Are you considering starting an online store? eCommerce hosting will be one of the things you’ll need.
This kind of online hosting service provides people and businesses with all the tools and features required to set up and operate a commercial website.
As part of their service, an eCommerce hosting provider may provide shopping cart software, SSL, payment processing services, database support, and more.
In addition, basic web hosting services such as webspace, plugins, and security are also included.
So, which is the best eCommerce hosting company available? That’s exactly what we’re here to help you with.
In this article, we’ll go through the top ten best eCommerce hosting companies and what they’re most known for.
Summary
- Shopify — Best All-Around ECommerce Platform And Web Host
- SiteGround — Best Affordable ECommerce Hosting
- BlueHost — Best WordPress-Friendly ECommerce Hosting
- A2 Hosting — Best Performance
- Hostinger — Best ECommerce Hosting For Small Businesses
- InMotion — Best Hosting For ECommerce Scalability
- Cloudways — Best Cloud-Based ECommerce Hosting
- DreamHost — Best ECommerce Hosting For Beginners
- HostGator — Best ECommerce Hosting For Help And Support
- IONOS — Best Cheap VPS Hosting
What is eCommerce Hosting?
To go online, every website and online store requires one thing: a web host. Hosting offers a server for your website, allowing it to connect to the internet and be visited by people.
Essentially, you’re buying the right to utilize someone else’s empty server space while also receiving service from a company that understands how to protect and optimize servers.
Hosting comes in a number of different specializations and types. Some hosting types are called for the hardware they run on, while others have specific plans with particular features.
That’s what eCommerce hosting is.
A good eCommerce hosting plan includes a number of special features designed specifically for this type of business.
SSL encryption and that too for free, help setting up payment gateways, increased security, and scalability during times of heavy traffic are just a few examples.
There’s also WooCommerce hosting, which is a subtype of eCommerce hosting.
WooCommerce hosting has all of the benefits of eCommerce hosting plus server environments that are optimized for the WooCommerce plugin.
Read: Top 10 Best Web Hosting
Top 10 Best eCommerce Hosting Providers
1. Shopify — Best All-Around eCommerce Platform and Web Host
You’ve most likely heard of Shopify, an eCommerce platform that makes it simple to start an online shop.
Did you know that the majority of its services offer unlimited bandwidth and eCommerce site hosting? Well, no kidding. Users of Shopify don’t have to pay extra for hosting since it’s included in the platform’s pricing.
Shopify maintains its uptime at 99.99 percent and runs its stores on lightning-fast servers, ensuring that your site and its content load quickly.
It also uses a Content Delivery Network (CDN) to guarantee that your online store is accessible to customers all over the globe as fast as possible.
Another benefit of Shopify’s hosting is that all online shops are automatically PCI DSS Level 1-compliant.
This means you don’t have to be concerned about the security of your client’s payment information or your business’s data.
Shopify spent a lot of effort and money to become PCI compliant, and their accreditation includes your online store, web hosting, and shopping cart.
As a result, with Shopify, you can build an eCommerce shop without having to bother about hosting since it’s all taken care of.
Read our Shopify Review.
Pricing:
- Basic Shopify: Starts at $29 per month
- Shopify: Starts at $79 per month
- Advanced Shopify: Starts at $299 per month
Pros And Cons:
Pros
- Easy to use
- Numerous templates
- Free email marketing tool
Cons
- Not as many hosting features as other alternatives
- Expensive
Features:
- Online store
- Unlimited products
- Unlimited email forwarding
- 2-15 Staff accounts
- 24/7 support
- Sales channels
- SSL certificate for free
- International domains
2. SiteGround — Best Affordable eCommerce Hosting
SiteGround is one of the best eCommerce web hosting for WooCommerce integration, with a one-click installation option that allows you to have your store up and running in minutes.
Domains and subdomains are available, as well as templates and customization options.
SiteGround now hosts over 2 million domains and provides reliable web hosting tailored to your eCommerce requirements.
