Having a website is slowly becoming a necessity for nearly everyone in the modern world. Whether you want to start an online business, grow a blog, create a website for your brick and mortar storefront, launch an eCommerce shop, or just want to own your own piece of virtual real estate, there’s a nearly infinite number of reasons to build a website.
And if you want a website that’s going to be accessible to the rest of the world, then you’re going to need a high-quality web host behind you.
Your web host is where you store your website’s files, media, photos, videos, and every other element required for your site to function. Without a web host, you won’t have a website–it’s as simple as that.
But, choosing the right web host for your new website can be very time-consuming.
You not only have to sort through dozens of different hosting companies, but you have to find the right plan for your needs too. Plus, you need to sort through add-ons and other features!
Luckily, we’ve done all of the heavy lifting for you. No need to comb through dozens of web hosting reviews, everything you need is right here.
We’ve dug deep into the top hosting companies out there, analyzed their offerings, and tested their services so that you can find the best web host for your needs.
By the end of this post, you’ll be ready to choose the best hosting for your needs.
Our Top Picks: Best Web Hosting 2023
Without further ado, here are the best web hosting companies of 2023. We’ve listed them as the best overall, best value and fastest hosts.
Rank | Web host | Best for | Review |
---|---|---|---|
#1 | Bluehost | Best overall | Read review |
#2 | GreenGeeks | Best value | Read review |
#3 | A2 Hosting | Fastest host | Read review |
We believe these three web hosting companies will fulfill the hosting needs of majority of people who are running personal or small business website.
Popular Hosting Providers of 2023
There are plenty of web hosting providers out there. If you’re still looking for a host, these are the most popular web hosts according to real customer reviews.
Web host | Avg. uptime | Price/mo | Our rating |
Hostinger | 100% | $0.99 | Excellent |
InterServer | 100% | $5.00 | Excellent |
Namecheap | 100% | $1.44 | Very good |
HostPapa | 100% | $3.95 | Very good |
Dreamhost | 100% | $2.59 | Very good |
iPage | 100% | $1.99 | Good |
HostGator | 100% | $2.75 | Good |
There is no one perfect web host for all. According to experts’ review, we believe above web hosting companies will fulfill the hosting needs of majority of people who are running personal or small business website.
Bluehost – Best Overall Host for 2023
Bluehost is one of the most popular hosting companies in the world. You’ll frequently see them recommended by top bloggers as one of the most beginner-friendly hosting options.
They offer a variety of different hosting plans that cater to nearly every style of website, from WordPress to eCommerce, to massive sites, and brand new blogs.
Plus, they clock in at a 100% uptime and around 707 ms loading speeds. Very fast and very reliable.


Beginner’s will find the best bet with the basic shared hosting plan. This plan not only has a super low introductory price, but you’ll also get a free domain name, along with one-click installation for many popular CMS, including WordPress.
All plans are equipped with the industry standard cPanel, unmetered bandwidth, however storage varies depending on what plan you choose.
All of their plans are very high performing and run on super-fast Linux servers. Plus, if you’re not satisfied you can request a refund with the 30-day hosting money back guarantee.
Pros
Being one of the most popular and frequently recommended hosts in the world, Bluehost has a lot going for them. WordPress themselves even recommends Bluehost!
When you sign up for hosting, you also get a free domain name and an all-around high performing host. Plus, you get a free SSL certificate included on every plan.
Cons
Like most beginner hosts, the price will increase after your introductory period. You’ll also have to wade through upsells when you sign up for your account. Keep in mind that the base package should be enough for 90% of website owners.
Also, if you’re transferring your site to Bluehost, then you’ll need to pay $149 to transfer over your site.
Best for
If you’re a beginner building out your first website, it’s hard to do better than Bluehost. They’re fast, reliable and have everything you need to help get your site off the ground.
GreenGeeks – Best Value
GreenGeeks is a feature-rich and reliable host that stands out from other hosts on this list due to its commitment to the environment. Hosting companies consume a lot of energy. But, website owners who are mindful about their environmental impact can rest easy.
GreenGeeks purchases green energy credits for three times the amount of energy they consume, so they end up making the world a better place.
Their hosting plans are affordable, have high uptime, and pretty fast loading speeds too.


Even the starter shared hosting package comes with unlimited storage, bandwidth, and email accounts. Plus, you get a free SSL certificate and a free domain for your first year of hosting.
This company not only cares about the environment but their customers too as their support team is responsive and helpful.
Pros
They actually make good on their environmental commitment. Plus, your site will load incredibly fast and you’ll experience super high levels of reliability. Not to mention you get great additional bonuses, like a free SSL certificate and free domain name when you sign up.
