ASUS Laptops – my experience

In the summer of 2022 I bought an ASUS laptop from BestBuy. It came with an internal SSD and an empty internal bay for a 2.5" drive. I didn't install a second drive until October and when I booted up it would not recognize the added drive. When I took it back to BestBuy the tech said that the problem was that the port that the drive connected to was corroded (very odd for a new machine). Because it was under warranty I had the laptop sent back to ASUS for repair. I also sent the added drive and cable with a description of the problem.

The laptop was shipped back within four days with a note stating "the customer's problem has been resolved. I am skeptical by nature so I got the BestBuy tech to boot the laptop in the store. We were both surprised to see that the drive was not recognized. To further test, the tech swapped my drive with a new SSD. This drive as well was not recognized and after a bit of haggling they agreed to take the laptop back and refund my money. My reasoning was that the laptop had a problem that ASUS was unable to fix.

ASUS did not make a similar unit at the time (I was unwilling to try another of the same) so I waited until December 26 and found another ASUS that had what I wanted. Unfortunately it did not take long for problems to start.

One of my requirements was a back-lit keyboard. The way it is supposed to work is for the back-lighting to be lit while the keyboard, mouse, or touchpad are in use, and for about 30 seconds after. Once the lighting goes out it is supposed to stay out until user activity is detected. Frequently, after timing out, the back-lighting does not come back on. I have to press Fn+F7 to cycle to the next back-lighting level (it goes low-medium-high-off). This is a pain to have to do in the dark or in low light.

The second problem was with the USB port on the left side. I have my mouse antenna plugged in there, and I would go through periods where I would get the disconnect/reconnect sound. Running a USB logger app showed me that the port was spontaneously toggling. Putting the antenna in the right side port did not show the same problem.

Because it was under warranty I again returned it for repair. The left USB is now working properly but the back-lighting is still timing out.

And yesterday a third problem arose. Unlike most laptops that have a dedicated power port, this unit has two USB C ports, both of which can accept the power cord. It makes sense. Since USB ports are powered, why not do double duty and use them for power/charging. In a pinch I can run on battery and have the use of all ports (two USB C and two USB 3). But now one of the USB C ports is getting flaky. I keep getting a pop-up indicating that I keep switching from AC to Battery.

Fortunately my warranty has not expired so it looks like it will be taking yet another trip back for service.

If you are considering an ASUS laptop I suggest you do some research to see how they measure up to the competition. My experience has not been positive.

Telemetry Pipelines Workshop: Introduction To Fluent Bit

Are you ready to get started with cloud-native observability with telemetry pipelines?

This article is part of a series exploring a workshop guiding you through the open source project Fluent Bit, what it is, a basic installation, and setting up the first telemetry pipeline project. Learn how to manage your cloud-native data from source to destination using the telemetry pipeline phases covering collection, aggregation, transformation, and forwarding from any source to any destination.

Building a Sustainable Data Ecosystem

Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative technology with vast potential for innovation across various sectors. However, the widespread adoption of generative AI raises significant concerns regarding privacy, fairness, and accountability, particularly in data sharing. 

This article explores policy approaches to foster collaboration while safeguarding privacy in generative AI. We examine the fundamentals of generative AI and data-sharing practices, highlighting the ethical and societal implications. Building upon existing policy foundations, we propose critical principles for guiding policy development, emphasizing transparency, accountability, and fairness. 

Understanding Softmax Activation Function for AI/ML Engineers

In the realm of machine learning and deep learning, activation functions play a pivotal role in neural networks' ability to make complex decisions and predictions. Among these, the softmax activation function stands out, especially in classification tasks where outcomes are mutually exclusive. This article delves into the softmax function, offering insights into its workings, applications, and significance in the field of artificial intelligence (AI).

Softmax Activation Function

Image credits: Towards Data Science

Understanding the Power of AWS Organizations: Streamlining Cloud Management

In the rapidly evolving landscape of cloud computing, managing multiple AWS accounts efficiently while ensuring security and compliance can be a daunting task. As businesses scale their operations on the cloud, the need for centralized management of resources becomes increasingly critical. In response to this challenge, AWS introduced a powerful solution: AWS Organizations. This service empowers organizations to centrally manage and govern multiple AWS accounts, streamlining operations, enhancing security, and facilitating compliance with organizational policies.

What Is AWS Organizations?

AWS Organizations is a cloud management service provided by Amazon Web Services (AWS) that simplifies the administration of multiple AWS accounts within an organization. It offers a consolidated view and control over resources, enabling administrators to centrally manage policies, budgets, and security settings across all linked accounts.

21 Best WordPress Themes for bbPress

Are you looking for the best WordPress themes for bbPress?

bbPress lets you add forums to your WordPress site easily. However, it’s important to choose a theme that will work well for creating an online forum. Many WordPress themes are not suitable for bbPress.

In this article, we will share some of the best WordPress themes for bbPress that you can use.

