The SiteGround Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about SiteGround in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
SiteGround
The Insider’s Guide
Shared and WordPress hosting on Google Cloud with its own Site Tools
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among web hosts, read from SiteGround’s own pages.
Made by SiteGround · checked Oct 17, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from SiteGround’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on SiteGround’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 17, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
1.8
GPA, above 4 of the 21 other web hosts we grade
SiteGround sells shared hosting for WordPress and other sites on Google Cloud infrastructure, managed through its own Site Tools panel. Every plan includes daily backups, a CDN, SSL, unlimited email accounts and daily malware scans, and the higher plans add staging, on-demand backups and white-label access for agencies.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about SiteGround, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Each site gets its own Site Tools panel, which is tidy, but there's still a domain, email and a site to set up.
- 1
Best for WordPress sites that want daily backups built in
It's also the dearest of the shared hosts we could price over two years.
- 2
Paid plans start at $14.99 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $14.99 per month prepaid for 24 months; 12 months is $2.99 a month in year one.
- 3
It runs on Web
Web.
- 4
Site Tools panel
Each site gets its own Site Tools panel for WordPress, email, domains and backups, so access to one site can be shared without exposing the others.
- 5
Daily backups, CDN and SSL
Every plan keeps daily backups and includes a CDN and SSL certificates that renew by themselves. GrowBig and GoGeek add on-demand backups.
- 6
Malware scans and bot blocking
Sites are scanned for malware every day with free removal, and an AI anti-bot system and custom firewall rules block attack traffic.
- 7
A 1.8 GPA, above 4 of 21
That is against the other web hosts we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
To replace SiteGround you would be making an engine that recognises new malware as it appears. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
SiteGround at a glance
- Pricing
- Paid, from $14.99 per month prepaid for 24 months; 12 months is $2.99 a month in year one
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- SiteGround, since 2004
- Category
- Web Hosting
- Our grade
- 1.8 GPA, weak
The report card
Best for WordPress sites that want daily backups built in
SiteGround packs more into its cheapest plan than most: daily backups, a CDN, daily malware scans with free removal and unlimited email accounts. It's also the dearest of the shared hosts we could price over two years. The $2.99 a month lasts one year, then StartUp renews at $17.99 a month for a single site.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | StartUp's first year is $2.99 a month, then it renews at $17.99, so two years cost $251.76, about $10.49 a month. That's past the cheaper quarter of hosts and the dearest of the shared hosts we could price. A 24-month term at $14.99 a month costs more. |
| Free plan and trial | F | No free plan and no trial. New shared hosting orders get a 30-day money-back guarantee, which isn't a trial. |
| Features | B | Every plan keeps daily backups, a CDN, SSL that renews itself, daily malware scans with free removal and unlimited email accounts. Staging and on-demand backups wait for GrowBig, but nothing in the core job is missing on StartUp. |
| Ease of use | C | No app store rating to go on. Each site gets its own Site Tools panel, which is tidy, but there's still a domain, email and a site to set up. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | A web panel only, with WordPress and WooCommerce as the named integrations. There's SSH and WP-CLI for developers, but no API is on record. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who SiteGround is for
- Great if you want daily backups and malware removal without adding plugins
- Handy when the whole team needs email at your domain, as accounts aren't capped
- Good for agencies that hand clients white-label access on GoGeek
Who it is not for
- Pricey if you stay past year one, when StartUp jumps from $2.99 to $17.99 a month
- Tight if you run more than one site, as StartUp hosts one and suits around 10,000 visits
- Skip it if you want staging on the cheapest plan, since it starts on GrowBig
Good to know
Good for
- WordPress sites that want daily backups and staging without plugins
- Agencies handing clients white-label access on GoGeek
- Small businesses that want email at their domain on the hosting plan
Worth knowing
- The $2.99 a month is for the first year of a 12-month StartUp term only; it then renews at $17.99 a month, and GrowBig and GoGeek at $29.99 and $44.99.
- StartUp hosts one website and suits around 10,000 visits a month; more sites need GrowBig.
- Staging, on-demand backups and faster PHP start on GrowBig, and white-label access and priority support need GoGeek.
- The 30-day money-back guarantee covers new shared hosting orders; renewals are refunded only under conditions in SiteGround's refund policy.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$14.99
A month to start
SiteGround is a paid product, starting at $14.99 per month prepaid for 24 months; 12 months is $2.99 a month in year one.
That's past the cheaper quarter of hosts and the dearest of the shared hosts we could price.
StartUp, 1 month
$24.99
per month
One website, 10 GB storage and around 10,000 visits a month, paid month to month at the regular rate.
StartUp, 12 months
$17.99
per month at renewal, prepaid yearly, after a first year at $2.99
One website and 10 GB storage. The first 12 months cost $2.99 a month, prepaid, then the plan renews at $17.99 a month.
StartUp, 24 months
$14.99
per month, prepaid every 24 months
One website and 10 GB storage at the lowest regular monthly rate. The sales page shows its first-term discount only on 12-month terms.
GrowBig, 24 months
$24.99
per month, prepaid every 24 months
Unlimited websites, 50 GB, staging and on-demand backups. On a 12-month term it is $4.99 a month for the first year, then $29.99.
GoGeek, 24 months
$39.99
per month, prepaid every 24 months
100 GB, staging with Git, white-label access and priority support. On a 12-month term it is $7.99 a month for the first year, then $44.99.
Read from siteground.com on Oct 17, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Other savings
First year of StartUp for $2.99 a month
On a 12-month term the first invoice is $2.99 a month for StartUp, $4.99 for GrowBig and $7.99 for GoGeek, prepaid. Renewals are $17.99, $29.99 and $44.99 a month.
