SiteGround web hosting review

SiteGround isn’t the cheapest hosting provider around, but this company differentiates itself by offering high-quality hosting even with its lowest-tier plans. SiteGround makes managed WordPress installations standard, and offers unmetered traffic and unlimited databases.

So, is SiteGround one of the best web hosting services for your needs? We’ll help you decide in our SiteGround review.

SiteGround: Plans and pricing

SiteGround offers three shared hosting plans, all of which include unlimited traffic, daily backups, and a managed WordPress installation.

The StartUp plan costs $17.99 a month ($2.99 a month for the first year) and includes hosting for one website with 10GB storage. The GrowBig plan costs $29.99 a month ($4.99 a month for the first year) and allows you to host an unlimited number of websites with 20GB total storage. The GoGeek plan costs $44.99 a month ($7.99 a month for the first year) and increases your storage to 40GB.

SiteGround also offers cloud hosting. The Jump Start plan costs $100 a month, and offers four CPU cores, 8GB RAM, and 40GB SSD storage. The Business plan costs $200 a month, and includes eight CPU cores, 12GB RAM, and 80GB SSD storage.

The Business Plus plan increases your RAM allocation to 16GB and your storage space to 120GB for $300 a month. Finally, the Super Power plan offers 16CPU cores, 20GB RAM, and 160GB storage for $400 a month.

Shared hosting plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee, while cloud hosting plans include a 14-day guarantee. SiteGround does not offer virtual private server (VPS) or dedicated hosting.

SiteGround: Features

SiteGround’s shared hosting plans offer a number of features that most competitors require you to pay extra for.

One thing that sets SiteGround apart from other hosting services is that all shared hosting plans include a managed WordPress installation. You can install WordPress and WooCommerce on your website in a single click, and SiteGround will keep the software up to date for you automatically.

In addition, SiteGround offers a WordPress starter tool that enables you to customize your site in minutes. It doesn’t provide the full range of WordPress customizations, but you can use it to select your theme, set up a contact form, and even launch an online store.

If you already have a WordPress website with another host, SiteGround has a WordPress migrator tool that you can use to transfer your database and site files.

Another feature that SiteGround includes with every plan is daily website backup. SiteGround will keep up to 30 copies of your site, and you can conduct a full restore at any time to minimize website downtime. SiteGround also enables GrowBig and GoGeek subscribers to request that a backup of their website be created at any time.

GrowBig and GoGeek subscribers also get access to a staging area inside SiteGround. This enables you to make a private copy of your website so you can safely test out changes. Once you’re happy with the new version of your site, you can push the changes to the live version.

SiteGround: Interface and in use

SiteGround doesn’t offer cPanel, instead opting for its own site management tool called Site Tools. For the most part, though, it offers all the same functionality as cPanel. You can find a file manager and details about your site’s FTP address for large transfers. You can also manage your SSL certification and Cloudflare CDN settings.

On the whole, we thought this custom tool was well-organized and easy to navigate. However, if you’re used to working with cPanel for site management, you might find yourself facing a bit of a learning curve as you make the switch.

SiteGround: Support

SiteGround offers 24/7 support by phone and live chat. If the customer service agent you talk to can’t resolve your issue, you’ll be directed to a ticket system used by SiteGround’s technical support team. Technicians typically respond within 15 minutes.

In addition, SiteGround has a comprehensive online knowledge base. Many of the support articles include detailed tutorials and screenshots to walk you through the process in question.

SiteGround: Security

SiteGround makes several key security features standard. All sites receive a free SSL certificate from Let’s Encrypt, and it comes pre-installed on your website. On top of that, all SiteGround plans include the Cloudflare CDN, which protects your site against distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.

You can also set up two-factor authentication for your SiteGround account. SiteGround supports SMS, Google Authenticator, and Duo.

SiteGround also provides an AI anti-bot system and a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to further enhance security.

Alternatives to SiteGround

SiteGround plans can be pricey if you don’t need managed WordPress hosting. In comparison, A2 Hosting charges $10.99 a month for its basic shared hosting plan, or just $2.99 a month if you sign up for a three-year plan. That comes with 100GB storage, compared to just 10GB for the more expensive SiteGround StartUp plan.

SiteGround: Verdict

SiteGround is a premium hosting service that makes managed WordPress hosting a standard part of its shared hosting plans. The service makes features like daily backups, a Cloudflare CDN, and unlimited site traffic standard for all plans, even though these would be upgrades at most other hosting providers. If you just need a basic shared hosting plan, however, you might be better suited with a more budget-friendly competitor.

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