Siteground is one of the top-recommended WordPress hosting companies. They are renowned for their first-rate hosting plans, reliability, customer support, and speed.
They offer everything you’ll need to start and grow a successful website or blog, including WordPress-optimised hosting. To determine if SiteGround is the best host for you, read our in-depth evaluation.
When choosing a web hosting provider, there are several factors to take into account. For instance, there are both features that are more geared at businesses and characteristics that appeal to a wider range of customers (such as pricing and storage) (such as e-commerce and server location).
All of these problems are handled by SiteGround, and it does so well. It provides a good selection of hosting plans at competitive prices, as well as a wealth of tools for improving performance.
SiteGround is a top-notch web hosting provider for both individuals and small businesses, despite the absence of VPS, dedicated, and Windows servers.
It is very evident that SiteGround excels in all essential dimensions of web hosting (i.e. performance, uptime, security, and customer support). Additionally, the company offers fantastic features with its hosting services, some of which are not provided by other web providers.
Therefore, SiteGround is a fantastic web host option whether you’re a beginner or an expert since no matter which hosting plan you choose, you’ll get to enjoy effectiveness, dependable uptime, faultless performance, exceptional support, industry-leading security, and premium features.
Additionally, you get a generous 30-day free trial during which you can ask for a refund. Nevertheless, we advise you to always research a hosting company before signing a contract with them.
Siteground’s establishment
Since its founding in 2004, Siteground has developed into one of the most well-known hosting providers.
Its headquarters are in Sofia, Bulgaria, and it has offices and data centers spread across three continents. The company now employs over 500 people and hosts over 2,000,000 domains.
Why shall Siteground be chosen?
SiteGround should be on your shortlist for web hosting if you’re the kind of consumer who favors the little, independent business above the national chain.
Large corporations are acquiring numerous hosting companies. Sometimes, the distinctive characteristics that make a host unique are lost in the process.
However, SiteGround’s ownership pride is evident in its:
Internal hosting solutions.
Scaling without friction for tiny companies.
They have advanced and optimized their hosting architecture to provide superior performance and speed.
There are software options for enhancing performance and enhancing security, including artificial intelligence to safeguard your website from attacks and operating system enhancements that have become a part of what is known as the Linux Kernel.
A supportive environment where SiteGround employees can interact with users from all over the world, mentor them, and sponsor WordCamps, Joomla Days, and other tech conferences in well-known international cities.
A competent internal customer support team. In contrast to the majority of web hosts, you can see who you’re chatting with, their name, the number of clients they’ve served, and how clients have rated their customer service.
SiteGround has a strong desire to support its clients in their online endeavors. Additionally, the business goes above and beyond what is often anticipated of web hosts by incorporating its own malware/virus scanning software and isolation technology, which stops infected websites from taking down other websites on a particular server.
Pros and Cons of SiteGround
There are benefits and drawbacks to each hosting provider. Some benefits may outweigh the drawbacks, while some drawbacks may be fatal for your particular needs.
You might want to consider these SiteGround advantages and disadvantages before making a choice.
Pros of Siteground Hosting
With above-average speeds, 99.99 percent uptime, and a massive amount of extra features that are ideal for both newcomers and power users, SiteGround gets off to a great start.
Excellent Performance: 99.99 percent Uptime
Over the past six months, SiteGround’s uptime performance has been almost flawless. They rank among the most dependable hosts we’ve assessed thanks to their 99.99 percent average.
This kind of reliable uptime keeps website visitors satisfied. What’s more, it virtually guarantees that your website will be operational around-the-clock, ensuring that you won’t lose out on opportunities to sell to clients.
Above Average Load Time
The second most important consideration when choosing a host is undoubtedly site speed.
First off, according to a Google study, if your website doesn’t load in three seconds, 53% of visitors will leave your site.
Furthermore, a slow host is difficult to improve. Images may be possible be compressed to make them smaller and lighter.
If you want to relieve some of the stress on your server, you might be able to load them over a CDN. But if the host isn’t providing adequate speed, it won’t really matter.
Fortunately, with SiteGround, you won’t need to be concerned about that.
The good news is that SiteGround has consistently offered higher speeds over the past six months, despite their above-average loading time of 391 ms not being the fastest we’ve seen.
