The best web hosting for photographers allows you to create an online presence for your photography business. But what kind of web hosting do you need? Are you looking for fast server speeds? Do you need plenty of storage space? Or do you need something simple just to get started?
We have the best hosting sites for photographers in this article. We have options for beginners looking to start a small portfolio. And we have more advanced web hosts for professionals looking for a home for their online business.
Wix Web Hosting is our choice as the best web hosting for photographers. It gives you unmetered bandwidth. There’s a wide selection of plans to choose from. And it’s beginner-friendly with excellent 24/7 client support.
Continue reading to find the best web hosting website for photographers.
The best web hosting for photographers gives you an accessible website that’s stable and easy to manage. It should be easy to set up and update your site as your needs change. Fast server speeds are always a welcome feature. And ample digital storage space is always desirable with a web host.
Web hosting sites are different from website builders. Rather than helping you construct your website, web hosts provide server space and make your website accessible on the internet. They give you storage so you can add more content and expand your site. And they give you the tools to monitor and manage your website.
We’ll look more closely at the differences between website hosts and website builders in the FAQ section at the end of this article. But here is our list of best website builders if that’s what you need.
Here’s a quick rundown of the best web hosting for photographers. We look at each web host in more detail in the following sections.
Now we’ll look at each web hosting site in more detail. We’ll look at all the benefits and features of each hosting service as well as who they’re for. By the end of this article, you’ll be able to make an educated purchase and find the perfect web hosting for your photography website.
| Brand |
Brand
Wix
|
| Unmetered Bandwidth |
Unmetered Bandwidth
Yes (premium plans only)
|
| Storage |
Storage
2 GB - unlimited
|
| Support |
Support
Non-live ticket-based service
|
| Shared Hosting / Dedicated Hosting |
Shared Hosting / Dedicated Hosting
Yes / No
|
| Other Key Features |
Other Key Features
Free domain for first year, eCommerce features, domain-connected email address, custom domain, built-in SEO tools
|
| Best For |
Best For
Photographers looking for a service for building and hosting a website
|
Wix is probably better known for their website-building services. But they also operate as web hosts for creatives and freelancers like photographers. There are no dedicated hosting plans, but there are some excellent shared plans on offer.
Wix website builder and Wix web hosting are two different services. That means you have to sign up for each one separately. But if you use Wix builder, there are some benefits to using Wix as a host too.
The interface and usability are very similar. And it makes it easier to update and make changes to your website.
Wix hosts your website on a global CDN (content delivery network), which allows people to access your site all over the world. The uptime is very high, usually running at 99.9%. That means you’ll experience very few blackouts and disconnections. You also get fantastic data backup protection, so you don’t need to worry about making mistakes.
The security rating is also excellent. Wix conducts 24/7 security monitoring, ensuring hackers don’t infiltrate the servers. This gives you peace of mind when giving your personal or financial information to the site.
The customer support is a bit disappointing. There’s no live phone or chat lines, only a ticket service. While the responses are useful and well-informed, you can wait a while for a response. Although wait times do decrease if you’re on the higher plans.
The standard shared plans range from the low-cost, basic Light plan to the Business Elite plan. There’s also an Enterprise option for bigger clients, where you can arrange custom agreements depending on your needs. But you do need a bit of business clout to opt for the Enterprise route.
The Light option gives you only the basic tools. You’re limited to only 2 GB of storage. The marketing suite is basic. And you get no eCommerce features, meaning you can’t sell anything. With that in mind, the Light option is really only worth it if you want a basic portfolio website.
But jumping up one plan to the Core option gives you more. You get 50 GB of storage and better marketing tools. You get basic site analytics and eCommerce features. This is the best plan if you’re a freelance photographer looking for an online business base.
As your business grows, you can upgrade to the Business plan. You get 100 GB of storage and improved analytic and marketing tools. And the eCommerce operation is even better.
