- HostGator: Best for content-heavy sites
- TMDHosting: Best for speed
- Bluehost: Best for new sites
- DreamHost: Best for WordPress beginners
- InMotion Hosting: Best unlimited plans
- MochaHost: Best renewal rates
- IONOS: Best introductory rate
- InterServer: Best free website migration
- Hostwinds: Best website monitoring
- GoDaddy: Best two-in-one web host and website builder
Web hosting is a necessity for any website as it’s what enables a site to be live on the web. But while the decision to get web hosting is a no-brainer, choosing the right web host can be a challenge with so many to choose from—complete with industry jargon, similar yet different features, inclusions and pricing. So, we did the heavy lifting to find the absolute best web hosting for small businesses so that you can find the right service for your business quickly.
Before we jump in, you need to know what’s essential for your website. Every small business website needs a custom domain name, a secure sockets layer (SSL) certificate, a content management system (CMS) and enough storage and bandwidth to support your content and automatic backups. For this list of the best web hosting for small business owners, Forbes Advisor conducted research on the cost, uptime and functionality of dozens of providers.
The Best Web Hosting Services For Small Business In 2024
Forbes Advisor Ratings
Company | Forbes Advisor Rating | Starting price | Storage and bandwidth | Guarantees | LEARN MORE | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HostGator | 4.4 | $2.64 per month (three-year term) | Unlimited storage and unmetered bandwidth | Uptime guarantee and a 30-day money-back guarantee | View Plans | On HostGator's Website | |||
TMDHosting | 4.3 | $2.99 per month (one-year term) | Unlimited SSD storage and unlimited bandwidth | Uptime guarantee and a 60-day money-back guarantee | Learn More | Read Forbes' Review | |||
Bluehost | 4.3 | $1.99 per month (billed annually) | 10GB storage and unmetered bandwidth | 30-day money-back guarantee | Learn More | On Bluehost.com's Website | |||
DreamHost | 4.1 | $2.59 per month (three-year term) | 50GB-plus of storage and unlimited traffic | 100% uptime guarantee and a 97-day money-back guarantee | Learn More | On DreamHost's Website | |||
InMotion Hosting | 4.0 | $2.29 per month (three-year term) | 100GB-plus of storage and unlimited bandwidth | 90-day money-back guarantee | Learn More | On InMotion Hosting's Website | |||
MochaHost | 3.9 | $3.18 per month | Unlimited storage and unmetered bandwidth | 100% uptime guarantee and a 30-day money-back guarantee or 180 days risk-free | Learn More | Read Forbes' Review | |||
Ionos | 3.9 | $5 per month (billed annually) | 10GB of storage and unlimited traffic | 99.9% uptime guarantee and a 30-day money-back guarantee | Learn More | On IONOS' Website | |||
InterServer | 3.9 | $2.50 per month (billed annually) | Unlimited ultra SSD storage and unlimited data transfer | 99.9% uptime guarantee and a 30-day money-back guarantee | Learn More | Read Forbes' Review | |||
Hostwinds | 4.3 | $5.24 per month (for your first billing cycle, then $6.99 per month) | Unlimited storage and unlimited bandwidth | 99.99% uptime guarantee | Learn More | Read Forbes' Review | |||
GoDaddy | 3.7 | $6.99 per month (one-year term) | 10 GB of storage and unmetered bandwidth | 99.9% uptime guarantee | Learn More | On GoDaddy's Website |
Methodology
We began our research and testing by looking at over 50 different providers to see which web hosting services are the best for small businesses. We looked for what is most essential for any web host to provide, as well as what is most important to a small business. For each small business hosting service, we considered:
- Price: The price of hosting services can vary wildly based on a number of factors. However, we also considered introductory pricing versus renewal pricing. Host services are notorious for skyrocketing renewal rates, and we took that into consideration when researching the best options for small businesses.
- Features: We looked for the features most important to small businesses, such as storage and bandwidth, ease of use, security and uptime guarantees. We also considered the extra tools that come with each hosting service, such as one-click installers for WordPress or drag-and-drop website builders.
- Support: Reliable customer support is essential for any web hosting service. We looked at the support options available, such as live chat and phone support, as well as the speed of response and knowledge of staff.
- Ease of use: We looked for hosting services that offer intuitive and user-friendly control panels for managing websites. We considered the ease of use when creating or editing a website, setting up email accounts and transferring domains.
- Guarantees: Most web hosts have both an uptime guarantee and a money-back guarantee.
Each of the above criteria was weighed and then used to calculate the scores for each of the providers analyzed.
What Is a Web Host?
