BigScoots Review (2026): Why We Left Budget WordPress Hosting
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When Linda and I started blogging, we made the same decision many new bloggers make.
We chose a budget WordPress host.
It seemed like the sensible thing to do.
The hosting was affordable, the reviews looked good, and honestly, we didn’t think we’d need anything more.
Boy, were we wrong.
We thought choosing cheap hosting would save us money. Instead, it cost us time, stress, and countless hours trying to fix problems we didn’t understand.
After a while, we realized we needed help.
That’s how we found BigScoots hosting.
The funny thing is that after almost a year on budget hosting, we’d collected a lot of baggage. And let’s just say we dumped most of it on the poor BigScoots team.
I’m pretty sure our never-ending support tickets made them think:
“Oh no… it’s the sisters again.”
The good news is, they didn’t boot us.
More than three years later, we’re still with them. And honestly, we’d make the same decision again.
Here’s why.
We Thought We Were Being Smart
Like many people looking for WordPress hosting for beginners, we assumed the cheapest option would be good enough.
We signed up with Bluehost because it was affordable, beginner-friendly, and recommended almost everywhere.
At the same time, we decided to invest in a premium WordPress theme from 17th Avenue Designs because we wanted our website to look professional from the start.
There was just one small problem.
We couldn’t get the theme to upload.
We tried again.
And again.
And again.
We contacted Bluehost support, and to be fair, they did try to help. But the problem was never actually resolved.
Eventually, we contacted 17th Avenue Designs instead.
Their response surprised us. They told us they’d seen similar issues with Bluehost before.
That was a bit of a wake-up call for us.
We’d chosen one of the most recommended beginner hosts out there, and we were already running into problems before we’d really even started.
RELATED POST: Which 17th Avenue WordPress Theme Is Right for You?
We Thought Changing Hosts Would Solve Everything
After canceling Bluehost and getting a refund, we moved to another budget hosting provider.
It looked like a much better deal. And for a while, we thought we’d solved the problem.
But new issues started showing up.
- The website felt slow.
- Images took forever to load.
And performance reports kept telling us something was wrong, even though we had no idea what half the terms actually meant.
We eventually bought ShortPixel to optimize our images and WP Rocket to improve caching and speed.
Both helped.
But deep down, we had a feeling we were treating the symptoms instead of fixing the real problem.
RELATED POST: WP Rocket Review: Is It Worth It for Speed & SEO?
Why We Finally Switched
Eventually, we had to admit something.
We were spending more time fixing our website than actually building our business.
That wasn’t why we started blogging.
- We wanted to write.
- Create content.
- Help people.
Not spend our evenings trying to understand technical reports.
By then, we’d heard so many good things about BigScoots that we decided to take the plunge.
Looking back, I wish we’d done it sooner.
The Problem With Budget Hosts
One thing Linda and I learned is that most hosting providers look very similar on paper.
- SSL.
- Email.
- Storage.
- Uptime guarantees.
- Long lists of features that all sound great.
The problem is that none of those things tell you what the hosting will actually feel like when you’re using it every day.
Everything seems fine until…
- Something breaks.
- Or your site starts growing.
- Or your website suddenly feels slow and you have no idea why.
That’s when the differences start to show.
At first, we thought the occasional problem was just part of blogging.
- Slow load times.
- Downtime.
- Support that couldn’t always solve the issue.
We assumed everyone dealt with those things.
But after switching to BigScoots, we realized they weren’t nearly as normal as we’d thought.
Cheap hosting saved us money.
But the real cost was the time we lost, the stress it created, and the energy we spent fixing problems instead of growing our blog.
We Didn’t Want Another Bad Experience
After everything we’d been through, we were honestly a little nervous about switching hosting providers again.
But even before we signed up, something felt different.
We started by using BigScoots’ live chat to explain our situation.
- We had technical problems.
- We were tired of constantly fixing things.
- And more than anything, we just wanted a stable website.