WooCommerce hosting is the preferred option for eCommerce, but you can also connect with Magento and PrestaShop.
Users of SiteGround love how simple it is to install applications and utilize the platform for eCommerce.
SiteGround has a fully PCI-compliant infrastructure in place to keep you and your customers safe (though you will have to pay premium prices to access it).
There’s a free encryption certificate, daily backups, and customer assistance available 24/7.
Read our SiteGround Review.
Pricing:
- StartUp: Starts at $3.99 per month
- GrowBig: Starts at $6.69 per month
- GoGeek: Starts at $10.69 per month
Pros And Cons:
Pros
- Best solution for WooCommerce
- Proprietary AI security
- Speed-optimized servers
- Helpful support
- Free Cloudflare CDN
- Account isolation
Cons
- Might be overwhelming for beginners
- Resources are limited
- Expensive
Features:
- Unlimited websites
- Daily backup
- 10-40 GB web space
- 10,000-400,000 monthly visits
- Free WP migrator
- Free WP installation
- Unmetered traffic
- Free SSL, CDN, and Email
- Ecommerce enabled
- Enhanced security
- Unlimited Databases
- 30-Days Money-Back
3. BlueHost — Best WordPress-Friendly eCommerce Hosting
Bluehost, a WordPress-friendly eCommerce host, offers an easy and cost-effective method to grow your business.
When you sign up, you get access to a domain name, site statistics, and regular technological backups to protect your website data.
Bluehost’s mid-tier plans are very generous, with unlimited domains, unlimited SSD storage, and unmetered bandwidth, allowing your hosting to grow along with your business.
If you have a WordPress website, Bluehost also offers a one-click setup through a specialized WooCommerce plugin.
The backend of the host is simple and versatile, making it perfect for beginners building their first website.
To keep your site safe, Bluehost provides a free SSL certificate, hotlink prevention, Secure Shell access (SSH), and SpamAssassin protection.
Read our Bluehost Review.
Pricing:
- Standard: Starts at $12.95 per month
- Premium: Starts at $24.95 per month
Pros And Cons:
Pros
- Fully managed
- Official WooCommerce host
- Jetpack
- Free IP address
Cons
- Expensive renewals
- Less storage compared to other providers
Features:
- Online store (website and blog)
- Unlimited products
- Email marketing
- WooCommerce
- Jetpack Premium
- Website traffic analytics
- Store-front theme
- 24/7 support
- Free domain privacy
4. A2 Hosting — Best Performance
A2 Hosting’s primary selling point is its performance. A2 Hosting promises to be one of the fastest and most dependable eCommerce hosting providers in the market.
You’ll get unmetered disk space and unlimited SSD storage, as well as page loading, which speeds up to 20 times quicker than regular servers.
A2 Hosting offers a variety of packages designed specifically for eCommerce businesses, including powerful storage choices, high uptime, and cutting-edge customer service.
A2’s “Guru Crew” is available 24/7 through live chat and phone.
An SSL certificate is provided with every plan for businesses concerned about security and privacy, allowing customers to feel safe and secure.
A2 Hosting also offers a perpetual security package that includes free system scanning to guard against assaults, as well as DDoS protection and a firewall to keep unwanted visitors out.
A2 Hosting provides speed and reliability for your eCommerce business and some of the best support available if you need assistance getting started.
It also has the advantage of being very affordable for beginners.
Read our A2 Hosting Review.
Pricing:
- Unmanaged VPS: Starts at $4.99 per month
- Managed VPS: Starts at $39.99 per month
- Unmanaged Server: Starts at $129.99 per month
- Managed Server: Starts at $179.99 per month
Pros And Cons:
Pros
- Free security measures
- Excellent site speed options
- 24/7 support
Cons
- Average uptime guarantee
Features:
- Root access
- SSL
- Free cPanel
- Up to 20X faster turbo option
- Fully managed
- 150 – 2×1000 GB storage
- 2-6 TB transfer
- 1-16 GB RAM
- 1-4 cores
5. Hostinger — Best eCommerce Hosting For Small Businesses
If you’re searching for the best web hosting for small businesses, Hostinger is a popular and also the best option for budget-conscious entrepreneurs.
