Django is one of the most popular web server frameworks written in Python. Built by experienced developers, it has a clean, pragmatic design that enables hassle-free web development. Below, we take a close look at the top five web hosts for Django apps.
To make your search easier, we narrowed down this list from hundreds of potential hosts. We made an effort to find VPS plans that provide support for Django plus secure shell (SSH) access for custom server configurations. Furthermore, we limited our list to hosts that provide fast server speeds via technologies like solid-state drives (SSDs) and content delivery networks (CDNs).
Finally, we cross-referenced our own analysis with the results of thousands of user reviews.
What Is Django Hosting?
Only web developers would give their high-level Python framework a name that most people associate with a quirky spaghetti western character. You can use it to build powerful, interactive sites with less of a headache. Django includes a number of shortcuts that recreate commonly-used functions from Python. The Django framework is of particular interest to people producing and publishing content.
Do You Need Django?
Before you go on with this page, it is worth asking yourself if you really need web hosting that supports the Django framework. For the average person or small business, it is actually unnecessary.
To put it simply, if you aren’t here because you are certain that you require Django for your project, then you most likely don’t need it at all. Of course, having Django support on the web host you choose won’t hurt anything, but it is only required if you are developing your own site or app from scratch and you want to use this framework.
How to Choose a Django Web Host
Look for these features when considering a Django host:
Control panels: Graphical user interface (GUI) control panels like cPanel are ideal for users who aren’t comfortable with the command line. It is not pleasant to configure a new hosting arrangement and discover that you don’t know how to manage it. Some hosts include this with VPS subscriptions, while others offer it as an add-on service.
Data residency: As you start to generate more traffic, you can continue optimizing site performance as much as possible. One option is to host your website in a data center that’s located near your primary audience. Many hosts offer some flexibility here, but the available options vary widely from one host to another.
Scalability: You don’t want to increase traffic and find out that your host can’t accommodate your new needs. Make sure your host offers some breathing room. If possible, look for a host that will allow you to switch to a dedicated server if needed.
Why it’s best: Plentiful options packed with many features
If you’re looking for a web hosting service to host a Django web app, our top recommendation is Bluehost. Their VPS or Dedicated hosting plans come with raw compute power, access control, and fully dedicated server resources.
For people aiming at VPS plans, Bluehost has cheaper managed plans than other companies like A2 Hosting.
Unlike other hosts, however, Bluehost doesn’t give you the option of unmanaged VPS for cheaper prices. It will also be slightly more complicated to install Python when you host with Bluehost as the language is not pre-installed.
Pros and cons of Bluehost
Pros
Offers various digital security tools
Recognized WordPress partner
30-day money back guarantee
Cons
Site migration requires additional cost
What customers are saying about Bluehost
Bluehost is one of the go-to Django hosting providers. It offers flexible web hosting plans; its entry-level plan is enough to cater to the needs of e-entrepreneurs and other website owners. They often receive positive feedback for offering affordable plans packed with many features.
Why it’s best: VPS hosting packages for small to international businesses
InMotion Hosting allows you to handle assets on managed servers from a central dashboard. It comes with an easy one-click install through Softaculous, which conveniently automates open-source web applications.
Additionally, you can install Django on a VPS or dedicated server without root access. The VPS hosting plans are perfect if you are working on multiple Django projects because you can create multiple separate environments.
Depending on the VPS package you choose, you can get up to 10 separate dedicated IP addresses to separate your Django projects. You can also have separate installations of cPanel to make sure your Django projects are unique from each other. You can do the installation manually for free or ask InMotion Hosting to do so for a fee.
Pros and cons of InMotion Hosting
Pros
Accessible customer support
Excellent uptime
Full lineup of hosting solutions
Cons
Backups are not free
Datacenters are only located in the United States
What customers are saying about Inmotion Hosting
Inmotion Hosting offers a wide range of choices that are suitable for both small and heavily trafficked websites. Aside from a comprehensive knowledge base, their users commend their responsive and easily accessible customer support.
Why it’s best: Offers a varying range of Single and Dual Processor servers with RAM and storage options
Liquid Web has a customizable Dedicated Server Hosting plan that includes real-time monitoring and a 100% power and network uptime guarantee. You can opt for either single- or dual-processor Dedicated Servers. Liquid Web also offers a variety of options such as self-managed, core-managed, and fully managed Dedicated Server Hosting arrangements.
