SAME CATEGORY. YOUR PRIORITIES.
Hostinger vs SiteGround
Compare evidence, costs and trade-offs. Adjust the criteria to reflect your own workflow.
MAKE THE SCORE YOURS
What matters most?
Core capabilities carry 32 points; workflow depth carries 68. AI contributes the category-specific weight shown below within those totals. Change group priorities and see every contribution update.
How the score is calculated →Documented fit across available plans · unknowns shown as ranges · no customer ratings
| Features & decision context | HostingerHostinger53–97/100 documented fit Core capabilities25.6–32 / 32 pts8/10 checks with established status Workflow depth27–65 / 68 pts6/18 checks with established status | SiteGroundSiteGround82–98/100 documented fit Core capabilities32 / 32 pts10/10 checks with established status Workflow depth49.5–65.6 / 68 pts12/18 checks with established status |
|---|---|---|
| How AI changes fitSame priorities, with and without AI | 53–97 with AI50–97 without AIFeature-fit points; not measured ROI | 82–98 with AI83–97 without AIFeature-fit points; not measured ROI |
| Supplier website | Visit Hostinger | Visit SiteGround Ad · affiliate linkWe may earn a commission if you buy through this link. |
| Good fit for | Small website portfolios that can commit to a long term and verify plan inclusions. | WordPress owners and agencies needing managed operations and a staging workflow. |
| Look more closely when | A transactional site needing a proven selective staging database merge. | A buyer treating introductory pricing as the permanent rate or needing root-server access. |
| Pricing snapshotDifferent billing units are not directly comparable | $10.99account / month Renewal rate shown on the reviewed 48-month offer; initial $2.49/month requires $119.52 prepayment. Confirm the local offer and renewal term. Pricing source | $17.99account / month · billed annually Standard 12-month rate, not the discounted first term. UK published equivalent is £13.99/month before applicable tax. Pricing source |
| Website operations 20% base weight | ||
Core capabilityManaged WordPress setupInstall or manage a WordPress website from a hosting control panel.Ask for a demonstrationDemonstrate managed wordpress setup with our own account and explain limits, permissions and the required plan. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test. | Supported4 / 4 pts WordPress is managed through the hosting dashboard. Official documentation · Oct 20, 2026Source | Supported4 / 4 pts Managed WordPress installation is offered. Official documentation · Oct 20, 2026Source |
Core capabilityWebsite migrationUse a documented migration service or tool.Ask for a demonstrationDemonstrate website migration with our own account and explain limits, permissions and the required plan. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test. | Supported4 / 4 pts Migration is a documented agent workflow. Official documentation · Oct 20, 2026Source | Supported4 / 4 pts Migration tools/services are documented. Official documentation · Oct 20, 2026Source |
Depth checkManaged updatesConfigure managed core or plugin updates.Ask for a demonstrationDemonstrate managed updates with our own account and explain limits, permissions and the required plan. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test. | Supported6 / 6 pts Managed WordPress updates are offered. Official documentation · Oct 20, 2026Source | Supported6 / 6 pts Managed autoupdates are included. Official documentation · Oct 20, 2026Source |
Depth checkStaging and deploymentTest a copy and publish changes with documented overwrite boundaries.Ask for a demonstrationDemonstrate staging and deployment with our own account and explain limits, permissions and the required plan. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test. | Limited3 / 6 pts Staging is documented for Business+; confirm its mapping to the current offer. Publish replaces files and database. Official documentation · Oct 20, 2026Source | Supported6 / 6 pts GrowBig adds staging; GoGeek adds Git. Official documentation · Oct 20, 2026Source |
| Backups & security 16% base weight | ||
Core capabilityTLS certificatesProvision certificates for hosted sites.Ask for a demonstrationDemonstrate tls certificates with our own account and explain limits, permissions and the required plan. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test. | Supported3.2 / 3.2 pts SSL is included in the hosting feature list. Official documentation · Oct 20, 2026Source | Supported3.2 / 3.2 pts SSL is listed in hosting packages. Official documentation · Oct 20, 2026Source |
Core capabilityAutomatic backupsCreate regular backups without a manual export.Ask for a demonstrationDemonstrate automatic backups with our own account and explain limits, permissions and the required plan. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test. | Supported3.2 / 3.2 pts Premium has weekly backups; higher packages add daily. Official documentation · Oct 20, 2026Source | Supported3.2 / 3.2 pts Automatic backups are included. Official documentation · Oct 20, 2026Source |
