Statista estimates that as of January 2024, there are more than “5.16 billion Internet users” in the world, meaning it is impossible to imagine a world without the Internet. To keep your business going, you need to find a way to capture the attention of all these users by creating a website they want to interact with. It all starts with Web Hosting Services & Companies.
With dozens of providers, how do you choose one that fits your website vision? To answer this question, we scoured the market to find the best hosting deals on the Internet today.
By paying close attention to product and pricing options, features you may need, and essential pros and cons, we've created a guide to help you choose the best web hosting service.
Our Top 10 Best Web Hosting Services and Companies:
- Bluehost – Best shared web hosting service
- Hostinger – The best website hosting service for long-term savings
- GoDaddy – Best for unlimited storage and bandwidth
- IONOS – Best Affordable Hosting Plans
- HostGator – Best domain host for heavy email use
- DreamHost – Best for 100% uptime guaranteed
- Web.com – Best for unlimited data
- Online Solutions – Best for 24/7 chat support
- HostPapa – Best for Small and Medium Businesses
- A2 Hosting – Best hosting solution for large server count
Our Methodology: How We Reviewed the Best Hosting Services
Since several specifications, such as server space and bandwidth, must be considered, it can be challenging to make one-to-one comparisons. To compile our list of the best hosting sites, we reviewed all the features and compared them to their costs.
For our main comparison chart, we've reviewed the features each web host provides at their most affordable level. However, if you are willing to spend enough money, almost all hosts will offer you what you need.
Our methodology is based on the following factors:
- Guarantees of availability
- Server speed and load time.
- Disk space
- Bandwidth limitations
- Reliability
- Security features
- Customer support
The Best Hosting Services – An In-Depth Look
Bluehost is one of the most popular web hosts for creating a WordPress (WP) website, thanks to its one-click setup process, robust CMS (content management system) platform, and multiple hosting plans.
While the company offers other services, including shared hosting, dedicated hosting, and VPS (virtual private server) hosting, Bluehost's reputation for simplicity and ease of use may be its biggest asset. They also offer an accelerated setup for WooCommerce, a popular e-commerce application powered by the WP engine. Security features like SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificates and daily backups also add to its appeal.
“I love Bluehost as a hosting platform,” says web strategist and trainer Wes McDowell. He also calls Bluehost “super reliable” and adds that it's “straightforward to get [your site] up and running” with this service.
Why did we choose Bluehost? Bluehost is one of today's most versatile hosting providers. It offers a beginner-friendly setup process and various affordable solutions, making it a good option for customers with different needs.
Our experience. We like the simple site design, navigation, and Bluehost's emphasis on the WordPress product. These features gave us enough flexibility to create many different types of websites. Transparent pricing and product information make sorting options easy and discovering what's best for you and your budget.
PROS
- Quick WordPress installation and configuration
- WooCommerce online store hosting
- Includes security features
CONS
- Limited disk space (10 GB)
- Email addresses are not included
Hostinger asks for the most extended introductory offer commitment on this list, but their prices are very affordable. The service is only $1.99 monthly for the first four years, after which the price increases to a reasonable $3.99/month. Hostinger's 30-day money-back guarantee and 99.9% uptime guarantee also give you peace of mind.
Although this offer does not include a free domain name, it does come with a unique email address. Additionally, users get 50GB of SSD storage and 100GB of bandwidth. Security features include SSL certificates, weekly backups, and DDoS protection.
Why did we choose Hostinger? Hostinger's four-year affordable introductory price gives you access to guaranteed uptime at a very affordable price. The user ratings and experiences we've reviewed on Trustpilot and the Hostinger homepage confirm that customers find great value in the service they receive.
Our experience. The company's customer service is very responsive. We received an answer to our sample question within 10 minutes of posting it in Hostinger's live chat. However, we didn't like that Hostinger had a countdown timer on its homepage. It seemed a bit of a gimmick.
PROS
- Affordable prices
- Highly responsive customer service team
- DDoS protection included
CONS
- There is no free domain name
- Limited bandwidth (100 GB)
While GoDaddy has gained widespread recognition for its extensive advertising efforts, its popularity can be attributed to factors beyond simple marketing. A stellar suite of security features, including SSL certificates, automatic backups, DDoS protection, and proactive malware scanning, sets it apart from the competition.
The company also has a website builder for WordPress, which means you don't need to hire an expensive designer to create a website. Instead, GoDaddy's wizard gives you access to beginner-friendly tools to help you build your website. GoDaddy also has design services if you prefer to avoid creating a website altogether.
