Best PCI-Compliant Hosting Providers for E-Commerce

Web Hosting Tips Published on : September 5, 2025

As an online store owner, safeguarding client payment information isn’t just best practice; it’s a necessity. Every business that accepts credit or debit card payments should comply with PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) to safeguard sensitive financial data from breaches and fraud.

Selecting the correct PCI-compliant hosting provider ensures your eCommerce website is not only secure but also trusted by your clients. In this guide, we will explore the best PCI hosting providers for e-commerce in 2025, highlighting their features, benefits, and why they stand out in delivering reliable, secure, and regulation-ready hosting solutions for online businesses.

What is PCI-compliant Hosting?

PCI-compliant hosting is a web hosting solution that meets the security standard known as the PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) set by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council. Every merchant that accepts credit cards must follow these standards and apply the rules, policies, and processes to ensure compliance with PCI standards.

PCI compliance is primarily about safeguarding financial data, particularly the data of merchants that process card payments, transmit payment information, and store transaction records digitally. Therefore, compliant hosting is vital for businesses that process, store, or handle payment card data, ensuring their hosting environment meets the security requirements to prevent suspicious data breaches and fraud.

Why PCI-compliant hosting is vital for your e-commerce Business?

PCI compliance is all about securing the client’s financial data. Whenever a user purchases and makes a transaction via card on your website, they entrust you with their financial information.

Therefore, if your hosting environment and transaction are PCI-compliant, you are adding various layers of security that protect their sensitive data from being hacked or stolen.

This additional layer of security is not only beneficial for the client but also shields your business from data breaches and other suspicious activities.

Both you and your hosting provider must adhere to the 12 PCI-DSS core requirements to ensure secure handling of payment data. Some of the most critical measures include;

• Maintaining modern and fully updated systems and network infrastructure.
• Implementing a structured vulnerability management program.
• Enforce strict access controls to block unauthorized access.
• Establishing a comprehensive security policy that is consistently monitored and updated.
• When Does and Don’t Your Business Need PCI-Compliant Hosting?

When Does and Don’t Your Business Need PCI-Compliant Hosting?

Scenario	PCI-Compliant Hosting Required	PCI-Compliant Hosting Not Required
You directly accept, store, or process credit/debit card payments on your website.	Required	Not Required
You use your own servers or hosting environment to manage customer payment details.	Required	Not Required
You integrate a third-party payment gateway, but card data touches your server (e.g., API calls passing payment details).	Required	Not Required
You redirect customers to a secure third-party payment processor (e.g., PayPal, Stripe, Razorpay) where your server never handles card data.	Not Required	Required
You run an e-commerce store with a custom checkout page collecting card details.	Required	Not Required
You only sell via marketplaces (e.g., Amazon, Etsy) or platforms that manage all payment processing.	Not Required	Required
You store customer cardholder data for recurring billing or subscriptions.	Required	Not Required
You only accept payments via bank transfer, cash on delivery, or UPI/wallets without handling card data.	Not Required	Required

Top 7 PCI Compliant Web Hosting Providers

1. Atlantic.Net

Price: Starting at $416/mo

Atlantic.Net is one of the most popular choices for businesses that want a complete PCI-compliant hosting solution. Their PCI-Cloud Quick-Start plan starts at around $417 per month. It includes firewalls, VPN, intrusion prevention, backups, and SOC-audited infrastructure, making it ideal for organizations that need a hands-off, fully managed environment.

Beyond compliance, Atlantic.Net also offers excellent scalability and multiple data center locations, making it a strong fit for enterprises with growing infrastructure needs. Their reputation for stability and reliability also makes them a trusted partner for industries like healthcare, e-commerce, and finance.

2. Liquid Web

Price: Starting at $354/mo

Liquid Web also offers robust PCI-compliant hosting, starting at approximately $354 per month. It provides enterprise-grade security, dedicated hardware, and ongoing compliance support, making it a reliable option for companies that handle large volumes of sensitive data.

With proactive monitoring and a fully managed support team available 24/7, Liquid Web ensures businesses stay protected against emerging threats. It is ideal for medium to large companies seeking white-glove service and guaranteed compliance audits.

3. Nexcess

Price: Starting at $64/mo

For businesses in the e-commerce space, Nexcess (a Liquid Web brand) offers PCI-ready hosting optimized for WooCommerce and Magento. Plans start at around $64/month, making it one of the most affordable managed solutions, while still including features like guided scans and compliance support.

Nexcess is designed for online stores that need both performance and compliance without breaking the bank. It also includes automatic scaling during traffic surges, daily backups, and staging environments, making it perfect for small to mid-sized e-commerce companies.

4. PhoenixNap

Price: On Request

PhoenixNAP specializes in secure, enterprise-level PCI-ready infrastructure. Pricing is available on request, as they typically provide custom solutions for high-compliance industries that require advanced security and disaster recovery features

This provider is recognized for its emphasis on cloud security and hybrid environments, enabling businesses to integrate private and public cloud solutions while ensuring compliance with PCI-DSS standards. Its global data centers also make it an appealing choice for international companies.

5. Rackspace Technology

Price: On Request

Rackspace Technology is another enterprise-focused provider that delivers managed PCI environments, with pricing generally starting around $500 per month, depending on the level of customization and support required.

Rackspace is especially valued for its support approach, which provides businesses with access to a team of compliance experts who assist with audits, monitoring, and infrastructure optimization. This makes it an excellent choice for large organizations with complex IT requirements.