Cons
Like most other hosts, you renew at the regular rate higher than the introductory rate, so you’ll have to budget for this once your initial term is up. Also, if you took up the free domain name offer when you registered, and you request a refund, then you’ll have to pay for the domain name.
Best for
If you’re concerned about the environment, or run a website that has environmental ties then you can’t do better than GreenGeeks. You’ll get a reliable and high-performing host that actually aligns with your values.
A2 Hosting – Fastest Hosting
A2 Hosting is built by and for developers. They place a clear focus on their hosting technology and overall performance, and as a result, continuously comes out on top in terms of hosting speeds.
Here’s a look at their performance for the past month:
A2 also has the benefit of global data centers, and all servers operating on Solid State Drives (SSD) for improved server performance.


They offer a lot, but the basic shared hosting plan is pretty limited. For example, on the basic plan, you can only host a single website, and your WordPress cache and databases are limited. If your site is growing, you’ll probably have to upgrade your plan pretty quickly.
But, beyond the limits of the initial plan, you’ll find whatever you need for your growing site.
Pros
This host is totally focused on speed, performance, and reliability. If you demand performance, then this host might be the one you’ve been looking for. The WordPress plans will help you get the highest performance possible from your site.
Cons
It can be more, especially when compared to other hosting providers on this list. The basic shared plan (which is the cheapest) can only be used to host one site as well. Also, since it’s a developer-focused host, the technical options might be a little bit overwhelming for some website owners.
Best for
A2 Hosting is known for its speed and reliability. Their shared hosting plans are some of the highest performing plans out there. But, they also offer dedicated, and VPS servers that cater to users have more substantial more resource-intensive sites.
Hostinger – The Cheapest Web Hosting
Hostinger is one of the cheapest web hosts out there. Right now you can get started for as little as $0.99 per month (making it the most affordable host on this list).
But even with its cheap pricing it still manages to offer very high uptime and fast loading speeds.


The cheapest starter plan is limited to 10 GB of disk space, a single email account, and 100 GB of bandwidth, but other higher plans will be unlimited.
However, there are a few add-ons that you’ll probably want that you’ll have to purchase. Namely, and SSL certificate and priority support. Note that sometimes they run promotions which include a free SSL certificate.
Pros
Hostinger is fast, cheap, and reliable. Plus, they can serve sites with a global reach due to their 7 different data center locations. The free domain name for a year is also a nice touch.
Cons
Although the monthly hosting rate is cheap, there are additional add-ons that are not-so-cheap, like the SSL certificate and improved support.
Best for
Those who are looking to build a website with as little money down as possible, without having to sacrifice site performance. Also, if you’re building a site that has an international audience, you can do so with ease due to the data center selection.
Interserver – Independent and Cheap Web Host
Interserver is a unique hosting company that handles everything in-house, including building their servers.
They offer a variety of different hosting types, including shared hosting oriented towards beginners.
Interserver offers nearly 100% uptime, plus loading speeds of just under 500ms.


You’ll also find a unique pricing clause in that the price you pay when you sign up for your contract is the price you’ll pay for the length of your contract.
Some cool additional features include a free site migration, 24/7 support from their in-house team, free backups, and access to the cPanel control panel.
Pros
The unique pricing is a breath of fresh air, no price hikes to worry about! The 24/7 in-house support team is also a great addition, especially considering when a lot of other hosts just outsource their support.
Cons
The hosting packages are cheap, but the add-ons to your plan can get expensive, so make sure to pay attention during checkout. Although the service is good, the presentation doesn’t look as professional as its competitors.
Best for
Interserver is a great choice for website owners who want cheap and reliable hosting without the annoying price hikes. Also, if you’re a student or a non-profit you might qualify for free hosting, in that case they’re definitely worth exploring.
Namecheap Web Hosting – Reliable and Best Pricing ($1.44)
Namecheap is another host that’s very popular with website owners across the world. They offer a wide range of hosting plans that cater to websites of all styles and sizes.
They have a lot going for them, but Namecheap shines in its commitment to customer support and maintaining high levels of reliability.
Plus, it regularly has high uptime and solid site loading speeds, check out these recent stats:


Beyond customer service, you’ll also get SSD hosting, free automatic SSL installations up to 50 sites, Free Supersonic CDN, and 30-day money-back guarantee.
The Stellar shared hosting plan costs you $1.44 for your initial term. However, you are limited to only 20 GB of SSD disk space and 3 websites. So, if your site is growing fast, you have the ability to upgrade your plan.
When you choose a hosting plan, you also have the opportunity to choose between multiple data centers, whether that’s in the US, or UK.
Pros
Namecheap is deeply focused on affordable yet high quality web hosting. If you want a support team you can rely on, then Namecheap is worth checking out.
