The velocity of your web site and its reliability rely on the web hosting service you select. It’s arduous to know the place to start out, so we did the work for you.
Best for Speed
WPEngine
Fast and safe, WPEngine presents helpful options like each day backups, however lacks another apparent particulars.
It’s vital that your small business has a website. For many companies, it’s potentially even more essential than a physical presence in the form of a shop or office building. A business website doesn’t necessarily need to be expansive, complicated, or even expensive to launch, but you do need some kind of web presence. After all, many users flock to Google first when trying to find a new product or service they require.
As the name suggests, web hosting is where your website is hosted. It’s the home of your site, which means the speed of your site and its reliability depend upon the web hosting service you choose. It’s crucial then that you pick a host carefully. Much like you wouldn’t want your business to have an ugly storefront, nor do you want your web presence to be unappealing. It can be a daunting process to set up your site online, though, especially if you’re not tech-savvy.
Read on and we’ll explain everything you need to know about finding the best web hosting for small businesses, so that you can set up an online store or simply an online presence with the minimum of hassle.
What type of hosting is best for my business?
Each web hosting provider offers a different service and set of features, but they also offer different ways of hosting too. Broadly, these can be divided up into four main categories: Shared hosting, VPS, Dedicated, and Cloud Hosting. Shared hosting is the cheapest out there because it means that your website is hosted alongside other sites. This tends to mean that speeds are slower because you can be impacted by the performance of the other sites on the server. You also don’t tend to have as many features made available to you. However, it’s ideal for a small business that just wants to have an online presence in some way.
VPS hosting and Cloud hosting are quite a similar type of hosting service in that your website is still hosted alongside others. However, the number of other sites is typically smaller in number and you get the benefit of a virtual private server which usually means more flexibility and general performance, for a price.
The most expensive but highest-end form of web hosting is dedicated hosting. This type of web host offers the best speed, performance, security, and uptime, but it comes at a substantial cost as you’re provided with a whole server dedicated to your website. For a small business, this is almost always overkill.
What should I look for when buying web hosting for my business?
For most small businesses, the cost is a considerable part of the decision-making process when buying web hosting. (Check out our providers roundup for extra on that.) You want to think about buying web hosting, a website identify, in addition to potential add-ons like an SSL certificates (in case you’re promoting on-line). Some web hosting comes with all that included, whereas others add it on as you buy.
Ease of use is crucial too, with an intuitive management panel making the method a lot smoother, in addition to wonderful buyer help. If you propose on promoting merchandise by means of your web site, you will have to look out for options that allow you to arrange an ecommerce web site with some hosts providing particular packages for an ecommerce retailer. Some web hosting additionally presents built-in web page builders so you will get a web site constructed inside hours by selecting out a theme moderately than modifying the design your self.
Speed can also be one thing to keep in mind as a gradual loading web site is off-putting to prospects and might have an effect on your search engine rating. Reliability is crucial too though all of the hosting corporations we have listed below are extremely dependable and supply very excessive uptime.
Has the whole lot a small enterprise wants in a single place • Very low-cost • Site builder included
Have to decide to 3-year plan for the perfect deal • Backups price further
For a one-stop-shop service, HostGator has the whole lot a small enterprise wants, from dependable hosting to a website identify and security measures.
HostGator
Cheap but efficient, this widespread hosting firm is good for a small enterprise with large plans.-
Hatchling Plan:
From $2.43/month -
Baby Plan:
From $2.98/month -
Business Plan:
From $4.48/month
HostGator is a welcoming web host in some ways. Simple to make use of, you possibly can register for a single area, shared hosting, and limitless bandwidth inside seconds. It’s very low-cost too with a free SSL certificates tossed in for added safety. It’s the sort of enterprise hosting that ought to work for nearly all of customers till they really feel the necessity to improve to a devoted server or VPS, that are additionally accessible right here.