Why we chose GoDaddy. As one of the most established and recognizable web hosting services, GoDaddy earned its place in the web hosting charts years ago. However, what gives them staying power is their competitive plans and superior security features. In addition, its robust range of e-commerce tools and resources provides additional support to strengthen and grow your business.
Our experience. We like that GoDaddy includes custom domain registration and allows customers to search for domains from the home page. We also found many storefront offers and payment tools for this service.
PROS
- Strict security
- Website creation and design services.
- Free one-click WordPress installation
CONS
- The introductory price is slightly higher than others.
- Email addresses are free for the first year only.
IONOS is ideal for small businesses that need an online presence. At $1 per month for the first year of their Business plan, they have one of the most affordable web hosting deals on this list. They give you a lot for that low price: 99.9% uptime, unlimited bandwidth, 50GB of SSD (solid state drive) storage, five email addresses, advanced security features like DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) and geo-blocking, and redundancy.
Web developer and HowExpert author Liz Kazanji says in her book Freelance Web Developer 101: “For simplicity, I recommend 1&1, now known as IONOS. I have found [their service] affordable and fully meets my needs.”
Like the other web hosts on this list, IONOS offers WordPress hosting plans. However, they also provide standard web hosting, Drupal, and Joomla hosting options. Although the Business plan costs the first year, IONOS remains one of the best web hosting platforms on the market due to what it offers at this low price.
Why did we choose IONOS? IONOS has the most affordable pricing options of all the products we reviewed. Plus, its comprehensive catalogue of web hosting services makes it easy to include it on our list.
Our experience. We appreciate IONOS's simple pricing structure and product selection. We also found the live chat helpful in learning more about the provider's solutions.
PROS
- It is a very affordable launch price.
- Plenty of storage space (50 GB)
- The business plan includes five email addresses
CONS
- After the first year, the cost increases to $8
- High traffic reduces performance
HostGator is a smart choice for larger organizations that need multiple email addresses. This web hosting company offers unlimited email addresses with its plans. It also guarantees at least 99% server uptime and unlimited bandwidth.
In his book WordPress in Easy Steps, Darryl Bartlett, a freelance web developer and technical writer, explains that “to install WordPress, you'll need some online space.” He adds: “I recommend a company called HostGator. It's very well priced, has a 24/7 support team, and is very easy to set up with WordPress.“
The $2.75/month introductory plan requires a three-year commitment, but the price doesn't increase to the regular $7.99/month rate until the introductory period ends. In addition to standard shared hosting, dedicated hosting, and VPS, HostGator also offers reseller hosting for those who want to provide their hosting services.
Why we chose HostGator: HostGator has won awards for everything from web hosting to customer service. We were impressed with their unlimited email addresses and even the most basic plans. Organizations with large staff will appreciate this feature since you can configure your email.
Our experience. We appreciate that HostGator does not force you to pay for additional email addresses or use a third-party email provider. Instead, they keep the business in-house. We also liked that they offer some of the market's fastest and most affordable hosting options.
PROS
- Unlimited email addresses
- Long-term offers available
- Award-winning customer service
CONS
- Only 10 GB of server space
- The best price requires a three-year commitment
DreamHost offers an extended 97-day money-back guarantee and 100% guaranteed uptime. This shows their confidence in their service, which should reassure even the most fearful consumers.
The introductory plan includes a free domain name for one year but does not include an email address. Bandwidth is not metered, and there are no storage limits. There are also several WordPress website options, from basic hosting to dedicated WordPress hosting and cloud hosting options for those looking to publish web applications.
Why did we choose DreamHost? DreamHost promises 100% uptime and compensation for any downtime. Plus, with a 97-day money-back guarantee, you can try their services and confirm if they can deliver on this promise.
Our experience. We liked choosing between two unmanaged shared plans, three managed shared plans, four VPS plans, and nine dedicated plans.
PROS
- Generous guarantees
- Different WordPress hosting options
- cloud hosting
CONS
- It does not include email
- Potentially confusing plan options
Web.com is a simple service provider that offers shared hosting for WordPress and custom websites. While they don't have dedicated hosting plans, VPS hosting, or reseller hosting, they provide a website builder for anyone who doesn't use WordPress.
The basic plan includes a free domain name for the first year and a business email. Web.com also claims a 99.9% uptime record but doesn't guarantee it. Plans come with unlimited bandwidth, an SSL certificate, malware scanning, and a daily backup service for security.
We chose Web.com because this web hosting solution is a stable and complete option with unlimited hosting. They give users free access to a drag-and-drop website builder and promise loading speeds up to 70% faster than their competitors.
Our experience. We love Web.com's website design and build options, with one hour of free web design support and pre-designed building blocks. However, we were slightly disappointed by the lack of technical details about their plans.
