Updated May 2024:
When starting your own website, it can be easy to get overwhelmed by the amount of web hosting services that are available. In fact, there are nearly 5,000 web hosting services in the US alone.
Like any industry, not all products and services are created equal.
All things considered, web hosting is very affordable, especially when you break it down on a month-by-month basis. With that in mind, I still want to make sure you’re getting the best value for your money.
After building several websites and blogs in the past 8 years, I’ve done my proper research on choosing the best web hosting services.
In my opinion, these are the ones I can recommend in 2024. Let’s jump in.
Which is the Best Web Hosting Service?
To figure out the best web hosting service, it is going to depend on a number of factors. For example, are you new to WordPress or have you built several sites in the past? While the answer is going to be different from person to person, here are my top choices.
1. GoDaddy
GoDaddy
One of the OGs in the web hosting game, GoDaddy is our #1 pick for web hosting services due to its included Malware removal (Managed WordPress service only), daily website backups, and ease of use. GoDaddy is a great option for both beginners and website experts alike.
For several years, I used Bluehost as my main web hosting service. After my websites received a malware attack a few months back and Bluehost wanted to charge me nearly $600 to fix the issue, I decided to look for a new host that included malware protection. That’s where Godaddy came in.
Dislikes
I was amazed at how easy it was to transfer everything over. Even better, I was amazed that the hosting, malware protection, and website backup services are cheaper than buying those services on top of web hosting alone.
With those factors in mind, it made a lot of sense for me to change. It is now why I am recommending GoDaddy as the best web hosting service, especially for beginners.
If you’re looking at one of the easiest ways to build a safe and secure website at a decent cost, GoDaddy is the way to go.
2. HostGator
HostGator
Excellent 24/7 support, easy WordPress integration, and no pressure month-to-month plans make Host Gator an easy choice for those wanting to set up a website quick and easy
Host Gator was the first web hosting service I used back in 2016 when I started my first website, Natural Nutrition Company. A lot has changed since then, but that’s for the better. Like most web hosting services, Host Gator offers easy WordPress integration, making it a great option for beginners
Dislikes
Although considerably more expensive, we like the option of a month-to-month service instead of committing to 1-3 years as most web hosting services require.
3. NameCheap
NameCheap
With web hosting plans starting at less than $2 per month, NameCheap is a great place to start for those on an ultra-tight budget
With over 10 million domain registrations, NameCheap also offers a wide variety of web hosting services. Their EasyWP WordPress hosting is a great option and even offers a 30-day trial.
NameCheap is also one of the cheapest web hosting options, with plans starting at less than $2 per month for the first year of service.
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NameCheap offers everything you need to build a fast website for less than $2 per month, making it one of the most affordable options that can fit into nearly any budget.
4. DreamHost
DreamHost
Affordible pricing, month-to-month options for those not willing to commit, and a 100% uptime guarantee make DreamHost a solid candidate in the web hosting space. A 97-day Money-back guarantee sweetens the deal even more.
DreamHost is one of the lesser-known web hosting services, but don’t let that deter you. DreamHost has a lot going for it.
The number one thing I like about DreamHost is their ability to pay on a month-to-month basis. Most web hosting companies promote a low monthly price but don’t then tell you that you need to pay for the entire year upfront.
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With DreamHost’s almost unheard-of 97-day money-back guarantee(most only offer 30 days) you can be sure that you’re completely satisfied with the product you’re getting.
5. BlueHost
BlueHost
Great for beginners, a free domain name, and 1 click WordPress install make Bluehost a solid choice for web hosting. With that in mind, expect an upsell to their SiteLock service partner if your site ever gets compromised
I’ve been using Bluehost for the past 7 years on several websites that I built. Many consider it the go-to name in the web hosting arena for a few reasons.
First, they offer a free domain name and an SSL certificate, and make it extremely easy for beginners to get started with their one-click WordPress setup.
Another reason I recommend Bluehost is its 24/7 support. While I’d like to think I am pretty tech-savvy, on more than one occasion I messed something up with one of my sites. Bluehost was able to reserve the issue quickly, usually within the same day.
However, with more damaging issues like your site getting hacked or a malware attack, you’re basically on your own. When this happened to me recently, Bluehost would not remove the malware (even though they could scan the files).
They referred me to a partner called SiteLock who wanted to charge me close to $600 just to get everything back in order.
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Overall, Bluehost is still a good option for web hosting. With that in mind, learn from my mistakes and make sure you get some type of malware protection for that extra layer of security.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve made it this far, you might have noticed that many of these web hosting services have nearly the exact same features at a similar price. While every selection on this list is a viable option, I cannot stress enough getting some type of malware protection and security, no matter what you choose.
Although it was a little more expensive at $8.99 per month, I went with GoDaddy’s Managed WordPress basic plan for that added peace of mind.
If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below or send me a direct message here.