There’s a big jump in price to the top Business Elite plan. But this is suited to medium-sized businesses rather than professional individuals. You get unlimited storage and advanced marketing, analytics, and eCommerce tools. But the price does put it out of reach for most freelancers.
| Brand |
Brand
Bluehost
|
| Unmetered Bandwidth |
Unmetered Bandwidth
Yes for Dedicated plans
|
| Storage |
Storage
10 GB - 2 TB
|
| Support |
Support
Chat (all plans), phone (higher plans only)
|
| Shared Hosting / Dedicated Hosting |
Shared Hosting / Dedicated Hosting
Yes / Yes
|
| Other Key Features |
Other Key Features
24/7 customer support, automatic WordPress installation, free domain included, shared and private hosting available
|
| Best For |
Best For
Any photographer looking for an affordable and reliable web host
|
Bluehost is one of the best web hosting for photographers right now. It has a wide selection of plans, including shared, private, and VPS hosting options. It’s easy to use and is one of the most cost-effective web hosts available.
WordPress is the most popular software for creating your own website. And if, like millions of others, you want to use WordPress as the base for your website, Bluehost is the perfect partner host.
You get an automatic WordPress setup when you sign up with Bluehost. And it gives you tools and advice on how to design and structure your WordPress website. You’re given templates and Wonder Suite software to help you create a unique, eye-catching website.
One of Bluehost’s top selling points is how easy it is to use. Whether you’re building your website from scratch or managing your website, everything is straightforward. The interface is clear, uncluttered, and intuitive. And you don’t get bogged down with unnecessary features and functions.
The overall hosting performance is excellent no matter what plan you choose. Your site will suffer very few blackouts, so your site is always accessible to others. The uptime is always close to 99%, which is really reliable. We’re talking just a few minutes of downtime over months of service.
The shared hosting options are excellent for anyone from beginners to seasoned professionals. The cheapest option is the Basic plan. And this gives you one website with a free domain for the first year. You get 10 GB of SSD storage. And you get free CDN access for better performance globally.
Choice Plus is the next plan, allowing you to create three websites under one account. But the Online Store plan might be the best option for photographers. It has everything the Choice Plus plan has and also allows you to sell products online.
The Pro plan is the next step up. It’s the most expensive, but you get good bang for your buck. It hosts five websites under one account. You get 100 GB of SSD storage and extras like domain privacy support and malware scanning.
Bluehost also offers dedicated hosting plans. That means you won’t be sharing servers with other users. You have your own dedicated server, giving you better performance. There’s no competition, no data sharing, and unmetered bandwidth. And the storage limits increase into the TBs.
Of course, the dedicated hosting plans are considerably more expensive. That’s why the dedicated plans are only worth the investment if you’re starting a web empire. The shared plans will be enough for most photographers.
| Brand |
Brand
SiteGround
|
| Unmetered Bandwidth |
Unmetered Bandwidth
No
|
| Storage |
Storage
10 - 40 GB
|
| Support |
Support
24/7 phone and chat
|
| Shared Hosting / Dedicated Hosting |
Shared Hosting / Dedicated Hosting
Yes / No
|
| Other Key Features |
Other Key Features
Free CDN, free email, free WordPress installation
|
| Best For |
Best For
Small-to-medium sized photography businesses
|
SiteGround is an excellent choice if you’re operating a small-to-medium-sized business. This web host doesn’t offer the potential to grow like Bluehost or Wix. But if you want a small-scale business, then SiteGround is a reliable and affordable web host.
It’s one of the best WordPress hosting services, which makes life easy if you’re familiar with WordPress. If you’re new to WordPress, SiteGround will help you get set up. It gives you free WordPress installation. And you have tools for managing various WordPress sites.
WordPress does have a reputation for being slow. But SiteGround improves loading times, giving visitors a better experience on your sites. This is especially true on the higher plans, as you have access to the speed optimizer.
The platform is built on the foundations of premium Google Cloud. That means you get excellent site speeds and reliability. And it’s close to faultless when it comes to security, too.
You don’t need any tech experience to set up your hosting service. It was designed with beginners in mind, but it isn’t overly simplistic either. You’ll have your server set up in no time. And you’ll be able to manage your account without a degree in computer science.
SiteGround has three subscription plans, and they are all reasonably priced. That’s another reason why SiteGround is a good option for beginners or photographers in the early stages of developing their business.
StartUp, their most basic plan, allows you to host one website and gives you 10 GB of storage. Those small numbers create limitations.
But even so, the StartUp plan still has unmetered traffic, free CDN, and a free domain-linked email. It gives you enhanced security and eCommerce features. That means you can sell your photos even on the cheapest plan.
