Web hosting comparison: 8 hosts tested for speed, uptime and load handling

Web hosting comparisons often reduce a complicated decision to one winner. Hosting doesn’t work that way. A host can be quick in a single-location speed test, inconsistent over a year, excellent under load or inexpensive only until renewal.

We compared Hostinger, HostGator, Bluehost, WordPress, Tech Help Canada, SiteGround, GreenGeeks and DreamHost across the measurements available for each provider. The evidence includes server response time, uptime, load testing, WordPress benchmark scores, a live-site PageSpeed test and current pricing.

The coverage isn’t identical for all eight hosts. Six providers have a full year of continuous monitoring, DreamHost has one quarter, and Tech Help Canada has a separate PageSpeed test on a live customer site. We keep those differences visible so you can compare the results without mistaking unlike tests for equivalents.

The quick verdict

WordPress produced the strongest combined response-time, uptime and load-test results: 100% recorded uptime, the fastest global server response and the quickest load-test response. Hostinger combined the second-highest recorded uptime with a low promotional price, although that price requires a 48-month term. GreenGeeks was the standout traditional shared host under load. DreamHost offered the largest entry-plan site allowance.

Tech Help Canada earned excellent PageSpeed scores on the site we tested, with 99 on desktop and 98 on mobile. Because that test measures a live page rather than a standardized server installation, it belongs in a separate evidence column rather than a direct ranking against the monitoring results.

Use the table above to build a shortlist, then read the provider sections before choosing. A fast benchmark can’t tell you whether you like the control panel, whether support solves your specific problem or whether the plan includes the resources your site needs.

How we tested and compared the web hosts

The continuous monitoring data comes from an independent third-party server monitoring service. Its test sites used a standardized WordPress setup, and its response-time monitor ran once per minute. The load test increased traffic to 100 concurrent virtual users over one minute.

The main monitoring period ran from January 1 to December 31, 2025 for Hostinger, HostGator, Bluehost, WordPress, SiteGround and GreenGeeks. DreamHost entered the dataset later, so its results cover Q4 2025. That shorter period makes DreamHost useful to compare, but not as conclusive as a full year.

The third-party monitoring service doesn’t monitor Tech Help Canada. We tested epicghostwriting.com, a live site hosted on Tech Help Canada’s infrastructure, with Google PageSpeed Insights on July 16, 2026. The result captures the combined effect of the host, website build, theme, plugins, caching and page content. It doesn’t isolate the server.

We checked advertised plan prices on July 17, 2026. Promotions, currencies, billing periods and renewal terms vary, so the pricing section records those conditions instead of presenting every monthly figure as interchangeable.

Time to First Byte

Time to First Byte, or TTFB, measures how long the server takes to begin returning a response after receiving a request. Lower is better. It is a server-response metric, not a complete page-load time.

The comparison includes an average TTFB from US monitoring locations and a global TTFB collected across multiple regions. The two figures answer different questions: one reflects the monitored US setup, while the other shows how response times changed across locations.

Uptime

Uptime is the share of monitored time when the test site responded successfully. Small percentage differences become easier to understand when translated into recorded downtime and outage count.

The results describe the monitored test sites during the stated period. They aren’t guarantees that every customer on every server had the same experience.

Load testing

The load test increased traffic to 100 concurrent virtual users and tracked average response time and request errors. A 2% error rate means 2% of test requests failed. It doesn’t prove that exactly two of every 100 visitors would see an error because a real visit can generate many requests.

WPBench

WPBench measures WordPress operations such as database and processing performance. It adds useful context, but it shouldn’t be treated as a complete score for hosting quality. A high score doesn’t erase poor uptime, and a lower score doesn’t automatically make a plan unsuitable for a simple site.

PageSpeed Insights

PageSpeed Insights reports both field and lab information when enough data is available. Our Tech Help Canada result includes Lighthouse lab metrics: First Contentful Paint, Largest Contentful Paint, Total Blocking Time and Cumulative Layout Shift. LCP and CLS are Core Web Vitals; TBT is a lab proxy that can help diagnose responsiveness. A Lighthouse score is page-specific and can change as the page, network and test environment change.

If you’re still deciding which measurements matter for your site, our guide to choosing a hosting service explains the broader decision process.

Speed benchmarks: which host responded fastest?

WordPress had the lowest average TTFB at 357 ms. GreenGeeks followed at 422 ms, then Hostinger at 483 ms and DreamHost at 495 ms. Bluehost, HostGator and SiteGround recorded averages of 532 ms, 580 ms and 632 ms.