Best WordPress Themes for bbPress

Building a Forum With bbPress and WordPress

WordPress is the ideal platform to build an online community. Aside from creating a blog, you can easily add a forum to your website using a plugin such as bbPress.

For an online community website, you will need self-hosted WordPress.org. It’s super flexible and supports all themes and plugins.

Before you can create your website, you will need to sign up for a WordPress hosting account. All websites need hosting, which is like your website’s home on the internet.

You also need a domain name for your site. Your domain name is your website’s address, like wpbeginner.com.

We recommend using Bluehost for your web hosting. They are one of the largest hosting companies and an official WordPress-recommended hosting provider.

Bluehost offer for WPBeginner readers

For WPBeginner users, Bluehost offers a free domain name, a free SSL certificate, and a huge discount on web hosting. You can get started for just $2.75/month.

After signing up for hosting, you can go ahead and install WordPress. For more details, you should check out our guide on how to make a WordPress website.

The next step is to install bbPress. Then, you should follow this step-by-step guide on how to add a forum in WordPress.

Now, let’s take a look at our handpicked list of the best WordPress themes for bbPress that you can use.

1. Astra

Astra

Astra is a fast WordPress theme with a multipurpose design that lets you create any type of website. It also comes with several built-in templates that support the bbPress forum plugin.

With drag-and-drop page builders like Beaver Builder, you can fully customize your forum website’s colors, fonts, background, and so on. Astra is compatible with WordPress membership plugins to let people sign up as members on your website.

Plus, Astra has a great admin panel that links straight to key settings in the live customizer. This also lets you easily add free plugins. With Astra Pro, you get lots of additional customization options as well.

2. OceanWP

OceanWP

OceanWP is a classic WordPress free theme and makes a great forum theme, too. It provides a 1-click demo content importer and multiple ready-made templates to launch your forum website quickly.

It includes both free and premium layouts that are easy to customize using a page builder. The theme is translation-ready, which means you can create a multilingual forum website for your business.

With the premium version of OceanWP, you can add special Elementor widgets to your site. These include Ajax search (live search), Google Maps, animated headings, and much more.

3. Divi

Divi

Divi is a beautiful WordPress theme and the ultimate visual builder to create any kind of website. It has hundreds of page layouts, including bbPress templates and landing pages.

Divi lets beginners set up forums without writing any code. With loads of customization options, you can freely choose from unlimited colors, text styles, header styles, and more for your online community website.

You don’t need to know any CSS to tweak how your site looks. You get the full range of Google Fonts with Divi, as well as lots of useful icons. You can even buy extra Divi modules to get things like an events calendar for your site.

4. Neve

Neve

Neve is a modern WordPress theme designed for any type of website. It integrates with drag-and-drop page builder plugins like Elementor and Visual Composer to let you create and customize forum pages.

The theme is highly optimized for SEO to help your site rank well in Google and other search engines. It’s also compatible with popular caching plugins to load your pages fast.

5. Ultra

Ultra

Ultra is a premium WordPress theme that ships with Themify Builder and fully integrates with the bbPress plugin to create an online forum. It has header and footer layouts that let you add a custom logo and useful links.

For a quick setup, Ultra also comes with a few ready-made templates that you can use. More features include the free builder addons, background options, parallax scrolling, and a mega menu.

Ultra uses responsive design and is retina-ready. That means your site will look great on all devices at all screen sizes.

6. ForumEngine

ForumEngine

ForumEngine is a user-friendly community WordPress theme that’s great for creating a WordPress forum with bbPress for social interaction. It lets users reply to questions, like answers, post links, add photos, and more.

It’s highly customizable from the front end to change colors, fonts, and so on. You can also use your forum to show ads and make money online.

7. ForumPress

ForumPress

ForumPress is an excellent WordPress bbPress theme. It lets you create forums so your users can discuss topics and start conversations. Other than that, it offers lightning-fast search, demo content, personalization options, quick and easy setup, and more.

ForumPress supports all popular WordPress plugins to extend the features and functionality of your online forum. You could even add elements like an online store to your website to help with monetizing your forum.

8. Insight

Insight

Insight is a highly flexible WordPress theme suitable for bbPress forums, blogs, and news websites. It ships with color schemes and also allows you to create your own color schemes.

This theme offers both grid and list layouts to display your blog posts. Insight is translation-ready and can also be used to build multilingual websites using WPML.

9. Hestia Pro

Hestia Pro

Hestia Pro is a multipurpose WordPress theme built for all kinds of websites. It’s fully compatible with bbPress, and you can use it for business websites, online communities, or blogs.

It comes with advanced features like a mega menu, custom backgrounds, full live customizer support, WooCommerce compatibility, and more. Plus, it integrates with translation plugins and supports RTL languages.

10. BuddyX Theme

BuddyX

BuddyX Theme is a WordPress social networking theme that allows you to set up a community forum site. It also lets you create a membership site, social learning platform, and social marketplace.

