6 Best Web Hosting for Beginners
In the digital era, having an online presence is not just an option, it’s a necessity. Whether you’re a blogger, a small business owner, or an individual trying to build your digital portfolio, the first thing you need is a website. And behind every website, there’s a web hosting service. But as a beginner, how do you navigate the myriad of hosting options out there? Don’t worry, we’re here to help. This guide will take you through some of the top web hosting providers for beginners, but before we get started, you might want to check out our article on Choosing a Web Hosting Provider to understand what factors to consider when making your decision.
1. Hostinger: Best Web Hosting Service
Hostinger is the Best Web Hosting for Beginners, offering an unmatched blend of affordability and reliable performance. With plans starting as low as $1.99 per month, you’re not just paying for a spot on the web—you’re investing in a plethora of features. This includes unlimited storage, bandwidth, databases, email accounts, and subdomains. As if that’s not enticing enough, Hostinger also throws in a free domain name for the first year and a complimentary SSL certificate. The platform’s user-friendly custom control panel comes equipped with a one-click installer, making it perfect for WordPress users and suitable for a myriad of other applications. Plus, their 24/7 customer support ensures that help is always just a click away
Pros:
- Highly affordable plans equipped with a variety of features
- Reliable performance and uptime
- User-friendly control panel and website builder
- Complimentary domain name and SSL certificate for the first year
- 24/7 customer support via live chat and tickets
Cons:
- No phone support available
- Lacks dedicated hosting plans
- The most economical shared plans only offer weekly backups
Pricing and Plans
Hostinger’s pricing is dynamic, depending on the billing cycle (monthly, yearly, biennially, or quadrennially) and the features included. For instance, its most popular shared hosting plan, the ‘Single,’ is priced at $9.99 per month but reduces to $1.99 per month with a four-year contract. Similarly, its most affordable VPS Hosting plan for 1 vCPU costs $4.95 per month, dropping to $3.95 per month with a four-year contract.
2. SiteGround: Great Performance and Reliable Provider
SiteGround is known for its excellent hosting speeds and dependable service. It employs advanced technologies such as SSD drives, NGINX servers, HTTP/2, PHP7, Cloudflare CDN, and the SG Optimizer plugin to optimize site performance. Its hosting panel is incredibly user-friendly, providing easy management of account information, domains, files, databases, email accounts, backups, and security tools.
Pros:
- Speedy and reliable hosting services
- Complimentary SSL certificate and CDN service
- Regular backups and malware scans
- Plans and features are optimized for WordPress
- 24/7 customer support via phone, live chat, and tickets
Cons:
- More expensive compared to some competitors
- Limited storage space on shared plans
- Does not offer a free domain name
Pricing and Plans
SiteGround offers a variety of hosting plans with prices that depend on the billing cycle (monthly or yearly) and the features included. For example, its ‘StartUp’ shared hosting plan is priced at $14.99 per month, but this reduces to $6.99 per month with a one-year contract.
3. HostGator: Beginner-Friendly Hosting
HostGator is a popular web hosting provider known for its affordable pricing and user-friendly hosting experience. The provider offers plans starting from $2.75 per month, offering unlimited storage, bandwidth, email accounts, and subdomains. Additional features include a free domain name for the first year, a free SSL certificate, a cPanel control panel, and a one-click installer for WordPress and other applications, supported by 24/7 customer support.
Pros:
- Competitive pricing with a wide range of features
- User-friendly hosting experience with cPanel and website builder
- Free domain name and SSL certificate
- 24/7 customer support via phone, live chat, and tickets
Cons:
- No free backups offered on shared plans
- No free CDN service
- Some upsells during checkout
Pricing and Plans:
The pricing of HostGator starts from $2.75 per month for the Hatchling’ shared hosting plan, but this reduces to $2.75 per month with a three-year contract. Their popular ‘Baby’ plan is priced at $3.95 per month, providing unlimited domains and one-click installations. Lastly, the ‘Business’ plan is priced at $5.95 per month, which includes a dedicated IP, SEO tools, and a complimentary upgrade to Positive SSL.
4. Bluehost: Best Hosting for WordPress
Bluehost is a favorite among WordPress users and is officially recommended by WordPress.org. It offers plans starting from $2.75 per month, providing a lot of storage, unmetered bandwidth, a free SSL certificate, and a domain name for the first year. Its hosting panel is very user-friendly and comes with a one-click installer for WordPress and other applications. Additionally, it offers 24/7 customer support.
Pros:
- Affordable pricing with ample features
- User-friendly hosting experience
- Free domain name for the first year and SSL certificate
- Officially recommended by WordPress.org
- 24/7 customer support via phone, live chat, and tickets
Cons:
- No free website migration
- Renewal rates are high
- No free CDN service
Pricing and Plans:
Bluehost’s most popular shared hosting plan, the ‘Plus,’ is priced at $5.45 per month but reduces to $4.95 per month with a three-year contract. Its ‘Choice Plus’ plan, which offers unlimited websites, unmetered SSD storage, and free domain privacy, is priced at $5.45 per month with a three-year contract.
5. DreamHost: Best for Value
DreamHost offers a great mix of affordability and functionality. Its shared hosting plans start from $2.59 per month, offering unlimited storage, bandwidth, email accounts, and domains. The provider includes a free domain name for the first year, a complimentary SSL certificate, and provides an easy-to-use custom control panel. They also stand out for their generous 97-day money-back guarantee.
Pros:
- Affordable plans with unlimited storage, bandwidth, email accounts, and domains
- User-friendly control panel and website builder
- Free domain name for the first year and SSL certificate
- Long 97-day money-back guarantee
- 24/7 customer support via live chat and tickets
Cons:
- No phone support
- No free website migration service
- Does not offer a free CDN service
Pricing and Plans
DreamHost’s most affordable shared hosting plan is priced at $2.59 per month with a three-year contract. Their ‘Unlimited’ shared hosting plan costs $3.95 per month, offering unlimited websites, email accounts, and free privacy protection.