The global results changed the order. WordPress led at 69 ms, followed by Bluehost at 224 ms. DreamHost and GreenGeeks were nearly tied at 385 ms and 386 ms. Hostinger reached 404 ms, HostGator 427 ms and SiteGround 1,200 ms.

That gap makes location worth investigating if you serve an international audience. It doesn’t prove that every WordPress site will be faster than every SiteGround site. Server location, caching, a content delivery network and the page itself all affect what a visitor experiences.

Tech Help Canada’s PageSpeed result

The live Tech Help Canada-hosted site scored 99 for performance on desktop and 98 on mobile. First Contentful Paint was 0.5 seconds, Largest Contentful Paint was 0.7 seconds, Total Blocking Time was 0 ms and Cumulative Layout Shift was 0.

Those are excellent page-level results. They show that the tested site and hosting setup can deliver a fast experience. They don’t give us a directly comparable 365-day TTFB result for Tech Help Canada, so we haven’t inserted the PageSpeed score into the TTFB ranking.

Site speed also affects usability and contributes to overall page experience. Google uses Core Web Vitals within its ranking systems, but a strong score doesn’t guarantee higher rankings and relevance still carries more weight.

Web host reliability: uptime and outages

An uptime percentage can hide the difference between one long incident and dozens of short disruptions. For context, 99.9% uptime across a 365-day year permits about 8 hours and 46 minutes of downtime.

Provider	Monitoring period	Recorded uptime	Recorded downtime	Separate outages
WordPress	365 days	100%	0 minutes	0
Hostinger	365 days	99.9937%	33 minutes	11
Bluehost	365 days	99.9744%	2h 14m	14
GreenGeeks	365 days	99.9737%	2h 18m	21
SiteGround	365 days	99.9629%	3h 13m	44
HostGator	365 days	99.9104%	7h 50m	19
DreamHost	Q4 2025	99.96%	Not reported	Not reported
Tech Help Canada	Not monitored in this dataset	Not available	Not available	Not available

WordPress’s monitor recorded no downtime during the full year. Hostinger followed with 33 minutes across 11 incidents. Dividing those totals gives an average of three minutes per incident, although individual incidents may have been shorter or longer.

SiteGround’s 44 recorded outages were the highest count among the full-year results. That averages one interruption about every 8.3 days. HostGator had fewer incidents but the most total downtime at 7 hours and 50 minutes.

DreamHost’s 99.96% result covers only one quarter, and its downtime and outage totals weren’t included in the source dataset. Treat it as an early signal, not a full-year reliability record.

For a revenue-critical site, compare the host’s published service-level agreement with independent monitoring and your own uptime checks. A guarantee may provide account credit after an outage, but it doesn’t recover missed sales or leads.

Load-test results: what happened at 100 concurrent users?

Traffic tests reveal a different side of hosting performance. A server that responds quickly for one visitor may slow down or reject requests when demand rises.

WordPress recorded a 16 ms average response time with no request errors, the strongest completed result. GreenGeeks followed at 26 ms with no errors. DreamHost, SiteGround and Hostinger also completed the test without recorded request errors, at 147 ms, 170 ms and 245 ms respectively.

HostGator averaged 213 ms with a 2% request-error rate. That result is a warning for traffic-sensitive sites, but one short synthetic test can’t predict the exact failure rate during a real campaign.

Bluehost’s security layer blocked the test and produced a 79% error rate. That makes the run inconclusive as a capacity test. It doesn’t show that Bluehost’s server failed under legitimate traffic, and it doesn’t show how the system would treat a real surge. Anyone considering Bluehost for a launch or flash sale should ask for capacity guidance and run an approved test on the actual plan.

Load testing matters most when spikes are central to your business, such as ticket sales, product drops, memberships and ecommerce promotions. It should be repeated against your own site because themes, plugins, caching and database activity can change the outcome.

What you get from each hosting provider

The performance data below follows the monitoring and PageSpeed coverage already described. Pricing and plan details were checked on July 17, 2026 and can change. Prices from providers other than Tech Help Canada are in US dollars.

Hostinger

Hostinger combined 99.9937% recorded uptime with a 483 ms average TTFB. Its 245 ms load-test response was the slowest completed result, but the test recorded no request errors. The global TTFB of 404 ms placed it behind WordPress, Bluehost, DreamHost and GreenGeeks.

The current Premium promotion starts at US$2.99 per month on a 48-month prepaid term and renews at US$10.99 per month for a one-year term. The plan currently lists three websites, 20 GB of SSD storage, unlimited bandwidth, a domain for the first year, SSL and a CDN.