The outlook of the theme looks like a social media platform. It shows the recent activity and other sections on the homepage. You can also add a login form for users to sign in to the site.

BuddyX is a good choice for membership sites, gaming communities, and other online forum sites.

11. Magazine Pro

Magazine Pro

Magazine Pro is a powerful WordPress theme for bbPress and magazine websites. It features a spacious minimalist layout to help showcase your content prominently.

Magazine Pro is eCommerce-ready and comes with a theme options panel. The theme’s homepage features widget areas and a fully customizable header. Plus, it’s compatible with all popular plugins.

StudioPress is now part of WP Engine, the most popular managed WordPress hosting company. You can get this theme and all 35+ other StudioPress themes when you sign up for WP Engine hosting to build your website.

Bonus: WPBeginner users also get an additional 20% OFF. Get started with WP Engine today!

12. Excellent

Excellent

Excellent is a free bbPress compatible WordPress theme with flexibility and easy setup. You can use it to create any website, but it focuses on business sites and comes with a sleek homepage layout.

With Excellent, you get a contact form template, gallery template, corporate template, and multiple sidebars. It is also a good option for a support forum.

13. Answers

Answers

Answers is a fantastic bbPress WordPress theme. It lets you create a forum or online community to let users post questions and answers easily.

The best thing about this theme is that both you and your visitors can vote for the top answers on the forum. This will help users find the best solutions for any question.

You can also customize Answers using widgets and even shortcodes. A number of custom widgets are included to help you.

14. Noozbeat

Noozbeat

Noozbeat is a clean and modern WordPress theme for bbPress with a news/magazine-style layout. It has a fully widgetized homepage layout, which lets you drag and drop widgets to set up the website.

It has multiple featured post layouts, custom widgets for social media integration, and color control on your theme. For customization, the Noozbeat theme works with all popular WordPress page builder plugins out of the box.

15. Mags

Mags

Mags is a WordPress magazine and newspaper theme with bbPress support to create sports, fashion, travel, and other community websites. It’s a great option if you want to build an online community for your business.

Apart from bbPress support, Mags also includes custom widgets and content discovery features. It has a beautiful homepage template with multiple sidebar and content layouts.

Mags is a fully responsive WordPress theme. Plus, it lets you add an email subscription option using the WPForms plugin and lets your users sign up for your email newsletter.

16. Webenvo

Webenovo

Webenvo is a free WordPress theme with a minimalist approach to design and a traditional blog layout for the homepage. It’s fully compatible with bbPress and WooCommerce and could make a good theme for a company’s knowledge base.

Basic also includes a full-width page template and optional sidebar templates. It lets you add a custom header and background image. Plus, you can manage layout options using the WordPress theme customizer.

17. BuddyBoss

BuddyBoss

BuddyBoss is designed specifically as a bbPress and BuddyPress theme (BuddyPress is social network software for WordPress). It lets you create a social interaction website from scratch within a few minutes.

Some of BuddyBoss’s key features include a custom logo, live notifications, sitewide search, compatibility with WordPress translation plugins, and more. It also lets you create beautiful forms to connect with your users professionally.

18. Square

Square

Square is a free WordPress theme for business websites with bbPress support. The homepage layout uses a slider at the top, followed by different sections.

It lets you set up and customize theme options like the slider, header image, background image, and more. Square is also WooCommerce-ready to add payment solutions easily.

19. Altitude Pro

Altitude Pro

Altitude Pro is a multipurpose WordPress theme. It comes with a spacious layout, beautiful typography, and simple theme options.

It supports bbPress to create an online community for your business. The theme includes a widgetized homepage, a customizable header area, and background choices.

20. Presence

Presence

Presence is a great option for many types of bbPress communities. It’s a WordPress multipurpose theme with a clean and modern layout.

Presence includes multiple demo templates for different kinds of websites, including business, blog, magazine, education, real estate, hotels, and more.

Each site comes with its demo content and unique features. Presence is simple to set up but offers lots of flexibility and different theme options.

21. Nayma

Nayma

Nayma is a stunning WordPress all-purpose theme. It lets you create pages with modules easily. It’s fully compatible with bbPress and comes with ready-to-use websites.

It offers modules for pricing tables, carousels, sliders, testimonials, portfolio, services, and so on. The theme setup is easy, even for absolute beginners.

We hope this article helped you find the best WordPress themes for bbPress. You may also want to check out our other WordPress guides for your community and forum site.

Best WordPress Guides for bbPress Forum Sites

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post 21 Best WordPress Themes for bbPress first appeared on WPBeginner.

Optimizing Model Training: Strategies and Challenges in Artificial Intelligence

When you train a model, you send data through the network multiple times. Think of it like wanting to become the best basketball player. You aim to improve your shooting, passing, and positioning to minimize errors. Similarly, machines use repeated exposure to data to recognize patterns.

