10+ Best Web Hosting for Canada We Tested in 2024

As far as web hosting goes, Canadians have it pretty good. Only a handful of the best international hosts have data centers in the country, but local providers have some of the most competitive offers I’ve seen. I’ve tried dozens of hosts with servers in Canada over the past few months, and I was generally impressed with their performance and features.

Even so, you have to be careful, because not all hosts that look good actually are. For example, I’ve seen several providers that lure you in with low base prices, but do not support free SSL certificates, requiring you to pay for premium SSL (or other must-have features) later on down the line. Not cool.

With that in mind, I set out to find the best web hosting services for Canadian websites as part of Website Planet’s huge web hosting comparison project. Some of the small local providers I tested did surprisingly well, while others turned out to be slower (and more expensive) than international hosts with data centers outside of Canada.

In fact, Hostinger – an international host with global coverage – came out on top. Below, you’ll find out why. Plus, all the details you need to make an informed choice about whether Hostinger or another of the top-ranked hosts for Canada is best for you. Grab a comfy spot on the Chesterfield (as grandma might say), and let’s get to it.

What We Tested in Ranking the Best Web Hosts for Canada

We signed up for several months of hosting with each provider, and we used this time to take a good, hard look at everything from performance to support. Here’s the gist of our process:

• Features. We looked for providers that give you plenty of storage space and bandwidth – but we didn’t stop there. We also kept an eye out for SSL certificates, automatic backups, built-in caching, and other essential features.
• Ease of use. We awarded extra points to those hosts that made it easier for us to sign up, connect a domain, set up WordPress, and launch a site. Our goal was to make sure that even beginners with no previous experience could launch a website using the providers on this list.
• Performance. Most reviewers run speed and reliability benchmarks on blank websites, so their results aren’t realistic. We tested each host’s speed, global performance, and uptime using a WordPress-based landing page website with text, images, and plugins.
• Support. We contacted each host through live chat, phone, and tickets (where possible). We rated these interactions based on availability, waiting time, and helpfulness.
• Pricing. Headline prices can be deceiving. To properly rate each host, we looked into hidden costs, renewal fees, and the commitment period required to get the best deals.

1. Hostinger – Cheap, Fast, and Reliable Shared Hosting

The host has the best deals on long-term Hostinger shared hosting plans. The entry-level Single plan costs less than a ten-pack of Timbits, and although it is admittedly less tasty, it gives you plenty of storage space and bandwidth, a free SSL certificate, and built-in caching. In short, everything you need to host a simple website.

Given the very low price, I was concerned performance might be subpar, so I put Hostinger through some rigorous testing. The results were surprising: not only did Hostinger deliver faster page loading speeds than most other low-cost providers, its performance was also great around the world. According to Sucuri Load Time Tester, it did better in Canada than most local hosts, even though its nearest data center is in the US.

The only real downside with Hostinger is that it upsells aggressively, but this is more of an annoyance than anything else. Feel free to ignore the popups – chances are, you don’t actually have to upgrade anything.

Features:

• Streamlined control panel. Hostinger’s hPanel is less cluttered and easier to navigate compared to the traditional cPanel. All the important functions are there, including a one-click installer for dozens of CMSs.
• Powerful caching. Hostinger uses the LiteSpeed web server, which comes with built-in caching for superior performance. You’ll find the Cache Manager in your dashboard, ready to go.
• Managed WordPress features. Hostinger creates backups of your website on a weekly (basic plans) or daily (premium plans) basis, and automatically updates your WordPress installation and plugins. Most hosts make you pay extra for both of these perks.
• Free email hosting. You get one professional email address “@yourdomain” if you opt for the entry-level plan, or 100 addresses otherwise.

Read our detailed Hostinger review for more details.

2. InterServer – A Flexible Monthly Plan with Unlimited Features

Keep things simple with a single Standard shared hosting plan from InterServer that offers unlimited SSD storage space, bandwidth, and email accounts. The best part? This plan also happens to have the cheapest monthly billing cycle on this list, which means you won’t have to pay up-front for multiple years of hosting just to get a good deal. 