Best fit

A small site that values strong recorded uptime and can justify a long initial commitment. The renewal rate and 48-month prepayment deserve as much attention as the promotional price.

HostGator

HostGator recorded the lowest full-year uptime in this group at 99.9104%, or 7 hours and 50 minutes of downtime. Its average TTFB was 580 ms, and the load test returned a 213 ms response with a 2% request-error rate. The 9.6 WPBench score was strong, but it doesn’t cancel the availability results.

The Hatchling plan currently starts at US$2.75 per month and covers one website with unmetered bandwidth, a domain for the first year and SSL. HostGator’s published regular rate varies by renewal term: US$13.19 per month for one year or US$10.99 per month for three years. The current plan page promises unmetered bandwidth, not unlimited storage.

Best fit

A simple site whose owner values an established shared-hosting product and can tolerate weaker monitored uptime. Traffic-dependent businesses should investigate the request errors before committing.

Bluehost

Bluehost recorded 99.9744% uptime, 2 hours and 14 minutes of downtime and a 532 ms average TTFB. Its 224 ms global TTFB was second only to WordPress. The security layer blocked the load test, so this dataset can’t support a claim about Bluehost’s capacity under a surge.

Bluehost remains listed by WordPress.org as a recommended host. Its current Starter promotion is US$3.99 per month on a 36-month term, with a US$9.99 renewal rate for another 36-month term. The plan lists 10 websites, 10 GB of NVMe storage, a domain for the first year, SSL, a CDN and managed WordPress updates.

Best fit

A WordPress beginner who values the WordPress.org recommendation and strong global TTFB. If campaign traffic matters, get plan-specific capacity information because this load test was inconclusive.

WordPress

WordPress led the average TTFB, global TTFB, uptime and load-test columns: 357 ms average TTFB, 69 ms global TTFB, 100% recorded uptime and a 16 ms load-test response with no request errors. Those results make it the strongest all-round performer in this dataset.

WordPress is a managed platform with hosting, security, updates and a global CDN included. Current paid plans allow plugin installation, including the Personal plan. Plugin access is no longer limited to higher-tier plans.

The Personal plan is currently US$4 per month when billed annually or US$9 when billed monthly. The lower annual figure is a billing-cadence discount, not an introductory price that automatically becomes US$9 at renewal.

Best fit

Someone who wants managed WordPress and prefers less server administration. Check storage, theme, development and commerce requirements against the plan because management convenience can come with platform constraints. Our full WordPress review examines the platform beyond hosting performance.

Tech Help Canada

The Tech Help Canada-hosted site scored 99 on desktop and 98 on mobile in PageSpeed Insights, with a 0.7-second LCP, 0 ms TBT and no recorded layout shift in the lab run. The result is strong, but it isn’t the same test as the continuous monitoring used for the other providers.

The current Basic WordPress hosting plan is C$13.99 per month. It includes one site, 10 GB of NVMe storage, unmetered bandwidth, SSL, a web application firewall, daily malware scans and weekly backups. Tech Help Canada states that this is standard pricing rather than a temporary introductory rate.

Best fit

A Canadian small business that wants WordPress hosting and support through a Canadian-owned provider, with pricing shown in Canadian dollars. Buyers who need comparative uptime or load data should request it because this dataset doesn’t contain those measurements.

SiteGround

SiteGround averaged 632 ms TTFB and 1,200 ms globally, the slowest results in both response-time columns. It recorded 99.9629% uptime with 3 hours and 13 minutes of downtime across 44 outages. Under load, it returned 170 ms with no request errors and scored 8.4 in WPBench.

The StartUp plan currently costs US$2.99 per month for the first prepaid year and renews at US$17.99 per month. It lists one website, 10 GB of storage, unmetered traffic, SSL, CDN, backups, caching, WP-CLI and SSH. Staging and additional developer features depend on the plan, so don’t assume the entry tier contains every tool SiteGround advertises.

Best fit

Someone who values SiteGround’s management and developer tools enough to accept the renewal price. The international TTFB and frequency of recorded outages should be weighed against those features.

GreenGeeks

GreenGeeks delivered the strongest traditional shared-host load result at 26 ms with no request errors. It also recorded a 422 ms average TTFB, 386 ms global TTFB and 99.9737% uptime, with 2 hours and 18 minutes of downtime.

Its WPBench score was 5.0. That result suggests testing a resource-heavy WordPress build before a long commitment, but it doesn’t prove that ordinary sites will perform poorly.

