If you are planning to start or grow your online store, one of the most important decisions you need to make is choosing the best web hosting for your small business ecommerce website.
Web hosting is the service that provides the space and resources for your website to be accessible on the internet. Choosing the wrong web host can lead to poor performance, security issues, downtime, and lost sales.
But how do you know which web host is the best for your ecommerce store?
There are many factors to consider, such as the type of hosting, the features, the price, the customer support, and the reviews.
In this article, we will guide you through the process of choosing the best web hosting for small business ecommerce stores, and we will also recommend some of the best ecommerce hosting providers in 2023.
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There are different types of web hosting available, such as shared hosting, VPS hosting, dedicated server hosting, cloud hosting, and managed hosting.
Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages, depending on your needs and budget.
Here is a brief overview of each type:
1. Shared Hosting
This is the most basic and affordable type of hosting. With shared hosting, your website is hosted on the same server as many other websites, and you share resources such as bandwidth and disk space.
This type of hosting is suitable for small ecommerce websites that have low traffic and do not require much customization or security.
However, shared hosting can also have drawbacks, such as slow loading speed, limited scalability, and vulnerability to hacking or malware attacks.
2. VPS Hosting
This is a more advanced and flexible type of hosting. With VPS hosting, your website is hosted on a virtual private server that is partitioned from other websites on the same physical server.
You have more control over your server settings and resources, and you can also install your own software and applications.
This type of hosting is suitable for medium-sized ecommerce websites that have moderate traffic and require more performance and security.
However, VPS hosting can also be more expensive and complex to manage than shared hosting.
3. Dedicated Server Hosting
This is the most powerful and expensive type of hosting. With dedicated server hosting, your website is hosted on a physical server that is exclusively yours.
You have full control over your server hardware and software, and you can customize it to your needs.
This type of hosting is suitable for large ecommerce websites that have high traffic and require maximum performance and security.
However, dedicated server hosting can also be very costly and require technical expertise to maintain.
4. Cloud Hosting
This is a modern and scalable type of hosting. With cloud hosting, your website is hosted on a network of servers that are distributed across different locations.
You can easily adjust your resources according to your traffic demand, and you only pay for what you use.
This type of hosting is suitable for ecommerce websites that have unpredictable or seasonal traffic and require high availability and reliability.
However, cloud hosting can also be less transparent and secure than other types of hosting.
5. Managed Hosting
This is a convenient and hassle-free type of hosting. With managed hosting, your web host takes care of all the technical aspects of running your website, such as updates, backups, security, performance optimization, and customer support.
You can focus on your business without worrying about your website. This type of hosting is suitable for ecommerce websites that do not have much technical knowledge or time to manage their own website.
However, managed hosting can also be more expensive and restrictive than other types of hosting.
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When choosing an ecommerce hosting provider, there are several features you should ensure the platform provides. These features can affect the functionality, security, usability, and profitability of your online store.
Here are some of the essential features you should look for:
SSL Certificate
This is a digital certificate that encrypts the data exchanged between your website and your customers’ browsers. It protects your customers’ personal and payment information from hackers and identity thieves.
It also boosts your credibility and trustworthiness as an online seller. Most web hosts offer free SSL certificates for their customers.
PCI Compliance
This is a set of standards that ensure that your website follows the best practices for handling credit card transactions.
It helps you avoid fines and penalties from payment card companies, and it also enhances your security and reputation as an online seller.
Some web hosts offer PCI compliance as part of their hosting plans, while others require you to obtain it yourself.
Storage And Bandwidth
These are the two main resources that determine how much content and traffic your website can handle.
Storage is the amount of disk space that your website can use to store your files, such as images, videos, and products.
Bandwidth is the amount of data that your website can transfer to and from your visitors, such as loading pages, downloading files, and processing orders.
You should choose a web host that offers enough storage and bandwidth for your ecommerce needs, and that does not charge you extra fees for exceeding your limits.
Speed And Uptime
These are the two main factors that affect how fast and reliable your website is. Speed is the measure of how quickly your website loads and responds to user requests.
Uptime is the measure of how often your website is online and accessible to your visitors.
You should choose a web host that offers fast speed and high uptime for your ecommerce website, as these can affect your customer satisfaction, conversion rate, and search engine ranking.
Customer Support
This is the service that your web host provides to help you with any issues or questions you may have regarding your website.
You should choose a web host that offers responsive, helpful, and friendly customer support, preferably with multiple methods of contact, such as phone, email, and live chat.
You should also check the reviews and testimonials of other customers to see how satisfied they are with the customer support of your web host.
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There is no definitive answer to how much it costs to host an ecommerce website, as it depends on various factors, such as the type of hosting, the features, the resources, and the contract length.
However, here are some general estimates based on the average prices of some of the best ecommerce hosting providers in 2023:
Shared Hosting
This type of hosting typically costs between $2.99 to $9.99 per month for a basic plan that includes a free domain name, a free SSL certificate, unlimited storage and bandwidth, and 24/7 customer support.
VPS Hosting
This type of hosting typically costs between $19.99 to $59.99 per month for a standard plan that includes a free SSL certificate, 2GB to 8GB of RAM, 50GB to 200GB of SSD storage, unlimited bandwidth, and 24/7 customer support.
Dedicated Server Hosting
This type of hosting typically costs between $79.99 to $199.99 per month for a basic plan that includes a free SSL certificate, 4GB to 16GB of RAM, 500GB to 2TB of HDD storage, or 128GB to 512GB of SSD storage, unlimited bandwidth, and 24/7 customer support.