Hostinger’s server stack is specifically designed to provide the fastest page loading speeds possible, and clients additionally get Cloudflare CDN access.
One of the best things about Hostinger is how simple it is to use.
Moreover, you can quickly set up a WordPress eCommerce site by integrating WooCommerce with your hosting provider.
While WooCommerce hosting is the most common option from Hostinger, Magento and PrestaShop are also available.
For maximum reliability, Hostinger provides Magento functionality through Google Cloud. Multi-tier caching is available on WooCommerce optimized hosting, and also PrestaShop includes built-in caching as well.
Hostinger’s optimized eCommerce environment guarantees that businesses can maintain quick, efficient product pages while staying under budget.
Another intriguing feature is the access management system, which allows you to work on your online shop with other team members. Moreover, it’s simple to create multiple accounts.
Read our Hostinger Review.
Pricing:
- Starter: Starts at $3.99 per month
- Premium: Starts at $11.59 per month
- Business: Starts at $23.99 per month
Pros And Cons:
Pros
- Excellent low-cost plans
- Great uptime
- Helpful customer service
- The company’s own Zyro website builder is included.
Cons
- Dedicated hosting isn’t available.
- There is no phone support.
- A Windows option isn’t available on every plan.
- Only one email address is included in the basic shared hosting plan.
Features:
- 300 Websites
- 200-300 GB SSD Storage
- 3-12 GB RAM
- Email is provided for free
- SSL and CDN
- Free Domain
- Daily Backups
- Unlimited Bandwidth
- Google Ads Credit
- Unlimited Databases
- Free Migration
6. InMotion — Best Hosting For eCommerce Scalability
InMotion Hosting offers eCommerce hosting that keeps up with today’s fast-paced companies.
Every hosting plan is pre-optimized for your chosen platform, allowing you to be up and also running fast.
Although shared hosting plans do not offer PCI compliance, upgrading will provide you with that security.
InMotion, like many of the best eCommerce hosting providers, aims to provide great performance and speed while maintaining security and privacy.
The Power Shared plan includes features such as a one-click shopping cart set up to help you get up and running fast.
Many of the world’s most popular tools, such as WooCommerce, OpenCart, PrestaShop, and Magento, are very simple to integrate.
Advanced caching, access to Jetpack (the #1 WordPress plugin), and unlimited bandwidth and email access also are all included with InMotion Hosting if you’re a WordPress user.
Most plans provide advanced caching, as well as dedicated IP addresses if you’re on a higher-tier subscription.
InMotion’s support team goes through extensive training on a regular basis in order to provide you with the best assistance possible.
There are also automated backups and virus protection in case something goes wrong.
Read our Inmotion Review.
Pricing:
- Launch: Starts at $5.99 per month
- Power: Starts at $5.99 per month
- Pro: Starts at $14.99 per month
Pros And Cons:
Pros
- The cheapest plan allows hosting multiple websites
- 90-days money-back guarantee
- Free marketing tools
- Mobile-friendly themes
- Premium website builder
- SSD storage drives
Cons
- Slow servers
- Sluggish checkout process
- Cheaper plans have limited features
Features:
- SSL
- Free domain
- 2-100 websites
- 50-200GB SSD storage
- 6x performance
- Free marketing tools
- Security suite
- 10-Unlimited emails
- Unlimited bandwidth
7. Cloudways — Best Cloud-Based eCommerce Hosting
Cloudways is a specialized cloud-based solution for eCommerce hosting, as you may have assumed from the name.
Moreover, this platform is fully managed pay-as-you-go solutions are ideal if you’re searching for flexible and scalable site hosting.