Stated on siteground.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
Shared and WordPress hosting on Google Cloud with its own Site Tools. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: AI features, malware protection, managed WordPress.
Every plan keeps daily backups, a CDN, SSL that renews itself, daily malware scans with free removal and unlimited email accounts.
- Site Tools panel
- Each site gets its own Site Tools panel for WordPress, email, domains and backups, so access to one site can be shared without exposing the others.
- Daily backups, CDN and SSL
- Every plan keeps daily backups and includes a CDN and SSL certificates that renew by themselves. GrowBig and GoGeek add on-demand backups.
- Malware scans and bot blocking
- Sites are scanned for malware every day with free removal, and an AI anti-bot system and custom firewall rules block attack traffic.
- WordPress services
- Free site migrations, managed automatic updates, WP-CLI and SSH, and an AI agent for WordPress. Staging starts on GrowBig, with Git on GoGeek.
- Unlimited email accounts
- Every hosting plan includes email at your own domain with no cap on accounts, plus webmail and spam protection.
- Website Builder with AI
- A drag-and-drop builder with templates, AI text and image generation and built-in SEO is included alongside WordPress.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- WordPress
- WooCommerce
SiteGround is made by SiteGround, and has been around since 2004.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
4/21
Other web hosts it is graded above
SiteGround's GPA of 1.8 is higher than 4 of the 21 other web hosts we grade, and level with 2.
It stands best on features (B, above 11 of 21) and worst on free plan and trial (F, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $14.99 a month, against a middle price of $10.99 for the category: 10 of the 16 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 22 web hosts we grade, cut by the letter each got. SiteGround’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 1 of 21
- FFree plan and trialAbove 0 of 21
- BFeaturesAbove 11 of 21
- CEase of useAbove 0 of 21
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 21
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 17 web hosts. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. SiteGround is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace SiteGround you would be making an engine that recognises new malware as it appears. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 15 of the 21 other web hosts grade higher. It costs $179.88 a year.
What you could not
- An engine that recognises new malware as it appears.
- Servers kept running, patched and backed up for you.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
- Sharing with other people, which means accounts and invitations.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. SiteGround’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Hostinger, Bluehost, DreamHost, hosting.com and Kinsta
The 5 tools SiteGround is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.0GPA
Hostinger
From $10.99/mo
Shared, WordPress and cloud hosting run from its own hPanel dashboard.
- SiteGround also covers managed WordPress.
- 1.6GPA
Bluehost
Paid
- 2.2GPA
DreamHost
From $7.99/mo
Independent shared and WordPress host with monthly or multi-year terms.
- SiteGround also covers malware protection.
- 2.0GPA
hosting.com
Paid
Shared hosting from the former A2 Hosting, with an API and MCP server.
- SiteGround also covers managed WordPress.
- 2.2GPA
Kinsta
Free trial · from $30/mo
Managed WordPress hosting priced by sites, visits or bandwidth.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is SiteGround free?
No. SiteGround is a paid product, starting at $14.99 per month prepaid for 24 months; 12 months is $2.99 a month in year one.
How much does SiteGround cost?
SiteGround lists 5 plans. StartUp, 1 month: $24.99 per month.
What platforms does SiteGround work on?
SiteGround is available on Web.
Does SiteGround offer any discounts?
SiteGround publicly lists the following: First year of StartUp for $2.99 a month.
Does SiteGround have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 17, 2026. SiteGround is listed for Web.
Does SiteGround have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 17, 2026. SiteGround is listed for Web.
Is SiteGround open source?
SiteGround is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 17, 2026.
What does SiteGround integrate with?
SiteGround's listing names WordPress and WooCommerce. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes SiteGround?
SiteGround is made by SiteGround. It dates from 2004.
What are the alternatives to SiteGround?
The closest alternatives to SiteGround in our directory are Hostinger, Bluehost, DreamHost, hosting.com and Kinsta.
How does SiteGround compare with other web hosts?
SiteGround's GPA of 1.8 is higher than 4 of the 21 other web hosts we grade, and level with 2.
Is SiteGround good value for money?
ToolGPA grades SiteGround C for value for money. Its paid plans start at $14.99 a month, against a middle price of $10.99 for the category: 10 of the 16 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of SiteGround?
To replace SiteGround you would be making an engine that recognises new malware as it appears.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from SiteGround’s own pages on Oct 17, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 17, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from SiteGround's own pages on 17 October 2026. Its rates page answered our reader with a robot check when we checked it again that day. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by SiteGround. Prices change, so check siteground.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
1,880
Tools graded, in 47 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
ToolGPA is free to read. It may earn a commission from affiliate links and it works with sponsors, but anything paid for is labelled and no one can pay for a grade. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
1,880
tools graded
47
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- SiteGround, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/siteground
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "SiteGround: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 17, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/siteground
Know someone choosing between web hosts?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/siteground/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded web hosts after SiteGround, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Web Hosting Insider's GuideEvery one of the 22 web hosts we grade, compared
- ChemiCloud Insider's GuideShared cPanel hosting and managed WordPress on LiteSpeed servers2.2 GPA
- DreamHost Insider's GuideIndependent shared and WordPress host with monthly or multi-year terms2.2 GPA
- FastComet Insider's GuidecPanel shared and WordPress hosting with first-term discounts2.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what SiteGround’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. ToolGPA uses affiliate links and may earn a commission from them, and it works with sponsors; anything paid for is labelled, and no one can pay for a grade. SiteGround is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by SiteGround. Prices and plans change: check siteground.com before you buy.