One of the most critical steps in building a successful online store is acquiring the knowledge necessary to select the most suitable host for your WooCommerce business. Whether constructing your first e-commerce website or migrating an existing store to a different hosting provider, hosting alternatives can accommodate any requirement. 

Suppose you have a small amount of experience with web hosting. In that case, you may need to figure out what to look for in a web host or qualities associated with hosting a WordPress website or a WooCommerce store. You may feel compelled to select the first WooCommerce hosting package in the search results or attempt to make do with the most cost-effective alternative you discover.

A mistake like this is expensive. You may end up with a hosting package that does not provide the services you require or hidden expenses that leave you feeling overcharged and with inadequate support. 

Most WordPress e-commerce websites utilize WooCommerce because of its extensive and user-friendly features, extensive support, and many extensions that help customize e-commerce functionality and look. Although WooCommerce is not the only e-commerce plugin for WordPress, most use it.

Therefore, it is necessary to research and select the most suitable hosting service for your WooCommerce store. It would help if you shortlisted hosting firms based on the criteria listed below. This should be done in addition to generating a list of the features and capabilities necessary for your website. When you compare several possibilities that are as close as feasible to this list and the requirements that are more specific to your website, you can select the one that best fits you. 

1. Fulfils the essential prerequisites for hosting WooCommerce

Specific server requirements must be satisfied for WooCommerce to function correctly. Ensure that the hosting package you selected for WooCommerce satisfies the requirements for both WordPress and WooCommerce. If your hosting provider cannot meet these prerequisites, WooCommerce and any extensions you decide to install will likely not perform as intended, if they do at all.

PHP 7.4, at the very least, with support extended to 8.1.3

Currently, neither WordPress nor WooCommerce supports PHP versions 8.2 or 8.3. PHP versions 8.0 and below are no longer supported, even though PHP 7.4 is the minimum needed version. Most notably, there is no longer any security assistance. The most crucial thing you should do is verify that your PHP version is still receiving security support and is compatible with WordPress and WooCommerce. You can confirm that information by visiting the website end-of-life.date.

Both MySQL version 5.7 and MariaDB version 10.4 or later versions are supported

The basic needs for WordPress are MySQL 5.7 and MariaDB 10.4, while WooCommerce can run on MySQL versions as low as 5.6 and 10.1. Because you will be using WooCommerce on a WordPress website, you must meet WordPress’s minimum requirements, even though they are higher than those of WooCommerce.

WordPress has a memory limit of 256 MB or more

On many websites, especially those that use shared hosting, the default PHP memory limit is usually set at 128 megabytes. If your website has resource-intensive plugins installed, increase the memory limit to 256 megabytes (MB) or more. You must confirm that your host allows you to set a minimum 256 MB memory restriction.

Assistance with using HTTPS

Ensure that you verify the requirements for WordPress hosting, and double-check that the PHP and database versions you are utilizing are still receiving security support. Using software that is not supported or outdated can be a security concern. It can increase the likelihood that your website will be hacked or that you will experience additional technical troubles.

After installing WooCommerce on your host, you can inspect the System Status page to determine whether your server has the appropriate features.

2. Provides free-of-charge migration services

Suppose you already have WooCommerce sites hosted with another service and want to move them to a new WooCommerce web hosting provider. In that case, selecting a WooCommerce web hosting company that provides free migration services is recommended. If you are not confident in your ability to migrate your website on your own or if you have a large number of websites to migrate but just a limited amount of time available, having your hosting provider handle this task for you can be of great assistance.

3. Comes with free and secure SSL certificates

While this security element is required for any website, it is significant for online businesses. It protects your client’s personal information and relays to search engines the message that your website can be relied upon. It is also a prerequisite for each payment gateway and for WooCommerce itself.

Opening your online store will be more practical and less complicated if your server provides free SSL certificates. Although you can purchase and install your SSL certificate from a third party, this is not recommended.

4. Provides a free content delivery network (CDN) or an easy integration of a CDN

A content delivery network, often known as a CDN, is a powerful site acceleration tool that stores static data and images on a server that is part of a third party. Examples of these files include CSS and Javascript. Your website’s content is presented from a server close to each visitor. A content delivery network (CDN) can be beneficial for any website, but it is conducive for online retailers that cater to customers from across the country or the world.

