Web hosting services provide the essential infrastructure you need to run your small business website—storage space for files, bandwidth for web traffic, and security against malware and hackers. However, choosing web hosts from the seemingly countless options can be overwhelming.
This guide to the best web hosting services simplifies the process. Here are the best web hosting services for small business owners.
What is a website hosting provider?
A web hosting provider is a company that enables your website to be visible via the internet. Fundamental for any ecommerce small business owner, website hosts provide the hardware necessary for your site to function. Web hosting services also provide storage space, bandwidth for web traffic, custom domains, a trusted SSL certificate for encrypted traffic, a content management system (CMS), and automatic backups of your web store needs.
A web hosting provider offers these essentials and other critical services to keep your business online, and it’s an ideal option for small businesses, since you don’t need to buy and manage a web server yourself—you pay the web hosting company to handle the technical details for you.
Factors to consider when choosing a website hosting provider
Finding the best web hosting provider for your small business website is no easy task. It’s a crowded field and there are numerous factors to consider. Here are the criteria to take into account to find the best web hosting site for your needs:
Uptime
Uptime is the amount of time a hosting service is operational and accessible without interruptions. A reliable hosting service should have 99% uptime or higher.
Ask questions like:
- How often are there service disruptions?
- What measures are in place to monitor downtime and respond quickly when something goes wrong?
- Does the hosting service implement redundant servers and automatic backups to recover quickly?
- Is there a guaranteed uptime rate?
These are crucial questions to have answers for before you pick a host.
Network performance
Network performance is the efficiency with which your site responds to user requests. Find out what infrastructure and bandwidth features are in place to ensure fast, responsive load times. Additionally, a high-quality host uses SSD storage (fast, solid-state data storage), data caching (temporary data storage for efficiency), and content delivery networks (CDNs) to boost performance and bring content closer to users.
Scalability
You don’t want to have to switch providers when things are going well, so learn whether the web host can scale as the small business grows. Is it easy to upgrade and allocate more resources as needed? Do hosting plans include unlimited storage, unlimited bandwidth, and unlimited email accounts?
Support
Running an online store can be tricky and there may come times when you need assistance. Choose a host that offers 24/7 reliable customer support with chat and phone availability. Ask how easy it is to reach a real human being when you need help.
Security
Ecommerce requires airtight security measures that protect data and customer information from intruders. Most web hosts take security seriously, but features can vary at different price points. Check whether SSL certificates, malware, and distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) protection are included in the service package. Is the host compliant with industry-standard security protocols and regulations like Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) and PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard)?
Cost
Consider your budget. You want the most you can get for your investment. Compare web hosting plans to discover which one offers the best features for the lowest cost. Are there introductory incentives that can save you money? Is the pricing info clear so you don’t get sticker shock after the introductory period runs out?
📚Read more:How Much Does a Website Cost in 2024?
Ease of use
Look for a web host that offers a user-friendly control panel to manage settings, install applications, and monitor performance. Many host services also include a drag-and-drop website builder with customizable templates. It’s also helpful to know whether automatic free site migration is available if you’re migrating from another host.
Types of web hosting platforms
Many great hosting companies have budget-friendly hosting plans alongside pricier elite packages. Choosing the best web hosting for small businesses involves finding the right balance of affordability, features, and performance. Common web hosting options include:
- Shared hosting. On a shared host, multiple websites share the resources of a single server.
- Dedicated hosting. Dedicated hosting provides an entire physical server for your website, offering exclusive use of its resources and maximum control.
- Virtual private server (VPS) hosting. VPS partitions a physical server into virtual machines, offering dedicated resources and more control than shared hosting but at a lower cost than dedicated hosting.
- Managed WordPress hosting. Handles WordPress server maintenance and security for you.
- Unmanaged WordPress hosting. Gives you full control over WordPress but requires you to manage those aspects yourself.
11 best website hosting services for small businesses
- Shopify
- A2 Hosting
- DreamHost
- IONOS
- Bluehost
- GoDaddy
- Hostinger
- Hostwinds
- InMotion
- InterServer
- HostGator
Here’s a shortlist of 11 providers to help you find the best web hosting service for your needs:
Shopify
Shopify, a dedicated ecommerce platform with its own hosting infrastructure, is ideal if you want to avoid the hassle of setting up web hosting and third-party ecommerce applications on your own time.
