Why, though? From awesome publishing features to in-depth customer analytics, businesses today need to go beyond social media. Having a dedicated hub for your business that you can customize and control is crucial.

That journey starts by finding a web host, by the way.

To help you make your decision, we’ve taken a deep dive into the best web hosting services out there. We’ll also break down the basics of web hosting and what to consider as you explore potential providers.

What is Web Hosting (and How Does it Work?)

“What is web hosting, anyway?”

Good question!

Without getting too into the weeds, web hosting represents the storage space where your website and its contents live on the web.

You can almost think of purchasing hosting like buying a piece of digital real estate. Web hosts are responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of servers which keep your website, well, online.

Whether or not you need web hosting depends on your situation as a business, but the answer is almost always a responding “yes.”

When you purchase hosting, you’re essentially taking control of your online presence. Rather than be restricted by the rules and limited audience of a social media platform, a dedicated website gives you unlimited reach and freedom.

Much of what web hosting is responsible for is “behind the scenes,” including file storage and site speed.

That said, many web hosts also provide users with website builders that enable you to build a site from scratch (see the example from Dreamhost below).

With drag-and-drop functionality, such builders allow total newbies to put together sleek sites with no complicated coding required. These are great for people who are less concerned about how web hosting works and really just want to get online.

How much does web hosting cost, though?

If you’ve been burned or otherwise confused by web hosting prices in the past, don’t panic. Heck, you can pay as little as $0.99/mo with a hosting package these days.

What are the Different Types of Web Hosting Available?

When it comes to hosting options, consumers today are spoiled for choice.

However, this doesn’t do much for folks who have no idea what they’re looking for.

To help you understand what makes sense for your business, let’s briefly run through the various types of web hosting you can buy (starting with the most common).

Shared hosting

Perhaps the simplest and most popular type of web hosting, shared hosting basically enables multiple websites to “share” space on a single server.

Don’t worry, though: you don’t have to worry much about interacting with your digital neighbors. The ability to share a server is what allows this type of hosting to be so affordable. Likewise, you’re not responsible for upkeep such as server maintenance.

If you’re on a budget or plan to run a site that’s receiving relatively little traffic (think: a photography blog or hub for your service-based business), shared hosting is a solid place to start. Besides, you can always upgrade your hosting down the line.

VPS hosting

VPS stands for “virtual private server,” meaning this type of hosting gives you more than just a shared space. Here you have your own server (albeit virtual, not physical) which results in increased performance, security, and faster loading speeds.

VPS is more expensive than shared hosting. That said, it’s worth it if you’re running a higher-traffic storefront or site that needs to host a lot of media.

Dedicated hosting

Dedicated hosting gives you, well, dedicated resources in terms of your server space.

With this type of hosting, you can fully allocate your server’s memory and space to your website. You don’t have to worry about what anyone else on your server is doing because you’re responsible for your own.

Dedicated hosting is pricier than the two previous hosting options, but might be worth it to run a high-traffic website with a dedicated audience or community. Getting your money’s worth means having deep enough tech knowledge to customize your server and keep up with the maintenance, though.

Collocated hosting

Collocated hosting is basically dedicated hosting where you not only maintain your own unique server space but also you also rent the physical hardware behind it. Unless you’re running an IT department, this type of hosting is probably overkill.

Cloud Hosting

Cloud hosting exists in, you guessed it, the cloud. This type of hosting is similar to shared hosting in the sense that you’re sharing resources. However, with cloud hosting you’re essentially pulling resources from multiple cloud servers rather than a single, physical server.

The advantage of cloud storage is that resources are effectively spread out and can be accessed on-demand. For example, let’s say your site experiences a sudden spike in traffic. Rather than be stuck with a web server that can’t handle the surge, cloud hosting basically “taps” into the cloud for the resources it needs.

Cloud hosting is reliable, flexible, and easy to scale. If you’re looking for something that goes beyond the basics of shared hosting and you have the budget for the cloud, go for it.

WordPress hosting

Fact: WordPress’ platform is responsible for over one-third of all websites.

As a result, many of the best web hosting options are specifically designed for folks using WordPress. Beyond simply making it easy to host sites from the platform, WordPress hosting takes things a step further by offering platform-specific support, speed optimization, and security.

If you have a high-traffic WordPress site already, this type of hosting might make the most sense.

However, note that the average site-owner who wants to simply migrate their WordPress site to a shared hosting plan can do so for much cheaper than a dedicated WordPress hosting provider. Keep this in mind if you’re stuck between web hosting vs. WordPress hosting.