When it involves buyer help, it is accessible 24/7 through telephone and stay chat, so that you’re good to go always, even in case you’re working throughout some unsociable hours. A drag-and-drop web site builder, in addition to one-click WordPress setup, means you will get a web site launched rapidly, though have in mind you will have to pay for a marketing strategy to realize web optimization instruments, which might be useful. Uptime is persistently 99.9% and assured to remain that method, so you will not have to fret about your web site happening at a key time.
Recommended by WordPress • Speedy efficiency • Ideal for learners
No uptime assure • The fundamental plan does not supply limitless storage
Ideally suited to WordPress installs, Bluehost supplies nearly all of the options you might want when launching a small enterprise web site.
Bluehost
Simple to make use of and with complete help, Bluehost is good for novice web site house owners.-
Shared Plan:
From $3.95/month -
VPS Plan:
From $19.99/month -
Dedicated Plan:
From $79.99/month
Recommended by WordPress itself, Bluehost is a good choice if you realize you need your corporation web site to run on a WordPress set up. For a low worth, Bluehost presents unmetered bandwidth throughout all its plans, together with a free SSL certificates. The fundamental plan solely supplies 50GB of storage nevertheless it’s SSD-based which suggests quicker speeds for your web site.
One of the perfect issues about Bluehost is that it is nice at serving to out learners. If you are not tech-savvy, this can be a excellent place to go, because of intensive guides and one-click options so that you’re by no means intimidated. 24/7 buyer help through telephone, electronic mail, and stay chat means you are solely moments away from further help through a human being. Like many web hosting suppliers although, keep in mind that issues can get costly in case you solely decide to a one-year plan moderately than the higher worth three-year choice.
Plenty of choices for rising businesses • Great customer support • 100% uptime assure
No shared hosting plans • Over the highest for many businesses
If you are eager to have extra options accessible or need to go the devoted route, Liquid Web is a good alternative.
Liquid Web
Designed for high-end small businesses with bold wants, Liquid Web is without doubt one of the better of the superior bunch.-
Managed WordPress:
From $12.67/month -
Cloud VPS:
From $15/month -
Cloud Dedicated:
From $149/month -
Dedicated:
From $169/month
Liquid Web is a robust candidate in case you want VPS, Cloud, or Dedicated server choices. While the corporate now presents managed WordPress installations, its strengths most lie within the superior options it supplies. Beginners can be intimidated by the necessity to perceive how numerous options work, and you may want a web site able to add, since there is not any web site builder, nevertheless it’s very best if you realize what you are doing.
Liquid Web is nice for quick efficiency, assured 100% uptime, and all of the security measures you might probably think about. Its providers will shield your web site from DDoS assaults, amongst many different issues, and your web site will all the time run rapidly. Liquid Web can also be in a position to supply 24/7/365 help through telephone, electronic mail, or stay chat. It will not be for each enterprise, given the excessive costs and sophisticated wants, but when you realize what you are doing, that is the supplier for you.
Great uptime • Daily backups • Fast loading
No electronic mail included • No area identify
One of the speediest providers on the market, WPEngine is a dependable place to host your web site, notably in case you use WordPress.
WPEngine
Fast and safe, WPEngine presents helpful options like each day backups, however lacks another apparent particulars.-
Startup Plan:
From $25/month -
Startup Plus Plan:
From $28.33/month -
Startup Secure Hosting Plan:
From $44.17/month
Designed with WordPress in thoughts, WPEngine is not an all-in-one answer like some web hosting. It lacks the choice so as to add on a website when you’re buying, in addition to electronic mail accounts. If you realize what you are doing although and do not thoughts going elsewhere for a website identify, it is a good cloud-based hosting service. That’s partly because of its unbelievable speeds and efficiency, together with a content material supply community (CDN) which ensures quicker web page loading for you and your prospects. That additionally means the possibility for increased search engine rankings.
