Home » Web Hosting Services » Best Web Hosting For Small Business | The Top 9 Reviewed and Tested Best Web Hosting For Small Business | The Top 9 Reviewed and Tested We may receive a commission from our partners if you click on a link and purchase a product or service on their website. Learn more Written by Samuel Jagger Researched by Natasha Willett Updated on February 6, 2023 Our methodology We’ve spent 230+ hours studying the best web hosts, then focused our research on areas that matter most to small businesses, like pricing and support. Comments: 19 On this page #1. HostGator #2. Bluehost #3. DreamHost #4. Hostinger #5. InMotion #6. GoDaddy Hosting #7. iPage #8. A2 Hosting #9. IONOS How Do You Choose a Small Business Hosting Provider? Summary Top 3 business hosts Bluehost InMotion HostGator For small business website owners, picking a reliable shared hosting provider is vital. Your choice will have a large impact on revenue and customer satisfaction, and to ensure that those impacts are positive rather than negative, we’ve compiled this guide to the best web hosting for small businesses.Our winner is HostGator, with an impressive score of 4.9 out of 5! Its affordable plans and 45-day money-back guarantee make it an ideal choice for small businesses who want to test the water first. HostGator is also our top hosting provider for help and support, thanks to its 24/7 phone and live chat features.In second place, we have Bluehost, scoring 4.6 out of 5. It also performed well for help and support which is a real plus when you’re just starting to find your footing online, and its shared hosting plans are pretty on par with HostGator for price. Close behind, we have DreamHost with 4.5 out of 5. It comes third in our research for best price, and it’s good value for money which makes it a very accessible choice for small businesses on a budget.Each review is based on the factors that matter, from pricing and features to server uptime. We’ll cover each provider in detail below – but first, the ranking: The 9 Best Hosting Providers for Small Businesses HostGator – Best overall shared hosting provider Bluehost – Most trusted by users online DreamHost – Longest money-back guarantee Hostinger – Best value for money InMotion – Robust security across the board GoDaddy Hosting – Awesome help and support iPage – Great performance on a budget A2 Hosting – Free expert migrations IONOS – Best for site speed and uptime Compare the 9 Best Hosting Providers for Small BusinessesWe’ve kicked off this chart with the top three hosts, but you can choose other providers using the arrow at the top. The chart lets you compare each host side-by-side on everything from pricing to key features. Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward BEST IN TEST HostGator Bluehost DreamHost Hostinger InMotion GoDaddy iPage A2 Hosting IONOS Overall rating 4.9 Overall rating 4.6 Overall rating 4.5 Overall rating 4.4 Overall rating 4.2 Overall rating 4.2 Overall rating 4.2 Overall rating 4.1 Overall rating 4.1 Starting from $3.75 Starting from $3.99 Starting from $2.99 Starting from $10.99$2.49 + 3 months free (with the 48-month plan) Starting from $2.99 Starting from $5.99 Starting from $1.99 Starting from $2.99 Starting from $14$1 for first 6 months Uptime 99.99% Uptime 99.98% Uptime 100% Uptime 99.99% Uptime 99.98% Uptime 99.97% Uptime 99.94% Uptime 99.95% Uptime 99.99% Free backups Free backups Free backups Free backups Free backups Free backups Free backups Free backups Free backups Storage space Unmetered Storage space 10GB – 3,000GB Storage space 50GB – Unlimited Storage space 25GB – 100GB Storage space 75GB – Unlimited Storage space 25GB – 100GB Storage space Unlimited Storage space 100GB – Unlimited Storage space 10GB – Unlimited Bandwidth Unmetered Bandwidth Unmetered Bandwidth Unmetered Bandwidth Unlimited Bandwidth Unlimited Bandwidth Unmetered Bandwidth Unmetered Bandwidth Unmetered Bandwidth Unmetered Visit HostGator Visit Bluehost Visit DreamHost Visit Hostinger Visit InMotion Visit GoDaddy Visit iPage Visit A2 Hosting Visit IONOS See our HostGator review See our Bluehost review See our DreamHost review See our Hostinger review See our InMotion review See our GoDaddy review See our iPage review See our A2 Hosting review See our IONOS review How did we create this list for small businesses? We pride ourselves on our thorough research process – we want to provide you with expert knowledge and accurate information on topics that are important to you.Every hosting provider has been tested and analyzed in various performance areas to calculate our ratings:Price – Is the provider good value for money?Performance – How dependable is the server? Good uptime?Features – What add-ons and essentials are included?Help and support – How easy is it to get assistance when you need it?Market analysis – Has the provider made an impact in the market?Each hosting provider in this article has