You also get to host an unlimited number of domains (though, you have to purchase these separately), which is fairly unique for an entry-level plan. If you have multiple low-traffic websites, each with its own domain name, InterServer is perfect for you.

InterServer’s data centers are all in the US, but during my tests, I got fantastic speeds throughout North America using the NY data center. Access to a CDN (content delivery network) is included in the Standard plan, which can further boost your website’s performance for Canadian visitors.

Features:

• cPanel with Softaculous (optional add-on). If this is your first time hosting a website, cPanel might seem a bit overwhelming. But once you get used to it, you’ll love everything it can help you do: setting up domains, managing your email, enabling SSL, and more. Plus, you’ll be able to use Softaculous to easily install WordPress, or hundreds of other awesome scripts (including galleries and contact forms) for your site.
• LiteSpeed web server. Like Hostinger, InterServer leverages the LiteSpeed web server to significantly improve performance. LiteSpeed is faster and more stable than the older Apache server software used by other hosts, and it comes with built-in caching.
• InterShield security. There’s a machine-learning firewall, a virus scanner, and automatic backups to keep your website safe. And if your site is still somehow compromised, InterServer will clean it up for you.
• Redundant SSD – InterServer’s SSD drives are kept in a reliable RAID-10 array. This boosts performance and also ensures your stored data is replicated across multiple SSD drives. Even if one drive fails, your data will be safe on another.

Review our full InterServer review for more details.

3. Nexcess: Affordable Fully-Managed Dedicated CMS Plans with Global Coverage

Nexcess is one of the top hosts for managed CMS-specific hosting. Besides tailoring its plans to the top CMSs and website builders – including WordPress, Magento, and WooCommerce – you can also upgrade to more powerful cloud or enterprise plans if need be. So, if you’re happy with Nexcess’ service, you can stay on should you need to scale up resources considerably.

A subsidiary of Liquid Web, you can expect a similar quality of service – but for a lower price. As such, Nexcess’s powerful hosting plans aren’t your standard shared hosting setup either, featuring advanced tools, such as autoscaling of PHP worker quotas, and high bandwidth limits that accommodate more demanding sites, be they blogs, e-commerce stores, or otherwise.

For Canadian sites, the host also performs really well. With an A rating from GTmetrix, 2-second loading times, and 100% uptime (in our tests), Nexcess isn’t messing around. Friendly, helpful customer support also makes it a delight to deal with this host, which isn’t always the case.

Features

• Autoscaling. Occasionally, your site may experience a temporary spike in traffic. Typically, if these demands exceed your plan limits, you’re either looking at paying hefty overage fees or your site crashing. Not with Nexcess, which auto scales your resources to meet demand for up to 24 hours per month free.
• PHP worker quota. Each managed CMS, cloud, and enterprise Nexcess plan includes a set quota of PHP workers, which help to serve uncached website data faster to your visitors. During autoscaling, your PHP worker quota also increases – typically, up to 2x your standard quota (depending on your chosen plan).
• Global coverage. With data centers in the USA, the UK, the Netherlands, and Australia, you can expect excellent site performance – not only in Canada but worldwide.
• Managed services. Caching, automatic backups, support, updates, storage management, and many more tasks are handled in-house on all managed plans from Nexcess. So you can focus on other aspects of your site and business.

Read our full Nexcess review for more details.

4. FastComet – Shared Hosting with VPS Perks and a Data Center in Canada

Shared hosting is sufficient for simple websites, and it’s usually less expensive. However, sharing a server with hundreds of other users can lead to significant fluctuations in performance. That’s why FastComet uses CloudLinux with CageFS to isolate each account on its shared servers.

Thanks to this setup, you have access to a decent number of vCPU (2-6) cores and (2-6 GB) RAM at all times. There are fewer fluctuations in speed, and your account is safer overall because a security breach in one account can’t spread to another. It’s almost like having a VPS, but at a lower price.

Of course, FastComet is not the only host to use this technology. It is, however, one of the few international providers that has a data center in Canada. Plus, it includes everything you need on its cheapest plan, such as a free SSL certificate, a built-in CDN, and automatic daily backups.

