Best Web Hosting Providers 2023 | Top 13 Services Reviewed

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The Ultimate Web Hosting Comparison

We know it can be hard work to pick the best web host for your website, so we’ve done it for you. Our number one recommendation for web hosting is Bluehost, which earned the highest average rating in our research. It has a ton of features to utilize, cost-effective plans, and is the best option for dedicated hosting.

HostGator comes in a close second, offering top-level help and support to its users and some of the best shared hosting plans, which are an ideal choice for smaller businesses. And hot on its heels in third place is InMotion because of its powerful security features and versatility.

But there are more than just three hosting platforms to choose from. Below, we’ll lay out the 13 best hosting providers on the market, giving you insights into key areas such as pricing, features, uptime, and help and support.

The 13 best web hosting providers of 2023 are:

  1. Bluehost Best overall hosting provider
  2. HostGator Best for shared hosting
  3. InMotion Powerful security features
  4. Dreamhost Affordable shared hosting option
  5. A2 Hosting Plenty of extra features
  6. GoDaddy Hosting Speedy server response time
  7. IONOS Best site speed and uptime
  8. iPage Simple and cheap payment plans
  9. SiteGround Good option for startup sellers
  10. Hostinger Great for ecommerce hosting
  11. GreenGeeks Best eco-friendly provider
  12. Hostwinds Best for tailored plans
  13. Liquid Web 24/7 support available
This list of our top hosting provider recommendations was carefully compiled based on our thorough research and testing process to ensure we’re providing you with the most accurate and useful information on the criteria of hosting products that are important to you.

Every web host on the list has been tested (among tens of others) and analyzed on the following criteria to calculate our ratings:

  • Pricing – price range, number of plans, money back guarantee, billing cycle, and more.
  • Performance – server response time, storage space, bandwidth, cores, threads, RAM, and more.
  • Features – migration, backups, security, domains, control panel, green hosting, and more.
  • Help and support – knowledge base, support options available.
  • Market analysis – competitor reviews, search volume, and more.

There are so many forms of hosting to dive into, but we’ve focused on those that we’ve found to be the most popular and practical for you, our readers. After all, the importance of the chosen hosting type can vary greatly depending on the business.

With this in-depth testing, we can fairly rate and compare the best hosting providers to help you feel equipped and ready to make an informed decision.

Whether you’re looking for a new web host, or you want to switch providers, this article will help you move forwards. Browse the best web hosts and read reviews for each one, or compare them side-by-side in our comparison chart.

Use the left-hand menu, or scroll down, to discover the best providers and for bonus advice on how to choose the best one for you!

Compare the 13 Best Web Hosting Providers

Use this chart to compare each host side-by-side – we’ve included all of the most important information, from uptime to value for money.

Swipe right to see more
0 out of 0

Bluehost

HostGator

InMotion

DreamHost

A2 Hosting

GoDaddy

IONOS

iPage

SiteGround

Hostinger

GreenGeeks

Hostwinds

Liquid Web

Overall rating
4.8
Overall rating
4.7
Overall rating
4.5
Overall rating
4.4
Overall rating
4.1
Overall rating
4.0
Overall rating
4.0
Overall rating
3.8
Overall rating
3.7
Overall rating
3.6
Overall rating
3.5
Overall rating
3.1
Overall rating
2.9
Starting from

$2.95

Starting from

$2.75

Starting from

$3.29

Starting from

$2.59

Starting from

$2.99

Starting from

$6.99

Starting from

$0.50

Starting from

$1.99

Starting from

$2.99

Starting from

$2.99

Starting from

$2.49

Starting from

$4.99

Starting from

$13.30

Uptime

99.98%

Uptime

99.99%

Uptime

99.98%

Uptime

100%

Uptime

99.95%

Uptime

99.97%

Uptime

99.99%

Uptime

99.94%

Uptime

99.9%

Uptime

99.99%

Uptime

99.98%

Uptime

99.99%

Uptime

100%

Free backups
Free backups
Free backups
Free backups
Free backups
Free backups
Free backups
Free backups
Free backups
Free backups
Free backups
Free backups
Free backups
Free domain
Free domain
Free domain
Free domain
Free domain
Free domain
Free domain
Free domain
Free domain
Free domain
Free domain
Free domain
Free domain
Storage space

