To find the best of the best, we first reduced our original list of over 30 hosting providers down to 15. Then we monitored their performance for a year to knock another five services out of the running.
We awarded the best web hosting site in each category 10 points, while the worst received one point. Finally, we added up the total scores, which gave us our definitive top-10 ranking.
Many find choosing the perfect hosting package overwhelming. After all, there are countless services available on the market in 2020. Some of you may have an understanding of the technology and processes involved. Still, comparing the hundreds, if not thousands of products available can be baffling.
We’ve done the hard work, so you don’t have to. Here is our top-10 rundown of the best web hosting available this year.
US-based hosting launched in 2003 and now powers over two million websites globally. Bluehost offers shared, WordPress cloud, VPS, and dedicated hosting. Its basic shared package start at a special introductory price of $2.75 a month. This service includes 50GB SSD storage, unmetered bandwidth, and free SSL. Customers also get one website and a free domain. Its mid-tier shared and cloud hosting plans include unlimited websites and email, plus unmetered storage. Users also receive $200 in marketing offers.
Bluehost’s heavier-duty Enhanced VPS hosting costs $29.99 a month for the first term. It includes a domain, free SSL, a dual-core server, 60GB SSD storage, 4GB RAM, 2TB bandwidth, and two IP addresses.
The company’s Enhanced dedicated hosting is available at an introductory price of $99.99 a month. It includes a server with a 2.5GHz CPU, 1TB mirrored storage, 8GB RAM, and 10TB bandwidth. Go to Full Review
SiteGround Was founded in 2004 and currently manages over 1.8 million domains. It offers a full suite of hosting services. Shared, WordPress, WooCommerce, cloud and dedicated plans are all available.
Its basic shared package, StartUp, is available at an introductory price of $3.95 a month. It includes one website, 10GB storage, unmetered traffic, and free SSL. Subscribers also receive Cloudflare CDN and daily backup service.
The company’s scalable cloud hosting is available from $80 a month. This basic package includes a dual-core server, 4GB RAM, 40GB storage, and 5TB data transfer. A dedicated server starts at $269 a month for a 3.2GHz CPU, 16GB RAM, 40GB storage, and 10TB bandwidth. Go to full review
A2 Hosting is a multi-award-winning web host based in the US. It provides shared, WordPress, VPS and dedicated hosting packages. Its basic Linux-based shared hosting starts at $3.92 a month. Customers receive a website, five databases, and free SSL, plus unlimited storage and data.
The company’s VPS hosting costs as little as $5 a month. It provides 20GB storage, 2TB data transfer, 512MB RAM, and root access for developers. A managed VPS solution, with or without root access, starts at $32.99 a month for the first term.
For its dedicated server offering, A2 provides four tiers of service. Its most popular discount SSD Server package is available at a promotional price of $129.30. The service is fully managed, providing a dual-core CPU, 10TB data transfer, 8GB RAM, and more. Go to full review
GreenGeeks is an eco-friendly web host currently managing over 300,000 websites. It replaces the energy it uses to power its hosting services with three times that amount in wind energy credits.
It offers shared, WordPress, reseller, VPS and dedicated hosting. Basic packages start at $2.95 a month for its Ecosite Starter service. That’s a bargain for unlimited storage, bandwidth, email, databases, and domain hosting. Customers receive a free domain, SSL, and Cloudflare CDN.
The company provides shared plan tailored for WordPress users, also for $2.95 a month. These packages include one-click WordPress install, automatic updates, daily backups, and enhanced security features. VPS hosting is available from $39.95 a month. The basic service includes 25GB storage, 1000GB bandwidth, and a quad-core server. Dedicated servers start at $169 a month for 500GB storage, 10,000GB data, and five IP addresses. Go to full review
Hostinger launched in 2004 and has since reached a user base of over 29 million customers across 178 countries. More than 15,000 new users are signing up every day.
It provides its customers with shared, cloud, and VPS hosting. Its Single shared hosting package includes one website, one email account, and 100GB bandwidth for $0.80 a month. Elsewhere, the company’s cloud-based hosting starts at $7.45 a month.
The basic package features a dedicated IP, 40GB storage, 3GB RAM, and unlimited data. Hostinger offers six VPS hosting options, from as little as $3.95 a month. That gets you 20GB storage, 1,000GB data, and a 2.4GHz CPU.
Founded in a dorm room back in 1997, DreamHost now boasts a customer base of over 400,000 users across more than a hundred countries. It provides shared, VPS, cloud, and dedicated hosting. Packages tailored for WordPress and WooCommerce are also available.
Its basic plan starts at $2.59 a month for one website, unlimited bandwidth, and SSD storage. Daily backups are standard across all shared and WordPress services. The company also boasts solid uptime and a 97-day money-back guarantee.
VPS hosting is priced from $13.75 a month for 30GB storage, 1GB RAM, and unlimited bandwidth. Meanwhile, Dreamhost offers dedicated server hosting starting at $149. The entry-level service gets you a quad-core server with 4GB RAM and a 1TB hard drive.