Excellent Customer Support
Customers can use the knowledge base provided by SiteGround to quickly obtain the answers they need. Otherwise, you can call in or utilize the live chat service, which is available nonstop.
There was no discernible delay in responses, in contrast to several other hosts. As a result, it appeared as though he was knowledgeable and had the knowledge to respond to each new inquiry we sent his way.
Free WordPress Migration
We become a little worried whenever we see web hosts introduce a “DIY migration” option. Because the majority of them are subpar, the customer is ultimately burdened with more work.
However, SiteGround might be an exception to the rule. You can upload their free WordPress Migration plugin to any website.
Additionally, there aren’t any lengthy or tedious walkthroughs. Token generation is as simple as doing so from within your SiteGround hosting account, and the plugin will do the labor-intensive work for you promptly.
Yes, you still need to put forth a little effort. The good news is that you may use this option to move as many websites as you like. (In contrast, some providers that advertise “free migrations” cap the number at a certain number and require payment thereafter.)
If you’d prefer professional assistance, SiteGround will include the service for free with their higher-tier subscriptions (GrowBig and up).
They impose a small price of $30 for each new site if you go above the allotted limits on each plan.
Free Content Delivery Network (CDN) and SSL Certificate
Google Chrome now actively alerts users when a site they are trying to access lacks an SSL certificate.
Any data transmitted back and forth between a user’s device and a website, including sensitive information like IP addresses or credit card numbers, is protected thanks to SSL. If left unprotected, hackers and other people could readily steal sensitive data. Chrome is thereby protecting the interests of web users in this situation.
In other words, this effectively mandates the use of SSL certificates on all current websites. And thankfully, SiteGround includes these without charge with every plan.
The free Cloudflare CDN is the other piece of good news (Content Delivery Network). Large files, such as photos, are kept by CDN on numerous servers spread out around the world.
Storing the files locally helps to ensure that site visitors can access them more quickly.
Due to the fact that SiteGround’s servers are dispersed across three countries, loading times are quick and users have a positive experience.
Features for Newbies to Experts
Beginners and bloggers will appreciate how easy it is to install popular website builders like Weebly. With Weebly’s straightforward drag-and-drop builder, you have complete control over the appearance and feel of your website (without having to dive into code).
SiteGround has extensive integrations with WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal in addition to Weebly. Each of these programs can be quickly and easily installed. You don’t need a developer’s assistance.
You’re also in luck if you are already a developer, though.
The simplicity with which popular website builders like Weebly can be installed will appeal to new users and bloggers.
You have full control over the look and feel of your website using Weebly’s simple drag-and-drop builder (without having to dive into code).
Along with Weebly, SiteGround features deep connections with WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal.
Each of these programs can be installed fast and easily. You don’t require the help of a developer.
But if you’re already a developer, you’re also in luck.
Guaranteed Uptime of 99.999%
Remember that reliable average uptime of 99.99 percent? The fact that SiteGround doesn’t err in this area is because it would be very expensive for them to do so.
When you read the tiny print of a web host’s terms of service, it’s frequently all bad news.
We were pleasantly delighted by SiteGround. They promise “annual network uptime of 99.9 percent” as per their service level agreement.
If they ever go below that mark, you will be reimbursed with months of hosting that are completely free.
There are a few requirements for how the uptime is determined to right now. Any planned or unexpected maintenance concerns are excluded.
SiteGround disclaims all liability if your actions (such as going over resource limits, installing malfunctioning software, or breaking rules) result in downtime.
Any significant outside attacks on their systems could also circumvent this prohibition.
Thirty-day money-back guarantee
On all shared hosting plans from SiteGround, a full 30-day money-back guarantee is offered.
Domain name costs and any other “extras” are typically non-refundable, similar to many other hosts. And only new clients are covered by this refund policy.
Thus, refunds for renewal plans are not available.
Cons of Siteground Hosting
SiteGround impresses customers by almost faultless uptime and their guarantee to provide free service if the uptime falls below 99.99 percent. Even while they are not the fastest loading times available, they are still fairly good.
Additionally, SiteGround provides a wide range of programs to satisfy both novice and experienced users.
Before registering, there are a few disadvantages to take into account. Here are some of the more significant difficulties.
