My recommended web hosts for setting up a basic website, after several hundred installs as an independent web developer.
Common needs:
- Small scale website / portfolio / blog
- look for "shared hosting" options below
- Custom app with users
- look for "VPS" options below
- Ecommerce
- Shopify
- Shopify hosts for you - don't worry about losing data
- $30/mo+. No performance concerns at any scale
- Woocommerce
- run on your own server - with great power comes great responsibility
- $10/ mo and up - with DIY / dev skills, this is a great deal. If not done correctly, you will need to pay much more to keep your server running fast.
- BigCommerce
- an older framework for large ecomm sites
- Shopify
Dreamhost
appropriate for: both general public and developers
- shared, managed hosting: 9/10
- basic plan - $3/mo intro, then $6
- unlimited - $4/mo intro, then $11
- unlimited plan hosts "infinite" websites - awesome deal for devs
- my favorite admin control panel of all the hosts
- great chat support
- these low priced servers can run Woocommerce, but it will be slow. The cheapest shared host I recommend for Woocommerce is Siteground.
- VPS - ?/10
- managed VPS starts at $10/mo, but no root access
- new "cloud computing" compares well with other VPS hosts - starts at $5/mo and scales up.
Bluehost
appropriate for: mostly public use, but also provides tools for devs
- Shared hosting: 7/10
- $3/mo first year, then $10/mo
- customer support lacking
- admin interface needs help
- better than other hosts like iPage, HostGator under the Endurance International umbrella.
- not recommended for Woocommerce unless on a more expensive plan
- VPS hosting - ?
SiteGround
appropriate for: both developers and general use
- managed, shared hosting - 9/10
- Pro: high quality admin panel added in recent years
- Pro: high speed shared hosting at $12/mo
- Con: multiple domains will cost you $20/mo
- The "quality over quantity" host for shared hosting
- capable of running a small - medium sized Woocommerce installation well
- VPS - ?
Digital Ocean
appropriate for: developers
- low end VPS hosting - 10/10
- cheapest prices around, very reliable service
- $6 / month, set up and run entirely custom stacks quickly with their high quality tutorials
- not recommended for WordPress or cPanel installs - get all the custom configuration handled for you just as cheap on shared hosting
- high end VPS hosting - ?
Godaddy
appropriate for: general public with deep pockets
- shared, managed hosting - 5/10
- Pro: longevity - they've been around and will continue to be
- Con: upsells - no company does it better
- charging you for SSL - this is free on most hosts
- 'special' email, backup, and managed hosting plans that often make your website only more complicated in the end, and may be free on other hosts
- VPS - haven't tried
