Best Web Hosting Services 2021 Based on the Most Reliable In-Depth Reviews by Experts
Web hosting is essential for any business, regardless of its size. Even if it only details the location and hours of operation, an internet-connected world requires that all businesses have websites.
In the internet age, word of mouth is only half the way. Yahoo, Google, and Bing are the main ways people find new businesses. They are no longer able to simply look up your name in the yellow pages. Your chances of getting word of mouth through social networking drop if you don’t have an easily shared website address. Also, a website is not discoverable, so it’s impossible to make money online. Web hosting isn’t only for businesses. Hosting a blog or website for your personal use is possible. You can find the right service for you.
What is web hosting, and why would you need it? It’s a service that allows people or organizations to host websites accessed via the internet. This specialist provider secures your files, such as HTML and pictures, and then runs your site live online.
When choosing the right web host provider for your needs, there are some things you should consider. These include whether you need shared hosting or a particular type of hosting, how much storage you need, and whether you get an SSL certificate.
We have researched reviews of over 160 web hosting providers as of September 2021. This includes the best website builders, static site generators, and landing page creators.
We know the essential ingredients of top-notch website hosting companies.
We have provided detailed summaries of each web hosting provider, highlighted their strengths and features, and information about pricing.
Review each web hosting service by reviewers who sign up for the service and check out how the provider helps new users.
They evaluate the details of what you get and what you don’t get and rate each web hosting provider on the quality of its features. Also, they consider how transparent the company is about what every customer is calling in every product.
The best web hosting services for 2021
Bluehost is the best web hosting service overall
Rank No. 1
Bluehost is a strong competitor, but Bluehost still excels in nearly every area. They offer the complete package of speed and security, as well as great reliability, for only $2.95 per monthly.
Bluehost is a strong competitor, but Bluehost still excels in nearly every area. They offer the complete package of speed and security, as well as great reliability, for only $2.95 per monthly.
This Utah-based company, which is nearly two decades old, is now owned by Newfold Digital. Newfold Digital powers over 2 million websites worldwide.
It offers basic shared hosting starting at $2.95 per month on a 3-year contract. WordPress plans start at $20 per monthly, although that’s also an introductory rate).
Automated WordPress setup is included in the price. You can also access other popular apps through a Mojo Marketplace-powered platform. A cPanel-based area allows expert users to modify things.
Bluehost also offers a Weebly-based website creator. This basic browser-based package allows you to create up to six pages. There are no site templates or extras. It’s still a good deal, and there are plans to add more functionality. Plus, you get the builder with your basic account.
You also get excellent customer support and a free site-migration tool. The result is user-friendly and has plenty of power.
Bluehost offers professional services to help you get your website up and running. We ranked them second in our top website design services buyers’ guide.
BEST DEALS TODAY
WHY BUY
CONS
* None so far
Hostgator is the best shared hosting provider
Rank No. 2
Hostgator surprised us with a unique offer that offers some of the most powerful shared hosting features for a very long period of time. It includes a host of freebies such as domain names, SSL certificates, and marketing money starting at $2.64 monthly.
HostGator is also part of Newfold Digital. They offer a wide range of hosting services that include dedicated servers and domains at highly competitive prices. Also, they are backed by a 99.9% Uptime Guarantee. This is true for both their specialist hosting and all other options.
HostGator provides three shared hosting plans. The Hatchling subscription has unlimited bandwidth, free WordPress/cPanel site transfer, and a free SSL certificate. These allocations are large enough to accommodate all the needs of one domain.
If you need to upgrade, the Baby plan is available. It offers the same features but unlimited domains and costs $2.98 per monthly.
You can choose the Business plan for more complex sites that do not require a server. It includes a dedicated IP, an upgrade to Positive SSL, and a collection of SEO tools.
Additional benefits include a 45-day money-back guarantee and free transfers to new accounts within the first 30 days after signing up. If you are willing to commit, there is a lot to love here.
BEST DEALS TODAY
WHY BUY
CONS
* Configuration options for VPS or dedicated server are limited
Hostinger is the best cloud hosting provider
Rank No. 3
This European web host is awesome for Cloud hosting needs.
