How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- No host is HIPAA certified, because the US Department of Health and Human Services does not certify hosting providers, so a signed BAA and correct configuration matter more than any marketing claim.
- A BAA covers only the services named in that agreement, so check the eligible services list before you place protected health information on any platform.
- The three large clouds are pay as you go, while managed HIPAA hosts publish flat monthly prices, so compare total cost including backups, firewalls, and support.
- This guide is not legal advice and does not replace a compliance review by a qualified healthcare professional.
What does HIPAA compliant hosting actually mean
HIPAA compliant hosting means hosting that is configured to support the HIPAA Security Rule and backed by a signed Business Associate Agreement, or BAA. The BAA is a contract between a covered entity, such as a clinic, and a business associate, such as a hosting provider, that defines how protected health information, or PHI, will be protected. Without a signed BAA, a host that stores or processes PHI on your behalf creates a compliance gap that encryption alone cannot fix. The BAA must be signed before any PHI moves to the host, and it must cover the specific services you plan to use.
No host is HIPAA certified. The US Department of Health and Human Services, known as HHS, does not run a certification program for hosting providers. Third party audits such as SOC 2 Type II and HITRUST CSF can provide useful evidence, but they are not HIPAA certification. You remain responsible for configuration, access, logs, and backups.
How do I choose between a large cloud and a managed HIPAA host
Choose a large cloud when you have engineers who can own configuration, logging, and incident response, and when you need a wide range of services for an application, a data pipeline, or a telehealth platform. Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud all sign BAAs, all publish eligible services lists, and all provide strong encryption and logging tools. They suit product teams and larger providers that already run cloud workloads. The trade off is operational burden, because you must restrict PHI to eligible services, enable encryption, lock down access, and retain audit logs.
Choose a managed HIPAA host when you want the provider to handle server patching, firewalls, intrusion detection, backups, and much of the day to day security work. Liquid Web, Atlantic.Net, and HIPAA Vault fit this model, and Rackspace and ClearDATA fit it for larger environments. Managed hosting suits clinics and small practices that need a stable server, a signed BAA, and a support team that understands healthcare workloads.
What should I check before I sign a BAA
Check the scope of the BAA first, because scope decides what is actually covered. Ask the provider to confirm in writing which services, regions, and data centers are covered, and whether the BAA covers backups, logs, and support access as well as the main hosting service. For a large cloud, read the current eligible services list and confirm that every service in your architecture appears on it. For a managed host, confirm that the specific plan you are buying is covered.
Check encryption, access controls, and audit logging in the same review. Data should be encrypted at rest with AES 256 and in transit with TLS. Ask who holds the encryption keys and whether PHI can appear in logs or support tickets. Every person who can reach PHI should have a unique account, multifactor authentication, and the minimum access needed for the job. Audit logs should record who accessed PHI, when access happened, and what changed, and those logs should be retained to match your policy.
How much does HIPAA compliant hosting cost in 2026
HIPAA compliant hosting costs more than ordinary web hosting, because isolation, encryption, logging, backups, and support all add work and cost. A small managed WordPress site can start near 120 dollars per month with HIPAA Vault, while a managed dedicated server from Liquid Web starts at 229 dollars per month for Linux in the vendor FAQ checked on 12 November 2026. Atlantic.Net HIPAA packages are reported by third parties from about 605 dollars per month, and the vendor page checked on 12 November 2026 does not publish a HIPAA package price, so request a written quote. Larger managed environments from Rackspace and ClearDATA are quote only.