If you upgrade to the GrowBig plan, you can host unlimited websites. And your storage allows increases to 20 GB of web space. This plan also allows for 100,000 visits to your site each month. Plus, you get on-demand backup copies in case you lose anything. Your sites also perform faster on average.
The top GoGeek plan has everything the other plans have and more. The price increase from the GrowBig plan isn’t drastic. And you get the most advanced resources for marketing and eCommerce. You also get priority support from their customer service network.
The fact there’s nothing beyond that does limit SiteGround. There’s no plan for fast-expanding businesses with many large websites. But it is a great choice for new entrepreneurs finding their feet in the online marketplace.
| Brand |
Brand
GoDaddy
|
| Unmetered Bandwidth |
Unmetered Bandwidth
Yes
|
| Storage |
Storage
25 GB - 1 TB
|
| Support |
Support
24/7 phone
|
| Shared Hosting / Dedicated Hosting |
Shared Hosting / Dedicated Hosting
Yes / Yes
|
| Other Key Features |
Other Key Features
Domain-linked email, free SSL certificate, automated backups
|
| Best For |
Best For
Professionals wanting to grow their online business
|
GoDaddy is a web host that prides itself on speed and performance. But they also offer a wide variety of subscription plans, including shared and dedicated hosting options. The basic plans are accessible and affordable. But the higher plans give you plenty of room to grow and develop your online business.
It’s another WordPress-based web host. The WordPress setup and installation are automatic when you sign up. There’s no technical procedure to get in your way. The main control panel is also easy to use, allowing you to install new apps, manage security settings, and back up data.
All subscribers have 24/7 network security, giving you peace of mind when you sign up. And it’s a manned security operation. They don’t rely on machines to spot risks. Trained security personnel monitor the security info at all times.
GoDaddy is one of the most reliable web hosting services. Thanks to their optimized server hardware, you get faster server response times. They boast of 40% improvements in server speed.
They also have an uptime guarantee. If your sites drop below 99.9% uptimes, you could be entitled to a discount or refund. That means viewers will always be able to access your websites.
For shared server hosting, GoDaddy offers four subscription plans. They range from the basic Economy plan to the Web Hosting Maximum plan.
Their Economy plan is a great way to get started if you’re on a tight budget. As you might expect, it is limited. You can only have one website with a total of 25 GB of storage on this plan. And you have 10 databases at your disposal.
The numbers are not big, but you also get a free domain and two free domain-linked Microsoft email addresses. It is limited, but it still gives you the perfect platform to start your online photography business.
Jump up to the Deluxe plan, and you get 10 websites, 25 databases, and 50 GB of storage. That’s considerably more for not much more money. You also get one more email address thrown in. Even if you’re a beginner, this is the plan to go for if you can stretch your budget.
The Ultimate package gives you another increase in features. But the Maximum plan is their top plan for shared hosting. Unlike the previous plans, the Ultimate and Maximum options have eCommerce features.
The Maximum plan gives you a 50-website limit. You have 100 databases at your disposal, and it gives you 100 GB of storage. You can sell downloads, prints, and other merch using the eCommerce features. And you get even better hosting performance, increasing user experience for visitors.
GoDaddy also offers dedicated server hosting. Due to the much higher prices, these are only viable options if you already have a thriving business. The specs, performance, and features are considerably higher. But most photographers won’t have the budget for a dedicated server.
| Brand |
Brand
HostGator
|
| Unmetered Bandwidth |
Unmetered Bandwidth
Yes, all plans
|
| Storage |
Storage
10 GB - 1 TB
|
| Support |
Support
24/7 phone and chat
|
| Shared Hosting / Dedicated Hosting |
Shared Hosting / Dedicated Hosting
Yes / Yes
|
| Other Key Features |
Other Key Features
Free domain, free domain-linked email, automatic malware removal
|
| Best For |
Best For
Beginner web users who want simplicity
|
HostGator doesn’t have the wide range of options like some of the other web hosts listed. They do offer shared and dedicated hosting. But the shared plans are geared toward beginners and smaller enterprises.
They offer standard shared hosting with small plans for individual freelancers. And they have hosting plans for WordPress users.
There’s no problem if you’re new to WordPress. When you sign up for one of the HostGator WordPress plans, they help you get started with WordPress.