PROS
- Includes business email
- Free domain for the first year
- A free drag-and-drop website builder is available
CONS
- Email addresses have additional value
- Lack of detailed technical information.
Web.com powers Network Solutions and offers similar services. However, it provides the added benefit of fast, responsive, and helpful customer service.
When it's time to renew, Network Solutions doesn't raise its Starter Plan monthly rates, which is a big incentive for potential customers. The plan includes 15 GB of storage and five email addresses. Additionally, Network Solutions guarantees 99.9% uptime but does not provide much information about bandwidth. Also, although the WordPress plans cost more, they include additional storage, email addresses, and a free domain name.
We chose Network Solutions: Network Solutions is a solid option that does not increase rates after renewal. This provider also has excellent customer service and includes five free emails in its most basic plan.
Our experience. When we contacted Network Solutions' customer service team, they immediately connected us to a representative. The site offers a combination of live text and chatbot support. Their 99.9% uptime guarantee also gave us confidence that our site would be consistently available to visitors.
PROS
- The price remains the same after the upgrade.
- Quick chat support with customer service
- Includes five free email addresses.
CONS
- There is no free domain name
- Bandwidth information for the starter plan is not available
HostPapa is an exclusive web design and hosting service that puts a professional online presence within reach of businesses of all sizes. An intuitive drag-and-drop website builder lets you create stunning websites in no time. With plans starting at just $3.95 per month, it's an affordable solution for anyone. HostPapa offers several hosting options, including web hosting, WordPress hosting, VPS hosting, reseller hosting, and even specialized e-commerce hosting. With more than 400 business applications, you can improve the functionality of your website. Enjoy free domain registration, ample storage, and unlimited bandwidth with every package. HostPapa enables businesses to thrive online with its cost-effective and feature-rich hosting services.
We chose HostPapa mainly because of its versatile hosting options. With HostPapa, users have various options, including web hosting, WordPress hosting, VPS hosting, reseller hosting, and specialized e-commerce hosting. Whether you run a personal blog, an online store, or a growing business, HostPapa offers hosting plans designed to meet your unique requirements and ensure a smooth online presence.
Our experience. HostPapa is great when it comes to uptime. They maintain an excellent 99.97 per cent uptime, which means your site is rarely down. While it's impossible to have 100% uptime due to random issues and maintenance, HostPapa's uptime translates to less than three hours of downtime annually. This high level of reliability is perfect whether you have a blog or an online store, as it ensures that your website is available to visitors frequently.
PROS
- Lots of features even with the basic plan
- Softaculous with over 400 free apps
- One-on-one training
CONS
- The back guarantee is not 100%
- Some hidden fees
A2 Hosting offers various solutions for individual and enterprise users. They offer hosting plans for WordPress (both managed and unmanaged), dedicated email, WooCommerce, reseller hosting, and even specialized software for nonprofits.
Their basic shared hosting plan, suitable for WordPress or custom websites, starts at $2.99/month for one year. The plan includes 100GB of SSD storage, unlimited bandwidth, and unlimited email addresses. However, users must pay for the domain name.
Why did we choose A2 hosting? A2 hosting has a lot to offer: tons of storage space, as well as all email. Emails and bandwidth you could ever need. Their plans include a comprehensive security package with SSL certificates, backups, malware scanning, DDoS protection, and two-factor authentication (2FA).
Our experience. We appreciate the simple reporting that A2 Hosting uses to back up its claims with accurate data. This provider clearly describes its online methodology to show that it can offer large amounts of storage and reliable bandwidth.
PROS
- 100 GB SSD storage
- Unlimited email addresses
- Comprehensive security package
CONS
- There is no free domain name
- The repair cost is a bit high.
How to Compare the Best Hosting Services
The comparison chart below captures some essential details to help you better understand the features of the best web hosts.
Remember that direct comparisons are not always possible when evaluating each hosting provider's details. The features listed here refer to the cheapest plan of each hosting service, but higher-level plans may include better features. For example, some hosting providers may provide a free domain name with higher-cost plans, not those listed in the box. Be sure to visit each web hosting service's website for specific details on their other offerings.
What are Web Hosting Services, and Which is Right for You?
There are many types of hosting services for all types of companies. Some web hosting companies can do everything from building your website to marketing and sales. Other providers only provide space, infrastructure, technical support staff, and equipment so that you can create your website.
Depending on your business model and size, you will choose a hosting company based on the factors described below. Once you understand the terminology, you can weigh the features and select the service that best suits your business needs.
