Howdy all and happy Friday (for those reading on a Friday – if you’re on Monday… tough luck!)
In my previous blog post I explained just what hosting is and why you need it (read it here)… So now let’s get to the nitty gritty – which web host should you choose? There are lots of options out there and it can be quite bewildering!
In general you need to look at how well they perform over the following criteria:
- Speed (load time): Speed is a critical element to provide the best user experience on your site and boost your SEO.
- Availability (uptime): Users expect your site to available 24/7 so you’ll need to choose a host with maximum availability.
- Support: Choose a host that has a good reputation for resolving customer issues in a timely manner.
I’ve been creating websites for the best part of ten years and have worked with MANY different hosting companies in that time so I definitely have my favourites, so to save you time I’ve listed my top four and the pros and cons of each:
1: SiteGround
The best all rounder…
So Siteground is definitely my favourite at the moment – speedy to load, incredible customer support and near to perfect uptime. This is a rock solid choice and they often have fab deals on which makes it an affordable choice too… Siteground is my personal recommendation to all my clients and is the host I use on my Managed Websites programme (launching October 2019).
The Vitals
- Load time: 98 ms
- Uptime: 99.98%
- Support: 10/10
- Cost: At the time of going to press there were options starting at £2.95 a month
Pros
- Brilliantly fast loading websites thanks to SSD technology
- Enhanced performance with free SSL, latest PHP levels and CDN integration.
- Truly international – data centres in 3 continents for superior site experience.
Cons
- Domain registration is not included (though for this I always use Porkbun who are great, affordable and include free security (normally an add on) so you don’t get ran
doms calling to sell you stuff in the middle of the night! (and I LOVE their no nonsense site) - Included email accounts are limited in size so if you are email heavy you’ll need an extra email integration programme like G-Suite or Microsoft 365
- You can buy into a cheap deal – but renewals can be pricy – I’d recommend committing to a few years to get the best of the rates!
Convinced?
Order hosting from SiteGround
2: Bluehost
The most established…
Bluehost is another fab option. They’ve been around since the 90s and host over over 2 million websites worldwide. Since 2005, they’ve been involved in the WordPress community and they’re an officially recommended hosting provider by WordPress.org. If you’re a tried adn tested sort of bod these are the guys to go for!
The Vitals
- Load time: 406 ms
- Uptime: 99.99%
- Support: 9/10
- Cost: At the time of going to press there were options starting at £2.43 a month
Pros
- You get a free domain name, free SSL and free site transfer.
- They’re officially recommended by WordPress.org
- Great customer service
Cons
- Monthly billing option is not available so you need to commit to a year straight off
- To get the really affordable deals you need to commit for 3 years.
Ready to buy?
Order Hosting from Bluehost
3: TSO Host
Best UK based hosting
If you’re comforted by knowing your hosting feels ‘local’ but want the security of a big established company then these are your guys.
The Vitals
- Load time: 978 ms
- Uptime: 98.17%
- Support: 9/10
- Cost: At the time of going to press there were options starting at £2.92 a month
Pros
- You get a free domain name, free SSL and free site transfer.
- UK based
- In my experience great customer service who will really commit to helping you with issues.
Cons
- Uptime and speed both weaker than competitors
Ready to buy?
Order Hosting from TSO Host
4: GreenGeeks
Best ‘green’ hosting…
This is the best choice for those who want to take the greener path as they have the best renewables investment scheme in the hosting world.
GreenGeeks doesn’t just say that its platform has been designed for maximum energy efficiency, it also promises that “for every amperage we pull from the grid, we invest three times that in the form of renewable energy via Bonneville Environmental Foundation.” This means that your hosting plan doesn’t just leave no footprint – it actually goes some way into reducing other footprints at the same time! Pretty impressive stuff!
Hosting wise – it’s not the best of the bunch in regards of flexibility and speed and uptime, but it’s still pretty darn good and more than capable for small to mid range sites – and think of all that karma you’re putting out there
The Vitals
- Load time: 493 ms
- Uptime: 99.95%
- Support: 8/10
- Cost: At the time of going to press there were options starting at £2.25 a month
Pros
- ALL the karma with a 300% carbon
- free domain and SSL cert
- affordable rates
Cons
- Not the most flexible in the plans it offers
- US currency based plans
- There are speedier hosts out there…
Ready to buy