Large clouds do not have a single starting price for HIPAA hosting, because they charge for each service you use. A small application can cost well under 200 dollars per month, while a production platform with high availability and long log retention can cost several thousand dollars per month. Google Cloud offers one e2 micro virtual machine free each month and 300 dollars in credits for new customers, which can help with testing. Price the same workload on each platform and set billing alerts.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 AWS | Large healthcare products needing the widest HIPAA eligible services list | Pay as you go, no flat starting price published | Free tier and credits for new accounts, PHI only in BAA covered services |
 Microsoft Azure | Healthcare teams already using Microsoft 365 and Azure security tools | Pay as you go, no flat starting price published | Free account with 200 dollars credit for 30 days, plus selected free services |
 Google Cloud | Healthcare teams needing analytics, BigQuery reporting, and serverless workloads under a BAA | Pay as you go, no flat starting price published | One e2 micro VM free per month, plus 300 dollars in new customer credits |
 Liquid Web | Clinics wanting a fully managed dedicated server with a BAA and strong support | 229 dollars per month for Linux, 271 dollars per month for Windows, from the vendor FAQ checked 12 Nov 2026 | No free plan |
 Atlantic.Net | Small to mid size healthcare teams wanting a managed HIPAA server with bundled security | 605.11 dollars per month for Linux HIPAA Developer, third party reported, vendor page checked 12 Nov 2026 does not publish a HIPAA package price | No free plan |
 Rackspace Technology | Enterprises wanting a managed partner to design and run HIPAA environments across clouds | Quote only, no published standard rate card | No free plan |
 HIPAA Vault | Small practices wanting a fully managed, healthcare only host with a fast BAA | 120 dollars per month for WordPress Essential, from the vendor page checked 12 Nov 2026 | First month free on the WordPress plan, no free plan for Linux hosting |
 ClearDATA | Hospitals, payers, and life sciences teams needing healthcare only cloud security and managed compliance | Quote only, no published price | No free plan |
Is your product missing or out of date?
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The best HIPAA compliant hosting software
#1AWS
Best for: Large healthcare products needing the widest HIPAA eligible services list4.7/5 on
G2 (84 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit aws.amazon.com
Starting pricePay as you go, no flat starting price published
Free planFree tier and credits for new accounts, PHI only in BAA covered services
Amazon Web Services offers the broadest toolkit for a HIPAA compliant application. The vendor publishes a HIPAA eligible services reference last updated on 15 October 2026, listing services such as Amazon EC2, Amazon S3, Amazon RDS, AWS Lambda, CloudWatch, CloudTrail, and AWS HealthLake. A BAA is available through AWS Artifact, and customers must use PHI only within the services named in that agreement. It supports encryption, identity management, and audit logging. The main risk is misuse, because a PHI flow through a non eligible service can create a breach even when the BAA is signed.
What we like- Widest HIPAA eligible services list, self service BAA through AWS Artifact, strong encryption and logging tools
Watch out for- Billing is complex and can grow quickly, and only eligible services may hold PHI
#2Microsoft Azure
Best for: Healthcare teams already using Microsoft 365 and Azure security tools4.6/5 on
Capterra (1,980 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit azure.microsoft.com
Starting pricePay as you go, no flat starting price published
Free planFree account with 200 dollars credit for 30 days, plus selected free services
Microsoft Azure suits healthcare teams that already live in the Microsoft ecosystem, because identity, email, and cloud infrastructure can share the same controls. Microsoft states that its HIPAA BAA is available through the Microsoft Product Terms by default for covered entities and business associates, and it applies to in scope Azure services. Check which services are in scope before you use them with PHI. Azure provides encryption, Key Vault, Azure Policy, Defender for Cloud, and Monitor for logging. The main drawback is cost control, because a small change in region or pricing model can change the bill.
What we like- BAA included through Microsoft Product Terms for in scope services, strong identity and policy controls, good hybrid options
Watch out for- Large catalog and pricing is hard to predict without the pricing calculator and cost alerts
#3
Google Cloud
Best for: Healthcare teams needing analytics, BigQuery reporting, and serverless workloads under a BAA
Visit cloud.google.com
Starting pricePay as you go, no flat starting price published
Free planOne e2 micro VM free per month, plus 300 dollars in new customer credits
Google Cloud is a strong choice for healthcare applications that need analytics and data pipelines. The Google Cloud BAA covers covered services, including Compute Engine, Cloud SQL, Cloud Storage, Google Kubernetes Engine, Cloud KMS, and Cloud Logging. BigQuery helps teams that need payer reports and outcome dashboards without exporting PHI to a system that lacks BAA coverage. The vendor page checked on 12 November 2026 confirms one e2 micro virtual machine free per month and 300 dollars in credits for new customers.