6. Squarespace: Best for All-in-One Website Building and Hosting
Squarespace is an all-in-one website building and hosting platform, known for its aesthetically pleasing templates and user-friendly interface. Unlike traditional hosting services, Squarespace includes website building, hosting, and domain services all in one place. Its plans start from $12 per month and include a variety of features like SSL security, unlimited bandwidth, storage, and SEO tools. Squarespace’s strong focus on design makes it ideal for creatives or small businesses wanting to establish a strong web presence without extensive web design knowledge.
Pros:
- All-in-one platform with web hosting, website builder, and domain services
- User-friendly interface with excellent templates
- Built-in SEO, ecommerce, and analytics features
- Free domain name for the first year and SSL certificate
- 24/7 customer support via email and live chat
Cons:
- More expensive than some competitors
- No phone support
- Not as customizable as some other platforms
- No option for third-party apps or plugins
Pricing and Plans:
Squarespace offers four pricing plans. The ‘Personal’ plan, ideal for simple websites, is priced at $16 per month when billed annually. The ‘Business’ plan is priced at $18 per month (billed annually) and includes ecommerce features, complete customization with CSS and JavaScript, and premium integrations. The ‘Basic Commerce’ plan, priced at $26 per month (billed annually), offers advanced ecommerce features, no transaction fees, and powerful commerce metrics. Finally, the ‘Advanced Commerce’ plan is priced at $40 per month (billed annually) and provides advanced shipping, discounts, and APIs, as well as complete customization and priority customer support.
Web Hosting Basics for Beginners
A web hosting service is a platform that hosts your website on the internet, making it accessible to users worldwide. You’ll often come across terms like ‘hosting provider’ – the company that provides the hosting service, ‘control panel’ – an interface that lets you manage your website, and ‘SSL certificate’ – a security protocol that ensures data transfer between your website and users is encrypted and safe. There are different types of hosting services, with shared hosting being the most beginner-friendly. In shared hosting, multiple websites share the resources of a single server, making it an economical choice for those starting out.
What Beginners Should Look for in a Hosting Provider
Now that you’re familiar with the basics, what should you look for in a hosting provider? Firstly, an easy-to-use, intuitive interface is crucial. The control panel should be beginner-friendly, allowing you to manage your website without any hiccups. Security is another key factor. A provider offering SSL certificates will ensure your website enjoys a secure connection, building trust with your visitors. Responsive customer support is a lifesaver, especially when you’re starting out. Look for providers that offer 24/7 service across various support channels. And lastly, performance. You want a host that guarantees good uptime and fast loading times for your website.
Which hosting is best for entry-level website hosting?
Our top choice for entry-level website hosting is Hostinger, well-known for its unbeatable blend of affordability and feature-rich plans that start at just $1.99 per month. With Hostinger, you get a plethora of essentials like unlimited storage, bandwidth, databases, and a free domain name for the first year. As a second option, consider SiteGround, a slightly pricier alternative at $6.99 per month but one that shines in areas like speed and security. Both hosting services offer top-notch 24/7 customer support, making them ideal picks for beginners looking to launch a personal or small business website.
Is free hosting good for beginners?
Free hosting can be a good starting point for beginners to learn and understand how web hosting works. It’s suitable for personal blogs or small websites where traffic is low, and advanced features are not a priority. However, free hosting usually comes with several limitations, such as limited storage and bandwidth, less control over your site, potential advertisements placed on your site, and less reliable security measures. For a more professional or growing site, it’s often worth investing in a paid hosting service.
How do I pick the right web host?
Choosing the right web host involves considering several factors:
Your site’s needs: Different websites require different hosting features. Consider whether your site is personal, a blog, an online store, etc., and choose a host that offers the features you need.
Budget: Hosting services come at various price points. While cheaper options might be appealing, make sure they offer all the services and features you require.
Reliability: Look for a host that offers high uptime (at least 99.9%). This ensures your site is accessible around the clock.
Customer Support: Good customer service is essential. Look for services that offer 24/7 support and multiple channels (live chat, email, phone) to contact them.
Scalability: As your site grows, your hosting needs will also change. Choose a host that allows easy upgrades to your plan.
How do I host a website for beginners?
Hosting a website for beginners involves a few key steps:
1. Choose a Hosting Provider: Based on your site’s needs and your budget, select a web hosting provider. Some popular choices for beginners include Hostinger, SiteGround, and Bluehost.
2. Choose a Hosting Plan: Most providers offer a range of plans, including shared hosting, VPS hosting, dedicated hosting, and cloud hosting. For beginners, shared hosting is usually sufficient.
3. Register a Domain Name: You’ll need a unique domain name for your website. Most hosting providers offer a domain registration service, often including a free domain name for the first year.
4. Set Up Your Website: Once your hosting is set up, you can start building your website. Most hosting providers offer easy-to-use website builders or one-click installations for popular website platforms like WordPress.
5. Publish Your Website: Once your website is built and you’re happy with how it looks, you can publish it to the web. Your hosting provider will help you with this process.
Conclusion
Choosing a web hosting service as a beginner can seem daunting, but with the right information, it becomes a much simpler task. Remember to focus on factors such as ease of use, security, customer support, and performance when choosing a hosting provider. Whether you choose Hostinger, SiteGround, HostGator, Bluehost, Squarespace, or DreamHost, you’re taking a step towards establishing a strong online presence. Each of these providers offers beginner-friendly web hosting that combines affordability, reliability, and robust features to help you successfully launch your website.