Cons
You’ll have to pay more for this hosting service when you choose UK data centers.
Best for
Namecheap is a rock-solid all-around host. You’ll find a plan that suits you no matter what your needs are. If you’re someone who values a quality support team, then they’re a solid choice as well.
HostPapa – Smart and Reliable Web Hosting
HostPapa is one of the newest hosts on this list–founded back in 2006. Since then they’ve grown to host over 500,000 sites.
Part of this growth is because they cater to the global market, offering support in multiple different languages, which better speaks to the international market.
They have very fast uptime, which clocks in over 100%, and speeds of 680ms for 2023. These aren’t the fastest page loading times on the block, but they’re not horrible by any means.


You can also test out the service with HostPapa’s 30-day money back guarantee.
Pros
HostPapa has rock solid uptime, and a myriad of different support options, including 24/7 support via phone, email, mail, and even fax. Plus, there’s a giant library of tutorials and troubleshooting guides and information.
Plus, even the starter plans are equipped with high-level security features, like anti-spam protection, a server firewall, and regular server monitoring.
Cons
Although HostPapa is equipped with great features it doesn’t have the fastest loading speeds. There’s also a price discrepancy you’ll want to be aware of. If you opted for the “free” website setup service upon account activation and you’d like to request a refund during the 30-day window you’ll have to pay a setup fee.
Best for
HostPapa is a very reliable and affordable web host. If you demand high reliability and along with a support team that has your back, then HostPapa could be a great choice.
Dreamhost – Fast, Reliable, and Incredible Guarantee
Dreamhost is one of the biggest hosts out there today. They currently host over 1.5 million websites and have been in business for over 20 years. You don’t stay in business that long without doing something right.
They offer super cheap starter hosting plans that start at $2.59 per month.
You’ll also find super-fast load times, very high uptime, and unlimited bandwidth, along with a money-back guarantee that stretches out to 97-days.
Just look at the perfect uptime and blazing fast speeds they were able to achieve over the past month:


However, users looking for the standard cPanel control panel will have to look elsewhere. Dreamhost has developed its own control panel, which is easy to use but does take some getting used to.
Those who require live chat support also won’t find that with this host. Their support is helpful and has a quick response time, but you’ll have to reach out to support through different channels.
Pros
By using Dreamhost your site will have very high uptime and load very quickly. You can also take advantage of the industry-leading 97-day money-back guarantee if you’re unsatisfied with the service.
Cons
Users who demand their host utilize cPanel will have to look elsewhere. Plus, the lack of live chat support might be a dealbreaker for some.
Best for
Dreamhost is a solid choice for web developers. Those on the fence about choosing a hosting provider might also like Dreamhost for the lengthy money-back guarantee.
iPage – Reliable and Affordable Host for Beginners
iPage is an incredibly cheap host that has a lot going for it: fast loading, high uptime, 24/7 live chat, plus a ton of additional features.
Those on a budget will find a lot to love with iPage, especially their introductory pricing. By now you know that a lot of hosts jack up the monthly pricing after your first year. But iPage is different in that you can lock in the super low $1.99 price for the first three years!
This basic starter plan is also equipped with unlimited bandwidth, storage, email addresses, domains, and a free SSL certificate.
Their uptime for the past month clock in at 99.83% and the speed averages out to 1426ms, which puts it in line with other hosts on this list.


However, there are a lot of fees for services that other hosts provide for free. For example, you’ll have to pay $150 for site transfers and $17 per year if you’re registering your domain through iPage.
Pros
iPage boasts a strong uptime while offering very cheap monthly hosting plans. You’ll also get a free SSL, domain, and email address when you sign up for their service.
Cons
iPage is another host that doesn’t utilize the cPanel control panel, which might be a dealbreaker. There are also additional fees like the site transfer fee, and expensive domain renewal fee.
Best for
Business owners on a budget who want to lock down a cheap hosting deal. Also if this is your first time building a site you’ll be at an advantage, because you won’t have to deal with the migration fee, or the adjustment period from cPanel to vDeck.
HostGator – Easy to Use and Beginner-Focused
HostGator is a very easy to use, and beginner-friendly host, plus the customer onboarding is probably some of the most intuitive out there.
They’re also incredibly well-known and might just be one of the biggest hosts out there.
You’ll also be surprised by how responsive the support team is, questions asked through live chat will typically be answered within seconds.
The uptime clocks in at a 100%, however the loading speeds are pretty slow, as you can see below:


On the starter shared hosting plans you’ll also get additional bonuses like a free domain name and a free SSL certificate.
However, you’ll find that services like regular backups and advanced security protection will end up costing you extra.
Pros
HostGator is a beginner-oriented host that makes getting your site online incredibly simple.
