With a global market valued at USD 9.09 trillion, it’s clear that e-commerce is the next best opportunity for small businesses to take advantage of.
Still, you won’t be able to grow your online presence without a reliable website that draws in new customers. As such, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best small business web hosting options available today, including:
What are the Best Web Hosting Services?
- Bluehost
- InMotion
- HostGator
- GreenGeeks
- Hostinger
- A2 Hosting
- SiteGround
- DreamHost
Don’t know which one is best for your operation? Stick around: In this article, we’re going to cover each choice to help you find the right fit.
1. Bluehost
Best All-In-One WordPress + Shared Web Hosting
Offering WordPress, WooCommerce, VPS, dedicated, reseller, and shared hosting options, Bluehost is the all-in-one solution for small businesses hoping to dip their toes into e-commerce. Standout features include unmetered bandwidth, a cPanel control panel for site management, and a free SSL certificate. Still, it’s Bluehost’s popular and straightforward WordPress integration that makes it one of the best web hosting providers for small businesses.
We recommend new small businesses opt for Bluehost’s shared hosting package, which ranges from $2.95 – $13.95/month. Doing so would grant you 50 GB of storage space and a free domain for your first 12 months — perfect for getting started.
If you’re already a successful operation and want to sell products online ASAP, Bluehost’s WooCommerce hosting package is a worthwhile investment at $12.05 – $24.95/month. In addition, you’ll receive a Storefront theme (installed automatically) and enjoy zero limits on the number of products you can sell.
2. InMotion
Ideal for VPS Hosting
Though a bit pricier for basic shared hosting, InMotion offers some of the best storage space, security, and support of any provider out there. Furthermore, InMotion also provides its own website builder, allowing small businesses to make their websites without having to jump between different providers.
InMotion’s WordPress package starts as low as $4.99/month and features 50 GB of storage space, unlimited bandwidth, and free SSL. However, our favorite InMotion offering is its VPS package, which starts at $17.99/month; if you’re a rising small business that needs more breathing room, the plan offers 2 GB of RAM and 2 CPU cores — a great start for sites with higher traffic.
3. HostGator
User-Friendly Web Hosting for Beginners
HostGator’s beginner-friendly design easily makes it one of the best small business web hosting providers for newcomers out there, and it further proves its worth by offering compelling features and an impressive 99.9% uptime guarantee. Like InMotion, users can also utilize HostGator’s “Gator” website builder designed for those with little technical expertise.
HostGator’s entry-level Hatchling plan starts at $2.75/month and grants you standard features like unmetered bandwidth and a comprehensive cPanel Control Panel. Still, if you’re a business that’s already taking off (or that plans to), you’ll do better with its Business package at $5.95/month, as that’ll give you unlimited domains, a dedicated IP, and even a free VoIP Phone Service.
4. GreenGeeks
Most Sustainable Hosting Alternative
With more organizations than ever turning to the web, GreenGeeks’ commitment to promoting a sustainable e-commerce market is both commendable and practical. The provider has pledged to reinvest three times the power it consumes into renewable energy for the grid, allowing your small business to support a good cause simply by operating as normal.
Another thing we love about GreenGeeks is the fact that its hosting plans are actually charged monthly. In contrast, larger providers like HostGator and Bluehost require users to agree to year-long contracts to receive those discounted prices. As such, small businesses won’t have to worry about any long-term commitments.
We recommend GreenGeeks’ shared hosting plan for $2.49 – $8.95/month or its VPS hosting for $19.95 – $34.95/month, if you want more power.
5. Hostinger
Best Discounted Web Hosting
Tight budgets shouldn’t require you to miss out on a reliable hosting plan, which is why Hostinger is one of the best affordable web hosting choices for small businesses.
With shared plans going for $0.99 – $3.99/month, all while still offering features like free SSL and 10 GB of storage, businesses that need a cheaper starting point should consider Hostinger.