You’ll require a little bit of prior data although, as WPEngine is not fairly as intuitive as a few of its rivals — nevertheless it’s value it. It’s effectively optimized for WordPress and has unbelievable uptime with each day backups making certain you will not lose beneficial content material. A staging space is nice for planning forward too with none disruption. If you realize what you are doing, you will be pleased with WPEngine.
Promises 100% uptime • WordPress preinstalled • SSD Storage
Limited stay chat • No electronic mail on starter plan
As a largely all-in-one service, DreamHost goes the additional mile by promising 100% uptime even on shared hosting packages. It’s quick, too.
DreamHost
Straightforward and efficient, DreamHost is especially nice at promising unbeatable uptime.-
Shared Plan:
From $3.95/month -
VPS Plan:
From $13.75/month -
DreamPress Plan:
From $16.95/month
DreamHost is a widely known identify in web hosting fand or an excellent cause — it’s extremely dependable. So dependable, in reality, that it guarantees 100% uptime for shared hosting plans — a horny (and strange) declare to make. On the Shared Starter plan, you get that promise, limitless visitors, bandwidth, and quick SSD-based storage for higher efficiency. Email is an non-compulsory further, so it’s essential to issue that into the fee, nevertheless it’s nonetheless fairly low.
There’s additionally intensive WordPress help right here with a web site builder app built-in, free WordPress migrations, and WordPress pre-installed. A free SSL certificates means your corporation can be safe. Just do not forget that in case you’re a giant fan of stay chat and do not like telephone help, chat is just accessible throughout choose hours every day.
Very low-cost • Easy for learners • 24/7 tech help
Prices rise after the primary yr • No free area with the starter bundle
For those that merely want some sort of web presence, a funds plan from Hostinger is ideal and easy to arrange.
Hostinger
Simple to arrange and really low-cost, Hostinger is the perfect place for the smallest of internet sites.-
Shared Hosting:
From $0.99/month -
VPS Hosting:
From $3.95/month -
Cloud Hosting:
From $9.99/month
If you merely require an internet presence, Hostinger is ideal. Its least expensive plan begins at solely $1 per 30 days and provides you adequate bandwidth to maintain your web site ticking alongside, in addition to an all-important SSL certificates, though you will want to purchase your individual area identify. Ideally, you will need to improve to a higher-end bundle if you are going to do extra along with your web site, nevertheless it’s an awesome place to start out.
Whatever plan you select, there are one-click set up choices and a simple web site builder so you possibly can construct a touchdown web page in hardly any time. 24/7 tech help is a helpful bonus too, plus uptime is near-perfect. Prices rise steadily after the primary yr, and it’s possible you’ll want a greater plan for issues like domains and speedier efficiency, however that is exactly why the essential service works good for those that want a minimalist web site.
Cheap • Ideal for learners • Extensive 1-click set up help
Free SSL solely included on costlier plans
If you lack technical prowess then GoDaddy is a good choice for with the ability to get an internet presence arrange very quickly.
GoDaddy
No thought about web site design? GoDaddy presents intensive one-click choices to make sure that your corporation will not be left behind.-
Economy Plan:
From $5.99/month -
Deluxe Plan:
From $7.99/month -
Ultimate:
From $12.99/month -
Maximum:
From $19.99/month
GoDaddy is not fairly the most affordable nevertheless it’s arguably the only web host on the market. That’s as a result of it presents a free one-click WordPress set up throughout all its plans in addition to GoDaddy’s web page builder facility in case you want to arrange a non-WordPress web site. You’ll additionally get a one-click set up of over 150 free apps so you possibly can simply construct up your web site precisely the way you need with no need to know a lot about web design and coding.
Other options embrace 100GB on the essential plan and limitless storage for the whole lot else, together with unmetered bandwidth throughout the board, a free area, and velocity boosts for the Ultimate and Maximum plans. Just keep in mind that you just solely get a free SSL certificates on the latter two plans so it’s possible you’ll have to issue that into your funds.
