Important Update: Please note that the pricing mentioned in this tutorial may no longer be accurate due to recent changes made by Namecheap. The current price for hosting is approximately $18 excluding the domain cost. Kindly be aware that the screenshots in this tutorial still reflect the previous price of $15.
Beginner’s Guide: Adding Widgets on WordPress This post provides a step-by-step guide on setting up a Namecheap hosting account and installing WordPress using Namecheap’s cPanel. However, for a more comprehensive guide on starting a blog or website from scratch, please refer to my detailed tutorial on How to Start a WordPress Blog.
While Namecheap is widely recognized for domain name registrations, they also offer affordable web hosting services along with SSL certificates and private email hosting.
Namecheap is an excellent choice for individuals on a tight budget who wish to start a blog. By opting for Namecheap, you can create a self-hosted WordPress blog for approximately $18 per year (excluding the domain cost). This allows you to have full control and access over your blog, offering numerous advantages compared to a free hosted WordPress blog.
Before we proceed, let’s consider the pros and cons of using Namecheap as your web hosting provider.
Pros of Namecheap Hosting:
- User-Friendly Interface: Namecheap provides an easy-to-use interface.
- cPanel: Namecheap utilizes cPanel, a popular control panel for website management.
- Free SSL Certificate: Their basic plan includes a free SSL certificate.
- Storage and Bandwidth: You’ll receive 20GB SSD storage and unlimited bandwidth.
- Multiple Websites: The basic plan allows you to host up to three websites.
- Regular cPanel Backups: Backups are performed twice a week.
Cons of Namecheap Hosting:
- Support Speed: The speed of their live support may vary based on your plan type.
- Support Quality: The support quality may not be as good as that of SiteGround.
Please Note: One notable drawback of Namecheap is the quality and speed of their live support when compared to SiteGround. If you prioritize excellent live support and lack technical expertise, SiteGround might be a more suitable choice for your web hosting needs. However, if you are comfortable troubleshooting on your own and do not heavily rely on live support, Namecheap is more than sufficient.
The primary reason to choose Namecheap is its affordability. With a payment of $18 for 1-year hosting, you receive satisfactory services and support.
If you are ready to proceed with Namecheap, let’s begin.
Step 1: Choose Your Namecheap Hosting Account Plan Visit the Namecheap website and select the “Stellar” hosting account plan. This plan provides 20GB SSD storage, allows hosting for three websites, offers unmetered bandwidth, and includes a Positive SSL certificate. These features are more than sufficient for beginners.
The cost for the first year is approximately $17.28, with a renewal cost of around $33.88.
Step 2: Select Your Domain Name Namecheap offers four options for selecting a domain:
- I want to get a FREE .website domain: While Namecheap’s Stellar plan allows you to register a free .website domain, it is not recommended for creating a blog.
- Purchase a new domain: If you do not have a domain name, you can choose this option. However, keep in mind that it will add the domain cost to your cart. In this guide, I will use this option, but you can select any other option based on your requirements.
- Use a domain I own with Namecheap: Select this option if you already have a Namecheap account and want to use an existing domain. You will need to log in to your account and complete the payment process.
- Use a domain I own from another registrar: If you have a domain registered with a different registrar, such as GoDaddy, you can choose this option.
For this guide, I will use the “Purchase a new domain” option, which will add the cost of a .com domain ($8.88) to the hosting price. Feel free to choose any other option or click on “Purchase a new domain” if you don’t have a domain name.
Step 3: Verify Your Shopping Cart and Confirm Your Order Verify the details in your shopping cart, including the domain name and hosting account type. Once everything is correct, click on the “Confirm Order” button. You can enable or disable additional services based on your requirements.
Create an Account If you do not have an existing Namecheap account, you will need to create one. Enter your desired username, password, first name, last name, and email address. Click on the “Create Account and Continue” button to proceed.
If you already have a Namecheap account, simply log in and proceed to the next step.
Add a Payment Method In this step, you will be prompted to add a payment method to complete the transaction. Once you have successfully added a payment method, click on the “Continue” button.
Please note that the remaining steps of the tutorial are not included here.
Finalize Your Order and Complete Payment Carefully review all the details of your order and click on the “Pay Now” button to proceed with the payment. Once your payment is successfully made, your Namecheap hosting account will be created.
Access Your Namecheap Dashboard Congratulations on creating your Namecheap hosting account! Inside your Namecheap dashboard, click on the “Manage” button. On the next page, scroll down to the “Nameservers” section and ensure that your Domain Nameservers are set to “Namecheap Web Hosting DNS”.
Step 1: Login to cPanel To access your cPanel, you can use the login credentials sent to you by Namecheap via email upon signup. Alternatively, you can hover over the small “server icon” next to your domain name and click on the link that says “Go to cPanel”.
Install WordPress using cPanel cPanel is a widely used control panel for creating and managing websites among web hosts. With the inclusion of Softaculous in cPanel, installing WordPress using cPanel has become incredibly simple, even for beginners, taking less than 5 minutes.
Access Softaculous Apps Installer Once you’re in your cPanel, locate and click on the “Softaculous Apps Installer” option.
Next, hover over the WordPress icon and click on the “Install” button.
Configure Software Setup and Site Settings On the “Setup Wizard” page that appears after clicking “Install,” follow these steps:
- Choose Protocol: Select “https” as it comes with your Namecheap hosting account.
- Choose Domain: Select the domain name where you want to install WordPress.
- In Directory: Leave it blank.
- Site Name: Enter your desired site name (you can change it later).
- Site Description: Provide a brief description of your site or blog.
- Enable Multisite (WPMU): Keep it unchecked.
Fill out Admin Settings Configure the following settings:
- Admin Username: Create a secure username (avoid using the default “Admin”).
- Admin Password: Use a strong password and keep it safe.
- Admin Email: Enter your email address for password recovery and notifications.
Select Plugin(s) and Install While it’s not mandatory, I recommend selecting the “Limit Login Attempts” plugin to protect your site from brute force attacks. You can also choose a caching plugin like “WP Super Cache” to enhance site performance. Click the “Install” button.
Verify the entered information, provide an email address to receive installation details, and click the “Install” button. Congratulations! You have successfully installed WordPress using cPanel with Namecheap.
Once you have installed WordPress and logged in to your WordPress dashboard, you can proceed with installing a WordPress theme and essential plugins.
If you encounter any difficulties during the process, feel free to ask for assistance in the comments section or contact me directly. I’m here to guide you through the process.
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