8 Best Web Hosting for Small Business of 2024
Updated June 24, 2024 at 7:41 pm
Your website host provides storage for the files that make up your website. Your site’s photos, text and video have to live somewhere online so your customers can find you 24/7. However, it’s natural to wonder which are the best web hosting sites for small businesses. After all, there are a lot of choices.
When choosing the best small business web hosting provider, it’s helpful to know the role of the website host, costs and what’s essential to your site and business.
Methodology To compile this list, we reviewed the top services on the market, compared the specs and features, and created a short list of the top web hosting services. Then, we used product descriptions, reviews, ratings, and hands-on experience to find the best small business web hosting services for each category.
Our Picks - Best All-Around Small Business Website Host: DreamHost
- Best for Reseller Hosting: InMotion Hosting
- Best Security: WP Engine
- Best Performance: A2 Hosting
- Best VPS Hosting: HostWinds
- Best Cloud-Based Hosting: Cloudways
- Best for Beginners: SiteGround
- Best for E-Commerce: Shopify
Best Small Business Web Hosts of 2024
Best All-Around Small Business Website Host
DreamHost
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Why We Chose It
Affordable and reliable, DreamHost offers flexible web hosting options for small business websites. Choose from shared, dedicated, cloud-based or a VPS (Virtual Private Server) option. DreamHost offers automatic backups across servers, so you’re guaranteed uptime and scalability.
Key Features:
- WordPress optimized hosting
- Solid uptime and performance
- Unlimited bandwidth and storage
- One-Click WordPress installation
- Free domain name for first year
- 97-day money-back guarantee
Pros
- 100% uptime guarantee
- Robust security
- Generous 97-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- No customer support phone number
- No email with the shared basic plan
- No money-back guarantee for higher tier offerings (VPS) and dedicated hosting
Best for Reseller Hosting
inMotion Hosting
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Why We Chose It
InMotion Hosting is a great choice if you want to resell VPS hosting to U.S.-based businesses. It offers excellent performance, reliability and scalability for businesses of all sizes.
Key Features:
- High speed performance with SSD storage
- Free website migration
- 99.9% uptime guarantee
- Enhanced security and automatic backups
- Free website builder and one-click installation
- 24/7 support
Pros
- High-performance SSD servers
- Free website migration and domain registration
- Managed WordPress hosting keeps your website up-to-date automatically
Cons
- Higher pricing
- Limited data centers (they’re only the U.S. west and East coasts)
- No free daily backups on the entry-level reseller plan
Best Security
WP Engine
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Why We Chose It
WP Engine is a popular WordPress hosting service known for security and performance. With daily backups and frequent malware scans, you’ll reduce security threats and enjoy fast loading times.
Key Features:
- WordPress optimized hosting
- Managed hosting with automatic updates and backups
- High Speed performance with built-in Content Delivery Network (CDN)
- Scalable infrastructure for traffic spikes
- Advanced security and SSL certificates
- 24/7 custom support from WordPress experts
Pros
- Enhanced security and automatic updates
- Fast-loading
- 24/7 support
Cons
- Higher cost than many hosting services
- Limited plug-in capability
- Traffic restrictions
Best Performance
A2 Hosting
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Why We Chose It
A2 Hosting prides itself on speed. With customers in 223 countries, you can choose from various turbo-speed hosting plans that claim to ensure your site loads up to 20 times faster than other hosting services.
Key Features:
- Turboservers delivers high-speed performance with SSD storage
- Developer-friendly environment with support for multiple programming languages
- Free website migration
- 99.9% uptime guarantee
- Money back guarantee
- 24/7 support
Pros
- Performance is up to 20x faster
- 24/7 Guru Crew support
- Support environmental-friendly initiatives
Cons
- No free domain
- Higher renewal rates (up to 5x higher than the Startup plan)
- No Windows Server (only Linux-based server hosting), which can make it less flexible
Best VPS Hosting
HostWinds
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Why We Chose It
This Seattle-based web hosting service offers an array of hosting options, including Virtual Private Server (VPS.) A VPS offers more memory and bandwidth than shared hosting provides. You may benefit from a VPS if you run a web design business or gaming company.