This article will focus on a fundamental concept called backward propagation. After reading, you'll understand:

Hosted IVR: Is It Really What Your Customers Want?

Customers have grown accustomed to the perks, flexibility, and convenience of cloud computing-hosted platforms. In customer service terms, these include personalized interactions, 24/7 access, self-service options, and AI-enhanced features.  A hosted interactive voice response (IVR) is an automated telephone system that operates from a remote server, which users can access […]

The post Hosted IVR: Is It Really What Your Customers Want? appeared first on .

WebSocket vs. Server-Sent Events: Choosing the Best Real-Time Communication Protocol

In today's dynamic web development world, real-time communication technologies are essential for building dynamic and interactive user experiences. From online games and live conversations to real-time notifications and collaborative editing platforms, these technologies guarantee that users quickly receive and interact with real data.

WebSockets and Server-Sent Events (SSE) are popular protocols for their special functions and roles supporting real-time web applications. This article analyzes these two well-known technologies thoroughly and comprehends each. Together with new technology, we will examine their working principles, practical uses, and difficulties. By doing this, we hope to provide developers with the information they need to choose the best protocol for their real-time communication requirements, guaranteeing user experience and optimal performance.

Azure Stream Analytics Upsert Operation Using Cosmos DB

Azure Stream Analytics provides the ability to perform upsert operations, but currently, this feature is only supported through Cosmos DB. Upsert operations allow you to update existing records or insert new ones based on specific criteria, enabling efficient data management within your streaming pipelines. By leveraging Cosmos DB's flexible and scalable NoSQL database capabilities, Azure Stream Analytics empowers you to seamlessly handle upsert operations, ensuring data consistency and accuracy in real-time processing scenarios. Explore the power of Azure Stream Analytics with Cosmos DB integration and unlock new possibilities for stream processing in your applications. 

To perform upsert operations with Azure Stream Analytics using Cosmos DB, you can follow these general steps:

How to Setup RAID10 on Dell Servers

When it comes to IT Infrastructure, there are several components that play a vital role in a successful deployment, storage is one such component and it plays a crucial role in keeping the data safe and secure. Understanding different types of storage configurations is important and today we will discuss how we can achieve redundancy and performance by using RAID arrays. RAID stands for Redundant Array of Inexpensive/Independent Disks and RAID supports various types of configuration and in this article, we will focus on hardware RAID10 setup on DELL servers and if you are new to RAID and would like to learn more about it please go through this information.

Step 1

Boot the server and wait until you see the option to enter into RAID configuration <Ctrl + R> and once you enter into the configuration menu navigate through VD mgmt and PD mgmt screens and look for the available physical disks on the server. 

Devin Might Be Fake, Yet AI’s Threat to Jobs Is Real.

The creators of an automated software engineer tout their AI's capability to independently tackle complete coding projects, including actual tasks from Upwork. While skepticism is warranted regarding Devin's authenticity, the risk of AI displacing professionals across numerous fields is undeniable.

will-code-for-food.jpg

On Tuesday, Cognition Labs, based in San Francisco, unveiled Devin, an AI software engineer, eliciting astonishment from the public. The team behind Devin claims it can autonomously finish entire coding projects using its integrated shell, code editor, and web browser. They further assert that Devin has successfully executed real assignments on Upwork, a popular platform for freelancers all over the world. To substantiate their claims, they present impressive data: Devin purportedly solves 13.86% of programming challenges unassisted. This marks a significant advancement over other leading models, such as Claude 2, which resolves just 1.96% of tasks unassisted and 4.80% with aid (i.e., when told exactly which files to edit).

Although dozens of news outlets picked up Devins story, at this point the possibility cant be excluded that the demo has been tampered with and the actual software does not deliver the promised performance (see below). Nevertheless, the emergence of AI software engineering is undeniable, and it is only a question of time until single applications can independently manage entire projects.

devin-statistics.JPG
Source: Cognition Labs

While a "success rate" of approximately 13%, as claimed by Devins developers, might seem innocent on first sight, considering the rapid evolution of AI technologies, it is clear where this is going. Tools like Devin could soon handle the majority of programming duties, potentially rendering vast segments of the workforce obsolete. Software developers and programmers are responding with a blend of job loss anxiety and gallows humor to the demo.

However, upon closer examination, discrepancies in the Devin-preview and the demo videos, along with questions about Cognition Lab's legitimacy and expertise have sparked speculation that Devin might be a nothing more than an elaborate investment scam. A look at their LinkedIn reveals that Cognition Labs, which claims to outperform some of the biggest players in AI automatization, was founded only months ago and counts less than 10 employees. It is unclear how such a small team could have achieved such a giant leap in such a short time. Hence, until the software is publicly released and proves its outstanding capabilities to be real, I shall remain skeptical of this particular application.