Hostinger’s advanced cloud hosting solution is the latest trend. Hosting for up to 300 websites and 100 email accounts per domain is included in the cheapest plan. There are many other features, including unlimited bandwidth. The price is also very reasonable at $9.99 per month.
Hostinger, via its 000webhosting brand, is one of the largest providers of free web hosting. Hostinger has over 30 million registered users and boasts some of the most affordable prices due to its low overheads and running costs.
Hostinger prefers to use its technology (for instance, its customized control panel rather than the widely used – and sometimes controversial – cPanel) to deliver better performance and features at a lower cost.
Cloud Startup, Cloud Professional, and Cloud Global offer unlimited bandwidth and access to up 300 websites.
Cloud Startup plans include 200GB SSD storage, 3GB RAM, and 2 CPU cores. These storage capacities are increased to 250GB, 6GB RAM, 4 CPU cores, and 500GB with the Cloud Professional plan. The Cloud Global plan adds 300GB storage, 16GB RAM, and 8CPU cores to these plans. All plans include a free SSL certificate, a domain, daily backups, and the ability to host up to 300 websites.
Pricing is determined by how long you are willing to pay for the service. Cloud Startup plans cost $29 per month. The monthly cost for the Cloud Startup plan drops to $12.99 per month if you sign up for a year. It drops to $10.99 per month for a 2-year contract and $9.99 per month for a 4-year contract.
BEST DEALS TODAY
WHY BUY
CONS
* Limited shared accounts
Hostwinds is the best dedicated web hosting
Rank No. 4
Probably the most outstanding dedicated hosting solution.
Hostwinds provides dedicated server hosting that can be configured for general or heavy-duty use. This makes them perfect for hosting company websites and gaming servers.
There are many base options that you can choose from, which you can customize to suit your needs. The most affordable models come with a quad-core single processor, at least 8GB RAM and ideal for most users.
You have many options for customization. Different RAID configurations are available and various operating systems, such as Fedora, Debian, Ubuntu, or Fedora.
You don’t have to worry about traffic being throttled on your end because you have a 1Gbps network connection.
The service includes server management, which is helpful for people who don’t want to be overwhelmed by admin tasks. Server monitoring and nightly backups are also included.
One criticism is that a control panel like Plesk, Plesk, or Exim is not included as standard. This can make server operations much more straightforward for users. However, Hostwinds will be happy to help you choose the right add-on if you don’t feel confident setting one up.
BEST DEALS TODAY
WHY BUY
CONS
* Support might be intimidating for beginners.
GreenGeeks is the best green hosting service
Rank No. 5
Radically natural hosting with plenty of good credentials.
GreenGeeks was founded in California in 2008 and is proud to claim to be the “world’s top green energy web hosting provider.” This is not surprising considering it is dedicated to green causes.
Although it is a bold statement, there is substance to it. It doesn’t just claim that its platform is designed to maximize energy efficiency; it also claims that we will invest three times as much in renewable energy via Bonneville Environmental Foundation for every amp we draw from the grid. Your hosting is not only carbon-neutral but also reduces carbon, at least in theory.
GreenGeeks’ hosting range isn’t quite as impressive. The usual range of plans is available – shared products hosting, dedicated, application hosting, VPS, and dedicated – but it is limited in scope. What you get is mostly average.
GreenGeeks robust shared web hosting plan has one exception. This plan offers unlimited websites, email addresses, databases, webspace, bandwidth, and nightly backups. It also includes a shared SSL, Cloudflare CDN integration, and nightly backups. Softaculous is a one-click installer that allows you to create a website and provide support via chat, email, and telephone.
You can pay for three years upfront to get all the features of its Lite plan for $2.49 per monthly. The renewal price is $10.95. There’s also a 30-day money-back guarantee that allows you to try the service risk-free. This is a great deal and shows that green hosting doesn’t have to be about eco-friendly gestures. You can also find capable products.
BEST DEALS TODAY
WHY BUY
CONS
* Support by phone is not 24×7
Here are 5 essential tips to help you choose the right web hosting service
- This is almost always true if your website is solely a hobby. It’s not a good idea to get the cheapest hosting plan (or one that is free) if your website is an important business tool. However, that doesn’t make them bad.
