In this article
Q. How reliable is the service of a web host?
Look for an uptime guarantee of at least 99.9%, and check independent reviews to see whether the host actually delivers it. Every hour your site is down can cost you visitors and sales.
Q. What kind of performance can I expect?
Ask what kind of storage the host uses (fast SSD or NVMe drives are now standard), whether it includes caching or a CDN, and where its data centers are. Then test a site on the service during the money-back period.
Q. How good is email and phone support?
Find out which support channels are offered and when. The best hosts offer 24/7 live chat, and many also offer phone support. Try contacting support before you buy to see how quickly and helpfully they respond.
Q. How much will it cost me?
Look beyond the introductory price. Check what the plan costs when it renews, how long you have to sign up for to get the advertised price, and whether extras like backups, email or a domain name cost more.
Q. How much bandwidth will I need for data transfer?
Most small websites need far less than they think. Many shared plans now include unmetered bandwidth, but check the fair-use limits, especially if you plan to offer large downloads or video.
Q. What about a control panel?
A good control panel makes it easy to manage your site, email, files and databases. Popular choices include cPanel and Plesk, and many hosts offer their own easy-to-use dashboards. Ask for a demo or screenshots before you sign up.
Q. What about email accounts?
Check how many email accounts are included, how much storage each one gets, and whether they support IMAP, so your email stays in sync across your phone and computer, as well as webmail.
Q. What about spam and virus protection?
Good hosts include spam filtering for email, malware scanning for your website, a firewall and free SSL certificates. Ask whether automatic backups are included, so you can restore your site if something goes wrong.
Q. What about running my own online store?
If you plan to sell online, make sure the host supports e-commerce software such as WooCommerce, or includes a website builder with a store. You will also need an SSL certificate (most hosts include one free) and a payment provider such as Stripe or PayPal.
Q. What about online marketing support?
Some hosts include extras such as SEO tools, email marketing and advertising credits. These can be useful, but they shouldn’t be the main reason you choose a host. Reliability, speed and support matter most.