The Lite plan is currently US$2.95 per month for the first prepaid year and renews at US$13.95. It includes one website, 25 GB of space, unmetered traffic, LiteSpeed, SSL, a domain for the first year and a CDN. GreenGeeks says it matches three times its energy use through renewable energy credits.

Best fit

A small site that expects bursts of traffic or gives weight to the provider’s renewable-energy programme. Test plugin-heavy sites during the refund period because the load and WPBench results point in different directions.

DreamHost

DreamHost recorded a 495 ms average TTFB, 385 ms global TTFB and a 147 ms load-test response with no request errors. Its WPBench score was 6.1. The uptime figure was 99.96%, but the monitoring covers Q4 2025 rather than the full year.

The Web Hosting Launch plan currently costs US$2.89 per month for the first year and renews at US$10.99. It includes 25 websites, 25 GB of NVMe storage, unmetered bandwidth, daily backups, SSL and a domain for the first year.

Best fit

Someone managing several small websites who can use the 25-site allowance. The performance results are promising, but the shorter monitoring period carries less weight than the full-year records.

Web hosting pricing: compare the term, currency and renewal

The monthly number in a hosting ad is often the total prepaid contract divided by its number of months. Two offers that both say “US$2.99 per month” can require very different upfront payments and renew at different rates.

SiteGround has the largest same-term increase shown here, from US$2.99 to US$17.99 per month on annual billing. GreenGeeks, DreamHost, Hostinger, HostGator and Bluehost also move from promotional to standard rates, although the length of the initial and renewal terms differs.

WordPress’s US$4 annual rate and US$9 monthly rate are two billing options, not an intro-versus-renewal pair. Tech Help Canada’s C$13.99 price uses a different currency and has no introductory markup, so it shouldn’t be treated as equivalent to the nominal US-dollar figures or percentage increases.

Check the live checkout before buying. Confirm the currency, tax, total due today, renewal date, renewal term, domain-renewal cost and any preselected add-ons. Hosting prices change too often for an old screenshot or a rounded monthly number to settle the decision.

Which web host fits your situation?

There isn’t one winner for every site. Start with the job your host needs to do, then use the relevant evidence.

You want the strongest all-round benchmark result

WordPress led the measured TTFB, global TTFB, uptime and load-test categories. It is the clearest choice from this dataset when managed WordPress fits your technical and commercial requirements.

You want a low promotional price with strong recorded uptime

Hostinger paired a current US$2.99 promotional price with 99.9937% recorded uptime. The trade-off is a 48-month upfront term and a US$10.99 renewal rate. GreenGeeks and DreamHost cost slightly less or about the same on a one-year commitment, so compare cash due today as well as the displayed monthly rate.

You expect traffic spikes

WordPress and GreenGeeks recorded the two quickest completed load tests, at 16 ms and 26 ms with no request errors. Treat those results as shortlist evidence, then test your actual site because ecommerce, membership and plugin workloads can behave differently.

You manage several websites

DreamHost’s entry plan currently allows 25 websites. That is the largest documented allowance among the entry plans compared here. Resource limits still apply across the account, so 25 busy stores are a different proposition from 25 small brochure sites.

You want a Canadian-owned provider

Tech Help Canada’s WordPress hosting is priced in Canadian dollars and includes direct support through a Canadian-owned company. The tested live site performed very well in PageSpeed Insights. The lack of standardized uptime and load data prevents a direct performance ranking against the other seven.

You serve an international audience

WordPress had the best global TTFB at 69 ms, followed by Bluehost at 224 ms. DreamHost and GreenGeeks were next at 385 ms and 386 ms. Confirm available data-centre regions and CDN behaviour for your own audience before choosing.

Sustainability is part of the decision

GreenGeeks says it purchases renewable energy credits equal to three times the energy used by its infrastructure and operations. That is a clearer, measurable commitment than a generic “green hosting” label. It doesn’t replace performance due diligence, but GreenGeeks also produced a strong load-test result.

If you’re launching a content site, our guide on how to start a blog and attract readers can help with the steps after hosting.

What the benchmark can’t decide for you

Performance measurements are valuable because they replace vague speed claims with observed results. They still leave several buying questions unanswered.

Support quality

This comparison didn’t run controlled support tests. Before paying for a long term, contact each finalist with the same technical question. Record how quickly the team responds, whether the answer addresses the issue and which support channels your plan includes.

Backups and recovery

“Backups included” doesn’t tell you the schedule, retention period or restore process. Ask how many restore points are kept, whether restores cost extra and whether you can download a full independent copy.

