Cheap hosting for WordPress is usually shared cPanel hosting with a one-click WordPress installer, and it is enough for most blogs and small business sites. At Tremhost, cPanel hosting that runs WordPress starts at $30 a year and renews at the same price. If you would rather not handle updates, backups and security yourself, managed WordPress starts at $15 a month.
What WordPress needs from a host
WordPress is free, open-source software written in PHP. It stores your content in a MySQL or MariaDB database. To run it, a host needs:
- A supported, current version of PHP, ideally one you can switch yourself.
- A MySQL or MariaDB database.
- HTTPS, so logins and form data are encrypted.
- Enough storage for your images and uploads, and enough bandwidth for your visitors.
Almost any cPanel hosting plan meets these basics. The differences that matter are speed, security, backups, support and what you pay over several years.
How to tell good cheap hosting from bad cheap hosting
Check the renewal price
Some hosts advertise a low first-year price and charge much more to renew. A cheap plan is only cheap if it stays affordable. Compare what you will pay in the second and third year, not just the first.
Check what is included
Free SSL, daily backups and email accounts on your domain should be part of the plan. If each is an add-on, the real price is higher than the headline.
Check the platform
For WordPress, the web server and storage make a visible difference. LiteSpeed with the LiteSpeed Cache plugin can serve cached pages efficiently. NVMe storage reads and writes faster than SATA SSD, which helps database-heavy sites. Account isolation, such as CloudLinux, gives each account its own CPU and memory limits, so a busy neighbour has less effect on your site.
Check security and backups
WordPress sites are common targets, usually through outdated plugins and weak passwords. Look for server-side malware scanning and automatic daily backups that you can restore without opening a ticket.
Check how you pay and who helps
If you are in Zimbabwe, paying in US dollars by EcoCash, ZimSwitch or a local card can matter as much as the price. So can a support team that answers on WhatsApp during your working day.
Option 1: cPanel web hosting for WordPress
Tremhost’s cPanel web hosting is the lowest-cost way to run WordPress with Tremhost. Every plan includes cPanel, LiteSpeed, CloudLinux, NVMe storage, free auto-renewed SSL, unlimited email accounts, daily backups, Imunify360 malware scanning and free migration. WordPress installs in one click through Softaculous, with WordPress Manager to help look after it.
- Himalaya: $30 a year (yearly only), 20 GB NVMe, 20 GB bandwidth, 3 databases. Suits a personal blog or first business site.
- Bvumba: $5 a month or $50 a year, 50 GB NVMe, 50 GB bandwidth, 5 databases. Suits a company site with staff email and a blog.
- Chimanimani: $8 a month or $80 a year, 100 GB NVMe, 100 GB bandwidth, 10 databases. Suits content-heavy WordPress sites.
- Nyangani: $10 a month or $110 a year, 250 GB NVMe, 1 TB bandwidth, 50 databases. Suits busy sites and several databases.
Plans renew at the price you sign up at. Each WordPress site uses one database, so the database limit also tells you roughly how many WordPress installs a plan can hold. With cPanel hosting, you are responsible for keeping WordPress, themes and plugins updated. The help article on how to install WordPress walks through setup.
Option 2: managed WordPress hosting
Managed hosting costs more because someone else does the upkeep. On Tremhost’s managed WordPress plans, the team updates WordPress core, themes and plugins, tests updates on a staging copy first, takes daily backups, scans for and removes malware, and puts Cloudflare Pro in front of every site.
- Micro: $15 a month or $175 a year, 1 site, 20 GB NVMe, 20 GB bandwidth.
- Business: $20 a month or $232 a year, 2 sites, 50 GB NVMe.
- Professional: $30 a month or $350 a year, 4 sites, which works out at $7.50 per site a month.
Which one should you choose?
Choose cPanel hosting if:
- Your budget is tight and the site is simple.
- You are comfortable updating plugins and checking that nothing breaks.
- You also need email for your team on the same plan.
Choose managed WordPress if:
- The site brings in enquiries or sales and downtime costs you money.
- You do not have time for updates, plugin clashes and security checks.
- You want a firewall and CDN in front of the site without setting it up yourself.
A simple way to decide is to estimate how many hours a month you spend on upkeep and what that time is worth. If it is worth more than the price difference, managed hosting pays for itself.
Keep a cheap WordPress site fast and safe
- Use a lightweight theme and only the plugins you need.
- Turn on caching. On LiteSpeed servers, use the LiteSpeed Cache plugin.
- Compress and resize images before uploading.
- Update WordPress, themes and plugins promptly, and remove ones you no longer use.
- Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication for admin accounts.
- Check that backups exist and that you know how to restore one.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to host WordPress with Tremhost?
The Himalaya cPanel plan at $30 a year, billed yearly. It includes free SSL, daily backups and one-click WordPress installation, and renews at the same price.
Is cheap shared hosting fast enough for WordPress?
For most blogs and small business sites, yes, especially with LiteSpeed, NVMe storage and caching turned on. Large shops or high-traffic sites may need managed WordPress or a VPS.
Can I move my existing WordPress site for free?
Yes. Migration from another cPanel host is free on Tremhost web hosting and managed WordPress, typically within 24 hours, and your site stays live until it is switched over.
Is there a refund if it does not suit me?
First orders of web hosting and managed WordPress have a 30-day refund.
Next step
If you want the lowest cost, start with Tremhost web hosting. If you want WordPress looked after for you, compare the managed WordPress plans.