Exploring the Different Types of Web Hosting
The larger or more complex the site, the more comprehensive a configuration package you need. The main ones are divided as follows:
- Shared web hosting. Accessibility and simplicity
Shared web hosting is the basic package that the services offer. Your website is on the same server as many others, so you share the server and other resources such as memory or CPU.
Shared web hosting plans suit basic website needs such as emailing, file sharing, and entry-level e-commerce sites. They are the cheapest and, therefore, the brightest option for smaller or new businesses.
- VPS hosting. balance between strength and flexibility
A virtual private server is designed for your direct use, not a shared server. You may still be sharing a real server, but the service creates a virtual server, especially if it's a shared VPS.
That means all resources, from memory storage to processing power, are yours alone. This more secure and reliable option sets your site apart from others while maintaining accessibility.
- Dedicated web hosting for maximum control and performance
Dedicated hosting is on another level. In addition to having your server, dedicated hosting allows you complete control over your server. That means you have full administrative access and can set things up however you want.
This hosting package includes features that may not be necessary for all types of businesses.
- WordPress hosting – optimized for WordPress websites
WordPress offers shared hosting plans that cater to more specialized customers. The servers themselves are optimized differently and have features that are particularly attractive for performance, such as faster load times, a WordPress installer, security features that work specifically with WordPress sites, and hosting of WordPress updates. This is useful for businesses that have websites built on WordPress.
What Is Included With a Web Hosting Service?
With a web hosting service, you'll get tools to design your website, hundreds of templates, blogging and e-commerce features, email marketing, analytics and reporting, cloud hosting services, and more. Web servers centralize everything into a single service that will allow you to run your website online, keep it running smoothly, and keep your data safe.
Web Hosting Pricing and Value Analysis
Some choose web hosting companies solely based on price. While this is not a great strategy, you should consider the cost. The best providers offer plans for all budgets, and in some cases, signing up for longer subscriptions (rather than paying monthly) will qualify you for additional discounts.
Also, leave some room to grow. Choosing a web hosting plan that meets your current website needs. But, with any luck, your site will grow and expand over time, and your needs may change. Since switching to a new web hosting provider is a hassle, consider one that offers a wide range of hosting plans.
In most cases, more expensive plans include more email addresses. While this feature is not very important to some, it is essential to others.
Should You Consider Free Hosting?
Free hosting plans aren't worth the money because they can create more problems than benefits by taking shortcuts and compromising your site's speed, security, and scalability.
With free hosting, slow performance times will affect your website's SEO. Your website may not even appear on the search results page. Your website's security can also be compromised, as free servers generally lack protection against cyber attacks.
Essential Web Hosting Features You Need
Hosting quality is affected by several important factors that need to be weighed in the decision-making process. Some of the most important factors include:
- Uptime Guarantee – Ensure reliable website availability
If you think about web hosting, you will hear the term uptime guarantee a lot. This makes a lot of sense, considering it is one of the most important factors when choosing a service. Uptime, the percentage of time a hosting service is up and running, will be guaranteed by various companies with a certain uptime percentage.
This is important because you don't want your website to be permanently unavailable or unavailable to your customers. Otherwise, why have a website? Having it available for a high percentage ensures that your nce can see and interact with your site more often.
Quality brands like InMotion Hosting, HostGator, and Bluehost offer a 99%+ uptime guarantee, which is good for your business.
- Load Time Optimization – Speed up your website
To stay up-to-date, ensure your domain hosting service has fast loading times. A2Hosting will offer 360ml page load times, the fastest in the industry.
- Customer Support – Reliable help when you need it
Since having a problem with your website is trivial, you want to ensure that customer service is accessible, knowledgeable, and easy to work with. There is more on this below.
- Server location: Choosing the right geo-server
The number and location of servers are vital to your website's loading and serving speed. The more servers there are, the faster the service will be, but where those servers are located will also affect quality.
Depending on your location, look for servers in key locations near you, such as the UK, US, or Israel.
- Email hosting. Manage email accounts with your hosting
Email hosting is another way to extend your company's reach online and provide dedicated email addresses for all your employees. Most web hosts have email hosting tools to help you manage accounts and communications from one place.
Security Features to Look for in a Hosting Package
In the US alone, 30,000 websites are hacked by malware every day. Many of them are small business websites that are under attack because they don't have the cyber security protection that large company IT teams can offer.
However, small business owners can still do more to keep their accounts safe. Check to see if your hosting provider offers any of the following, which can help ensure your account doesn't become the following statistic.
- Two-factor authentication (2FA). strengthening account security
Also called multi-factor authentication (MFA), 2-factor authentication adds a second security credential to the login process. If you have a managed hosting plan, you probably know that cPanel is where your technical staff can manage your hosting accounts.
