Inside this Article
What We Tested in Ranking the Best Web Hosts for New Zealand1. Hostinger – Budget-Friendly Hosting with Excellent Performance2. InterServer – Unlimited Resources with Cheap & Flexible Monthly Billing3. Kinsta – Premium Managed WordPress Hosting for High-Traffic Sites4. FastComet – Low-Cost Hosting with Guaranteed Resources and a Data Center near New Zealand5. 1st Domains – Speedy Hosting from a Local Kiwi Provider, but Watch Out for Some Big Issues6. VpsCity – The Fastest New Zealand Host, but No Free SSL7. WebSlice – WordPress-Optimized Hosting with Great Features, but Disappointing Performance8. Crazy Domains – An Aussie Provider with Insane Speeds, but Strange Billing TermsTop Hosts for New Zealand – Full ComparisonOur Testing Process in DetailWhich Host Should You Choose for Your New Zealand Website?FAQ
Short on Time? These Are the Best Web Hosts for New Zealand:
- Hostinger – Cheap, fast, and easy-to-use hosting for simple websites.
- InterServer – Flexible monthly plan with unlimited domains, storage space, and bandwidth.
- Kinsta – The best managed WordPress hosting money can buy – perfect for high-traffic sites.
Click here for 5 more options | Top recommended international hosts | Comparison table | FAQ
What We Tested in Ranking the Best Web Hosts for New Zealand
Our team signed up with each provider for several months to give you a first-hand account of the hosting experience on each platform. We reviewed everything, from plan pricing and hidden costs to performance and customer support. Here’s the gist of it:- Features. We made sure you’ll have enough storage space and bandwidth for your website, but we also looked for other must-have features like an SSL certificate, integrated caching, and automatic backups.
- Ease of use. From choosing a plan, to signing up, to launching a site, everything should be clear and simple. We’ve highlighted hosts that kept it that way.
- Performance. We tested each host’s page loading speed, global performance, and uptime over the course of several months. We used a regular landing page website to run these benchmarks for the most accurate results.
- Support. Our team contacted each provider through live chat, tickets, and phone, where possible. We rated these interactions based on the host’s response times, helpfulness, and general availability.
- Pricing. Headline prices can be deceiving. We dug a little deeper to find hidden costs, missing features, or steep renewal policies that could sneak up on you later.
1. Hostinger – Budget-Friendly Hosting with Excellent Performance
Hostinger has two important things going for it: it’s outrageously cheap, and it delivers outstanding performance – not just in New Zealand, but around the world. I tested its entry-level plan (the cheapest one), and I got great results on both GTmetrix and Sucuri Load Time Tester. I was also glad to see that all the essential features were included: I didn’t have to pay extra for an SSL certificate, automatic backups, or caching.
Hostinger Web Hosting
Plan NameStorageBandwidthFree SSLNumber of SitesPrice
More detailsA free domain name is included with some hosting plans from Hostinger
Features:
- LiteSpeed web server. Compared to the older Apache server software that most hosts still use, LiteSpeed is faster and more stable during periods of heavy traffic. I saw this first-hand while testing Hostinger’s performance.
- Built-in caching. The LiteSpeed cache manager is integrated into Hostinger’s dashboard, so it’s easy to find and activate. Caching your site’s static assets can speed up page loading significantly.
- Managed WordPress features. If you opt for the Single Shared Hosting plan, Hostinger will back up your site on a weekly basis. The provider will also patch your WordPress core installation and plugins for you, so you won’t have to worry about outdated (and potentially vulnerable) software.
- Professional email. Having an email address “@yourdomain” can help you better define your brand. Hostinger gives you one free address on the Single Shared Hosting plan, and 100 addresses on Premium and Business.
Server locations | Indonesia, Singapore, the UK, the Netherlands, Lithuania, the US, Brazil |
Free SSL certificate | ✔ |
Money-back guarantee | 30 days |
Types of hosting | Shared, VPS, cloud |
Pricing | $1.99 |
2. InterServer – Unlimited Resources with Cheap & Flexible Monthly Billing
Some hosts throw half a dozen plans at you, and expect you to know how to choose amongst the minute details in each one. Not InterServer. This provider keeps things simple with one shared hosting option that includes everything you need. There’s no cap on the number of websites you can host, and you get unlimited storage space, bandwidth, and email accounts. You can pay a low annual fee and still get a decent price, so you don’t have to commit upfront to several years of hosting. InterServer also offers the cheapest monthly billing cycle on this list – if you’d like to stay as flexible as possible, it’s your most cost-effective choice.
