Pros of Using SiteGround

• Built on Google Cloud’s fast and reliable infrastructure
• No technical setup required — perfect for beginners
• Excellent customer support with real WordPress experts
• Includes caching, backups, security, and CDN out of the box
• Flat monthly pricing, with no surprise bills

Cons of Using SiteGround

• Not ideal if you want full server-level control or custom OS-level tweaks
• More advanced developers might prefer a DIY cloud setup for niche use cases

Pricing: Unlike Google Cloud Platform’s pay-as-you-go pricing, SiteGround offers fixed pricing starting from $2.99 per month.

If you just want to build your site and have it run fast, stay secure, and never think about server maintenance, this is the easiest and most reliable way to do it.

How to Host WordPress on Google Cloud Using SiteGround

First, you need to visit SiteGround’s website and choose a WordPress hosting plan.

I recommend choosing the Startup plan if you are just getting started, or the GrowBig plan if you are upgrading from a regular shared hosting service.

Next, you will be asked to choose a domain name. SiteGround offers a free domain name with each hosting plan for the first year.

If you already have a domain name, you can use that as well.

After that, you will be asked to provide personal information to create your account.

Just fill in the information and go to the payment section to complete your signup.

Once you have completed the purchase, you need to log in to your SiteGround account.

From here, simply click WordPress » Install & Manage.

Select WordPress, or if you want to build an online store, then select WordPress + WooCommerce.

Simply follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup wizard.

Congratulations 🎉 Your WordPress website is running on Google Cloud. It is already fully optimized and ready to go.

How to Manually Host WordPress on Google Cloud

There are multiple ways to manually host WordPress on Google Cloud. You can use a ready-to-deploy instance or deploy it manually yourself.

Here is a comparison table to understand the difference between the two approaches:

Method 2: Use Google Cloud Marketplace to Install WordPress (Click to Deploy)

If you’re not comfortable running server commands or want a quicker way to get started, then Google Cloud offers a ‘Click to Deploy’ version of WordPress in their Marketplace.

It sets up a fully functional WordPress site with a few clicks, including your virtual machine, database, and web server stack.

Here are the pros and cons of using the Click to Deploy method.

Pros:

• Faster and easier than manual setup
• No need to SSH or install software manually
• Great for users new to Google Cloud

Cons:

• Less flexibility because you’re using a pre-configured environment
• Still responsible for backups, updates, and security
• Some users report difficulty scaling or customizing Click to Deploy sites later

Overall, if you’re experimenting or building a personal project, this method is a great way to get started.

Step 1. Create a New Google Cloud Project

To begin, log in to your Google Cloud account and create a new project from the dashboard.

Step 2. Turn on billing

After creating your project, you need to enable billing.

From the left-hand menu, click on Billing and follow the on-screen instructions.

Step 3. Select Click to Deploy WordPress Package

Once billing is active, click the search bar at the top of the dashboard and type in “WordPress.”

From the results, you need to choose the option labeled ‘WordPress – Click to Deploy’ by Google Cloud.

On the next screen, go ahead and click the ‘Get Started’ button.

After that, you may be asked to agree to the terms of service and enable APIs. Simply follow the instructions to move to the next step.

Step 4. Configure Your WordPress Deployment Settings

On the next screen, you’ll see a form with several options for setting up your WordPress instance.

Let’s walk through each one so you know exactly what to choose.

Start by giving your deployment a name. This is just a label inside your Google Cloud dashboard, and you can use something like wordpress-1 or mywebsite.

For the Deployment Service Account, leave it set to ‘New Account’. Google Cloud will automatically create the right permissions to manage your instance.

Next, choose a zone where you want your website to be hosted.

Pick a region closest to your target visitors. For example, asia-southeast1-c for Asia or us-central1-a for the United States.

Under Machine type, you should stick with General Purpose. Then choose ‘e2-small (2 vCPU, 2 GB memory)’, which is a good balance between cost and performance.

In the Administrator email address field, you need to enter your real email address. This is where Google will send notifications and status updates related to your server.

Below that, you’ll see optional features. I recommend keeping both Install phpMyAdmin and HTTPS Enabled checked. This adds a database manager and an SSL certificate to your install.

For Boot Disk, leave it as Standard Persistent Disk with 20 GB selected. That’s enough for most small to medium WordPress sites.

In the Networking section, make sure both checkboxes are selected to allow HTTP and HTTPS traffic. This ensures visitors can reach your site in their browsers.

You can leave Google Cloud Operations unchecked unless you plan to use advanced monitoring tools. They’re not required for running a typical WordPress site.

Once you’ve reviewed everything, simply click the blue ‘Deploy’ button at the bottom. Google Cloud will now set everything up for you behind the scenes.

Once finished, you will see the status of your deployment. From here, you need to copy the ‘Instance Nat IP’. This is your site’s external IP, and you will need it in the next step.

Step 5. Connect Your Custom Domain to Google Cloud

To use your own domain name with your deployed WordPress instance on Google Cloud VM, you’ll need to update your domain’s DNS settings to point to the external IP address of your VM (virtual machine) instance.

First, go to the Google Cloud Console, open the ‘VM instances’ page, and copy the external IP address of your virtual machine.

This is the address your domain needs to point to.

Next, log in to your domain registrar’s dashboard — this is where you bought your domain, like Domain.com, GoDaddy, Bluehost, or other registrars.

I will show you instructions for Domain.com, but it is pretty much the same for all domain registrars.

Find the DNS settings or ‘Manage DNS’ section for your domain.

Here, you need to delete any A records that are currently pointing to a different IP address.

After that, click on the ‘Add Record’ button at the top.

In the form that appears, make sure the record type is set to A. In the ‘Refers to’ dropdown, choose Other Host. Change the Name or Host field to @ if you’re pointing the root domain (e.g., example.com).

In the IP address field, you need to enter the external IP address of your Google Cloud VM. For example, if your VM’s IP is 35.247.XX.XX, then you have to type that in.

Set the TTL (Time to Live) to the default value and then click the ‘Edit’ button to save the changes.

If you also want to support www.yourdomain.com, repeat the process and add another A record with the host set to www, pointing to the same IP.

It may take a few minutes for the DNS changes to propagate. Once that’s complete, visiting your domain in a browser should take you to your Google Cloud-hosted website.

After saving your DNS changes, it may take a few minutes (up to 24 hours, but usually much faster) for them to propagate globally.

Once that’s done, visiting your domain should load your website. You may still need to update your WordPress website address so that it uses your domain name instead of the IP address.

Method 3. Manually Host WordPress on Google Cloud VM

This method is for advanced users, developers, and learners. For this method, you’ll manually configure your VM and use the SSH command line to install software.

Step 1. Create a Project

To begin, you’ll need to sign in to your Google Cloud account and create a new project from the Cloud Console.

Once your project is created, the next step is to enable billing.

Step 2. Enable Billing

Simply click on the Billing label from the left column and follow the on-screen instructions.

Step 3. Enable Computer Engine

Once billing is set up, you need to click on the ‘Compute Engine’ option from the left column (or use the search bar at the top to find it) and click ‘Enable’ to start using the API.

This unlocks the tools that you’ll use to create and manage your server.

Step 4. Create a Virtual Machine

Once you have enabled the Compute Engine, you can now create a Virtual Machine instance (VM instance for short).

A VM instance is your own virtual private machine that you can turn into a VPS server to host your website on the Google Cloud platform.

On the next screen, you will be asked to configure your VM instance.

First, you need to provide a name for your VM, which could be anything that helps you easily identify it. And choose a region and zone where you want to host it.

Below that, you’ll see pre-configured setups for different use cases. I recommend using E2, which is low-cost and perfect for hosting a WordPress website.