It supports a variety of eCommerce systems, including OpenCart, Magento, PrestaShop, and WooCommerce, and is also designed to make eCommerce expansion easier.
For extra peace of mind, all Cloudways eCommerce hosting plans provide access to a variety of applications and integrations, as well as an innovative control panel and automatic backups.
For optimal speed, you receive built-in CDN and auto-healing servers. Moreover, standard features include built-in SSL certification and real-time monitoring to keep your clients secure.
Cloudways goes above and beyond in terms of security and dependability, with firewall access and automatic DDoS protection. However, there is no native PCI compliance support.
Read our Cloudways Review.
Pricing:
- DO1GB: Starts at $10 per month
- DO2GB: Starts at $22 per month
- DO4GB: Starts at $42 per month
- DO8GB: Starts at $80 per month
- DO16GB: Starts at $135 per month
- DO32GB: Starts at $230 per month
- DO48GB: Starts at $315 per month
- DO64GB: Starts at $395 per month
- DO96GB: Starts at $555 per month
- DO128GB: Starts at $715 per month
- DO192GB: Starts at $1035 per month
Pros And Cons:
Pros
- Good uptime.
- Very simple to set up.
- Supports a wide range of apps.
- Pay-as-you-go plans.
- Several flexible account tiers.
- Before signing up, you can try the service for free.
- Site cloning.
Cons
- The email comes at an additional fee.
- There is no option to register a domain.
Features:
- 1-192 GB RAM
- 25-3840 GB SSD Storage
- 1-32 Core Processors
- 1-20 TB Bandwidth
- Unlimited sites/installs
- 24/7/365 support
- No traffic limits
- Free 1-click SSL installation
- 1-click backup/restore
- Free website migration
8. DreamHost — Best eCommerce Hosting For Beginners
Dreamhost is an easy-to-use and simple web hosting service that ranks among the best web hosting for small businesses and mid-sized businesses.
Moreover, the most appealing feature of Dreamhost is its sophisticated site builder, which makes it simple to create customized websites.
DreamPress is a WooCommerce hosting bundle that includes all of the tools you’ll need to run an eCommerce site.
To get you started with WooCommerce, Dreamhost provides PCI-compliant servers, pre-installed SSL certificates, and also a one-click access mechanism.
There’s a 100% uptime guarantee, something you won’t get with most hosting providers. Moreover, every package from the webserver has limitless traffic, allowing your shop to grow naturally.
Also, since all plans feature free daily backups, you’ll always have the assistance you need if anything goes wrong with your store.
Read our DreamHost Review.
Pricing:
- DreamPress: Starts at $16.95 per month
- Plus: Starts at $24.95 per month
- Pro: Starts at $71.95 per month
Pros And Cons:
Pros
- Robust security features
- Exceptional cloud hosting packages
- Domain administration tools that are extensive
- Unlimited data transfers per month
- Useful WordPress staging feature
- Generous money-back guarantee
Cons
- Expensive
- Requires some technical knowledge
- No phone support
Features:
- Unlimited websites (for VPS Plan only)
- Free domain
- Unmetered bandwidth
- Unlimited traffic
- 24/7 Support
- Fast SSD storage
- SSL certificate
- WordPress pre-installed
- Free automated WordPress migrations
- WP website builder
9. HostGator — Best eCommerce Hosting For Help and Support
When it comes to optimizing for particular platforms, Hostgator is a little less versatile than some other eCommerce web hosting.
There is a dedicated Magento hosting plan and a WordPress hosting plan, but no other systems have their own plans.
Moreover, you can also use the one-click installer to install WordPress-compatible eCommerce systems like WooCommerce.
Hostgator hosting is effective and scalable, with a 99.99 percent uptime guarantee and a free SSL certificate included with every purchase. With all plans, you’ll also get a free domain.
Every package includes free site transfers for those who need help getting their store up and running, as well as unlimited bandwidth so you can bring in as many customers as you want.
