Best eCommerce Hosting Providers: Top 8 Hosts (2023)

Starting an online store can be a thrilling and exciting journey, but with so many options available, it can also be overwhelming. One of the most crucial decisions you'll make is choosing the right eCommerce hosting provider.

A good host can make all the difference in the success of your online store, while a bad one can bring it crashing down. That's why it's essential to choose wisely!

In this review, we'll be diving into the world of eCommerce hosting providers and reviewing the best of the best. Whether you're just starting out or looking to switch to a better host, this comprehensive guide will help you find a hosting provider that meets your needs.

So buckle up, grab a coffee, and let's get started!

How to choose an eCommerce hosting provider?

When choosing eCommerce hosting, there are several key factors to consider:

• Scalability: Your eCommerce store needs a hosting platform to grow with your business, so look for a host that provides scalability options as you expand.
• Performance: A fast and reliable website is essential for an eCommerce store, so choose a host with a strong uptime record and fast page load times.
• Security: Your online store will be handling sensitive customer information, so choosing a host with strong security measures is important to protect your website and your customers.
• Customer Support: You want to make sure you have access to expert help when you need it, so look for a host with 24/7 customer support and a knowledgeable support team.
• Pricing: Compare the costs of different eCommerce hosting providers to find one that fits your budget and offers the needed features.
• eCommerce-specific features: Choose a host that offers eCommerce features such as shopping cart integration, payment gateway integration, and support for various shipping options.
• User-friendly platform: A user-friendly platform will make managing your eCommerce website easier, so look for a host that provides a simple and intuitive control panel.

By keeping these factors in mind, you can narrow your search to a platform that delivers the exact features and factors required for your current needs.

The 8 Best eCommerce Hosting Providers

You can use the above list to visit any of the providers that match your needs. But if you'd like to learn more about each host individually, below you'll find a complete review for each platform. We're going to cover everything from features and uptime to performance and use cases. We'll also look at customer support, security, and overall pricing for each platform.

1. Hostinger - affordable and reliable

Hostinger offers some of the most affordable eCommerce hosting plans on the market, making it a great choice for businesses on a budget.

On top of that, Hostinger has a strong track record of uptime and reliability, ensuring that your eCommerce website will be available to customers when they need it.

🛒 Features (eCommerce): Hostinger offers both WooCommerce and PrestaShop hosting, two of the world's most popular eCommerce systems. Whichever system you choose, Hostinger will auto-install and configure it so that you can start adding your products on day one!

📱 User Interface: The hPanel is a custom-built control panel to manage and maintain your Hostinger account. This panel offers easy access to features and tools to change settings for your account but also to manage domain names and email accounts. It's designed to be as user-friendly as possible.

🚀 Performance: Our test showed that Hostinger can comfortably load a web page in under a second, making it a superb choice for the performance-conscious. Their data centers span from North & South America to Asia and Europe.

🔒 Security: Hostinger tackles security by providing free SSL certificates, Cloudflare protection, and Weekly backups available on all of their plans. They also offer additional security features for Business accounts.

🙋‍♂️ Customer Support: Should you require technical assistance, the Hostinger support team is available 24/7 through a live chat system. They also offer support in the form of email and a dedicated support panel where you can submit support tickets.

💰 Pricing: For first-time customers, Hostinger offers up to 75% off - making the entry-level plan cost as little as $2.99 a month. For more ambitious projects, their cloud hosting plans start at $9.99 a month.

Overall, Hostinger is a great option for eCommerce hosting because of its affordability, reliability, scalability, ease of use, customer support, and security.

2. Bluehost - best beginner-friendly option

Bluehost is a popular web hosting company that is known for its user-friendly platform and excellent customer support. Unlike similar platforms, Bluehost has a straightforward setup process, and you can start selling online quickly and easily.

They offer a one-click installation process for popular eCommerce platforms like WooCommerce.

🛒 Features (eCommerce): One of the ways in which Bluehost differs from other hosts is that they provide professional support to help you set up your eCommerce store. They also provide features like secure online payments and custom add-ons such as booking management, wishlists, and more.

📱 User Interface: For managing your website, Bluehost uses the cPanel control panel. And for managing your account, they use their own dashboard, which gives you access to managing your domains and your email accounts but also to see your website status at a glance.

🚀 Performance: Even though Bluehost doesn't have the reputation for the best speed, we still found the load times to be reasonable. Sadly, at this time, Bluehost data centers are available only in North America.

🔒 Security: Enjoy peace of mind because Bluehost takes care of pretty much all security bottlenecks. This includes SSL, Firewalls, DDoS protection, and backups that can also be configured to your own liking.