- Free SSL certificates. Protect data transmission
If your small business runs multiple domain names, it would be beneficial if your hosting provider offered free SSL certificates with your hosting package. An SSL certificate is a certificate authority's (CA) guarantee that traffic to and from a website will be encrypted using Transport Layer Security (TLS).
You may be more familiar with this as https:// instead of http:// before specific domain names. Using TLS gives your customers peace of mind that the data they send to and from your site will be encrypted on their local networks.
- DKIM, SPF, DMARC – Improving email security
Email spoofing is a genuine concern for any small business. To combat this, look for a host that offers three email authentication tools in their hosting packages: Sender Policy Framework (SPF), Domain Key Authenticated Mail (DKIM), and Domain-Based Message Authentication and Reporting and Matching (DMARC).
These are created as DNS records in your cPanel, which means that recipients can see that the email your organization has authenticated is not the result of a scammer impersonating you.
- Easy update manager. optimization of software updates
A one-click installation manager and scripts means you can ensure that such cloud applications are updated automatically and regularly without asking your IT staff for help.
How to Choose the Best Web Hosting Company?
Without the best web hosting, your ability to run a successful website will be severely hampered. There is a dizzying array of web hosting providers competing for your business.
How can you identify the best? Start by considering the following points:
1. Bandwidth
If your site contains many graphics, dozens of pages, and traffic, you'll need unlimited bandwidth and disk space. However, there are unlimited programs that make life easier. If your site is simple and doesn't generate a lot of traffic, you should be able to get away with less disk space and bandwidth.
2. Compatibility
Also, consider compatibility. In the excitement of looking for a web hosting provider, you might overlook one crucial thing: the type of operating systems supported. You don't want to switch operating systems, so double-check this point before deciding on a provider.
3. Reliability
Reliability and affordability are essential features to consider when looking for web hosting. The best web hosting companies offer 98% and 99% availability rates, often called “uptime”. However, making such claims is easy, so be sure to see if they deliver on their promises.
4. Security
Security is also an important issue. Choosing a web hosting provider without knowing the security features available is a big mistake. Things like firewalls, daily backups, free SSL certificates, and user authentication should be included and easily accessible in the control panel.
Exploring Additional Offerings Beyond Web Hosting
If you have an online store, follow vendors that offer e-commerce solutions. Look for a content management system vendor if you want quick and easy updates. Make sure they also give you access to statistics about your site.
Another feature you can look out for is how environmentally friendly the web hosting is. Data centres use a lot of electricity; nowadays, some web hosts run their platforms using green technology.
Website Builders: Simplifying Website Creation
A free domain for your website is more than just hosting; you need to have a website. Website builders help publish all images and information on the Internet without coding. They provide users with hundreds of easy templates to play with and edit. You can drag and drop content directly into templates and customize your site based on your industry.
If you have little or no experience in website design, web builders can let you easily design the website of your dreams.
Assessing Customer Service and Support from Hosting Providers
Even if you're an expert at creating websites, it's good to know that help is available if you need it. Confirm that the web host you choose has 24/7 support, and ensure there are several ways to get support, preferably phone support.
The most reliable providers offer email, phone, and online chat support support, giving you the most convenient option.
The best support program includes customer freedom. Review the suppliers' policies to ensure an explicit money-back guarantee if unsatisfied with the product.
After narrowing your search to a few candidates, look for online reviews of each. Ideally, reviews should come from actual customers on review sites, not testimonial lists posted on web providers' sites.
It should be pretty easy to understand how a web host treats its customers from the word on the street.
More Web Hosting Services We Reviewed
If you think your web search is over, we have good news. Our web hosting experts have selected the top 10 brands featured and reviewed on this page.
Check out these additional brands to get a better idea of all your web hosting options:
- Clouds
- Fat cow
- Hibu
- Jimdo
- WordPress:
Additional Articles of Interest
With all this in mind, please look at these articles written by experts and find the best ways to manage your website online.
- Best web hosting for small business
- How do you choose a web hosting service?
- 10 Tips for Determining Your Website's Bandwidth Requirements
- Our ultimate guide to shared web hosting
- Best WordPress Hosting Services
Conclusion: Making an Informed Decision for Your Web Hosting Needs
Our picks for the top 10 web hosting services are Bluehost, IONOS, HostGator, Hostinger, DreamHost, A2 Hosting, Web.com, Network Solutions, rocket.net, and InMotion.
As tempting as it may be to pick a quick web host and move on with your life, it's better to take your time. By doing this, you can find a supplier you can stick with for the long term.