earned a score for these separate focus areas, based on the data we’ve gathered. We then find the average to give an overall score.But, how did we make our hosting research specific to small businesses?We knew this ranking wouldn’t be complete unless we tailored our research approach to focus on the hosting elements that matter the most to small businesses. So, we tweaked our algorithm to emphasize the following:Shared hosting – The hosting type that applies the most to small businessesPricing – The providers that offer the best value for moneyHelp and support – The providers that offer the most support for anyone new to hostingTake a look at our article on how we conduct our hosting research if you want to find out more. Discover the best hosting plan for your website in one minute – just answer six questions. What kind of website(s) do you have? Online store (selling / ecommerce) Small business (not selling online) Personal blog Image focused website Find Your Hosting Provider #1. HostGator Best Overall Shared Hosting ProviderShared Hosting: $2.75–$17.95/month Editor's Choice HostGator Best overall shared hosting provider Excellent 4.9 out of 5 Excellent site speed Powerful features Best help and support Paid Plans: $3.95 - $159.99 / month Pros Unlimited storage Unmetered bandwidth Free email marketing tools Cons Poor server response time Single website on cheapest plan Not the best value for money Read Review OverviewHostGator is our top recommended hosting provider for small businesses, scoring an impressive 4.9 out of 5 in our research overall. This is a huge leap from its previous third place position in our pre-2023 rankings when it scored 4.3! It’s a beginner-friendly, feature-rich service with a reliable uptime of 99.99%.HostGator’s plans are relatively cheap, and they come with a 45-day money-back guarantee, so small businesses can test out the water without risking precious savings. It’s also worth mentioning that HostGator has the highest help and support score of any hosting provider we tested – across all categories, not just small businesses! HostGator Gallery Click the image below to expand Close HostGator offers quality features and a reliable uptime guarantee. Even HostGator’s cheapest shared plans come with impressive storage and bandwidth. HostGator also provides a ton of great email features on its shared plans. Price: 3.7/5When it comes to HostGator’s pricing, there’s plenty for you to sink your teeth into. The three shared packages are:Hatchling – from $2.75/month. Entry-level, and great value for money.Baby – from $3.50/month. Offers more help for those growing a small business.Business – from $5.25/month. Best for businesses that are already growing fast.We highly recommend shared hosting plans for small businesses. They don’t cost a lot of money, and you get a lot of bang for your buck. Plus, the 45-day money-back guarantee is a low-risk way of trying it out for yourself before making a decision.Help and Support: 4.8/5HostGator’s help and support is the best of the best, and it’s a key reason why this hosting provider is our number one choice for small businesses.The knowledge base is truly a treasure trove of helpful information, and if you can’t find an answer to your problem there, HostGator’s support team is on hand 24/7 via phone and live chat. It’s easy to see why HostGator scored so highly in the category!Features: 4.1/5Along with its impressive help and support, HostGator’s shared plans offer a whole host of top-tier features, including:Free domain for 1st yearUnmetered bandwidthUnlimited storageFree SSL certificationOne-click WordPress installationAnd, when it comes to web hosting for small businesses in particular, HostGator’s standout feature is its integration with Constant Contact, the premium email marketing software. On any shared plan, you can access Constant Contact’s resources for free for the first three months (after which you can either cancel the integration or start paying $20/month).We definitely recommend making use of your free three months, at least – you’ll be able to keep in touch with existing customers, and attract new ones, through personalized newsletters and automated email campaigns.Performance: 4.2/5HostGator’s uptime rate is 99.99% – in a world where 100% uptime is impossible to truly guarantee, HostGator’s figures are basically as good as it gets! And, if HostGator falls short of this uptime promise, you’re entitled to one month of credit in return. Further Information Read our HostGator Review if you want to find out moreRead our How to Install WordPress with HostGator guide #2. Bluehost Most Trusted by Users OnlineShared Hosting: $2.95–$28.99/month People's Choice Bluehost Most trusted by users online Excellent 4.6 out of 5 Consistently reliable Affordable plans Great support Paid Plans: $3.99 - $141.19 / month Pros 99.98% uptime Stays cheap after initial discounts Generous features Cons Not the