Depth checkRestore workflowRestore site files and data from a chosen backup.Ask for a demonstrationDemonstrate restore workflow with our own account and explain limits, permissions and the required plan. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test. | Supported4.8 / 4.8 pts Backup restore is documented. Official documentation · Oct 20, 2026Source | Supported4.8 / 4.8 pts Backup restore tools are listed. Official documentation · Oct 20, 2026Source |
Depth checkOn-demand backupCreate a fresh recovery point before a risky change.Ask for a demonstrationDemonstrate on-demand backup with our own account and explain limits, permissions and the required plan. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test. | Supported4.8 / 4.8 pts On-demand backups are listed for Cloud Startup. Official documentation · Oct 20, 2026Source | Supported4.8 / 4.8 pts On-demand backups start with GrowBig. Official documentation · Oct 20, 2026Source |
| Performance & capacity 16% base weight | ||
Core capabilityCachingUse integrated caching for WordPress pages or objects.Ask for a demonstrationDemonstrate caching with our own account and explain limits, permissions and the required plan. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test. | Supported3.2 / 3.2 pts WordPress caching is part of managed hosting. Official documentation · Oct 20, 2026Source | Supported3.2 / 3.2 pts Multi-level caching is included. Official documentation · Oct 20, 2026Source |
Core capabilityCDNServe suitable assets through a content delivery network.Ask for a demonstrationDemonstrate cdn with our own account and explain limits, permissions and the required plan. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test. | Supported3.2 / 3.2 pts CDN is explicitly included in Unlimited/Cloud packages. Official documentation · Oct 20, 2026Source | Supported3.2 / 3.2 pts CDN is included. Official documentation · Oct 20, 2026Source |
Depth checkData-centre selectionSelect an appropriate region for the site's audience.Ask for a demonstrationDemonstrate data-centre selection with our own account and explain limits, permissions and the required plan. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test. | Not verified0–4.8 / 4.8 pts The exact selectable US/UK region for the current package needs confirmation. Not verified · Oct 20, 2026Source | Supported4.8 / 4.8 pts US and UK/EU data-centre choices are documented. Official documentation · Oct 20, 2026Source |
Depth checkDocumented resource limitsUnderstand storage and plan capacity before purchase.Ask for a demonstrationDemonstrate documented resource limits with our own account and explain limits, permissions and the required plan. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test. | Supported4.8 / 4.8 pts Website/storage allowances are listed. Official documentation · Oct 20, 2026Source | Supported4.8 / 4.8 pts Storage and website limits are specified. Official documentation · Oct 20, 2026Source |
| Development & collaboration 16% base weight | ||
Core capabilitySSH or command-line accessUse authenticated shell or WordPress CLI tools.Ask for a demonstrationDemonstrate ssh or command-line access with our own account and explain limits, permissions and the required plan. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test. | Not verified0–3.2 / 3.2 pts SSH entitlement for the selected current package needs confirmation. Not verified · Oct 20, 2026Source | Supported3.2 / 3.2 pts WP-CLI and SSH are included. Official documentation · Oct 20, 2026Source |
Core capabilityCollaborator accessGive another operator access without sharing the owner login.Ask for a demonstrationDemonstrate collaborator access with our own account and explain limits, permissions and the required plan. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test. | Not verified0–3.2 / 3.2 pts Collaborator permissions were not verified in this source set. Not verified · Oct 20, 2026Source | Supported3.2 / 3.2 pts Collaborator access is documented. Official documentation · Oct 20, 2026Source |
Depth checkGit deploymentDeploy a code revision through a documented Git workflow.Ask for a demonstrationDemonstrate git deployment with our own account and explain limits, permissions and the required plan. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test. | Not verified0–4.8 / 4.8 pts A managed Git deployment workflow was not verified. Not verified · Oct 20, 2026Source | Supported4.8 / 4.8 pts Git is listed for GoGeek. Official documentation · Oct 20, 2026Source |
Depth checkSite-scoped collaborator permissionsRestrict access to specific sites or operational capabilities.Ask for a demonstrationDemonstrate site-scoped collaborator permissions with our own account and explain limits, permissions and the required plan. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test. | Not verified0–4.8 / 4.8 pts Granular per-site delegation needs demonstration. Not verified · Oct 20, 2026Source | Limited2.4 / 4.8 pts Collaboration/white-label controls are documented; exact granular rights should be checked. Official documentation · Oct 20, 2026Source |
