Top Hosting Providers in 2021
The days of looking up businesses on the yellow pages are long gone. There are some benefits to online directories of course but thats for another day. To gain recognition in this web-connected world, having a website is a very good start! To make this happen, web hosting is necessary to ensure your pages are available for your audience at all times.
Understandably, finding a good web host can be daunting with all the providers advertising their services. I have made things easier for you by compiling a list of some of the best web host providers in 2021.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Web Host
You see, you cannot blindly settle on a particular company claiming to offer hosting services. You need to ensure that it meets some of these criteria, if not all.
Cost
Most of us, especially startups, will look at the service’s price before making a decision. In reality, price shouldn’t be a determining factor because, as the adage goes, cheap may be expensive in the long-run. Especially if your website gets hacked on a cheap server!
Customer support
You want to make sure that your hosting company can offer you support when you need it most. Downtimes happen, but when they do, can you call up the hosting provider and get a solution? Can you talk to a real person instead of a bot to get your problems sorted? If the host can offer unlimited customer support, then that’s a good sign.
User-friendliness
Not everyone is a tech geek, but even so, you should be in a position to navigate the control panel without requiring help from support. This means that you should look at the user interface and how easy it is to navigate. If it seems too complicated, avoid it because you will be the one operating it most of the time.
Setting up emails, configuring an account, or even installing WordPress should be seamless.
Type of web server
You can either go for dedicated hosting or shared hosting. Most businesses go for shared hosting because it is cheaper. However, shared hosting comes with space limitations when you get traffic spikes. The speed and functionality can also get compromised with this hosting.
Dedicated hosting is whereby only one website is hosted on a server. This type of hosting can be a bit pricey but comes with more functionality, speed, and security. Many SEOs will scaremonger clients into saying shared hosting will stop you from ranking. Whilst there is a small element of truth to this, shared hosting will work fine for most businesses and will not stop you from ranking. If you aren’t sure, see my SEO services.
That’s not to say, shared hosting doesn’t pose other issues such as …
Security
When working online, security is of utmost concern for most users. Ensure that your host provider offers secure firewalls against fraud. Besides, the company should also have daily data backups, SSL certificates, and malware removal software. For me, this is one of the most important aspects of hosting.
It’s true that the best hosting won’t make a difference if you are blaze with security on your website however it goes a long way. If you would like an assessment on your web security, I offer this under my web development services.
Best Host Providers
This is one of the best hosting providers and for obvious reasons. Bluehost offers 24/7 customer support via phone and live chat. The user interface is great for beginners and experts alike as it is easy to navigate.
Bluehost is the best if you’re looking for shared hosting at an affordable price. If you want to upgrade to managed hosting, you can do it with a simple click of a button. The managed hosting is safer, faster, and more functional.
The other amazing feature you get with this host provider is an SEO tracking tool. You can see how well your keywords are performing compared to other competitors in your industry. If you’re a startup with limited funds to buy an SEO tool, Bluehost got you covered!
Hostinger is the most affordable host I’ve come across. Imagine paying a rate of $0.99 per month. Well, the price is promotional and increases to about $2.15 per month after that. However, if you decide to pay for four years upfront, you can enjoy the deal of $0.99 monthly. Amazing, right?
The company guarantees an uptime of 99.9%, which is pretty good for the low amount you part with at the end of the month. If you need help, Hostinger offers 24 hours daily support to customers.
The user interface is not only easy to use but fun. There is no reason not to have a website even as a beginner because you also get premium features at a fraction of a dollar.
A2 Hosting boasts the best at offering fast loading speeds. In fact, if you’re migrating from another host, you’ll notice the difference in speeds. We all know how fast loading time helps in reducing bounce rates. The company also guarantees a 99.9% uptime, meaning you don’t have to worry about your audience not finding your business online at any time.
The host also offers free site migration which is a good thing because the process could take you a lot of time. The support team at A2 Hosting will take care of the migration at no extra cost. If you’re thinking of shifting from your current host, this is a good choice.
This UK-based hosting company offers various plans from VPS, shared, managed WordPress, to reseller plans. The reseller plan is exciting because you can host as many websites as you want at a low price.
The service is fast and secure to give the much-deserved peace of mind as you sort your business’s other needs. Besides, the host also offers 24/7 customer support on any of the plans. You can get your issues sorted promptly by humans, not robots.
Whether you have WordPress, Joomla, or Drupal, Eco Web gives you a great experience with the one-click installation process. It, therefore, means that even as a beginner, you can set up your website and get it online without any expert help.
If you care about the environment, then Eco Web is your go-to host. The company plants trees for all hosting plans they offer. All this is in a bid to offset their footprints globally. Use this host and enjoy a greener and better world.
Final Thoughts
There are many website hosting companies all over the world. Choosing one that meets your needs can be challenging. This guide looks at some of the factors you need to consider when choosing a web host, as well as the best host providers available.
As always, contact me today to for a free consultation.
