Building an online store is an exciting endeavor, but choosing the right ecommerce hosting provider is critical to your success. The hosting platform keeps your site fast, secure, and online around the clock – making it instrumental to providing a smooth shopping experience for your customers.
In this comprehensive guide, we will compare 10 top-tier ecommerce hosting solutions to help you find the best fit for your business.
What to Look for in Ecommerce Hosting
As you evaluate options, keep these key criteria in mind:
Performance – Your site speed has a direct impact on conversions and revenue. Prioritize hosts with fast server response times, caching, and CDNs.
Scalability – As your business grows, your hosting needs to scale with it seamlessly. Look for auto-scaling and the ability to upgrade server resources easily.
Security – Protecting customer data is paramount. Choose a provider with an arsenal of security features like firewalls, SSL certificates, and regular backups.
Support – Issues arise when you least expect them, so responsive customer support is vital. Prioritize options with 24/7 assistance via phone, chat, and tickets.
Features – The ideal host will integrate smoothly with your ecommerce platform of choice and offer the specific tools you need.
Price – Consider both monthly costs and value delivered. A higher price tag can pay dividends through better performance, support, and sales.
Now let’s explore 10 top contenders for ecommerce hosting.
1. Kinsta
Kinsta is one of the fastest managed WordPress hosts on the market, delivering superb performance for WooCommerce stores.
All sites are hosted on Google Cloud Platform, leveraging premium tier network speed and uptime. Additionally, Kinsta’s proprietary caching and CDN ensure site assets are served at blazing speeds.
Key Features
- Google Cloud Platform infrastructure
- CDN and HTTP/2 support
- Automatic scaling
- Enterprise-grade security
- Integrated staging environment
- WooCommerce-optimized
Pricing
Starts at $35/month
Pros
- Impeccable performance
- Simple auto-scaling
- Top-notch support
Cons
- Pricey for small stores
- Limited control panel
Kinsta is an exceptional premium option focused purely on WordPress site performance. Speed demons should give it strong consideration.
2. WP Engine
WP Engine is a managed WordPress host purpose-built for scaling high-traffic sites with superior loading speeds.
The platform shines brightest for enterprise-level stores thanks to dedicated resources and expert support teams. WP Engine offers finely-tuned WordPress performance, security that meets compliance standards, and the ability to handle serious traffic surges.
Key Features
- CDN and global content delivery
- Geo-distributed architecture
- Scales to 60 million+ page views
- Onsite security experts
- Integrates with major ecommerce platforms
Pricing
Starts at $35/month
Pros
- High-performance architecture
- Strong security and compliance
- Enterprise-level support
Cons
- Costly for small businesses
- No month-to-month plans
With robust architecture optimized for WordPress, WP Engine excels at hosting high-traffic ecommerce sites selling into regulated markets.
3. Cloudways
Cloudways has risen to prominence on the strength of their managed cloud hosting solutions engineered specifically for ecommerce stores.
By harnessing the power of cloud platforms like DigitalOcean and Linode combined with server management from Cloudways, you get blazing site performance that scales seamlessly.
Key Features
- Managed cloud hosting
- Built-in caching and CDN
- Cloning for staging sites
- Global content delivery
- Integrates with popular ecommerce platforms
- 24/7 live chat support
Pricing
Starts at $10/month
Pros
- Simple auto-scaling
- Strong performance
- Easy migrations
- Marketplace apps
Cons
- Can get pricey for larger stores
- Limited backup capabilities
Cloudways brings the flexibility of cloud servers to ecommerce hosting – making them a standout choice for stores experiencing rapid growth.
4. Nexcess
Nexcess distinguishes itself by exclusively focusing on managed WordPress hosting tuned for optimum WooCommerce performance.
Their optimized configuration includes a fast web stack, free CDN, an interconnected global delivery network, and an architecture purpose-built for WordPress.
If you want a cost-effective managed solution to run WooCommerce at speed, Nexcess fits the bill beautifully.