10GB – Unlimited

Storage space

Unmetered

Storage space

75GB – Unlimited

Storage space

50GB – Unlimited

Storage space

100GB – Unlimited

Storage space

25GB – 100GB

Storage space

25GB – Unlimited

Storage space

Unlimited

Storage space

10GB – 160GB

Storage space

30GB – 200GB

Storage space

50GB – Unlimited

Storage space

Unlimited

Storage space

40GB – 200GB

Bandwidth

Unmetered

Bandwidth

Unmetered

Bandwidth

Unlimited

Bandwidth

Unmetered

Bandwidth

Unmetered

Bandwidth

Unmetered

Bandwidth

Unlimited

Bandwidth

Unmetered

Bandwidth

Unmetered

Bandwidth

100GB – Unmetered

Bandwidth

Unmetered

Bandwidth

Unlimited

Bandwidth

10TB

RAM

2GB – 16GB

RAM

700MB – 128GB

RAM

4GB – 64GB

RAM

1GB – 16GB

RAM

4GB – 16GB

RAM

512MB – 32GB

RAM

512MB – 12GB

RAM

1GB – 8GB

RAM

16GB – 64GB

RAM

768MB – 16GB

RAM

2GB – 8GB

RAM

1GB – 96GB

RAM

2GB – 16GB

Heads up: promotional prices

Every web hosting provider advertises low introductory prices, which usually last for the first year or so of each plan. After that, you’ll be paying steeper renewal prices. The price jump will vary by provider and hosting type, but it’s something that every web host does, and we want to make sure you avoid any unwanted surprises!

Did you know: you have to figure out what hosting type you need before you can select the ideal web hosting provider? Read more below.

Or, use our time-saving quiz to discover your ideal hosting plan in just one minute by answering six easy questions.

What kind of website(s) do you have?

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What are the different types of web hosting?

Before we take a closer look at each provider, here’s an overview of the main types of web hosting that you’ll encounter:

  • Shared hosting: Multiple websites are housed on one physical server and share its resources.
  • VPS hosting: One physical server is partitioned into multiple virtual servers so each website gets more resources and space as needed without committing to a dedicated server.
  • Dedicated hosting: An entire physical server, along with all of its resources, is used to house one website.
  • WordPress managed hosting: Tailored specifically for WordPress sites, providing extra support and features such as automatic updates.
  • Cloud hosting: Similar to shared hosting, except that a network of multiple servers is used to pool resources and maximize uptime.
  • Reseller hosting: The owner of a reseller hosting plan can effectively lease out server space to third parties. In other words, you would be the middleman between a hosting provider and a website.

#1. Bluehost

Best overall hosting provider

Pricing plans from: $2.95 per month

Flash sale! Save up to 70% on selected plans!

Editor's Choice

Bluehost

Best overall hosting provider

Excellent

4.8

out of 5
  • Consistently affordable
  • Strong features
  • Free migration

Paid Plans: $2.95 - $119.99 / month

Pros

  • Excellent WordPress integration
  • Responsive support team
  • Best price for dedicated hosting

Cons

  • Unreliable site speed and uptime
  • Limits on backups for cheaper plans
  • No in-house reseller hosting
Read Review

Features

Bluehost is our top choice for hosting provider with the highest average rating of 4.8 out of 5, beating its competitors in half of our research categories. But why did it score so highly? Let’s take a look:

Pros Cons
Affordable prices – especially for dedicated hosting Poor site speed and uptime
Feature heavy provider No backups available on shared plans unless you upgrade to Choice Plus or above
Strong support options – 24/7 phone, live chat, and email No green hosting
Money back guarantee for 30 days

Bluehost’s cheapest option comes in the form of four shared hosting plans: Basic, Plus, Choice Plus, and Prime. Signing up to any of these will guarantee you 99.98% uptime and plenty of features to utilize, including unmetered bandwidth, a free domain, and access to cPanel, which is very handy for managing your site hosting.

Bluehost also proved itself to be a strong option if help and support are a priority for you, with 24/7 phone help, live chat, and email support available.

If you need a little more power, Bluehost offers VPS and dedicated hosting plans. In fact, our research found it to be the best provider for dedicated hosting, scoring 4.7 out of 5, because of its affordability and strong performance.

And, if you’re running an online store, then Bluehost’s WooCommerce hosting plans are hard to beat. The option for unlimited websites and free third-party backups from CodeGuard push Bluehost ahead of its competitors to secure the number one spot.

Bluehost is also a fantastic option if you’re looking to integrate with a WordPress site – especially with its free WordPress migration service.

Once you’ve signed up to a plan, Bluehost’s in-house team reviews your site and, if it meets their criteria, then they’ll transfer your existing WordPress site to Bluehost for you – free of charge!

Bluehost Lets You Switch For Free!

Okay, we know a lot of other web hosts offer free migration as well, but Bluehost is our top-rated provider, and its free WordPress migration service just helps to sweeten the deal. All you have to do is sign up to your chosen plan, fill out the free migration form, and then let Bluehost’s team of migration experts take care of the rest!

Bluehost’s professional migration service usually costs $149.99 (for up to five sites), so having your WordPress site migrated free of charge is a real steal. It’s safe, it’s quick, it’s easy – and it’s free!

Bluehost is ideal for new WordPress sites, too. It’s been optimized for WordPress since 2014, and offers one-click setup. Our guide will show you just how simple the setup is!