Why Freelancing Isnt Dead (Yet)

The rise of AI will certainly impact the lives and careers of many freelancers, from voice artists to coders. Looking back at more than a decade as a freelance copywriter myself, I can say I havent seen a year as crazy as the last 12 months, with clients requests and needs performing a 180 turn more than once (or twice). A look at message boards reveals that many freelancers are having trouble finding work and are losing long-time clients left and right. The mood is gloomy, as many are struggling but hesitant to reorient themselves, fearing that AI will acquire whatever skills they aim for faster than they can.

This is a valid concern. I do believe that there will always be some need for work that carries a human touche.g., in copywriting, performing well in a niche requires cultural knowledge, experience, and an ability to relate to people in a way that an LLM can pretend, but not fully achieve. However, to me, it is also crystal clear that we can count the days until LLMs and other AI solutions are capable of taking care of 95% of tasks formerly performed by highly trained professionals.

But at least in the short to mid-term, I argue that freelance work in copywriting, coding, sales, illustrating, etc., is not dead. All these industries are still adjusting to the AI revolution, and developments progress faster than they can keep up with. As professionals, we must fill this gap and become the interface between a clients requirements, state-of-the-art tech solutions, and our own expertise. This way, AI becomes an augmentation of our work, not a replacement.

Of course, the overall reduction of work hours required to realize a project will be an issue and put pressure on the job market. Economically, how we deal with AI is one of the biggest questions of this century, and chances are our discussion cant keep pace with developments. Freelancers, however, should not throw in the towel yet. Every industry changes, and as experts/professionals, its our job to keep up with those changes, adapt, and acquire new skills if necessary. Admittedly, change has never been this rapid before, and it is only natural to feel overwhelmed. But with the right attitude and a proactive approach towards the new tools popping up around us, it will be possible to adjust and grow through these unprecedented times.

The Ultimate Guide to Kubernetes: Maximizing Benefits, Exploring Use Cases, and Adopting Best Practices

In today's fast-paced world of technology, efficient application deployment and management are crucial. Kubernetes, a game-changing platform for container orchestration, is at the forefront of this evolution. At Atmosly, we leverage Kubernetes to empower organizations in navigating the rapidly evolving digital landscape, offering solutions that intertwine with Kubernetes' strengths to enhance your technological capabilities.

What Is Kubernetes?

Kubernetes, or K8s, is a revolutionary container orchestration system born at Google. It has become a cornerstone of contemporary IT infrastructure, providing robust solutions for deploying, scaling, and managing containerized applications. At Atmosly, we integrate Kubernetes into our offerings, ensuring our clients benefit from its scalable, reliable, and efficient nature.

I Deployed My Own Cute Lil’ Private Internet (aka VPC)

Recently, I had the pleasure of attending DeveloperWeek in Oakland, CA. In addition to working the Akamai booth, making new friends, and spreading the good word of cloud computing, my teammate, Talia and I were tasked with creating a demo to showcase the new VPC product.

Background

A Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) enables private communication between two cloud compute instances, isolating network traffic from other internet users, thus improving security.

Logging and Monitoring in Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI)

Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) is a cloud computing platform that provides a full range of services for developing, deploying, and managing applications and infrastructure. To assure the performance, security, and cost-effectiveness of your cloud-based resources in OCI, robust logging and monitoring are required. In this post, we will look at the significance of logging and monitoring in OCI, as well as numerous alternatives and best practices for logging and monitoring, as well as prominent OCI services and tools that may assist you in achieving these goals.

The Importance of Logging and Monitoring in OCI

Before delving into the technical aspects of logging and monitoring in OCI, it’s crucial to understand why these activities are vital in a cloud-based environment.

6 Best Cheap WordPress Hosting (Compared)

Are you looking for a cheap hosting plan for your WordPress website?

When creating a new WordPress website, you will need to choose a hosting provider and a domain name. If you are starting out with a limited budget, then you need an affordable option.

In this article, we will share some of the best cheap WordPress hosting plans.

Best Cheap WordPress Hosting

Why Choose Cheap WordPress Hosting?

When you create a WordPress website, you will need to pay for two things: a web hosting plan and a domain name. Web hosting is where your website files and content are stored, and a domain name is the address your users will use to visit your site.

Because all websites need these, WordPress hosting prices are very competitive and often cover the cost of your domain name for the first year.

If you are just starting out or have a tight budget, then you may be looking for the best cheap hosting you can find. Or you might prefer not to spend much on hosting if you are creating a test website or a site for students to practice on.

We recommend that you avoid free website hosting. These companies may try to save money by limiting your website traffic, and will often try to make money by displaying ads or upselling their other services, leading to a poor experience for you and your visitors.

You will have a better experience by choosing an inexpensive plan from one of the best web hosting companies.

How to Get the Best Cheap WordPress Hosting

Reputable web hosting companies usually offer multiple pricing options so that you can find something that fits your needs and budget. Here are a few ways you can save money.

Save Money on Hosting by Choosing the Cheapest Plan

If you are just starting out or have simple needs, then you can save money by choosing the cheapest plan the hosting company offers.