A free domain name is included with some hosting plans from FastComet

Features:

• Automatic app updates. Whether you use WordPress or any other CMS, you can enable automatic updates for the core software and all of your plugins. Your website stays safe, while you save time.
• Superior caching options. Besides a CloudFlare CDN on all plans, if you opt for the FastCloud Extra plan, five different layers of caching – including Varnish, Memcached, and APC – are set up for you. These can drastically improve your website’s performance.
• Hack-fix guarantee. FastComet has several security measures in place, but if your website somehow gets hacked, the tech team restores it as quickly as possible.
• Great live chat support. FastComet is available around the clock through live chat, tickets, email, and phone. I’ve personally bombarded them with questions at all hours of the day, and the agents were willing (and able) to help with almost all hosting-related issues.

Read our expert FastComet review to find out more.

5. HostUpon – Speedy Shared Hosting with Two Major Issues

HostUpon has only a single data center based in Canada, so I was really surprised to see the exceptional results it got on both GTmetrix and Sucuri Load Time Tester. Loading speed wasn’t far behind Bluebird Hosting, and it got a rare A grade from Sucuri for global performance. To top it all off, uptime was nearly perfect throughout the testing period.

That said, there is a reason why HostUpon is not higher up on my list. Both its Starter and Business plans lack an SSL certificate (costs extra) and automatic backups. You might wonder whether you really need these two features. First, SSL certificates are there to keep your visitors’ data safe. Without one, your site is flagged as “not secure” by browsers, which – even if user data isn’t being entered into forms on your site – doesn’t make the best first impression.

Second, backups are also a must. Even if your site never gets hacked, you might accidentally break it while updating a plugin. Heck, your cat might take a stroll on your keyboard while you’re editing your work. Both SSL and automatic backups are included in HostUpon’s Premium plan, which may be worth it if you can afford it, but keep in mind that cheaper options do exist.

Features:

• Unlimited resources. You get unlimited storage space and bandwidth, even on the cheapest plan. Aside from InterServer, few hosts are as generous.
• LiteSpeed caching. The LSCache plugin isn’t installed by default, but you can install it yourself or contact support to set it up for you. Once the cache has populated you can enjoy improved performance for your site.
• Softaculous auto-installer. Use it to install WordPress with just a couple of clicks, or set up automatic software updates to boost your website’s security. Hundreds of other apps and scripts are also available.
• Spam and malware protection. HostUpon leverages Imunify360, a comprehensive server security suite, to keep your website safe. It also offers SpamAssassin protection for your email.

Read our detailed HostUpon review to find out more.

6. Webnames.ca – Great Features for WordPress, but Decent Support Costs Extra

There are lots of things to like about Webnames.ca’s WordPress plans. You get unlimited storage space (Advantage plan and above) and bandwidth, the servers are properly optimized for WordPress, and performance is decent throughout Canada.

A free domain name and an SSL certificate are also included with any of Webnames’ plans, nor does the provider support free SSL certificates from Let’s Encrypt. And the premium paid SSL certificates on offer are competitively priced, even though they’ll increase your overall costs. But there are a couple of issues with Webnames.ca, too.

The main one is the fact that its basic support service is more or less useless. Live chat almost never works, and neither does the ticket form, so you’re stuck with either email or phone. I tried both, but the agents were rarely helpful – when they decided to answer at all. There is a paid WordPress support add-on (presumably with more qualified agents), but it’s super-expensive.

A free domain name is included with some hosting plans from Webnames.ca

Features:

• Plesk control panel. Personally, I prefer Plesk over cPanel. Its interface is more modern and far better organized, which makes it easier to navigate and use.
• WordPress optimizations. Webnames uses the LiteSpeed web server, which is arguably the best solution for PHP-based websites (like the ones you build with WordPress). LiteSpeed caching is thus also available.
• BoldGrid, Web Presence Builder, and LiteSite website builder. Build your site easily using 100+ templates and drag-and-drop elements using one of these supported platforms. Free website builder access is granted with the Advantage and Pro hosting plans.
• Always–free domain name. Yearly and six-month plans come with a free domain name (.ca, .com, .org, .net, .click, .link, .work, .pictures, .name, .one, and .us) that stays free for as long as you keep renewing your contract. No other host on my list has this feature.

