Today, having a website is extremely beneficial for personal, professional, and business reasons. This is because the internet is the first stop for most people in the modern world for any and all information. It's also everywhere, from atop our office desks to inside of our pockets.

Not only do people want information, they want it immediately. If your website provides vital information, but cannot be easily accessed, it's not really of much use to your visitors. That is why in addition to a website you must have a web host that can provide a stable, fast, and secure experience to all of your users.

Finding the right website host is not so simple, however. Not only are you required to be aware of your current needs, you also have to consider your future ones, too. That is why it is important to choose wisely from the start and that is where we can help. Our Best Web Hosting Guide provides you with not only our top picks for web hosting services but also with everything you need to know about getting your site online today.

What is web hosting?

What is web hosting?Simply put, a web host is the place where your website lives online. It allows users from all over the world to access your site, along with all of the content contained within. This is accomplished through the use of servers on which your website’s files are stored and delivered to your visitor’s browsers upon request. These web hosting services often come with e-mail, storage, monthly data transfers, and security features.

There are many different types of web hosting services available, so it is important to know the differences between them. The most common hosting plans are shared hosting and dedicated hosting. Shared hosting enables many websites to reside on one server and often allows for the savings to be passed on to you. Dedicated hosting enables you to rent an entire server on which you may do whatever you like.

Shared hosting plans fit the needs of a majority of users and are beloved for their low monthly price, unlimited bandwidth, and flexible storage space. We recommend most new websites be hosting on a shared plan. You can always upgrade to a dedicated plan if need be.

InMotion

InMotion Hosting is ideal for those who are looking to make personal or business websites. It is extremely easy to use, especially for people with no prior knowledge of hosting. This service offers a wide array of eCommerce tools, as well as a virtual private server (VPS), shared, and dedicated hosting.

All of InMotion's hosting plans include unlimited e-mail, solid customer support, and many features. InMotion has good uptime, affordable plans, free data backups, and a 90-day money-back guarantee.

What kind of website hosting is best for you?

If you have not come to a conclusion about the type of website hosting your company needs, it is strongly suggested that you consider using shared hosting to start off with. It is not a problem to change hosting type in the future when you feel that your business is thriving. Then, dedicated hosting or VPS hosting would be more appropriate to use. Make sure that you check in advance that the web host you choose offers all these different options.

Ask yourself how much you would like to grow your website and in what amount of time. Do not commit to an annual plan or a longer one too soon. Take your time to analyze the service and the direction your business is going in because you want your host to be able to support your website’s growth. Changing hosting companies in the middle of the year is not as easy as you might think.

Decide in advance how long you will need this web hosting and which price range is reasonable. Some projects are short-term and you can, therefore, ask that the hosting be canceled within 90 days, for example. Just know that not every company has the same kind of money-back guarantee policy beforehand.

Bluehost Review

Bluehost is a user-friendly web hosting service that boasts a wide range of hosting options. It has an easy to use interface and excellent uptime. Bluehost’s shared hosting is used by many, but their VPS and dedicated hosting are also worth your while. Bluehost's strong points lie in their usability and affordability. Some features include unlimited emails, free domains, 30-day money back guarantee, and marketing credits. Aiming to offer users an all-in-one service, the company appeals to those seeking a smooth experience.
Bluehost review
What are shared, VPS, and dedicated web hosting

What are shared, VPS, and dedicated web hosting?

With shared web hosting the provider manages different websites on one server. The benefit with of this is that a few sites share the costs, which makes it rather inexpensive. On the other hand, one server’s resources are used by so many that they could negatively influence each other's performance.

VPS hosting is rather similar to shared hosting in terms of different websites using the same server. Here, fewer websites per server are being housed by the web host and each website has its own resources. This could manifest as faster website speeds and an overall higher standard of service.

Dedicated hosting is more expensive than the two aforementioned options but it is extremely powerful. It is the ideal option for websites that need a lot of resources on a server, which means that it gets to use the server by itself. This type of hosting is also best suited to those with more technical knowledge.

The Best Web Hosting Features

Most web hosting companies provide starter packages with limited features and only offer more to the users who purchase more expensive plans. Be sure to pick the plan that offers all the features you need. For example, if you would like to make a website using a site builder app, you must make sure that the company provides users with a website builder. Some of them will have this builder as an add-on, which will not be included in the price.

If you are on a budget, try to find a web host that includes a website maker for free. One that it is fully integrated into the hosting service will provide you with an easier experience and a direct line to support providers who understand the product.

The best web hosting will include 24/7 customer support via chat, phone, or email. Additional services like help tickets, knowledge bases, and forums are there to provide answers and solutions. Unfortunately, not all web hosting companies offer the same quality of support. For example, GoDaddy has a very helpful and knowledgeable team.

Linux is usually used as a default server operating system. Some web hosting providers let you choose between Windows or Linux hosting, however. You should be aware that sometimes Windows hosting is more expensive than Linux hosting, specifically on dedicated servers.

Best web hosting features

GoDaddy Review

GoDaddy has reliable uptime, is affordable, and is perfect for personal or professional hosting purposes. It offers its users packages that include tons of features, great 24/7 customer service, solid security, Linux and Windows servers, managed WordPress hosting, flexible site building tools, emails integrated into Microsoft apps, and much more. It is easy for users to pick a domain name, sign up for GoDaddy's service, and begin building their online site or business. They are better known for their shared, email, and domain hosting services.