Rating Web Hosting Companies
There are many web hosting providers and many hosting reviews out there, but which hosts are really the best, and which deserve your business? There are several attributes you can rely on when you rate a hosting company. The basics are bandwidth, disk space, prices, customer service, uptime and the software supported. What separates the best from the rest, though, is the way they treat customers. Some companies treat even their smallest customers like royalty, and those are the ones to look for.
Don’t Underestimate Smaller Hosts
The biggest companies are not always the best. Some smaller, independent hosts take great care of their customers and will go out of their way to help. Look at the support you will actually get, not just the brand.
Location Still Matters
Apart from customer service, look at where the host’s data centres are. If the server is on another continent from your visitors, every page has further to travel, and your site will feel slower. A content delivery network reduces the problem, but for most sites it is still best to choose a data centre close to your main audience.
Tools for Beginners
Check that the host offers a website builder or a one-click WordPress installer, plus tutorials to help you along if you have no experience. Most simple sites need very little technical knowledge to set up, only a clear idea of what the content should be. Some hosts offer live chat that will walk you through each step and even help you choose a domain name.
Our Rating Checklist
| What we rate | What we look for |
|---|---|
| Ease of use | A clear control panel, one-click installs, helpful guides |
| Performance | Fast storage, modern PHP, good page speed in tests |
| Reliability | A stated uptime target and a track record to match |
| Support | 24/7 help that solves problems, not just sells upgrades |
| Value | Fair renewal prices and essentials included |
| Terms | Clear cancellation, refund and acceptable use policies |
Rating Hosts for Specialist Projects
The checklist changes with the project. For an online shop, payment security moves up the list. For gambling projects, the acceptable use policy, DDoS protection and data centre location matter as much as price, and for a licensed platform the host must meet the regulator’s requirements. Our iGaming hosting guide explains how we look at those hosts.
You Decide
Our reviews cover hosts we know well, ranked on the criteria above. In the end, you should decide which host suits your site. Check whether the company offers support in your time zone and language, and how close its servers are to your visitors.
Advertising Disclosure
Web Hosting Free Reviews is an independent guide to web hosting and website builders. Rankings are our editorial opinion; hosting plans, prices and features change often, so always confirm the current details with the provider before you sign up.