Reseller hosting

Finally, there’s reseller hosting. This type of hosting allows you to purchase hosting capabilities and sell them to other businesses. You basically act as a middleman between a big web host and a smaller business or entrepreneur. Reseller hosting is moreso a business program versus an actual hosting solution.

“Which Web Hosting Features Do I Need?”

Before getting into the nitty-gritty of the best web hosting services, let’s talk about features.

With so many hosting options ranging from a few bucks to hundreds of dollars per month, it’s important to distinguish between wants and needs in terms of your site.

If you plan on having a site with smaller traffic (think: a few dozen visitors per week), chances are you don’t need to sweat these features too much. That said, here are some factors to consider for any web hosting plan.

Bandwidth

Bandwidth measures the amount of data you can transfer back-and-forth between your server. Factors such as how large your site is (think: pages, files, plug-ins) influences the amount of bandwidth that you’ll need.

Reality check: the majority of websites out there don’t even come close to reaching their bandwidth limits on a month-to-month basis. Conventional wisdom says that 10GB is more than generous for most sites.

Heck, the cheapest web hosting plan from Hostinger boasts a 100 GB bandwidth limit.

You’ve probably noticed that many hosting companies offer “unlimited” bandwidth. In reality, you’re not actually getting unlimited anything: it’s a marketing tactic that works because the average site uses such little bandwidth.

And if you see a provider promote unmetered bandwidth, that simply means that you aren’t charged based on how much bandwidth you use. However, you may exceed slower transfer speeds or be advised by your provider to watch your usage if you go over your “limit.”

Storage

No surprises here. Storage represents the amount of server space your website’s pages and files can take up.

How much storage space do you need, though? It depends. Do you plan on tricking out your site with rich media (think: HD videos, high-res product photos)? Will you be going all-out in terms of plug-ins and marketing tools? If so, you might need more than the bare minimum.

But like bandwidth, many sites will never get close to their storage limit.

Food for thought: the average website page is more than 2MB. For reference, Bluehost’s basic plan for $3/mo includes 50 GB storage.

Customer support

Although setting up your website is easier than ever, there’s no denying the learning curve involved.

The good news is that modern web hosts have seriously stepped up their customer support for folks who aren’t exactly tech-savvy.

From detailed, step-by-step video tutorials to live chat software (see Hostinger’s below) and beyond, stellar support is a trademark of the best web hosting services. Many of the biggest hosts hype the fact that you can get in touch with an actual human within less than a minute of reaching out.

Uptime & load speed

Uptime measures how reliable a web host is, specifically how often their service is online.

You might be surprised to learn that no host truly has a 100% uptime. Unexpected maintenance and outages happen, but the average site owner isn’t likely to notice them. For reference, SiteGround has a 99.983% uptime as of 2020.

Uptime really only becomes an issue if your web host has repeated outages. For high-traffic sites that rely on consistent visitors (think: eCommerce giants, big news publications), being offline for even a few minutes can have an impact on both your reputation and bottom line.

Perhaps more notable is load speed. As noted by recent research from Unbounce’s page speed report, visitors are likely to bounce from a website that doesn’t load after a couple of seconds.

Bloated websites and subpar hosting spell bad news for your site’s performance. Many of the best web hosting services have built-in optimization features to help your site avoid slowdowns, though.

Domain Name(s)

The biggest providers typically sell domain names alongside hosting as a sort of package deal.

In fact, GoDaddy was perhaps best known for being a domain registrar prior to becoming a household name in web hosting.

However, you don’t have to necessarily buy your domain from your host. These are tons of web domain services that are separate from your hosting packages (and often cheaper).

Also, some site owners recommend that you don’t purchase hosting and domains together. Beyond the price tag, having your domain tied to your host can be a headache in situations where you want to migrate your site to switch to a new hosting provider.

In terms of price, note that the average domain from a provider like Google Domains is $12/yr with no strings attached. If you’re purchasing a domain from a host, expect the cost to rise after the first year.

Dedicated And Shared IP Address

Your website’s IP address is a string of numbers that identifies your website and its respective server online.

If your site has a dedicated IP address, that string of numbers is exclusive to you. A shared IP address (not: not the same thing as shared hosting) is distributed across multiple sites.

This graphic from NameCheap does a good job of breaking it down:

Once again, the average site or small business owner probably doesn’t need to sweat over shared versus dedicated IP. That said, there is debate over factors such as email deliverability or potentially being punished by your web host by spammy or bad behavior on behalf of your IP neighbors.