Below that, you’ll be able to configure your instance further by adding more memory or CPU cores to it.

Next, you need to click ‘Create’ to continue to the next step.

Google Cloud console will now create your Virtual Machine instance and redirect you to the VM management dashboard.

Step 5. Set up Firewall Rules

While your VM is ready, its firewall rules currently don’t allow incoming traffic requests.

Let’s change that.

Simply click on the ‘Set up firewall rules’ option.

This will bring you to the Network Security area and display your VM’s firewall rules.

Simply click on the ‘Create firewall rule’ option to continue.

On the next screen, you need to enter the following information into the fields:

• Name: allow-http
• Targets: All instances in the network
• Source filter: IPv4 ranges
• Source IP ranges: 0.0.0.0/0
• Second source filter: None
• Destination filter: None
• Protocols and ports: Check ‘TCP’ and enter 80

Don’t forget to click ‘Create’ to save your firewall rule.

Your Virtual Machine is now ready for website traffic.

Step 6. Installing Web Server Software

Next, you need to use the SSH button in the Cloud Console to connect to your server. This command-line interface allows you to install software and give your virtual machine commands in text format.

You’ll need to use it to install the necessary software stack. This includes Apache or Nginx for your web server, PHP for WordPress, and MySQL or MariaDB for your database.

You can run it in your web browser. Once connected, you will see a black terminal screen.

Now, you will need to run several commands, one after another. I know it does sound a bit complicated, but trust me, it is not as difficult as it sounds. Simply copy and paste the commands below.

You’ll first start by updating your VM instance. This is kind of like updating your computer to ensure you have all the security updates installed:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

It may take a few minutes to complete. During this time, you may see options pop up. Simply hit Enter to continue with the default choices.

Once finished, copy and paste the following command to install the Apache web server:

sudo apt install apache2 -y

For those of you who want to install Nginx, you can enter the following command:

sudo apt install nginx -y

Wondering which one is better? See our article comparing Apache vs. Nginx vs. LiteSpeed.

I prefer Nginx because it gives better performance and speed. However, Apache is more widely used due to its flexibility and ease of use.

Once you have installed the web server software, the next step is to install MySQL. Simply run this command:

sudo apt install mysql-server -y

Depending on your VM’s operating system, in some cases, mysql-server may not be available for installation. In that case, you can use MariaDB as a drop-in replacement for MySQL. It works perfectly with WordPress, and the commands are nearly identical.

Simply add the following command to install MariaDB instead:

sudo apt install mariadb-server -y

After that, you need to run the MySQL/MariaDB installation.

Enter the following command next:

sudo mysql_secure_installation

During installation, you can accept the defaults or tighten things based on your comfort level (say yes to remove anonymous users, disable root login remotely, and so on).

Now that you have MySQL installed, you can create a database to use for your WordPress website.

First, enter this command:

sudo mysql -u root -p

You’ll be asked for a password. If you created one during the installation, you can use that. Or simply hit the Enter key on your keyboard.

You will now enter the MySQL server. This is where you will manage your WordPress database.

Let’s first create one by modifying and entering the following command:

CREATE DATABASE wordpress DEFAULT CHARACTER SET utf8 COLLATE utf8_unicode_ci;
GRANT ALL ON wordpress.* TO 'wpuser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'strongpassword';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;

You can change the database name from wordpress to anything else.

Similarly, you can change wpuser (the MySQL username), and finally replace strongpassword with your own strong password.

Next, you will need to install PHP and the required modules. Simply enter the following command:

sudo apt install php php-mysql php-curl php-gd php-xml php-mbstring php-zip libapache2-mod-php -y

Once the installation is finished, you need to restart your web server. This allows your web server to load the PHP and other installed modules on reboot.

For Apache, use the following command:

sudo systemctl restart apache2

For Nginx, you need to use the following command instead:

sudo systemctl restart nginx

Step 7. Connect Your Custom Domain to Google Cloud

To use your own domain name (like yourdomain.com) with your Google Cloud VM, you’ll need to update your domain’s DNS settings to point to the external IP address of your VM instance.

First, go to the Google Cloud Console, open the ‘VM instances’ page, and copy the external IP address of your virtual machine. This is the address your domain needs to point to.

Next, you have to log in to your domain registrar’s dashboard. This is where you bought your domain, like Domain.com, GoDaddy, Bluehost, or other platforms.

I will show you instructions for Domain.com, but it is pretty much the same for all domain registrars.

Find the DNS settings or ‘Manage DNS’ section for your domain.

Here, you need to delete any A records that are currently pointing to a different IP address.

Then, click on the ‘Add Record’ button at the top.

In the form that appears, make sure the record type is set to A. In the “Refers to” dropdown, choose ‘Other Host’. Change the Name or Host field to @ if you’re pointing the root domain (e.g., example.com).

In the IP address field, enter the external IP address of your Google Cloud VM. For example, if your VM’s IP is 35.247.XX.XX, type that in.

Set the TTL (Time to Live) to the default value and then click the ‘Edit’ button to save the changes.

If you also want to support www.yourdomain.com, repeat the process and add another A record with the host set to www, pointing to the same IP.

It may take a few minutes for the DNS changes to propagate. Once complete, visiting your domain in a browser should take you to your Google Cloud-hosted website.

After saving your DNS changes, it may take a few minutes (up to 24 hours, but usually much faster) for them to propagate globally. Once that’s done, visiting your domain should load your server instead of just the raw IP.

Step 8. Install SSL and Enable HTTPS

Before visiting your domain, it’s a good idea to set up an SSL certificate. This allows you to serve your WordPress site over HTTPS, which is more secure and preferred by search engines.

I recommend using Let’s Encrypt, which is a free and trusted certificate authority.

To make things easier, I’ll use a tool called Certbot to automatically issue and configure the SSL certificate for Apache or Nginx.

First, update your package list and install Certbot:

sudo apt update  
sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-apache -y

If you’re using Nginx, you can install Certbot with the Nginx plugin instead:

sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-nginx -y

Once installed, run this command to request an SSL certificate for your domain.

Remember to replace yourdomain.com with your actual domain:

sudo certbot --apache -d yourdomain.com -d www.yourdomain.com

For Nginx users, the command is:

sudo certbot --nginx -d yourdomain.com -d www.yourdomain.com

Certbot will ask a few questions, including your email for urgent notices. You can choose to redirect all traffic to HTTPS when prompted, and I recommend saying yes.

That’s it! You’ve now installed a free SSL certificate, and your site is available over HTTPS.

Note: Let’s Encrypt certificates are valid for 90 days, but Certbot automatically renews them. You can test auto-renewal with this command:

sudo certbot renew --dry-run

Step 9. Install WordPress on Your Server

Now it’s time to install WordPress. Switch back to your VM instance, SSH into your server, and run:

wget https://wordpress.org/latest.tar.gz

Once the download finishes, you need to extract it using the following command:

tar -xvzf latest.tar.gz

This creates a wordpress folder.

Move its contents to your web root, which is usually called /var/www/html/ , like this:

sudo mv wordpress/* /var/www/html/

You need to give proper file permissions so your web server can access everything:

sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html/

Now, create the WordPress config file.

First, copy the sample:

sudo cp /var/www/html/wp-config-sample.php /var/www/html/wp-config.php

Edit it using nano or another editor to enter your database name, user, and password.

This is the information you saved earlier when creating your WordPress database:

sudo nano /var/www/html/wp-config.php

Save and close the file by pressing CTRL+X.

Finally, go to your domain in a browser, and you should see the WordPress installation screen.

You can now follow the steps to create your admin user and finish the setup. Need help? See our complete WordPress installation tutorial.

