If you’re using a content management system, or are building your own website, then another component that you’ll need to plan for is web hosting. Because most small to medium-sized businesses aren’t in the market to buy their own web server to host their own website, using a professional hosting company is a logical choice that can be both easy and cost effective.
Hosting companies typically charge a monthly or annual fee to host your website and conduct other additional services to make sure that your site is up and running. Good hosting companies also will help you deal with specific components of your website that may require service or updates.
A hosting company can also help you purchase a domain name to use for your website. Having the right domain name for your business is essential because you want to make it as easy as possible for people to find your website. Good domain names are easy to remember, easy to spell, easy to pronounce, and often short.
| Name | Website | About |
|---|---|---|
| iPage | http://www.ipage.com/ | Everything about this hosting plan is unlimited. That’s good, because you never know how much you are going to need. Take the unlimited MySQL databases for example as your business expands, you don’t want to find yourself in need of a new database without a place to host it. Other services may limit the number of databases available to you, but iPage gives you the freedom you require. The same goes for disk space, bandwidth and email accounts. It doesn’t matter how much your headcount or traffic increase this web hosting service will always have you covered. |
| Just Host | http://www.justhost.com/ | The service provides many of the basic hosting components we looked for without restrictions. For instance, Just Host provides unlimited disk space, bandwidth and domains, meaning you can register as many domains as you want under your account and your websites wont have any space or data transfer limitations. The service is subsequently a good option if you plan to start more websites or want a site that can expand with the anticipated growth of your business. All of the services hosting packages also provide one free domain name, or if you have an existing site, free domain transfer. |
| Go Daddy | Go Daddy | This web hosting service has all the features you can imagine email, database and blogging are only the beginning. No other web hosting service can match the breadth and depth of Go Daddy’s feature set, which is a major reason that they have become such a prominent player. Don’t expect to have access to all of these features with the basic package, however. Many features are contingent on additional monthly fees the shopping cart software is a prime example. It is powerful, convenient and attractive, but you’ll have to pay extra, and there is a cap on the number of items you can store in the inventory. If you want to expand, you’ll have to pay more. |
| Arvixe | http://www.arvixe.com/ | Arvixe is a web hosting provider known for its wide-ranging hosting packages, decent uptime record and beneficial support options. The service provides all the basic web hosting features, plus easy-to-use site creation tools and notable domain capabilities. Overall, Arvixe is a great hosting option but it is lacking a few handy, though nonessential, features. And while the service provides useful support resources, its response times can vary greatly. While youll definitely pay a little more for this web hosting service, its comprehensive plans and robust features make it easy to overlook its minor shortcomings. |
| MidPhase | http://www.midphase.com/ | MidPhase is a web hosting provider that boasts cheap hosting. For the most part, the service lives up to its claim. MidPhase provides a range of robust yet easy-to-use hosting features that will appeal to a wide range of users. However, the service isnt the cheapest in our lineup, and while its monthly pricing is competitive, some of the features other services include in their hosting plans cost extra with MidPhase. Additionally, learning how to use the service may require some extra time and effort if youre new to web hosting. |
| HostGator | http://www.hostgator.com/ | HostGator is a flexible and feature-rich web hosting service that excels in terms of unlimited services, with unrestricted bandwidth and disk space. The service also provides unlimited subdomains, so you can host as many websites under your account as you want. Although the service is brimming with features, HostGator lacks some of the intuitiveness and usability found on our higher-ranked web hosting services. But if you are willing to spend the time and effort necessary to learn your way around the service, HostGator delivers robust hosting capabilities at an exceptional value. |
| AN Hosting | http://www.anhosting.com/ | AN Hosting is an ideal provider if you are new to the world of web hosting. The service is easy to use and packs excellent functionality in its comprehensive, cost-effective hosting packages. It may lack a few of the more advanced features we looked for in web hosting services. But if ease of use and strong technical support are your top priorities, AN Hosting proves to be an excellent option. |
| Networks Solutions | http://www.networksolutions.com/ | Networks Solutions is a unique hosting provider that takes an a la carte approach to web hosting. While many of its competitors offer fixed hosting packages with limited flexibility, Network Solutions allows you to select a hosting plan and supplementary add-ons and features to build your own hosting plan thats as customized as it is comprehensive. |
| BlueHost | http://www.bluehost.com/ | BlueHost has been around since 1996 and established themselves as a reliable and long-standing force in the world of web hosting. BlueHost takes their technology very serious, doing as much in-house as possible to avoid reliance on outside companies and maintaining extra-resilient backup and redundant servers. While their prices arent that different from most other hosting companies, the features you get are quite impressive when you break it down. They currently host more than 1.6 million domain names. |
| WestHost | http://www.westhost.com/ | WestHosts personal plan is sparse on features, but it could be the perfect fit for personal users and perhaps some small businesses. And while the personal and preferred plans impose caps on most of its features, the services business plan provides unlimited hosting and services more on par with the other hosting providers in our lineup. |
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the information above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”