Pricing

Save Up to 70% On Selected Plans In Bluehost’s Exclusive Sale!

You can now save up to 70% on Bluehost’s plans, meaning you can get its cheapest shared plan for just $2.95 per month for a 12-month subscription. Don’t miss out on this amazing deal!

What we loved most in our testing of Bluehost is that you can access numerous features for consistently cheap prices, no matter what plan you choose to go with.

Take a look below at the cheapest introductory prices for each hosting type:

Hosting Type Monthly Cost
Shared $2.95
VPS $19.99
Dedicated $79.99
WordPress Managed $2.95

Bluehost’s Basic shared plan might not accommodate all of your needs, especially if you’re a larger site, but for most, it’s a great and cheap option. SSL, unmetered bandwidth, 99.98% uptime, and 24/7 support come with each plan, so it’s really just a question of how much scalability you need.

I have been using Bluehost since April 2022.
One of my favorite things about Bluehost is how it seamlessly integrates with WordPress. I bought the three-year plan and found it to be quite affordable, which is always a plus when you’re starting a new blog or business.
If there was anything I could change with Bluehost, it would be the process of setting up your emails with your specific web domain and the amount of storage space on these emails. Bluehost offers five free emails with your domain, but there is a very limited amount of storage.
In general, I would recommend Bluehost. That being said, your site does slow down over time as you receive more traffic and add more content. Thus, I would say that Bluehost is a great platform for new bloggers.
bluehost logo

Are You Looking for the Overall Best Hosting Provider?

Bluehost came out on top in our research, impressing us with its affordability, strong features, and free website migration. Give it a go from just $2.95 today!

Further Information

#2. HostGator

Best for shared hosting

Pricing plans from: $2.75 per month

HostGator

Best for shared hosting

Excellent

4.7

out of 5
  • Very reliable service
  • Feature-rich shared plans
  • Best for help and support

Paid Plans: $3.95 - $159.99 / month

Pros

  • 99.9% uptime guarantee
  • Unlimited storage on shared plans
  • Unmetered bandwidth on shared plans

Cons

  • Plans more expensive than others on list
  • Slow server response time
  • WordPress integration isn't simple
Read Review

Features

HostGator has three shared web hosting plans to choose from: Hatchling, Baby, and Business. Although features obviously ramp up with each, the baseline offerings are strong and they helped to position HostGator into second place on the list with a score of 4.7 out of 5 overall. All plans come with unlimited storage space, a free SSL certificate, unmetered bandwidth, and guaranteed 99.9% uptime.

However, our research did reveal a poor server response time which can result in website downtime. This isn’t ideal, especially for a provider that promises such a high degree of uptime. But, HostGator takes these commitments seriously: if it falls short on uptime, you’ll get one month of credit added to your account!

The hosting provider really makes sure to take care of its users – HostGator is our top choice for help and support, with 24/7 phone and live chat services, email support, and a community center available to access.

Pros Cons
1st for help and support in our research - 24/7 services Poor server response time
Unlimited bandwidth and storage space Plans are more costly than other providers
Monthly credit if uptime guarantee not met by HostGator

Pricing

Like most web hosting services, HostGator gets cheaper the more time you commit to it. Check out the cheapest introductory rates below:

Hosting Type Monthly Cost
Shared $2.75
VPS $23.95
Dedicated $89.98
WordPress Managed $5.95

A sound approach is to sign on for a month and see how the service holds up to your needs. With its 45-day money-back guarantee, you can give it a proper test run first. If you’re impressed, you can renew on a longer-term contract. If not, you’re in a position to look elsewhere, and won’t be out of pocket.

Its pricing commitments are really no different than other web hosting services – and, with HostGator, you can rest assured that you’re signing on to a great provider.

HostGator has been my web hosting provider of choice for over 10 years. I’ve always found their customer service to be excellent, and their features and pricing to be (sic) unbeatable.
I love the fact that HostGator is so affordable, and that their customer service is always available to help me with whatever I need. I’ve never had a problem with their hosting, and I’m always impressed with the new features they add.
I honestly can’t think of anything I would change about HostGator. They provide an excellent service at an unbeatable price.
Absolutely! I’ve been recommending HostGator to others for years, and I know that they provide an excellent service that is sure to meet the needs of any business. HostGator is the perfect choice for any business owner who wants excellent service and unbeatable pricing.
hostgator logo

Is Reliable Help and Support a Priority for You?

HostGator is your answer! It came first in our research for help and support across all hosting types, scoring a 4.9 out of 5 in most cases.