Troubleshooting Tip 💡: If you see a default server page instead of the WordPress installation screen. This means that a default index.html page is present in the root directory of your site. To delete it, connect to SSH again and enter the following command:

sudo rm /var/www/html/index.html

🎉 That’s it! You now have a working WordPress website running on Google Cloud with your custom domain.

Keep in mind that you’re also responsible for securing your WordPress site, managing backups, applying updates, and monitoring its performance. If you’re not confident doing those things, Method 1 (SiteGround) may be a better fit.

Google Cloud Hosting Costs Explained

One thing that can catch beginners off guard is how Google Cloud charges for hosting. Unlike traditional web hosts with flat monthly plans, Google Cloud uses a pay-as-you-go model that depends on how much you use their services.

When you launch a WordPress site on Google Cloud, whether manually or using Click to Deploy, you’re billed separately for your virtual machine, disk storage, network usage, and optional services, such as snapshots or load balancing.

For example, if you go with the default setup from Click to Deploy using an e2-small instance (2 vCPU, 2 GB RAM) and a 20 GB disk, the estimated monthly cost looks like this:

• VM instance: $15.09/month
• Persistent disk: $0.88/month
• Total estimated monthly cost: ~$15.97/month

This doesn’t include bandwidth usage or backup storage. If your site gets a lot of traffic, or if you store large files or create snapshots, then the cost can increase without warning.

You’ll also need to monitor usage, set up budget alerts, and manually handle software updates, backups, and security patches. That can be a lot of work if you just want to focus on building your site.

That’s why, even though Google Cloud is incredibly powerful, I don’t usually recommend it for beginners — unless you’re prepared to manage everything yourself and optimize for cost.

Google Cloud vs. SiteGround – Cost Comparison

SiteGround, on the other hand, provides the same Google Cloud infrastructure underneath, but with predictable pricing, automated security, expert support, and no unexpected bills.

If you’re building a serious website or running a business, the peace of mind and support alone are worth it.

Final Verdict: Why I Recommend SiteGround for Hosting WordPress on Google Cloud

Over the years, I have used all three methods: manual VM setup, Click to Deploy, and SiteGround. And my honest recommendation is simple.

If you love digging into server setups and want to learn cloud infrastructure hands-on, then the DIY method is a great project.

But if you’re focused on growing your business rather than managing infrastructure, then SiteGround is the smarter way to go.

You still get the power and reliability of Google Cloud behind the scenes. But everything else — performance optimization, backups, caching, staging, support — is handled for you by people who know WordPress inside and out.

We host WPBeginner on SiteGround, and many of our partner companies are also hosted on SiteGround.

If you’re building a serious website and don’t want to worry about server configuration, billing spikes, or keeping up with security patches, then SiteGround is where you should start.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hosting WordPress on Google Cloud

Bonus WordPress Hosting Resources 🎁

The following are a few additional resources on hosting WordPress that you may find helpful.

• How to Install WordPress on Amazon Web Services
• Shared Hosting vs. Cloud Hosting vs. Managed WordPress – What’s the Difference?
• Best Cloud Hosting Providers for WordPress (Expert Pick)
• How to Move WordPress to a New Host or Server With No Downtime
• Best WordPress Migration Services (Compared)

Whether you choose SiteGround for simplicity or go the manual route for full control, hosting WordPress on Google Cloud is absolutely doable. I hope this guide has helped you pick the right path and feel more confident about launching your site.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post How to Host WordPress on Google Cloud Platform (3 Ways) first appeared on WPBeginner.

I started my first blog with a shared hosting plan because I just needed the cheapest way to get my content online.

But as my blog grew and traffic picked up, I noticed things getting slower. Sometimes, my site would take forever to load, and I knew I had to make a change.

That’s when I found myself lost in comparison articles, trying to figure out the difference between upgrading shared hosting, moving to VPS or cloud hosting, or switching to managed WordPress hosting.

It all felt complicated. I didn’t have a big budget, and every option had its own set of pros, cons, and confusing jargon. I just wanted someone to explain it in plain English and tell me which one actually made sense for my situation.

If you’re in the same boat, this guide is for you. I’ll break down the differences, share what worked for me, and help you figure out which hosting option fits your needs, without all the guesswork.

What Is Web Hosting?

Web hosting is like renting space for your website on the Internet. When someone visits your site, they’re actually connecting to a special computer called a server that stores and delivers your website files.

That server keeps your site online, loads your pages, and handles all the behind-the-scenes work. Without hosting, your website simply can’t exist on the web.

Related 🔗: What’s the Difference Between Domain Name and Web Hosting (Explained)

There are different types of hosting, and each one offers a different balance of price, performance, support, and ease of use. Some plans are cheap and simple to get started with. Others give you more speed and flexibility, but can cost more.

Here’s a quick look at how shared hosting, cloud hosting, and managed WordPress hosting compare in terms of cost and beginner-friendliness:

As you can see, shared hosting is easy to get started, and managed WordPress hosting is good for non-tech and busy site owners. Cloud hosting becomes a strong contender once your site grows or you need more control.

Now, let’s look at each of these hosting options in detail and see how they stack up against each other.

How I Compared Shared Hosting, Cloud Hosting, and Managed WordPress

To help you choose the right hosting type for your WordPress site, I followed a hands-on, experience-driven approach backed by careful research:

• Real-World Experience: At WPBeginner, we have been helping users with WordPress hosting decisions since 2009. We’ve personally used shared, managed, and cloud hosting across different projects and client websites.
• Hands-On Testing: I’ve set up WordPress sites on all three hosting types to observe how they perform, how easy they are to manage, and what challenges beginners might face.
• Feature Comparison: I compared critical differences in setup, support, scalability, speed, and pricing to help beginners understand what really matters.
• Use Case Insights: I included real-world examples based on where each hosting type fits best, whether you’re launching a small blog, running a business site, or growing an online store.
• Pricing Research: I verified current pricing trends and listed realistic starting costs for each hosting type to make comparisons easier for budget-conscious users.

Our goal is to make hosting choices feel less intimidating and help you start your WordPress journey with clarity and confidence.

What Is Shared Hosting?

Most people, including me, start with shared hosting. It’s the most affordable option, which makes it perfect for getting your site off the ground.

With shared hosting, your website lives on the same server as many other sites. Think of it like renting a room in a big apartment building. You get your own space but share the same walls, electricity, and plumbing.

This setup works fine for starting a blog, personal websites, or anyone with light traffic. But things can slow down as more people visit your site, or your neighbors get noisy (meaning high traffic on other sites).

That’s exactly what happened to me. My blog was growing, but the site started lagging. I needed something faster—but at the time, I wasn’t ready to spend too much or manage anything complex.

Here’s a closer look at what you can expect with shared hosting.

Pros of Shared Hosting:

• Affordable: Shared hosting plans often start under $5/month, making them perfect for beginners on a tight budget.
• Beginner-Friendly: Most providers offer one-click WordPress installs, easy dashboards, and simple tools that don’t require technical knowledge.
• Freebies Included: Many plans include a free domain name, email accounts, SSL certificate, and backups to help you get started.
• Low Maintenance: Everything is managed for you, so you don’t have to worry about maintaining the server.
• Large Support Communities: Since shared hosting is so common, there is a lot of help available, from tutorials to forums and live chat support.

Cons of Shared Hosting:

• Slower Performance: Since resources are shared, your site may slow down if other websites on the server get busy.
• Limited Resources: You usually get limited CPU, memory, and bandwidth, which can become a problem if your traffic spikes.
• Less Control: You won’t be able to change server settings or install custom software that requires advanced configurations.

