Best web hosting Services
Analysing, reviewing and rating the best web hosting services in 2023. Discover what sets one provider above all others.
Every website starts with choosing the right hosting company. But how do you know what to look out for? In short, it does not matter if you are starting a blog or a website for a business; a high-quality web hosting service makes all the difference.
Over the years, we have tested out many different hosting providers for our own and customers’ needs. We have looked at pricing, performance, hidden costs, and many other features to find the best web hosting provider that doesn’t break the bank. We have compiled all the data into a spreadsheet, and now we have made it available for our readers, and you, in this blog. Read along.
The Best Web Hosting of 2023
We have chosen Hostinger as the best web hosting service as it provides great pricing, fast performance and reachable support.
Here is a list of all companies that we compared:
We provide trusted reviews of software and tools needed for creating and hosting websites. Learn how I rated each hosting provider, or continue reading a single review of each below.
The Top 9 Web Hosting Services
1. Hostinger
Hostinger is know for the best hsoting provider not only in our list
Summary
Starting Price
$1.99 per month
Renewal price
$3.99 per month
Support
24/7 Customer Support
Uptime
99,9%
Pros and cons of Hostinger
Pros
Cons
Hostinger price
Hostinger single plan pricing starts with incredible low $1.99/mo payment and only increase to 3.99/mo, topped with 50GB storage, weekly backups and fast hosting server, making it the best choice for hosting in our list.
What customer reviews say about Hostinger
Hostinger reviews are praised for its fast, responsive, and competent customer support as there are various instances where the team has promptly addressed and resolved even difficult issues.
The main issue that we could find, that some users express concerns is about the auto-renewal feature where an individual has experienced feed due to default setting. While the refund process does no refund domain (in any hosting), they are there to prevent service interruptions.
Despite this, hosting standout features with affordable pricing are the most lucrative aspects for individuals and businesses that need high-quality and cost-effective hosting solutions.
2. WPX
WPX is the world’s fastest hosting provider breaking many records and earning awards in many different aspects: best support, best SEO, Fastest, and most trusted. If you have a slightly higher budget and want to maximize your website speed and profits then this is your choice.
Summary
Starting Price
$24.99 per month
Renewal price
$24.99 per month
Support
24/7 Customer Support
Uptime
99,9%
Pros and cons of WPX hosting
Pros
Cons
WPX price
What customer reviews say about WPX
WPX customer reviews are praised for having exceptional customer support aside from super fast and quality hosting service. Numerous users have highlighted that the support is very highly equipped with all-around knowledge of websites and hosting.
Additionally, they are very patient and proactive. They truly fix all issues and consitanley go the extra mile to make sure customer satisfactory steys the best in the industry.
3. Zone
Zone is relatively new and yet unknown to many, but it is rapidly becoming one of the best hosting providers in the EU. It offers a modern, free email service, one-click WordPress installation, and is suitably fast even for e-commerce websites.
It is also effective for the US, especially if you utilize Cloudflare CDN, which distributes information across 100 global data centers, making the information accessible as quickly as with a US server, if not faster. Regardless of whether you use Zone or not, each website should utilize the free Cloudflare service for extra protection and increased speed performance.
Summary
Starting Price
$3.87 per month
Renewal price
$7.77 per month
Support
Open during business hours
Uptime
99,9%
Pros and cons of Zone hosting
Pros
Cons
Zone price
Zone’s pricing is quite reasonable, starting at €3.67/mo ($3.87/mo), which renews at €7.34/mo ($7.77/mo) for the quality and speedy hosting service you receive.
What customer reviews say about Zone
Zone is so new that they don’t even have reviews on the Trustpilot. So we will give them reasonable score of 4,5 until further reviews show up.
4. Cloudways
Cloudways is a managed cloud hosting provider that offers an extensive and reliable service for businesses and developers who seek a high-performance, flexible, and scalable hosting environment.