Key Features:
- Flexible, scalable hosting plans
- Fast performance
- Free website transfers and domain registration
- 99.9% uptime guarantee 24/7 customer support
- Customizable server configurations
Pros
- HostWinds owns their own servers
- Free SSL certificates
- Windows and Linux-based plans are available
Cons
- Slightly more expensive than other hosting services
- No automatic backups
- No eCommerce options
Best Cloud-Based Hosting
Cloudways
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Why We Chose It
Cloudways uses multiple servers to spread data. That practice essentially means you can pay what you need and scale up or down as needed. It also makes for strong uptime because you’re not relying on one server.
Key Features:
- Cloud-based hosting through AWS, Google Cloud, Azure, etc.
- Scalable infrastructure for traffic spikes
- Easy server management via a user-friendly interface
- High performance with build in caches and optimized stack
- Automated backups
- 24/7 support
Pros
- Lowest price cloud-based hosting
- Free trial with credit card
- Choice of cloud networks – including Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud
Cons
- No domain name
- No email
- Can be a more complicated setup than other hosting providers
Best for Beginners
SiteGround
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Why We Chose It
Its ease of use makes it a good choice for simple websites and first-timers. The cPanel functionality makes it easy to find what you need and integrate in one click popular apps like WordPress or OpenCart.
Key Features:
- High performance hosting with SSD storage and custom caching
- Free daily back ups
- 99.9% uptime guarantee
- Free website migration
- Drag and drop builder
- Advanced security and SSL certificates
- 24/7 support
Pros
- Easy to use
- CDN and caching ensure fast loading times
- Managed WordPress hosting
Cons
- Pricier than other options
- No phone support
- Limited storage
Best for E-Commerce
Shopify
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Why We Chose It
Shopify’s dedicated E-Commerce platform offers an all-in-one tool for online stores. You can choose from dozens of customizable themes, upload products, and accept payments in one location. You can feel confident that Shopify’s built-in hosting will handle your storefront’s performance and security.
Key Features:
- E-commerce specific platform with customizable templates
- Secure and reliable hosting infrastructure
- Integrated payment gateways and shopping cart functionality
- SEO and marketing tools to grow your online store
- 24/7 customer support
Pros
- User-friendly, it’s easy to set up your online store
- 6000+ app integrations
- 99.99% uptime guarantee
Cons
- Transaction fees on some payment gateways
- Monthly subscription fees can add up
- Limited customization
Web Hosting Introduction
When choosing a web hosting company for your small business, it makes sense to consider the fundamentals. For example, an e-commerce company with hundreds or thousands of products has different needs from a professional services site.
What Is a Web Hosting Service?
A web hosting service stores your site files in the cloud. When someone types your website URL into their browser, your web host retrieves that page and sends it to your user.
How Does a Web Hosting Service Work?
Your website host is an important player in making a great first impression on website visitors. Too slow to load, and those hard-won visitors will bounce back to the search results page faster than you can read this sentence. If your site isn’t secure, you risk hackers and malware.
Who Is Business Web Hosting Good For?
Anyone with a website needs web hosting because it’s how your website lives online.
The best small business web hosting offers the right amount of storage, bandwidth and other features to ensure your website makes a great impression. The best web hosting sites for your small business ensure your site loads fast and looks credible, all while keeping your site safe from potential hackers.
Types of Web Hosting Services
- Shared Hosting: Like sharing a physical living space, shared hosting is a cost-effective solution. One server can host multiple websites yet may limit your website’s performance or customization.
- Dedicated Hosting: When your site needs its own server, that’s called dedicated hosting. It’s a more expensive hosting solution but offers greater customization and performance options. Dedicated hosting may be your best web hosting option if your site requires more performance.