Best for: Shared hosting is an excellent fit if you’re launching a smaller site and don’t expect a lot of traffic right away. Here are some examples:

• New or Personal blogs: A place to share your thoughts, stories, or hobbies.
• Online portfolios: Ideal for freelancers, writers, designers, and photographers showcasing their work.
• Small business websites: Great for local shops, consultants, or restaurants sharing menus, contact info, and services.
• Nonprofits and community groups: An easy way to build awareness and share updates.
• Test projects: If you’re trying out an idea or learning WordPress, shared hosting gives you a low-risk place to start.

Once your site starts growing, you can always upgrade to something faster and more powerful, like cloud hosting or managed WordPress. See our article on explaining when you should change your WordPress web hosting.

Want to explore shared hosting providers? See my top picks for shared hosting.

What Is Cloud Hosting?

Cloud hosting is like renting several apartments across different buildings instead of just one room. If something goes wrong in one building, then your site keeps running because the others can pick up the slack.

Instead of relying on a single physical server, cloud hosting spreads your website across a network of connected servers. This setup helps balance traffic loads and improves uptime and performance, especially during traffic spikes.

You might also come across dedicated hosting while doing your research. With that setup, your site lives on a single physical server in one location, and you get all of its resources to yourself. It’s powerful, but not as flexible or beginner-friendly as cloud hosting, which spreads things across multiple servers and is easier to scale.

I’ve helped clients migrate to cloud-based setups when they needed better speed and reliability. Cloud-based hosting offers a solid middle ground—more power than shared hosting without the hassle of managing everything yourself.

Pros of Cloud Hosting:

• Scalable: Cloud hosting grows with your traffic. It can handle sudden spikes without crashing your site.
• Better Performance: You get more consistent speed and uptime because your site uses multiple servers behind the scenes.
• Resource Flexibility: Many cloud plans allow you to customize CPU, RAM, and storage based on your needs.
• Redundancy and Stability: If one server fails, another takes over, so your site stays online.
• Mid-Range Options: Some hosts offer affordable cloud plans that aren’t too technical, so you can get started without managing the setup yourself.

Cons of Cloud Hosting:

• More Expensive: Cloud hosting usually costs more than shared or basic managed WordPress plans, especially for higher-tier resources.
• Can Be Complex: Some cloud platforms require technical knowledge to manage, unless your plan is fully managed by the host.
• Pricing Can Fluctuate: Some cloud providers use usage-based billing, which makes monthly costs less predictable.
• Not Always Beginner-Friendly: Unless you’re using a simplified cloud hosting plan (like HostGator Cloud or Bluehost Cloud), it may feel overwhelming to new users.

Best for: Cloud hosting is ideal when your site is growing fast or if you expect traffic spikes. It offers more power and flexibility than shared hosting. Use cases include:

• Online stores: eCommerce sites that need consistent speed during busy sales periods.
• Business websites: Sites with increasing traffic that require better performance and uptime.
• Membership or course sites: Platforms where users log in and access content regularly.
• Media-heavy blogs: Blogs with videos, podcasts, or large images where loading speed matters.
• Projects that need room to grow: If you’re planning ahead for future growth, cloud hosting gives you breathing room.

Hosting providers like SiteGround and Bluehost Cloud offer managed cloud hosting solutions. These solutions are easier to use, as the host handles server management.

On the other hand, cloud platforms like AWS and Google Cloud require you to manage server resources yourself.

What Is Managed WordPress Hosting?

Managed WordPress hosting is like living in a fully serviced apartment where everything is taken care of for you. You don’t have to fix the plumbing, mow the lawn, or even take out the trash—the company handles all of it behind the scenes.

With this type of hosting, everything is optimized specifically for WordPress. You get faster load times, stronger security, automatic updates, backups, and expert support—all without lifting a finger.

When I finally switched to managed WordPress hosting, it felt like a breath of fresh air. I could focus on writing and growing my site instead of worrying about updates, security scans, or caching plugins. It wasn’t the cheapest option, but the time and stress it saved me were worth every penny.

Pros of Managed WordPress Hosting:

• Speed and Performance: Everything is tuned for WordPress, so your site loads faster right out of the box.
• Security Handled for You: Malware scanning, firewall protection, and login hardening are often built in.
• Automatic Backups and Updates: No more worrying about updating plugins or losing your data.
• Expert Support: The support team knows WordPress inside and out, so they can actually help with plugin or theme issues.
• Time-Saving: Great for business owners or content creators who don’t want to manage the technical side of things.

Cons of Managed WordPress Hosting:

• Higher Costs: Managed hosting typically starts around $15–$30/month and goes up from there.
• WordPress-Only: You can’t host other types of websites or apps—it’s just for WordPress.
• Some Plugin Restrictions: Certain hosts may block plugins that conflict with their built-in tools, like performance or backup plugins.
• Less Control: Advanced users might miss having access to full server settings or configurations.

Best for: Managed WordPress hosting is perfect for people who want a faster, safer site without managing any of the technical stuff. It’s ideal for:

• Busy bloggers: Focus on content while the host handles speed, backups, and security.
• Small business owners: Run your website without hiring a developer or learning server management.
• eCommerce stores: Faster checkout and reliable uptime help keep your customers happy.
• Non-tech creators: If you just want your site to work and not worry about how it works, this is the way to go.
• Agencies and freelancers: Reliable performance and support help streamline client work and reduce headaches.

To learn more, see our top picks for managed WordPress hosting with detailed reviews.

Shared vs Cloud vs Managed WordPress Hosting (Side-by-Side Table)

If you’re still unsure which hosting type is right for you, here’s a quick comparison to help you see the differences at a glance:

Each option has its place. It really comes down to how much traffic you expect, how comfortable you are with the technical stuff, and how much time you’re willing to spend managing your site.

How to Decide Which Hosting Is Right for You

Choosing a hosting plan doesn’t have to be stressful. The key is to think about where you are right now and where you want your site to go in the future.

Here are a few simple questions to help you narrow things down:

• What’s your budget? Are you trying to start with the lowest possible cost, or do you have room to invest in convenience and performance?
• How much traffic do you expect? Are you just starting out, or do you already have a regular audience that visits your site?
• How tech-savvy are you? Do you feel comfortable managing settings and updates, or would you rather have someone else handle it?
• How much time do you want to spend maintaining your site? Would you rather focus on your content and business, or do you enjoy digging into backend tools?

Still unsure? Let me walk you through a few common scenarios:

✅ You’re just getting started on a budget: Shared hosting is your best bet. It gives you everything you need to launch your site without spending much. You can always upgrade later.

🚀 Your business or blog is growing: Cloud hosting offers the speed and flexibility to handle more traffic without slowing down. It’s a good step up when your site needs more muscle.

🧘‍♂️ You want zero hassle and everything done for you: Managed WordPress hosting gives you peace of mind. You get great performance and expert support without dealing with updates or technical headaches.

The good news is that you can always start small and grow into what you need. Most hosting companies make it easy to upgrade your plan as your site evolves.

Our Personal Hosting Journey

I joined the WPBeginner team in 2012, and since then, I’ve worked with nearly every type of hosting while helping people launch and grow their WordPress websites.

In the early days, WPBeginner was hosted on HostGator, first on shared hosting, then on a custom cloud setup. It was affordable and flexible, which made it a good fit when we were focused on keeping costs low while handling decent traffic.

As the site grew, we moved to SiteGround, which is still our hosting provider today. We are on their Enterprise cloud infrastructure. But even their starter managed WordPress hosting plans are hosted on the Google Cloud, which is a massive upgrade from typical shared hosting platforms.

Our founder, Syed Balkhi, wrote a detailed case study explaining why we moved to SiteGround.

After testing SiteGround across multiple projects and seeing how well their platform handled real-world demands, I knew it was the right move for WPBeginner.