Further Information

#3. InMotion

Powerful security features

Pricing plans from: $2.49 per month

InMotion

Powerful security features

Very Good

4.5

out of 5
  • Free backups available
  • Unlimited bandwidth
  • Great security features

Paid Plans: $3.49 - $539.99 / month

Pros

  • Free SSL on all plans
  • 24/7 live chat support
  • 90-day money-back guarantee

Cons

  • Mediocre uptime guarantee
  • Poor site speed and uptime
  • Not as affordable as other options
Read Review

Features

InMotion takes third place with an overall score of 4.5 out of 5. The hosting provider has four shared plans: Core, Launch, Power, and Pro. It offers unlimited bandwidth and storage across all of these, excluding its Core plan, which is minimally restricted to a sizeable 100GB of disk space. You’ll also receive free SSL, protection from hacking, and access to a backup manager. InMotion’s strong security features are a big reason why we’ve rated the provider so highly.

However, its performance isn’t as impressive as some of the other hosting options on this list because of the poor site speed and uptime we uncovered. Despite this, our research found InMotion to be an ideal choice for photography and ecommerce websites, scoring 1st and 2nd place, respectively. You won’t have any trouble with your images struggling to load!

Pros Cons
Strong security features
Poor site speed and uptime
Best hosting provider for photography websites
Expensive option – doesn’t compete with other providers
Great provider for ecommerce purposes

Pricing

We’d argue that InMotion is reasonably priced for what it offers, but we do recognize that it’s definitely a more expensive option in comparison to others. In our shared hosting analysis, it only scored a 2.4 out of 5 for price, whereas DreamHost scored 4.4! That said, InMotion does provide a 90-day money-back guarantee, so you can really give the service a fair trial for yourself before you make a set decision.

Take a look at the introductory rates below for all hosting types:

Hosting Type Monthly Cost
Shared $2.49
VPS $19.99
Dedicated $139.99
WordPress Managed $3.99
I have been using InMotion for about four years now.
I like that InMotion is a reliable, stable, and secure web host. InMotion also has great customer service.
I would like to see InMotion offer a more robust feature set, especially in the area of ecommerce.
Yes, I would recommend InMotion to others because it is a great web host with a good reputation.
inmotion logo

Are You Looking for Secure Web Hosting?

InMotion has an awesome range of hosting plans on offer, from shared to dedicated hosting. All of which come with a generous set of security features and free backups. Try it out for yourself!

Further Information

#4. DreamHost

Affordable shared hosting option

Pricing plans from: $2.59 per month

DreamHost

Affordable shared hosting plans

Very Good

4.4

out of 5
  • Quality shared plans
  • Great site speed
  • Cheap prices

Paid Plans: $2.95 - $379 / month

Pros

  • 97-day money-back guarantee
  • Free WordPress migrations
  • 24/7 help and support

Cons

  • No direct phone support, call backs only
  • Expensive dedicated plans
  • Doesn't use popular cPanel dashboard
Read Review

Features

DreamHost offers the cheapest plans for shared hosting: Shared Starter and Shared Unlimited. Both provide a free domain, unlimited bandwidth, a free automatic migration plugin, and an advertised uptime of 100%. Previously, DreamHost was in tenth place, so it’s really stepped up its game since then to secure fourth!

Our research also ranked DreamHost as the second best for site speed, just behind IONOS, which is a crucial factor for efficient hosting. With its suggested uptime guarantee, your site shouldn’t have any trouble with downtime!

Its lack of support options does set the hosting provider back, and its dedicated hosting is very pricey in comparison to its affordable shared plans. However, we think its features and powerful security overshadow any weaknesses. Our research even reported it to be the top choice for blog hosting, joint with HostGator.

Pros Cons
Top choice for blog hosting
Steep climb in prices for dedicated hosting
Has its own service control panel
Lack of support
Good site speed

Cheapest choice for shared hosting
97-day money-back guarantee

Pricing

As we’ve mentioned, DreamHost is the cheapest shared hosting plan provider. We recommend it as a more affordable alternative to Bluehost and HostGator. Unfortunately, DreamHost’s pricing plans for dedicated hosting increase massively in comparison to the other hosting types on offer.

But, on a positive note, DreamHost does offer a generous 97-day money-back guarantee on all shared hosting plans, and a 30-day guarantee for other hosting types. So, you can try it out with zero commitment!

We’ve summarized the starting prices below:

Hosting Type Monthly Cost
Shared $2.59
VPS $13.75
Dedicated $149.00
WordPress Managed $2.59
dreamhost logo

Need an Affordable Shared Hosting Plan?

DreamHost is the cheapest shared hosting plan provider on this list with the highest score for price at 4.4 out of 5. So, if saving money is a priority for you, it’s a great option to check out!

Further Information

#5. A2 Hosting

Plenty of extra features

Pricing plans from: $2.99 per month

A2 Hosting

Plenty of extra features

Very Good

4.1

out of 5
  • Feature-heavy plans
  • Expensive prices
  • Very secure servers

Paid Plans: $6.59 - $529.99 / month

Pros

  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • Free expert migration
  • Global server locations

Cons

  • Slightly clunky sign-up process
  • Very overpriced
  • Poor site speed and uptime
Read Review

Features

A2 Hosting has four shared hosting plans: Startup, Drive, Turbo Boost, and Turbo Max. Its plans come with a whole host of features, including unlimited bandwidth, free expert migration, SSL, and free automatic backups.

