At least one host here rewards agencies for every client they host with it, so a tip from another agency isn't always neutral. Judge each host on making the hundredth client site as easy to manage as the first. Look for multi-site management, simple handovers to clients, staging and migrations, then decide whether you want a managed WordPress host or a platform that runs your own servers.
Agency hosting is a different job from hosting one website. You're juggling client logins, staging copies, handovers, and the occasional site that falls over at nine at night. Below are eight hosts that describe agency plans or agency tools on their own sites, with a checklist first so you can sort them against your own client list.
Eight questions to ask an agency host
Before you look at any names, run through these with your own client list in front of you.
- How many client sites will you host in the coming months, and does the plan grow with you?
- Can you manage every site from one dashboard, with separate access for each client?
- How do staging copies work, and can you push changes live without extra plugins?
- Who handles migrations when you bring an existing client site across?
- Can you hand a site over to a client, or move it to their own account, if they leave?
- Is the host focused on WordPress, or does it also run the stores and frameworks your clients use?
- Do you want the host to manage servers for you, or would you rather run your own?
- Does the host run an agency partner programme, and what does it ask of you in return?
If you can answer those, the list below sorts itself out quickly, because each host leans towards one kind of agency.
All eight at a glance
| Tool | Kind of host | Agency it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Flywheel | Managed WordPress host for creatives | Design-led agencies running many client sites |
| GreenGeeks | Eco-positioned shared host | Agencies whose clients care about green hosting |
| GridPane | Server management platform | Technical agencies running their own WordPress servers |
| Kinsta | Managed WordPress host | Agencies hosting WordPress and WooCommerce client sites |
| Pressable | Managed WordPress host | Agencies managing many WordPress sites at once |
| Rocket.net | Managed WordPress host | Agencies and creatives wanting delivery through Cloudflare Enterprise |
| Servebolt | Performance-focused managed host | Agencies with WooCommerce, Magento 2 or Laravel clients |
| WP Engine | Managed WordPress platform | Agencies scaling a large WordPress client book |
The eight hosts, A to Z
In no particular order beyond the alphabet; one line each, from what the host says about itself.
Flywheel
Best for: Designers and creative agencies who run lots of client WordPress sites, with the vendor saying you can manage hundreds of them with ease.
GreenGeeks
Best for: Agencies whose clients want a host that describes itself as a green energy provider, with shared and WordPress plans and an agencies section.
GridPane
Best for: WordPress agencies and store brands that run their own servers and want, in the vendor's words, self-managed hosting for WordPress.
Kinsta
Best for: Agencies with WordPress and WooCommerce clients who want a managed host; the vendor says its agency plans are fast, secure and scalable.
Pressable
Best for: Multi-site agencies, stores and growing brands wanting managed WordPress hosting with, per the vendor, tools built for multi-site management.
Rocket.net
Best for: Creatives and agencies who want managed WordPress hosting delivered through Cloudflare Enterprise, with free migrations from the host.
Servebolt
Best for: Studios with clients on WordPress, WooCommerce, Magento 2 or Laravel, all of which this host lists, plus a partner programme for agencies.
WP Engine
Best for: Larger agencies on a managed WordPress platform with agency and eCommerce offerings; its own pitch is to scale your agency.
Read the partner terms on agency pages
Servebolt's own agency page says it runs a partner programme that rewards agencies for every client they host with it. There's nothing hidden about that, it's right there on the page, but it changes how you should read any host recommendation that reaches you from another agency.
If a fellow agency tells you their host is brilliant, ask whether they're in its partner programme. And if you join one yourself, tell your clients. A client who later finds out you were rewarded for choosing their host will wonder what else you chose for your own reasons.
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Partner programmes aren't a problem in themselves, and plenty of agencies use them. The point is to choose the host on how it handles your client sites first, and treat any reward as a bonus rather than the reason.
Test the routine on a single client site
Don't move your whole book of clients on the strength of a sales page. Move one, and watch what happens.
- Choose a real client site with typical traffic and a plugin set you use often, and take a full backup.
- Ask two hosts from the same group to migrate it, or move it yourself, and note how long each took.
- Run the site from a staging copy, make a small change and push it live.
- Give a colleague client-level access and see what they can and can't touch.
- Keep the host where that whole routine felt boring, because boring is what you want from hosting.
Managed host or your own servers? Some advice
Decide how much server work you want in-house before you compare anything. A design-led agency with no system administrator is better served by a managed WordPress host, even if a self-managed platform looks more flexible on paper. A technical team that already tunes servers may find managed hosting gets in its way.
For the wider field, my list of WordPress hosting covers single-site options for clients who only need one site. Teams that want full control can compare VPS hosting too.
Do you make hosting for agencies or WordPress sites? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
What makes hosting suitable for an agency?
Tools for many sites rather than one: a single dashboard for every client, separate access for each, staging copies, migrations and a clean way to hand a site over. Speed matters, but so does how quickly you can work across fifty sites.
Should an agency use managed WordPress hosting or its own servers?
Managed hosting suits agencies without a server specialist. A server management platform suits technical teams who want control and are happy to look after updates and security themselves.
Can I move a client site to the client's own account later?
Ask each host before you sign up, because handover rules vary. It's one of the most common sources of friction when a client leaves an agency.
Do agency hosts offer free trials?
Two of the eight mention a free trial on their own sites. Check each host's current terms directly, since they can change.
Should I tell clients if I'm rewarded by a host's partner programme?
Yes. It's the honest thing to do, and it protects the relationship if they find out later. Choose on how the host treats the client's site, not on the reward.
How many client sites can one host handle?
It depends on the plan and the host. Ask for the limits in writing and check how each one counts sites, staging copies and storage before you commit.