Syed Balkhi

Across our team and partner sites, we’ve used everything from shared hosting and managed WordPress plans to full cloud platforms. In most cases, I recommend starting simple, then upgrading only when you actually need more power or flexibility.

My Top Picks for Each Hosting Type

If you’re still unsure which hosting company to choose, here are my personal recommendations for each type based on real experience, performance, beginner-friendliness, and support.

These are the same providers we trust for our own projects and partner sites.

Best Shared Hosting: Bluehost 🏆

Bluehost is the easiest and most affordable way to get started. They’re officially recommended by WordPress, and WPBeginner users get a special deal starting at just $1.99/month—including a free domain, SSL, and 24/7 support (See my full Bluehost review for more details).

🔹 Alternatives: Hostinger (Starting from $2.69/mo) | DreamHost (Starting from $2.59)

Best Managed WordPress Hosting: SiteGround 🚀

SiteGround is what we use for WPBeginner. Their managed WordPress plans are fast, secure, and include powerful features like staging, backups, and expert WordPress support. Starting from $2.99/mo, they offer free domain, email accounts, SSL, and built-in caching (See my full SiteGround review for more details).

🔹 Alternatives: Rocket.net (Starts at $30/mo) | WordPress.com (Business plan starts at $12.50/mo)

Best Cloud Hosting: SiteGround ☁️

SiteGround makes it incredibly easy to host your site on Google Cloud without having to manage servers yourself. Their cloud plans are easily scalable and beginner-friendly. We host WPBeginner and several partner websites with SiteGround, and it has been a great experience all around. For superior performance, I recommend their GrowBig plan, which starts at $4.99/mo, or GoGeek at $7.99/mo.

🔹Alternatives: Hostinger Cloud (Starting from $7.99/mo) | Bluehost Cloud (Starting from $75/mo)

You can’t go wrong with any of these providers. They all offer great support, money-back guarantees, and plans that can grow with your site.

🔒 Get Worry-Free WordPress Maintenance From Experts

Tired of keeping up with WordPress updates, backups, and security fixes? Our team will handle everything behind the scenes so you don’t have to.

With 24/7 monitoring, expert support, and routine maintenance, you can focus on running your business while we keep your website safe and running smoothly.

👉 Learn More About Maintenance Plans 👈

Frequently Asked Questions About Hosting

Start Small. Grow Confidently.

Choosing the right hosting is a big decision, but you don’t have to get it perfect on day one. You can start small with a hosting type that fits your current needs and then upgrade.

Shared hosting is a great starting point if you’re building something new. Cloud hosting gives you room to scale. Managed WordPress hosting makes life easier when you’re busy running a site or business.

No matter where you begin, you can always switch later as your site grows.

If you’re still unsure, check out our in-depth hosting reviews—or feel free to reach out to me or someone from the WPBeginner team. We’re always happy to help!

Helpful Guides to Get You Started 🎁

Now that you understand the different hosting options, here are some beginner-friendly tutorials to help you move forward. Whether you’re ready to launch your site or still exploring, these resources will confidently walk you through each step:

• How to Choose the Best WordPress Hosting – A detailed comparison of top hosting companies, based on speed, support, and value.
• How to Make a WordPress Website (Step by Step) – Follow our beginner’s guide to create your own site in less than an hour.
• How to Learn WordPress Basics for Free (Step by Step) – A step-by-step WordPress learning plan using only free resources made specifically for beginners.
• Best Free Website Hosting Compared – Our tutorial explains why free hosting is bad and shows reliable hosting options that are affordable.

I hope this guide helped you understand the difference between shared, managed, and cloud hosting offers. If you are still unsure, remember you are not locked in—you can start small and grow from there. 🙌

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post Shared Hosting vs. Cloud Hosting vs. Managed WordPress – What’s the Difference? first appeared on WPBeginner.

I started building websites in 2006, and like most beginners, I used shared hosting. It was affordable, simple, and got the job done for my early projects.

But as my online businesses grew, so did traffic, including on WPBeginner. Shared hosting started slowing me down—literally. I had to deal with downtime, slow page loads, and frustrating support.

Since then, I’ve tested just about every type of hosting you can think of—shared, VPS, dedicated, cloud, and even custom enterprise setups. I’ve seen what works, what breaks, and what actually helps websites grow without stress.

Today, most of my websites run on cloud hosting, and I couldn’t be happier with it. I can scale resources as needed and handle millions of pageviews without worrying about downtime.

This guide is based on my own experience, my team’s experience, and real testing. Whether you’re starting fresh or ready to scale, I’ll help you find the best cloud hosting—without wasting time or money.

Here’s why you can trust my recommendations:

• My team and I have used many of these cloud hosts for our own sites and side projects. (See our editorial process.)
• I test each provider using real WordPress installs, load testing tools, and performance monitors.
• With my annual survey, I review support experiences, pricing changes, and real user feedback from WPBeginner readers.
• My team and I have spent over 16 years working with WordPress hosting, and I still use these platforms today. (Meet my team members.)

If you want fast, secure, and beginner-friendly cloud hosting for WordPress, here are my top picks for 2025.

Top Picks (Quick Comparison)

Host	Starting Price	Load Time	Best For	User Score	WPBeginner Rating
	$100/mo	397 ms	🏆 Best All-Round Hosting	4.9/5	A++ (Review)
	$7.99/mo	374 ms	💸 Best Budget Cloud Hosting	4.9/5	A++ (Review)
	$75/mo	255 ms	🚀 High-Traffic Sites	4.8/5	A+ (Review)
	$30/mo	448 ms	⚡ Premium Performance	4.8/5	A+ (Review)
	$12.50/mo	636 ms	🛒 eCommerce & Small Business	4.8/5	A+ (Review)
	$4.50/mo	439 ms	🔧 Developer-Friendly Cloud Hosting	4.7/5	A (Review)
	$12.71/mo	362 ms	📦 VPS-Like Hosting on a Budget	4.8/5	A
	$25/mo	750 ms	👥 WooCommerce Store Owners & Agencies	4.9/5	A (Review)
	$30/mo	635 ms	💼 Premium Managed WordPress Hosting	4.9/5	A
	Varies	415 ms	☁️ Advanced Users & Server Controls	4.7/5	B+
	Varies	684 ms	🏗️ Infrastructure-Level Hosting	4.6/5	B+

Cloud hosting has become the go-to solution for WordPress users who need faster load times, better uptime, and the flexibility to handle growing traffic. But if you’re not familiar with how cloud hosting works, this section will help you understand the basics and how I test each provider.

What Is Cloud Hosting for WordPress?

Cloud hosting is a type of web hosting where your website runs on a network of connected servers, instead of being tied to just one physical machine like with shared or VPS hosting.

This setup allows your site to use more resources when it needs them, making it faster and more reliable, especially during traffic spikes.

Unlike shared hosting, cloud platforms don’t slow down when someone else’s site gets busy. And compared to VPS or dedicated servers, you don’t have to worry about manual upgrades or server maintenance.

It’s perfect for WordPress users who want better performance, more control, and room to grow without jumping through technical hoops.

The Best Cloud Hosting Providers for WordPress

Have you ever noticed how every cloud hosting provider claims to be the fastest, most reliable, and most scalable option for WordPress?

With dozens of companies offering similar-sounding features and using buzzwords like “infinite scalability” and “next-gen infrastructure,” finding the right cloud hosting solution can feel like trying to spot the differences in identical twins.

I’ve narrowed down the best WordPress cloud hosting providers based on real-world performance, value for money, and user experience. Let’s look at each one individually to see why it made the cut and what type of website it works best for.

1. SiteGround

SiteGround is one of the fastest and most dependable cloud-based hosting providers I’ve used. It’s one of the top-rated hosting companies and consistently delivers strong performance and top-notch support.