That being said, we do want to flag that our research found A2 Hosting to have low site speed and uptime. Couple that with its overpriced plans, and you can see why it hasn’t beaten out the competition higher on the list.

Pros Cons
Large number of features
Bad value for money
Unlimited bandwidth on shared plans
Low site speed and uptime
Free automatic backups

99.9% uptime

Pricing

A2 Hosting is let down by its pricing, so if you’re searching for a more budget-friendly provider, consider Bluehost or DreamHost. But, take a look for yourself! A2 Hosting’s prices start as follows:

Hosting Type Monthly Cost
Shared $2.99
VPS $39.99
Dedicated $105.99
WordPress Managed $11.99
a2 hosting logo

Do You Like the Look of A2 Hosting?

A2 Hosting is a feature-rich hosting provider, with unlimited bandwidth and backups. Why not take advantage of its 30-day money-back guarantee and try it today?

Further Information

#6. GoDaddy Hosting

Speedy server response time

Pricing plans from: $4.99 per month

GoDaddy

Speedy server response time

Very Good

4

out of 5
  • Great features
  • Not great value for money
  • Impressive support

Paid Plans: $6.99 - $469.99 / month

Pros

  • 24/7 phone support
  • Free Microsoft 365 email
  • Unmetered bandwidth

Cons

  • More expensive than competitors
  • Restricted migration
  • Favors Linux users over Windows
Read Review

Features

GoDaddy has four shared hosting plans: Economy, Deluxe, Ultimate, and Maximum. All plans come with unmetered bandwidth, guaranteed 99.9% uptime, daily automatic backups, 24/7 network monitoring, and a free domain. Despite its position as sixth in our table – largely let down by its very poor site speed – GoDaddy performed really well in our server response time test, standing just behind the leader, IONOS.

GoDaddy’s support has also improved in recent years. Its 24/7 live chat and phone service are very good, but it doesn’t offer any email support. If help and support are a must-have for you, consider HostGator, which came out on top in our research.

Pros Cons
High server response time Poor site speed
Quality help and support available Not the cheapest plans – and not ideal for Windows users
99% uptime guarantee Can only migrate to GoDaddy
Daily automatic backups

Pricing

GoDaddy is definitely a feature-rich hosting provider and a solid option to choose, but its cost does let it down. Pricing between plans and hosting types can be erratic, and Windows users have to pay more than Linux users, which isn’t ideal for all customers.

GoDaddy’s cheapest introductory prices are below:

Hosting Type Monthly Cost
Shared $5.99
VPS $4.99
Dedicated $129.99
WordPress Managed $8.99
godaddy logo

Impressed by GoDaddy’s Server Response Time?

GoDaddy’s hosting platform came second in our research for server response time – It even beat our top three providers on this list!

Further Information

#7. IONOS

Best site speed and uptime

Pricing plans from: $0.50 per month

IONOS

Best site speed and uptime

Very Good

4

out of 5
  • Top site speed + uptime
  • Very affordable plans
  • Great dedicated hosting

Paid Plans: $0.5 - $35 / month

Pros

  • Excellent WordPress integration
  • 99.99% uptime
  • Best price for dedicated hosting

Cons

  • Unreliable help and support
  • Additional charges to consider
  • More costly for Windows users
Read Review

Features

IONOS came first in our testing for both site speed and uptime – and by quite a gap! It beat every hosting provider in all of our checks. Efficiency and reliability when hosting are critical, so the guarantee of a stable connection can offer users some peace of mind.

Of course, it’s not at the top of our overall list for a reason because, unfortunately, IONOS is lacking in help and support options. It also pushes a number of additional charges on users, from a setup fee to extra costs for Windows users. However, IONOS does provide three cheap shared hosting plans: Starter, Plus, and Ultimate. All guarantee unlimited bandwidth, 99.99% uptime, automatic backups, and a free domain.

Pros Cons
Best for site speed and uptime Lacking in help and support
Great value for money Windows users face additional charges
2nd best provider for dedicated hosting Set up fee of $50
Carbon neutral provider Use their own control panel rather than the popular cPanel

Pricing

Despite the additional charges we’ve touched on, IONOS is great value for money. The plans are cheap and competitive, and its prices are unbeatable for ecommerce hosting. It scored 4.4 out of 5 for price in our ecommerce hosting research. We’ve summarized the cheapest monthly costs below:

Hosting Type Monthly Cost
Shared $3
VPS $2
Dedicated $45
WordPress Managed $1
1&1 IONOS logo

Want the Best Uptime?