🙋‍♂️ Customer Support: You can reach the Bluehost team by phone, live chat, email, and a ticketing panel. On top of that, they also have an extensive Knowledge Base that explains how the platform works and how to take advantage of all the features it provides.

💰 Pricing: The most affordable eCommerce plan starts at $9.95 a month (60% discount for the first year), and for growing businesses - you can go with the $12.95 plan as it gives you even more features.

When it comes down to it, Bluehost offers some of the best features with an easy-to-use control panel that's quick to learn. They're also notoriously famous for offering special deals all year round, making it not only beginner-friendly but also affordable.

3. WP Engine - the best choice for WordPress users

WP Engine is a popular managed WordPress hosting platform that is specifically designed for WordPress websites. It's known for its fast and secure hosting environment, as well as its user-friendly interface and 24/7 customer support.

Best of all, WP Engine provides a simple and intuitive interface that makes it easy for you to manage your eCommerce site, even if you don't have a lot of technical experience. If you're familiar with WordPress and like to work with it, it's a no-brainer choice.

🛒 Features (eCommerce): As a WordPress hosting provider - WP Engine specializes specifically in WooCommerce hosting. They also provide their own WooCommerce themes, which you can customize to your desired look and feel.

📱 User Interface: The control panel dashboard is designed to be intuitive and easily accessible. The dashboard design is minimal and provides quick access to the core features. You can, for example, install WooCommerce with a single click and then add additional plugins, also with a single click.

🚀 Performance: Perhaps the most impressive feature of WP Engine is its performance. They build their own in-house caching system while optimizing each hosting account specifically for fast load times. As a customer, you also get access to free CDN services, and WP Engine staff will manually check WordPress updates to ensure that they're safe to install and don't hinder site performance.

🔒 Security: WP Engine takes security very seriously and provides a number of features to protect your site from potential threats, including daily backups, automatic malware scanning and removal, and secure login protocols.

🙋‍♂️ Customer Support: WP Engine provides excellent customer support, with a team of experts available 24/7 to help you with any questions or issues you may have.

💰 Pricing: The starter plan starts at $20 per month, which includes enough resources for a small business to operate a digital store comfortably. As for growing businesses, the $50 per month is tailored specifically for eCommerce businesses that are dealing with a lot of products and a daily influx of customers.

Admittedly, WP Engine is not the cheapest option if compared with other hosts in this review. But they have a long-standing reputation for being reliable and making the process of managing websites easy and painless.

4. DreamHost - great features for growing businesses

DreamHost is a web hosting company that has been in business for over 20 years, and they offer a wide range of hosting solutions, including shared hosting, VPS hosting, and dedicated servers. They're known for their reliable and affordable hosting services, and they have a lot of experience working with eCommerce websites.

One of the unique features of DreamHost is its custom control panel, which makes it easy for you to manage your website, even if you're a beginner. They also offer a one-click installer for popular eCommerce platforms like WooCommerce and Magento, so you can get your online store up and running quickly and easily.

🛒 Features (eCommerce): The main advantage of Dreamhost is that they don't skim on resources. All plans include unlimited visitors per month, as well as unlimited bandwidth. An SSL certificate is pre-installed on all plans, though it's worth noting that a free domain name is not included.

📱 User Interface: The user dashboard has a clean interface and is designed to be beginner-friendly. You can quickly navigate to any of your websites, manage domain data, or access your billing data when you need it.

🚀 Performance: The load time tests we did for our demo website and Dreamhost itself were surprisingly good. However, the built-in caching system is not available on value plans. And the data centers are also available only in the US, so perhaps not a great option if you're from a region such as Asia.

🔒 Security: DreamHost takes security very seriously, with features like automatic backups, SSL certificates, and advanced security features to protect your website and your customer's information.

🙋‍♂️ Customer Support: Customers have access to 24/7 support, so you can get help whenever you need it. They also have a 97-day money-back guarantee, so you can try their services risk-free.

💰 Pricing: The cheapest DreamPress plan is priced at $16.95 a month, which also includes a free domain name and up to 30GB of storage. The DreamPress Plus plan brings it up to 60GB of storage, and starts at $24.95 a month.

So, to summarize, DreamHost is a reliable and affordable eCommerce hosting solution with a user-friendly control panel, 24/7 support, strong security measures, and a commitment to sustainability. If you're looking for a hosting provider for your online store, DreamHost is definitely worth considering!

5. GreenGeeks - affordable with a focus on security

GreenGeeks is a popular eCommerce hosting platform that offers a lot of great features for people looking to start an online store. It's also one of the only "green" web hosting companies, meaning they use renewable energy sources to power their servers.