The control panel and interface give you an easy user experience. You can manage and edit your site without getting bogged down in menus and function boxes.
You also get automatic backups, so you never lose your work. And you can restore previous drafts with just one click.
The site security is excellent. HostGator employs CodeGuard, which operates like insurance for any data on your site. And there’s a free SSL certificate. This means there’s a padlock symbol next to the URL in the web browser, letting visitors know it’s safe to make purchases on your account.
Don’t worry if you need help at any point. HostGator has a brilliant support network. They have 24/7 phone and chat support. They have a knowledge base where you can find FAQs and solutions to common problems. It’s clear they want to help you to succeed.
The overall performance is reliable once you’re up and running. Uptimes are consistently running at 99.9%. And users have experienced superfast load speeds. That’s something all visitors to your site will appreciate.
HostGator has three standard shared plans. As you might gather from the names, these are geared towards beginners and small sites. There is room for growth, but not that much if you want to expand your business.
The Hatchling plan is the first and most basic. It will host one website, which is backed by 10 GB of SSD storage. You do get a free email linked to the site. And all plans have unmetered bandwidth, but it is a limited plan.
The next step is the Baby plan. The names don’t provide much encouragement to the user, especially if you’re an older photographer. But this plan does offer a little more.
You can host two websites with 20 GB of storage. You get better customer support, along with email and domain freebies. And they throw in $500 of Google ad spend credit and $100 of Microsoft advertising credit.
There’s another incremental jump when you go for the Business plan. You get three websites and 40 GB of storage. You get all the perks of the previous plan. But you also get better SSL security features and a dedicated IP address. And the SEO tools are a big benefit if you’re looking for growth.
HostGator also has three WordPress hosting plans. They are Starter, Standard, and Business. They are similar to the previous shared plans. The first two are basic and only allow for one or two sites for subscription.
The Business plan is the largest of the WordPress plans, but it is still fairly limited. It allows you three WP sites with a maximum of 500,000 visits per month. That’s probably more than enough for most individual photographers. But medium-sized businesses might need more.
If you are looking for web hosting for larger businesses, your best bet is a HostGator Dedicated plan. They give you incredible performance and more advanced features. But they are considerably more expensive. You’ll need a large business budget for a Dedicated plan.
| Brand |
Brand
A2 Hosting
|
| Unmetered Bandwidth |
Unmetered Bandwidth
Yes
|
| Storage |
Storage
100 GB - Unlimited
|
| Support |
Support
24/7 phone
|
| Shared Hosting / Dedicated Hosting |
Shared Hosting / Dedicated Hosting
Yes / Yes
|
| Other Key Features |
Other Key Features
Free web migration, daily backups, free SSL certificate, cloning and staging tools
|
| Best For |
Best For
Photographers prioritizing speed and storage
|
A2 hosting offers fast and reliable web hosting for photographers. They have a wide range of plans, from shared to dedicated options. They have excellent options for WordPress users. And they offer some of the best plans when it comes to storage.
A2 is one of the most reliable web hosts online. And the server response times are one of its major strengths. And that’s true when you subscribe at any level. Even the cheapest plans give you fantastic website performance. That’s great for you and your visitors.
They are also harnessing the power of artificial intelligence with their AI-powered performance optimizations. We’re not exactly sure what that means, but users are happy with the increased server speeds. It also helps your SEO rankings.
The WordPress controls are expanded thanks to A2’s TurboHub. This is their unique WordPress control panel. Most people find it easy to use and it’s excellent for making changes to your sites.
They offer 24/7 phone support from their “guru crew” for all users. And there’s a money-back guarantee if you’re not happy with the service within the first 30 days. That shows they truly believe in their product.
A2 has four different types of plans. They have shared, WordPress, VPS, and dedicated hosting options. And there are four plans under each of these categories. That means you have a total of 16 plans to choose from. That’s a lot of choices, but most photographers will go for shared or WordPress hosting plans.
The shared plans are the cheapest and most basic. Startup is their bottom plan, giving you only one site. But despite being the cheapest level, you still get an incredible 100 GB of SSD storage.
If you jump up just one plan, you get unlimited websites and unlimited SSD storage. You don’t get any eCommerce tools at this level. But you can create as many portfolio websites as you want.