Plus, you have a money-back guarantee of 45-days that’ll give you plenty of time to test out the service. If you’re migrating your existing site to HostGator then you can use the site migration assistance to help with the migration for free.
Cons
HostGator does offer a lot, but it is a pretty slow host. If speed is important there are much faster hosts on this list that provide similar features.
Best for
HostGator is a decent choice for beginners who are building out their first sites. It’s not the fastest host on the block, but it’ll help you get your site online as fast as possible, with very little hassle.
How to Choose the Right Web Hosting for Your Website?
Every host isn’t created equal. Even though you’re shopping for a similar service, hosts will use different technologies, be better suited for certain kinds of sites, and offer you unique advantages, or even disadvantages.
Think of purchasing hosting like buying a car. At the core, all vehicles serve the same general purpose of helping you get somewhere. But, beyond the price, you have nearly hundreds of different makes and models to choose from.
There is no “best car,” just like there’s no “best web host.” But instead the best car or web host for your unique needs.
With that being said, there are a few key features you’ll want to look out for when searching for a web host:
Bandwidth and Disk Space
Bandwidth and disk space usually go together. Disk space refers to the amount of space you require to store all of your website’s files, media, photos, videos, and more. The larger your site, the more disk space you’ll require.
Most shared hosting plans offer what’s known as “unlimited” disk space. This doesn’t actually mean it’s unlimited and you can store terabytes of data. But instead, the disk space offered is large enough, where you’ll have a difficult time running into the limits.
If you’re building out your first site, you can probably get away with 5 GB of disk space. This will be more than enough to build out a pretty substantial website.
If you do run into the maximum disk space on your current plan, your host will notify you that it’s time to upgrade to a higher level hosting plan.
Bandwidth relates to the levels of traffic your site can support. It’s calculated by the size of the page the user has to load and the total number of users who are visiting your website on any given month. So, the larger the pages on your site and the higher levels of traffic your site has, the more bandwidth you’ll require.
More media-rich sites, think sites like YouTube, will require higher bandwidth than sites like this one, which is more content-driven.
Compatibility With Your Website
You need to choose a host that supports the technology your website is using. For example, the big choice you’ll have to make is between a Linux and Windows server. Most websites will run on Linux servers, but if your site is built using a Windows tool, or your site is using certain Windows software, then you might need a Windows server.
Most hosts will run the majority of their plans on Linux servers, while still offering Windows-specific hosting. Chances are you’ll be running your site on a Linux server too, but keep in mind your unique software needs when choosing a host.
Reliability and Uptime
A reliable host will have high uptime. Uptime refers to the percentage of time your site will remain online during any given month.
Without high uptime, your site will be offline when your visitors are trying to access your site. Talk about delivering a poor user experience!
Having a reliable host is incredibly essential for most websites. But, even more important for sites that process transactions. For example, if you’re running an eCommerce store, then your site is losing you money whenever it’s offline.
Most hosts will offer at least 99% uptime; this means that your site can be offline for around 7 hours per month. With higher quality hosts you’ll see uptime guarantees of 99.9%. This means your website can be offline for approximately 45 minutes every month (much more manageable).
If reliability is a big concern of yours, then choose a host that offers at least 99.9% uptime, that’s backed by a guarantee if your site exceeds this number.
Site and Server Security
Sadly, security is something that isn’t taken into account until it’s too late. But, by planning ahead, you can ensure you won’t experience any security issues in the first place.
Even if you have all of the proper security protocols in place for your website, this won’t matter if your server isn’t secure. It’s like having the most expensive security system in the world, and leaving your front door wide open when you leave the house.
Look for a host that places security at a high priority. Features like firewalls, automated backups, DDoS protection, malware scanning, and user permission management should be included, or at least available as an add-on.
Types of Web Hosting Available
Beyond making sure your hosting company has the right features, you’ll also want to choose the right type of web hosting service for your needs.
If this is your first time building a website, then shared hosting will probably be the right form of hosting for your needs.
Still, it’s important to understand the differences between the most common types of hosting.
Here are the most popular forms of web hosting on the market today:
Shared hosting is the most popular form of web hosting. If you’re just getting started online, then this style of hosting is going to be the best fit for your website. Not only will it be the cheapest form of hosting you can find, but it will provide you with everything you need to get your site off the ground and start growing your traffic.
The reason shared hosting is so cheap is because you’re sharing hosting space with dozens, even hundreds of other websites. So, the total cost of the server is split between a ton of different hosting accounts.
Think of it like renting a house with roommates. Beyond having your own bedroom, there’s not a lot that separates you from everyone else in the house. Plus, you’re sharing common areas, like the living room, kitchen, and bathroom.
With shared hosting, you have your own dedicated site resources, but you’re splitting the resources of a single physical server.