Key Features
- Optimized for WordPress and WooCommerce
- Integrated CDN
- Global edge delivery network
- Managed updates and security
- Free SSL certificates
- 24/7 support
Pricing
Starts at $15/month
Pros
- Affordable managed WP hosting
- Fast performance
- Free CDN included
- Smooth WooCommerce integration
Cons
- Support options limited
- Limited scope beyond WP
Nexcess provides an optimized WordPress stack focused on powering WooCommerce stores with speed, security, and simplicity.
5. Liquid Web
Liquid Web pioneered managed WordPress hosting, bringing deep platform expertise spanning over 20 years in business.
Today, they leverage dedicated servers and high-touch support to enable stellar WooCommerce performance. Each client works directly with an expert support engineer to optimize their configuration.
If you want a truly bespoke managed hosting experience, Liquid Web delivers on every level.
Key Features
- Managed WordPress hosting
- WooCommerce optimized configuration
- Dedicated servers
- Hands-on expert support
- High-performance SSD storage
- Automatic backups
Pricing
Starts at $59/month
Pros
- Highly customized managed hosting
- High-touch support
- Strong performance
Cons
- Higher cost tier
- Limited scale potential
Liquid Web offers superbly crafted managed WordPress hosting ideal for stores needing a custom hosting blueprint backed by expert guidance.
6: Flywheel
Flywheel takes the headaches out of WordPress hosting, selling itself on simplicity, speed, and security.
They make it easy to launch or migrate sites into a tuned architecture explicitly optimized for WooCommerce. With a fanatical focus on the user experience, Flywheel presents a refreshingly delightful way to host a WooCommerce store.
Key Features
- Managed WordPress hosting
- Geographically distributed architecture
- Free site migrations
- Integrated performance and security monitoring
- Scales as your store grows
Pricing
Starts at $15/month
Pros
- Very easy to use
- Fast and reliable
- Quality support
Cons
- Higher minimum requirements
- No month-to-month billing
For those overwhelmed by the complexities of advanced hosting solutions, Flywheel brings simplicity and speed together nicely.
7. Bluehost
Operating as an official WordPress recommended hosting provider, Bluehost introduced an ecommerce-optimized solution perfect for novice store owners.
Their WooCommerce packages incorporate everything you need to launch an online store swiftly – including automatic WordPress and Woo setup, templates, marketing integrations, and optimized hosting resources.
Key Features
- Managed WooCommerce hosting
- Free domain for the first year
- CDN and caching capabilities
- Integrated site migration
- Automatic backups
- Free SSL certificate
Pricing
Starts at $15/month for a 3-year plan
Pros
- Streamlined onboarding
- Nice features bundle
- Competitive pricing
Cons
- Speed and support only average
- Requires longer commitment
For new-to-ecommerce sellers, Bluehost provides an easy glide path into selling online quickly.
8. A2 Hosting
A2 Hosting brings together developer-friendly hosting with cutting-edge speed technologies making them a force in ecommerce hosting.
Their high-performance architecture includes SSD storage, a CDN, and caching layered on top of custom server stacks.
While catering more to technical store owners willing to actively manage their infrastructure, A2’s speed and 24/7 support offer tremendous upside.
Key Features
- Unmanaged cloud hosting
- Up to 20X faster Turbos servers
- Free site migration
- Easy resource scaling
- Developer-friendly with SSH access
Pricing
Starts at $12/month
Pros
- Blazing fast host
- Custom server stacks
- High value
Cons
- Not ideal for novices
- Higher admin involvement
With ultra-fast host performance rarely seen in shared environments, A2 Hosting presents outstanding value for tech-savvy ecommerce sellers.
9. GreenGeeks
Rising to prominence over the last decade, GreenGeeks brings a fast eco-friendly hosting solution catering beautifully to small ecommerce owners.
They offer managed WordPress plans fine-tuned for WooCommerce including well-provisioned resources, free site migration, an integrated CDN, and superb support.
For those wanting an ethical web host with little performance compromise, GreenGeeks hits the mark.