Read our full Webnames.ca review for more details.

7. Web Hosting Canada – OK Features and Performance, Just Watch Out for Steep Renewals

In spite of having recently acquired higher-rated provider Sibername, Web Hosting Canada offers no spectacular features. Most of its plans are solid, and all include an SSL certificate, CDN, 1-click app & CMS installs, cPanel, website builder, and Google Ads credit. The Pro plan is only slightly more expensive than the basic Go plan, and it gives you significantly better value, including both a free domain name and access to the Advanced website builder version.

Performance is also decent throughout Canada, although it tends to drop rather dramatically outside of the country. Still, if you have a mostly local audience, this shouldn’t be a problem. What might be a problem is pricing.

Sure, Web Hosting Canada looks cheap at first, but the renewal fee is sometimes double to triple the initial price, depending on the plan you choose. WHC is not the only provider that boosts its prices on renewal – even big international hosts like Hostinger do this. But the difference is that Hostinger is still very cheap even after the initial term, whereas WHC is definitely on the expensive side.

A free domain name is included with some hosting plans from Web Hosting Canada

Features:

• Unlimited resources. All WHC shared hosting plans include unlimited storage space and bandwidth – a rare offer from a local provider. Managed WordPress plans are more restrictive, but still pretty generous.
• Integrated CDN. It’s easy to activate Cloudflare when the CDN is built into your dashboard. This is a standard feature with international hosts, but only a handful of Canadian hosts have it.
• Built-in optimizations. So long as you go with either the Pro or the Enterprise plan, your website is hosted on a WordPress-optimized server. Caching is configured for you, alongside several security filters designed to keep your website safe.
• One-click staging. You can experiment with changes to your website before you publish them by using a staging environment. This is included with every WHC WordPress plan, and it lets you play around with your design or test plugins without having to worry about breaking your live site.

Read our expert Web Hosting Canada review to find out more.

8. SKGOLD Hosting – It’s a Blast from the Past, but with Good Loading Speeds

SKGOLD Hosting appears dated, and I’m not just saying that because of its early 2000s website look. The features you get with its plans are very limited, but the provider does have some redeeming qualities. For example, I found its performance surprisingly decent. It wasn’t as fast as some of the other Canadian hosts on my list, but it did well.

SKGOLD is also pretty cheap compared to other local providers, but unfortunately, this is a classic case of “you get what you pay for”. If you opt for the entry-level Baby plan, you get 300MB of storage space and just under 5GB of bandwidth, which is barely enough for a landing page. Hardly any other features are included.

You’d expect the WordPress plans to offer more tools, but they’re actually identical to regular shared hosting. As for SKGOLD’s “cloud hosting” you’d better hold on to your toque for this one: it’s just regular shared hosting with Cloudflare CDN.

Features:

• Intuitive dashboard. One thing that SKGOLD has going for it is that it’s very easy to use. The client dashboard is neat and well-organized, and you get cPanel to manage your hosting account.
• Unlimited email. You might not get a lot of storage for your website, but you can create an unlimited number of email aliases “@yourdomain.” Grandma might want one, you never know.
• Free SSL. I’ve seen so many local hosts that make you pay for an SSL certificate. Extra points for SKGOLD.
• Attracta SEO tools. You can use this plugin to quickly optimize your content and meta data for SEO purposes. It doesn’t give you anything you wouldn’t get with a free plugin like Yoast, but still, it’s nice to have.

Read our full SKGOLD Hosting review for more details.

9. CanSpace – Basic Shared Hosting with Few Standout Features

I wouldn’t say CanSpace is bad, but it’s certainly less value-packed than it makes itself out to be. Sure, the entry-level Starter plan is relatively cheap, but storage space and bandwidth are limited, and there are few other features included. Free SSL is provided, at least – but that’s about it.

As for performance, CanSpace is actually one of the slowest Canadian hosts that I’ve tested. Its uptime was good, but page loading speeds averaged just over 3.5 seconds according to GTmetrix. Weirdly enough, performance was better in Germany, the Netherlands, and France than in some parts of Canada, even though the data center is located in Quebec.