InterServer Web Hosting
Plan NameStorageBandwidthFree SSLNumber of SitesPrice
More detailsFeatures:
- Softaculous auto-installer. Using this nifty little tool, you can easily install more than 400 scripts for your website (including WordPress). You can also set up automatic updates for your CMS and plugins.
- Underloaded servers. When you share a server with hundreds of other customers, performance tends to fluctuate based on how much traffic these neighboring users are getting on their websites. InterServer mitigates this issue by hosting considerably fewer users per machine.
- LiteSpeed technology. Like Hostinger, InterServer uses the LiteSpeed web server to speed up your website. The LiteSpeed cache manager is also available, which makes it super-easy to set up caching – just switch it on.
- Managed security. InterServer’s security suite includes SSL certificates, automatic backups, a malware scanner, a machine-learning firewall, and a hack-fix guarantee. That’s a lot of stuff you no longer have to worry about.
Server locations | The US |
Free SSL certificate | ✔ |
Money-back guarantee | 30 days |
Types of hosting | Shared, cloud VPS, dedicated servers |
Pricing | $2.50 |
3. Kinsta – Premium Managed WordPress Hosting for High-Traffic Sites
Kinsta is, hands-down, the fastest WordPress hosting provider I’ve tested so far. It also offers a comprehensive set of features that can make your life much easier. Instead of having to optimize or secure your website on your own, you can leave everything to experts who do it all for you. And it works. According to my tests, Kinsta is blisteringly fast everywhere in the world. It uses Google’s impressive network of 24 data centers strategically positioned around the globe, and this includes a location in Sydney, Australia. And although it offers cloud hosting (rather than shared hosting), it’s still very easy to use thanks to its proprietary dashboard.
Kinsta Web Hosting
Plan NameStorageFree SSLNumber of SitesPrice
More detailsFeatures:
- Managed caching. You don’t have to install or configure any speed boosting software. Kinsta takes care of caching on your behalf, and if my tests are any indication, it does this very well.
- Built-in security. Aside from giving you a free SSL certificate, Kinsta sets up hardware firewalls, DDoS and malware detection, and other security measures by default. If your website is somehow hacked, Kinsta will clean it up and restore it for you.
- Automatic scaling. Instead of throttling your bandwidth during periods of intense traffic, Kinsta allocates more CPU and RAM to your account at nominal fees. Your website continues to run smoothly, and you only pay for what you use.
- Expert support. Kinsta focuses exclusively on WordPress, and offers in-depth support for this CMS. Agents are available 24/7 through live chat and phone. I never had to wait for more than a minute to get a reply.
Server locations | Australia, the US, Brazil, Canada, Europe, India, Taiwan, Japan, Indonesia, and more |
Free SSL certificate | ✔ |
Money-back guarantee | 30 days |
Types of hosting | Cloud-based managed WordPress hosting |
Pricing | $35.00 |
4. FastComet – Low-Cost Hosting with Guaranteed Resources and a Data Center near New Zealand
If you like some of the perks you get with Kinsta, but you don’t want to pay a small fortune on hosting, FastComet is a decent alternative. It’s not as speedy, nor does it offer the same level of managed support, but unlike most shared hosting providers, FastComet guarantees you access to a minimum amount of CPU and RAM at all times.
FastComet uses CloudLinux OS to isolate each account on its shared servers, so other users can’t dig into your resources or spread security breaches to your website. It’s almost like having a tiny VPS (virtual private server), but significantly cheaper.

FastComet Web Hosting
Plan NameStorageBandwidthFree SSLNumber of SitesPrice
More detailsFeatures:
- Advanced caching. Varnish, Memcached, and other PHP accelerators are built into the most expensive plan. Lower-tier plans also include a few basic optimizations, but I recommend FastCloud Extra if speed is important to you.