It’s built on Google Cloud infrastructure, which gives your site high-speed SSD storage (faster hard drives) and automatic scalability. I also like how beginner-friendly its custom dashboard is – no cPanel needed.

SiteGround includes a free CDN, daily backups, SSL, email hosting, and one-click staging. These features are especially helpful when managing multiple sites or testing changes before going live.

Most importantly, their live chat support is consistently helpful and WordPress-savvy. That’s a big reason I keep recommending SiteGround to business owners and bloggers.

Performance

Uptime: 100%

Page load time: 397 ms

Avg. Response Time: 123 ms

WPBeginner Rating: A++

User Rating: 4.9/5

Discount: SiteGround Coupon Code

Best For: Best all-round cloud hosting 🏆

Pros of Using SiteGround

• Built on Google Cloud for maximum speed and uptime
• Free daily backups, SSL, email, and staging tools
• Beginner-friendly custom dashboard (no cPanel)
• Excellent live chat support, available 24/7
• Highly rated by WordPress users and developers

Best For

• Bloggers and small business owners who want fast, scalable hosting
• WordPress users who value top-tier support and simplicity

SiteGround Performance Tests

Uptime

I recorded 100% uptime on my SiteGround test site — a great result for any cloud host.

Page Load Speed

The average page load time was 397 ms in my Pingdom tests across North America and Europe.

Stress Testing

Using K6 to simulate 50 users, SiteGround maintained stable speeds with no major slowdowns or errors.

Global Response Times:

Due to Google Cloud Infrastructure, SiteGround’s response time was great from all geographic locations. It was slightly higher in India, but still within an acceptable range.

My Experience: I host several sites on SiteGround, including WPBeginner. I’ve found it to be fast, dependable, and easy to use, which is everything you want in a WordPress cloud host. You can read more about it in the case study discussing why I moved WPBeginner to SiteGround. For a more in-depth analysis, take a look at my full SiteGround review.

2. Hostinger

Hostinger offers some of the most affordable cloud hosting for WordPress. Despite the low price, I’ve found their platform surprisingly fast and easy to use.

Their custom control panel (hPanel) is one of the cleanest interfaces I’ve tested. It’s simple enough for beginners but gives you control over advanced features like backups, staging, and caching.

Hostinger also includes LiteSpeed caching, a built-in Cloudflare CDN, and malware scanning on all plans. These are features I don’t usually expect at this price point.

If you’re just getting started or running a budget-conscious project, Hostinger is one of the best cloud-based platforms to grow with.

You can start with their Premium or Business plans. I found them to be quite excellent for smaller sites. You can also easily switch to their Cloud Startup plan for more resources as your business grows.

Performance

Uptime: 99.99%

Page load time: 374 ms

Avg. Response Time: 147 ms

WPBeginner Rating: A++

User Rating: 4.9/5

Discount: Hostinger Coupon Code

Best For: Budget-friendly cloud WordPress hosting 💸

Pros of Using Hostinger

• Lowest starting price for cloud-based WordPress hosting
• Clean, custom hPanel interface (great for beginners)
• Includes LiteSpeed caching, CDN, and malware scanning
• One-click WordPress installs and staging are available
• Consistent uptime and quick support response

Best For

• Beginners looking for affordable cloud hosting
• Freelancers, students, or side projects with growth potential

Hostinger Performance Tests

Uptime

Hostinger maintained 99.99% uptime over 30 days of testing using UptimeRobot.

Page Load Speed

The average page load time was 374 ms across multiple global Pingdom locations.

Stress Testing

During load tests with 50 concurrent users via K6, performance remained smooth with no timeouts.

Global Response Time:

My Hostinger test site had a great response time from all geographic locations.

My Experience: I often recommend Hostinger for beginners who want real cloud performance on a budget. It’s reliable, fast, and easy to manage even for non-technical users. I also like their fast and friendly customer support, which is available 24/7 via live chat. For more details, see my team’s full Hostinger review.

3. Bluehost Cloud

Bluehost Cloud offers premium hosting plans from a long-time WordPress-recommended provider. It’s built specifically for high-performance, cloud-native WordPress hosting and is ideal for serious sites that need speed and scale.

Unlike traditional Bluehost plans, this cloud platform is built on a multi-server architecture with instant scalability and enhanced caching. I also found the dashboard very clean and focused on WordPress users.

It also comes with free daily backups, staging, malware detection, and their WP Pro tools. The setup experience is smooth, and the speed improvements are noticeable, especially under load.

This platform is more expensive than shared hosting, but if you’re running an established business or an online store, it’s worth the investment.

Performance

Uptime: 99.98%

Page load time: 255 ms

Avg. Response Time: 118 ms

WPBeginner Rating: A+

User Rating: 4.8/5

Discount: Bluehost Coupon Code

Best For: High-traffic WordPress sites 🚀

Pros of Using Bluehost Cloud

• Built for performance with cloud-native architecture
• Excellent speed and load handling (great for eCommerce)
• Free domain, backups, malware protection, and staging
• Optimized specifically for WordPress use cases
• Easy dashboard with Pro features built in

Best For

• High-traffic blogs, WooCommerce stores, or agency websites
• Site owners ready to upgrade from shared or VPS to premium cloud

Bluehost Cloud Performance Tests

Uptime

I recorded 99.98% uptime using UptimeRobot with Bluehost Cloud.

Page Load Speed

It had one of the fastest page load times in my tests — just 255 ms across US and EU servers.

Stress Testing

K6 stress tests showed excellent stability with 50 users and no bottlenecks.

Global Response Time

Response times were strong in the US and Europe but slower in Asia and Australia.

My Experience: I’m a long-time Bluehost customer and have used Bluehost Cloud for business websites that needed premium speed and guaranteed uptime. It’s a big step up from shared plans and one of Bluehost’s best upgrades yet. For more details, take a look at my team’s full Bluehost review.

4. Rocket.net

Rocket.net is one of the fastest WordPress cloud hosting platforms I’ve ever tested. It’s fully managed and comes with Cloudflare Enterprise built in, which alone offers major value for money.

Rocket.net delivers excellent performance even under traffic surges. I didn’t need to configure caching or security — everything worked out of the box. The dashboard is incredibly simple, even for non-technical users.

It’s more expensive than beginner-focused hosts, but it’s perfect if you want top-tier speed, built-in CDN, WAF (Website Application Firewall), and expert support without lifting a finger.

If performance is your top priority, Rocket.net is one of the best premium WordPress cloud hosts I can recommend.

Performance

Uptime: 100%

Page load time: 448 ms

Avg. Response Time: 119 ms

WPBeginner Rating: A+

User Rating: 4.8/5

Discount: Rocket.net Coupon

Best For: Premium performance ⚡

Pros of Using Rocket.net

• Cloudflare Enterprise is included at no extra cost
• Blazing-fast speeds even under load
• One of the simplest managed dashboards I’ve used
• No need to configure caching or CDN manually
• Excellent support from WordPress experts

Best For

• Agencies and businesses that prioritize speed and security
• Users who want premium managed WordPress hosting with zero maintenance

Rocket.net Performance Tests

Uptime

Rocket.net maintained 100% uptime during my 30-day test window.

Page Load Speed

Pages loaded in just 448 ms on average (270 ms on the US East Coast) with no need for plugin-based optimization.

Stress Testing

Rocket.net held steady with 50 concurrent virtual users and didn’t show any traffic lag during K6 tests.

Global Response Time

I was delighted by the fast server response time from all geographic locations.

My Experience: I use Rocket.net for some of my businesses where I need top-tier speed with zero setup. Their Cloudflare integration and server stack make it feel like everything is pre-optimized out of the box. For more details, see my team’s full Rocket.net review.