This does keep costs low, but it is possible for other sites using the same shared server to impact your site negatively. For example, if another site using the same physical server is experiencing a massive surge in traffic, this could affect the performance of your website. There are also security risks involved, as well.
If issues like these concern you, but you still want to sign up for shared hosting, then make sure you choose a high-quality shared host that has a proven track record, as this will help to mitigate any issues.
What Is VPS Web Hosting?
VPS stands for Virtual Private Server if that gives you any ideas about what this style of hosting offers?
VPS hosting is a big step up from shared hosting. You’re still sharing physical server space with other sites. But, that’s where the similarities with shared hosting end.
With VPS hosting each physical server is broken up into a handful of virtual servers. These virtual servers use partitioning technology to create virtual servers that function as if they were dedicated servers. This means things like more robust security, more storage space, bandwidth, and customization abilities.
You can think of VPS hosting like renting an apartment or condo in a large high rise building. These apartments will be constructed so that there’s little to no interference from other tenants. It’s like having your own space, except you’re sharing the overall physical structure of the building.
VPS hosting can support sites that get higher traffic, require more storage space, or require a unique hosting setup that shared hosting can’t accommodate. It’s usually the style of hosting that site owners turn too, once they’ve outgrown shared hosting.
This type of hosting will be more expensive than shared hosting, but you’ll be getting improved performance, security, and more. Plus, with a growing site, the additional monthly fee should be like a drop in the bucket.
What Is Cloud Hosting?
Cloud hosting is a relatively new form of hosting, especially when compared to the other types of hosting highlighted here.
But, it came into existence to address a pressing need for a lot of website owners. To provide an affordable and high performing style of hosting for sites that have scaling or variable levels of traffic.
The setup of cloud hosting will differ depending on the host you choose, but the overall function remains the same. Instead of relying upon a single server, you’ll be tapping into a network of connected servers. This network of servers is commonly referred to as a cluster.
With cloud hosting, you can scale your server resources up or down with ease. Plus, you typically only pay for the resources that you’re using. Also, since you’re not relying on a single physical server you’ll have very high uptime–if a server on the network is experiencing an issue traffic will be routed to a different server.
The pricing of cloud hosting will generally be on par with VPS hosting, but once again, it depends on the hosting provider you choose.
- Cloud Hosting: Is It a Working Solution for Your Site?
- Cloudways: The Easiest Cloud Hosting for New Users? We Find Out
- Cloudways Coupon Code – Try FREE for 3 Months
What Is Dedicated Web Hosting?
Dedicated hosting is one of the most powerful forms of hosting available. This is a style of hosting that you grow into and usually don’t choose for a brand new website.
Dedicated hosting is exactly what it sounds like. You have an entire physical server that’s dedicated to your site and your site alone. Think of it like owning your own home. No roommates, no sharing walls with neighbors, everything is reserved for you and your needs.
This means that you have unparalleled levels of server resources that are powering your site. So, your website can handle a massive volume of traffic with ease. Plus, you can grow your site as large as you see fit.
Keep in mind that a lot of dedicated hosts require you to handle the technical tasks related to running a server yourself. So, just like owning your own home where you have to handle repairs and maintenance, you have to do the same with your server.
But, if your website is large enough and you’re at the point where you need to upgrade to a dedicated server, then you probably have the resources, or at least the budget to hire your own technical staff.
Dedicated servers will be the most expensive form of web hosting, but it’ll provide your site with unparalleled levels of performance, speed, security, and customization.
What Is WordPress Hosting?
Another form of hosting you might come across is called WordPress hosting. This style of hosting is specifically built for people who run WordPress sites. Every aspect has been optimized to help you get the most out of WordPress.
See, WordPress is one of the best content management systems in the world and can be used to create a highly successful and profitable website. But, left to its own devices, it can be pretty slow, especially over time.
To combat this WordPress hosting optimizes every aspect of the hosting experience to help you take full advantage of the platform. This means your servers will be optimized, they will install WordPress for you, and in some cases, a team of experts will even maintain and optimize your site for you.
With WordPress hosting, you’ll have the option to choose between shared WordPress hosting and managed WordPress hosting. Shared WordPress hosting will be much cheaper, while managed WordPress hosting will have a team of experts managing WordPress for you.
Those just getting started will find standard shared WordPress hosting more than enough.
The Most Important Web Hosting Features to Look For
Some features matter more than others when it comes to your web host.
Here are the essential web hosting features to look for when choosing the right hosting company and plan for you:
Customer Support
You might not rely on customer support very often. But, when an issue arises that you can’t solve, you’ll want a helpful and reliable customer support team behind you.