PCI compliance is not enabled by default on Hostgator servers, but you may request it with the help of the HostGator team.
Users also receive unlimited FTP (file transfer protocol) accounts, which makes moving data between computers and networks much simpler.
Even beginners should be able to make the most of their new eCommerce host with little confusion, thanks to excellent 24/7 live chat and also phone support.
Read our HostGator Pricing Review
Pricing:
- Hatchling: Starts at $2.75 per month
- Baby: Starts at $3.95 per month
- Business: Starts at $5.95 per month
Pros And Cons:
Pros
- A plethora of feature-rich hosting plans
- Ideal for inexperienced webmasters.
- Fantastic shared hosting service
- E-commerce tools and site-building software
- Excellent uptime
Cons
- Slow server speeds
- Poor support
Features:
- Unlimited domains
- 2-6 GB memory
- 2-6 core CPU
- SSL certificate
- Upgrade to Positive SSL Free
- Dedicated IP is Free
- SEO tools are Free
- Domain is also included
10. IONOS — Best Cheap VPS Hosting
IONOS provides a wide range of features at a cheap cost. Moreover, there are many WooCommerce plans available, with over 300 extensions to select from.
CDN RailGun is included in the unlimited plan to help your site load faster. You can have 10 email accounts and at least 25GB of SSD storage.
The store will be optimized to accommodate up to 500 visits per minute (Business and Unlimited Packages).
IONOS’s website builder can help you build your online store in no time. Moreover, the Online Store plan includes the creation of a WordPress site that can handle up to 5000 products.
The online store will be mobile-friendly, include a shipping wizard, provide discounts and coupons, offer abandoned cart recovery, and also provide 24/7 support.
The idea of paying $1 a month for hosting is incredible. However, be aware that such a low price is only available for a limited time.
A 30-day money-back guarantee may be a compelling reason to test this hosting provider.
Read our IONOS Review.
Pricing:
- Online Store: Starts at $20 per month
- Advanced Online Store: Starts at $25 per month
- Expert Online Store: Starts at $45 per month
Pros And Cons:
Pros
- Excellent speeds
- Free SSL
- Scalable plans
- Ecommerce-tailored plans
- Abandoned cart recovery
- Drag-and-drop editor
Cons
- Extra fees can accumulate quickly
- Confusing controls
Features:
- Free domain
- SSL certificate is Free
- Professional email
- Beautiful templates
- Advanced SEO
How To Select The Best eCommerce Hosting?
The importance of selecting the right hosting plan cannot be overstated. Let’s take a look at some of the factors you should think about when making your decision.
Pricing
When a small business has a limited budget, it’s natural to default to the cheapest option.
The cheapest providers, on the other hand, are not always the most reliable. You may find yourself spending a lot of money on add-ons, which can be quite costly.
Investing in a trusted provider who provides a high-quality product is a wise decision for eCommerce businesses.
This will result in less downtime and a better-performing website in the long run.
So, if you’re looking for a premium package with a lot of features, go with a reputable eCommerce hosting provider.
You will save more money in the long run than you will spend.
Monthly Traffic Volume
What is your monthly traffic estimate? If you’re just starting out with your eCommerce business, you probably won’t need a high-traffic eCommerce hosting provider.
In this case, shared hosting is the best option for your small business eCommerce store.
For small businesses with low traffic, shared hosting is the most popular option.
Moreover, this implies that your website will be shared with other websites that are similar to yours on a single server.
Shared servers are also the most cost-effective option, which appeals to small businesses.
However, if you want to grow and scale your business, you’ll need to consider how you’ll accommodate the increased amount of visitors.
In this situation, dedicated or cloud hosting is the best choice.
Dedicated hosting is when a single server hosts a single website, while cloud hosting is similar to shared hosting but with greater flexibility, redundancy, and scalability.
Security
For businesses of all sizes, cybersecurity is a major concern. Moreover, websites are attacked on a daily basis, and some of these attacks are fatal for companies.
