Table of Contents
Introduction
If you own a small business, having a website is crucial in today’s digital age. A business without a website is leaving money on the table for the competition to scoop up. Whether you’re promoting your company or selling products online, a website is key to commerce. Finding the right web hosting service for your small business is vital.
Our Top Picks
We have tested and rated thousands of products since 1982 to help you make better buying decisions. Here are our top picks for affordable web hosting services for small businesses:
Hostwinds Web Hosting
- Best for VPS Hosting
- Rating: 4.0 Excellent
Why We Picked it:
– Hostwinds offers many excellent web hosting plans, but its VPS service is a cut above the competition.
– It has several tiers of fully managed and self-managed VPS servers that let you select either Linux or Windows as the operating systems.
– Ideal for small businesses that need more traffic-crunching muscle than shared hosting allows.
– Terrific uptime in testing.
– Excellent reseller and VPS hosting plans.
– Good customer service.
– Minecraft server hosting available.
AccuWeb Hosting
- Best for Dedicated Web Hosting
- Rating: 4.0 Excellent
Why We Picked It:
– With AccuWeb, you get excellent and varied Linux- or Windows-powered dedicated server options.
– The servers feature robust server configuration tools that are ideal for smaller businesses.
– Stellar uptime in testing.
– Excellent dedicated hosting plans.
– Offers a choice of Linux or Windows servers.
– Helpful customer service.
A2 Web Hosting
- Best for Managed WordPress Hosting
- Rating: 4.0 Excellent
Why We Picked It:
– A2 leverages WordPress’ open-source nature to deliver an excellent, WordPress-optimized hosting environment.
– Robust hosting packages, particularly for WordPress.
– Excellent customer service.
– Terrific uptime.
– Good money-back refund plan.
DreamHost Web Hosting
- Best for Flexible Cloud Hosting
- Rating: 4.0 Excellent
Why We Picked It:
– DreamHost features prominent cloud hosting options among its various server options.
– Strong security features.
– Extensive domain-management tools.
– Excellent cloud hosting offerings.
– Unlimited data transfers per month.
– Generous shared hosting money-back guarantee.
– Useful WordPress staging feature.
Liquid Web Hosting
- Best for Managed Hosting
- Rating: 4.0 Excellent
Why We Picked It:
– Liquid Web is one of the most powerful and renowned web hosting providers.
– Robust dedicated, VPS, cloud, and reseller packages.
– Prorated VPS plans.
– Powerful, high-end server specs.
– Terrific customer service.
– Excellent uptime in testing.
Ionos by 1&1 Web Hosting
- Best for Large-Scale Cloud Hosting
- Rating: 4.0 Excellent
Why We Picked It:
– 1&1 Ionos has wholeheartedly embraced cloud hosting.
– Dependable uptime in testing.
– Excellent cloud hosting packages.
– Linux- or Windows-based servers.
– Easy-to-use website creation tools.
WP Engine Web Hosting
- Best for Enterprise-Class WordPress Hosting
- Rating: 4.0 Excellent
Why We Picked It:
– WP Engine specializes in WordPress hosting.
– Terrific uptime in testing.
– Outstanding customer service.
– Daily backups.
– Real-time threat detection.
– Useful staging area.
– Choice of either Amazon Web Services or Google Cloud Platform cloud hosting.
– Custom plans available.
Cloudways Web Hosting
- Best for Prorated Plans
- Rating: 4.0 Excellent
Why We Picked It:
– Cloudways streamlines the onboarding process and offers pay-as-you-go plans.
– Very easy to set up.
– Excellent uptime.
– Supports numerous apps.
– Several flexible account tiers.
– Pay-as-you-go plans.
– Can try service for free before signing up.
– Site cloning.
Media Temple Web Hosting
- Best for Outstanding Customer Service
- Rating: 3.5 Good
Why We Picked It:
– Media Temple is a great all-around web host with feature-packed dedicated and VPS hosting plans.
– Excellent uptime in testing.
– Terrific, 24/7 customer support team.
– Massive knowledge guide and help database.
– Strong WordPress plans.
Pressable Web Hosting
- Best for High-End Managed WordPress Hosting
- Rating: 4.0 Excellent
Why We Picked It:
– Pressable offers streamlined, managed WordPress hosting.
– Unlimited monthly data transfers across the board.
– Each plan includes a free SSL and CDN.
– Automatic daily backups.
– Malware scanning.
– Useful staging feature.
– Excellent Jetpack security tool.
– Personalized onboarding.
Buying Guide: The Best Small Business Hosting Services for 2023
What Is Web Hosting?
Web hosting is a service provided by companies that have servers used to store and deliver the content of your website. These servers can be shared, dedicated, or virtual, depending on your needs. Web hosting allows your website to be accessible to users on the internet.
What Is Small Business Hosting?
Small business hosting refers to web hosting services that cater specifically to the needs of small businesses. These hosting services typically offer virtual private servers (VPS), dedicated servers, advanced cloud server platforms, high-end WordPress options, custom server builds, and 24/7 customer support. Small business hosting is more advanced than shared hosting and can handle higher levels of traffic and resource demands.
How Much Does Small Business Hosting Cost?
The cost of small business hosting varies depending on the hosting provider and the specific package you choose. Dedicated servers and managed hosting services tend to be more expensive, starting at around $100 per month and potentially costing over $1,000 per month for high-end options. Prorated plans, where you pay based on resource usage, are also available and can be more cost-effective for certain businesses.
What’s the Most Important Factor for Small Business Hosting?
The most important factor for small business hosting is site uptime. A reliable hosting service will ensure that your website is always accessible to visitors. Downtime can result in lost customers and revenue, so it’s crucial to choose a web host with a strong track record of uptime and the ability to quickly address any issues that may arise.
Get Started With Small Business Hosting
Choosing the right web hosting service for your small business is essential. Consider the specific needs of your business, such as the amount of traffic and resources required, the need for e-commerce functionality, and the level of customer support you require. Our top picks provide a range of options to suit different small business needs.
For more information on each web hosting service, click the links provided to read our in-depth reviews. Remember to prioritize site uptime and choose a hosting service that offers reliable performance and excellent customer support. With the right web hosting service, you can ensure that your small business website is always accessible and ready to serve your customers.
