8-Point Checklist to Help You Find the Best Hosting Provider
Do you need to find a new web host? If so, make sure to pay close attention to this article. The 8-point checklist below was created to assist you in making your choice. There are possibly multiple providers who meet your requirements, but which one should you choose? Well, let’s first cover the basics when it comes to hosting and then continue with the checklist.
What exactly is a web host?
A web host is a business that offers space on a server for your webpage so that internet users from all over the world can access it. In essence, when you buy a hosting service, you are renting space with resources on a server. There are various hosting plan options with different features and amounts of resources. Each hosting type has unique characteristics. For example, Web Hosting Ireland enables faster load times in Ireland and compliance with Irish data protection laws. It’s therefore crucial to decide what type of hosting you require before choosing a host.
Is free hosting available?
Although there are a few free web hosting options available, we don’t suggest using them. Free hosts can be unreliable and frequently have many restrictions. Additionally, they always display numerous advertisements on your website, which will annoy and irritate your visitors. So, unless you’re simply testing the waters with site design, we advise against using free hosts.
Web Hosting Types
Shared Hosting
The most often used type of web hosting is shared hosting. Your webpage will share a server and its resources with other sites. Being the most economical choice, this is a perfect choice for new business owners or bloggers. But it comes with the most limitations as well. Furthermore, shared hosting is the only option you can find for free. So, if you plan on using free hosting, know that it will come with even more restrictions than paid shared hosting.
VPS Hosting
This option is an improvement compared to shared hosting. Your website still shares a server with other websites, but you have your own private virtual area on the server. You will have more control over the functionality and safety of your website.
Dedicated Hosting
This sort of web hosting is the most expensive and, as you may expect, the best. Your website will be hosted on one single server. You can configure the server completely to your needs. This is a fantastic choice for big companies or heavily visited websites.
Cloud Hosting
A relatively recent style of web hosting that is gaining popularity. Your website will be housed on a server network, which increases its scalability and redundancy. This is the most stable hosting solution with the highest uptime percentage.
8-point checklist
- Cost- When selecting a web host and a plan, cost should be one of your primary priorities. There are many hosting companies available that provide excellent features at various price points. Decide how much you’re prepared to spend and find the best plan within your budget. Before you decide on your next plan, you can check https://hostingcoupon.codes/ to get huge discounts on various hosting services.
- Features – As soon as you’ve decided on a budget, you should start comparing the features that various hosts have to offer for that price. To start limiting your alternatives, create a list of the resources that you will need.
- Customer support – Crucial, especially if you’re just starting out. So make sure to review the customer service choices each host provides.
- Uptime – This metric is the period of time during which your website is active. To ensure that users can access your website at all times, make sure your plan has 99.9% uptime guarantee.
- Security – For any website, security is important. Make sure to review the security features each host provides. Also, avoid plans that don’t come with SSL Certificate.
- Scalability – If you ever want to expand your website, scalability is key. Make sure your host can handle the expansion.
- Backup – Backups are needed if your website experiences technical difficulties that lead to data loss. Nowadays, each plan should come with automatic backups, but if your plan doesn’t, consider changing it.
- Location – If you want individuals in particular nations to be able to view your website, check if the host you choose has servers in the nations you wish to target.
Conclusion
You can begin reducing your options once you’ve identified a few hosts who can accommodate your needs. For instance, you may want to select the host with the best customer support when the two hosts are comparable in terms of pricing and features. However, if the two hosts are comparable in terms of cost and customer service, you might choose to go with the one that has a higher uptime. Choose the ideal host for your site by taking your time and conducting proper research using our 8-point checklist above.