Summary
Starting Price
$14 per month
Renewal price
$14 per month
Support
24/7 Customer Support
Uptime
99,9%
Pros and cons of Cloudways
Pros
Cons
Cloudways price
Cloudways pricing is transparent, starting from $14/mo with no hidden costs. You get what you see. Additionally, with the larger plan starting from $28/mo, you receive the free Object Cache Pro, which speeds up your website’s performance, particularly for high-traffic sites, leading to a better user experience.
What customer reviews say about Cloudways
Cloudways is often praised for being a flexible and leading cloud-based hosting solution provider, offering many advanced features such as easy one-click scalable options, reliable performance, and very helpful 24/7 customer support.
The only disadvantage is that they do not offer domain registration, which means you will have to purchase it from somewhere else and point it to their server, which is not too hard to do.
Another point that people have commented on is the significant learning curve for those new to cloud hosting, but customer service is always ready to help you out so you do not have to worry.
5. Kinsta
Kinsta is known best for its high-performance managed WordPress hosting solutions powered by Google Cloud platform for high speed and security.
Summary
Starting Price
$30 per month
Renewal price
$30 per month
Support
24/7 Customer Support
Uptime
99,9%
Pros and cons of Kinsta hosting
Pros
Cons
Kinsta price
Kinsta pricing for WordPress sites starts from $35/month which includes free migrations, 25,000 visits and 10GN storage. As your site grows larger you can scale to larger, more powerful plans.
What customer reviews say about Kinsta
Kinsta’s positive reviews mainly revolve around its high-performance hosting service and excellent customer support. Users also appreciate its reliable uptime, fast loading speeds, and user-friendly interface. Not to mention, it has many features specifically designed for WordPress users, making it ideal if you choose that platform.
The only issue we could find was that a few users mentioned the entry-level plans’ limitations in terms of resources for larger-scale websites or businesses, resulting in the need to upgrade to more expensive plans.
Regardless many other users highlight the value they receive, is far greater than what’s offered by other providers.
6. SiteGround
Siteground is known best for its reliable and secure web hosting services, specifically tailored to cater to the needs of small to medium-sized businesses and individuals such as blogs or freelancers.
Summary
Starting Price
$2.99 per month
Renewal price
$15.99 per month
Support
24/7 Customer Support
Uptime
99,9%
Pros and cons of SiteGround Hosting
Pros
Cons
SiteGround pricing
Siteground pricing starts from discounted $2,88/mo which grows to $15.99 excluding vat and it only includes 1 website with 10,000 visits and 10GB storage. There are also GrowBig and GoGeek with unlimited websites if you want to host more than 1 website in your hosting server, but these are relatively expensive.
What customer reviews say about Siteground
SiteGround is usually commended for its reliable and fast hosting services, user-friendly interface, and excellent and fast customer support. Some users have also noted that their websites run with incredible fast loading speeds, which is complemented by reliable uptime, making it easy to love their brand.
Additionally, their platform’s easy-to-use control panel and one-click installation, allowing individuals to navigate with ease, were highlighted as great positives.
Few users have mentioned that they found SiteGround to have a relatively pricey hosting structure, especially concerning renewal rates and limitations on specific plans, often necessitating an upgrade to a higher plan.
7. WP Engine
WP Engine is like the secret weapon for your WordPress website, especially if you run a Woocommerce shop as they focus on speeding up stores. Not to left out to mention, they offer 10 free professional Studiopress themes since they bought the company and have merged them into their hosting package.
Summary
Starting Price
$20 per month
Renewal price
$20 per month
Support
24/7 Customer Support
Uptime
99,9%
Pros and cons of WP Engine
Pros
Cons
WP Engine pricing
Wp engine pricing start at $20/mo for small sites and blogs, but quickly grow to $50/mo if you need to host woocommerce site. While they claim to be 40% faster than any other provider, many guides and test have proven that it is not the case. Therefore the high pricy starting plans are not very tempting at all.
What customer reviews say about WP Engine
WP Engine is often praised for its managed WordPress hosting services, where they automatically update your plugins and take care of keeping servers free from clogging up, ensuring fast website loading speeds.
Additionally, the platform’s scalability and ease of use were often highlighted as notable advantages.
