I've gotten wordpress and a couple of other projects running on it, and it does have a free option you can try out. But it's also the first such service I have tried so I can't compare it to others.
But I can say they've been courteous and helpful with trouble tickets.
Not used pagodabox directly, but they had a techie give a overview of some of their tech to our PHP group last year (via Skype), and he went above and beyond what was called for in answering questions in detail.
But I can say they've been courteous and helpful with trouble tickets.