With Liquid Web, Django packages are incorporated into the official Ubuntu repositories by default. While this doesn’t add any additional functionality, it will save you a little bit of time since you don’t have to add the Django framework manually. It also offers a complete tutorial on Python functions, which is great for those new to this language.
Pros and cons of Liquid Web
Pros
Supports websites with unlimited visitors
100% uptime guarantee
Free site migration
Cons
High-entry level price
What customers are saying about Liquid Web
Liquid Web’s customer support is dubbed “Heroic Support.” Whether you are a paying customer or want to set up a hosting account, you can easily reach out to them via phone or live chat. They also ensure that your website has a top-notch performance, and their customers approve of Liquid Web’s speed and scalability.
Why it’s best: Affordable and flexible hosting plans equipped with Turbo servers for faster speed
A2 Hosting offers a cheap and affordable unmanaged VPS plan. While the price tag of unmanaged VPS subscriptions can be tempting, be careful with this option unless you’re confident in your technical skills.
Alternatively, A2 has shared hosting options that support Python versions up to 3.2. It also offers optional “turbo” servers that can supposedly boost website speeds by up to 20 times.
Finally, A2 includes free HackScan Protection with every hosting plan.
Pros and cons of A2 Hosting
Pros
Flexible hosting options
Outstanding speed
99.9% uptime commitment
Cons
Complicated interface
No free domain
What customers are saying about A2 Hosting
A2Hosting is one of the few Django hosting providers that provide round-the-clock support. They have a helpful and skilled tech support staff. This gives customers peace of mind while using A2 Hosting to host their websites.
Why it’s best: Offers smart and efficient web hosting solutions while using renewable energy
GreenGeeks offers fast and secure hosting plans. It is notable for being the leading green web hosting provider. A portion of GreenGeeks’ subscription fees is used to offset the company’s energy consumption by a full three times.
In terms of hosting features, GreenGeeks provides LiteSpeed caching technology to load your applications at lightning-fast speeds. All GreenGeeks accounts are backed up nightly to ensure seamless data recovery.
Pros and cons of GreenGeeks
Pros
Offers the latest speed technologies
Free site migration
Unlimited MySQL Databases
Cons
Limited support
Higher cost plans
What customers are saying about GreenGeeks
GreenGeeks’ eco-friendly web hosting solutions are suitable for various types of websites. Most of their customers consider GreenGeeks as one of the most trustworthy and secured hosting providers with affordable services.
Django is not a web server, but rather a Python framework for web development. It is designed to help developers quickly create complex, database-driven websites. The core functionality involves creating reusable code snippets that can be plugged into other parts of your app. This streamlines repetitive development tasks and makes it easy to scale apps as needed.
Can Django run on Windows?
Both Python and Django are platform-agnostic, so you can develop Django websites and applications using Windows machines. Naturally, you can also use Django on Windows. To install Django on Windows follow these instructions.
Why do coders use Django?
Coders use Django because it enables the rapid development of secure Python apps built with clean code that’s easy to maintain. With Django’s toolkit of reusable code components, developers don’t need to build each part of an application from scratch. Django can also help novices achieve better results by simplifying some of the application development process.
Do many popular websites use Django?
Some popular websites use Django, but its market share is 0.13%, according to Datanyze. Django’s usage statistics are comparable to those of Vue.js and Express. Popular sites using Django include National Geographic, Pinterest, and Instagram. Some well-known organizations use Django for portions of their websites, including Disqus, NASA, and Mozilla Firefox.
Do I need to install a web server to use Django?
Yes. Django has a server for testing, but you’ll need to install software like Apache to use it on a live website.
What are the requirements for Django web hosting?
Since Django is a Python framework, the first requirement is that your host supports Python. From there, make sure that Django is either installed by default or available to set up. You may be able to install it yourself with a VPS or dedicated hosting plan. For live sites, you will need a Linux operating system with web server software server plus a MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, or Oracle database.
Can I host a Django installation on a shared hosting plan?
Yes. Check that your host supports Python and Django before signing up for a plan.
Do I have to know how to program to use Django?
While Django streamlines development, you will need basic coding skills to leverage its functionality. Programmers with Python experience will be able to pick up Django and develop applications by using shortcodes relatively quickly.