Another great thing about GreenGeeks is that it offers a variety of plans that are specifically tailored to the needs of eCommerce businesses. For example, its basic plan includes unlimited disk space and bandwidth, a free domain name, and a free SSL certificate, which are all essential components of any eCommerce website.

🛒 Features (eCommerce): GreenGeeks offers a variety of plans that are specifically tailored to the needs of eCommerce businesses. These plans include unlimited disk space and bandwidth, a free domain name, and a free SSL certificate, which are all essential components of any eCommerce website.

📱 User Interface: GreenGeeks provides an easy-to-use control panel that makes it simple to manage your website and your hosting account. The user interface is intuitive and user-friendly, even for beginners.

🚀 Performance: GreenGeeks uses high-performance servers and a robust infrastructure to ensure that your eCommerce website runs smoothly and quickly. Additionally, it has a built-in caching system that helps to improve page load times and enhance the overall performance of your site.

🔒 Security: Keeping your website secure is part of GreenGeek's mission statement. Its servers are monitored 24/7 to ensure that your site is always up and running, and it provides automatic backups to keep your data safe. Additionally, it has a built-in security system that helps to prevent hacking and other types of cyberattacks.

🙋‍♂️ Customer Support: GreenGeeks provides excellent customer support, with 24/7 live chat and phone support, so you can always get help when you need it. The company's support team is knowledgeable and friendly, and they're always available to help you with any questions or concerns you may have.

💰 Pricing: General hosting plans start at $2.95 per month, which you can use to install any kind of software you like. Plans specific to software such as WooCommerce are priced at around $4.95 per month for the most popular plan.

All in all, GreenGeeks is a great option for anyone who's looking for a reliable and eco-friendly eCommerce hosting solution. Its combination of features and customer support makes it a great choice for beginners and experienced users alike.

6. A2 Hosting - one of the best-performing hosts

First of all, A2 Hosting is known for its high-performance and reliable hosting services, which is crucial for an eCommerce website that needs to be up and running 24/7. They have a range of hosting plans to choose from, including shared hosting, VPS hosting, and dedicated hosting, so you can choose the one that best fits your needs and budget.

One of the unique features of A2 Hosting is their "Turbo Server" technology, which provides up to 20x faster page loads compared to traditional hosting. This means your website will load faster, providing a better user experience for your customers and improving your search engine rankings.

🛒 Features (eCommerce): One of the key features of this provider is that they provide support for a big variety of eCommerce platforms; you can see the screenshot below.

📱 User Interface: It's clean and easy to understand.

🚀 Performance: A2 Hosting's Turbo Server technology provides fast page load times and reliable performance, making it a great option for eCommerce websites that need to be up and running 24/7. Their data center locations are US, Europe, and Asia.

🔒 Security: Not only does A2 Hosting provide features like SSL, malware scanning, and regular backups, but top-notch security practices also protect their physical data centers.

🙋‍♂️ Customer Support: A2 Hosting offers expert 24/7/365 support with a team of knowledgeable technicians who are always available to help with any issues you may encounter. They also have a range of online resources, including a knowledge base and community forum, to help you find answers to your questions.

💰 Pricing: The Shared hosting plan is available for as low as $2.99 per month. If you need something more robust (and access to their Turbo technology) - the dedicated eCommerce plans start at $11.99 per month.

In conclusion, A2 Hosting is a great option for eCommerce hosting due to its high performance and reliability, unique Turbo Server technology, expert 24/7 support, and range of security features. They have various plans to choose from, so you can find the one that best fits your needs and budget.

7. Liquid Web - great choice for enterprise needs

Liquid Web is a premium managed hosting provider that has been in business for over two decades. They are known for providing high-performance, secure, and reliable hosting solutions.

One of the reasons they're popular amongst enterprise customers is that they provide fully managed hosting services, meaning they will handle all the technical aspects of your hosting, such as software updates, security, backups, and more, so you can focus on running your business.

🛒 Features (eCommerce): Liquid Web is an awesome choice if you want to start an online store! Not only do they work with popular eCommerce platforms like Magento and WooCommerce, but they also offer features like unlimited storage and bandwidth, so your store can grow as big as you want it to. And, because Liquid Web is a managed hosting provider, they'll take care of all the technical stuff for you, so you can focus on selling your products.

📱 User Interface: Liquid Web's user interface is super easy to use and navigate, even if you're new to this whole online store thing. You'll be able to manage your store, monitor your website's performance, and more, all from one simple dashboard.

🚀 Performance: Liquid Web uses state-of-the-art servers and a top-notch network to ensure your store is lightning-fast. This means your customers will have a smooth shopping experience and be able to find what they're looking for quickly.