Higher Renewal Rates
On its website, SiteGround advertises a $2.99/month price for their entry-level StartUp package. Even while it’s not the most affordable price we’ve seen among hosts, it’s still very fair.
But there’s a problem.
The same tactic is used by nearly all web hosts that we have evaluated so far. When it comes time to renew, they offer a low introductory rate before raising it by two or three times.
For instance, when you renew, the $2.99/month price rises to a stunning $14.99. The other plans from SiteGround increase to $24.99 and $39.99 per month.
To take advantage of that low rate for as long as you can, locking in for the longest term possible is the wisest course of action.
Limited Reasonable Plan
SiteGround’s pricing on their lowest plan is comparable to the competition so it seems like a good deal when you first look at it.
However, the plan features don’t line up exactly.
For example, you get one website and only 10 GB of web space to handle around 10,000 monthly visits. This plan also features unlimited traffic (or unmetered bandwidth). However, if your site is getting anywhere close to those limits, performance is going to suffer.
That means it’s good for smaller sites that might not hit those thresholds for a while. But if your site starts becoming bigger, you’ll probably have to upgrade and pay more for increased resources.
No Free Domain Name
The majority of web providers offer “freebies” to attract new clients.
The affordable initial rate and any other services, like email or migrations, are frequently included.
Almost typically included in that list is a free domain name for the first year.
Unfortunately, SiteGround doesn’t do that. If you don’t already have one, they’ll start charging you right away for a domain name, with prices for.com starting at $17.99 per year.
SiteGround Hosting Plans
Almost all of the features a web host would provide are available on SiteGround. There are numerous options for managed WordPress hosting, shared and cloud web hosting, and other web hosting services.
Furthermore, they provide unique packages made for enterprise clients, WordPress users, and even resellers. Their tailored solutions are actually one of their most well-liked qualities.
Hosting choices offered by SiteGround include:
SiteGround Shared hosting
SiteGround Cloud hosting
SiteGround WordPress hosting
SiteGround Reseller hosting
SiteGround Shared Hosting
You should look at shared hosting if you’re looking for inexpensive web hosting. Shared hosting allows multiple websites to coexist on a single server, reducing overall costs.
The fact that so many sites are sharing the same server’s computer resources could have an adverse effect on how well your site performs if one of your bunkmates experiences a significant increase in traffic as a result of a Reddit hit.
Like a few other web providers, SiteGround gives you the option to select the data center where your website will be hosted, from the United States (Chicago), Europe (Amsterdam, Milan, Germany), Asia-Pacific (Singapore), the United Kingdom (London), and Australia (Sydney).
You can select a European data center if data privacy or retention regulations worry you. Use an Asia-Pacific data center if the majority of your users are based there.
You may just select a US server by default if your website is US based. Although I doubt many organizations would want this capability, it is surprisingly sophisticated for a service provider that caters to beginners.
Each SiteGround plan has a somewhat high monthly cost, but you may reduce it by taking advantage of introductory offers and committing for an entire year. This is how they seem.
One website, 10GB of storage, network traffic sufficient for 10,000 monthly visitors, a one-year free Secure Socket Layer (SSL) certificate, daily data backups, unlimited email, support for Cloudflare (more on this later), and managed WordPress are all included in the StartUp plan, which costs $14.99 per month.
The standard plan is expanded upon by the GrowBig plan, which has a monthly price of $24.99. It includes everything in that tier, in addition, to supporting an infinite number of websites, databases, 20GB of storage, site staging, and network traffic sufficient for about 25,000 monthly visits.
For even bigger sites, there is the GoGeek option, which costs $39.99 per month. With 40GB of storage, network traffic “appropriate” for 100,000 monthly visits, priority support, white-label support, and a Git repository, it elevates GrowBig to the next level.
Keep in mind that SiteGround offers StartUp, GrowBig, and GoGeek at discounted monthly rates of $6.99, $9.99, and $14.99, respectively, for customers who sign up for new annual plans. Additionally, SiteGround claims that it can accommodate more visitors per month than the mentioned limits, but only in exceptional circumstances (like when your blog receives a Reddit hit).
SiteGround deserves praise for being transparent about its limitations; most web servers, especially those that advertise “unlimited” visitors and/or data, actually have certain traffic constraints that are hidden in their terms of service.