6. SiteGround

Price: Starting at $3.99/mo

SiteGround offers secure hosting with SSL, firewalls, and strong server management starting at just $3.99 per month. However, they no longer assist directly with PCI scans, so compliance remains the customer’s responsibility.

While not a fully PCI-ready host, SiteGround is a good starting point for small businesses that use third-party payment gateways like PayPal or Stripe. With excellent performance and robust security measures, it provides a solid foundation for compliance; however, users must manage the technical requirements themselves.

7. HostGator

Price: Starting at $4.50/mo

HostGator offers WordPress hosting starting at $4.50 per month; however, users are responsible for configuring their own firewalls, patching, and monitoring to meet PCI requirements.

HostGator is a cost-effective option for startups and small online shops. It offers flexibility for businesses that are comfortable managing their own compliance while benefiting from HostGator’s reliable uptime and user-friendly control panel.

8. Scalahosting

Price: Starting at $2.95/mo.

Scalahosting offers VPS hosting starting at approximately $2.95 per month, with PCI-compliant configurations utilizing their custom SPanel system. However, the user is responsible for managing full PCI compliance.

This provider is ideal for growing businesses that want to maintain control over their VPS while keeping costs low. With strong support and affordable scalability, ScalaHosting can serve as a stepping stone toward more advanced PCI-managed solutions in the future.

9. DreamHost

Price: Starting at $2.95/mo

DreamHost is another affordable option, with shared hosting plans starting at $2.95 per month. While their infrastructure is PCI-compliant, they leave the configuration and scope management of compliance up to the customer.

This provider is ideal for businesses seeking a budget-friendly hosting plan and are willing to assume the technical responsibility of ensuring PCI-DSS compliance. DreamHost also integrates easily with third-party payment processors, which can reduce the compliance burden.

10. Verpex Hosting

Price: Starting at $0.60 /mo

Verpex provides PCI-capable infrastructure starting at around $0.60 per month. However, compliance management is the user’s responsibility.

Verpex is a newer hosting company that focuses on affordability and cloud flexibility. It’s a good option for small businesses or startups testing e-commerce models before scaling up to a managed PCI environment.

How to Select the Right PCI-Compliant Hosting?

1. Understand Your Compliance Needs

Selecting the right PCI-compliant hosting begins with identifying your PCI DSS compliance level, which is determined by the number of transactions your business processes annually. This helps you understand what type of hosting environment and security measures are necessary.

2. Verify PCI Certification

Not every hosting provider is PCI-compliant by default. Always confirm whether the provider holds PCI DSS certification and request proof, such as an Attestation of Compliance (AOC), to ensure they meet industry standards.

3. Evaluate Security Features

Strong security measures are essential. The best PCI hosts provide firewalls, SSL/TLS encryption, malware protection, intrusion detection, and DDoS safeguards. These features create a secure environment for processing sensitive payment information.

4. Choosing the Right Hosting Environment

Shared hosting often makes compliance difficult, so businesses handling transactions typically opt for VPS or dedicated servers. These options offer greater control, isolation, and flexibility, making it easier to stay compliant.

5. Ensure Continuous Monitoring

PCI compliance is not a one-time setup. Look for a provider that offers vulnerability scans, log monitoring, and detailed audit reports to keep your hosting environment secure at all times.

6. Consider Performance and Scalability

Security should go hand in hand with performance. The hosting provider should be able to scale with your business, ensuring smooth transactions and high uptime even during peak traffic.

7. Looking for Expert Support

Round-the-clock assistance from PCI-trained professionals is invaluable. A knowledgeable support team can guide you through audits, fix vulnerabilities, and ensure compliance is maintained.

Conclusion

Choosing the right PCI-compliant hosting provider is not just about meeting regulatory requirements; it’s about protecting your customers’ trust and safeguarding every transaction on your e-commerce store. Whether you’re a small business looking for affordable shared hosting, a growing store that needs managed solutions, or an enterprise handling a high volume of sensitive data, there’s a provider that fits your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q 1. Is HostGator PCI-DS compliant?

Ans. HostGator’s servers are built on secure infrastructure and support PCI compliance, but the platform itself is not automatically PCI-certified. This means HostGator provides the tools (SSL, firewalls, dedicated IPs, etc.), but you are responsible for configuring your site to meet PCI-DSS standards. For complete compliance, you’ll need to work with HostGator support, choose a VPS or dedicated plan, and implement required security measures.

Q 2. Can I host my own server and be PCI compliant?

Ans. Yes, you can host your own server and still achieve PCI compliance—but it’s often more complex. You’ll need to:

• Secure your physical server environment.
• Apply firewalls, intrusion detection, and encryption.
• Run quarterly vulnerability scans.
• Maintain strict access controls and audit logs.

Q 3. What Is PCI Compliance?

Ans. PCI compliance refers to meeting the security standards set by the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). These rules ensure that any business handling credit or debit card transactions maintains the security of customer data. Compliance encompasses protecting cardholder data, preserving system security, monitoring networks, and regularly testing for vulnerabilities.

Q 4. How Do I Make My Website PCI Compliant?

Ans. To make your e-commerce website PCI compliant, start by choosing a PCI-compliant hosting provider or properly configuring your own server. Secure all transactions with SSL/TLS certificates and avoid storing sensitive cardholder data whenever possible. Keep your systems protected with firewalls, regular security patches, and limit access to payment systems using strong passwords and multi-factor authentication