How to Set Up Hostinger and Install WordPress in 2026 (Step-by-Step)

Hostinger is one of the most popular hosts for first WordPress websites because it is affordable and its control panel, hPanel, walks you through setup with very few technical decisions. That simplicity can also hide important settings, though. This Hostinger WordPress guide follows the same process as the video above, then goes further into the settings and fixes that turn a fresh install into a secure, ready-to-build website.

Disclosure: this article contains my Hostinger referral link. If you buy through it, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I use Hostinger for my own projects and tutorials. See the disclaimer for details.

Step 1: Pick the right plan

For one small business or personal site, an entry-level web hosting plan is enough. If you plan to host several client websites, run an online store with WooCommerce or want more storage and daily backups, choose a mid-level plan. A few points that matter more than the plan name:

• Renewal price. The first term is discounted. Check what you will pay when it renews, and compare that across hosts.
• Billing period. Longer periods are cheaper per month, but only commit for as long as you are confident in the project.
• Backups. Check whether daily backups are included or weekly, and plan your own backups either way.

You can use my Hostinger referral link if you would like to support the channel.

Step 2: Create your account and claim a domain

1. Complete the purchase and log in to hPanel.
2. If your plan includes a free domain, claim it when prompted. Choose something short, easy to spell and without hyphens. (Not sure how domains and hosting fit together? Read domain vs hosting explained.)
3. If you already own a domain at another registrar, choose to use an existing domain. hPanel shows the nameservers you need to set at your registrar.

Step 3: Install WordPress

1. In hPanel, start the website setup and choose WordPress.
2. Create the WordPress administrator account. Use a unique username (never "admin") and a long, random password saved in a password manager.
3. Choose your language. You can skip the suggested themes and plugins; you will choose your own later.
4. Wait for the installation to finish, then open your dashboard at yourdomain.com/wp-admin.

Step 4: Make sure SSL is working

In hPanel, open the Security > SSL section for your domain and confirm a certificate is active. Then visit your site with https:// and look for the padlock. In WordPress, go to Settings > General and make sure both the WordPress Address and Site Address start with https://.

Step 5: Change these WordPress settings first

1. Settings > General: site title, tagline, time zone and date format.
2. Settings > Permalinks: choose Post name for clean URLs like /services/. Do this before you publish content.
3. Settings > Reading: while building, you can tick "Discourage search engines". Write a reminder to untick it at launch, because forgetting this keeps sites out of Google for months.
4. Settings > Discussion: turn off comments if your site does not need them, which removes a major source of spam.
5. Users > Profile: set a public display name so your login username is not shown on posts.
6. Delete the sample post, sample page and any plugins you will not use.
7. Delete extra default themes, keeping one as a fallback.

Step 6: Choose the right PHP version and turn on backups

In hPanel, open Advanced > PHP Configuration and choose a current, supported PHP version. Newer versions are faster and receive security fixes. Then check the backups section and confirm automatic backups are active; download a copy occasionally so you always have one outside your hosting account.

Step 7: Install only the plugins you need

• Caching: Hostinger uses LiteSpeed servers, so LiteSpeed Cache is the natural choice and is often pre-installed. Use only one caching plugin.
• SEO: one SEO plugin for titles, meta descriptions and the XML sitemap.
• Security: two-factor authentication and login protection for admins (see the WordPress security checklist).
• Page builder (optional): Elementor if you want to design visually. Learn how to install Elementor Pro properly.

Tip: Before installing any plugin, ask: can I do this without a plugin? Every plugin is more code to update, more potential conflicts and more weight on your pages.

Step 8: Create a professional email address

Most Hostinger plans include email. In hPanel, open the Emails section, create an address such as hello@yourdomain.com, and connect it to your phone or email app using the settings shown. Branded email makes enquiries, quotes and invoices look far more trustworthy than a free address.

Troubleshooting common setup problems

The site does not load after pointing the domain

DNS changes take time to spread across the internet, usually minutes but sometimes up to 24-48 hours. Double-check the nameservers at your registrar, wait, and clear your browser cache.

"Not secure" warning in the browser

The SSL certificate may still be installing, or WordPress is still set to http:// in Settings > General. Fix the addresses, then clear the cache.

Locked out of WordPress

Use "Lost your password?" on the login page. If email does not arrive, you can reset the password or log in from the WordPress section of hPanel.

"The uploaded file exceeds the upload_max_filesize directive"

Increase the upload limit under Advanced > PHP Configuration in hPanel, then try the upload again.

The site feels slow

Check that LiteSpeed Cache is active, compress your images and remove unused plugins. Our WordPress speed guide covers the rest.

What to do next

Your hosting and WordPress foundation is ready. Next, plan and build the actual pages with our guide to building a professional WordPress website without coding. Download the first-setup checklist below to make sure you have not missed anything.