most storage space Watch for additional costs Average performance Read Review OverviewWhile HostGator tops the charts, Bluehost certainly makes a compelling case in second.Bluehost has remained consistent, with its score staying at 4.6 out of 5 since our pre-2023 research. However, in that time, Bluehost has dropped into second place from its previous position at the top of the list. That being said, in our market analysis testing, Bluehost remains victorious with an impressive 4.9 out of 5, making it our most trusted hosting provider with users, even vs HostGator. With comprehensive features, excellent customer service, and affordable shared hosting plans, it continues to be a solid choice for small businesses.Let’s take a deeper look at what Bluehost has to offer. Bluehost Gallery Click the image below to expand Close Bluehost is a great choice for small businesses because of its help and support. Bluehost’s cPanel control panel is really easy to use. Bluehost's cheap introductory rates are very competitive. Price: 3.5/5 Save Up to 70% On Selected Plans In Bluehost’s Exclusive Sale! You can now save up to 70% on Bluehost’s plans, meaning you can get its cheapest shared plan for just $2.95 per month for a 12-month subscription. Don’t miss out!Bluehost’s pricing for shared ranges from $2.95–$28.99, making them a cost-effective choice for any new or small business. Its four plans – Basic, Plus, Choice Plus, and Pro – all come with cheap introductory fees to help you get started. Here’s what a 12-month subscription looks like:Basic: from $2.95/monthPlus: from $5.45/monthChoice Plus: from $5.45/monthPro: from $13.95/monthBluehost’s hosting plans also come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so if you’re not completely happy with the service you receive, you’ll get a full refund.Help and Support: 4.6/5With a score of 4.6 out of 5, just missing out on the number one spot, Bluehost still comes second in our help and support testing for small businesses. So, how can the hosting provider help you?24/7 live chat24/7 phone supportKnowledge centerFeatures: 3.4/5Bluehost scored a fairly average 3.4 out of 5 for its features, and that’s partly due to the limitations of the shared hosting plans offered. Storage space is more restricted than Bluehost alternatives, and automated backups aren’t included in the two cheapest plans. That being said, there are plenty of other features on offer.So, what do you get with Bluehost? Its key features include:Free domain for your first year10GB–100GB storageFree SSL certificateUnmetered bandwidthOne of the big reasons why Bluehost is so popular is its easy integration with WordPress – in fact, it’s the provider we recommend most for WordPress users due to its carefully tailored features. The one-click installation is a joy, and means even the least technical user can launch their site with both WordPress and Bluehost. Watch our video tutorial if you don’t believe us!Performance: 3.3/5Our research found Bluehost’s server speed and uptime to be underwhelming considering the popularity of the provider. Its 99.98% uptime guarantee is pretty much on par with HostGator, but HostGator has a much faster and more reliable site speed according to our testing. Further Information Read our Bluehost Review if you want to find out moreCurious about WordPress integration? Check out our guide on how to install WordPress with Bluehost #3. DreamHost Longest Money-Back GuaranteeShared Hosting: $2.59–$8.95/month DreamHost Longest money-back guarantee Excellent 4.5 out of 5 Cheap plans Quality features Impressive storage space Paid Plans: $2.95 - $379 / month Pros 97-day money-back guarantee Pre-installed WordPress 24/7 live chat Cons No direct phone support Limited Starter plan No free email addresses on Starter plan Read Review OverviewWith its quality features and immense storage space, DreamHost is great value for money for any small business that has plenty of content to host – plus there’s room to grow! WordPress comes pre-installed, and you get automated daily backups, free domain privacy, as well as advanced features like Shell access – all at a cheap price. DreamHost Gallery Click the image below to expand Close DreamHost offers great features at an affordable price. DreamHost's shared plans come with a 97-day money-back guarantee. DreamHost’s shared plans come with a bunch of helpful features! Price: 4.1/5For a three-year contract, DreamHost’s pricing start at these affordable introductory prices:Shared Starter: $2.59/monthShared Unlimited: $3.95/monthIt’s worth noting that you can get the Unlimited plan for the same price as the Starter if you lock in for one year only!While it isn’t top of our research for price, it scores well thanks to the partnership between price and all of its other wonderful features. You get a lot for your money!One of the biggest standout features for DreamHost is its excellent 97-day money-back