Shared hosting
Many websites share one server and its resources. It is inexpensive and fine for a small brochure site with modest traffic. The downside is that a busy neighbor can slow you down, and you have limited control over server settings. Support quality varies widely, so read the details about backups and security before you sign up.
VPS and cloud servers
A virtual private server gives you a guaranteed slice of resources. It offers more power and flexibility, but someone must set up, secure and update the server. Unless you or your web team are comfortable with server administration, an unmanaged VPS can turn into a risk. Managed VPS plans shift some of that work to the provider for a higher price.
Managed WordPress hosting
These plans are built around WordPress. Typically they include caching, automatic backups, staging sites, malware scanning and support that knows the platform. For a business that depends on its site and does not want to handle maintenance, the convenience is often worth the higher monthly cost.
Check limits on visits, storage and plugin restrictions. Some hosts ban certain plugins that duplicate their own features.
Static and site-builder hosting
Hosted builders such as Wix and Squarespace bundle hosting into the plan, so there is no server to manage. Static site hosting serves prebuilt pages very quickly and securely, which suits sites that do not need a database. The trade-off with builders is less freedom to move your site elsewhere.
Questions to ask before you buy
Ask where backups are stored and how fast restores happen. Ask what happens if you exceed traffic limits, whether SSL certificates are included and renewed, and whether support is by chat, phone or ticket. Find out the renewal price, since introductory rates often rise after the first term.
Make sure the account is in your name with your email, not the designer's. If you ever part ways, you should be able to take your site with you. Our related guide on owning your domain and hosting covers that in more detail.
Matching the plan to the business
A local service business with a five to ten page brochure site and a contact form is usually well served by decent shared hosting or a basic managed plan. An online store with steady orders should favor managed hosting with strong caching and support. A site with custom software or a membership area may justify a VPS, with someone responsible for it.
Think about what an outage would cost. If a day offline would lose real customers, pay for backups, monitoring and responsive support. If the site is a simple online business card, a modest plan is reasonable.
Finally, avoid buying several years of hosting up front before you have tested the service. Start with a shorter term, watch uptime and support responses for a few months, and then commit to longer pricing if you are satisfied.
Common questions
Is cheap shared hosting good enough?
For a small, low-traffic site it can be, if it includes backups and security. Slow response times are the common complaint.
Do I need a VPS?
Most small business sites do not. Consider one only if you have specific software needs and someone to manage it.
Can I switch hosts later?
Yes. Migration takes planning, but your content and domain can move. See our guide on migrating a website.
This guide is general information. Search engines change how they work and their guidelines; check Google's current documentation for your situation. Nobody can guarantee a ranking.