The top two shared plans are Turbo Boost and Turbo Max. The latter gives you their fastest shared servers. You also get unlimited websites and storage. And you’re also treated to the best features.
A2 WordPress plans are pricier than their shared plans. The lowest costs about the same as the top shared plan. But it’s worth the extra investment if you use WordPress.
One problem is that you only get eCommerce facilities in the Sell plan, which is the most expensive. That means it’s only worth it if you know you’re going to make enough in sales.
The VPS plans offer better support and management tools. They are a good choice if your business is growing fast and you need a more professional and analytical approach. You also get incredible speed and storage specifications, even on the lowest plan.
You also have dedicated server plans for businesses with big budgets. These plans are definitely worth considering if you already have a healthy income from your websites. But they are overkill for freelancers or small companies.
Finding the best web host for your photography website can be challenging. It can be a complicated subject if you’re a beginner setting up your first web page. But the questions and answers in this section will help you find the best web hosting that suits your needs.
If you are making a website from scratch, you need a website builder. They allow you to design and construct a unique website to display and sell your images and media.
The best website builders allow you to create a website with no technical experience or skill required. Of course, you need to be able to use a computer. But thanks to the templates and drag-and-drop tools, building a website is easy. You don’t need to know anything about computer coding.
A web host, on the other hand, acts as a landlord, giving your website a place to reside by providing server space. Along with providing servers, the host also makes your website and its content accessible on the internet. Without this accessibility, no one can see your work online.
Web hosting services also give you tools to manage and monitor your website. You can see the number of viewers on your site. You can track their activity as well as monitor trends in viewership.
Essentially, website builders and web hosts are two sides of the same coin. And when starting a photography website, you need both. You need a website builder to make and design the actual website. Then you need web hosting to give the site a position in the online marketplace.
Most of the web hosts in this article offer shared and dedicated hosting plans. But what’s the difference between shared and dedicated hosting?
With shared hosting, your website resides on a server that’s used by other users for other websites. This means you get slower response times as the server’s resources are shared between all users.
If you go for dedicated server hosting, you get an entire server all to yourself. You’re not sharing with other users, which means power and resources aren’t being used elsewhere. The server is yours and yours alone.
Dedicated server plans give you better performance and much better RAM, storage, and speed. But all that comes at a cost. Dedicated plans can cost up to four times as much as the top shared plans. Of course, prices depend on the web host you choose.
But for most photographers, dedicated hosting is not necessary. Freelancers and small businesses can get everything they need from shared web hosting. All the hosts on this list have reliable shared hosting with decent load speeds. In fact, some are excellent in that regard.
You only need a dedicated server if you have many large websites or are looking to expand quickly. You also need a big budget to support it.
Freelance photographers or small companies should stick with the shared web hosting plans. They can live long and prosper without needing to upgrade to dedicated hosting.
Web hosts and website builders are two different services. And if you want to build your own photography website, you need the best website builder for photographers.
We’ve already seen Wix as one of the best web hosts, but they also have an excellent web-building service. The hosting and building services are separate, so you need to sign up for each one individually.
Wix makes website building easy thanks to its user-friendly interface. You don’t need any prior experience to make an eye-catching and professional website.
There are drag-and-drop tools, simple controls, and absolutely zero coding necessary. There are plenty of attractive templates to choose from. Then you use the design tools to make it your own.
Elementor is another website builder worth mentioning for photographers. It’s a WordPress plugin that takes your site to a new level. You can transform drab web pages into vibrant online spaces that people want to visit.
It’s another no-code web builder with drag-and-drop tools and a simple workflow. They offer excellent value for money. And there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it before you commit.
And we can’t talk website builders without mentioning SquareSpace. If you’ve ever listened to a podcast or watched a video on YouTube, you’ve probably heard the name. But it isn’t just a good marketing strategy. SquareSpace is another fantastic website builder for photographers.
Here is our full list of the best website builders for photographers.
If you need the best web hosting for photographers, you want something reliable, fast, and secure. But you also want services that offer a decent amount of storage and room for growth. And a good customer support service is always handy.
All the above web hosting services tick those boxes. But Wix Web Hosting is our choice as the best web hosting for photographers. The security level is excellent, blackouts are rare, and the server response speeds are fast. They also offer a wide range of plans for everyone, from beginners to experienced web users.