IONOS is the one for you! It came top in our research for site speed and uptime, and will keep your site running around the clock.

Further Information

#8. iPage

Simple and cheap payment plans

Pricing plans from: $1.99 per month

iPage

Simple and cheap payment plans

Good

3.8

out of 5
  • Helps short-term growth
  • Low introductory prices
  • One server location

Paid Plans: $2.99 / month

Pros

  • Unlimited storage on cheapest plans
  • Unlimited email addresses @ domain
  • Reseller plans available

Cons

  • Less flexibility with plans
  • Backups for an additional cost
  • No email support
Read Review

Features

iPage hosting has just one shared hosting plan – the Go Plan. A different approach than other hosting providers, but let’s break it down. iPage claims it has everything you need to succeed online within the one plan. The hosting provider does offer a lot of features, from unlimited storage space and bandwidth, SSL to easy WordPress installation, and unlimited domain names.

Though it might feel a little restrictive if you’re looking to scale up, the one-plan-per-hosting type strategy makes it simple and easy for customers to understand.

Pros Cons
Simple payment plans Limited scalability
Consistently cheap pricing No tailored plans
Good option for blogs Charge for backups
99.9% uptime
Unlimited storage space and bandwidth

Pricing

With one plan to choose, the costs aren’t too difficult to wrap your head around! The only variation depends on how long you sign up for, or the hosting type you choose. Here are the cheapest options:

Hosting Type Monthly Cost
Shared $1.99
WordPress Managed $3.75
ipage logo

Looking for a Simple Hosting Plan?

iPage is a great option if you don’t have the time to browse through dozens of plans. Its one-size-fits-all plan comes with some great features, such as unlimited storage and domains!

Further Information

#9. SiteGround

Good option for startup sellers

Pricing plans from: $2.99 per month

SiteGround

Good option for startup sellers

Good

3.7

out of 5
  • Great updates and backups
  • Good security features
  • Limited types of hosting

Paid Plans: $2.99 - $400 / month

Pros

  • Free, automated daily backups
  • Automatic WordPress updates
  • 24/7 live chat support

Cons

  • No VPS or dedicated plans
  • More expensive than competitors
  • Worst server response time
Read Review

Features

SiteGround is not as well-rounded as other hosting providers on this list. For shared hosting, it offers three plans to choose from: StartUp, GrowBig, and GoGeek. But, it’s also one of the leading providers for WordPress-managed hosting, recommended by WordPress itself, which we think is pretty impressive!

Its features have seen a boost from our previous research, scoring 4.5 out of 5 instead of 4.3. The daily backups, free SSL, and tools to help you grow your website or store, make it a particularly ecommerce-friendly hosting provider.

Pros Cons
Recommended for startups Worst server response time and poor site speed
2nd best for help and support Limited hosting plans
Affordable provider

Pricing

Its limited plans make it difficult to scale, but we recommend starting with a shared plan – SiteGround promotes its most popular plan, GrowBig, as a good place to begin. Take a look at the introductory prices below:

Hosting Type Monthly Cost
Shared $2.99
WordPress Managed $2.99
siteground logo

Do You Want To Try Siteground?

Siteground has quality support and regular updates, and is an affordable choice for startup sellers.

Further Information

#10. Hostinger

Good for ecommerce hosting

Pricing plans from: $1.99 per month

Hostinger

Great for ecommerce hosting

Good

3.6

out of 5
  • Cheap introductory prices
  • Good for ecommerce sites
  • Mediocre uptime

Paid Plans: $2.99 - $109.99 / month

Pros

  • Data centers on four continents
  • Free migration
  • Wide range of VPS plans

Cons

  • No dedicated plan
  • Limited storage space
  • No green hosting
Read Review

Features

Like SiteGround, Hostinger is great for ecommerce hosting. Though Bluehost takes the number one spot in our ecommerce research, Hostinger secured third place with a score of 4.5 out of 5. As a result, we think it’s a great and affordable alternative to the top provider.

Hostinger offers shared, VPS, and WordPress hosting, but it doesn’t have dedicated hosting plans – effectively putting a cap on scalability. That being said, its top VPS plan is fairly advanced and we don’t believe any small to medium-sized sites would have any trouble growing.

Though Hostinger has servers spread out across seven countries, our testing found its site speed and uptime to be average, despite its advertised uptime of 99.99%.

Pros Cons
Affordable ecommerce hosting option No dedicated hosting plans
Stable site speed and uptime No green hosting initiatives
Free migration Lack of storage

Pricing

Hostinger offers shared hosting plans from $1.99, which is incredibly cheap, especially in comparison to many other providers in the list. The catch? You won’t have as many free features as, say, Bluehost’s cheapest plan. Hostinger is a good, cheap alternative if price is a key factor.