Shopify provides all the tools you need to create an online store:
- Product listing and management
- Shopping cart and checkout
- Payment processing
- Secure online transactions
- Website-building tools and customizable templates
Shopify employs a content delivery network (CDN), which is a large network of servers worldwide, to ensure fast load times regardless of location. Bandwidth is unlimited, so it can handle high traffic. Customer data is Level 1 PCI compliant, which is the most stringent set of security requirements outlined by the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). If you buy your domain through Shopify, you’re entitled to unlimited email addresses, and forwarding to your personal email account is supported.
Pricing:
Shopify offers four web hosting tiers:
- Basic for solopreneurs ($29 per month)
- Shopify for small teams ($79 per month)
- Advanced for scaled-up businesses ($299 per month)
- Plus for the most complex businesses ($2,300 per month)
If you’re just starting out and need a simpler and more affordable option, Shopify offers the Starter hosting package for $5 per month. It features easy setup, the option to sell through social media, and an upgrade path to the more robust hosting tiers.
A2 Hosting
A2 Hosting is ideal for WordPress hosting, with a dedicated dashboard for site management. With WordPress pre-installed, you can quickly get up and running. The TurboHub control panel simplifies WordPress installation management, and its AI-optimized servers ensure solid performance.
All plans include enhanced security, and website migration is free. A2 Hosting promises 99.9% uptime and 24/7, 365 in-house Guru Crew support.
Pricing:
Monthly prices start at $3 for shared hosting. WordPress hosting is $12, virtual private server (VPS) hosting is $36, and dedicated hosting is $200 per month.
DreamHost
DreamHost is the right web hosting provider if you’re interested in WordPress but haven’t built a site yet. Its shared hosting plans include domain registration, auto-installed security certificates, a custom control panel, a user-friendly site builder, and one-click WordPress installation.
DreamHost offers unlimited storage and bandwidth and automatic backups. Its custom control panel is easy to use and its customer support promises response times of less than a minute for chat support and under an hour for contact by a team member. Hosting options include shared, VPS, unmanaged and managed WordPress, as well as dedicated servers. DreamHost guarantees 100% uptime performance.
Pricing:
Starts at $2.60 per month for shared and WordPress hosting, $10 for VPS, and $200 for dedicated hosting when pre-paid. Like other hosting services, prices increase upon renewal.
IONOS
IONOS is ideal for security-conscious business owners looking to save money. All plans include free domain registration for a year, free SSL certificates, DDoS protection, daily backups, 24/7 customer support, and personal support consultants. IONOS offers a 99.9% uptime guarantee and supports unlimited traffic. Customers also get an AI-assisted website builder.
Pricing:
Introductory monthly pricing is tiered to accommodate expanding web hosting site needs:
- Essential plan starts at $4
- Plus plan at $6 for larger projects
- Ultimate plan at $9 for unlimited sites.
Prices apply to a three-year contract and increase afterward.
Bluehost
Bluehost is among the top names in hosting. Bluehost accommodates the needs of small businesses creating a new website, but its biggest appeal is for existing WordPress users. Standard customer support is available via chat, with phone support accessible through the Plus plan. All plans include a free domain name for the first year, a free SSL certificate, free CDN, scalable bandwidth and storage options, and site creation tools. While WordPress hosting is Bluehost’s specialty, they also offer VPS, dedicated hosting, and a new cloud hosting service.
Pricing:
Shared hosting introductory rates start at $3 per month for basic hosting, then it’s $5.45 for Choice Plus, $10 for ecommerce hosting, and $14 for high-traffic professional hosting.
GoDaddy
GoDaddy originally gained recognition as a domain name registrar but has since become a leader among hosting services—particularly for small businesses.
All plans include unmetered bandwidth, which allows you to transfer unlimited data without incurring extra charges. It also includes a free domain name (with a 12-month plan or longer), database backups, webmail, 24/7 customer support, a 99.9% uptime guarantee, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Pricing:
Three-year contract pricing ranges from $6 per month for the Economy plan to $18 per month for the Maximum plan.
For web hosting with full access to the website builder, prices range from $11 per month for a simple business website to $21 per month for a storefront with inventory management, order management, and payment processing. Pricing varies based on term length, storage limits, and extra services like SSL certificates and Microsoft 365 business email.