As is the case with most of these potential issues, they’re really only relevant to sites with higher-traffic that plan on running marketing campaigns with lots of email opt-ins or sign-ups.

Security and Privacy

From spam bots to straight-up cyber-attacks, security is a major concern for site owners of all shapes and sizes.

That’s why many of the best web hosting services push their security features pretty hard. Although some providers might require you to pay a premium for added security, the following is fairly standard for most plans and packages:

Two-factor authentication and secure log-ins
DDOS prevention
Malware detection
Plug-in vetting

For reference, here’s what SiteGround highlights as their key security features:

Money-back guarantee

Anything that gives you peace of mind when choosing a web host is a plus. If you find yourself in a situation where you suddenly need to cut your spending or pull out of a hosting package, a money-back guarantee is nice to have.

For most providers, a 30-day money-back guarantee is fairly standard (although providers like HostGator boast a 45-day money-back guarantee).

Note that some administration fees and add-ons may not be refundable. Policies vary from provider to provider.

Free automatic backups

From installing a plug-in that breaks your site to accidentally deleting crucial code, frequently backing up your site is a smart move.

Many web hosting services offer automatic backups, essentially saving a copy of your site (sometimes daily) in case something goes wrong. Some hosts offer both automatic and manual backups with one-click restoration (see WPEngine below).

Scalability

Let’s say your site goes viral or you experienced an unexpected flood of new visitors.

Good news, right? Not so much if your web host can’t handle the traffic.

Scaling up your hosting options in the form of new storage, subdomains, or bandwidth should be quick and painless. You shouldn’t get stuck in a contract that prevents you from doing so, either.

As a side note, cloud hosting is typically easier to scale versus shared hosting. Even so, many “unlimited” shared plans will meet your needs until you’re receiving thousands of visitors on a daily basis.

SSL

Security strikes again! An SSL (secure sockets layer) certificate signals that your site has a secure connection that encrypts your visitors’ data. In other words, it’s a sign that you’re running a legitimate site that’s not shady or potentially spammy.

Chances are you’ve seen the “secure” label or a lock icon next to a site’s address. That’s an SSL certificate in action.

Most major providers offer SSL as part of their packages, although some charge a premium for it. Either way, it’s an absolute must-have for sites today (especially if you plan on running a storefront or building an email list).

Migration flexibility

Site migration shouldn’t be a headache. Let’s say you want to switch hosting providers or move your site from WordPress to a new hosting platform. Big hosting providers offer quick-and-easy migration that pretty much does the legwork for you (see Cloudways below).

In short, you shouldn’t feel locked-in to a service that won’t let you migrate your site when necessary. That’s why it’s important to double-check your providers’ migration policy and read the fine print.

What To Know Before Purchasing A Web Hosting Service

If you’re still having trouble making a decision on your get, we get it.

Perhaps it’s best to figure out first and foremost what your top priorities are in terms of your host.

For example, is it speed? Security? Ease-of-use and support? There is no “wrong” answer here.

The most popular web hosting companies (BlueHost, HostGator, GoDaddy) are arguably the easiest to get started with but may lack the specific features you’re a developer or someone laser-focused on eCommerce.

We recommend looking at the entirety of any given plan rather than just the bullet points or flashy price tag.

This begs another question: is cheaper better when it comes to web hosting? It depends. If your website doesn’t demand much in terms of resources, a dirt-cheap hosting option can certainly get the job done.

The hosting space is intensively competitive, so getting a good deal isn’t hard if you’re willing to shop around.

Note also that web hosting isn’t always as simple as “you get what you pay for.” This is especially true when you dig into hidden maintenance and renewal fees that sometimes pop up after your first year of paying for hosting.

Regardless of your priorities and business goals, there’s something out there for you.

Thankfully, we’ve already done most of the homework to help you find a solution that makes sense.

Find The Best Web Hosting Services For You

Alright, let’s get into the good stuff!

Below we’ve broken down seventeen (17!) web hosting companies for you to consider. By the time you reach the end of this list, you’ll have a solid idea of what’s available and which hosts fit your needs.

1. Bluehost

Bluehost powers over 2 million websites, making them among the web hosting sites with the most name recognition. This can also be attributed to their ever-so-popular affiliate program.

Their service offers shared, WordPress, VPS, and dedicated hosting, for starters. Bluehost bundles a free domain, SSL certificate, and one-click WordPress installation with their starter packages. They promote a 99.9% uptime and their starting shared packages include 50GB storage and unlimited bandwidth.

