In the ever-evolving landscape of web development, Drupal has emerged as a powerful platform for building dynamic and feature-rich websites. However, harnessing the true potential of Drupal hinges on selecting the right hosting solution. Just as a solid foundation is vital for a sturdy building, the choice of hosting provider significantly impacts the performance, security, and scalability of your Drupal site. This guide is your compass in navigating how to choose the best Drupal hosting, offering insights into the crucial factors that pave the way for a seamless online experience. From optimizing server performance to ensuring robust security measures, let’s embark on a journey to discover the best Drupal hosting options tailored to your website’s needs.
What is Drupal?
Drupal is an open-source CMS that runs on PHP and is distributed under the GNU General Public License. Originating in 2000 as a platform for building small websites, Drupal has come a long way, currently being on its Version 8 release. Despite not being as user-friendly as WordPress, it powers an impressive 2.3% of websites worldwide and ranks 3rd in the list of most popular CMS globally. With a market share of 4.7%, Drupal boasts over 577,000 active sites.
One of Drupal’s key strengths lies in its security, making it a top choice for major companies such as Verizon, Cisco, and Infusionsoft, as well as government agencies like London and Los Angeles City hall.
Best Drupal Hosting Platform
To unleash the full potential of Drupal, it’s crucial to select the right web hosting platform that offers Drupal-specific optimization and support. Here are some of the best hosting platforms for your Drupal sites:
Nexcess
Nexcess, a part of the Liquid Web family, offers various hosting plans starting from $29 per month. What makes it stand out is its auto-scaling feature, allowing your hosting plan to grow along with your business.
Key features of Nexcess for Drupal hosting include:
- Manage your site and server with their user-friendly client portal
- Utilize Drush to efficiently manage your sites through the command line
- Dev or Staging site with database scrubbing for testing without affecting the live site
- 24/7/365 phone and email support for any assistance you need
- Integration of popular development tools like Git, SFTP, Mercurial, Composter, and SSH
Cloudways
Cloudways provides managed hosting for Drupal with the flexibility to choose your preferred cloud infrastructure from providers like Google Cloud, AWS, DigitalOcean, Linode, and Vultr. This allows you to host your site near your target audience for better performance.
Notable features of Cloudways Drupal hosting include:
- Compatibility with PHP 7 for improved speed
- Built-in cache and HTTP/2 support for faster content delivery
- Free SSL, backups, and two-factor authentication for added security
- 24/7 support to address any queries or concerns promptly
A2 Hosting
A2 Hosting specializes in offering 20X faster Drupal hosting at affordable prices, starting from $3.92/month. Their hosting plans come with pre-installed Drupal and optimization for speed and performance.
A2 Hosting’s plans include:
- Lite – $3.92/month
- 1 Website
- 5 Databases
- Unlimited Storage and Transfer
- cPanel Control Panel
- Free SSL & SSD
- Free & Easy Site Transfer
- Swift – $4.90/month
- Unlimited Websites
- Unlimited Databases
- Unlimited Storage and Transfer
- cPanel Control Panel
- Free SSL & SSD
- Free & Easy Site Transfer
- Turbo – $9.31/month
- Unlimited Websites
- Unlimited Databases
- Unlimited Storage and Transfer
- cPanel Control Panel
- Free SSL & SSD
- Free & Easy Site Transfer
- Turbo (Up To 20X Faster)
Kamatera
Kamatera is a reliable hosting provider that allows you to create and host your Drupal sites on their super-fast servers in as quickly as 60 seconds. You can customize various aspects of your hosting, including the number of CPUs and your preferred data center location.
Key features of Drupal hosting by Kamatera include:
- Custom pricing tailored to your specific needs
- The user-friendly management console for easy control of your hosting environment
- Option to add or reduce storage capacity based on your requirements
- 24/7 technical support via phone, email, or help ticket system
- A designated account manager for personalized assistance
inMotion Hosting
inMotion Hosting offers both basic and advanced hosting plans for Drupal-based websites. Their basic plan starts at $6.39/month and includes a free domain, unlimited disk space, and a 1-click application installer for easy Drupal installation.
The advanced plan provides Virtual Private Server hosting starting at $29.19/month and offers more resources for high-performance websites:
- 4GB – 8GB RAM
- 75 – 260 GB storage
- 4TB – 6TB bandwidth
- 3 – 5 IP addresses
Platform.sh
Platform.sh offers premium web hosting specifically optimized for fast and secure Drupal sites. With built-in Composer, Drupal Console, and Drush support, managing your Drupal sites becomes a breeze.
Additional features of Drupal hosting on Platform.sh include:
- Managed CDN for efficient content delivery
- Powered by SSDs for faster data access
- Seamless integration with Git API for streamlined development workflows
Platform.sh offers a free trial for testing their hosting services, and development plans start at $10/month. If you need to scale your site for higher traffic, there are Professional ($50/month/project) and Enterprise ($1250/month/project) plans available.