- Pricing tricks are a red flag. Most web hosting companies offer very low prices at the start of their contracts. However, they will increase the price after the initial period, as long as 24, 36, or 60 months. Always consider the total cost of ownership. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you should pay five years in advance.
- How trustworthy is the hosting provider? Anyone can pretend to be a hosting provider and resell other people’s products. Look at their history, contact information, ownership, and making real promises on the website. Google is your friend.
- Know your limits. Are you comfortable creating your website? Are you able to make your website without any help?
- Web builders are an option. You don’t necessarily need web hosting to get online. However, site builders can be a compelling and exciting alternative. You can’t move your content to another site because they are proprietary.
Which is the best web host service in 2021
Bluehost is the best web hosting service right now. There are many reasons, but they all boil down to this: it offers great value for money, hosts over two million websites around the world, and provides a free SSL certificate, a free domain, a long-term guarantee, and unlimited bandwidth.
What is web hosting?
Web hosting refers to the general business of hosting websites for individuals or organizations. Both individuals and businesses can do it. It’s not complicated, but choosing a reliable, affordable, and scalable web hosting provider is overwhelming. There are so many choices.
You may find value in many packages that include a mailing list and a control panel. They also allow you to easily create online shops, easy web building tools, and varying levels of support either by phone or via live chat.
We can help you build a website for yourself or your small business, or even a simple online shop.
It’s not a matter of “horses for courses” – choosing a host is a matter of finding the best solution you can afford. You don’t have to compromise your financial situation. A Virtual Private Server (VPS) is an excellent option for starting or having a small business. These servers offer the same flexibility as dedicated servers but at a lower cost.
Web hosting is explained in simple terms.
Web hosting providers can be thought of as tenants and servers as properties.
Hosting is like renting out each room in a house. Too many websites can cause problems with the quality of service.
VPS stands for virtual private server. VPS is a remote virtual server that you can use as a home. However, it shares some standard amenities such as the garden and the doorway with other tenants.
Dedicated hosting is like renting a house. You get an entire server for one client. If you’re ambitious, it is expensive but well worth the investment. Although there are limitations, dedicated hosting offers more flexibility.
The “building” analogy applies to the other variations/categories: eco-house, retail stores, art displays, houses in India, land developers, etc.
What are the various types of hosting services available?
A shared hosting service allows one user to share a server with other websites and web hosting accounts. These are less expensive, but they’re best for smaller websites that don’t require much bandwidth.
Cloud hosting and Virtual Private Servers allow you to scale resources at your convenience without being limited by physical servers. They can draw from a pool processing power, memory, and storage depending upon your needs. VPS servers are usually one server with dedicated resources, while cloud hosting uses many servers to allocate resources.
You can have all the webservers for your use with a dedicated web host. This will give you a significantly faster web server core. However, you will need to pay an additional fee and be responsible for maintaining the server.
Hosting companies typically offer three main paid-for hosting packages. We will also consider WordPress hosting and the more powerful website building software.
How do you choose the best web host service?
You will need to decide whether you want a dedicated, shared, or cloud-based hosting service.
Small businesses may choose to use a managed or shared service. Although the costs are lower, your business will share its server with other companies. If necessary, you can move to a virtual private server (or VPS).
As the name implies, a dedicated server is one server that you have reserved exclusively for your business. Dedicated servers don’t have to be as costly as they used to be. They can also make economic sense if your business needs its server platform, and you don’t want other businesses sharing your server to impact your online business.
It is essential to review the service level (SLA) carefully that will be attached for your dedicated server. It would help if you also looked for additional charges such as maintenance or other costs not included in the rental price.
Lastly, you should consider buying server space that can be expanded into. After just a few months, it’s not a good idea to discover that your server has outgrown its capabilities, and you need to move to another one.
Finally, the cloud has had a significant impact on the business environment. Business web hosting is now an alternative to traditional hosting. Cloud hosting’s strength is its flexibility. Your business can purchase the space and services it requires now and then expands as needed without any disruption to your business.