But be aware that you get what you pay for. A company’s cheapest hosting plan is designed to save beginners money and is cheap because it is limited.

Hosting Plan With Cheapest Price

For example, the cheapest plans can usually only host one website and offer less storage space than more expensive plans. They also may lack features offered by other plans.

So make sure that the cheapest plan meets your needs before you choose it.

Save Money on Hosting Using an Introductory Offer or Coupon Code

Most hosting companies offer heavy discounts to new customers. That means when you first sign up for hosting, you will be paying a fraction of what the hosting normally costs.

To save even more money, you can use one of our coupon codes. We have negotiated the best web hosting deals for WPBeginner readers, so make sure you don’t miss out.

Save Money on Hosting by Paying in Advance

To get the special initial price, most hosting companies will need you to pay at least a year in advance. That’s a good thing and will save you money because you will be charged the normal amount when it is time to renew your hosting.

You can save even more money by paying for multiple years in advance. Some hosting companies allow you to pay for 3-4 years upfront.

Pay in Advance to Save Money on Hosting

Save Money on Hosting by Considering the Renewal Price

If you are looking to save money in the long term, then make sure you consider the renewal cost. The introductory discount lasts for just one payment, and the renewal price is what you will be paying for years to come.

Check Your Hosting Plan's Renewal Price

By default, most web companies will automatically renew your hosting for the same period as when you first signed up. You can save money by renewing 12 months or more in advance.

Lower Individual Payments by Paying Month-to-Month

To get the best deal on web hosting, you need to pay for a year or more in advance. While you will be saving money in the long term, your individual payments will cost more.

If you have limited money on hand, then you may prefer to pay for your web hosting month-to-month. While you will end up paying more in the long term, your monthly payments will be more manageable.

Paying for Hosting Month-to-Month

However, since the cheapest web hosting plans cost just over $30 for the first year, we recommend that you choose the month-to-month option only when absolutely necessary.

All that being said, let’s take a look at the best cheap WordPress hosting companies.

1. Bluehost

Bluehost is a good option for beginners, and their budget-friendly plans are suitable for all kinds of websites. They are one of the biggest web hosting companies and an official WordPress-recommended hosting provider.

Learn more in our complete Bluehost review.

Their Basic plan is the cheapest, and this lets you create one website with 10GB of storage and chat support. It also includes a free domain name and SSL certificate for the first year.

If you upgrade to their Choice Plus plan, then you can create 3 websites with 40GB of storage. You will also be able to contact customer support via phone.

Choose a Bluehost hosting plan

Bluehost Pros and Cons

Bluehost is reliable, fast, and affordable. Here are some pros and cons.

Pros:

  • Cheapest hosting prices for new customers
  • Free domain name
  • Free CDN + SSL certificate
  • 1-click WordPress install
  • Excellent customer support
  • Officially recommended by WordPress

Cons:

  • Hosting renewal prices are not as affordable as the cheapest companies
  • Higher renewal price for domains
  • They don’t offer month-to-month hosting

Why We Chose Bluehost

Bluehost offers affordable starter plans that fit any budget requirement, and they are often ranked the #1 web hosting provider. Their hosting plans offer tons of features and excellent support.

Bluehost Pricing

Bluehost offers many payment options. Here are some options for their Basic plan:

  • Month-to-month pricing: Not available
  • Cheapest rate: $1.99 for the first 12 months using our Bluehost coupon
  • First year in advance: $23.88 using our Bluehost coupon
  • Renewal price: $143.88 for 12 months

2. HostGator

HostGator is one of the most popular hosting companies in the world. We consider them one of the best web hosting options for businesses.

You can learn more in our complete HostGator review.

The company’s cheapest plan is the Hatchling Plan, which lets you create a single website with unlimited bandwidth and 10GB of storage. This plan also includes free domain name registration for your first year, but support will be by chat only.

Some users may prefer to upgrade to the Baby plan. This lets you create 2 websites with 20GB of storage and allows you to contact customer support via phone or chat.

HostGator Pricing Plans

HostGator Pros and Cons

HostGator offers reliable web hosting and quality customer service. Here are some of the company’s pros and cons.

Pros:

  • Affordable introductory hosting prices
  • Free domain and SSL certificate
  • Free business email address
  • 1-click WordPress install
  • Reliable web hosting

Cons:

  • The cheapest plan includes chat support only
  • Renewal prices cost more than the cheapest companies
  • Higher monthly pricing
  • HostGator uses a lot of aggressive upselling tactics

Why We Chose HostGator

HostGator offers a variety of fast hosting plans that fit all budgets and requirements. They are trusted by over 2 million customers.

