There are hundreds upon thousands of shared hosting services clamoring for our attention. Choosing the right one for your business can be tricky and overwhelming. We scoured the industry to find which of these services represent the very best in their field.
To create our top-10 ranking of shared hosting providers, we tracked 15 of the most popular. Over the course of a year, we looked at each shared hosting company’s features. These include price, uptime, load time, support, reliability, and more.
The results of our research enabled us to whittle our original list down to a top 10. We based our findings on each service’s key features, as well as its pros and cons. Find out which of these companies is the best-shared hosting provider of 2020 and why in our review.
BlueHost is a US-based company first founded in 2003. Now, it hosts over two million domains globally. Its shared hosting starts at the introductory price of $2.75 a month for its Basic package. Unlike some of BlueHost’s competitors, even Basic accounts get unmetered bandwidth. That means there are no limits on the amount of data you can transfer.
Meanwhile, Plus, Choice Plus, and Pro accounts receive a range of extra benefits. These include unlimited websites, domains, email accounts, and SSD storage. Users also receive features like domain privacy, marketing offers, and site backups. Go to Full Review
A2 Hosting launched back in 2001. It offers both Windows and Linux-based services starting at a sale price of $3.92 a month. The Lite package includes a website, databases, and an SSL certificate. Storage and data are also unlimited.
Swift and Turbo subscriptions are also available for those who need heavier-duty hosting. Swift adds extra resources to enhance site performance, plus unlimited websites and databases. Meanwhile, Turbo boasts a 20-times increase in server speed, plus other performance-boosting add-ons. These features help customers maintain the speed of their site during busy periods. Go to full review
SiteGround has data centers in Chicago, London, Amsterdam, and Singapore. It is currently managing over 1.7 million domains globally. SiteGround puts its shared web hosting packages front and center. Its services starting at an introductory price of $3.95 a month. StartUp includes a website, 10GB storage, unlimited email, and a free SSL certificate.
GrowBig adds extra resources to help your site run faster and welcome more visitors. It also provides an unlimited supply of websites and a free migration service. GoGeek provides servers shared between fewer users and even more features like e-commerce. Go to full review
California-based GreenGeeks prides itself on its economical approach to web hosting. It replaces the energy it consumes with three times that amount in wind energy credits.
GreenGeeks offers tiers of shared web hosting, starting at an introductory price of $2.95 a month. All three options offer unlimited storage, bandwidth, domain hosting, and email accounts. Each one also includes a free domain, website tools, backups, and an SSL certificate. Pro and Premium customers can send more emails per hour. They also receive more resources to boost site performance. Go to full review
Hostinger has data centers in the US, Europe, and Asia. The company currently serves 29 million users globally. Its basic package provides a website, email, and 100GB of bandwidth for an introductory price of $1.45 a month.
Premium and Business packages boost resources by up to four times. Customers also get a free domain, plus unlimited data, websites, and email accounts. Business users also receive a free SSL certificate. Each service guarantees 99.9 percent server uptime. Customer support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, even on public holidays.
DreamHost currently hosts 1.5 million websites all over the world. Endorsed by WordPress, it boasts 100 percent uptime and a 97-day money-back guarantee. Its price plans are easier to digest than many others too. There are two services to choose from, starting at $2.59 a month for an annual plan.
DreamHost’s Starter service includes a website, unlimited traffic, and an SSL certificate. Domain and email accounts are available separately. Meanwhile, the top package offers unlimited sites and storage. Users also get a free domain, email, and SSL certificates.
US-based FastComet currently manages domains for over 45,000 customers worldwide. FastComet offers three service tiers starting at $2.95 a month for its StartSmart package. Each tier includes a free domain, unmetered traffic, and unlimited email. Users also get a drag-and-drop website builder, and a 45-day money-back guarantee.
Its ScaleRight and SpeedUp services offer several extra features and performance boosts. These include extra storage, private DNS, backup and restore features, and SSL certificates. SpeedUp customers also share their servers with fewer customers.
GoDaddy first launched in 1997 and now serves 17 million customers worldwide. It offers 99.9 percent uptime across its four service tiers, with a basic package starting at $2.99 a month. Economy includes a website, 100GB of storage, and free business email for a year.
Meanwhile, the Deluxe package upgrades the service with unlimited websites, storage, and subdomains. Ultimate customers receive more resources and a free domain and SSL certificate for a year.
Canada’s HostPapa also has a presence in the US, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Asia, and Europe. It currently hosts over half a million websites and offers three separate services.
At an introductory price of $3.95 a month, HostPapa’s Starter package includes two websites. Domain registration or site transfer is free. Users also get 100GB of storage, unlimited bandwidth, website-building software, and more. Business and Business Pro up the ante with unlimited websites, databases, and storage. Performance and security are also improved.
iPage has been serving its customers since 1998. Unlike other shared hosting providers, iPage provides a single package with scalable bandwidth. Buyers also receive a free SSL certificate, and unlimited storage, domains, and databases.
iPage’s service is available at the cheap introductory price of $1.99 a month for a 36-month term. It renews at $7.99 a month after that, with shorter contracts priced higher. Domains are free for the first year and then renew at $14.99 a year. Other features include email, website tools, e-commerce plugins, enhanced security, and analytics tools.