Of course, reduced costs also mean reduced benefits (the provider’s support can sometimes be lackluster, and downtime averages eight hours per year). Still, it’s a bargain for anyone who wants practical hosting without a premium price.
6. A2 Hosting
Premium Cloud Hosting Options
As one of the only providers offering Windows hosting, A2 Hosting already has a head start on providing compelling features compared to its competition. Small businesses wouldn’t go wrong opting for one of its shared hosting plans at $2.99 – $14.99/month, especially considering its notable uptime of 99.95% (not quite the best, but still great).
A2 offers everything you can expect from a trusted hosting provider, like free SSL and 100 GB of storage, but where it really shines is with its cloud hosting packages, which go for $5 – $371/month, depending on your needs.
7. SiteGround
Unparalleled Customer Support
Offering some of the most robust help and support resources on our list, SiteGround is the best small business web hosting provider for those who might need extra assistance getting started. The platform has an exhaustive list of instructional articles and a lively community forum where users can find answers to their questions without needing to submit a support ticket.
Unfortunately, SiteGround is also one of the pricier options, with shared and WordPress hosting plans ranging from $6.99 – $14.99/month. However, its WordPress packages are well worth the investment when considering the benefits that it provides. So, despite a premium cost, SiteGround certainly makes up for it in quality.
8. DreamHost
Great Web Hosting for Larger Websites
Standard hosting plans won’t do if your small business requires a larger website; that’s where DreamHost comes in. Its shared hosting plan of $2.59 – $4.95/month (or $2.59 – $27.50/month for WordPress hosting) comes with 50 GB of storage and unlimited bandwidth — a great starting point for you to begin your expansion.
The main downside is DreamHost’s lack of phone support, which could be a problem if you need immediate assistance. Other than that, its 99.95% uptime rate and one-click WordPress installation make it a solid pick in our list of best web hosting options for small businesses.
Things To Consider When Buying Web Hosting
When purchasing web hosting one should always consider what type of business or the type of website they will be setting up. You should also make sure you know what you’re getting into in terms of your skill level with building websites and how much support you need. Not all hosting is created equal. Below are some things you should consider when purchasing hosting.
What are your web skills?
There are so many types of web hosting services available out there for almost any level of user.
Are you someone who has never built a website before? If so you might want to consider a hosting provider who has a dedicated support team that offers managed hosting. This will give you the help you need in building and setting up your website on your hosting the right way.
Bluehost offers one of the best web hosting services with their managed wordpress hosting service.
What are the different types of web hosting?
With Shared Hosting, users share server space with other hosting accounts. This type of web hosting is a great choice if you are a small business who uses limited bandwidth and are looking for an affordable hosting web hosting service.
Dedicated Hosting provides users with their own physical dedicate server. This is a great solution for large businesses who need to scale and have more resources. On the downside, dedicated web hosting is more expensive and the users are responsible for their own maintenance.
Cloud Hosting or VPS ( Virtual Private Server) allow you to scale your web hosting without any physical limits of a standard server. Cloud hosting is the best web hosting service for enterprises or large businesses who want the flexibility to scale without limit. VPS or Cloud Hosting draws resources from multiple servers over cloud systems. This allows hosting without being restricted to the space of one physical server.
Most web hosting providers offer tiers of each type of hosting service. It’s recommended to check out each hosting service provider and consider pricing, support features and the website builders they integrate.
Which type of web hosting do I need?
Do you need shared, dedicated or cloud hosting?
If you’re a new business and have never built a website before. We suggest starting with a web hosting service that provides you with managed wordpress hosting. Bluehost is a great choice with plans starting as low as $2.95 per month.
If you’re looking for a more dedicated service and you are experienced with building websites. Siteground offers a solid dedicated web hosting plan that comes with a great support team and great uptime.
For those experience managing their own websites that are looking for the best VPS hosing service we recommend A2 Hosting. Their VPS web hosting provides some of the fastest VPS hosting available for developers looking to host large scale projects.
