DigitalOcean hosting has long been a popular choice for developers, with its Droplet-based virtual machines and 1-click WordPress installation options. For small WordPress agencies, however, DigitalOcean WordPress hosting comes with notable limitations.
Although its powerful infrastructure allows for a high level of customization, the lack of true managed hosting services—especially in areas like staging environments and automatic updates—can hinder workflow efficiency.
Agencies relying on streamlined staging, easy scalability, and automated backups may find DigitalOcean hosting plans less suited to their needs. This is when they need the best DigitalOcean hosting alternatives.
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Top 4 DigitalOcean Alternatives for Managed WordPress
While DigitalOcean hosting plans are powerful, they lack the streamlined management features that many agencies need.
Here’s a look at the top 5 DigitalOcean alternatives for fully managed WordPress hosting and seamless staging environments.
InstaWP Live- Best DigitalOcean WordPress Hosting Alternative
Overview
| Best Suited For | Small Agencies, Freelancers |
| Type of Hosting | Managed WordPress |
| Pricing Range | $9 – $28/site/month |
| Free Trial | Yes, 30-day money-back |
| Staging Environment | Yes, One-Click Staging |
| Rollback Option | Yes |
| Automatic Backups | Daily |
| Firewall Protection | Yes |
| SSL Certificates | Free |
| Support Channels | 24/7 Live Chat |
| Developer Tools | Git, WP-CLI |
| Pros | Affordable, Strong Staging Tools, 24/7 Support |
| Cons | Limited Scalability |
InstaWP Live is widely recognized as the best DigitalOcean alternative for WordPress hosting due to its managed hosting and built-in staging capabilities that streamline development.
With one-click staging environments, cloning, and testing tools, InstaWP Live enables developers to efficiently manage WordPress sites while ensuring a seamless transition from staging to live environments.
WordPress Managed Hosting with Staging Environment
InstaWP Live provides a powerful managed WordPress hosting solution with easy, one-click staging environments. This feature allows users to generate temporary URLs for testing and collaboration, making it ideal for developers needing a safe space to experiment without impacting the live site.
This streamlined staging process enhances productivity and minimizes errors during deployment.
Check out this video to learn how to create staging sites for managed hosting.
Server Management and Automation
InstaWP Live brings advanced server management to WordPress managed hosting, utilizing a high-performance cloud infrastructure powered by Automattic.
The platform automates core and plugin updates, integrates migration tools, and minimizes technical maintenance, enabling users to focus on growth and content creation over server upkeep.
Performance and Reliability
Purpose-built for WordPress, InstaWP Live employs caching tools to maximize speed and uptime, delivering high performance consistently.
With a built-in Content Delivery Network (CDN) and uptime guarantees, InstaWP Live offers a reliable hosting environment for small agencies that meets the demands of modern web traffic.
Security Features
InstaWP Live includes key security features, such as free SSL certificates, routine malware scanning, and DDoS protection. These features protect websites from potential threats, ensuring data integrity and consistent site availability.
Scalability
InstaWP Live is an ideal managed hosting solution for small agencies and freelancers, offering a flexible pricing structure that grows as users create more sites.
While larger scaling options may be limited, it remains a strong alternative for those seeking a flexible and reliable WordPress hosting environment.
Pricing Structure
| Plan Name | Price | Disk Space | CPU/Site | Visitors/site |
| Lite | $9 | 25 GB | 2 | 400,000 |
| Boost | $11 | 25 GB | 3 | 600,000 |
| Growth | $18 | 35 GB | 4 | 800,000 |
| Accelerate | $28 | 55 GB | 5 | 1,000,000 |
The pricing is designed to scale with your needs; as you create more sites, the cost per site decreases significantly.
Hostinger
Overview
| Best Suited For | Small Agencies, Freelancers |
| Type of Hosting | Managed WordPress |
| Pricing Range | $2.49 – $39.99/month |
| Free Trial | Yes, 30-day money-back |
| Staging Environment | Yes, One-Click Staging |
| Rollback Option | Yes |
| Automatic Backups | Daily |
| Firewall Protection | Yes |
| SSL Certificates | Free |
| Support Channels | 24/7 Live Chat |
| Developer Tools | Git, WP-CLI |
| Pros | Affordable, Strong Staging Tools, 24/7 Support |
| Cons | Limited Scalability |
Hostinger offers an exceptionally optimized managed WordPress hosting service that is officially recommended by WordPress.org.
With a focus on performance and user experience, Hostinger provides features such as AI tools, 24/7 customer support, and a free domain with website migration.