guarantee, which means you can try it totally risk-free and get a full refund if you find it’s not the right fit for you.Help and Support: 3.5/5DreamHost doesn’t offer direct phone support, unlike vs HostGator, which is a major drawback of this provider. That said, you can request a callback, so you’ll still be able to speak to a person over the phone if it’s a priority for you.Alternatively, DreamHost’s live chat support is available for the majority of the day, or you can submit a general ticket which is a 24/7 service.Features: 4/5We were very impressed by DreamHost’s shared hosting plan features, and it performs well overall in our research. With each package, you’ll get access to:Unlimited bandwidthDaily backupsFree SSLCustom-built control panelHowever, you’ll need to upgrade to the Shared Unlimited plan if you want, you guessed it, more unlimited features. Unlimited websites, email accounts tailored to your domain, and storage, are all a part of the higher-tier plan, so keep that in mind when considering which one to go for.Performance: 3.6/5DreamHost’s performance is fairly middle of the road, despite its 100% uptime guarantee, but it still fulfills its job well enough to rank third in our list. It also excelled in our site speed testing, with the second best score of any of our hosting providers! Further Information For the full breakdown, read our DreamHost review #4. Hostinger Best Value for MoneyShared Hosting: $1.99–$15.99/month Hostinger Best value for money Very Good 4.4 out of 5 Affordable plans Wide variety of features 24/7 live chat support Paid Plans: $1.99 - $19.99 / month Pros Renewal prices are cheap Multilingual support team 30-day money-back guarantee Cons No phone support Poor performance Limited cheaper plans Read Review OverviewHostinger combines affordable prices with a huge range of features – an impressive value score of 4.6 out of 5 makes it one of the best cheap web hosting providers. With discounted prices starting at just $1.99 per month, and with three shared plans to choose from, Hostinger has a lot to offer. But, its main downfall is its lack of help and support options, as well as its overall performance. Hostinger Gallery Click the image below to expand Close Hostinger is our best choice for price, with cheap introductory prices on its shared plans. All shared plans come with 24/7 support. Hostinger has data centers around the world. Price: 4.6/5With the highest score for price out of any provider on this list, it’s no surprise that Hostinger’s pricing has a cheap introductory rate, especially for its longest 48-month subscription:Single: from $1.99/monthPremium: from $2.99/monthBusiness: from $3.99/monthHostinger’s discounted plans are a real steal, but don’t worry if you’re not ready to commit just yet! Hostinger promises a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can fully test the waters first.Help and Support: 3.1/5Our research found Hostinger’s help and support to be fairly average. There’s prompt email support, 24/7 live chat, and a searchable knowledge base on hand for any queries that pop up. Plus, Hostinger’s support team is multilingual, with offices around the world ready to field questions.However, Hostinger doesn’t offer phone support, which could be a dealbreaker for some customers.Features: 4.1/5Despite its low prices, Hostinger has a good amount of features considering the cost. They’re spread across three shared hosting plans: Single, Premium, and Business. Its cheapest shared plan – Single – includes free SSL, 50GB storage, and 100GB bandwidth. On the other end of the spectrum, its most feature-rich shared plan – Business – goes a bit further, including:200GB storageUnlimited bandwidthFree daily backupsUp to 100 email accounts @ your domainHostinger’s features are decent for getting started, and it might be a good fit for your business needs.Performance: 2.4/5Hostinger’s performance score is the lowest of all the providers on this list. It has an advertised uptime of 99.9%, which is monitored all day by a team of experts and engineers, but it seemed to struggle in our testing. And, its server response time lags in comparison to speedier providers such as IONOS. Further Information Find out more in our Hostinger Review #5. InMotion Robust Security Across the BoardShared Hosting: $2.49–$27.99/month InMotion Robust security across the board Very Good 4.2 out of 5 Strong shared plans Excellent security Good value for money Paid Plans: $3.49 - $539.99 / month Pros Unlimited storage space Free SSL Quality support team Cons Not the cheapest provider More limited in cheaper plans Poor site speed and uptime Read Review OverviewInMotion isn’t the cheapest option on the list, but you get access to a lot of great features with each plan – the security, support, and storage space on offer are excellent. It’s also got its own website builder, just in case you still need to build your business website. With a score