With all of the above at only $3/mo, Bluehost is perhaps the best web hosting for beginners. Couple that with 24/7 customer support and the fact that their service also includes the Weebly website builder for design newbies.

What does Bluehost lack, though? No cloud hosting and a lack of monthly plans for shared hosting, most notably. They also charge a fee for site migration. Users are likewise responsible for manual site backups. You can read about more pros and cons in our Bluehost review.

2. GoDaddy

GoDaddy has been around seemingly forever (well, since 1997) and has over 18 million customers to their name. Although they might best be known for offering domain names, the popularity of their web hosting speaks for itself.

What separates GoDaddy from the pack? They often hype up their award-winning customer support, which is perfect for beginners. The company’s YouTube channel has a variety of tutorials to help you build your site, too.

Speaking of which, GoDaddy is also noted to have one of the best site builders out there. If you need drag-and-drop functionality to build your site or otherwise don’t want to deal with HTML/CSS, GoDaddy has you covered. This is ideal for small business owners who want to get their sites online ASAP.

You can see the various types of hosting that GoDaddy offers below. Although GoDaddy isn’t necessarily the cheapest option out there (pro-tip: you can save with our promo codes), they’re a good starting point for those new to having to host a site. You can learn more in our own GoDaddy review.

3. Hostinger

At a glance, Hostinger feels a bit more “modern” than some older-school web hosts. They offer shared, cloud, and VPS hosting.

Hostinger is notable for their low price points, including $0.99/mo for shared hosting (with a promotion) and cloud hosting for less than $8/mo. If you’re trying to find web hosting for free, they come pretty darn close.

Beyond that, Hostinger emphasizes speedy service for their users. For example, you can set up a WordPress site in a matter of minutes (and they likewise boast a bunch of features specific to WordPress userS). They promise fast loading speeds and consistent uptime, too.

Although they hype up their 24/7 customer service, they do lack phone support. Dedicated hosting options are also missing. That said, Hostinger can get the job done for someone who wants something basic and budget-friendly. If you want more details, check out our Hostinger review.

4. WPXHosting

WPX lives up to its namesake by offering dedicated WordPress hosting. Notable features include automatic backups and one-click WordPress installs (in addition to WordPress-specific support). They also offer free, unlimited site migrations that are completed within a 24-hour period.

Oh, and the company talks up their customer service which takes an average of 27 seconds to get in touch with.

If you’re focused on WordPress, WPX is a good choice for you. For example, their service is arguably the best web hosting service for photographers who need speedy sites that rely on stylish WordPress plug-ins (check out this blog post, for reference).

5. Dreamhost

We mentioned Dreamhost’s site builder earlier, but how do they stand out from the other big web hosting companies? For starters, their high uptime signals them as one of the most reliable web hosting service options out there.

Dreamhost’s interface is another big point in their favor. Their control panel is clean and mostly text-based, definitely something more stylish and modern versus many of their competitors. If you’re turned off by dashboards that look straight out of 1999, Dreamhost’s sleek control panel is for you:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_niFnC7n8kQ

The company offers a variety of hosting options (including cloud hosting) with a price that’s hard to beat. Dreamhost is a straightforward option for those who want something simple and clean, but also those who want something more business-focused. For example, they provide seamless web hosting for eCommerce with easy integrations with WooCommerce and Shopify

If nothing else, their generous 97-day money-back guarantee shows how confident they are in their service. You can learn more in our Dreamhost review.

6. InMotion

InMotion advertises standard hosting that’s friendly to beginners. For example, they offer a built-a-site service to new users for $99. They also promote simple scalability from those moving from shared to dedicated or VPS hosting.

However, InMotion isn’t just for total newbies. The company is noted for its relationship with a variety of open-source programs for developers to experiment with. They’re likewise an option if you’re looking for web hosting for charities (see this blog post, for reference).

You can check out their pricing below as well as our InMotion review.

7. GreenGeeks

You might not think “going green” goes hand in hand with your web hosting, but here we are! GreenGeeks is notable as an alternative to web hosts that rely on wasteful data centers, promising to return three times the renewable energy their service consumes back to the grid.

If you’re eco-friendly and you’re looking for green hosting, GreenGeeks has you covered. Their high uptimes and nightly backups are a nice added bonus, too.

Although they are slightly pricier and require a long-term commitment versus some of the best web hosting services, their environmental commitment might be make-or-break for some customers. You can read more in our GreenGeeks review.