A web host is a business that provides the technologies and services needed for a website, including storage space, internet connectivity and security. Web hosts can also offer features such as domain registration, email hosting, SSL certificates, one-click WordPress installs, backups and DDoS monitoring. By investing in a web hosting plan, small businesses can enjoy all the benefits of having an online presence without needing to purchase and manage their own servers.
The best web hosts provide reliable hosting with great uptime, quick page loading speeds, scalability for growth and security features such as DDoS monitoring. They also typically offer tools that make it easier to build and customize a website, as well as features such as free domains, email accounts, marketing credits and more. By investing in the right web hosting provider, small businesses can save time and money in the long run.
How To Choose the Best Web Hosting Service for Your Small Business
Small businesses should take into account a few important components while choosing the best web hosting provider. Start by looking for a service that provides excellent value at fair costs. Think about storage, uptime, support options and cost-saving extras such as free domain names, SSL certificates and business email. It’s crucial to pick a provider that can expand with your company and is trustworthy, safe and scalable.
A service that gives round-the-clock assistance and the capability to resolve any issues rapidly should also be sought out. Ultimately, the best web hosting company for your small business should offer the tools and options you require for online success.
Essential Web Hosting Features
When looking for the best web hosting service provider, there are a few essential features to consider:
- Uptime: Look for a reliable host with high uptime and page loading speeds, preferably one that guarantees 99.9% uptime.
- Storage: Consider storage capacity, whether you need shared or dedicated hosting options to handle your website traffic.
- Support: Check the type of customer service offered, whether it’s email, phone or live chat support.
- Monitoring: Look for a provider that offers 24/7 monitoring, with automated backups and security features such as DDoS protection.
- Bandwidth: Make sure that the host you choose offers sufficient bandwidth to handle your website traffic.
- Email: Look for a provider that offers business-grade email addresses, or the ability to connect with your own domain.
- Domains: Check to see if the host offers free domains or at least savings with a long-term agreement.
- SSL certificate: An SSL certificate is important for website security and search engine ranking. Make sure that the host offers an SSL certificate as part of its hosting package.
Cost
The price of web hosting can vary significantly by the type of web hosting you choose (for example, a virtual private server (VPS) is more expensive than shared hosting), the resources you require and the length of time you commit to a plan. Plans offering the most value for price will typically include various features, such as unlimited email accounts, free domains and SSL certificates so that you know your website is secure.
Ease of Use
Consider a web hosting service provider with an intuitive dashboard and easy-to-use control panel. This will make it easy for you to manage your website, including creating and editing content, setting up email accounts and managing domains.
Some providers will offer a drag-and-drop website builder with customizable templates, as well as helpful resources such as tutorials and videos. This can make it easier to quickly create a website without needing extensive coding knowledge. If you have an existing website and are migrating to a new host, free migration assistance or an automated transfer process can be beneficial.
Scalability
When selecting a web hosting provider, it’s important to consider scalability. If you anticipate your website to grow over time, it’s crucial to look for a host that can provide resources as you need them. Look for plans that offer unlimited storage, bandwidth and email accounts, as well as the ability to upgrade your plan.
You should also look for a provider that makes it easy to scale your service with one click so that you can quickly access resources and increase the reach of your website.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which hosting is best for a small business website?
HostGator: Small businesses and entrepreneurs with websites that have a lot of content should use HostGator. Every plan comes with unlimited storage, so you don’t have to worry about your content slowing things down. Its plans are full of features and extras and come with 24/7/365 customer service and a 45-day money-back guarantee.
TMDHosting: TMDHosting uses premium hardware with SSDs, caching and security to make your website up to 16 times faster. Its plans include free daily backups, a free domain, Weebly Sitebuilder and a Let’s Encrypt SSL.
Bluehost: Bluehost is a great choice for small business websites. It offers shared hosting plans with unmetered bandwidth and a free domain name for your first year. Plus, it’s easy to use.
What is the cheapest way to host a website?
There are some web hosts offering free hosting and domain names, but you shouldn’t use them as a business. This is because you’ll have the web host’s domain after yours (mycoolsite.webhostname.com). Shared hosting is your cheapest option, and we have a list of the best cheap web hosting services to consider.
Can I host my own website?
You can host your own website but for most, this doesn’t make the most sense. It will be more costly and time-consuming than using a web hosting company because you’ll need your own servers and software, as well as the know-how to maintain them. Check out the step-by-step instructions on how to make a small business website.
What's the best web hosting for WordPress?
WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems―(CMS) and many web hosts offer specialized WordPress hosting. HostGator, InMotion Hosting and DreamHost are some of the best hosts for WordPress. They all offer plans tailored to WordPress users, including optimized servers and automatic updates. Plus, they have helpful features such as a one-click installation process. Learn more about the best WordPress hosting services.