5. Utilises caching on the server side

When someone enters your WooCommerce website, their browser must begin loading everything, including photos, videos, and other data. This process starts from the very beginning. If you have cache enabled, your files will be saved at a secondary place, allowing the website to load more quickly when visitors return. To maximize your website’s performance and reduce the time it takes to load, your web host should also include the option of server-side caching. You may choose to employ your caching solution.

6. Consists of daily backups conducted automatically

To protect themselves if something on their website breaks or they are hacked, busy e-commerce shops should have daily backups offered by their servers. You can restore a clean backup with only a tiny amount of lost data.

On the other hand, your shop needs a backup plugin that is safe, independent, located off-site, and stores information in real-time. By doing so, each order or modification on your website is stored as soon as it occurs.

7. Possesses the storage capacity and scalability that you require

Even though you might have a modest internet store, you should have huge dreams! If your WooCommerce traffic continues to increase, your shopfront could outgrow its hosting package.

Attempt to choose a web hosting business that provides several packages that may be easily switched between. If you ever need an update, a good host will make it simple for you to do so.

Cloud-based hosting is provided by companies of the highest caliber. Because it can flexibly adjust to customers’ requirements, this is an excellent solution for stores that see a sudden and significant increase in foot traffic. Your website will always stay strong, even when your major advertising campaign is launched or you get a shout-out from a star on Instagram, because cloud hosting will grow together with you as your shop’s requirements expand. This will ensure that your website is always open for business.

8. Is user-friendly for developers

Suppose you require more granular control over your server environment and want fewer limits on the software and plugins you can use. In that case, you should look at WooCommerce hosting companies that offer virtual private server (VPS), cloud hosting, or dedicated hosting options. There are still quite a few variances between different forms of hosting; therefore, it is essential to compile a list of your requirements and carefully examine the specifics of each host’s plan.

Discuss your needs with the host support team if it needs to be clarified whether or not they offer help for anything you require. This will ensure that your requirements are satisfied.

9. Uptime/ availability and safety measures

Can someone access your WooCommerce site whenever they want? There are times when your server can be unavailable for a brief period. This could be because of maintenance or other problems. The time your web host is available to provide service to your website is called its “uptime.” This should be as close to one hundred percent as is humanly possible. One should strive to achieve a standard that is higher than 99%.

Your web host is an essential component in the protection of your website. Although we have discussed SSL certificates and backups in some detail, there are a few more aspects to take into consideration when selecting a hosting company for your online store, including the following:

  • Software security. WordPress requires the most recent software versions, such as PHP and MySQL. You should check to see that your host provides these. Without doing so, you risk a security breach and compatibility problems.
  • The scanning of malware. Even though virus scans can be implemented on a website, having them on your server is essential. Your host should provide scanning as a component of your plan and tell you if a hack is discovered.
  • It is a firewall. The data and files on your website are protected and locked down by firewalls, which hosts use. Your server is protected from malicious hackers by an invisible barrier that it offers.

10. Helps to maintain the open web

In conclusion, it is essential to remember that WordPress and WooCommerce are open. Since there is a sizable community of WordPress users and developers, a solution likely already exists for any problem you may encounter. Finding someone knowledgeable and enthusiastic about assisting is easy if this is different.

WordPress depends on volunteers to develop and maintain its functionality. The platform runs 43 percent of all websites; some hosting firms even spend cash and personnel hours supporting it. Select a business that takes the open web seriously and invests in it. 

Conclusion

Choosing a host for your online store powered by WooCommerce requires you to carefully study your requirements and the principles that you wish to uphold. Before deciding on a package, it is essential to investigate the company’s primary emphasis, technology stack, support response, and combined value. Find a provider that provides a variety of plans so that you can upgrade to a higher one if you need to. 

We hope you understand this blog and make the right choice with a WooCommerce store provider. Remember that after buying a WooCommerce store plan, optimizing your WooCommerce store is the next step. With this, your storefront will be ready to take on the business you want to boost profitability for your brand.Â