Most hosting companies will offer 24/7 support through multiple channels. But, make sure you choose a host that has your preferred support channel. For instance, some will have phone and email support, while others will only have a ticketing and email system. Or, you might demand a host that has 24/7 live chat support?
Take note of your preferences as you’re researching through the list of hosts above. Most hosting companies also provide a knowledge base, which is filled with helpful tutorials to help you troubleshoot any issues with your site or server.
Uptime Guarantee
There’s no point in having a website if it’s never online. Your uptime is the percentage of time that your site is online during any given month.
With a low uptime, your visitors will never be able to access your site. Would you go back to a website that you tried to visit time and time again, only to find it offline? Probably not.
When you’re looking for a host, make sure that they don’t just claim to have high uptime, but that it’s backed up by a guarantee. With a guarantee at least you’ll be compensated if your site is offline.
Money-Back Guarantee
When you sign up for hosting, you’ll come across a variety of different payment types. Some hosts will show you a low monthly fee, but you’ll only get this rate when you pay for a year upfront. Other hosts will charge a bit more, but you’ll only have to pay for hosting on a monthly basis.
Regardless of the type of payment you prefer, there’s one thing you’ll want to look out for–a money-back guarantee.
With a money-back guarantee, you can rest easy knowing that if the host doesn’t live up to your standards, you can ask for a refund on your hosting and move to a new provider.
But, some hosts offer a more generous money-back guarantee than others. You’ll find guarantees that range from 30 days, all the way up to 60 days.
Email Account
If you’re creating a business around your website or building a website for your existing company, then a business email address is great to have. This style of email address is where the address matches the domain of your site.
So, if your domain was “makemillions.com,” then your business email would be “chris@makemillions.com.”
Some hosts will offer bundled email services for easier email management, while others will require a fee for such services.
Control Panel/cPanel
Your control panel is what you’ll be using to manage your server. This will help you accomplish tasks like monitoring your site’s resource usage, installing a CMS like WordPress, adding more domains to your account, configuring email addresses, and more.
The most common control panel is called cPanel. It’s an intuitive tool with a graphical interface that’ll help you easily accomplish the above tasks and more.
Another control panel you might also find is called Plesk.
If this is your first time building a website, then look for one of the easy to use control panels just mentioned. Otherwise, trying to manage your site is going to be a real headache.
SSL Certificates
Today, having an SSL certificate installed on your site is a necessity. If your website doesn’t have an SSL certificate, then your visitors will receive an error when visiting your site using the Google Chrome browser.
SSL certificates help to keep your site secure by creating an encrypted connection between your server and your visitor’s web browser.
Most hosts will include a free SSL certificate even on shared hosting plans, but other hosts will charge to add a basic SSL certificate to your plan. If an SSL certificate isn’t included in your plan, then make sure you factor in the cost to your total bill.
Depending on the type of site you’re running, you might need a higher level SSL certificate. For example, sites that handle sensitive personal or financial information, or process a visitor’s credit card information will need a higher level SSL certificate.
Additional Features Beyond Web Hosting
Web hosts today do a lot more than give you server space to store your website’s files. Most hosts offer you additional tools and services that’ll help you build, market, and grow your site.
With the explosion of the beginner web hosting market, hosts began to offer additional tools and services that support beginner website owners so they could take care of all their website needs in one place.
Here are some additional features that you might want to look for in a hosting company:
Website Builder Included
Even if you’re a complete beginner, you’re going to have multiple different ways you can build out your site. The most common approaches are using a website builder or a Content Management System (CMS) like WordPress.
If you’re planning on building a content-heavy website and want to be able to manage this content efficiently, then using WordPress is the way to go.
But, if you’re building a simple website that only has a couple of pages and relatively static content, then it’ll be easier to use a website builder.
Most hosting companies will have their own integrated website builders you can use to create your site. These tools are built entirely for beginners, so you can create a professional site without knowing a single thing about programming.
The way you build your site will depend on the builder. But, the most common approach is using a drag and drop builder. All you have to do is select a template and rearrange elements with your mouse or trackpad. The website builder will automatically create the necessary code behind the scenes.
eCommerce Tools and Features
If you know for sure that you’re going to be building an eCommerce store, then you’ll need to choose a host that can support this, not make it more difficult.
Online stores will have different requirements than traditional websites. You’ll need higher bandwidth and disk space since you’ll have a lot more product images and even product videos so visitors can see your products in action.
You’ll also have more strict security requirements. Since you’ll be processing sensitive financial and credit card information, you’ll need to ensure your site, server, and any additional tools you’re using are incredibly secure.
Another thing you’ll need to think about is PCI compliance. This is a set of guidelines that you must adhere to if you’re storing, processing, or transmitting credit card information. If you’re serious about eCommerce, then look for a host that is PCI compliant right out of the gate.
