WordPress hosting in Switzerland: what to look for when choosing

You can recognise good WordPress hosting not by the lowest starting price but by five points: current PHP versions, server-side caching, a staging environment, daily backups with easy restore and openly stated resources. Then come security, email, support and the price after the first year. This guide explains what to look for on each point and ends with a checklist you can use to compare offers directly.

Shared hosting, WordPress hosting or VPS?

Most websites of SMEs, associations and private individuals run without problems on shared hosting set up for WordPress. Your own virtual server only pays off if you need root access, your own software or a lot of power. With an unmanaged VPS, however, you are then also responsible for the server’s updates, security and backups.

PHP version and database

WordPress recommends PHP 8.3 or newer and MySQL 8.0 or newer or MariaDB 10.11 or newer (as of October 2026, wordpress.org). Older PHP versions such as 7.4 still work but no longer receive security updates. Make sure you can choose the PHP version yourself, ideally per domain. That way you can switch after a test and go back if there are problems.

Tip: You can see the active PHP version in the WordPress dashboard under Tools → Site Health, on the Info tab. WordPress also shows recommendations for the server there.

Caching: LiteSpeed, LSCache and object cache

Without a cache, WordPress rebuilds every page from PHP and the database on every request. A page cache delivers the finished page directly and noticeably shortens the server’s response time. A cache that works inside the web server itself is the most effective:

• LiteSpeed web server with the LiteSpeed Cache plugin (LSCache): the cache runs directly in the server, the plugin controls it from WordPress and clears it automatically when you change content.
• Nginx or Apache with a cache plugin or a cache in front of the server: also effective, often with a little more setup work.
• Object cache with Redis: keeps frequent database queries in memory and helps above all with WooCommerce, members’ areas and other pages that cannot be fully cached.

Ask whether the cache is already set up or whether you need to configure it yourself. A cache that is not switched on does nothing.

Staging and automatic updates

A staging environment is a copy of your website where you test plugin updates, a new theme or a new PHP version before visitors notice anything. Good offers create the copy in one click and then push the changes to the live website.

Updates are the most important protection against attacks, because many security holes affect outdated plugins and themes. Since WordPress 5.5, automatic updates for plugins and themes can be switched on directly in the dashboard. A hosting control panel that manages updates for all websites centrally and creates a backup automatically before each update is very practical.

Backups and restore

A backup is only as good as the restore. Clarify these questions before you order:

• Is there a daily backup, and how many days can you go back?
• Are files, database and emails included?
• Can you restore yourself, including single files or just the database, or do you need a support ticket?
• Does a restore cost anything?
• Can you download a full backup, for example for a later change of provider?

Tip: Every now and then, make your own backup as well and store it outside the hosting. That way you always have a copy, even if you change provider or an account is deleted by mistake.

Security: firewall, malware scan and 2FA

WordPress is the most widely used CMS and therefore a frequent target of automated attacks on login pages and known plugin vulnerabilities. Look for these points in your hosting:

• a web application firewall (WAF) that blocks typical attacks such as mass password guessing on wp-login.php or xmlrpc.php,
• a malware scanner that checks files continuously and reports or removes malicious code,
• separated accounts, so that a hacked neighbouring account cannot access your files,
• free SSL certificates that are issued and renewed automatically,
• two-factor authentication (2FA) for the client area and the control panel.

For WordPress itself, two-factor login is available through plugins. Enable it at least for all administrators. The Federal Office for Cybersecurity (NCSC) publishes recommendations on protecting websites and accounts.

Resources: RAM, CPU and inodes

There is no such thing as «unlimited» in hosting; there is always a limit somewhere. Reputable providers state it openly. These values matter for WordPress:

Also ask whether resources are allocated to each account. Then a neighbouring website with a lot of traffic will not slow yours down.

Email, support and renewal price

Many WordPress plans include mailboxes for your domain. Check how many mailboxes and how much storage are included and whether SPF, DKIM and DMARC can be set up. Without these records your emails quickly end up in spam.

With support, what counts is who answers and how: by ticket, phone or email, in which language, and whether they also help with WordPress questions or only with the infrastructure. A free migration of your existing website is a plus.

Finally, do not compare only the price in the first year. Some offers include discounts that end after 12 or 24 months. Calculate the costs over three years, including domain and VAT, and check the price at which the plan renews.

Checklist: comparing WordPress hosting

1. PHP 8.3 or newer available, version selectable by you.
2. Server-side page cache, for example LiteSpeed with LSCache; Redis as well for shops.
3. Staging copy in one click.
4. Automatic updates for core, plugins and themes, with a backup before the update.
5. Daily backups, restore by yourself and free of charge.
6. WAF, malware scan, free SSL and two-factor authentication.
7. Openly stated limits for RAM, CPU and inodes.
8. Mailboxes with SPF, DKIM and DMARC.
9. Reachable support and help with the migration.
10. Same renewal price or a clearly stated one, costs calculated over three years.

Example: HostOn’s WordPress plans

HostOn’s WordPress plans run on LiteSpeed servers with NVMe storage. LiteSpeed Cache is pre-configured, staging and automatic updates are included, JetBackup makes daily backups and Imunify360 protects against malware. You choose the PHP version per domain yourself. All plans are billed annually and renew at the same price (incl. VAT, as of October 2026):