SiteGround Cloud Hosting
The Cloud Hosting options from SiteGround are a big upgrade above the Shared and WordPress services. It is unlikely that you would require them unless your company is already well-known online.
On the other hand, the Cloud plans provide a lot if you need to store a lot of data, perform a lot of calculations, or have a lot of visits to your website.
They begin with the Entry plan, which costs $100 per month and includes 4 CPU cores, 8 GB of RAM, and 40 GB of SSD storage.
And then upgrade to the Super Power plan, which costs $400 per month and offers 16 CPU cores, 20 GB of RAM, and 160 GB of SSD storage.
The four cloud hosting packages have monthly prices ranging from $80 for 4GB of RAM, 40GB of storage, and 5TB of monthly data transfers to $240 for 10GB of RAM, 120GB of storage, and 5TB of monthly data transfers.
There is plenty of room for improvement. Should you require extra power, you may also modify your Cloud Hosting package.
They also come with a free SSL certificate good for a year. The cool Collaborator feature of SiteGround’s cloud hosting services, as well as its shared GrowBog and GoGeek packages, allows users who do not require access to a site’s administrative capabilities (such as freelancers) to upload and create content.
SiteGround WordPress Hosting
SiteGround offers WordPress hosting, just as a lot of its rivals. In actuality, SiteGround manages the setup of optimized managed WordPress hosting, a service that gives your website greater security, automated daily backups, page caching, staging, and automatic content management system updates. Additionally, it offers a free account transfer and one-click installation.
SiteGround no longer provides a free domain name, however, it does provide significant registration discounts.
The prices of the plans are comparable to those of the company’s shared hosting packages. You can choose to sign contracts lasting one, two, or three years.
StartUp ($9.95 per month), SiteGround’s entry-level WordPress service, provides a meager 10GB of storage, only 10,000 monthly visitors, and the option to host one WordPress site.
With GrowBig ($14.95 per month), you may host an infinite number of WordPress sites and increase storage to 20GB and monthly visits to 25,000. GoGeek, the most expensive plan, adds 100,000 monthly visits and 30GB of storage to GrowBig ($29.95/month).
Unlimited email and monthly data transfers are included with all subscriptions. Numerous free WordPress themes are also available from SiteGround. WP Migrator, SG Optimizer, and SuperCacher are just a few of the beneficial internal tools that SiteGround offers for creating your WordPress website.
A few WordPress plug-ins are available from Siteground that enhance the site creation process. WP Starter guides you through the most popular site features and handpicked themes.
You may select exactly what you require and build your website more rapidly thanks to the way it is designed.
The company’s migration tool, WP Migrator, aids in the data transfer from an old website to your new Siteground-powered website.
Additionally, by optimizing CSS, pictures, javascript, and other web hosting technology, SG Optimizer, which works in conjunction with SuperCacher, improves the performance of your website.
As with any other self-hosted WordPress site, you may create posts, pages, and galleries after logging into SiteGround’s WordPress setup.
You can also set up a WordPress website that is not managed.
To access the WordPress page in SiteGround’s third-party application library, click the WordPress symbol in the advanced control panel.
A wizard that guided me through the installation was launched. Additionally, SiteGround permitted me to enable the Clef plug-in, which enables users to access WordPress without a login and password by using their smartphones.
The advanced features that are found here surprise the users.
SiteGround Reseller Web Hosting
For companies that want to host websites as their main business or who want to add hosting as an additional, SiteGround offers a reseller package. A web designer might want to provide hosting to their clients, for instance.
The monthly starting price for SiteGround reseller plans is $6.69. You are able to host an unlimited number of customers with any of their reseller options.
Is SiteGround the best choice for you?
You might be wondering if SiteGround is the perfect web hosting provider for your website after reading our in-depth SiteGround review.
SiteGround is the ideal choice for you if you’re looking for a quick, dependable web host with excellent customer service. Every budget may be accommodated, and each plan offers a wonderful selection of options.
All of their shared hosting packages come with free migration, SSD storage, site tools, simple Let’s Encrypt free SSL setup, Cloudflare CDN service, 1-click WordPress installer, and storage for websites.
Your website is protected from malware by built-in security measures, and you may add more security by using Cloudflare CDN capabilities.
You will undoubtedly value SiteGround’s customer service if this is your first time launching a website.