of 4.2 out of 5, InMotion sits comfortably in the middle of the pack, but it’s in the features, and help and support categories, where this provider really shines. InMotion Gallery Click the image below to expand Close InMotion’s shared hosting plans have impressive security features. InMotion definitely isn’t the cheapest VPS hosting option, but you do get a lot for your money. Each shared hosting plan comes with a rich range of features. Price: 3/5When it comes to shared hosting, InMotion is pretty good value for money. There are four plans to consider, and its 36-month contracts have the best deals:Core: from $2.49/monthLaunch: from $4.99/monthPower: from $4.99/monthPro: from $12.99/monthNo matter which plan you choose, InMotion has a generous 90-day money-back guarantee, so don’t sweat it!Help and Support: 4.5/5InMotion has a quality support team, with phone and live chat services, which is why it scores so highly in our testing – even vs Bluehost. The support staff is US-based and available 24/7, and they’re ready to answer any questions you might have.In fact, InMotion’s website claims its support staff goes through over 80 hours of training to ensure users have the best customer experience, so you know you’re in good hands!Features: 4.2/5As we’ve said, InMotion has four shared hosting plans, and its most basic – Core – provides you with:Unlimited bandwidth100GB storageFree SSLFree email account @ your domainIf you upgrade from the Core plan to Launch or above, you’ll also get unlimited websites, storage, and email addresses, as well as a free domain name!We were particularly impressed by InMotion’s security features, too. All plans come with hack and malware protection, access to a backup manager, SSH access, and spam experts.Performance: 3.5/5Our research found InMotion to have a fairly poor site speed and uptime, which is a real let down when you want your website to be reliable and fast. InMotion does allow its users to choose from multiple data centers around the world – 46 locations to be exact – so you can try to host your website in the fastest zone possible! Further Information Still unsure? Read our InMotion Review for the full breakdown of featuresHow does it compare? Find out in our InMotion vs Bluehost comparison #6. GoDaddy Hosting Awesome Help and SupportShared Hosting: $6.99–$21.99/month GoDaddy Awesome help and support Very Good 4.2 out of 5 More expensive plans Good server response time Strong support Paid Plans: $10.99 - $23.99 / month Pros 24/7 phone and live chat Free SSL certificate Global data centers Cons Poor site speed Less affordable than other providers Mediocre performance score Read Review OverviewGoDaddy’s shared hosting plans aren’t as brilliant as HostGator, but it’s a fairly well-rounded hosting provider with consistently good scores for help and support. The major negative of GoDaddy Hosting is its expensive price point, and mediocre performance. Interestingly, it’s our second best hosting provider for server response time, but struggles when it comes to site speed – if GoDaddy could remedy the issue, they’d be in a much better position. GoDaddy Gallery Click the image below to expand Close GoDaddy Hosting’s shared plans are more expensive than other providers. Each shared hosting plan comes with excellent features such as daily backups. GoDaddy Hosting really shines with its help and support channels. Price: 3.7/5GoDaddy has four shared hosting plans, starting with Economy and going up to the Maximum plan. Its three year subscription has the cheapest introductory prices, so if you’re up for locking in long term then they’re worth checking out for a better deal.In the meantime, here’s GoDaddy’s shared hosting 12-month terms:Economy: from $6.99/monthDeluxe: from $11.99/monthUltimate: from $14.99/monthMaximum: from $21.99/monthAll of these include a free domain and free SSL. As you can see, GoDaddy’s Hosting plans are pretty pricey in comparison to other alternatives for web hosting on this list, and we know that cost can be an important factor for small businesses.Help and Support: 4/5The help and support features are a real highlight of GoDaddy Hosting. It secured itself a solid 4 out of 5 in our research and consistently scored highly in our analysis. The 24/7 phone and live chat support are a real asset, and GoDaddy makes sure its support services are accessible worldwide. So, you never have to worry about being caught out without the helpful resource!Features: 4.3/5Though its cost and performance is nothing to shout home about, GoDaddy Hosting has some excellent features to keep it in consideration. All of its shared plans come with the following built-in:Unmetered bandwidthDaily backupsFree 1-click WordPress installationFree domainFree SSL certificateIt’s worth highlighting that a range of features like storage space and the number of websites allowed will fluctuate between plans, so make sure to check out each