Cloud Hosting
This type of hosting typically costs between $10 to $80 per month for a basic plan that includes a free SSL certificate, 1GB to 8GB of RAM, 25GB to 200GB of SSD storage, unlimited bandwidth, and 24/7 customer support.
Managed Hosting
This type of hosting typically costs between $29.99 to $249.99 per month for a basic plan that includes a free domain name, a free SSL certificate, unlimited storage and bandwidth, automatic updates and backups, security scans and malware removals, performance optimization and caching tools, and premium customer support.
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There is no one-size-fits-all answer to which hosting is best for an ecommerce website, as it depends on your specific needs and preferences.
However, based on our research and analysis, here are some of the best ecommerce hosting providers in 2023 that we recommend for small business owners:
1. Bluehost
This is one of the most popular and reputable web host in the industry.
It offers cheap shared hosting plans that include a free domain name, a free SSL certificate, unmetered storage and bandwidth, a one-click installer for popular ecommerce platforms such as WooCommerce and Shopify, a user-friendly dashboard with marketing tools and analytics, a 99.9% uptime guarantee, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
It also offers VPS hosting, dedicated server hosting, cloud hosting, and managed WordPress hosting plans for more advanced ecommerce needs.
2. HostGator
This is another well-known and reliable web host in the market.
It offers affordable shared hosting plans that include a free domain name, a free SSL certificate, unlimited storage and bandwidth, a one-click installer for popular ecommerce platforms such as WooCommerce and Magento, a drag-and-drop website builder with hundreds of templates and themes, a 99.9% uptime guarantee, and a 45-day money-back guarantee.
It also offers VPS hosting, dedicated server hosting, cloud hosting, and managed WordPress hosting plans for more advanced ecommerce needs.
3. InMotion Hosting
This is one of the most versatile and flexible web hosts in the market.
It offers cheap shared hosting plans that include a free domain name, a free SSL certificate, unlimited SSD storage and bandwidth, a one-click installer for popular ecommerce platforms such as WooCommerce and Magento, a free drag-and-drop website builder with hundreds of templates and themes, a 99.9% uptime guarantee, and a 90-day money-back guarantee.
It also offers VPS hosting, dedicated server hosting, cloud hosting, and managed WordPress hosting plans for more advanced ecommerce needs.
4. TMD Hosting
This is one of the fastest and most reliable web hosts in the market.
It offers cheap shared hosting plans that include a free domain name, a free SSL certificate, unlimited SSD storage and bandwidth, a one-click installer for popular ecommerce platforms such as WooCommerce and PrestaShop, a free website transfer service, a 99.999% uptime guarantee, and a 60-day money-back guarantee.
It also offers VPS hosting, dedicated server hosting, cloud hosting, and managed WordPress hosting plans for more advanced ecommerce needs.
5. Cloudways
This is one of the most innovative and flexible web hosts in the market.
It offers managed cloud hosting plans that let you choose from five different cloud providers, such as DigitalOcean, Linode, Vultr, AWS, and Google Cloud. You can easily scale your resources up or down as needed, and you only pay for what you use.
You also get a free SSL certificate, unlimited SSD storage and bandwidth, a one-click installer for popular ecommerce platforms such as WooCommerce and Magento, a free website migration service, a 99.99% uptime guarantee, and a 3-day free trial.
6. A2 Hosting
This is one of the most optimized and secure web hosts in the market.
It offers low-cost shared hosting plans that include a free SSL certificate, 100GB to unlimited SSD storage, unlimited bandwidth, a one-click installer for popular ecommerce platforms such as WooCommerce and OpenCart, a free website migration service, a 99.9% uptime commitment, and an anytime money-back guarantee.
It also offers VPS hosting, dedicated server hosting, cloud hosting, and managed WordPress hosting plans for more advanced ecommerce needs.
7. Hostinger
This is one of the most budget-friendly and user-friendly web hosts in the market.
It offers low-cost shared hosting plans that include a free SSL certificate, 100GB to unlimited SSD storage, unlimited bandwidth, a one-click installer for popular ecommerce platforms such as WooCommerce and PrestaShop, a free website migration service, a 99.9% uptime guarantee, an anytime money-back guarantee.
It also offers cloud hosting and managed WordPress hosting plans for more advanced ecommerce needs.
8. SiteGround
This is one of the most recommended and trusted web hosts in the industry.
It offers affordable shared hosting plans that include a free SSL certificate, 10GB to 40GB of SSD storage, unmetered bandwidth, a one-click installer for popular ecommerce platforms such as WooCommerce and Magento, a free Cloudflare CDN service, a free daily backup service, a 99.9% uptime guarantee, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
It also offers cloud hosting and managed WordPress hosting plans for more advanced ecommerce needs.
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Choosing the best web hosting for small business ecommerce stores is not an easy task, but it is crucial for your online success.
You need to consider your budget, your goals, your traffic, your features, and your customer support when comparing different web hosts and their plans.
I have also given you some tips on the features you should look for in an ecommerce hosting provider.
I hope this article has helped you understand the different types of web hosting available, the features you should look for in an ecommerce hosting provider, the cost of hosting an ecommerce website, and some of the best ecommerce hosting providers in 2023.
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below. We would love to hear from you.
Thank you for reading and happy web hosting! 😊
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