- Simple website builder. You don’t need to use WordPress if you just want a simple landing page or portfolio. FastComet has a free drag-and-drop website builder with lots of themes that’ll help you get started.
- Automatic app updates. Softaculous is included in all FastComet plans, which means that you can set up automatic updates for WordPress or any other script in its repository.
- BitNinja security. You get protection against DDoS, malware, and brute force attacks in addition to the free SSL certificate already provided. FastComet configures BitNinja at the server level, so you don’t have to deal with it yourself.
Server locations | Australia, Singapore, Japan, India, Europe, the US, Canada |
Free SSL certificate | ✔ |
Money-back guarantee | 45 days |
Types of hosting | Shared, cloud VPS, dedicated servers |
Pricing | $2.74 |
5. 1st Domains – Speedy Hosting from a Local Kiwi Provider, but Watch Out for Some Big Issues
1st Domains is the second-fastest local provider that I’ve tested, and its No Limits shared hosting plan (the only one on offer) has some decent features too. You get unlimited storage space and bandwidth, a great control panel, and some advanced security tools, to boot. But before you get too excited, you should know that a few essential features are missing.
1st Domains Web Hosting
Plan NameStorageBandwidthFree SSLNumber of SitesPrice
More detailsFeatures:
- Plesk control panel. Plesk is just as powerful as cPanel, but it has a modern look and is far better organized. You won’t be overwhelmed by dozens of icons that you may or may not need, so essential settings will be easier to find.
- Pristine uptime. Throughout the duration of testing, my website was online 100% of the time. I rarely see such impeccable uptime, and I keep tabs on all the major international hosts.
- WordPress security checker. You’ll find this neat plugin tucked away in the control panel. You can use it to easily access and tweak all of WordPress’ security settings in one place. You have to know what you’re doing before you start pressing those shiny buttons, but it’s certainly very convenient.
- Free SSL certificate. Not all local New Zealand hosts offer this feature, so I was glad to see it included in 1st Domain’s plan. An SSL certificate is essential these days, not just for your website’s security, but also for SEO and brand trustworthiness.
Server locations | New Zealand |
Free SSL certificate | ✔ |
Money-back guarantee | ✘ |
Types of hosting | Shared |
Pricing | $5.71 |
6. VpsCity – The Fastest New Zealand Host, but No Free SSL
If you’re looking for a low-cost Kiwi host that’ll guarantee the best possible speeds for your audience in New Zealand, VpsCity is it. According to my tests, only Kinsta can beat this provider’s performance in the region, but Kinsta is roughly six times more expensive.
VpsCity Web Hosting
Plan NameStorageBandwidthNumber of SitesPrice
More detailsFeatures:
- Optimized servers. VpsCity uses the LiteSpeed web server, allowing for the use of LSCache plugins for most popular CMSs, to quickly deliver your website to visitors. I’m not surprised its performance is right up there with the best international hosts.
- cPanel control panel. It’s not the most user-friendly solution, but it gets the job done. Softaculous is also included, so you can easily install your favorite CMS and schedule automatic updates.
- Automatic backups. VpsCity creates backups of your website on a daily basis. It also offers an easy-to-use restore tool that’ll help you implement a previous version of your site if needed.
- Great support. VpsCity is one of the few local providers that offer 24/7 live chat, phone, and ticket support. When I asked for help, the agents were polite, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic.
Server locations | New Zealand |
Free SSL certificate | ✘ |
Money-back guarantee | No, but you can get a prorated refund |
Types of hosting | Shared, VPS, dedicated servers |
Pricing | $3.30 |
7. WebSlice – WordPress-Optimized Hosting with Great Features, but Disappointing Performance
WebSlice is reasonably priced, and its servers are all based in New Zealand, which should – in theory – give you excellent performance in the region. Unfortunately, this was one of the slowest local providers I tested. According to GTmetrix, loading speeds weren’t disastrous, but my website needed over 2 seconds to load fully during most benchmarks. Performance outside of the region was even worse, with loading times of between 7 and 10 seconds. An absolute shame, especially as uptime was outstanding.
WebSlice Web Hosting
Plan NameStorageBandwidthFree SSLNumber of SitesPrice
More detailsFeatures:
- WordPress-ready. By default, WebSlice’s shared hosting plans are optimized for WordPress, eliminating the need for additional payment for back-end configuration. Unfortunately, this optimization did not seem to enhance the performance of my website.