Beyond the foundational eCommerce tools, you might also want to look for additional features that’ll help you promote and grow your store. For example, some hosts have built-in tools that will help you list your products across other marketplaces like Amazon, Etsy, and Google Products.
Website Transfers (Free or Paid)
If you already have an existing website and you want to transfer over to a new host, then you’ll want to look for hosts that can transfer over your website for you. If you’re not technically minded, then migrating your site yourself can be a real headache. Especially if you have a large website and are already getting traffic.
The worst-case scenario would be your site dropping offline for an extended period, or you end up losing portions of your site during the migration.
If you choose a hosting provider with an integrated migration service or tool, you can guarantee your site will be migrated successfully. Some hosts will charge a fee for this service, while others will migrate your website for you completely free of charge.
Web Hosting FAQs
Even though we’ve covered a lot in the post above, you still might have a few questions.
Here are some of the most common web hosting questions we’ve seen from our readers:
Which web hosting service is best for WordPress?
If you’re running your site on WordPress, then you’ll want a host that offers WordPress hosting. This won’t be a necessity when you’re first starting your website, as you probably won’t be getting much traffic.
But, as your site grows, it’s a good idea to upgrade to WordPress-specific hosting. This will help you achieve higher levels of performance, and security while operating on a host that’s 100% optimized for WordPress.
Two of the best hosts for WordPress include Bluehost and Siteground.
What is the fastest website hosting of 2023?
When choosing the right host for your needs, one of the most important things to consider is speed. In fact, nearly half of consumers expect your site to load in under 2 seconds.
Even if everything else about your site is perfect, you’re going to have a hard time being successful if your site and page loads slowly. You’ll deliver a poor user experience, have weak onsite metrics, and end up ranking lower in the search engines as a result.
So, you’ll not only deliver a poor user experience, but you’ll get way less traffic from the search engines too.
If you’re looking for the fastest web hosting provider in the game today, then check out A2 Hosting.
What is website space?
Website space refers to disk space. The is the amount of storage space you have for your website’s files, including things like your media files — obviously, the larger your site, the more disk space you’ll require. For example, a site like YouTube will require much more disk space than a site that’s purely written content.
What is web hosting bandwidth?
When choosing a hosting plan, you’ll see bandwidth mentioned a lot. Regarding hosting metrics bandwidth relates to the amount of traffic your site can support in any given month. It’s calculated by the size of the page on your website and the number of monthly visitors. So, the larger and more media-rich your site pages, and the higher the number of monthly visitors, then the more bandwidth your site will require.
Conclusion: Which Web Host is Best for You?
As you can see, there’s a lot that goes into finding the perfect web host for your new website. Hopefully, this post has helped to make the decision much easier.
Luckily, all of the hosts highlighted on the list above are a great choice.
So, take stock of your needs and what you require from a host, then compare that to the services and features offered from the hosts above.
Most hosting companies also offer money-back guarantees, so if you are unsatisfied with your choice, you can always cancel and move to a new host!
It’s also important not to get hung up on the host selection phase forever.
Pick a host you like the most and start building your site. As you pick up traction and your site grows in traffic and popularity you can always upgrade your plan.
If you would love to learn more about this web hosting platform, check on our comprehensive review of Bluehost.
Our Suggestions: Best Hosts of 2023
We believe following web hosting companies will suit the needs of the majority who run a simple website.
What’s your absolute favorite hosting company? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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We are occultscience.in, All India Institute of Occult Science is an institute where people of different ages gain knowledge in occult subjects.
Thanks for this useful post and for sharing this valuable information! It is very useful to me.
Hey Nilantha,
Your reference made my day.at the same time, I have one doubt about it. If I am occupied over the band with what will happen in site and hosting? make sure I am waiting for your answer.
very useful article thanx for sharing
Thanks for sharing an amazing post, this is very useful knowledgeable information for me.
I think the bluehost is the best choice for beginners who just started their blog or website. Because it is reliable secure cheap and fast. They have plans starting from 2.95 USD.
Other features are 24/7 Support,
Unmetered bandwidth, 30 Days Money Back Guarantee,
Which makes bluehost is a best choice for most of people’s.
Thanks for your article. I have been thinking about online earning for quite some time and also searching a good hosting services, got a lot of help from your article
Thanks for your article. I have been thinking about online earning for quite some time and also searching a good hosting services, got a lot of help from your article
I think A2 web hosting is best coz of their best affordable plans which will help new beginners and speed which you will experience would be so great.
