Since 2002, HostGator has been providing hosting services, and it currently hosts a substantial share of websites across the internet.
It’s a solid option overall, offering nearly everything you need in an affordable shared hosting package. If you’re a beginner or a small business looking to start a website or blog, this could be a great fit.
I’ll walk through everything you need to know.
How to Start a WordPress Blog on HostGator
HostGator offers several services, including shared hosting and website builder tools.
HostGator Features
1. Performance
HostGator delivers solid uptime and an overall stable hosting experience. It’s reasonably fast, which helps retain visitors, and reliability tends to hold up well across most shared hosting use cases.
2. Support
As a HostGator customer, you get access to 24/7/365 support through email, phone, and live chat. Based on user experiences, support tends to be responsive and knowledgeable, offering solutions to specific problems rather than just pointing you toward generic resources.
Worth knowing: HostGator outsources parts of its customer service, so there’s some chance of connecting with an agent who’s less invested or knowledgeable than average.
That said, you also have access to an extensive knowledge base, video tutorials, and articles if you’d rather troubleshoot things yourself.
3. Pricing
This is the area that’s shifted the most since this post was originally written, particularly around renewal pricing, so it’s worth walking through carefully.
HostGator’s current shared hosting plans are:
- Hatchling Plan: Starting around $2.75/mo (single website)
- Baby Plan: Starting around $3.50/mo (unlimited websites)
- Business Plan: Starting around $5.25/mo (adds extra features)
These introductory prices apply only to your first purchase and specifically require choosing the 36-month billing term.
It’s worth being aware that renewal pricing has increased notably over the past few years. Based on current figures, you’re now looking at roughly $10 to $13 per month for Hatchling upon renewal, $16 to $17 per month for Baby, and around $22 per month for Business, a considerably steeper jump than the renewal rates from a few years ago.
This isn’t unique to HostGator, it’s common practice across shared hosting providers, but it’s important to factor into your decision, since the eye-catching intro price only lasts through your initial term.
Given this, it’s worth checking HostGator’s current pricing page directly before purchasing, since these figures shift periodically with promotions and pricing updates.
Shared hosting includes both unmetered bandwidth and storage. This doesn’t mean unlimited, it means HostGator doesn’t actively track your usage under normal conditions.
Typical website files won’t raise any flags, but uploading unusually large volumes of files can prompt HostGator to reach out or, in more extreme cases, suspend your account.
All plans include a free domain name, but only when you purchase hosting for a full year or longer. Shared hosting plans also typically bundle in the Gator website builder for free.
Weebly’s site builder has historically been bundled in as well, though it’s worth knowing Square (which owns Weebly) has been steadily directing new sign-ups toward its own Square Online platform in recent years, so it’s worth confirming what’s currently included at checkout rather than assuming Weebly specifically remains bundled going forward.
If you’re migrating from another host, HostGator offers a free website transfer, which can save you real time and hassle.
4. Security
Every hosting package includes a free SSL certificate, which protects your site and encrypts communication between your server and visitors.
You also get access to additional security tools, including SiteLock monitoring, which runs daily scans looking for potential hacks or breaches and alerts you immediately if something’s detected.
5. Money-Back Guarantee
HostGator offers a 45-day money-back guarantee, notably longer than the 30-day industry standard. No questions asked, giving you real room to try the service and back out if it’s not working for you, even after using it for over a month.
One exception: if you pay via check, money order, or wire transfer, you’re not eligible for this refund.
How to Purchase HostGator Hosting
- Go to the HostGator website.
- Click “Get Started.”
- If you’re building a single website or blog, choose the Hatchling Plan and click “Buy Now.”
From there, you’ll move through several sections to complete your account setup:
Domain section: Choose your domain name.
Package section: Confirm your plan type and billing cycle. Longer billing cycles get you better introductory pricing, but remember to weigh that against the renewal rates discussed above.
If you’re committed long term, the 36-month option locks in the lowest intro rate. If you’re still testing the waters, a 12-month term still qualifies for the free domain offer while giving you more flexibility to reassess before your first renewal.
Account and billing section: Set up your account and choose your payment method, either PayPal or credit card.
Add-ons section: You’ll see optional extra services here. If you’re planning to install WordPress, it’s generally worth unchecking most of these, since free WordPress plugins can handle the same functionality without the added cost.
Review section: Confirm your order details, check the box agreeing to HostGator’s Terms of Service, and click “Checkout Now.” Your account setup typically takes a few minutes to complete, after which you’ll be redirected to your HostGator dashboard.
Once you see the “Order Completed!” message, click “View Your Dashboard.”
How to Install WordPress on HostGator
- From your Control Panel, click “Install WordPress.”
- Click “Install Now.”
- Choose the “https://” option for security. Your SSL certificate may take a little time to fully link, so don’t worry if you briefly see a “trusted SSL certificate was not found” message.
- Select the latest available WordPress version.
- Under site settings, customize your site name, description, admin username and password, email address, and preferred language. For plugins, it’s worth enabling a login-attempt limiting plugin (commonly bundled as an option here), which alerts you to potential unauthorized login attempts on your site.
- Leave the advanced settings on default, this just covers your database configuration.
- Choose a theme from the available options, then confirm your selection and accept the image copyright notice if it appears.
- Optionally, have your login credentials emailed to you, then click “Install.”
You’ll get a confirmation message along with links to access both your live WordPress site and your dashboard for editing.
Conclusion
That covers how to start a WordPress blog on HostGator, including some meaningful updates around what renewal pricing actually looks like now compared to a few years ago.
I hope you found this useful and successfully got your WordPress site up and running. Feel free to leave any questions or suggestions in the comments below, I’d be glad to hear from you.