- Extra resources. WebSlice is a bit stingy with storage space, at least compared to other local providers. However, you can buy more storage (as well as more databases and domains) without having to upgrade your subscription.
- Cloudflare integration. A CDN can improve your website’s performance a little, especially if you have visitors from around the world. WebSlice could certainly benefit from an external speed boost, so this is a big plus.
- Great security features. You get a free SSL certificate in addition to daily, weekly, and monthly automatic backups. Honestly, WebSlice has the best backup policy on this list.
Server locations | New Zealand |
Free SSL certificate | ✔ |
Money-back guarantee | 30 days |
Types of hosting | Shared, cloud, VPS, dedicated servers |
Pricing | $4.53 |
8. Crazy Domains – An Aussie Provider with Insane Speeds, but Strange Billing Terms
Crazy Domains’ main data centers are right across the Tasman Sea, in Sydney and Perth, Australia, and its performance in the region is fantastic. Plus, thanks to its other servers around the world, you can expect your website to load quickly for your international visitors as well.
Crazy Domains Web Hosting
Plan NameStorageBandwidthNumber of SitesPrice
More detailsFeatures:
- CloudLinux and CageFS. Like FastComet, Crazy Domains isolates each account on its servers with the help of CloudLinux and CageFS. This keeps your account and file system isolated from that of any other customer for better security.
- Integrated caching. You’ll find the provider’s proprietary caching plugin built neatly into your dashboard. It’s called the Cache Blaster and, according to my tests, it works far better than it sounds.
- One-click staging. This tool is included in Crazy Domains’ WordPress plans. You can use it to quickly test changes to your website before they go live.
- Free stock images. If you opt for the cheapest plan, you can select two stock images from Crazy Domains’ impressive repository to help you get started on your website. More expensive plans come with additional free images.
Server locations | Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, India, Europe, the US |
Free SSL certificate | ✘ |
Money-back guarantee | 60 days (prorated refund) |
Types of hosting | Shared, VPS |
Pricing | $3.49 |
Top Hosts for New Zealand – Full Comparison
Hostinger | InterServer | Kinsta | FastComet | 1st Domains | VpsCity | WebSlice | Crazy Domains | |
Disk Space | 30GB | Unlimited | 10GB | 15GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | 3GB | 150GB |
Bandwidth | 100GB | Unlimited | 25,000 visits | 30GB | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
SSL | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ |
Backups | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Free domains | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
Number of emails | 1 | Unlimited | ✘ | Unlimited | ✘ | 1 | 20 | 100 |
CDN | Cloudflare | Cloudflare | KeyCDN | Cloudflare | ✘ | ✘ | Cloudflare | ✘ |
Caching | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ |
Data center locations | NA, SA, EU, Asia | NA | NA, SA, EU, Asia, Australia | NA, EU, Asia, Australia | New Zealand | New Zealand | New Zealand | NA, EU, Asia, Australia |
GTmetrix speed | 1.56s | 1.94s | 1.2s | 1.85s | 1.7s | 1.5s | 2.2s | 1.3s |
Uptime score | 99.997% | 99.953% | 100% | 99.882% | 100% | 99.989% | 99.998% | 99.983% |
Uptime guarantee | 99.9% | 99.9% | 99.9% | 99.9% | ✘ | 99.99% | 99.9% | 99.9% |
Support channels | Live chat, tickets | Live chat, tickets, phone | Live chat, phone | Live chat, tickets, phone | Tickets, phone | Live chat, tickets, phone | Tickets, phone | Live chat, tickets, phone |
Support hours | 24/7 | 24/7 | 24/7 | 24/7 | 08-18 (Mon-Fri) | 24/7 | 24/7 | 24/7 |
Payment options | Credit card, PayPal, crypto | Credit card, PayPal | Credit card | Credit card, PayPal | Credit card | Credit card, PayPal | Credit card, PayPal | Credit card, PayPal |
Money-back guarantee | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days | 45 days | ✘ | Prorated refund anytime | 30 days | 60 days (prorated) |
Starting price | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Overall score | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.0 |