To get a decent set of features (and presumably, better performance), you’d have to go with either the Medium or the Professional plan, but both of these are significantly more expensive. There are cheaper (and much better) options on this list.

Features:

• Quick setup. Going through the entire signup process takes no more than 15 minutes, and your hosting account is available right away. You still have to set up WordPress to get started, but Softaculous makes the installation quick and painless.
• Built-in Cloudflare. The CDN can speed up your website a bit by caching content nearer to your audience, but don’t count on it to perform miracles. If performance is important to you, CanSpace might not be the right choice.
• Basic website builder. It’s nothing special, but CanSpace’s site builder does include hundreds of templates and lots of useful scripts. Overall, it’s a reliable alternative to WordPress.
• Fast support. Phone, email, contact form, and ticket support is available 24/7, and the agents never took longer than 30 minutes to reply via ticket. I was able to resolve most of my issues this way, although I didn’t get any help optimizing my website.

Read our expert CanSpace review to discover more.

10. Canadian Web Hosting – Great Coverage, but It’s Not Beginner-Friendly

Canadian Web Hosting is one of the top-performing local hosts on my list, following HostUpon. Uptime was slightly lower than the promised 99.9% during my tests, but still high enough to pass as reliable. Unfortunately, getting started with CWH was a bit of a nightmare.

Buying a plan was easy enough, but CWH’s client dashboard is poorly organized and difficult to navigate. Important settings are hidden behind multiple screens, and the interface feels as though it’s working against the user.

Although cPanel is included with CWH’s shared hosting plans, this is not the case with its managed WordPress hosting. Instead, Canadian Web Hosting requires you to contact customer support whenever you want to change your settings. Now, I’m not one to pass up getting tasks done for me, but in my experience, customer support was very slow and not always helpful.

A free domain name is included with some hosting plans from Canadian Web Hosting

Features:

• Superior coverage. Canadian Web Hosting has two data centers in Canada: one in Toronto and one in Vancouver. This translates into better performance for site visitors across the country, which few other local hosts can match.
• Unlimited bandwidth. Stingy bandwidth caps are common with local hosts, so I was very happy to see this feature. Too bad CWH is not as generous with storage space (unless you purchase the Enhanced plan with unlimited storage).
• Managed WordPress. CWH offers three WordPress plans with additional features, including automatic backups and software updates. Unfortunately, the most affordable plan does not incorporate malware detection or email hosting, and the Standard plan comes at a significantly higher cost.
• Weebly website builder. This is one of the simplest website builders out there, and even the free version has more than a dozen templates. CWH sets it up for you, but if you want premium features, you have to pay extra.

Read our detailed Canadian Web Hosting review to find out more.

11. Cirrus Hosting – Some Decent Features, but Too Many Downsides

Cirrus Hosting covers most of the basics, but the platform is plagued by issues that are difficult to ignore. For instance, I appreciate the generous 50GB of storage that it offers on the entry-level plan, but this is HDD rather than SSD storage. Most hosts don’t use HDD anymore because it’s considerably slower and more prone to failure.

Unsurprisingly, Cirrus Hosting did poorly on my performance tests. The average loading time for my website was almost 3 seconds, and uptime was well under the 99.9% standard. Since Cirrus Hosting doesn’t have an uptime guarantee, I was not entitled to any compensation for poor service.

My experience with customer support was good, but only when I used tickets. Live chat was operated by non-native English speakers who offered little to no help before abandoning the session. However, it does offer 24/7 phone support, which we haven’t yet tested out. Given that Cirrus Hosting’s prices are also relatively high for what you’re getting, its service is not easy to recommend.

Features:

• Free domain name. You can register your domain name (.ca, .com, and .net) for free if you buy at least one year of hosting. However, the offer is only available for the first year.
• Simplified dashboard. You’ll be using HostBill to manage different aspects of your account, including your domains, hosting packages, and other services. The interface is clean and easy to navigate, and there are several quick links to important settings, as well as to customer support.
• Dedicated IP. Cirrus Hosting’s most expensive plans come with a dedicated IP, which protects your SEO ranking and prevents your email accounts from being flagged for spam.
• WordPress-ready plans. These plans include extra features such as automatic backups and updates, built-in caching, and spam filtering. It may not be as extensive as what other hosts offer, but it’s still better than having nothing at all.

