Our Review Process And What Makes A Web Host Good
To determine what the best web hosting services are, we looked through the popular companies on the market and signed up for the most appealing offers from each company. Next, we did a series of tests:
- We set up a standard website on the server and populated it with demo data.
- We tested the performance of the host the load times from various locations around the globe.
- We took note of the uptime/downtime numbers across a period of time.
- We rated each host based on their price, performance, and features available for the price.
What you see below are the results of these tests.
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, if you want to learn how to pick the ideal web hosting service for your website, here are the factors and features that you should look for:
Price:
Quite naturally, there are more and less expensive web hosting services out there and the more expensive doesnt always mean better. Though, often it does at least to an extent.
To start with, prepare your budget and decide how much you can spend on a hosting plan.
In general, you can get a web server for anything between $3-$100 a month.
If youd prefer a cheap host, check out our other resource where we compare the best cheap hosting options on the market.
Traffic allowed:
Some hosting plans limit the number of visitors that your website can handle. For new sites, this might not be a problem, but if youre expecting higher volumes of traffic from day one, you can quickly run into a wall.
Get Started With Shared Web Hosting
Starting a website isn’t easy, but our chart gives you a solid foundation on which you can begin your journey. Ready to select a great shared web hosting service? Click the links to read our in-depth reviews of the category’s best services.
If you’re just getting started with web hosting, make sure to check out our primers, How to Create a Website and How to Register a Domain Name for Your Website. The Best Courses for Learning How to Build Websites is another informative starting point.
Get The Top Uk Web Host: A Buying Guide
Designing your website
The most popular site creation and design tool today is WordPress. I always recommend WordPress for people who expect something unique, branded and tailored for their site.
Your website represents you. Like SiteGuard in overall hosting, WordPress is the best of the best for site creation whether you use an easy customizable theme package, or pay an expert like me to customize it for you.
Its a one-click installation. Having SiteGuards native interface come with WP means you save time and hassle with automatic updates. That falls in the Every Little Helps category.
You can ask SiteGuards experts to handle the migration of any old site you had over to their hosting plan, and to provide general WP support.
WordPress
Ive blathered on about this a few times in the guide. As it says on the tin, its a no fuss way to start building your WP site.
1-click installations are actually a standard now with most hosts. Once youve bought your web hosting, youll find the option to install WordPress with one click.
Hey presto youll have your WordPress, domain and hosting accounts linked up, ready for mobilization.
The app itself will either be through c-panel or a customized version that your host has created use WP itself to enter.
Because youve got your domain if you havent heres a guide on purchasing a web domain you can begin on a free WP account.
Why WordPress is the Best for You
PHP Framework
Java Script
Joomla
Hosting Types Explained
You May Like: Where Can I Buy A Domain Name
Recommended By Our Editors
When it comes to server operating systems, Linux is typically the default option. Still, some services offer a choice of Linux or Windows Server hosting. If you have specific server-side applications that require Windows, such as SQL Server or a custom application written in .NET, then you need to make sure your web host has Windows hosting. But don’t let the idea of a Linux host intimidate you. Nowadays, most web hosts offer a graphical interface or a control panel to simplify server administration and website management. Instead of typing at the command line, you’ll click easily identifiable icons.
Windows hosting is often more expensive than Linux hosting, especially in the dedicated server area. That’s not always the case, but it’s something you should be aware of as you shop around.
How To Find The Best Host For You
You do not have to know anything about web development to get hosting.
But knowing how to assess a few key factors helps a lot.
Ill hit on each one in this section. Youll be able to assess your options, get something that works for you, and not have to worry about hosting again for awhile.
Featured Web Hosting Partner
Hostinger offers the most affordable premium hosting plans. With plans starting as low as $1.39/month you will not find a better deal. Plus get a FREE domain name and SSL certificate when you .
So how do I evaluate web hosts? What actually matters?
Lets go through all the key items.
Recommended Reading: What Is My Google Apps Domain
What Is The Best Web Hosting Service Provider
There are tons of web hosting companies with a wide range of hosting plans out there.
How do you know which one is right for you?
Ideally, youre looking for web hosting that can deliver great site speed, security features, uptime, user-friendliness, and relevant integrations that your website needs.
Our top choices are Bluehost, WP Engine, Hostinger, Dreamhost, HostGator, and Liquid Web. Hosting companies often give big discounts on new subscriptions so you can easily sign up.
This guide will help you pick which companies are competitively priced and offer the most value so you can save while still meeting your business needs.
Lets check out the best web hosting service providers in 2021 for each industry, use case, and budget.
Can You Start Hosting On Aws
Amazon is known for being one of the largest e-commerce platforms in the world, but were you aware that it offers one of the best web services in the world today? Well, Amazon Web Services is a secure cloud services platform that provides computing power and other functionalities to help businesses scale up. Out of all these services, we will be more interested in their hosting services and whether you can start hosting WordPress on AWS.
You can host your site on AWS as it is known for its top-notch reliability and uptime. Almost all of its data center locations have close to 100% uptime, and websites hosted there never go down. It is fast becoming a popular cloud hosting option for businesses owing to how giants such as Facebook host most of their business infrastructure on their cloud.
It is worth noting that setting up your site on AWS is not easy. You will have to learn complex codes to set up and manage the site. However, they also have a managed option which reduces the technical work you need to do. The security services provided by AWS are awe-inspiring, and your site will always be safe from attacks.