HostGator Pricing

HostGator offers many payment options. Here are some of the pricing options for their Hatchling plan:

  • Month-to-month: $4.78
  • Cheapest rate: $2.52 for the first 36 months using our HostGator coupon
  • First year in advance: $30.84 using our HostGator coupon
  • Renewal price: $143.88 for 12 months

3. DreamHost

DreamHost is one of WordPress.org’s officially recommended hosts. They offer affordable introductory pricing, better-than-average ongoing renewal pricing, a free domain name and SSL certificate, automatic daily backups, and WordPress privacy features.

Learn more in our complete DreamHost review.

DreamHost’s cheapest plan is Shared Starter. This allows you to host one website with unlimited traffic. It includes a free domain name and SSL certificate.

When you upgrade to the Shared Unlimited plan, you can host unlimited websites.

Cheap DreamHost Web Hosting Plans

DreamHost Pros and Cons

DreamHost is known for making web hosting easy and affordable. You might like to see some pros and cons for the company.

Pros:

  • Officially recommended by WordPress
  • Award-winning hosting
  • Affordable introductory deals for new customers
  • The second best ongoing renewal pricing when paying a year or more in advance
  • Best price on month-to-month hosting
  • Free domain name, SSL certificate, and privacy
  • 1-click WordPress install
  • Excellent customer support
  • Automatic daily WordPress backups

Cons:

  • No free business email address

Why We Chose DreamHost

DreamHost offers fast and affordable hosting that is suitable for bloggers, online store owners, developers, and web designers. They are recommended by WordPress, have won many awards, and get excellent reviews from their customers.

DreamHost Pricing

DreamHost offers many payment options. Here are some of the pricing options for their Shared Starter plan:

  • Month-to-month: $4.95 for 3 months, then $7.99
  • Cheapest rate: $2.59 for the first 36 months using our DreamHost coupon
  • First year in advance: $35.40 using our DreamHost coupon
  • Renewal price: $83.88 for 12 months

4. Hostinger

Hostinger is a popular web hosting provider that offers affordable shared hosting plans with great customer support, a free domain name, a free SSL certificate, and more.

You can learn more in our complete Hostinger review.

Their cheapest plan is the Premium plan, which lets you create up to 100 websites with standard performance. It includes a free SSL certificate, unlimited bandwidth, and a free domain name. Customer support is by live chat.

Hostinger Pricing Plans

Hostinger Pros and Cons

Hostinger is a robust platform to host your website. You might like to see some of their other pros and cons.

Pros:

  • Affordable introductory hosting prices
  • Renewal pricing is also the most affordable when paying a year or more in advance
  • 3 months free when you sign up
  • Free SSL certificate
  • 1-click WordPress install
  • Performance-optimized hosting
  • Excellent customer support
  • Many data centers across the world

Cons:

  • Month-to-month pricing is a bit higher and requires an initial setup fee

Why We Chose Hostinger

Hostinger is the best choice for beginners who want to start a website without spending too much money. They offer great introductory deals to new customers, as well as the cheapest ongoing renewal pricing.

Hostinger Pricing

Hostinger offers many payment options, such as these options for their Single plan:

  • Month-to-month: $10.79 plus $4.99 setup fee
  • Cheapest rate: $2.69 per month for the first 48 months using our Hostinger coupon
  • First year in advance: $34.45 using our Hostinger coupon
  • Renewal price: $143.88 for 12 months

5. GreenGeeks

GreenGeeks

GreenGeeks is an environmentally friendly web hosting provider whose goal is to be as effective as possible. Their hosting plans are not the cheapest but offer great performance while saving the planet.

You can learn more in our complete GreenGeeks review.

The cheapest GreenGeeks plan is Lite, which is suitable for small websites that are just getting started. You will be able to host a single website with 50GB of storage space.

The plan includes unlimited bandwidth, a free domain name, a free SSL certificate, a free CDN, and one tree planted.

If you need more, then the Pro plan lets you host unlimited websites with unlimited storage.

Cheap GreenGeeks Web Hosting Plans

GreenGeeks Pros and Cons

GreenGeeks offers affordable plans with plenty of useful features. You might like to see some of their pros and cons.

Pros:

  • Introductory pricing for new customers is competitive
  • A free domain name
  • Free SSL certificate, CDN, and website backups
  • Environmentally-friendly hosting
  • Built-in performance tools, including LiteSpeed caching
  • Great customer support
  • 1-click WordPress install

Cons:

  • Renewal prices are more expensive than the cheapest companies
  • Their phone support isn’t available 24/7

Why We Chose GreenGeeks

GreenGeeks offers web hosting that is environmentally friendly and suitable for anyone who is just starting out.

GreenGeeks Pricing

GreenGeeks offers many payment options, such as these choices for their Lite plan:

  • Month-to-month: $11.95, plus a $15 setup fee
  • Cheapest rate: $2.95 for the first 12 months using our GreenGeeks coupon
  • First year in advance: $35.40 using our GreenGeeks coupon
  • Renewal price: $143.40 for 12 months

6. SiteGround

SiteGround is one of the most recommended WordPress hosting companies. While the introductory deal for new customers is very competitive, renewal prices for their hosting plans are more expensive.