- Virtual Private Server (VPS) Hosting: This offers a combination of shared and dedicated hosting. You have more control over customization and performance than strictly with shared hosting but not as much flexibility as dedicated hosting. It could be a good option for budget-conscious small businesses who need a bit more performance but don’t want to pay the performance price tag.
- Cloud Hosting: When you need scalability, redundancy and flexibility, cloud hosting may be the solution for your small business web hosting. Cloud hosting spreads your data out among multiple servers to ensure uptime and scalability. If your resource needs vary throughout the year, cloud hosting offers a useful pay-as-you-go model for scaling up and down.
- WordPress Managed Hosting: Specialized hosting for WordPress-based sites. It offers a variety of features, including automatic updates, boosted security and optimized performance, all customized to the WordPress platform.
How to Choose a Web Hosting Provider
As you consider what makes the best small business web hosting for your business needs, consider these factors in the best web hosting sites for small business:
Security and Backups
Minimize site downtime with automatic backups and robust security features. That way, you’re protected from malware attacks and hackers. You might choose a VPS or cloud-based web hosting service, depending on your needs. For example, you need a secure option if you handle medical records or other sensitive information.
Ease of Use
You have enough on your plate without spending hours learning another piece of software. Today’s web hosting services offer a user-friendly interface and intuitive control panel for managing your website hosting.
Reliability and Reputation
What do the reviews say about a particular web host for small businesses? Look for uptime, positive sentiment and features that address your needs.
Customer Service
Great customer support is essential. You want to know you can get a quick and helpful response if you need it.
Other Web Hosting Alternatives
Bluehost
Bluehost Is a solid player in the small business web hosting world and is officially recommended by WordPress. Operating since 2005, it’s a reliable option with hundreds of themes you can customize and daily backups. It’s an affordable choice and offers a free domain name and SSL certificate.
Hostinger
With shared web hosting starting at $1.99, Hostinger may be one of the cheapest options out there. However, it does not include a free domain account and offers one email account. Most critical, backups only occur weekly. So, if you make extensive updates to your site before the next backup and something goes wrong, you could lose all your changes.
Kamatera
Kamatera offers data centers around the world. This means you can choose a server location closest to your target audience so they experience the fastest load times. So, if you live in India and sell to nearby countries, you can choose the closest server. You can also scale your hosting resources up or down as needed. It works well for complex sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Best Web Hosting for Small Businesses in E-Commerce?
Shopify simplifies the process of building an online store. This all-in-one platform includes hosting on its own servers and manages the maintenance, performance, and security of your new online storefront.
You can choose a theme, upload products, and accept payments all in one place. It also has 6,000 + app integrations, making connecting any third-party tool you may need easy.
How Much Does Hosting a Website Cost for Small Businesses?
Website hosting costs vary based on your site needs. Basic shared website hosts start at $2.59 and go to $10. These are suitable for simple websites without a lot of traffic or graphics. If you need the performance of a VPS or cloud hosting, then your costs can start at $11 a month and go up.
Which Hosting Is Best for a Single Website?
DreamHost is an inexpensive and reliable small business web hosting service. It offers multiple hosting options and automatic backups. With a 100% uptime guarantee, you never have to worry about your website going down, and with a 97-day money-back guarantee, you can try it out risk-free.
Which Web Hosting Is Best for Beginners?
SiteGround offers an intuitive control panel and plenty of educational resources to show you how to use everything. With one click installations, you can get your WordPress site up and running without previous knowledge. Plus, excellent customer support means you can get help anytime you need it.
Is There Free Website Hosting for Small Businesses?
Yes, there are some free website hosts. However, free hosting comes with limitations such as storage, lack of customer support, customization, and ads. Some free options offer paid add-ons for essential elements like a domain name.
As you can see, there’s a lot to consider in choosing your best small business web hosting service. Depending on your site needs, you may need a lot of bandwidth and storage or not. While every site needs fast performance and robust security, not all require payment processing. What type of website do you plan to create?
Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post. We may earn a commission from partner links on Newsweek, but commissions do not affect our editors’ opinions or evaluations.