8. HostGator

HostGator is yet another household name when it comes to hosting, competing with the likes of Bluehost and GoDaddy. With low prices and a variety of hosting options (see below), they represent a basic starter solution for those totally new to hosting.

They’re likewise often cited as providing the best web hosting for small business, scalable and easy to integrate with third-party marketing solutions (think: email).

You can find steep discounts for their services if you scour the web, but be aware of pricing hikes when it’s time to re-up!

9. iPage

iPage markets themselves as affordable web hosting, meaning they’re ideal for site owners on a budget. Their price points and features are specific to solopreneurs and small business owners who want something simple.

If you’re looking for cheap web hosting options that also include a web builder, iPage isn’t a bad place to start. You can find out more in our iPage review.

10. Kinsta

Kinsta is basically WordPress hosting on steroids. The company promotes peak performance thanks to a “premium” server network that accesses over 20 data centers worldwide. They offer 24/7 support and are home to a service team of dedicated WordPress engineers.

Kinsta’s price point is justified for those looking for customizable web hosting that’s specific to WordPress. On the plus side, they don’t lock you into long-term contracts. You can read more in our Kinsta review.

11. WPEngine

Another entry that stands among the best web hosting for WordPress, WPEngine offers scalable, WordPress-specific solutions for smaller teams and enterprise companies alike. Their stellar support team can do the heavy lifting in terms of migration and managing their seemingly endless array of WordPress integrations and optimizations. Find out more in our WPEngine review.

12. Flywheel

Flywheel is yet another WordPress-centric hosting option, ideally for site owners with larger budgets looking to hosting multiple WordPress domains. Notable features include automatic backups, included email accounts, and scalability. Although not the cheapest hosting solution out there, the company is targeting a specific sect of tech-savvy, WordPress users.

13. Cloudways

Cloudways is a cloud hosting provider (big surprise!) that emphasizes itself as being for digital agencies and eCommerce sites. Plenty of integrations, CDN options, automatic back-ups, and real-time monitoring are part of the company’s “worry-free experience.” The company also offers pay-as-you-go, flexible pricing which is a nice touch. You can read more in our Cloudways web hosting review.

14. Arvixe

Arvixe feels a bit old-school at a glance but the fact that the company has over three million users on its service is telling. The upsides of their service include robust security features, straightforward pricing, and a diverse range of plans. Critics note that slow load times have plagued the service in recent years, though. You can read more in our Arvixe review.

15. SiteGround

While SiteGround might not get as much buzz as the Bluehosts and GoDaddys of the web hosting world, they totally should. Beginner-friendly features such as guided WordPress installations, free back-ups, one-click installs, and scalability set it apart from the pack.

Also, they’re a good option when it comes to web hosting for students (check out their student hosting discount for more information).

SiteGound’s hosting plans are affordable and include tons of features, although they offer relatively small storage space versus their competitors. You can dig into more specifics in our Siteground review.

16. A2 Hosting

So, what does A2 offer versus the rest of the best web hosting services? Although their pricing is comparable to its competitors (if you sign up long-term), they’re notable for lightning-fast servers that put them among the top hosts when it comes to speed.

Their service represents some of the best web hosting for developers via Linux or Windows, including PHP, MySQL 5.6, and ASP.NET. A2 also has built-in apps and integrations specific to real-estate agents (this blog post breaks them down). You can read more in our A2 Hosting review.

17. A Small Orange

A Small Orange might have an unconventional name for a web host, but their value proposition is equally intriguing. In short, they’re not looking to sell you on feature-packed plans that don’t meet your needs. Instead, they stick to simple plans with limited upgrade. They’re likewise a green company with an emphasis on sustainability.

Although their price point might be a bit high for what they offer, it might be worth it for eco-friendly site owners. You can read more in our A Small Orange review.

And with that, we wrap up our guide!

What’s Best Web Hosting Look Like for You?

Listen: there’s obviously a lot to consider when exploring hosts.

Hopefully, this breakdown helped you hone in on the best web hosting based on your specific needs. We hope you get your site online ASAP!

Oh, and make sure to check out our side-by-side web hosting comparison to help you choose, too!

Written by Sara Altschule

Sara's mission is to create helpful resources and guides for Knoji. Her goal is to help consumers pick the best product or service that's right for them. Sara aims to uncover truths about industries and help guide readers to make the best purchasing decisions. She creates long-form how-to guides and research-heavy articles to help readers gain more knowledge and become masters of the products and services they use.