Check out the introductory prices of Hostinger’s cheapest plans:

Hosting Type Monthly Cost
Shared $1.99
VPS $3.49
WordPress Managed $1.99
hostinger logo

Looking For A Good Ecommerce Hosting Provider?

Hostinger ranked third in our ecommerce testing, and its cheap introductory prices make it a real steal. Its plans start at just $1.99!

Further Information

#11. GreenGeeks

Best eco-friendly provider

Pricing plans from: $2.95 per month

GreenGeeks

Best eco-friendly provider

Good

3.5

out of 5
  • Most eco-friendly host
  • Free migration service
  • Limited scalability

Paid Plans: $2.95 - $109.95 / month

Pros

  • Green Power Partner of US EPA
  • Unlimited email accounts on most plans
  • Unlimited bandwidth on shared plans

Cons

  • Limited data center locations
  • No 24/7 phone support
  • No dedicated hosting
Read Review

Features

GreenGeeks offers shared, VPS, and WordPress hosting. The main thing people note about GreenGeeks is its strength as the industry’s leading eco-friendly hosting provider – it returns 300% of the power it consumes, and it’s even been recognized by the US Environmental Protection Agency as a Green Power Partner since 2009. Concerned about your impact on the planet? GreenGeeks is for you!

It has three shared hosting plans: Lite, Pro, and Premium. Each plan comes with unlimited bandwidth, free backups, free domains, advanced security features, and 24/7 live chat support.

Pros Cons
Green hosting provider No dedicated hosting plans
99.9% uptime guarantee Performed poorly in our research overall
Free nightly backups Limited scalability

Pricing

Our research scored GreenGeeks poorly for value for money, with the provider falling into the bottom three for price in five of our eight categories. All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee though, so you can see if it’s a good fit for you first before you commit to a long-term contract.

Check out GreenGeeks’ cheapest prices for each hosting type below:

Hosting Type Monthly Cost
Shared $2.95
VPS $39.95
WordPress Managed $2.95
greengeeks logo

Are You Looking For an Eco-Friendly Hosting Provider?

GreenGeeks could be your perfect match! It restores 3x the energy it consumes, so it’s the perfect choice if you’re looking for a planet-conscious hosting platform!

Further Information

#12. Hostwinds

Best for tailored plans

Pricing plans from: $4.99 per month

Hostwinds

Best for tailored plans

Above Average

3.1

out of 5
  • Huge range of plans
  • Limited features
  • Consistently expensive

Paid Plans: $4.99 - $328.99 / month

Pros

  • Most tailored plans
  • Unlimited storage on shared plans
  • Good server response time

Cons

  • No money-back guarantee
  • No phone support
  • Expensive plans

Features

Hostwinds has three shared hosting packages: Basic, Advanced, and Ultimate. They all come with unlimited storage, unlimited bandwidth, and daily automatic backups. Hostwinds really stands out when it comes to VPS and dedicated hosting. It has 10 VPS plans, and 11 dedicated hosting plans to choose from – more tailored options than any other provider on this list!

Unfortunately, despite the number of plans, Hostwinds finds itself near the bottom of our scoreboard due to its limited features, steep prices, and mediocre support options. It consistently came last overall in our shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting research.

Pros Cons
More tailored options than any other provider on the list Worst score for shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting
Unlimited storage and bandwidth Limited features
Average site speed Expensive plans
No money-back guarantee

Pricing

Hostwinds is really let down by its expensive plans, which is a huge reason why it sits so far down in our recommendations. The lack of a money-back guarantee will also put some potential customers off – it’s a real oversight from the Hostwinds team.

The low-end price ranges for Hostwinds are as follows:

Hosting Type Monthly Cost
Shared $5.24
VPS $4.99
Dedicated $122
hostwinds logo

Want To Find Your Perfect Plan?

Hostwinds has more tailored plans for VPS and dedicated hosting than any other provider on the list. If you’re looking for something very specific, check out Hostwinds!

#13. Liquid Web

24/7 support available

Pricing plans from: $13.30 per month

Liquid Web

24/7 support available

Average

2.9

out of 5
  • Responsive help team
  • Not an affordable option
  • No shared hosting

Paid Plans: $15.83 - $832.5 / month

Pros

  • 24/7 live chat, email, phone
  • High Core and Thread count
  • Variety of control panel options

Cons

  • Expensive introductory prices
  • Lack of extra features
  • No money-back guarantee for WordPress

Features

Finally, we have Liquid Web. There aren’t any shared hosting plans to mention, but it does offer VPS, dedicated, and WordPress-managed hosting. All plans come with an advertised 100% uptime guarantee and, apart from its WordPress packages, the other hosting types come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Liquid Web also provides users with an impressive 24/7 support hotline, via phone, live chat, and email.

However, it performed poorly in our research – landing in last place – because of its expensive plans and limited features.