Hostinger
Hostinger is a reliable web hosting provider,with 99.9% uptime and data centers worldwide to ensure fast loading speeds for global visitors. Hostinger excels in loading time tests, offers shared hosting with a website builder for an introductory price of $3 per month, and includes the first three months free. Hostinger supports business growth with three hosting tiers: Premium, Business, and Cloud Startup. It also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, free domains with some plans, weekly backups, email accounts, and standard SSL.
Pricing:
After the introductory $3/month period, renewal pricing ranges from $88 per month for Premium, to $99 for Business, and $155 for Cloud Startup.
Hostwinds
Hostwinds is a good option for first-timers and small business owners without IT staff.
As one of the few web hosting providers that owns all its infrastructure (servers, systems, equipment, etc.), it avoids third-party dependence, ensuring better control and resource allocation. Its 24/7 website monitoring service also promptly reports issues. Hosting options range from shared hosting to scalable cloud servers. All plans include unlimited bandwidth, storage, emails, and subdomains. Hostwinds offers 24/7 technical support, automated support ticketing, and nightly backups. High-octane businesses can opt for VPS and dedicated servers.
Pricing:
Hostwinds’s basic shared hosting package starts at $5.24 a month, while the Ultimate package costs $8.24. Dedicated server hosting prices start at $122 per month and managed VPS hosting ranges from $8.24 to hundreds of dollars per month, depending on the configuration.
InMotion
With unlimited SSD storage, InMotion hosting is ideal for small- to mid-sized businesses looking for enhanced performance as they outgrow smaller hosts. InMotion supports popular ecommerce platforms and offers an easy drag-and-drop website builder for beginners. For higher-level website management tasks, it includes tools like Python, Node.JS, and Ruby, GIT version control, and SSH access.
Pricing: The 90-day money-back guarantee makes InMotion easy to sign up for. Web hosting options include Shared, VPS, Dedicated, cPanel WordPress, and managed WordPress hosting. Prices for three-year plans start at $2.30 per month for the Core plan. For month-to-month pricing, opt for the Pro plan, starting at $11 per month (renews at $24).
InterServer
InterServer is a good choice for a small business owner who needs to migrate an existing website. Migration is typically cumbersome, but InterServer simplifies the process with free website migration included in its hosting plans, which also come with SSL certificates, unlimited email, storage space, bandwidth, and weekly backups.
InterServer uses a Cloudflare CDN to boost network performance and the cPanel dashboard, a web hosting control panel that allows users to manage website files, databases, email accounts, and security settings. It also includes a SitePad website builder and install scripts for popular content management systems like WordPress, Joomla, Typo, and Drupal.
Pricing: Starts at $2.50 per month for the first 12 months ($30 for the year), increasing to $80 per year thereafter. Domain registration through InterServer is $8 for the first year, then $13 annually. Domain privacy is an extra $5 per year. A set of “Boost” performance hosting packages range from $10 to $70 per month.
HostGator
HostGator is a good option for small businesses needing an easy website-building interface. HostGator offers shared, WordPress, dedicated, and VPS hosting options with unmetered bandwidth, unlimited disk space, 99% uptime, 24/7 customer support, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Security features and backups cost extra.
Pricing: Shared hosting starts at $3.75 per month for the introductory offer, up to $4.50 for the recommended Baby plan, and $6.75 for the Business plan, which includes free domain registration for the first year, free SSL, malware scanning, Cloudflare CDN, boosted performance, and daily backups (free for the first year).
Best website hosting for small business FAQ
How much is website hosting for a small business?
At the low-cost level, shared hosting can run you around $10 per month. For a more active, bigger ecommerce site, expect to pay around $30 per month. A dedicated server is the most expensive option, at $100 or more per month. Managed dedicated server hosting is a lot more, or upward of $1,000 per month.
Which type of hosting is best for beginners?
Affordable shared hosting plans are ideal for small businesses because of the low cost of entry and easy upgrade options as website traffic rises.
Do you need a web hosting service to have a business website?
Yes. Unless you purchase and operate your own hardware web server, a web hosting service is essential. A web host stores your website’s files and makes sure they’re safe and available online; it is the foundation of your small business’s online presence.
