WordPress hosting compared: features, not prices
How we compared: we only list features each host documents on its own website, checked on 4 November 2026. Where a host does not document a feature, the table says Check vendor. We do not list prices because they change often.
How we compared: we only list features each host documents on its own website, checked on 4 November 2026. Where a host does not document a feature, the table says Check vendor. We do not list prices because they change often. Check each vendor's current pricing page before you buy. Some links on this page may be affiliate links, which do not change what we list.
The list covers shared and budget hosts (Hostinger, SiteGround, VentraIP, Crucial, Crazy Domains), managed cloud hosting (Cloudways) and managed WordPress hosting (WP Engine). Hosts we have an affiliate partnership with are listed first. Choose a host with a data centre close to your visitors. The Data centre locations column shows what each vendor documents. Where we only checked Australian locations, it says so and the rest is marked Check vendor. VentraIP, Crazy Domains and Crucial are Australian hosts and mainly suit sites with an Australian audience.
Features side by side
Some product links may be affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you. It does not change what we include or how we describe it.
| Product | Type | Data centre locations | Staging | Backups | Free migration | Email included | Support channels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hostinger20% off with our linkBudget-conscious sites, provided a hosting data centre is near your visitors | International shared and cloud hosting | No Australian hosting data centre (Sydney is a CDN location only); other locations: Check vendor | Yes, one-click staging | Weekly on Premium; daily on higher plans | Yes | Mailboxes free for the first year, number varies by plan | 24/7; channels: Check vendor |
| SiteGroundSmall sites that want staging, daily backups and email on a Sydney server | International managed WordPress hosting | Several regions, including Sydney; full list: Check vendor | GrowBig and GoGeek plans | Daily on all plans; on-demand on GrowBig and GoGeek | Free Migrator plugin; expert migration on request | Yes | 24/7 live chat; phone |
| CloudwaysDevelopers who want to pick the underlying cloud and server size | Managed cloud hosting on a provider you choose | Depends on the cloud provider you pick; Sydney is available on AWS, DigitalOcean, Google Cloud, Linode and Vultr; full list: Check vendor | Yes, all plans | Offsite backups; terms vary by plan | Yes, free Migrator plugin plus one expert migration | Paid add-on | 24/7 live chat, tickets |
| VentraIPAustralian small businesses that want local support and email in one plan | Australian host, WordPress hosting | Australia: Sydney and Melbourne (NEXTDC) | Yes, staging and cloning | Hourly | Yes | Yes, email accounts listed | 24/7 Australian support: phone, live chat, tickets |
| CrucialSites that must stay on Australian hosting with daily backups | Australian WordPress hosting | Australia (city: Check vendor) | Yes, one-click staging | Daily | No, migration is a paid service | No, SMTP sending only | 24/7: phone, email, Help Centre |
| WP EngineAgencies and larger sites that want separate dev, staging and production | Managed WordPress | Several regions, including Sydney (Google Cloud; AWS and Azure Sydney on Premium plans); full list: Check vendor | Yes, development, staging and production environments | Daily automatic, 30 days kept | Site Migration plugin; cost: Check vendor | No | 24/7 live chat; phone on higher plans |
| Crazy DomainsSites that want domain, hosting and email from one Australian-facing provider | Domain registrar and shared hosting with managed WordPress features | Australia: Sydney | Yes, WordPress staging site | One-click and on-demand backups; schedule: Check vendor | Check vendor | Yes, email accounts listed | 24/7 chat and email |
Features as documented by each vendor, checked 4 Nov 2026. Prices change often, so check each vendor's current pricing.
Which one fits
One-click staging and free migration, with 20% off through our link. It has no Australian hosting data centre, so check a location near your visitors.
Daily backups on all plans, email accounts, a free migration plugin and a Sydney data centre.
Pick AWS, Google Cloud, DigitalOcean, Linode or Vultr as the underlying cloud, with staging on every plan.
Australian data centres, hourly backups, free migration and email with 24/7 local support in one plan.
Australian WordPress hosting with daily backups and one-click staging. Migration is a paid service and email is not included, so plan for both.
Every install gets three environments and daily backups are kept for 30 days.
How to choose
Start with location. Choose a data centre close to where most of your visitors are. Check the vendor's current location list, because the table only records what we checked. For example, if your visitors are mostly in Australia, a Sydney or Melbourne server keeps pages close to them; Hostinger has no Australian hosting data centre, only a Sydney CDN location.
Decide where email lives. WP Engine and Crucial do not include mailboxes, so you need Microsoft 365, Google Workspace or another provider. Shared hosts such as VentraIP, SiteGround and Crazy Domains include email accounts.
Check backups and staging on your plan. Several hosts only include staging or on-demand backups on higher plans. Read the plan table, not the headline.
Plan the move. Most hosts offer a free migration plugin or service. Read our WordPress migration guide before you switch.
Frequently asked questions
Which of these WordPress hosts have Australian data centres?
From the hosts we checked, VentraIP, Crazy Domains, Crucial, SiteGround, WP Engine and Cloudways document an Australian location. Hostinger does not.
Does managed WordPress hosting include email?
Not always. WP Engine documents that it does not host mailboxes. Shared hosts such as VentraIP and SiteGround include email accounts.
Will my new host migrate my site for free?
Most of the hosts we checked document a free migration plugin or service. Crucial lists migration as a paid service, and WP Engine does not state the cost of its plugin on its documentation page.
Why are there no prices in this comparison?
Hosting prices and introductory offers change often. Check each vendor's current pricing page before you buy.
Does server location matter for SEO?
Server location mainly affects speed for your visitors. A server or CDN location close to your audience usually loads pages faster.