🔒 Security: Liquid Web is all about keeping your store and your customers' information safe. They use multiple layers of security to protect your site from any potential threats, and they also give you a free SSL certificate to encrypt all your data and keep it secure.

🙋‍♂️ Customer Support: If you ever need help with anything, Liquid Web has a team of tech experts who are available 24/7/365 to answer any questions you have. They're super friendly and always happy to help!

💰 Pricing: The Starter plan is priced at $19 per month. This includes access to their custom StoreBuilder feature, as well as premium features tailored specifically to eCommerce stores.

Liquid Web is designed as a hosting platform for serious business owners. Perhaps you're finding your current host to be a hassle, or maybe you're bringing your real-world business to the digital world and need a provider that will ensure your digital business operates smoothly.

In this case, very few providers can compete with Liquid Web and their cutting-edge approach to eCommerce hosting.

8. Cloudways - the best managed hosting solution

Cloudways is a cloud hosting platform that provides an easy-to-use interface for managing your eCommerce store. It's a good option for beginners because it takes care of the technical details so you can focus on growing your business.

One of the unique features of Cloudways is its "Platform as a Service" (PaaS) approach. With this approach, you can launch and manage your eCommerce store without having to worry about the underlying infrastructure. This means you don't have to worry about things like server maintenance, security updates, and backups.

🛒 Features (eCommerce): One of the best things about Cloudways is that it gives you many options for where to host your website. Instead of being stuck with one option, like with other hosting platforms, you can choose from different cloud infrastructures, like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, and DigitalOcean. This means you can pick the one that works best for you and your customers.

📱 User Interface: Cloudways has a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for you to manage your website, even if you're not a tech wizard. You can install new apps, change the look of your website, and more, all from one place.

🚀 Performance: Cloudways focuses on performance and uses advanced caching techniques to ensure that your eCommerce website is fast and responsive. This is crucial for an online store, as customers expect a smooth shopping experience and are likely to abandon a website that takes too long to load.

🔒 Security: Cloudways places a strong emphasis on security and has built-in security features to protect your eCommerce website from potential threats. This includes regular backups, server-level firewalls, and 24/7 monitoring. You can be assured that your website and customer information will be safe and secure with Cloudways.

🙋‍♂️ Customer Support: If you ever run into any problems or have questions, Cloudways has you covered with 24/7 support. Their experts are available to help you with anything you need, so you can focus on running your online store and making it a success.

💰 Pricing: The pricing at Cloudways is varied. It depends on which provider you want to use and the number of resources you need. For example, the entry-level plan that's hosted on DigitalOcean will cost you around $12 a month and is sufficient to operate a small-scale eCommerce store. But you do have the option to go for beefier options, especially if you expect your store to grow.

Overall, Cloudways is a good choice for those looking for a reliable and user-friendly eCommerce hosting solution that offers the flexibility and performance required to support a successful online store.

Summary

There is no shortage of eCommerce hosting providers, but the real winners come from their features, reliability, and how well-perceived they are by their users.

In this case, we feel that Hostinger is the best overall eCommerce hosting provider that's capable of servicing just about all business types and sizes.

What about eCommerce website builders?

eCommerce website builders are a popular alternative to traditional eCommerce hosting providers for small to medium-sized businesses. These platforms provide an all-in-one solution for building and hosting an online store without the need for technical expertise or coding knowledge.

Some of the popular eCommerce website builders include Shopify, Wix, BigCommerce, and Squarespace.

However, it's important to keep in mind that while eCommerce website builders offer a lot of conveniences, they may not be the best choice for businesses with more complex needs, such as large product catalogs or high-volume traffic.

Additionally, some eCommerce website builders have limitations in terms of customization and scalability, which may not meet the needs of businesses as they grow.

eCommerce Hosting FAQs

What are the costs of creating an eCommerce store?

As far as hosting prices go, providers like Bluehost go as cheap as $2.95 a month.

But in terms of other costs, it depends on what kind of plans you have for your eCommerce store. Some platforms are more expensive than others, but typically a platform like WordPress can be operated at no excess costs at all.

Should you avoid using shared hosting plans?

If you plan on selling only a few items/products, going with a shared hosting plan shouldn't be an issue. On the other hand, if you're a growing business - it's typically recommended to go with a plan that provides more resources, which in turn ensures your customers get the best user experience when visiting your online store.

What about using WordPress for eCommerce stores?

WordPress is a fantastic choice for eCommerce, thanks to the WooCommerce plugin.

We've reviewed WordPress-specific hosting providers before, and on average - WP Engine is generally the recommended choice.

WordPress stands out with its themes and plugins ecosystem, giving you an endless means to create modern online stores with the best possible features.