The conversation felt personal and genuinely helpful, and by the end of it, they recommended managed WordPress hosting.
The price was definitely higher.
But by then, we’d realized that peace of mind was worth paying for.
The Part We Were Dreading Most
If I’m being honest, the thing that worried us most was moving the website.
By then, we’d built up content, installed plugins, and customized the site. So the thought of moving everything somewhere else was a little terrifying.
Thankfully, BigScoots handled the migration for us.
The BigScoots migration took less than an hour.
For two bloggers who had spent months worrying about technical problems, watching the migration finish so quickly felt like a huge weight had been lifted.
Looking back, I wish we’d worried less.
That was our first real experience with their support team, and it gave us the feeling that someone finally had our backs.
The Moment We Knew We’d Made the Right Choice
A friend was helping us make some changes to our WordPress files when something went wrong.
Very wrong.
The website went completely offline.
Panic mode activated.
Before we even had time to contact support, BigScoots had already noticed the problem, restored the site from a backup, and emailed us to let us know everything was fixed.
The total downtime?
Four minutes.
That was the moment we realized this was a completely different hosting experience.
With our previous budget hosts, downtime usually came with uncertainty.
- How long would it take?
- What was happening?
- Was anyone even looking at the problem?
This time, we didn’t have to wonder. Someone was already taking care of it.
Our Hosting Choice
BigScoots
The hosting company that gave us our time back.
What Changed for Us
After trying different budget hosting providers and now using BigScoots for more than three years, I’ve realized the biggest difference isn’t speed.
It’s peace of mind.
Our website just… works.
- We’re not constantly wondering why something is broken.
- We’re not losing evenings trying to fix technical problems.
- And we’re not spending more time worrying about our website than actually growing it.
That changed everything.
Instead of troubleshooting, we get to focus on writing, creating content, and building our business.
Looking back, I don’t think BigScoots just gave us better hosting.
I think they gave us our time back.
BigScoots is only one essential piece of our blogging setup. If you’re curious, we’ve shared the exact tools Linda and I use to run our sites in our full blogging setup guide.
Would We Choose BigScoots Again?
Absolutely.
In fact, if we were starting a new blog today, we’d choose the same host all over again.
If you’re looking for BigScoots managed WordPress hosting, we’d personally go with the Essential 75 plan.
It’s more than enough for most new blogs, and it lets us focus on what we actually enjoy doing.
- Writing.
- Creating.
- Growing the site.
Not wondering why WordPress has decided to be difficult again.
For us, that’s the real value.
Less time fixing problems. More time building something we love.
If you’re starting a blog or want a hosting setup you don’t have to constantly worry about, BigScoots is a strong option.
Our Recommendation
Essential 75
The plan we’d choose if we were starting a blog today.
Who I Think BigScoots Is For
After using BigScoots for more than three years, I think it’s a great fit if you:
Who It Might Not Be For
I don’t think BigScoots is the best choice if you:
Frequently Asked Questions
What We Like
- Excellent support.
- Free site migration.
- Stable hosting and reliable backups.
- Less time troubleshooting and more time blogging.
What We Don’t Like
- More expensive than budget hosting.
- Visitor statistics include friendly bots, which can make traffic numbers appear higher than they really are.
Final Thoughts: Is BigScoots Worth It?
Yes.
More than three years later, we’re still with them, and we’d make the same decision again.
Cheap hosting may have saved us money, but BigScoots gave us something much more valuable.
Our time back.
And honestly, we think that was a pretty good trade.
Our Hosting Choice
BigScoots
The hosting company that gave us our time back.
*We only recommend tools and resources we personally use and love. These are essentials we genuinely believe can support you, just as they’ve supported us.
Malin, the co-founder of Courier Wellness, is well-informed in nutrition and health and brings her own unique perspective to the world of holistic wellness. With a passion for writing and a deep interest in wellbeing, she wants to create content that fosters balance and nourishment for the mind and body.