That said, many users with smaller sites have commented on the high-priced plans, especially when they do not need that many additional features in their business and could probably get away with cheaper plans using other hosting providers.
8. GoDaddy
GoDaddy is like your local shop when it comes to taking your business online. That’s right. You know that store where you can find everything you need? Well, GoDaddy is like that for your website needs. Whether you are looking to create a website, purchase a domain name, or even get a professional email, there’s something for everyone.
GoDaddy seriously makes it so easy to start a website without being a tech wizard. It offers a user-friendly interface, an all-in-one platform, and a comprehensive range of domain services and website building tools. It is best suited for small businesses, entrepreneurs, and individuals looking for a one-stop solution.
Summary
Starting Price
$5.99 per month
Renewal price
$12.75 per month
Support
24/7 Customer Support
Uptime
99,9%
Pros and cons of GoDaddy
Pros
Cons
GoDaddy pricing
GoDaddy offers a medium-priced hosting service starting from $5.99/mo when you purchase a 3-year term. With free email and a free domain as added bonuses, it makes for quite a good offer.
What customer reviews say about GoDaddy
GoDaddy reviews often praise it for providing a great range of domain services and easy website building tools, enabling businesses and individuals to start their website journey with ease. Together with its user-friendly platform and affordable pricing, it has overall positive look.
However, few users have shown negativity about technical upkeep issues and bad upselling practices that can add substantial, unnecessary costs to your end cart. Be aware of that.
9. Bluehost
It was only a few years back when Bluehost was rated as the top hosting provider, but sadly, this is not the case anymore. People and businesses have experienced issues with uptime and performance, which is why their rating has dropped significantly.
Nevertheless, it still offers reasonably good pricing, at least for the first year, and with an intuitive interface, it still has a place in our top 9 providers.
Summary
Starting Price
$2.75 per month
Renewal price
$11.99 per month
Support
24/7 Customer Support
Uptime
99,9%
Pros and cons of Bluehost
Pros
Cons
Bluehost pricing
The pricing for Bluehost’s basic plan starts from $2.75/mo for the first year and will increase to $11.99/mo when you only need one site. As a bonus, you can get a free domain and free CDN. However, if you need multiple sites, then the pricing starts from $4.95/mo for the first year and increases to $16.99, which is quite a hefty price.
What customer reviews say about Bluehost
In recent years, users have written mixed reviews about Bluehost.
Some praise it for its user-friendly interface and great first-year pricing.
Others have expressed negative concerns about occasional performance issues and dissatisfaction with the renewal pricing
Compare Hosting Services
| Hosting Provider | Pricing (Introductory) | Pricing (Renewal) | Performance | Features | Support | Reviews | Overall Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hostinger | 5 | 4,9 | 4,7 | 4,8 | 4,9 | 4,8 | 4,85 |
| WPX Hosting | 4,2 | 4,2 | 5,0 | 4,6 | 5,0 | 5 | 4,66 |
| Zone | 4,9 | 4,8 | 4,7 | 4,9 | 4,0 | 4,5 | 4,63 |
| Cloudways | 4,6 | 4,6 | 4,6 | 4,4 | 4,7 | 4,8 | 4,61 |
| Siteground | 4,9 | 4,5 | 4,0 | 4,4 | 4,6 | 4,8 | 4,53 |
| WP Engine | 4,4 | 4,4 | 4,8 | 4,0 | 4,7 | 4,8 | 4,51 |
| Kinsta | 4 | 4,0 | 4,9 | 4,4 | 5 | 4,2 | 4,41 |
| GoDaddy | 4,9 | 4,6 | 4,2 | 4,4 | 4,4 | 3,5 | 4,33 |
| Bluehost | 5,0 | 4,7 | 4,1 | 4,1 | 3,0 | 4,2 | 4,18 |
My Process Of Rating The Best Web Hosting Services
Over the years, I have used many hosting providers including ones I rated here to determine which offers the best value versus quality.
I based my reasoning on extensive testing of the following:
- Pricing (Introductory and Renewal): How much do the starting plans cost vs renewal, and do they have hidden costs?