Web Host | Cost | Uptime | Load time | Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. Bluehost | $2.95/mo | 99.99% | 425 MS |
|
2. A2 Hosting | $3.92/mo | 99.97% | 347 MS |
|
3. SiteGround | $3.95/mo | 99.99% | 546 MS |
|
4. GreenGeeks | $2.75/mo | 99.99% | 427 MS |
|
5. Hostinger | $0.80/mo | 99.97% | 384 MS |
|
6. DreamHost | $2.59/mo | 99.98% | 539 MS |
|
7. FastComet | $2.95/mo | 99.98% | 523 MS |
|
8. GoDaddy | $2.99/mo | 99.98% | 448 MS |
|
9. HostPapa | $3.95/mo | 99.98% | 598 MS |
|
10. iPage | $1.99/mo | 99.97% | 571 MS |
|
All the providers on this list offer a similar service but different features. If you’re unfamiliar with web hosting, you may find the complex terms overwhelming. We’ve highlighted some of the most important features to help you get the best value for money. Don’t end up spending more — or less — than you need to.
Website storage and data transfer are fundamental to a good shared hosting package. It’s important you understand what you’re getting before you sign up.
Most of the providers on this list provide “unmetered” or “unlimited” data. The use of the word “unlimited” in this context is contentious. No shared hosting is unlimited. Most packages are subject to a fair use policy laid out in the terms and conditions.
However, the allowances are very generous. It is unlikely that your website would cross over the threshold. If you do, they will most likely recommend you upgrade to a virtual private server. If your site is more basic, storage won’t be a concern. If you use large files, ensure you’re getting enough storage for your content.
Another important consideration when purchasing shared hosting is the apps it supports. Content management systems like WordPress and Joomla are often supported. If you prefer to use a less well-known alternative, you might have to shop around to find a package that supports it.
If you use an e-commerce platform, check that your hosting provider supports it before you sign up. You should also ensure your hosting provider is PCI-compliant.
Managing a site is much easier if your host provides an intuitive back-end system. Most do, although they vary between providers. Many companies use cPanel, which is the most popular and efficient option.
Other providers have designed proprietary back-end systems, and some are better than others. If a host uses a custom control panel, it may be worth researching user feedback before you register.
Another thing to consider before signing up with a hosting provider is reliability. Downtime can have a catastrophic effect on performance and customer satisfaction.
Most of the providers on this list guarantee at least 99.9% uptime. Many will transfer your site to an alternative server if the one your site is on should fail for any reason.
It’s also worth checking the fastest load time you can expect for your website. You want your online presence to operate in a smooth and efficient way. Pages that take a while to load can also have a negative impact on customer satisfaction.
Researching the efficiency of your chosen provider’s technical support is crucial. Most companies offer 24/7 support, but your first point of contact may be a rep with limited knowledge.
They will often need to escalate a more complex problem. That means it could be some time before you get to speak to someone who knows how to fix it.
Shared hosting is by far the most cost-effective way of getting yourself online, as resources — and therefore, costs — are split between users.
Providers maintain, manage, and configure all the necessary hardware, including security, firmware upgrades, and troubleshooting.
Signing up, registering a domain, and building and managing a website are made simple, even for users with limited technical knowledge.
You will be sharing resources with many other users, so your website won’t load as quickly as it would if you had dedicated server.
Using a shared hosting service, you’re limited to the hardware and software configuration specified by your provider.
Shared web hosting is the most affordable method of getting your business online. Shared hosting splits the resources of secured servers across its user base.
Shared hosting is best for sites with low to moderate amounts of daily traffic. Many providers offer scalable packages. These services allow users to add extra resources to support a growing business. Some may also be able to upgrade their package to provide more storage, data, and other extras.
In time, your site may outgrow shared hosting. In this case, an alternative option like a virtual private server may be better.
Whether you need shared hosting depends on the nature of the online presence you’re trying to create.
Say you are planning to use your website to talk to an audience and share content in the form of text, images, and videos. A blogging platform like Tumblr may offer everything you need to put yourself on the world stage.
If you would like to create a custom web page or your business requires e-commerce, a web host is a must. Shared hosting is a great start, providing plenty of headroom for a small business to grow.
There’s a lot to consider when choosing the best shared hosting provider for you or your business. It’s important to compare the pros and cons of each option. Ensure your service provides what you need to run a website that will impress your customers.
So, which provider on our top-10 list stands out to you and why? Do you have any other questions, or did our guide help you come to an informed decision? Have you already had an experience with any of the companies mentioned here? Tell us about it!