Pros Cons
Highest Core and Thread count for dedicated hosting Limited features
Range of control panel options Expensive introductory fees
24/7 help available

Pricing

Liquid Web’s plans aren’t cheap, especially in comparison to the other hosting providers like Bluehost or HostGator. Committing to Liquid Web would result in a big dent in your budget, but take a look at its introductory prices for yourself:

Hosting Type Monthly Cost
VPS $25
Dedicated $169
WordPress Managed $13.30
liquid web small 50x50

Interested in What Liquid Web Has To Offer?

We think Liquid Web is a great option if you’re looking for reliable and responsive support as you grow online. It has 24/7 phone, email, and live chat help available.

Which Is the Best Web Hosting Company for Me?

The size and type of website you own will dictate what hosting plan you need. Your budget, the features you require, and how you built your site will also play a part in your decision. But, ultimately, it’s best to choose one priority that you value most and base your decision on that feature.

For example, if good customer service and impressive help and support features are both important to you, then HostGator is your best bet. But, if site speed and uptime are your non-negotiable priority, then IONOS could be the best option for you.

If you’re still a little unsure and scratching your head, why not check out our web hosting services comparison chart to help you decide!

The Verdict: Who Is the Best Web Hosting Provider?

This decision ultimately depends on what you want in a hosting provider. You can’t really go wrong with any of the providers listed above, but some will be a better fit than others. Do you value security? Consider InMotion. Want to be environmentally conscious? GreenGeeks is worth looking at.

That being said, the provider that consistently delivers across all of our research is Bluehost. Its plans are very affordable and they all boast impressive features – that’s why it earns the number one spot in our research. Try it out for yourself, and let us know what you think!

FAQs

Web hosting is how your website or web page gets live on the internet. You essentially purchase space online to house all the files that make up your website. Hosting providers, like Bluehost or Hostgator, handle the technical side of things and supply the servers to keep your site running smoothly.
Our top hosting service, overall, is Bluehost! It’s great value for money, rich in features, and offers reliable support. You’ll need to assess what you need though – Bluehost may be the best overall, but that doesn’t always mean it’s the best for you.
First off, you’ll want to know what types of hosting they offer – you should be looking for a specific type (e.g. shared hosting). You’ll also want to know what features they offer, the cost of the service, and whether it integrates easily with your site.
Although most have similar offerings, there are certain elements that matter. For example, if you use PHP to build any of your pages, you’ll need a provider that has a PHP processor module. Some have better uptime, while some lend themselves better to certain CMSs, like WordPress.
Every website will require some form of hosting. If you use a website builder, the majority will include hosting as part of your monthly fee, meaning you don’t have to do anything. For everything else, you’ll need to set up hosting separately.
A web host is a service that allows your website to be put live online for others to see. A website builder is a platform that helps you create the website itself. Most website builders will have hosting included as part of their service.
There are numerous types of web hosting. The main ones are shared, dedicated, VPS, and WordPress-managed hosting. The size and type of website you have will dictate the type of hosting you need, but all serve different purposes.
There is no one universal regulator of web hosting, but most providers are easy to get in touch with. If you’re having issues with their own support – like over email or live chat – you can try contacting providers on social media, or reach out to forums.
When deciding, you want to check if the provider offers an SSL certificate and HTTPS as standard. These both help secure your website and boost your SEO – we recommend InMotion for its impressive security features! For extra protection, providers that use Geo-Redundancy will protect your data against crashing and hacking via automated backups.
Some platforms have a free site migration process. This is the easiest and simplest way to transfer, as all you need to do is provide your account details. For manual transfers, use FTP. Download your files onto your computer, then upload them to your new hosting provider.
Many providers use the terms web hosting and domain hosting interchangeably, but they can relate to separate things. Domain hosting refers specifically to your domain name (used in your URL) and can be purchased alongside web hosting, although it is not mandatory.
Written by:

I’m the Content Manager here at Website Builder Expert, which means I read and edit nearly all the content we publish, and work with our wonderful writers and researchers to bring you the best possible advice for achieving your online goals. Over the past five years I’ve built demo websites using all the website builders we review, so I have the experience and expertise to help you out. You’ve got the experts on your side – I’m here to help you reach your online goals, and enjoy the process too!

Researched by:
natasha_willett
Natasha Willett Lead Researcher

I love to understand human behavior and the cognitive biases that drive us to do what we do. For over nine years I have worked as a mixed method researcher – research using a mix of numerical data and personal experiences – across a range of sectors, from insurance and policy development to finally arriving at Website Builder Expert five years ago. Fascinated by consumer decision-making, I meticulously built our leading ranking methodology to explore where providers like Wix sit within a competitive industry and what value they truly bring to our audience.

As a member of the Market Research Society, I’m an advocate for high ethical, commercial, and methodological best practices. All of this combines to give you the most ethical recommendations based on real data.