Pantheon
Pantheon takes pride in being a “best-in-class” hosting provider for Drupal and WordPress, providing scalable hosting solutions with blazing-fast content delivery. Managed HTTPS, automated system admin, and disaster-proof uptime are some of its standout features.
Key features of Pantheon Drupal hosting include:
- Continuous updates for Drupal to ensure optimal performance
- 99.95% uptime for reliable accessibility
- Powerful tools like Slack Metrics and Acquia Insights for efficient site management
- 24/7 technical support to address any issues promptly
- Compliance with global and industry security standards for enhanced protection
Rochen
Rochen offers reliable Drupal hosting with excellent support and customer service. Their hosting package includes assisted site migration and onboarding to ensure a smooth transition.
Customers can choose between two hosting options:
- Shared hosting starting at $4.95/month for cost-effective solutions
- Managed cloud server starting at $200/month for more extensive and resource-demanding projects
Hostinger
Hostinger provides low-cost, shared Drupal hosting with features comparable to higher-priced hosting providers. Their hosting plans offer excellent value, especially during promotional periods.
Key features of Hostinger’s Drupal hosting include:
- Free domain for Premium & Business (Shared Hosting) and all Cloud hosting plans
- Optimized site speed to suit the Drupal framework
- Weekly and daily backups for data security
- 30 days money-back guarantee for risk-free testing
- Drupal experts to assist with any queries or technical challenges
Acquia
Acquia offers premium cloud hosting services tailored for Drupal sites. It provides development tools and enterprise-grade security to ensure optimal performance and reliability for your websites and applications.
Key features of Drupal hosting with Acquia include:
- Continued updates for Drupal to keep your site up-to-date
- 99.95% uptime for maximum availability
- Powerful tools like Slack Metrics and Acquia Insights for efficient site management
- 24/7 technical support for quick issue resolution
- Compliance with global and industry security standards for enhanced protection
Vult
Vultr allows you to deploy Drupal with a single click on their reliable cloud VM. With their global data centers, you can host your Drupal site near your target audience for better performance.
Key features of Drupal hosting with Vultr include:
- Inbuilt DDoS mitigation and IPv6 support for improved security
- Public+private IP for added convenience and flexibility
- Intel CPU and SSD-powered servers for high performance
Bluehost
Bluehost offers a wide range of hosting packages for Drupal websites, catering to beginners and seasoned professionals alike.
Key features of Bluehost’s Drupal hosting plans include:
- Free domain for the first year
- Free CDN and SSL for improved site performance and security
- Unlimited websites, making it suitable for managing multiple Drupal sites
- Daily backups to protect your data from loss
- 24/7 chat support and phone assistance for timely troubleshooting
GreenGeeks
GreenGeeks takes environmental responsibility seriously, offering a 300% green energy match. It provides climate-friendly Drupal hosting without compromising on features and performance.
Key features of GreenGeeks Drupal hosting include:
- Free SSL and professional email for enhanced security and communication
- Free CDN and domain for the first year
- Daily backups for data protection
- 24/7 support to address any issues promptly
- Multiple user accounts for team collaboration
Conclusion
In conclusion, Drupal might not enjoy the same level of popularity as WordPress, but it undoubtedly holds its own as a powerful and secure CMS. With its extensive security framework and capability to handle complex content structures, Drupal is an excellent choice for businesses and organizations looking for a robust website solution.
To get the most out of Drupal, selecting the right web hosting platform is crucial. The hosting providers mentioned in this article offer specialized Drupal optimization, ensuring your website runs smoothly and efficiently. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned Drupal developer, these hosting platforms provide the right tools and support to help you succeed.
So, if you’re ready to take your website to the next level with Drupal, choose a reliable hosting provider from our list and experience the power of this formidable CMS.
FAQs
What is Drupal?
Drupal is an open-source Content Management System (CMS) that runs on PHP and is distributed under the GNU General Public License. It is designed for building websites and web applications.
How popular is Drupal compared to WordPress?
Drupal ranks 3rd in the list of most popular CMS globally, with WordPress and Joomla holding the top 2 spots. It powers 2.3% of sites in the world, and its market share is 4.7%.
Why is Drupal considered secure?
Drupal is known for its robust security framework, making it a preferred choice for big companies and government agencies. Its security measures protect websites from potential threats and vulnerabilities.
Which hosting platform is best for Drupal?
The best hosting platform for Drupal depends on your specific needs and preferences. Some popular choices include Nexcess, Cloudways, A2 Hosting, Kamatera, and Platform. sh.
What are some recommended Drupal hosting features?
Recommended features for Drupal hosting include PHP 7 support, built-in cache, free SSL, backups, and excellent customer support to address technical queries promptly.