FastComet offers shared, cloud-based VPS, and dedicated server hosting. Open-source host tailored for WordPress, Joomla, WooCommerce, OpenCart, and SocialEngine is also available.
The shared plans start at $2.95 for unmetered traffic, 15 GB storage, plus a free domain, SSL and website transfer. Resources like CPU, RAM, and storage scale up with each tier. Cloud VPS hosting starts at $59.95 a month. The most popular option offers a dual-core 2.5GHz CPU, 4GB RAM, 80GB storage, and 4TB bandwidth for $69.95 a month.
Dedicated servers are also available from $139 a month. That gets you a quad-core 2.5GHz CPU, 8GB RAM, 160GB storage, and 5TB bandwidth.
America’s GoDaddy has been operating for 22 years. It now manages 77 million domains for 18 million customers around the world. It offers shared, business, WordPress, VPS, and dedicated hosting services. Its Economy shared plan costs $5.99 a month (3 year plan). It includes one website, 100GB storage, unmetered bandwidth, and a three-month trial of Office 365 business email.
GoDaddy’s managed VPS hosting starts at $19.99 a month for a basic service. Users get 1GB RAM, 40GB storage, unmetered data, and three dedicated IPs. Meanwhile, the Ultimate package offers 8GB RAM and 240GB storage for $74.99 a month. All VPS hosting also includes a free SSL certificate for the first year.
Dedicated servers start at $89.99. The entry-level Economy service includes three dedicated IPs, 1TB storage, unmetered bandwidth, 4GB RAM, and a quad-core CPU.
Canada-based HostPapa provides shared, WordPress, e-commerce, VPS, and reseller hosting. Its Starter shared plan is currently available at an introductory price of $3.95 a month. The package includes two websites, 100GB storage, unlimited bandwidth, and free domain registration.
HostPapa also offers one of the best ranges of e-commerce hosting options on this list. All packages have 0% transaction fees. Integration with Google, Amazon, and eBay services is also available.
VPS hosting customers who opt for the entry-level Plus package get their first month for $19.99. This plan includes 50GB storage, 1TB bandwidth, 1.5GB memory, and a quad-core processor.
iPage launched in 1998 and now manages over a million websites. The company approaches its offering in a simple way, providing a no-frills shared hosting package starting at $1.99 a month. All customers get the same features. These include unlimited storage and databases, a free domain, SSL certificate, and scalable bandwidth.
There is also support for a wide range of e-commerce platforms. AgoraCart, OpenCart, OSCommerce, PayPal, PrestaShop, TomatoCart and Zen Cart are all supported. Customers also receive an enhanced security suite valued at $100.
Additionally, iPage offers two WordPress hosting packages, starting at $3.75 a month. Users get unlimited storage and data, plus a range of pre-installed themes and plugins.
Web Hosting Provider | Cost | Uptime | Load time | Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. Bluehost | $2.95/mo | 99.99% | 425 MS | 4.7/5 |
2. SiteGround | $3.95/mo | 99.99% | 546 MS | 4.5/5 |
3. A2 Hosting | $3.92/mo | 99.97% | 347 MS | 4.5/5 |
4. GreenGeeks | $2.75/mo | 99.98% | 361 MS | 4.4/5 |
5. Hostinger | $0.80/mo | 99.97% | 384 MS | 4.3/5 |
6. DreamHost | $2.59/mo | 99.98% | 539 MS | 4.2/5 |
7. FastComet | $2.95/mo | 99.98% | 523 MS | 4.2/5 |
8. GoDaddy | $5.99/mo | 99.98% | 448 MS | 4.1/5 |
9. HostPapa | $3.95/mo | 99.98% | 598 MS | 4.1/5 |
10. iPage | $1.99/mo | 99.97% | 571 MS | 4.0/5 |
11. HostGator | $2.75/mo | 99.98% | 715 MS | 3.8/5 |
12. JustHost | $3.95/mo | 99.98% | 747 MS | 3.6/5 |
13. InMotion | $6.39/mo | 99.96% | 813 MS | 3.5/5 |
14. Hostwinds | $3.29/mo | 99.95% | 810 MS | 3.3/5 |
15. Web Hosting HUB | $4.99/mo | 99.95% | 718 MS | 3.0/5 |
Unlike other projects of this nature, we signed up for hosting service from each of the providers on this list.
We also analyzed their terms of service to root out any hidden or unfair clauses. We used each service until we knew it inside and out. We noted how easy it was to sign up, navigate the back-end system, and install WordPress.
We also set up test websites, monitoring server uptime and the time it took for pages to load.
One of the most vital factors of any hosting provider is its customer support. That’s why we made a point of communicating with the support staff of each of our top-10 web hosts. We evaluated the service based on response times, technical knowledge, and more.
Finally, we rated each hosting provider on a scale of one to ten for price, uptime, speed, features, and support. We totaled up each service’s score and ranked them accordingly.
Uptime and load time are crucial considerations for any online business. Downtime and slow-loading web pages can negatively affect customer satisfaction. Not only that, but they can also impact your search engine optimization.