Read our full Cirrus Hosting review for more details.

12. HostPapa – Below-Average Shared Hosting with No Convincing Pros

In other reviews, HostPapa often comes up as the best Canadian host. I can only guess this has to do with the provider’s generous affiliate program rather than the actual quality of its service. I spent several months testing HostPapa, and my conclusion is that it’s way too pricey for what it offers.

It looks good on paper – lots of resources, free SSL, and caring support. But while you do get a generous amount of storage space and bandwidth, automatic backups are not included in most plans, and the servers are not properly optimized for performance. In fact, HostPapa was one of the slowest hosts I’ve tested, alongside Cirrus Hosting.

Customer support was usually quick to respond, but rarely useful. Not only that, but some agents focused entirely on upselling rather than answering my questions. And HostPapa’s “affordable” prices are only available prior to renewal. In some cases, you can end up paying three times the initial fee once the first term runs out.

Features:

• Lots of storage space and bandwidth. Compared to other Canadian providers, HostPapa has very generous resource allocations. But if it were possible, I’d take less storage space to get better performance.
• Preinstalled WordPress. If you go with one of HostPapa’s WordPress plans, the CMS will be installed for you during checkout. This is the easiest way to get started without having to do anything technical.
• Free website builder. HostPapa’s proprietary drag-and-drop builder is included with all plans, but you can only use it to create two pages. To launch a more complex website, you have to pay extra.
• One-on-one training. When you register, you can arrange a half-hour conversation with a HostPapa representative. They will guide you on how to use the dashboard, create a website, or put in place security measures.

Read our full Cirrus Hosting review for more details.

Best Host For Canadian Website

You have several exceptional options to weigh against your specific needs, exact location, and level of experience. Feel free to explore them at your own pace, but if you’re in a hurry (or feeling a bit lost), these are my recommendations:

If you want to host a simple, low- to medium-traffic site, Hostinger should be at the top of your list. It’s an international provider rather than a local Canadian one, but its US data center offers phenomenal loading speeds throughout North America. The entry-level plan is incredibly cheap even after renewal, and it gives you everything you need to reliably host a website.

Maybe you don’t fancy the idea of paying up-front for several years of hosting? In that case, InterServer is your best bet. The Standard InterServer shared hosting plan has unlimited…everything, and it lets you host multiple websites, each with its own domain. Even if you pay on a monthly basis, the price is still low.

In comparison, Nexcess is your go-to for managed CMS-specific hosting – with global performance and affordable pricing, it’s hard to beat for value. A subsidiary of Liquid Web, you can expect a similar quality of service (but without the hefty price tag). WordPress, Magento, WooCommerce, and more CMS-specific plans are offered alongside flexible cloud and powerful enterprise-level hosting.

Top Hosts for Canada – Full Comparison

Looking to match up two hosts at a glance? Check out the table below to see a side-by-side comparison of all the entry-level shared hosting plans on my list:

FAQ

How much should I pay for hosting in Canada?

If you want to host a simple, low-traffic website, you don’t need to spend a lot of money. For example, Hostinger is incredibly cheap if you sign up for several years. Or, if you’d rather have a guaranteed annual rate, InterServer has the most cost-effective plan.

Does it matter where you host your website?

Absolutely. In fact, this is one of the most important things to consider when you choose your provider. The closer the web server is to your audience, the faster your website will load. But be careful: not all hosts perform the same server optimizations, which can lead to mixed results.

Is Bluehost good for websites in Canada?

Bluehost pops up in a lot of web hosting reviews, but we’ve tested it alongside other popular providers and it has failed to deliver on its promises. The features included in its plans are average, at best, and the price is too high for what you’re getting. Customer support is mostly poor, and you can’t know precisely where your website is hosted because Bluehost refuses to disclose the location of its data center.

Which is the best host for Canada?

It depends. Hostinger would be my go-to provider for a small-to-medium website, such as a personal blog, a portfolio, a business landing page, or even a small online store. It’s super-cheap, and its performance is outstanding both in Canada and around the globe. You’ll also find several other exceptional options on our list of the best web hosting services.