plan in full to find the right fit for you.Performance: 3.2/5GoDaddy ranks second in our server response time testing, but is at a disadvantage due to its poor site speed. So, if reliability is important to you, you might want to consider Hostinger instead with its impressive performance score of 4.2 out of 5! Further Information Get all the info in our GoDaddy Hosting Review if you want to find out more #7. iPage Great Performance on a BudgetShared Hosting: $1.99–$2.99/month iPage Great performance on a budget Very Good 4.2 out of 5 Affordable plan Good for site speed 24/7 support Paid Plans: $2.99 / month Pros Enhanced security suite Unlimited domain names 30-day money-back guarantee Cons Limited scalability No email support Steeper renewal prices Read Review OverviewIn seventh place, we have iPage, scoring a strong 4.2 out of 5 in our small business hosting research. Despite its placement in the list, we still think it’s a decent provider and would recommend it as a good affordable alternative to some of our pricier options like GoDaddy Hosting. It’s also the only provider on the list that offers one shared hosting plan, so you don’t need to worry about choosing the right package because everything’s in one place! iPage Gallery Click the image below to expand Close iPage is a good affordable alternative to pricier providers like GoDaddy Hosting. iPage has one shared hosting plan to keep things simple for its customers. iPage’s single shared hosting plan comes with all the features you’d expect from a provider. Price: 3.5/5iPage’s one payment plan – Go Plan – keeps things simple and cheap. You don’t need to worry about upgrading or knowing which features come with which plan, and it’s a very affordable option for small businesses on a budget. Take a look at its 36-month subscription:Go Plan: from $1.99/monthHowever, the lack of range with no additional shared hosting plans means you might feel a little restricted compared to the best ecommerce hosting providers. But, it can be a good starting point at least.Don’t forget to consider renewal prices too. The $1.99 deal for a 36-month term sounds unbeatable, but when you renew, it’ll jump to $7.99.Help and Support: 3.7/5iPage’s support team is available via live chat 24/7 to handle any problems you face, or you can give them a call between 7am and 12am each day. So, they’re pretty easy to reach should you need to!iPage’s website also has a helpful Knowledge Base, so you might be able to find a solution by yourself with a quick search of its help center.Features: 3.3/5iPage’s single shared hosting plan comes with an expected amount of features, but nothing that makes it stand out amongst the crowd. The main features you’ll find include:Unlimited websitesUnlimited storageFree SSL certificateFree domain for a year1-click WordPress installationPerformance: 4.2/5iPage came joint third with HostGator for site speed in our overall testing, which is a really great positive if you want a fast-loading site. It was also joint first for performance in our small business research, so you know you’re getting a reliable service with iPage. Further Information iPage Review – everything you need to know about the hosting providerSee who has better value in our Bluehost vs iPage article #8. A2 Hosting Free Expert MigrationsShared Hosting: $2.99–$25.99/month A2 Hosting Free expert migrations Very Good 4.1 out of 5 Quality support team Less affordable Free migration Paid Plans: $6.59 - $529.99 / month Pros 30-day money-back guarantee Global server locations Free SSL certificate Cons Average prices Poor performance score Limited basic plan Read Review OverviewA2 Hosting has dropped quite significantly since our last analysis of small business hosting, falling from fourth position in our pre-2023 rankings to eighth with a new score of 4.1 out of 5. Its shared hosting plans are more expensive than others, and it has a weak performance score. That being said, we do think its library of features and responsive support team add value to A2 Hosting. A2 Hosting Gallery Click the image below to expand Close A2 Hosting’s shared plans have a 30-day money-back guarantee. Its shared hosting plans come with a good library of features to use. A2 Hosting offers 24/7 support to all customers. Price: 3.2/5A2 Hosting’s shared plans lean towards being more expensive than others. For example, its cheapest option starts at $2.99 for 36 months, or $10.99 for one month, and the most expensive begins at $12.99 for 36 months, or $22.09 for a one month trial. But, A2 Hosting’s shared hosting plans have a real range of pricing, so you can find one that fits your budget.You get a cheaper deal the longer you commit, and in A2 Hosting’s case, that’s a three-year contract. Take a look at the fees for each plan:Startup: from $2.99/monthDrive: from $5.99/monthTurbo Boost: from $6.99/monthTurbo Max: from $12.99/monthOne major plus, though, is that A2 has an 30-day