Small businesses, in particular, need to be concerned about cybersecurity. Why? Because they lack the resources to eliminate a security breach.
Furthermore, enabling the theft of a company’s customers’ confidential information may result in a hefty fine.
That’s why it’s important to choose a hosting company that provides a safe website infrastructure that’s up to date on the latest updates, fixes, and also security procedures.
A secure eCommerce web host will serve as a “shield” for your website, preventing any attacks.
Website Transfer Services
You may be new to the eCommerce industry and are in the process of launching your first website.
Or, you may already have a website and want to move it to a different web hosting provider.
If this is the case, you’ll want to go with an eCommerce hosting company that offers domain transfers.
Some hosting companies provide technical support to help website owners move their sites from one host to another quickly and effectively.
Read : IPage Web Hosting Pricing – Everything You Should Know
Compliance
When it comes to selecting an eCommerce hosting company, compliance is a key factor to consider.
A trustworthy service provider should give specific assurances about how it will protect the information gathered from your website.
This is what PCI DSS compliance is all about. PCI DSS compliance is a set of criteria that all businesses that accept credit cards must follow.
Moreover, it’s an assurance that your customers are making secure transactions.
Mobile Capability
In 2018, it was reported that mobile traffic outnumbered desktop traffic.
Moreover, mobile devices accounted for 51.92 percent of worldwide website traffic in the first quarter of 2020.
Given these statistics, it’s fair to conclude that having a mobile-friendly website is important for your business.
You want your website to work well on a phone and tablet. Users should not have to zoom in and out since the whole site should fit properly on the screen.
There are many advantages to having a mobile-friendly website, including:
- A higher Google Search ranking.
- A more pleasant user experience.
- Increased overall time on site.
So, if you want to run a successful eCommerce site, you must consider mobile shopping and cater to mobile customers.
If you don’t, you’ll be missing out on the bulk of your potential customers.
Customer Support
Security features and mobile capabilities are critical, but there’s another element that’s just as important: customer support.
Nobody likes to get into a situation and have no one to turn to for help.
The best hosts are those that provide a variety of support, such as:
- 27/7 chat, email, and also phone support
- A knowledge base that will serve as a self-service online library
- Users with more expensive web hosting plans get priority support.
- When the servers go down, you’ll get an automatic notification.
Consider your eCommerce hosting company to be a business partner. Moreover, a trustworthy and reliable excellent business partner.
The same is true for eCommerce providers. Choose a reputable company with excellent user ratings for customer service and maintenance.
Conclusion
Ecommerce success requires good web hosting. Moreover, you must host your website on servers that respond quickly to the demands of your visitors.
Meanwhile, the hosting company should have a proven track record when it comes to malware, hacking, and security.
Whether you’re looking for eCommerce hosting to start a new online store or a reputable provider to support your growing business.
The above-mentioned excellent web hosting options are likely to have something that suits your needs.
Nevertheless, except for Shopify, none of these hosting companies provide an all-in-one eCommerce platform.
This implies you’ll need to install eCommerce software first, then use the features to create an online store.
Moreover, Shopify is a great option if you want to skip the technical parts of running eCommerce software and get right into building your shop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it possible to use Shopify while still using your own hosting provider?
No. Since Shopify’s platform combines hosting and shop creation, you can’t have one without the other.
Shopify offers free PCI compliant eCommerce hosting with unlimited bandwidth for your online store.
Can you build your online store with your hosting provider?
That depends. Some hosting companies provide website builders, such as Gator from HostGator.
However, since these builders are typically very basic platforms, we don’t suggest using them for your store.
Do any web hosts provide eCommerce-specific plans?
Yes, some do. Although some plans are labeled as “eCommerce,” they are essentially the same as any other shared or VPS hosting package.
This simply means that such plans are already eCommerce-ready. Other providers, such as Bluehost’s WooCommerce plans, offer specific eCommerce packages with even more specialized features.