Key Features
- Managed WordPress hosting
- WooCommerce optimized configurations
- Free site migration
- Provision additional resources easily
- Nightly backups
Pricing
Starts at $3/month for 3-year plan
Pros
- Speedy performance
- High-value pricing
- Quality support
Cons
- Shorter money-back guarantee
- Limited scale potential
With excellent performance and ethical credentials, GreenGeeks presents tremendous value for small ecommerce businesses.
10. Shopify
When it comes to all-in-one ecommerce platforms, Shopify stands in a league of its own.
They incorporate everything from storefront builder to payment processing in a polished solution that delights store owners.
While most alternatives covered enable self-hosted WooCommerce stores, Shopify offers a fully integrated hosted platform combining easy setup with powerful management capabilities.
Key Features
- All-in-one ecommerce platform
- Built-in speed and security optimizations
- Integrated payment processing
- Inventory and order management
- App marketplace expands capabilities
- 24/7 customer support
Pricing
Starts at $29/month
Pros
- Exceptionally easy to use
- Expandable via apps
- Managed cloud infrastructure
Cons
- Transaction fees apply
- Limited ability to customize
Shopify streamlines launching an ecommerce store into an intuitive online platform spanning storefront creation to order fulfillment.
Key Differences Compared
| Host | Starting Price | Speed | Support | Ideal For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kinsta | $35/month | Fastest | 24/7 ticket/chat | High-traffic WooCommerce stores needing ultimate speed |
| WP Engine | $35/month | Very Fast | 24/7 phone/ticket | High-scale enterprises with complex infrastructure demands |
| Cloudways | $10/month | Fast | 24/7 chat/ticket | Rapidly scaling stores needing flexibility of cloud hosting |
| Nexcess | $15/month | Fast | Ticket | Stores wanting a fully managed Woo solution |
| Liquid Web | $59/month | Very Fast | 24/7 phone | Businesses needing high-touch bespoke managed hosting |
| Flywheel | $15/month | Fast | 24/5 chat/ticket | Non-technical owners prioritizing simplicity |
| Bluehost | $15/month | Average | 24/7 phone/chat/ticket | Smaller ecommerce shops wanting guided onboarding |
| A2 Hosting | $12/month | Fastest | 24/7 ticket | Tech-savvy owners comfortable actively administrating |
| GreenGeeks | $3/month | Fast | 24/7 chat/ticket | Eco-conscious businesses with smaller resource demands |
| Shopify | $29/month | Very Fast | 24/7 phone/chat | Anyone wanting an all-in-one simplified commerce platform |
Tips for Optimizing Ecommerce Hosting Performance
Beyond choosing a capable provider, some proactive optimizations go a long way towards unlocking maximum site speed:
- Enable caching wherever possible – this dramatically accelerates repeat access
- Use a CDN for global content distribution – reducing latency for visitors farther from your web server
- Configure a optimized page caching plugin like LiteSpeed Cache
- Lazy load larger images below the fold
- Minify CSS, JavaScript, and HTML files
- Compress images to reduce file sizes
- Eliminate unnecessary redirects
- Upgrade to PHP 7.4 or greater
Conclusion
Choosing the best ecommerce hosting platform involves weighing factors like site performance, support availability, security protections, scalability needs, and ease of use against budget considerations.
In this guide, we break down 10 capable solutions available in 2023 – spanning fully-managed WordPress hosting optimized for WooCommerce to all-in-one solutions like Shopify.
While high-end offerings like Kinsta and WP Engine outpace shared hosts on performance and scale capacity, they also command steeper prices making them better suited to high-traffic stores.
On the flip side, hosts like Bluehost and GreenGeeks offer extremely wallet-friendly packages delivering surprisingly robust feature sets.
We recommend considering your technical proficiency, growth goals, and revenue potential before deciding which provider fits best. Those needing the highest performance and support availability should gravitate towards more premium packages.
No matter which you choose, following web performance best practices goes a long way towards improving conversions and customer experience.