5. WordPress.com

WordPress.com is a fully managed cloud hosting platform built by Automattic. I believe it is one of the easiest ways to launch a secure, fast, and scalable WordPress site without worrying about hosting setup or server tuning.

It includes built-in caching, CDN, backups, malware protection, and SEO tools. You also get access to WordPress.com’s own block editor enhancements and customer support, which I’ve found responsive and helpful for beginners.

What makes WordPress.com unique is how seamlessly it integrates WordPress hosting, security, and publishing tools under one roof. It’s a solid option for those who want simplicity without sacrificing performance.

Although it has some limitations as an all-in-one solution, it’s incredibly convenient for small businesses and bloggers.

Performance

Uptime: 100%

Page load time: 636 ms

Avg. Response Time: 148 ms

WPBeginner Rating: A+

User Rating: 4.8/5

Discount: WordPress.com Coupon

Best For: eCommerce and small business 🛒

Pros of Using WordPress.com

• Hosted by the folks who know WordPress inside out
• Built-in performance, security, SEO, and backups
• No need to worry about updates, caching, or plugins
• Beginner-friendly dashboard and editor
• Strong support and uptime for business websites

Best For

• Bloggers, freelancers, and small business owners
• Anyone who wants “set it and forget it” WordPress hosting

WordPress.com Performance Tests

Uptime

WordPress.com had 100% uptime during my tests, which is excellent for managed cloud hosting.

Page Load Speed

The site loaded in about 636 ms on average across key regions, which is slightly slower than developer-focused hosts but still fast.

Stress Testing

It handled 50 virtual users in my K6 test with no slowdowns, which shows their infrastructure is solid.

Global Response Time

WordPress.com had great server response times across the board.

My Experience: I recommend WordPress.com as an excellent option for beginners and small business websites. It does have some limitations, which is why I recommend starting with Business or Commerce plans, which offer more flexibility. For more details, see my team’s detailed WordPress.com review.

6. DreamHost Cloud

DreamHost Cloud is more developer-focused than some others on this list. It gives you full control of a cloud server without the limitations of managed plans, which makes it a great option for advanced users.

You can launch WordPress on their cloud compute platform using your own stack (LAMP, NGINX, etc.) and scale it however you want. I’ve used it for staging environments and sandbox sites where flexibility is more important than UI.

It’s not ideal for beginners, but if you know your way around Linux or want to manage your own cloud instance, DreamHost Cloud gives you tons of freedom at a very low cost.

It’s also great for developers who want to test applications or deploy advanced setups affordably.

Performance

Uptime: 99.89%

Page load time: 439 ms

Avg. Response Time: 174 ms

WPBeginner Rating: A

User Rating: 4.7/5

Discount: DreamHost Coupon

Best For: Developers and technical users 🔧

Pros of Using DreamHost Cloud

• Very low starting cost for full cloud access
• Great for developers needing sandbox or staging environments
• Custom stack deployment (LAMP, NGINX, etc.)
• Scalable compute and storage resources
• No fixed limits on bandwidth or site count

Best For

• Advanced users and developers
• Testing, staging, or custom WordPress cloud stacks

DreamHost Performance Tests

Uptime

Over 30 days, my DreamHost Cloud site maintained 99.89% uptime, which is solid for a self-managed setup.

Page Load Speed

The page load time was 439 ms — faster than I expected from a DIY setup.

Stress Testing

With K6, the server handled 50 concurrent users smoothly with minimal latency spikes.

My Experience: I have tested DreamHost Cloud for development sites and custom testing projects. I like that it gives total control without breaking the bank. My team has a detailed DreamHost review with more information on their regular WordPress plans.

7. Scala Hosting

Scala Hosting offers managed WordPress cloud hosting at an affordable price. I’ve used it on testing sites, and it consistently delivers solid performance, responsive support, and excellent value for money.

What makes Scala unique is its SPanel — an alternative to cPanel that’s lightweight, easy to use, and doesn’t require extra licensing. You get full control of your cloud VPS with a beginner-friendly dashboard.

Scala Hosting includes free daily backups, a built-in firewall, malware scanning, and fully managed support. Its plans are also scalable, so you can adjust resources as your site grows.

It’s especially good for those who want VPS-like power without managing everything themselves.

Performance

Uptime: 99.99%

Page load time: 362 ms

Avg. Response Time: 142 ms

WPBeginner Rating: A

User Rating: 4.8/5

Discount: Scala Hosting Coupon

Best For: VPS-style cloud WordPress hosting on a budget 🧰

Pros of Using Scala Hosting

• Includes free SPanel (cPanel alternative with no license fees)
• Fully managed VPS cloud with strong security features
• Excellent speed and uptime across global test locations
• Scalable RAM, CPU, and storage on demand
• Helpful and fast live chat support

Best For

• WordPress users who want VPS-style control with managed support
• Agencies, resellers, and site owners who need scalability

Scala Hosting Performance Tests

Uptime

Scala Hosting delivered 99.99% uptime during my monitoring period.

Page Load Speed

The average page load time was 362 ms based on Pingdom tests from the US and EU regions.

Stress Testing

K6 tests showed smooth handling of up to 50 virtual users with no performance dips.

Global Response Time

Response times were excellent, averaging just 120.4 ms globally, with faster results in the US and Europe.

My Experience: When I signed up for Scala Hosting, I enjoyed the smooth user experience. I also liked how it balances the ease of use of a managed WordPress host with developer-friendly flexibility. I reached out to support for some queries, and their response time and problem-solving skills were excellent. For more details, see our full Scala Hosting review.

8. Pressable

My team members and I have tested Pressable for WooCommerce stores and high-traffic blogs where stability really matters. It’s developed by Automattic, the same team behind WordPress.com and WooCommerce, so everything is optimized for WordPress right out of the box.

One thing I really liked was how smooth the onboarding felt. Migrations were handled for me, and I didn’t have to think about caching, CDN, or security setup — it’s all included. Their dashboard is simple but powerful, and I could spin up staging sites or clone installs with just a few clicks.

It includes enhanced security, daily backups, malware scanning, and server-side caching. I’ve tested it under load and found it to be fast and consistent, especially for dynamic WooCommerce pages.

It’s priced at a premium, but if you’re running a serious WordPress site, it delivers the kind of reliability and support I look for in client projects.

Performance

Uptime: 100%

Page load time: 750 ms

Avg. Response Time: 113 ms

WPBeginner Rating: A

User Rating: 4.9/5

Discount: Pressable Coupon

Best For: WooCommerce store owners & agencies 🛒

Pros of Using Pressable

• Created by Automattic (makers of WordPress.com & WooCommerce)
• Includes enhanced security, CDN, and daily backups
• Excellent speed under high traffic
• Easy-to-use dashboard with cloning, staging, and team tools
• Rock-solid uptime and responsive support

Best For

• WooCommerce store owners and business websites
• Agencies and professionals managing multiple client installs

Pressable Performance Tests

Uptime

Pressable held 100% uptime across my monitoring period using UptimeRobot.

Page Load Speed

The average load time was just 750 ms, with no need to configure extra performance plugins.

Stress Testing

During K6 load testing, it handled 50 concurrent users with zero slowdowns.

Global Response Time

Pressable gave an incredible server response time from all geographic locations.

My Experience: I liked the ease of use and smooth onboarding experience, which add great value for beginners who need premium performance without hiring a developer. Pressable offers a fully managed WordPress environment that works well out of the box. The performance, support, and security are top-notch, and it’s one of the few platforms where I rarely need to touch caching or CDN settings. See my team’s detailed Pressable review for more analysis.

9. Kinsta

I’ve used Kinsta on several business and client sites, and it’s easily one of the smoothest cloud hosting experiences I’ve had. Everything, from speed to support, just works.

