Best Web Hosting Companies of 2021
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Do I need web hosting?
Good question! If you’re using an open-source platform to build your website, such as WordPress, Magento, or Drupal, then the answer is yes, you do need web hosting.
The only time you don’t need to worry about finding web hosting is if you’re using a website builder, because these platforms include hosting as part of their building package (even if you’re on a free plan!)
What are the different types of web hosting?
Finding web hosting can be tricky because there’s so much to think about. Not only are there hundreds of web hosting companies out there, but there’s also multiple types of hosting to choose from. And if you make the wrong choice, your website might feel the effects!
Here’s a quick run-down of the main types of hosting:
- Shared hosting – best for new, small, and static websites that don’t need much in the way of resources, this is the cheapest and most basic form of hosting.
- VPS hosting – generally considered to be a step up from shared hosting, VPS hosting provides better security and more resources for your site. This makes it best for business sites.
- WordPress hosting – best if you’re using WordPress, these hosting plans come with specific features built-in to make running your website easier.
- Cloud hosting – the most flexible type of hosting, cloud hosting lets you tweak your plan’s resources as and when you need. It’s particularly good for handling traffic surges.
- Dedicated hosting – the most advanced, and most expensive, type of hosting, where you get a whole server all to yourself. This is best for extremely large websites and online stores needing a lot of power and customization in their servers.
How do I choose the right web host for me?
Knowing which type of hosting to choose is important. If your site gets a lot of traffic, for example, and you choose a basic shared plan, you’ll likely experience crashes.
Just starting out? On a tight budget? We recommend looking at shared hosting.
Most websites usually need VPS hosting. It’s more reliable than shared hosting, but less expensive and technically demanding than dedicated hosting. It’s easy to manage, but comes with the power you need to make your site grow. If you’re in doubt, check out VPS hosting.
If you’re using WordPress, you should definitely take a look at WordPress hosting. Shared WordPress plans are best for new, small sites, while managed WordPress hosting is more scalable.
Cloud hosting is ideal if you’re running an online store that frequently sees hikes and dips in traffic – for example, if you’re running regular sales.
Dedicated hosting is meant for enterprise-level websites. You should really only look at dedicated hosting once VPS plans can no longer support your site – it’s not for new websites!
Always look at features and pricing, and ask yourself what your website really needs. Read on to find out what exactly to look for.
What features should I look for in a web host?
When you’re researching web hosting services, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with the number of features being thrown at you. Here are five important features to look for in a web host:
- Storage – the amount of storage you get determines how much media your site can handle. If you’re storing lots of videos, images, or media-heavy content, you’ll need plenty of storage.
- Bandwidth – this affects how many people can visit your site at once. A new blog with a small audience won’t need much bandwidth, but a hugely popular site like Facebook does! If your site keeps crashing, chances are you need more bandwidth.
- Free SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) – SSL is responsible for the padlock you see in the URL bar. It encrypts data passing between your site and its users, and basically tells everyone your website is safe. Most hosts include free SSL in all their plans.
- Automatic install and updates (for WordPress sites) – if you use WordPress, make sure you choose a plan that includes automatic WordPress installation and runs automatic WordPress updates. This is the bare minimum a WordPress plan should offer!
- Uptime – uptime refers to the amount of time the web host’s servers are up and running. When a host’s servers go down, your site goes down too. 100% uptime isn’t achievable, but try to find a guarantee that’s as close to 100% as possible. HostGator has the best uptime guarantee at 99.99%!
Extra perks include a free domain (heads up that this usually lasts for one year only), as well as free backups – but you should always make your own backups too, just to be safe.
Will my website be secure?
Yes – as long as you choose a good web host. SSL security is the minimum you should expect from your hosting provider.
Within hosting plans, look for backups, malware scanning and removal, third party security integrations, and privacy protection. Also check that the host has DDoS protection, provides firewalls, and runs updates, to ensure their servers are as safe as possible.
A2 Hosting is a great example – it provides Perpetual Security measures on all its plans to make sure your site is protected 24/7. This includes HackScan, which protects websites from malware.
Will I get the support I need?
Most web hosting services offer a range of support options, including:
- Knowledge center
- Live chat
- Tech support tickets
- Phone support
If great support is important to you, we recommend trying it out before committing to a host. That way, there won’t be any surprises down the line!
So far we’ve thoroughly tested the support provided by Bluehost, Hostgator, A2 Hosting, and InMotion, and can safely say that Bluehost provides the best support out of all four web hosts. InMotion was the worst, so keep that in mind if you’re after top notch customer support.
Is there such a thing as free web hosting?
Free web hosting does exist, but that doesn’t mean we recommend it. In fact, like many things, just because it’s free doesn’t mean it’s good. If you want good features, security, and performance for your website, we recommend staying away from any promises of free web hosting.
When you can get hosting with one of these top web hosts for under $5 per month, it’s not worth risking your site on a free hosting service. There are plenty of high quality, cheap web hosting companies out there to choose from instead. DreamHost offers some of the lowest price plans on the market!
What else is included with web hosting?
What else you get with your web hosting really depends on the plan and provider you choose. But some of the most common additions include:
- Domain registration – when you sign up to a hosting plan, you’ll usually get the option to buy or connect a custom domain name. Hosts like Bluehost even throw one in for free for your first year!
- Email hosting – you can host your email with your web host, which can help give you a professional image. For example, instead of help.websitebuilderexpert@gmail.com, your address would be help@websitebuilderexpert.com – much more trustworthy!
- Website builder – many web hosting companies also have a website builder to help you create your website. This makes it easy to keep everything in one place.
Can I move my website from one web host to another?
If the host you choose isn’t quite right, you can migrate your website from one web host to another. Some hosts, like A2 Hosting and Bluehost, even offer a free migration service to help you with this transition!