What we like- Clean identity model, strong analytics with BigQuery, sustained use discounts on eligible Compute Engine types
Watch out for- Fewer HIPAA eligible services than AWS in some comparisons, and a smaller healthcare vendor ecosystem
#4
Liquid Web
Best for: Clinics wanting a fully managed dedicated server with a BAA and strong support
Visit liquidweb.com
Starting price229 dollars per month for Linux, 271 dollars per month for Windows, from the vendor FAQ checked 12 Nov 2026
Free planNo free plan
Liquid Web has offered fully managed hosting since 1997, and its HIPAA hosting is built around dedicated servers for the isolation HIPAA workloads need. The vendor HIPAA page checked on 12 November 2026 shows plan cards from 253 dollars per month, while the vendor FAQ states that dedicated server HIPAA solutions start at 229 dollars per month for Linux and 271 dollars per month for Windows. The page also describes locked server cabinets, hardware firewalls, intrusion detection, DDoS protection, encrypted backups, and a BAA.
What we like- Managed dedicated hosting with BAA, SOC 2 and SOC 3 audits, firewall and intrusion detection options, 24/7 support
Watch out for- HIPAA plans cost far more than shared hosting, and add ons such as a firewall and custom software can raise the total
#5
Atlantic.Net
Best for: Small to mid size healthcare teams wanting a managed HIPAA server with bundled security
Visit atlantic.net
Starting price605.11 dollars per month for Linux HIPAA Developer, third party reported, vendor page checked 12 Nov 2026 does not publish a HIPAA package price
Free planNo free plan
Atlantic.Net provides managed HIPAA cloud and dedicated hosting for healthcare providers and medical software companies. The vendor states that its HIPAA environments are independently audited for HIPAA and HITECH, with SOC 2 Type II and SOC 3 reports, and that a BAA is available with HIPAA hosting plans. HIPAA packages bundle server management, firewall and VPN services, daily backups, multifactor authentication, and vulnerability scans. Third party guides report the Linux HIPAA Developer package from 605.11 dollars per month, so request a written quote.
What we like- BAA with HIPAA plans, managed firewall and VPN, daily backups, vulnerability scanning, SOC 2 Type II reports
Watch out for- Entry price is high for a small practice, and the vendor page checked on 12 November 2026 does not publish the package price
#6
Rackspace Technology
Best for: Enterprises wanting a managed partner to design and run HIPAA environments across clouds
Visit rackspace.com
Starting priceQuote only, no published standard rate card
Free planNo free plan
Rackspace Technology is a managed cloud provider, and it suits organizations that want a partner for architecture, patching, monitoring, and daily operations. The company offers a BAA with dedicated hosting services, and it can build HIPAA environments on private cloud or on managed AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud. For AWS accounts that Rackspace supports, customers sign a BAA with Rackspace only. Rackspace holds HITRUST CSF certification, and its healthcare work includes managed Epic environments. It does not publish a standard rate card, and pricing is quoted per engagement.
What we like- Managed AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and private cloud, BAA for dedicated hosting, HITRUST CSF certification, 24/7 operations
Watch out for- Pricing is entirely custom and engagement based, so small clinics will find it costly compared with a flat rate host
#7
HIPAA Vault
Best for: Small practices wanting a fully managed, healthcare only host with a fast BAA
Visit hipaavault.com
Starting price120 dollars per month for WordPress Essential, from the vendor page checked 12 Nov 2026
Free planFirst month free on the WordPress plan, no free plan for Linux hosting
HIPAA Vault is a healthcare only managed hosting provider, and that focus is its main selling point for small practices that do not have an IT team. The vendor WordPress page checked on 12 November 2026 lists WordPress Essential at 120 dollars per month with the first month free, and a BAA is provided for all hosting plans. The same page describes fully managed service, HIPAA audited infrastructure, encryption, daily backups, intrusion detection, and a 99.99 percent uptime guarantee. Linux hosting is reported from about 349 dollars per month, so the 120 dollar figure is the WordPress entry price only.