money-back guarantee policy in place which gives you plenty of time to test out its services. That means if, for whatever reason, you’re not satisfied with the service you’re receiving, you can get a full refund within that window.Help and Support: 3.5/5Despite the middle-of-the-road score of 3.5 out of 5, A2 Hosting does offer a good range of support services via its Guru Crew Support team. You can reach out to them via global phone lines, live chat, help tickets, or browse A2 Hosting’s help center yourself. The best part? The customer service team is available 24/7!However, without any email or community center support, it can’t really hope to win in the help and support vs Bluehost.Features: 4.4/5As we’ve mentioned already, A2 Hosting has four shared hosting plans – Startup, Drive, Turbo Boost, and Turbo Max. With each plan, the features grow and improve, so it really depends on what your small business needs from your hosting provider. You might feel limited by A2 Hosting’s most basic plan, but the Drive, Turbo Boost, and Turbo Max plans are some of the best shared hosting services, all offering:Unlimited websitesUnlimited storageFree SSL certificateAutomated backupsGlobal server locationsPerformance: 3.6/5A2 Hosting guarantees 99.9% uptime, but our testing found it to be solidly average. In general, A2 Hosting’s performance could be better. So, if performance is an important factor for you, we’d suggest considering another hosting provider like our top choice, HostGator. Further Information Our A2 Hosting Review is here if you want to learn more #9. IONOS Best for Site Speed and UptimeShared Hosting: $0.50–$8/month IONOS Best for site speed and uptime Very Good 4.1 out of 5 Best site speed + uptime Unlimited storage Free SSL certificate Paid Plans: $1 - $30 / month Pros 24/7 phone support Automated daily backups Free domain for one year Cons Be wary of additional charges Poor help and support Limited Starter plan Read Review OverviewIONOS is quite erratic in its scoring across our small business hosting research. It has a very low score in help and support, but a pretty impressive reach in the price and features category. It’s also our top choice for site speed and uptime. Though pricing and support are considerable factors for small businesses, reliable speed and avoidance of downtime are beneficial for any website to have.Let’s take a deeper look at IONOS! IONOS Gallery Click the image below to expand Close IONOS comes bottom of our list because of its poor help and support. Its shared plans come with a lot of features, but its basic plan – Starter – is fairly limited. IONOS prides itself on performance – it’s our best choice for site speed and uptime. Price: 4.5/5IONOS scores really well for price, with an impressive 4.5 out of 5 – second only to Hostinger in our research. For a three-year term, plans range from $0.50 per month to $8 per month. Check out the introductory prices for yourself:Essential: $4/month (renews at $6)Business (most popular): $0.50/month (renews at $10)Expert: $8/month (renews at $16)The Starter plan is a good foundation if you’re just starting out, but we’d recommend choosing the Plus or Ultimate plan for your small business if you want to enjoy a greater range of features.Help and Support: 2.8/5IONOS is really let down by its help and support score of 2.8 – this is the lowest support score out of all the small business hosts we tested, putting it right at the bottom of the pack in our research for support.You can contact IONOS via phone 24/7, or submit a form online, but there’s no live chat service or email support to use.We know that good support is a critical factor for small businesses that need a helping hand, so it’s a shame IONOS isn’t better equipped to deal with issues.Features: 4.5/5IONOS’ features are one of its strongest areas. All three shared hosting plans include:Daily backupsFree domain for 1 yearFree SSL certificateFree email @ your domainHowever, you’ll need to upgrade to the Plus or Ultimate plan if you want greater benefits such as unlimited websites, storage, and databases.Performance: 3.7/5Now, IONOS is best for site speed and uptime in our overall testing, and that’s across all of our research on hosting providers. It’s a pretty impressive highlight for small businesses, because you want your site to be as fast and reliable as possible – both for boosting SEO and providing great user experience. While performance may not be at the front of your mind when getting your small business set up online, the load time statistics show that fast loading times are worth it, and IONOS sets you up for success from day one. Further Information Read our IONOS Review if you want to find out more How Do You Choose a Small Business Hosting Provider? You now know the nine best web hosting services for small businesses. We’ve also shown you who each hosting provider is best for.At this point, it’s time to discuss how to pick