- Performance (Uptime, Page Loading Speed, Server Response Time): Who had the fastest loading time to guarantee the best user experience on sites and stores. What is the historic percentage of the website being online, and how often are the website down?
- Features (Disk Space, Bandwidth, Domains, Subdomains): What features does each plan have? Did I need to purchase add-ons, and how much storage I received compared to their competitors?
- Support (24/7 Technical Support, Support Channels, Knowledge Base): How quickly I could reach support, and how fast did they fix an issue or only recommend articles? How easy was it to navigate their dashboard and start a website? Was it positive or negative experience?
- User Reviews: What is the total percentage of reviews of the provider on Trustpilot
During my testing, I purchased each hosting provider’s cheapest plan and installed WordPress with the Astra theme. I had previously set up the theme with one page, same text, five images and 10 necessary plugins.
I analyzed things like how easy it was to navigate throughout their dashboard until I had the ready theme installed and working website I could log in. I looked at how much storage and resources the plans provide, and what additional things I received for free compared to others.
I checked how the support team dealt with a ticket. I came up with an error that my website is slow, even though I just installed it. I looked at who answered the fastest, what they answered, whether it was just copy-paste text or actually helping me out. Including whether they looked for the fix for the issue or advised me on what I should do.
Lastly, I tested out the speed on GTmetrix, looking at Time to First Byte to see which provider allows you to start using the site fastest. I made three runs, each time on a new incognito (private) page in case their software saves cookies or something.
After I completed all the testing, I combined all of my findings into a spreadsheet and assigned ratings based on how each provider did compared with others. Those who did better in any factor were assigned a better rating, and vice versa for those who performed worse.
Meet Raido Linde, a web hosting industry expert who brings to you his 7 years of web hosting experience that he has gained through developing & hosting hundreds of websites for his clients. During his free time, he continuously learns new strategies to be on top of his game. And reads business, marketing, and psychology books for entertainment.
Web Hosting Glossary
Server: A set of computer hardware and software to allow data and services to be installed on it.
Web Hosting: This is a service where a hosting provider hosts your website on their server, making your site available on the internet.
Shared Hosting: This is a service where multiple applications (like websites) are installed that share all the resources between them. Usually, each application has a certain amount of allocated resources they can use, or upgrade if they need more
Dedicated Hosting: This is a web hosting service that is dedicated to only one application or organization, hence you are not sharing it with others.
Virtual private server (VPS): This is a virtual web hosting service within physical shared hosting, so it kinda acts like dedicated hosting, but not quite.
Cloud Hosting: This is a service where web hosting resources are allocated in the cloud, which are divided into many different servers for better performance.
Managed Hosting: This is where web hosting providers offer you hosting like any other provider, but in this case they manage your server, keeping It clean from bugs and malicious codes, making it fast and secure.
Self-hosted: This means that you host your server at home and install your application there. In this case, you need good equipment and fast and steady internet which may cost you a lot.
Bandwidth: This is allocated resources amount on a server, that I used by visitors when they load your site pages, plugins, and other software. Therefore, the more visitors you have and the more pages they visit, the more bandwidth is used.
Uptime: Shows what percentage of time the server is running without being unavailable.
SSL Certificate: This is a digital certificate but in simple terms it encrypts your website content and authenticates its real identity.
Control Panel: This is a dashboard that allows you to configure your server and install applications on it. The most used one is cPanel, but many can have their own custom ones.
Backup: This is where there is an automatic backup of all your website files, which can be restored if your website breaks or is hacked.
CMS (Content Management System): This is a system that allows you to create applications and manage digital content for websites and enterprise content management
CDN (Content delivery network): This is a service where your website’s content like images and files like javascript is hosted on a network of servers around the world to make loading faster for visitors in their location.
TTFB (Time to first byte): This means the time it takes from the hosting server to get your website’s first files in byte to be available for the visitors to browse before any other requests. Esstanially it shows how fast and responsive your server is.
FAQs About Building a Website
List of Web Hosting Providers
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