Kinsta runs on Google Cloud’s premium-tier network, and they handle all the heavy lifting: caching, security, backups, staging, and even performance monitoring. I didn’t have to configure anything — my sites were blazing fast out of the box.

What really stood out to me was their dashboard. It’s modern, easy to navigate, and built specifically for WordPress users. In seconds, I could switch PHP versions, clear the cache, and manage redirects.

If you want premium WordPress hosting without dealing with technical maintenance, Kinsta is one of the best investments you can make. It’s priced higher, but the performance and premium service justify the cost.

Performance

Uptime: 100%

Page load time: 635 ms

Avg. Response Time: 101 ms

WPBeginner Rating: A

User Rating: 4.9/5

Discount: Kinsta Coupon

Best For: Premium managed WordPress performance 💎

Pros of Using Kinsta

• Built on Google Cloud’s premium tier with global CDN
• Lightning-fast out of the box — no caching plugins needed
• Daily backups, one-click staging, and free hack fixes
• Excellent support from actual WordPress engineers
• Easy-to-use MyKinsta dashboard with tons of features

Best For

• Site owners who want high-end, fully managed WordPress hosting
• Businesses, agencies, and professionals who value speed and uptime

Kinsta Performance Tests

Uptime

Every site I tested on Kinsta had 100% uptime for the whole duration of monitoring.

Page Load Speed

With their built-in caching and CDN, I saw average load times under 635 ms — no optimization required.

Stress Testing

Even under 50 simultaneous users in my K6 tests, Kinsta held up with consistent response times and no server strain.

My Experience: I enjoyed testing Kinsta for internal projects and staging websites. It offers a clean and intuitive dashboard, which makes managing your website so much easier. It’s fast, secure, and supported by people who truly understand WordPress. If your business depends on uptime and speed, Kinsta is worth every dollar.

10. Google Cloud

I’ve used Google Cloud to host custom WordPress applications that needed full flexibility. It’s the same infrastructure used by SiteGround, Kinsta, and other major hosts, and it’s incredibly fast when set up correctly.

But I wouldn’t recommend it to beginners. You’re responsible for everything, including server setup, WordPress installation, caching, firewalls, and backups. When I used it for a high-scale project, I had to spend hours tuning the stack to get the performance right.

However, once it’s configured properly, the performance is incredible. I was able to scale up and down depending on traffic spikes, and I had full access to logs, resource usage, and network settings.

If you’re a developer or know your way around the terminal, Google Cloud is one of the most powerful platforms out there. Just know that going in, there’s no hand-holding.

As an alternative, I would recommend SiteGround, which is hosted on the Google Cloud platform but will take care of everything for you behind the scenes.

Performance

Uptime: 100%

Page load time: 415 ms (LEMP stack)

Avg. Response Time: 63 ms

WPBeginner Rating: B+

User Rating: 4.7/5

Discount: Free credits for new accounts

Best For: Advanced users & server controls 👨‍💻

Pros of Using Google Cloud

• Same infrastructure used by SiteGround, Kinsta, and major apps
• Unmatched flexibility for scaling and performance
• Access to the full server stack and network settings
• Pay-as-you-go pricing and generous free credits
• Fast SSDs, load balancing, and global CDN options

Best For

• Developers and agencies building custom WordPress stacks
• Advanced users who want full server control and automation

Google Cloud Performance Tests

Uptime

My custom VM stack on Google Cloud maintained 100% uptime over 30 days of testing.

Page Load Speed

After tuning the server, my site loaded in just 415 ms across global locations.

Stress Testing

In my K6 tests, it handled 50 users with no timeouts, but only after I configured load balancing and caching manually.

My Experience: I’ve used Google Cloud for projects that needed complete freedom, and I love the power and flexibility it offers. But unless you’re comfortable managing Linux servers, I’d stick with a managed cloud host from this list, such as SiteGround.

11. AWS (Amazon Web Services)

I’ve hosted WordPress on AWS (Amazon Web Services) for projects that needed enterprise-level flexibility. It’s one of the most powerful cloud platforms in the world, but it comes with a steep learning curve, which is why I wouldn’t recommend it to beginners.

You can run WordPress on Lightsail instances and select virtual machines for your own requirements. You will be responsible for load balancing, caching, scaling, and security. That’s a lot of moving pieces, and in my experience, it requires hands-on setup and regular monitoring.

Once properly configured, the speed and reliability are outstanding. I’ve seen it run traffic-heavy campaigns and product launches without breaking a sweat, but only because everything was optimized in advance.

If you’re a developer or agency managing custom infrastructure, AWS gives you unmatched flexibility. But for most WordPress users, I’d recommend a managed cloud host instead.

Discount: AWS Free Tier offers a free trial

Uptime: 100%

Page load time: 684 ms

Avg. Response Time: 109 ms

WPBeginner Rating: B+

User Rating: 4.6/5

Discount: AWS Free Tier offers free trial

Best For: Custom enterprise-grade WordPress setups 🏗️

Pros of Using AWS

• Extreme flexibility for custom WordPress infrastructure
• Highly scalable with advanced security and monitoring
• Used by large enterprises and SaaS apps
• Global availability zones and CDN integration
• Free tier allows you to test with no cost for 12 months

Best For

• Developers and system admins managing high-scale WordPress environments
• Agencies and teams needing full-stack control and automation

AWS Performance Tests

Uptime

I set up monitoring just before stress-testing my AWS test site. The site remained up during the testing with 100% uptime.

Page Load Speed

My test site loaded in 684 ms on average without any caching or performance optimization.

Stress Testing

In my K6 load test, AWS held up under 50 concurrent users, but I had to set up caching and optimization.

My Experience: AWS provides flexibility and resources, but you will need to spend time configuring and managing it. It’s not beginner-friendly, but it delivers the power and reliability I expect from enterprise hosting for large, mission-critical sites. For those who want to try it out, my team has prepared a step-by-step beginner-friendly guide for installing WordPress on AWS.

My Verdict: Best Cloud Hosting Providers for WordPress

After testing dozens of platforms and helping site owners scale with confidence, these are the top 3 cloud hosting providers I recommend, based on real-world usage, performance, and value.

Best Overall Cloud Hosting: SiteGround

I use SiteGround for several businesses that need speed, uptime, and easy management. It runs on Google Cloud infrastructure and works great for blogs, business sites, and online stores.

Best Budget Cloud Hosting: Hostinger

If you’re on a tight budget but still want fast, cloud-powered WordPress hosting, Hostinger is a solid pick. Their dashboard is beginner-friendly, and support has always been helpful in my experience.

Best for Premium Cloud Features: Bluehost Cloud

Bluehost’s new cloud offering brings premium speed, built-in optimization, and scalability. It’s a great choice if you want performance without going full developer mode.

FAQs About Cloud Hosting for WordPress

Choosing a cloud hosting provider can be challenging, especially with so many technical terms and features.

Here are some common questions I get from readers and clients when they’re making the switch to WordPress cloud hosting, along with my honest answers.

Want to Learn More About WordPress Hosting?

These guides can help if you’re still exploring your options or want to better understand how WordPress hosting works:

• How to Choose the Best WordPress Hosting
• WordPress Maintenance vs Managed Hosting – Which Is Better?
• How Much Traffic Can WordPress Handle? (+ Expert Scaling Tips)
• Beginner’s Guide to WordPress Speed and Performance

I hope this guide helped you find the right cloud hosting for your WordPress site. If you still have questions or need help deciding, feel free to leave a comment or reach out — I read every message, and I’m happy to help however I can.

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The post 11 Best Cloud Hosting Providers for WordPress in 2025 (Expert Pick) first appeared on WPBeginner.