the right provider for you in a bit more depth. After all, no two businesses are the same, right?When considering a web hosting service, ask yourself:How tech-savvy are you? The less skilled you are with computers, the more support you might need. Remember, HostGator came out on top in our research for help and support!What’s your budget? This will depend on the size and scale of your business. Shared hosting plans are generally affordable and will cater to your technical needs without blowing your budget completely.How much traffic do you expect to get? The rule of thumb is that the more traffic you receive, the better hosting plan you need. Check out the range of shared plans each provider has to offer, and see what works best for your business.Shared hosting is the ideal option for small businesses, especially if you’re just starting out. Obviously, if you outgrow your plan, you can transition to a dedicated or VPS hosting package, but shared hosting has everything a small business could need at a fraction of the price. Further Information Do you need FTP hosting for file transfers? Check out our comparison of the Best FTP Hosting Providers to find your perfect match! Best Web Hosting for Small Business: Conclusion With so many hosting providers out there, it’s difficult to know where to start. But, let’s begin with a recap of the final rankings. The 9 Best Hosting Providers for Small Businesses HostGator – Best overall shared hosting provider Bluehost – Most trusted by users online DreamHost – Longest money-back guarantee Hostinger – Best value for money InMotion – Robust security across the board GoDaddy Hosting – Awesome help and support iPage – Great performance on a budget A2 Hosting – Free expert migrations IONOS – Best for site speed and uptime All of our nine web hosts for small businesses are at the top of the market. HostGator, Bluehost, and DreamHost are all tightly packed in at the top when it comes to quality of plans and value for money.Your decision really boils down to your own personal needs. You need to consider the size of your business website, and how many resources you’ll need.This should give you a clearer idea of what type of hosting you need and, from there, you can pick the best provider for that particular job.Generally speaking, though, HostGator offers the most comprehensive all-around package. Its plans are reasonably priced and include powerful features, and HostGator offers excellent site speed. HostGator is also the best choice for help and support, so, if that all sounds good to you, give HostGator’s shared plans a go and let us know what you think! Further Information Web Hosting Comparison Chart – See all the facts and stats on our top hosting providersBest Website Hosting – Understand the bigger picture by looking at all our top-ranked hosts Written by: Samuel Jagger Writer Being a Writer for Website Builder Expert isn’t just typing words on a laptop. Each day, I’m finding new and innovative ways to help you get online in a mode you feel comfortable with. And it’s a task I do with enthusiasm and gusto. Not only do I have experience building with all the providers we talk about - creating websites such as this Strikingly demo - but we also have our wonderful, constantly updated research fielded by our researchers, so you can be reassured that what we say is an honest reflection of our professional opinions. I’ve written articles and featured guest posts for apps like UXPin on web design in the modern age, as well as answered over 100 user comments on the site and delved into the world of choosing a domain name and adding Bitcoin payments to your site in my own pitched articles. All of this is to say that when I want to get you online - I mean it! Outside the office, I have attended the eCommerce Expo and built up a ton of industry knowledge through talks, workshops, and guided learning sessions with noted experts. The internet is made for everyone, so come online and let us help you get there. Researched by: Natasha Willett Lead Researcher I love to understand human behavior and the cognitive biases that drive us to do what we do. For over nine years I have worked as a mixed method researcher – research using a mix of numerical data and personal experiences – across a range of sectors, from insurance and policy development to finally arriving at Website Builder Expert five years ago. Fascinated by consumer decision-making, I meticulously built our leading ranking methodology to explore where providers like Wix sit within a competitive industry and what value they truly bring to our audience.As a member of the Market Research Society, I’m an advocate for high ethical, commercial, and methodological best practices. All of this combines to give you the most ethical recommendations based on real data. 19 comments Cancel replyYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment*First name:*Email address:* Δ Load more