AWS charges for their hosting service on a pay as you go basis. You will be billed based on your traffic and spikes will increase your bill.
Recommended Reading: Can Gmail Host My Domain Email
How To Choose The Right Domain Name Registrar
Ive outlined the best registrars above. Of course, there are other quality registrars. Here are a few actionable tips on picking the best domain registrar when you do your own research.
Go for ICANN-accredited registrarsWith a few exceptions, its generally safer to get domain names from a registrar than a domain reseller. A list of all ICANN-accredited registrars is freely available, so check if your registrar of choice is in it.
The more TLDs, the betterGoing for a registrar that has your preferred TLD is a no-brainer. Which is not to say you wont experiment with other TLDs down the road. Its best to get a domain registrar with a TLD-rich offer from the get-go.
Check the pricesThe pricing difference between TLDs or registrars might seem negligible if you get a single domain name. However, if you buy multiple domain names, the price difference can quickly snowball to a few hundred dollars a year. Better safe than sorry is the motto.
Easy navigation is kingThis is more about convenience than anything else. Youd be surprised how many registrars make a mess of their websites. Check out the interface and make sure you can find all the essential functions before you purchase a domain name.
Dont compromise on supportThe more domain names you have, the higher the chance youll need help fixing something. A provider should offer 24/7 support, preferably through multiple channels.
What Is The Fastest Website Hosting
Speed is an essential factor when picking your preferred hosting plan. You might find an averagely fast hosting service that handles your regular traffic well, but what happens if you hit a favorite day and your traffic spikes? Not all plans can handle that well. This way, it helps to look at some factors when picking the fastest hosting.
Your audience is a vital determinant as they have a direct impact on the speed. Traffic spikes can make your site go down if the server capacity cannot handle the numbers. This way, always pick a hosting plan that can handle your traffic even at peak traffic levels.
The server location is another thing that affects speed. Often overlooked, a CDN makes sure that the server you select is close to the audiences general location. Going for a cheaper option that is on the other side of the globe will affect your sites speed.
Here are my picks for the fastest hosting services, but always conduct an in-depth analysis before picking one that will be fast for your site and audience:
Also Check: How To Change Domain Name Squarespace
What Is The Difference Between Domain And Hosting
Then what is the difference between domain and hosting? So different! What is web hosting? Web Hosting is a place to store website files, while a domain is an address to store website files. For example, a website is considered a house. The house will be built on a plot of land that has been plotted with a certain size. Well, this piece of land can be called Web Hosting or often called Hosting.
Then what is a domain? Domain is the address of the house . Domain will lead visitors to go to a plot of land , which has been established a house . Hosting is in the form of a server with the best technology, while the domain is usually in the form of a domain name and its extension. For example wordpresshostplans.com is a domain name while .COM is a domain extension.
Hosting Factor #3 Customer Service:
Good Customer Service will come in handy when something goes wrong.
Especially if youre new to websites, youre bound to make mistakes that may lead to your website being down for a while.
And the more time its out, the more it will cost you.
So a good support team will help you get the issues solved in no time.
Even if you made a major mistake thats impossible to come back from
Most support teams will have a full backup of your website so you can get back to a working version.
You always want your support team to have a live chat or a telephone you can call.
Email just doesnt make the cut if you want to resolve the issue fast, which you should want, given that your website is down.
We made sure to include only website hosting services with strong communication skills.
Also Check: How To Create A Domain Email With Gmail
How Domain Registration Works The Infrastructure
Purchasing website domains might seem simple, but a lot goes on behind the scenes. Here are the key players in the domain name game.
ICANN manages the internets entire domain name system. In essence, it sets the rules for everybody else. Only an ICANN-accredited registrar can register domain names directly.
Now, you cant buy a domain name directly from ICANN. Doing everything would be too much for the corporation, so it delegates management for the top-level domains to registries.
Each domain registry is in charge of managing one or more TLDs. VeriSign is probably the most notable exampleit manages .com and .net TLDs, among others.
You cant get a domain name directly from a domain registry either. Registries let various registrars sell domain names under their TLDs.
Registrars are sort of like domain name supermarkets. Instead of going to several registries to purchase domain names under different TLDs, a registrar can sell you domain names under hundreds of different TLDs.
There is a complicated system in place to ensure this all works and that no two people register the same domain name. This is a topic deserving its own article, though.
For now, suffice it to say these are the main channels domain name registration goes through.
How To Choose The Best Web Hosting For Small Business
As you can see, there are many top web hosting options for small-business sites, and it can be difficult to discern the differences between them all. Each boasts top-of-class security, loads of storage, the capability to handle ample amounts of site traffic, web analytics tools and a slew of other features. But, at the same time, there can be slight differences between the best web hosting platforms that can help your small business in different ways.
You can begin the search process by considering your needs. A simple website that has little more than a page or two of information will not need tons of storage space. Nor will it need heavy-duty security features. More modest sites can usually get by with a less expensive, lean option. If, on the other hand, youre running a major retail operation or a medical practice that has to store sensitive client information, expect to pay a lot more for a robust hosting solution.
Next, you’ll want to think about the long-term vision for your company. If youre not doing much with your website, but want to expand its capabilities in the future, youll want to factor that into your decision-making process. A good web hosting company will have different support tiers that provide you with the right amount of support and storage space to grow with your website.
Recommended Reading: Is Gmail Com A Domain Name