We Found the Best Web Hosting Services for Small Businesses (2020)

If you’re like me, you probably don’t think about website hosting.

Most of us visit websites without even thinking about how they work. It’s second nature to us — browsing Amazon and Googling every question under the sun. But how do those websites appear on the World Wide Web?

The answer is web hosting. Never heard the term? Get ready — I’m about to give you a little Internet 101, plus our opinion on the best web hosting services for small businesses in 2020.

How Does Web Hosting Work + FREE Small Business Website Guide

The World Wide Web is like a highway that people can explore. Along the highway, you can see different types of buildings — stores, businesses, and personal homes. Websites are like these establishments. Each one is different and has a unique purpose. When you visit them, you can learn new information or buy products.

These buildings sit on rented or owned lots. Web hosting providers are a lot like the lots.

They provide space for the buildings (websites), so people can access them. In other words, generally, every website on the internet must have a website-hosting service in order for people to access them via the internet.

4 Types of Web Hosting Services for Small Business Websites

So what does this mean for your small business website? If you don’t have a website now, you’ll need to pick a web hosting service first. And if you do have a website, you should learn about your hosting service to make sure it meets your needs — at the best price.

Small business owners have a few choices when it comes to website hosting. Here are the most common solutions and how they typically work.

1. Shared hosting.

With shared hosting, you usually purchase server space alongside other websites. In other words, you share server space from a hosting provider. This can help lower your monthly costs ($5 to $20 a month).

The drawback is that your website can take a back seat to other, more popular websites, especially if your site is new. For example, you might find that another, more popular site impacts the performance of your website by making it run slower.

One popular web hosting provider that offers shared hosting is Bluehost.

2. Cloud-based hosting.

Imagine hundreds of servers that work together to form one incredibly large hosting space. This is cloud-based hosting. With cloud-based hosting, typically large amounts of traffic can visit your website without it crashing or getting shut down. It’s also fairly easy to add more space and speed by upgrading your service.

The payment structure for cloud-based hosting is usually based on how much server space you use. As a result, it can vary. Amazon Web Services and Squarespace are two examples of cloud-based hosting providers.

3. Virtual private server (VPS).

If you don’t want to share hosting space, but you’re not ready to splurge on buying your own dedicated server, VPS could be a good in-between option for you. In the VPS model, websites share server space, but perform like they’re on their own servers. This means other sites can potentially slow your website down.

The cost of most VPS hosting solutions is typically between $50 and $200 a month. Bluehost and GoDaddy both offer VPS hosting models.

4. Dedicated hosting.

If you have a high-traffic website and need control over your server space, you may want to consider dedicated hosting. This means you rent your own server space from a company. No other websites sit on the server, so you likely don’t have to worry about them slowing down your site.

The drawback? Costs. Dedicated small business web hosting can cost $100 and up. Both Bluehost and GoDaddyoffer dedicated server space for hosting.

The Top 5 Web Hosting Services for Small Business Websites

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s talk about which hosting providers may be best for small business owners in 2020. Here, I’ll cover pros, cons, and the average monthly costs so you can compare.

1. HostGator (shared, cloud-based, VPS, and dedicated hosting options)

HostGator offers packages for small business owners with various hosting needs. You can choose from shared hosting packages (if you have a smaller website), or cloud-based services, VPS, and even dedicated hosting options. It’s also fairly easy to use if you’re new at website design.

Finally, according to CNET, HostGator provides frequent backups and free advanced technical tools (cPanel, Plesk).

• Pros: a variety of hosting options, low monthly costs, frequent backups
• Cons: promotional rates can change once they expire
• Cost: typically ranges from $5.95 per month to $89.98 per month

2. DreamHost (shared, cloud-based, VPS, and dedicated hosting options)

Both CNET and PCMag rated DreamHost as a top choice, especially for cloud-based hosting. It offers a variety of hosting options for small business options and has a price point that’s difficult to beat.

Plus, DreamHost has an easy-to-use website builder that’s perfect if you’re new to web design.

• Pros: a variety of hosting options, low monthly costs, website builder, responsive live chat
• Cons: no customer phone support available 24/7 (chat only)
• Cost: typically ranges from $2.59 per month to $149 per month

3. GoDaddy (shared, WordPress hosting, VPS, and dedicated hosting options)

GoDaddy has been around for quite some time, so they’re not new to the web hosting game. In fact, most of us are familiar with the name, if nothing else for their Super Bowl commercials a few years back.

They offer a few different options for business owners, but don’t have cloud-based hosting if that’s your need. On the plus side, they connect seamlessly with WordPress and provide WordPress-specific hosting options. And they’re known for excellent customer service too.

Pros: a variety of hosting options, low monthly costs, WordPress hosting, excellent customer service Cons: no cloud-based hosting options Cost: typically ranges from $5.99 per month to $94.99 per month

4. Bluehost (shared, VPS, dedicated hosting options)

Bluehost is another big name in the website-hosting world. The company has been around since 2003 and hosts over 2 million domains. They’re also a great choice if you want to build a WordPress website. They have specific pricing models for WordPress-dedicated sites, as well as migration support.

Bluehost also offers daily backups, low promotional prices, and a 30-day, money-back guarantee on their products.

Pros: a variety of hosting options, low monthly costs, WordPress hosting, excellent customer service Cons: no cloud-based hosting options Cost: typically ranges from $5.99 per month to $94.99 per month

5. AccuWeb (shared, cloud hosting, VPS, dedicated hosting options)

If you’re looking for your own dedicated server space, AccuWeb is the way to go. This is the company’s sweet spot. The company has 5 tiers of Linux- or Windows-powered dedicated hosting servers.

Regardless of which server tier you choose, you get 512GB of memory, 50TB of monthly data transfers, and 2TB of storage. Nice! As a result, PCMag names AccuWeb the best company around for dedicated website hosting.

Pros: excellent dedicated hosting option, choice of using Linux or Windows services, excellent packages for memory and space, customer service Cons: lacks unlimited email Cost: typically ranges from $4.79 per month to $1,120 per month

How to Pick the Right Web Hosting for Your Small Business Website

Now that you know the options that are available — and some of the best companies on the market — it’s time to think about your own business’s needs.

For example, are you new to digital marketing and website design?

Or do you have a quickly growing e-commerce website that is bringing in large amounts of traffic?

Answering these questions will help you determine which small business web hosting solution you should choose and how much money you should invest in hosting.

For example, if you’re a website newbie and just want a website to show your business’s address and phone number, you likely don’t want to spend all your budget on a dedicated server. You could start out with a shared hosting service at a low monthly cost.

But if you own a thriving e-commerce site or a site that captures sensitive financial information, you may want to invest in a dedicated server.

Only you know your goals for your business’s website. Make sure they align with the hosting options on the market. Then choose a provider that’s guaranteed to offer excellent customer service and guide you through the process.

This content is for general, informational purposes only and is not intended to provide legal, tax, accounting, or financial advice. Please obtain expert advice from industry specific professionals who may better understand your business’s needs.