Both these issues could damage your performance. When shopping for web hosting, check what kind of uptime guarantee a provider offers. Also, it’s well worth researching average load times — hosts don’t tend to promote this kind of information.
Many of the web hosts on this list offer promotional prices for first-time customers. Most providers also display their renewal pricing, but it’s not always totally clear. It’s understandable that a new user with limited knowledge of hosting might miss it.
Pay close attention to pricing information or any footnotes in small print at the bottom of the page. Otherwise, an attractive deal could turn into a big price jump when renewal day arrives.
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Individuals shopping for a web host gravitate towards recognizable brands. That’s smart, but it’s also worth checking them out on websites like TrustPilot.com and BBB.org.
Most providers are transparent when it comes to their service and performance. The only way to know for sure is to seek unbiased opinions from real-life users. Check that the customer experience lines up with the provider’s claims before you sign up.
Several providers offer “unlimited” or “unmetered” services. Having said that, very few “unlimited” services are truly unlimited. Even these services will have a fair usage policy buried in their terms and conditions.
Usually, the allowance is very generous. That said, it’s possible that your site will get busy enough to exceed it. If you do, your provider will recommend you upgrade to a heavier-duty alternative like a VPS.
If you continue with your current plan, you may find your host begins to throttle your bandwidth. They may even threaten to suspend your account.
An important factor for a website owner choosing a new host is its migration service. Most providers will migrate an existing site, with many offering the service for free.
It’s important to find out exactly how the service works and how effective it is from other users. Some migration services may only transfer certain parts of your site. You may also find your existing site doesn’t play nice with your new host’s back-end systems.
To figure out what type of hosting will work best for you, consider the resources and features you need. Here are a few key points to keep in mind when shopping for a web host.
Many providers offer basic shared hosting packages that support one or two websites. If that’s enough for you, a starter service may be all you need, at least in the short term. Mid-tier-and-above services usually provide unlimited websites.
Some providers state exactly how many visitors each of their services can support. With others, you may need to dig a little deeper. There’s no sense paying for a plan that accommodates 100,000 visitors if you’re only expecting 100. Also, most hosting companies make it easy to upgrade your plan in the future if necessary.
If you’re planning on operating an online storefront, you will need three things. First, you will need a host that is PCI-compliant. PCI stands for Payment Card Industry. It’s a security standard for businesses who process credit card payments.
You will also need an advanced SSL certificate. Some providers include this in the price of their service. Others offer it as an optional extra. Finally, make sure to sign up with a host who supports e-commerce systems like PayPal or OpenCart.
Web hosting makes it possible for a business or individual to create and launch a website.
It provides all the necessary hardware to get a website online. This technology includes the server that stores your website and its content.
When someone types your web address into a browser, their computer connects to the host’s server.
The server transmits your site data back to the browser’s computer, allowing them to view it.
If it weren’t for web hosting companies providing this service, we’d all need our own server in our home or office. We’d also need to configure, manage, and maintain it. That takes time, expertise, and powerful computing hardware.
A web host takes all this responsibility off our hands and more besides. These services exist to make our lives easier and allow us to focus on managing our business.
Shared hosting is the most cost-effective way to get yourself on the world wide web. Many customers share the resources of a single server, allowing them to split the cost. Shared plan is perfect for smaller sites that don’t generate a massive amount of traffic.
The provider manages and maintains your service for you. This does mean shared host doesn’t offer as much in the way of customization as some of the alternatives.
Performance also won’t be as impressive as a VPS or dedicated hosting service.
WordPress hosting incorporates performance and security features tailored specifically for use with WordPress. Most WP hosting services include one-click installation of the program and its plugins. Users also gain access to an automatic update service.
A VPS bridges the gap between shared and dedicated hosting. This technology allows users to rent a virtualized operating system on a server.
It provides many of the same benefits as a dedicated server at a more affordable price.
Benefits of a VPS hosting package include increased customization and control. Users can also expect a noticeable performance improvement. A VPS provides dedicated resources that only you can use, unlike shared hosting.
Cloud hosting draws resources from many virtual servers. Speed, performance, security, and stability are all superior to traditional shared hosting. It’s also very easy to scale your package up or down depending on your usage.
Many cloud hosting providers also charge users on a pay-as-you-go basis. This system ensures that customers only pay for the resources they use.
Dedicated hosting is much like a VPS service. Users rent an entire server to themselves, rather than an operating system on that server.
Websites that generate massive amounts of traffic may need a dedicated server. These services cost a lot more than shared, cloud, or VPS hosting.
Reseller hosting involves purchasing storage and bandwidth from a hosting provider. The user can then sell these resources onto other companies. Reseller hosting essentially allows a businessperson to become a web host provider themselves.
The competition to become the best web host provider on the market in 2021 is a fierce one. There are also many factors to consider as a customer shopping for hosting. Regardless of the size or type of website you want to create, there is a perfect hosting service to match. We hope this guide aids you in your quest to find it.
Are you a first-timer looking for a hosting service? Perhaps you’re an existing website owner considering a move to a new hosting provider. Feel free to post any questions you might have or stories you want to share!