Staging Environment
As a strong DigitalOcean alternative, Hostinger provides a staging environment tailored for managed WordPress hosting. This one-click staging capability allows users to create a copy of their live site for testing and development, ensuring modifications can be validated without disrupting the main site.
This feature is essential for users of DigitalOcean hosting plans who need more robust testing options within managed hosting.
Server Management and Automation
Hostinger’s server management is optimized for WordPress, making it an appealing alternative to DigitalOcean WordPress hosting. The platform automates core updates and plugin installations, so users can focus on content rather than technical maintenance.
Hostinger’s infrastructure is specifically tuned for WordPress, delivering fast load times and effective resource management, essential for users seeking managed WordPress hosting.
Performance and Reliability
Hostinger offers high performance through advanced caching solutions and a global Content Delivery Network (CDN), ensuring fast website speeds and reliable uptime.
For those comparing DigitalOcean hosting, Hostinger’s performance monitoring and guaranteed uptime provide an accessible alternative, especially for WordPress sites with fluctuating traffic demands.
Security Features
Security is integral to Hostinger’s managed WordPress hosting package, offering features like free SSL certificates, daily backups, and a WordPress vulnerability scanner.
Additionally, Hostinger’s firewall protection shields sites from potential threats, giving users a reliable alternative to DigitalOcean hosting plans when it comes to safeguarding site data and maintaining website integrity.
Pricing Structure
| Plan | Price | Disk Space | Visitors/Month | Features |
| Premium | $2.49 (79% off) | 100 GB SSD | ~25,000 | Free domain, website migration, unlimited bandwidth |
| Business | $3.49 (75% off) | 200 GB NVMe | ~100,000 | Daily backups, priority support |
| Cloud Startup | $7.59 (70% off) | 200 GB NVMe | ~200,000 | Advanced acceleration, dedicated IP address |
| Cloud Professional | $14.99 (63% off) | 250 GB NVMe | ~300,000 | Priority expert support |
Hostinger’s pricing structure is designed to be flexible and scalable, allowing users to choose plans that best fit their needs while enjoying significant discounts for longer commitments.
CloudPress
Overview
| Best Suited For | Beginners, WooCommerce Shops, High-Traffic Sites |
| Type of Hosting | Managed WordPress Cloud Hosting |
| Pricing Range | $5 – $39/month (depending on plan) |
| Free Trial | Yes, free test migration is available |
| Staging Environment | Yes, with easy management |
| Rollback Option | Yes |
| Automatic Backups | Daily |
| Firewall Protection | Yes |
| SSL Certificates | Free |
| Support Channels | Email, Phone, Live Chat |
| Developer Tools | Advanced caching and optimization tools |
| Pros | Fast global performance, user-friendly interface |
| Cons | May be limited for very large enterprises |
For agencies seeking a powerful DigitalOcean alternative, CloudPress delivers a globally optimized WordPress hosting platform with a focus on speed and security. With data centers in Amsterdam, San Francisco, and soon Singapore, CloudPress ensures rapid website loading across continents.
Unlike traditional DigitalOcean hosting plans, CloudPress offers fully managed WordPress hosting to streamline site management, making it a reliable option for agencies seeking a technical hosting solution with built-in global reach.
Staging Environment
CloudPress excels in staging capabilities, providing an efficient environment for testing WordPress site updates and configurations without affecting the live version. Unlike standard DigitalOcean WordPress hosting, CloudPress includes a one-click staging feature, allowing developers to seamlessly switch between staging and live sites.
This functionality is ideal for agencies that require a dependable and controlled space to validate changes before deployment, addressing a major limitation in traditional DigitalOcean hosting setups.
Server Management and Automation
As a DigitalOcean alternative, CloudPress employs advanced server management and automation to enhance WordPress performance. The platform includes optimized caching, automated image compression, and proactive monitoring to maintain high speeds and reliability.
CloudPress automates backups and essential updates, unlike DigitalOcean hosting, which requires more manual setup, thus reducing time spent on server maintenance. This managed WordPress hosting approach is especially useful for technical teams that need efficiency in server management without the need for constant oversight.
Performance and Reliability
Built on a robust global infrastructure with over 300 points of presence, CloudPress is engineered to deliver consistent performance and reliability, meeting the demands of agencies comparing DigitalOcean hosting options.
The platform’s infrastructure, designed to handle high-traffic volumes, ensures low-latency site access worldwide, providing faster load times than typical DigitalOcean WordPress hosting environments.
