Three separate needs sit behind a search for a new host: keeping a WordPress site updated for you, giving you general web space you can grow from, and handing you raw servers to build on. Managed WordPress hosts, broad web hosts and developer clouds cover them in that order. Name the job you need covered, then trial two hosts from that group.
DreamHost now sells more than web space: its homepage lists shared, VPS and managed plans next to a site builder and hosting for AI agents. If you're leaving or just comparing, which of those you were using decides what kind of host you need next. Managed hosts take the most off your plate and developer clouds the least, so the ten below are grouped by the kind of site each one is built for. Everything said about the options comes from the vendor's own site.
Where to start if you run one of these sites
One WordPress site you'd rather not babysit
Hostinger pairs managed WordPress with AI tools and automatic updates. Kinsta is a premium managed WordPress host, and WP Engine is a managed WordPress platform aimed at site management and enterprise needs. Start with these when the site matters but the server doesn't interest you.
A busy online shop
Liquid Web sells managed hosting for WooCommerce, WordPress or Magento on a cloud setup it says is built for heavy traffic. It's the one to test when a slow checkout would hurt.
Client sites for an agency
Pressable includes white-label managed WordPress hosting that agencies can resell, and Rocket.net delivers managed WordPress through Cloudflare Enterprise. Agencies looking after many client sites should start here.
Apps, servers or AI workloads
DigitalOcean is a developer cloud for compute, containers and AI workloads. Hetzner Cloud offers cloud servers with one-click apps and an API, and IONOS adds a wider cloud range that includes GPU servers. These suit developers, not owners who want their host to do the work.
A site with a green brief
GreenGeeks hosts sites, stores and apps with WordPress and WooCommerce plans and leads with an eco-friendly pitch. If that matters to your brand, it's a natural first call.
Read your old host's homepage before you pack up
Your current host's homepage now sells AI-agent hosting, under the names OpenClaw Hosting and Hermes Agent Hosting, and an AI Remixer site builder alongside normal web hosting. Most of the ten hosts here replace the hosting part only, so be clear about what you're moving.
Before you book a migration, list every product on your account. If your site was made with the site builder, check how you'd export it before you assume a new host can take it unchanged. If you run an AI agent there, treat that as a separate move and test it on its own. The plain website is usually the easiest part to move, so do it first.
Ten hosts side by side
| Tool | Kind of host | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| DigitalOcean | Developer cloud | Apps, containers and AI workloads |
| GreenGeeks | Eco-friendly shared and WordPress host | Owners who want a greener host |
| Hetzner Cloud | Developer cloud servers | Teams scripting servers through an API |
| Hostinger | Shared and managed WordPress host | WordPress sites wanting built-in AI tools |
| IONOS | Web hosting and cloud | Hosting plus a wider cloud range |
| Kinsta | Premium managed WordPress | WooCommerce and WordPress sites |
| Liquid Web | Managed cloud hosting | High-traffic online stores |
| Pressable | Agency WordPress hosting | Agencies reselling hosting |
| Rocket.net | Managed WordPress platform | Sites wanting Cloudflare delivery |
| WP Engine | Managed WordPress platform | Enterprise WordPress sites |
The full list, A to Z
In no particular order beyond the alphabet. Each line sums up what the host says about itself.
DigitalOcean
Best for: Developers running compute, containers and AI workloads, with an Inference Router for serverless, dedicated or batch inference.
GreenGeeks
Best for: Sites, stores and apps on WordPress or WooCommerce where an eco-friendly host matters to you; eco-friendly hosting is the vendor's own claim.
Hetzner Cloud
Best for: Developer teams who want cloud servers with one-click apps and an API they can script against.
Hostinger
Best for: Site owners who want managed WordPress with AI tools and automatic updates, plus WooCommerce, VPS and one-click app options.
IONOS
Best for: Businesses that want web hosting from a provider whose wider cloud range includes GPU servers for AI and deep learning.
Kinsta
Best for: WordPress and WooCommerce sites that want a premium managed host, with site migration and expert support offered by the vendor.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Liquid Web
Best for: Busy WooCommerce, WordPress or Magento stores that need cloud hosting tuned, the vendor says, for speed, stability and heavy traffic.
Pressable
Best for: Agencies that want white-label managed WordPress hosting they can resell to their own clients.
Rocket.net
Best for: WordPress sites that want delivery through Cloudflare Enterprise, which is the vendor's headline claim, with migrations included.
WP Engine
Best for: Larger WordPress operations wanting a managed platform for site management and enterprise needs.
Before you cancel: advice on the old account
Don't cancel your current account until the new site has run for a while without problems. Keep your domain and email in mind too, because they're often tied to the same account and they're the parts that break quietly. If you only had one simple site, a broad web host will usually do; if you were managing the server yourself, you'll want a developer cloud; and if WordPress is your whole business, a managed WordPress host is where to look.
I've also compared Bluehost alternatives and SiteGround alternatives if you're weighing up more than one host, and my guide to the best web hosting for small business goes wider.
A trial move with your smallest site
- Pick your smallest live site, or a copy of a bigger one, and back up its files, database and email settings.
- Choose two hosts from the group that matches it and set up a starter account with each.
- Move the site to both, using each host's own migration help where it's offered, and preview it before you touch the domain.
- Check forms, logins and checkout on each copy, from a phone as well as a laptop.
- Point the domain at the host that gave you the fewest surprises, and keep the old account until everything has settled.
Do you make web hosting or cloud hosting? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
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Frequently asked questions
What should I check before I leave my current host?
List everything on the account: websites, domains, email, any site builder projects and any AI or app hosting. Each one may need its own plan to move.
Is managed WordPress hosting better than shared hosting?
It's different. Managed hosting handles more of the upkeep for WordPress sites, while shared hosting gives you a general space for many kinds of site. Pick by how much you want to look after yourself.
Do I need a developer cloud for a small business website?
Usually not. Developer clouds are built for apps, containers and custom workloads. A small business site is often better on a web host or a managed WordPress host.
Will moving hosts affect my email?
It can, if your email lives with your host. Check where your mailboxes and domain records sit before you change anything, and move email as its own step.
How do I avoid downtime when I switch?
Build and test the site on the new host first, then change the domain only when it's working. Keep the old account active until you've checked the new one for a few days.