Resource limits

Unmetered bandwidth doesn’t mean unlimited CPU, memory, processes or storage. Read the plan limits and acceptable-use policy, especially for ecommerce, video, downloads, large media libraries and high-traffic sites.

Migration and exit

Confirm what a free migration includes, how many sites qualify and whether email or DNS is covered. You should also be able to export your files, database and domain without relying on the old host after cancellation.

Your actual workload

A standardized WordPress installation makes hosts easier to compare, but your site may use a page builder, ecommerce catalogue, membership plugin or heavy database queries. Use the money-back period to measure your own pages, admin area and critical transactions.

Hosting traps to catch before checkout

A low monthly figure tied to a long prepayment

Multiply the displayed monthly rate by the full term. Hostinger’s promotional price, for example, requires 48 months upfront. A smaller monthly number isn’t automatically the lower-risk choice.

A renewal rate shown for a different term

Renewal pricing often changes with the contract length. Compare the renewal rate for the term you would realistically select, not the cheapest rate available under another multi-year commitment.

“Unlimited” without the resource policy

Hosts can offer unmetered traffic while limiting CPU, memory, files, databases or concurrent processes. Find the documented limits that match the plan rather than relying on one headline word.

Treating one benchmark as a guarantee

Use benchmarks to narrow the field. Server populations, account limits and site configurations vary, and provider performance can change. Keep independent uptime monitoring after launch.

Buying before testing the exit

Download a backup, confirm domain ownership and document DNS access before you need to move. Portability is easiest to establish while everything is working.

A practical way to choose

Shortlist two or three providers based on your highest-risk requirement: uptime, load handling, international response, management convenience, local support or multi-site capacity. Then compare the live checkout totals and plan limits. Contact support with the same question, review the backup and migration terms, and test your real site during the refund period.

The benchmark gives you a better starting point than a list built from feature claims. The final proof is how the chosen plan performs with your website, your audience and your support needs.

Frequently asked questions

Which web host was the most reliable in the monitoring?

WordPress recorded 100% uptime with no detected downtime during the 365-day monitoring period. Hostinger was next at 99.9937%, with 33 minutes of recorded downtime across 11 outages. These results describe the monitored test sites, not every customer account.

Which web host was fastest?

WordPress had the lowest average TTFB at 357 ms, the lowest global TTFB at 69 ms and the quickest completed load-test response at 16 ms. Tech Help Canada scored 99 on desktop and 98 on mobile in a separate PageSpeed test, but that live-page result is not directly comparable to the standardized server monitoring.

Is cheap web hosting enough for a small business?

It can be, especially for a small brochure site or a new blog. Check the renewal price, backups, security, support and resource limits before choosing. A store, membership site or campaign-driven site should also be tested under realistic traffic because the lowest promotional price doesn’t guarantee the best fit.

How much does web hosting cost per month?

In this comparison, current US-dollar promotions start between US$2.75 and US$3.99 per month, usually with a prepaid term. WordPress Personal is US$4 per month when billed annually. Tech Help Canada Basic is C$13.99 per month with no introductory markup advertised. Taxes, add-ons, currencies and renewal terms can change the total.

Which host is a good fit for a blog?

WordPress suits bloggers who want hosting, updates and security managed together. Hostinger offers a lower promotional price and more control, but it requires a longer initial term. Your choice depends on how much server management you want and which plugins, storage and development tools you need. You can also compare Tech Help Canada’s recommended blogging platforms before committing.

Can I host multiple websites on one plan?

Yes, if the plan allows it. DreamHost’s current Launch plan includes 25 websites, while several entry plans in this comparison limit the account to one or a few sites. Site count is only one limit, so also check storage, CPU, memory, databases and expected visits.

Does server location affect website speed?

Yes. Distance can add latency, although a content delivery network and caching can reduce it. The global TTFB results varied widely, from 69 ms for WordPress to 1,200 ms for SiteGround, which is why international sites should check available data-centre regions and test from their audience’s locations.

Do I need managed WordPress hosting?

Managed WordPress hosting is useful when you want the provider to handle more of the updates, security and platform maintenance. Self-managed or general web hosting gives you more control but may require more technical work. Compare the exact plan features because providers use the word “managed” differently.

Were all eight hosts tested in exactly the same way?

No. Six hosts have 365 days of standardized monitoring, DreamHost has Q4 2025 data, and Tech Help Canada has a separate PageSpeed test on a live hosted site. The article keeps those coverage differences visible so a PageSpeed score or shorter sample isn’t mistaken for a full-year server-monitoring result.

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