Dear readers,
As of June 18th, 2020, SiteGround’s intro prices increased to $6.99, $9.99, and $14.99 per month for StartUp, GrowBig, and GoGeek respectively.
Upon renewal, monthly pricing increases from $6.99 to $14.99 (StartUp), $9.99 to $24.99 (GrowBig), and $14.99 to $39.99 (GoGeek). Yearly, that’s $179.88, $299.98, and $539.98.
As many of you know, I’ve been a SiteGround fan and affiliate for quite some time.
But I have some major concerns about the direction they have gone the last couple years (specifically their ongoing price increases, decline in support, CPU limits, no cPanel, and moving priority support to GoGeek). To me, it looks as if they are doing everything with profits in mind.
The justification was their migration to Google Cloud servers and improvements to SG Optimizer. Speeds are faster, but they still haven’t fixed the other issues. In fact, when I go on Facebook and search “SiteGround” nearly half the posts are complaints. I can’t sit here, silent, pretending I’m doing what’s best for my readers. In fact, I already changed all my hosting recommendations to Cloudways. I’m writing this to warn you of what I think is happening in their company and how I don’t think they’re the best solution. SiteGround is just not listening.
I highly encourage you to join the WordPress Hosting Facebook Group to stay on top of this industry and see what real people (non-affiliates) are recommending. This whole affiliate marketing world is leading to misinformation and steering people in the wrong direction. While SiteGround used to be the “all in one” go-to hosting company, that’s not that case anymore and it really depends on your individual needs.
I’ve seen most people are moving to Cloudways (shameless affiliate link where you can get 25% off your first month with promo code OMM25) which is now my go-to WordPress hosting recommendation. I wrote them a Facebook review and yes, Cloudways DigitalOcean is who I use now. I tried to stay loyal to SiteGround. I really did, but this is a pretty big slap in the face.
Hristo is aware of what people are saying in Facebook Groups about SiteGround and that they’re losing a lot of business to Muhammed (their community managers).
3 months after this comment, they increase prices:
We’ll see how this plays out, but it looks like I will be referring my readers elsewhere. And it looks like Cloudways.
Sincerely,
Tom (after referring 3,000 people to SiteGround)
I have some websites that I worked hard and now my hosting plan is about to expire in few days. I don’t have any money now due to losing my job 7 months ago after pandemic.
Please give me any idea how can I save my websites? Is there any temporary free solution so I can move all my websites for free?
Dreamhost might be a good option. They’re not great but cheap and you won’t lose your sites.
Managed Cloud Hosting, Cloudways is good or we should go with unmanaged Cloud Hosting?
Like Linode, Vultr, Digital Ocean & etc.. .
Cloudways is basically a middleman between you and your cloud provider. You pay more on Cloudways because they do the server management. Unless you’re familiar with managing a server, I recommend managed.
Hi, it is finally good to see one of their loyal affiliates and customers come-out and say it.
Siteground has become a cult. If you look at all the Facebook groups that Hristo manages, they basically attack people for mentioning anything negative about Siteground.
It is funny because I see a pattern of SG Optimizer basically copying Wp Rocket. I don’t really see anything special with that.
Hristo get extremely defensive when people point out that SG Optimizer is not the best speed plugin as claimed.
No hosting company’s community manager should be an Admin for a Facebook Group. I’ve seen enough of this type of corruption to know it’s not best for the people.
renewal charges are 30$ / mo, can you imagine?
Nope, I can’t and I won’t.
Hey Tom,
I have joined the 2 Facebook groups you mention and FINALLY found real people with REAL Wordpress experiences.
So much value in these communities.
Thanks for the advice!
:) just be careful, Hristo from SiteGround is literally an admin for the WordPress Speed Up Group and “talking bad about SiteGround” is monitored. Another one I would join is WP Speed Matters: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wpspeedmatters/
The only true blogger on the internet. Everyone is keeping their mouth shut as they are affiliates. They are keep writing good stuff i dare you, you wont find one blogger or marketer telling you the truth because SiteGround offers high commission to them
I too am very disappointed in the gradual removing of support options, as well as the sudden dramatic price increase.
Perhaps this new price reflects their true position in the market – as a more premium, high quality host. But I wish they had given affiliates more warning, and still included an affordable beginner package. For much of my audience, this price makes them out of reach.
So gutting.
I wish it did reflect their true position, and I’m sure that’s what they will argue, but I think there “position” has gone down, not up.
Hey Tom! I LOVE your content but don’t receive any updates when new blog posts are published! (I have also registered to the “Get the low down” form). Is there any RSS feed for OnlineMediaMasters?
Thanks!
I know I am so bad with posting on social media and sending out newsletters. I will start sending out more newsletters because there’s no RSS feed. I’ll be sending out more with updates/new articles, I promise. Thanks so much for your support Pablo.
Well, the prices was already increase today. As an affiliate, I am very dissapointed, same like you.