| AI capabilities 12% base weight | ||
Core capabilityAI WordPress contentDraft or edit site content through integrated AI.Ask for a demonstrationDemonstrate ai wordpress content with our own account and explain limits, permissions and the required plan. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test. | Supported2.4 / 2.4 pts WordPress AI content tools are offered. Official documentation · Oct 20, 2026Source | Supported2.4 / 2.4 pts The agent creates and edits WordPress content. Official documentation · Oct 20, 2026Source |
Core capabilityAI troubleshootingDiagnose a site issue using site context.Ask for a demonstrationDemonstrate ai troubleshooting with our own account and explain limits, permissions and the required plan. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test. | Supported2.4 / 2.4 pts AI troubleshooting uses website context. Official documentation · Oct 20, 2026Source | Supported2.4 / 2.4 pts Basic troubleshooting is documented. Official documentation · Oct 20, 2026Source |
Depth checkAI administrative actionsPerform documented hosting or WordPress changes via AI.Ask for a demonstrationDemonstrate ai administrative actions with our own account and explain limits, permissions and the required plan. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test. | Supported3.6 / 3.6 pts The agent can create backups and manage site settings. Official documentation · Oct 20, 2026Source | Supported3.6 / 3.6 pts The agent changes plugins, users and site settings. Official documentation · Oct 20, 2026Source |
Depth checkAI action approval or recoveryDocument approval gates or recoverable boundaries for AI changes.Ask for a demonstrationDemonstrate ai action approval or recovery with our own account and explain limits, permissions and the required plan. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test. | Not verified0–3.6 / 3.6 pts Per-action approval and AI rollback controls need confirmation. Not verified · Oct 20, 2026Source | Not verified0–3.6 / 3.6 pts Specific per-action approval and rollback semantics were not established. Not verified · Oct 20, 2026Source |
| Operational detail 20% base weight | ||
Depth checkSelect the website's PHP runtime versionDemonstrate: Select the website's PHP runtime version. State the plan, limits and behaviour on failure. Use a staging copy and preserve a recovery point.Ask for a demonstrationDemonstrate: Select the website's PHP runtime version. State the plan, limits and behaviour on failure. Use a staging copy and preserve a recovery point. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test. | Not verified0–2.5 / 2.5 pts This specific check has not been verified. Missing evidence does not mean the capability is absent. Ask for a demonstration in the proposed plan. Not verified · Oct 21, 2026Source | Supported2.5 / 2.5 pts PHP versions can be selected manually. Site Tools PHP Manager; available runtime versions depend on the current hosting platform. Global capability evidence; local plan availability and interface language are not inferred. Official documentation · Oct 21, 2026Source |
Depth checkSchedule server-side recurring jobsDemonstrate: Schedule server-side recurring jobs. State the plan, limits and behaviour on failure. Use a staging copy and preserve a recovery point.Ask for a demonstrationDemonstrate: Schedule server-side recurring jobs. State the plan, limits and behaviour on failure. Use a staging copy and preserve a recovery point. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test. | Not verified0–2.5 / 2.5 pts This specific check has not been verified. Missing evidence does not mean the capability is absent. Ask for a demonstration in the proposed plan. Not verified · Oct 21, 2026Source | Not verified0–2.5 / 2.5 pts This specific check has not been verified. Missing evidence does not mean the capability is absent. Ask for a demonstration in the proposed plan. Not verified · Oct 21, 2026Source |
Depth checkManage server redirects without changing application codeDemonstrate: Manage server redirects without changing application code. State the plan, limits and behaviour on failure. Use a staging copy and preserve a recovery point.Ask for a demonstrationDemonstrate: Manage server redirects without changing application code. State the plan, limits and behaviour on failure. Use a staging copy and preserve a recovery point. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test. | Not verified0–2.5 / 2.5 pts This specific check has not been verified. Missing evidence does not mean the capability is absent. Ask for a demonstration in the proposed plan. Not verified · Oct 21, 2026Source | Not verified0–2.5 / 2.5 pts This specific check has not been verified. Missing evidence does not mean the capability is absent. Ask for a demonstration in the proposed plan. Not verified · Oct 21, 2026Source |
