Website Hosting Options for WooCommerce Ecommerce Stores

Are you currently utilizing WooCommerce as your online store platform? However, have you considered the effectiveness of your current website hosting service for your online store? The performance of your hosting provider plays a significant role in the overall performance of your online store and ultimately impacts your profitability. 

Since the launch of your store, you have probably encountered performance issues that could be resolved by switching to a superior website hosting service. While it may not be a perfect solution, it is worth considering the advantages of migrating to a managed website hosting service for the benefit of your WooCommerce store.

If you are a larger e-commerce store, you might be looking for a custom-configured server option.  In these cases, you may require a server admin with a tightly embedded dev ops team to assist with helping to lock down your store with managed code deployments and prevent unwanted vulnerabilities.  

Why Hosting Matters for WooCommerce Stores

Before diving into the best hosting options, it’s crucial to understand why the right hosting environment is paramount for WooCommerce. Three primary reasons stand out:

• Performance & Speed: Slow-loading sites frustrate users, which can result in abandoned carts and lost sales. A fast host ensures quick page load times, keeping your customers engaged.
• Uptime & Reliability: Your store needs to be accessible 24/7. Reliable hosting minimizes the risk of unexpected downtimes, ensuring your customers can shop any time they want.
• Security: E-commerce sites handle sensitive information. The right host will prioritize security, offering features like SSL certificates, DDoS protection, and daily backups.

Now that we’ve gone through the obvious features your store needs, let’s take a look at a few great companies to consider.

Bluehost

Bluehost deserves to be a viable option for these very reasons: 

• Recommended by WordPress.org.
• Special WooCommerce hosting plan available.
• Free domain for the first year and free SSL certificate.
• Dedicated IP and a positive reputation for customer support.
• They offer a variety of hosting options, including low-cost plans, starting at $3.95 per month. 
• One-click WordPress installation. 
• Ability to scale as your storefront grows from shared to virtual private to dedicated hosting. 
• 24/7 technical support. 
• Secure WooCommerce websites with a positive or positive wildcard SSL certificate and supports PCI compliance on all accounts.
• Automated backup on optimized WordPress plans.
• You’ll be all set with both WordPress and WooCommerce hosting with them.

Now, of course, you’ll want to consider Bluehost as a good option for basic stores.  They also have great options for larger stores.  Make sure to get in touch with them if you’re concerned about larger-scale performance.

WP Engine 

WP Engine is a good choice as they offer managed WordPress hosting exclusively. You’ll know from day one that your WordPress site will be optimized for automatic plugin updates, security backups, and faster load times. Here are some other things to consider with WP Engine: 

• Managed WordPress hosting platform with robust performance.
• Daily backups, threat detection, and free SSL.
• Staging and development environments.
• They have a partnership with StudioPress, providing free premium themes.
• Hosting plans are more expensive than other options and are offered on shared or dedicated servers. 
• A fast and scalable solution as your storefront grows. 
• Automated updates for WordPress and all its plugins. 
• Free site migration. 
• Live chat and phone support during business hours. 
• CDN is ready for fast load times for globally-accessed content.

At Mode Effect, we trust WP Engine with some of our larger mission-critical online stores.  Get in touch with them and see if they’d be a great fit for your online store today!

Kinsta 

Pressable 

Pressable also offers managed WordPress hosting and is a good choice for multiple sites; whereas Bluehost will work well for single sites and WP Engine can scale to enterprise sites. Here are things to consider with Pressable.

• Recommended by WooCommerce as one of four hosting solutions (including Bluehost).
• Sites hosted on Pressable are automatically optimized for peak performance, making them super fast.
• Daily backups.
• 24/7 support.
• Automated security updates.
• Reasonable pricing starts at $20.83 per month for 1-5 sites.

Liquid Web / Nexcess

Liquid Web / Nexcess also offers a managed WooCommerce hosting plan.  They’re a good option for any WooCommerce site looking for either a starter plan or a larger-scale store.  Here are some of the options they provide right out of the gate:

• Offers managed WooCommerce hosting with features like automatic updates and free SSL.
• Comes with a performance-optimized theme.
• Built-in page builder for customization.
• Features like abandoned cart emails and other e-commerce tools.

Custom Cloud Hosting

As mentioned before, some WooCommerce stores are simply too large to just deploy their website to a shared website host and expect good results.  If your store resembles this even remotely, you’ve likely felt the constraints of shared hosting and its impact on your website.

If your online store experiences large bursts of traffic, has lots of technical debt (used and unused plugins) and has a large database, you could be a good candidate for custom cloud hosting.  This is especially a good fit for stores that experience a very large hosting bill when experiencing variable bursts of traffic and a website hosting company doesn’t have a customized scaling option.

Is this you? 

We can help guide you down the right path.  Get in touch with us today to help find the best hosting option.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Host

When evaluating your hosting options, keep the following considerations in mind:

• Budget: Determine how much you’re willing to spend. While cheaper hosting might be tempting, it could compromise performance and security.
• Traffic: Anticipate your store’s traffic volume. Higher-traffic stores will benefit from more robust hosting options.
• Technical Support: 24/7 customer support, especially with WooCommerce expertise, is invaluable for resolving any issues promptly.
• Scalability: Your hosting should be able to grow with your store. Look for easy upgrading options.
• Reviews & Recommendations: Always consult current user reviews and expert recommendations to gauge the reliability and performance of a hosting provider.

Conclusion

The world of WooCommerce hosting might seem vast and overwhelming, but by understanding your store’s unique needs and the features offered by different hosts, you can make an informed decision. Remember, investing in quality hosting isn’t just about keeping your site online; it’s about providing your customers with a seamless, fast, and secure shopping experience. As your store grows and thrives, you’ll find that the right hosting is an investment that pays dividends in customer satisfaction and sales.