Nice Post , Now im Using Cloudways Hosting
hi’
It’s Really an Awesome Article
Thanks For sharing the valuable and importance information
I really loved reading this article
Thanks brother your very good suggestions bro thank you so much
Thanks for writing all of these powerful information.
wow such a great informative article about best hosting company, we all have a domain for our
business, for handling our business online host provider and operation of task on daily basis.
we generally chose one hosting provider which can provide best services to our website.
it was a really good content . Thank you
i like bluehost a lot, they have never let me down ! Thank you
it was a really good content. thank you for sharing.
Thank you for sharing
This article is genuinely a good one it helps
new net viewers, who are wishing for blogging.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful article keep blogging
I like your blogs because they hold all the required information I want about the topics of my interest. Please continue with the same pace and style to enlighten the minds.
I have used godaddy and crazydomains and happy with the service. 100% uptime I have experienced.
Good informations.. thanks for sharing..
Nice article.Keep share like this.
Very informative.Thanks for providing this useful article.
This list is really informative. thanks
Thanks to have your suggestion on this particular article.Hope you provide more info.
thanks for the informations i love youuu
ipage is really a shit. They even don’t pay commissions… be aware.
Thank You For The Information, You Made My Way Very Easy.
A lot of information of this post. I personally prefer Bluehost.
This is the best Article to find Top 10 Web hosting companies, Its really useful Thank you.
nice list of web hosting
I am thinking to buy the hosting from iPage… because of their offers… and you are recommended it “Excellent”.. I hope it will….
Thanks for these reviews I was looking for some gud web hosting service for my Travel blog
Just Amazing information.
I think I’m your big fan because you always come with such a wonderful information and it’s really gonna help us thanks for sharing valuable information with us keep posting…!!!
Great work
Hi, Thanks for posting such a nice and informative article. Please keep posting such details.
SiteGround is my favorite although I heard plenty of great things about WP Engine.
Useful list, saved a lot of time for me to decide host for my client. Hope a new updated 2018 list if on its way.
I like bluehost a lot, they have never let me down! Thanks for your article and I also agree with Ashley Nicole. I use godaddy and they are superb and their wordpress package also includes the hosting which is great!
Adam
I’ve used hostgator with great ease but I think you forgot godaddy. It’s cheap, with unlimited bandwidth, works well with other products and is very user friendly. I would love to try some other providers here for my other sites. Thanks for sharing!
So far the best I’ve used are hostgator and bluehost. Fast, easy to use, affordable, reliable and great support, but I would love to try some providers listed here. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for compiling these top web hosting companies into a list. Good to have altogether it’s quite easy to choose best one.
You did forgot about Go Daddy. But outside of if, these listed by you should be good.
Thanks.
Thanks for sharing your valuable article but these are paid hosting providers. lots of student or newbie person who can not afford money, so please guys suggest best top Free indian Hosting Providers Who provide Unlimited Free Hosting Without any hidden charges or extra pay for there services.
Nice info..
Thank you for sharing such an informative post. I have only used Bluehost and Hostgator others are new to me.
Bluehost is greatest!
Hosgator is best.
Great list of hosting providers.
Nice article.
Hostgator is the best for hosting service as a newbies i use this
I personally use Bigrock hosting and I never face any issues or problems. Although, I also like the services of Godaddy and Hostgator but I would love to recommend Bigrock web hosting.
Also thanks for sharing this info with us.
This is great list of hosting providers. I’ve used many hosting companies and I found that BlueHost, HostGator, SiteGround these peoviders are the best one to go for your website hosting. Their price, customer support and security is top notch.
Thanks for sharing the list!
Bookmarked! Thanks for this resource, I will definitely refer back to it often.
A fantastic concept and excellent post – very interesting indeed. Thanks.
But, I personally prefer Cloudways managed hosting which give 100% uptime always throughout the year.
Awesome List
You should also check RoseHosting.com . I moved all my websites to their servers and I’m very happy with their service. Their technical support is one of the best I’ve used.
siteground hosting is the best 🙂
According to user reviews there can be nothing worse than BlueHost…
Easy to choose the best web hosting company. I would like to go with bluehost. Best for wordpress site if I’m not wrong.
@Nilantha
Personally Experience Told Me That Blue Host And Godaddy With Dream Host Is The Best To Choose And Work with .
BY the Way Awesome List Of Webhosting .
Keep it Up And Write An Article regarding your Adsense And Affiliate Earning
Regards
ADITYA
Hi Nilantha,
Indeed a great list but iPage as #1 hosting provider doesn’t seems to be a good pick. Personally I like InMotion, Bluehost & Godaddy.
Regards
Tauseef Alam
Hi Tauseef Alam,
If you like above hosting companies, You definitely like hostgee.com
For US Dedicated Server.
Regards
Hostgee.com
http://www.hostgee.com/us/dedicated-servers/
Nice one
You surely have listed the world`s best web-hosting companies. I will check about iPage.
thanks for sharking. keep doing good work.