Installation Methods
How to Install WordPress Using Three Different Methods
Compare the one-click auto-installer, the manual five-minute install and a host's own installer to find the fastest fit.
3
Common ways to install WordPress
5 Min
Length of the manual 'famous' install
1-Click
Softaculous auto-installer setup
Free
Core WordPress.org software either way
In short
There are three common ways to install WordPress: a one-click auto-installer like Softaculous built into most cPanel-style panels, the manual 'famous five-minute install' (create a database, upload files, run the setup script), and a host-specific installer built directly into a hosting dashboard. For most beginners, the one-click method is fastest and least error-prone, while the manual method suits anyone who wants direct control over file placement and database settings.
All three methods produce the identical WordPress.org software in the end — the difference is only in setup time and how much manual configuration happens along the way.
Every WordPress site starts the same way underneath: a set of core files and a MySQL database that stores content once the site is running. What differs is how a site owner gets from an empty hosting account to that finished install — automatically through an installer, or manually by handling each step by hand.
Choosing the right method usually comes down to comfort level and how much control matters. A one-click installer suits almost everyone starting out; the manual install suits anyone troubleshooting a specific setup or learning how WordPress actually works under the hood.
Method 1: The One-Click Auto-Installer (Softaculous)
A one-click installer like Softaculous, built into most cPanel-style panels including Hosting Cheap's, handles every technical step automatically: creating the MySQL database, uploading the WordPress core files, and writing the configuration file that connects the two. A user fills in a short form — site name, admin username, admin password, admin email — and clicks install.
This method suits almost anyone starting a first WordPress site, since it removes every opportunity to make a database or file-permission mistake, and typically finishes in under two minutes.
Method 2: The Manual 'Famous Five-Minute Install'
The manual install downloads the WordPress.org zip file directly, uploads it to the hosting account via File Manager or FTP, and requires creating a MySQL database and a database user through cPanel's Databases section beforehand. Visiting the site's address afterward launches the wp-config setup wizard, which asks for the database name, username, password and host, then runs the actual install script.
This method takes longer than a one-click install but shows exactly what each piece — the database, the config file, the file upload — actually does, which is useful for anyone learning how WordPress works or troubleshooting an installer that failed.
Method 3: A Host's Built-In Installer or Setup Wizard
Some hosting dashboards include their own WordPress setup flow, separate from Softaculous, that walks through choosing a domain and a starter theme as part of account setup itself. This method can feel simpler for a total beginner but sometimes offers fewer configuration options than Softaculous, such as limited control over the install directory or fewer advanced settings during setup.
Whichever installer a host provides, the result is the same underlying WordPress.org software, so switching between installer types later — or migrating to different hosting entirely — doesn't require rebuilding a site from scratch.
Picking the Right Method for a First WordPress Site
A one-click installer is the right call for almost every new site: a blog, a small business page, a portfolio. Its speed and lack of manual database work far outweigh the added control the manual method offers for a first-time user.
The manual install becomes worth the extra time mainly for a specific technical need — installing into a custom subdirectory structure, connecting to an existing database, or learning the process before advising a client on their own setup.
One-Click Installation Included on Every Plan
Hosting Cheap's cPanel-style panel includes the Softaculous one-click installer on every web hosting plan, so the fastest of the three methods described here is available from the moment an account is set up — no separate purchase or add-on required.
For anyone who prefers the manual route, cPanel's File Manager, FTP access and Databases section support that path too, so either method described above works on the same hosting account.
- Softaculous one-click WordPress install on every plan
- File Manager and database tools for a manual install
- Free managed migration if WordPress already exists elsewhere
- NVMe SSD and LiteSpeed speed up the finished install either way
Why Hosting Cheap
What you get
1-Click Softaculous Installer
Skip manual database setup with an installer built into the cPanel-style panel.
Manual Install Tools Included
File Manager, FTP and database creation are all available for a hands-on setup.
NVMe SSD and LiteSpeed
Whichever method is used, the finished WordPress site loads on fast storage and server software.
Free Managed Migration
Already have WordPress installed elsewhere? Move it over without a fresh install.
Daily Backups
A freshly installed site is backed up daily from day one.
24/7 Human Support
Get help if an install — one-click or manual — runs into an error.
How It Works
Get set up in a few steps
Decide between one-click and manual install
Choose Softaculous for speed or the manual method for full control over each step.
Create the database (manual method only)
Set up a MySQL database and user through cPanel if installing WordPress by hand.
Run the installer and set admin details
Complete the setup form with a site name, admin username, password and email.
Included
Everything you need, on every plan
- Choose which installation method fits the comfort level needed
- Confirm hosting includes a one-click installer like Softaculous
- Have a domain pointed at the hosting account before installing
- Set a strong admin username other than 'admin'
- Use a strong, unique admin password
- Choose the correct install directory (root domain vs. subdirectory)
- Confirm the SSL certificate is active before the first visit
- Note the admin login URL immediately after install completes
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Which WordPress install method is fastest?
The one-click Softaculous installer is fastest, typically finishing in under two minutes since it creates the database and uploads files automatically.
Is the manual WordPress install harder for beginners?
It takes more steps — creating a database, uploading files, running the setup wizard — but it's still manageable for a beginner willing to follow each step in order.
Do all three methods produce the same WordPress site?
Yes. Whether installed through Softaculous, manually, or a host's own wizard, the result is the same WordPress.org core software.
Can I switch from a manual install to using Softaculous later?
Not directly for an existing site, but any new install can use either method going forward, and an existing manually installed site can still be managed and updated the same way.
What do I need before installing WordPress?
A domain pointed at the hosting account, and for a manual install, a MySQL database created in advance. A one-click installer handles the database step automatically.
What if my WordPress install fails partway through?
24/7 human support can help diagnose a failed install, whether it's a database connection issue with a manual setup or an interrupted one-click installation.
Install WordPress the Easy Way
1-click Softaculous installation, NVMe speed and 24/7 support on every Hosting Cheap plan.
Get Started