However, SiteGround hosting is very reliable, and they provide a 99.9% uptime guarantee, so many users find the extra cost worthwhile. In fact, we use SiteGround hosting on WPBeginner.

Learn more in our complete SiteGround review.

SiteGround’s most affordable plan is StartUp. It is suitable for one website and includes 10GB of storage space. It also includes a free SSL and CDN, but not a free domain name.

Some users will want to upgrade to the GrowBig plan. It lets you host an unlimited number of websites using 20GB of storage space. However, you will still need to pay separately for a domain name.

Cheap SiteGround Web Hosting Plans

SiteGround Pros and Cons

We find SiteGround hosting to be fast and reliable. Here are some of their pros and cons.

Pros:

  • While SiteGround doesn’t focus on budget hosting, their introductory prices for new customers are comparable to other hosting companies
  • Free domain name, SSL certificate, CDN, and website backups
  • Free website migration
  • 1-click WordPress install
  • Speedy servers powered by Google Cloud
  • Excellent customer support

Cons:

  • Renewal prices are more expensive than other hosting companies

Why We Chose SiteGround

SiteGround focuses on fast and reliable web hosting with great customer support. While they are not the overall cheapest option, they have hosting plans for every budget.

SiteGround Pricing

SiteGround offers many payment options. Here are some of the pricing options for their StartUp plan:

  • Month-to-month: $19.99
  • Cheapest rate: $2.99 for the first 12 months using our SiteGround coupon
  • First year in advance: $35.88 using our SiteGround coupon
  • Renewal price: $215.88 for 12 months

What Is the Best Cheap WordPress Hosting?

Now that we’ve looked at the best cheap WordPress hosting providers, let’s put all of their pricing options into a table so we can compare them more easily.

 Cheapest MonthlyFirst YearAnnual RenewalMonth-to-Month
Bluehost$1.99$23.88$143.88n/a
HostGator$2.52$30.84$143.88$4.78
DreamHost$2.59$35.40$83.88$7.99
Hostinger$2.69$34.45$143.88$10.79
GreenGeeks$2.95$35.40$143.40$11.95
SiteGround$2.99$35.88$215.88$19.99

As you can see, Bluehost has the cheapest introductory pricing for the first year overall. This makes it easy to get started with your first website. However, you will pay more each year from your second year onwards.

HostGator is another good option. Their cheapest introductory rate can be used for the first three years of hosting. This will make the initial payment more expensive but is better value in the long run. Besides that, their renewal price for subsequent years is quite affordable.

Alternatively, DreamHost is a great choice if you are looking for the best cheap hosting. The introductory deal for new customers is very competitive, and the renewal price is the most affordable when paying for 12 months or more in advance.

DreamHost is also the best choice when paying for hosting month-to-month.

However, price is not the only consideration when choosing a hosting plan for your new website. You may like to see our guide on how to choose the best WordPress hosting. It includes a helpful quiz that will help you work through the issues and choose the best option.

FAQs About WordPress Hosting

Over the years, we have helped over 2 million users start their websites, so we hear a lot of questions about WordPress hosting. Here are some of the answers to the most frequently asked questions about WordPress hosting.

What are the costs of creating a new website?

When creating a new website, you will need to pay for web hosting and a domain name. These are ongoing costs that you will need to continue paying as long as your website is live.

Some users may pay additional costs, such as purchasing premium plugins and themes or hiring professional developers and designers.

The cost of building a WordPress website depends on what you need and can range from $100 to as high as $30,000. We have created a detailed guide explaining how much it really costs to build a WordPress website.

Do I need WordPress hosting to start a new website?

Yes, you need to choose a WordPress hosting plan before you can build a WordPress website. This is where your website files are stored.

How do I install WordPress on my WordPress hosting account?

Installing WordPress is easy. Our recommended WordPress hosting providers let you install WordPress easily with a single click.

You can see how this works in our guide on how to install WordPress on your host.

Can I change to a different WordPress hosting provider in the future?

Yes, you can absolutely switch if you are unhappy with your WordPress hosting company or your needs or budget change.

Most WordPress hosting companies offer free migration services, which makes the process fairly smooth. However, if you want to do the migration yourself, then you can follow our step-by-step guide on how to move WordPress to a new host with no downtime.

Should I use free WordPress hosting?

No, we highly recommend that you stay away from free website hosting companies.

That’s because free hosting providers usually put advertisements on your website and in some cases may even distribute malware to your users. They may also shut down your website at any time without any notification.

You can learn more in our guide on why having a ‘free website’ is a bad idea.

Expert Guides for WordPress Hosting

Now that you have learned about the best cheap hosting providers, you may like to see some other guides on WordPress hosting:

We hope this tutorial helped you find the best cheap WordPress hosting. You may also want to see our guide on important reasons why you should use WordPress for your website or our expert pick of the best analytics solutions for WordPress users.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

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