What we like- BAA included with hosting plans, healthcare only focus, managed WordPress and Linux hosting, daily backups, 24/7 support
Watch out for- Linux hosting costs far more than the WordPress entry price, which covers a WordPress site, not a custom application
#8
ClearDATA
Best for: Hospitals, payers, and life sciences teams needing healthcare only cloud security and managed compliance
Visit cleardata.com
Starting priceQuote only, no published price
Free planNo free plan
ClearDATA is not a traditional web host. It provides a healthcare only cloud security and compliance platform, called the CyberHealth Platform, plus managed services that sit on top of AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud. The vendor homepage checked on 12 November 2026 describes managed services, a cloud security posture management platform, 24/7 threat intelligence, and audit ready reporting mapped to HIPAA, HITRUST, and NIST. The main drawback is price transparency, because ClearDATA does not publish a price and total cost includes both the cloud bill and the ClearDATA fee.
What we like- Healthcare only platform, policy as code automation, PHI discovery, managed detection and response, works across AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud
Watch out for- No published pricing and no free plan, and the service is a premium layer on top of normal cloud costs
Frequently asked questions
Is any hosting provider HIPAA certified
No hosting provider is HIPAA certified, because the US Department of Health and Human Services does not operate a certification program for hosts or cloud providers. A vendor can hold SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, or HITRUST CSF evidence, and it can sign a BAA, but none of those items is a HIPAA certificate. Compliance depends on the BAA, the services covered, and how you configure and operate the environment.
Do I need a BAA before I store PHI with a host
Yes, you need a signed BAA before any PHI is stored, processed, or transmitted by a vendor that acts as a business associate. The BAA defines how the vendor must protect PHI, how it must report a breach, and what happens when the agreement ends. A BAA that is signed after PHI has already moved does not fix the earlier gap, so confirm the BAA scope in writing first.
Can I use AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud for PHI
Yes, you can use AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud for PHI, but only within the services covered by the BAA and only when the environment is configured correctly. Each provider publishes an eligible services list, and using a non eligible service with PHI can create a compliance violation even when the BAA is signed. Enable encryption, restrict access, and keep audit logs.
What is the cheapest HIPAA compliant hosting option in this guide
The lowest vendor published entry price in this guide is HIPAA Vault WordPress Essential at 120 dollars per month, with the first month free, as shown on the vendor page checked on 12 November 2026. That price covers a managed WordPress site, not a full Linux application server, and Linux hosting costs more. Google Cloud offers a free e2 micro virtual machine and 300 dollars in credits, but that free tier is for testing.
How do I prove my hosting setup is HIPAA compliant during an audit
Keep a written record that links each control to evidence, including the signed BAA, the eligible services list, encryption settings, access reviews, audit log retention, backup test results, and staff training records. Store logs in a tamper resistant location, test restores on a schedule, and document every change to the PHI boundary. An auditor will ask who accessed PHI, when, and why.
Sources we checked (8)
- https://aws.amazon.com/id/compliance/hipaa-eligible-services-reference/
- https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/calculator/
- https://cloud.google.com/products/compute
- https://www.liquidweb.com/lp/offers/hipaa-compliant-hosting-2/
- https://www.atlantic.net/hipaa-compliant-hosting/affordable-hipaa-compliant-hosting/
- https://www.rackspace.com/
- https://www.hipaavault.com/hipaa-compliant-wordpress/
- https://www.cleardata.com/
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.