Depth checkRestore selected files without replacing the whole siteDemonstrate: Restore selected files without replacing the whole site. State the plan, limits and behaviour on failure. Use a staging copy and preserve a recovery point.Ask for a demonstrationDemonstrate: Restore selected files without replacing the whole site. State the plan, limits and behaviour on failure. Use a staging copy and preserve a recovery point. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test. | Not verified0–2.5 / 2.5 pts This specific check has not been verified. Missing evidence does not mean the capability is absent. Ask for a demonstration in the proposed plan. Not verified · Oct 21, 2026Source | Supported2.5 / 2.5 pts Selected files can be restored individually. Site Tools backups; restore selected files to original or alternate folder. Global capability evidence; local plan availability and interface language are not inferred. Official documentation · Oct 21, 2026Source |
Depth checkExclude live database tables from staging deploymentDemonstrate: Exclude live database tables from staging deployment. State the plan, limits and behaviour on failure. Use a staging copy and preserve a recovery point.Ask for a demonstrationDemonstrate: Exclude live database tables from staging deployment. State the plan, limits and behaviour on failure. Use a staging copy and preserve a recovery point. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test. | Not verified0–2.5 / 2.5 pts This specific check has not been verified. Missing evidence does not mean the capability is absent. Ask for a demonstration in the proposed plan. Not verified · Oct 21, 2026Source | Supported2.5 / 2.5 pts Staging deployment can exclude database changes. WordPress staging on GrowBig and GoGeek; selective exclusions protect live data. Global capability evidence; local plan availability and interface language are not inferred. Official documentation · Oct 21, 2026Source |
Depth checkTransfer website ownership to another accountDemonstrate: Transfer website ownership to another account. State the plan, limits and behaviour on failure. Use a staging copy and preserve a recovery point.Ask for a demonstrationDemonstrate: Transfer website ownership to another account. State the plan, limits and behaviour on failure. Use a staging copy and preserve a recovery point. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test. | Not verified0–2.5 / 2.5 pts This specific check has not been verified. Missing evidence does not mean the capability is absent. Ask for a demonstration in the proposed plan. Not verified · Oct 21, 2026Source | Not verified0–2.5 / 2.5 pts This specific check has not been verified. Missing evidence does not mean the capability is absent. Ask for a demonstration in the proposed plan. Not verified · Oct 21, 2026Source |
Depth checkConfigure scoped firewall exceptions for a siteDemonstrate: Configure scoped firewall exceptions for a site. State the plan, limits and behaviour on failure. Use a staging copy and preserve a recovery point.Ask for a demonstrationDemonstrate: Configure scoped firewall exceptions for a site. State the plan, limits and behaviour on failure. Use a staging copy and preserve a recovery point. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test. | Not verified0–2.5 / 2.5 pts This specific check has not been verified. Missing evidence does not mean the capability is absent. Ask for a demonstration in the proposed plan. Not verified · Oct 21, 2026Source | Not verified0–2.5 / 2.5 pts This specific check has not been verified. Missing evidence does not mean the capability is absent. Ask for a demonstration in the proposed plan. Not verified · Oct 21, 2026Source |
Depth checkAlert before exhausting hosting resource quotasDemonstrate: Alert before exhausting hosting resource quotas. State the plan, limits and behaviour on failure. Use a staging copy and preserve a recovery point.Ask for a demonstrationDemonstrate: Alert before exhausting hosting resource quotas. State the plan, limits and behaviour on failure. Use a staging copy and preserve a recovery point. A scenario to run with the supplier; not a completed product test. | Not verified0–2.5 / 2.5 pts This specific check has not been verified. Missing evidence does not mean the capability is absent. Ask for a demonstration in the proposed plan. Not verified · Oct 21, 2026Source | Not verified0–2.5 / 2.5 pts This specific check has not been verified. Missing evidence does not mean the capability is absent. Ask for a demonstration in the proposed plan. Not verified · Oct 21, 2026Source |
| AI usage and limits | Hostinger's agent can perform hosting operations as well as answer support questions.
| The WordPress agent connects through a plugin and AI Studio to perform content and administrative tasks.
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| Additional costs to ask about | ||
| Integration shortlist |
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| Research date | Oct 20, 2026 Full source record → | Oct 20, 2026 Full source record → |