For agencies focused on speed and uptime, CloudPress offers a reliable DigitalOcean hosting alternative that outperforms traditional DigitalOcean hosting plans.
Security Features
Security is core to CloudPress, setting it apart as a secure DigitalOcean alternative for managed WordPress hosting. The platform features comprehensive security measures, including a multi-layered firewall, real-time malware scanning, and SSL certificates for secure data transmission.
Proactive vulnerability alerts and routine threat detection ensure that websites are protected from cyber risks, addressing the security gaps in unmanaged DigitalOcean hosting options and making CloudPress a preferred choice for technical teams focused on secure WordPress environments.
Pricing Structure
| Plan | Price | Storage | Memory | CPU Core |
| Basic | $5 | 25 GB | 5 GB | 5 |
| Pro | $10 | 50 GB | 10 GB | 10 |
| Max | $20 | 100 GB | 20 GB | 20 |
CloudPress offers flexible pricing plans that cater to various needs, from beginners to high-traffic sites. Users can start with a free trial or test migration to experience the platform without commitment.
DreamHost
Overview
| Best Suited For | Small to Medium Businesses, Developers |
| Type of Hosting | Managed WordPress Hosting |
| Pricing Range | $2.59 – $71.95/month |
| Free Trial | Yes, with free priority site migration |
| Staging Environment | Yes, 1-Click Staging |
| Rollback Option | Yes |
| Automatic Backups | On-Demand Backups & 1-Click Restore |
| Firewall Protection | Yes |
| SSL Certificates | Free |
| Support Channels | 24/7 Expert WordPress Support |
| Developer Tools | AI Website Builder, AI Business Advisor |
| Pros | High performance, Easy management, Robust support |
| Cons | Higher pricing for advanced plans |
DreamHost’s DreamPress is a managed WordPress hosting solution designed for users seeking hassle-free and high-performance web hosting. With a focus on speed, security, and support, DreamPress provides an optimized environment for WordPress sites to thrive.
The platform features advanced caching technologies and a global content delivery network (CDN) to ensure fast loading times and reliability.
Staging Environment
DreamPress includes a one-click staging feature that allows users to create a duplicate of their live site for testing purposes. This functionality enables developers to experiment with changes without risking the integrity of the live site.
Once changes are validated in the staging environment, they can be deployed seamlessly to the production site.
Server Management and Automation
DreamPress utilizes fast NGINX hosting architecture, which enhances performance by serving static content more efficiently than traditional servers. The platform automates critical tasks such as core updates and plugin installations, allowing users to focus on content creation rather than server management.
Additionally, DreamPress offers on-demand backups and a one-click restore feature to simplify data recovery.
Performance and Reliability
DreamPress is engineered for extreme speed, and capable of handling significant traffic volumes with ease. The managed hosting solution supports approximately 100k to 1M monthly visitors across its various plans.
With unmetered bandwidth and SSD storage options ranging from 30GB to 120GB, users can expect consistent performance even during peak traffic periods.
Security Features
Security is paramount at DreamHost, which includes multi-layered protection measures such as real-time malware monitoring and proactive vulnerability alerts.
Each plan comes with free SSL certificates to secure data transmission between users and the server. Additionally, DreamPress offers a comprehensive firewall system to protect against potential online threats.
Pricing Structure
| Plan | Price | Storage | Visitors/month | Features |
| WordPress Basic | $2.59 | 30 GB SSD | ~100k | Free domain, unlimited email |
| DreamPress | $16.95 (first year) | 30 GB SSD | ~100k | Free priority migration, on-demand backups |
| DreamPress Plus | $24.95 (first year) | 60 GB SSD | ~300k | Unlimited CDN, enhanced performance features |
| DreamPress Pro | $71.95 (first year) | 120 GB SSD | ~1M | Priority support, advanced security features |
DreamHost’s pricing structure is competitive and designed to accommodate a range of needs from basic websites to high-traffic applications.
With free domain registration included in all plans and significant discounts for the first year, users can find a suitable option that aligns with their business requirements while enjoying robust support and performance features.
Final Say
Each of these DigitalOcean alternatives offers powerful staging and managed hosting capabilities, tailored to meet the demands of various business needs. From CloudPress’s global reach to InstaWP Live’s one-click staging, these options go beyond standard DigitalOcean hosting by providing specialized WordPress management.
When choosing the best DigitalOcean alternative, consider factors like budget, scalability, and ease of use to ensure an optimal fit for your agency’s technical requirements. These managed WordPress hosting solutions are designed to support growth, security, and seamless development.