Last updated on December 21st, 2023 at 08:49 am
Finding a web hosting company that is right for you can be tricky. There are so many companies and options to choose from. However, the process becomes a little easier if you narrow your focus to some web hosting providers in the UK.
This article will give tips on what to look for when choosing a web hosting company in the UK.
What is web hosting?
You might already know what it is, but it doesn’t hurt to reinforce the basics, right?
Web hosting is an internet service that allows businesses and individuals to create their websites.
A web host (company providing these services) provides the technology and services needed for the website to be viewed on the internet.
There are many different types of web hosting, and each has its own features and benefits.
Let’s explore more in the next section?.
The different types of web hosting available in the UK
a). Shared web hosting
This is the most popular type of web hosting in the UK. It involves sharing a server with other websites. Shared web hosting is suitable for small to medium-sized websites with low traffic levels.
At the same time, it is perfect for those who are just starting and do not have a large budget for web hosting.
b). Dedicated web hosting.
Dedicated web hosting is where you rent an entire server for your website. This is suitable for high-traffic websites that require more resources than what shared web hosts can provide.
It is also more expensive than shared and VPS web hosting.
c). VPS web hosting
Virtual private server (VPS) web hosting is a type of web hosting that gives you your virtual server.
In fact, this is intermediate between shared and dedicated web hosts. It is more expensive than shared but cheaper than dedicated.
With this kind of hosting service, you can enjoy the benefits of a dedicated server at a fraction of the cost.
d) Cloud hosting.
Cloud hosting is a type of web hosting in the UK that uses multiple servers to host a website.
It is scalable and can be used by high-traffic websites.
But there’s a catch.
Cloud hosting is more expensive than other types of web hosting.
Deciding on the right type of web hosting for your needs
As you’ve seen, many types of web hosting services are available and choosing the right one can be difficult.
To help you out, here are some things to consider when choosing a web host:
- Type of website: There are different types of websites (e.g. e-commerce, blog, etc.) and each type has different hosting requirements. Make sure you choose a host that can accommodate your website’s needs.
- Traffic: How much traffic does your website get? If you have a lot of traffic, you’ll need a host to handle it. Otherwise, your site will crash or run slowly.
- Budget: How much are you willing to spend on web hosting? There are many affordable hosts, but they may not offer all the features you need.
- Features: What features do you need from your web host? Make a list of the must-haves and find a host that offers them.
- Your technical skills: Some hosts require you to have certain technical skills to use their services. If you’re not comfortable with these, make sure you choose a host that doesn’t require them.
As for the last point, there are other types of hosting services that don’t require you to have any tech skills.
For example, managed WordPress hosting is a hosting solution that helps you with the technical aspects of your website.
You don’t need to know how to code or set up servers; you can focus on creating content for your site.
There are also hosting companies in the UK that will provide you with a turnkey website solution.
This means they’ll take care of everything from choosing the right domain name to setting up your email accounts.
You just need to provide the content for your site, and they’ll do the rest.
Now that we’ve covered what you need to pick the right hosting service, you still need to choose a hosting provider.
Important factors to consider when choosing a web host in the UK
a). Location
The closer your server is to your target audience, the better your site will perform. Choosing a UK-based web host is essential to target a UK audience.
There are several reasons for this.
Firstly, website speed is crucial for user experience and search engine ranking. If your website is slow, users are likely to leave before they even see what you have to offer.
Secondly, having a local server can help improve customer support response times.
And finally, it can be helpful for legal purposes – if you ever need to take action against a rogue hosting company, it will be much easier (and cheaper) if they’re based in the same country.
b). Cost
For most businesses here in the UK, the cost is a major factor to consider when choosing a web host.
While many free hosting options are available, these usually come with ads and limited storage space and bandwidth.
For businesses that require more robust hosting options, a variety of paid hosting plans are available. Shared hosting plans can start as low as £2 per month, while dedicated server plans can cost upwards of £100 per month.
When considering the cost of a web host, it’s important to consider the features and services that are included in the price.
Some hosts offer basic features, while others include more advanced features such as unlimited storage space, email accounts, and 24/7 customer support.
In essence, the best way to determine which web host is right for your business in the UK is to compare the features and costs of several hosts before making a final decision.
c). Reliability
When it comes to choosing a web host in the UK, reliability is key. You want to be sure that your host will be up and running when you need them and that they won’t have any unexpected downtime.
There are a few things to look for when assessing a host’s reliability:
First, check out their uptime guarantee. This is the percentage of time that the host promises their servers will be up and running.
A good uptime guarantee is around 99%, which means there is very little chance of your site being down.
Next, take a look at their customer reviews. See what other people have said about the host’s reliability. If there are a lot of negative reviews, it’s probably best to steer clear.
You might also want to contact the host directly and ask them about their processes for ensuring reliability.
Reliability will determine how your website will be impacted when your host experiences hardware issues.
When a server is down, you will not be able to get much work done. So choose a highly reliable host, and you won’t worry about your website being down.
d). Features.
Do the host offer everything you need?
But what if you don’t even know what you want?
Here are some features to look for when choosing a web host.
The first thing you should look for is unlimited storage and bandwidth. This will ensure that your website can grow as large as it needs to without running into any issues.
Additionally, you should look for a web host that offers free SSL certificates. This will ensure that your website is secure and encrypted, which is important for protecting your visitors’ information.
Then there is the user interface you will need. This is the platform you need to interact with your hosting account and make changes to your website.
Some companies give you access to cPanel, while others give you a custom user interface. Choose the one that is right for you and easy to use.
e). Customer Support
Customer support should be a key factor when choosing a web host in the UK.
A good web host will have 24/7 customer support available to help you with any issues you may encounter.
They should also have a knowledge base or FAQ section that can help you resolve common issues on your own.
When considering customer support, be sure to read reviews of the web host to see what others have said about their experience. You can also contact the web host directly to ask questions and get a feel for how responsive and helpful they are.
Be sure to choose a web host in the UK with excellent customer support, so you can rest assured knowing that help is always available when you need it.
f). Scalability
This is especially true if you expect your website to grow in popularity and traffic over time.
A good web host in the UK can offer you a scalable solution that can accommodate your website’s increasing needs.
One way to ensure that your web host can scale with you is to choose a host that uses a cloud-based infrastructure. This type of infrastructure is highly scalable and can easily handle an increase in traffic.
You need to pick a hosting partner that will grow with you, not one that will get you into trouble when your site becomes popular.
A good partner will be able to offer you a scalable solution that can accommodate your website’s increasing needs.
That said, let us look at some of the best web hosting providers in the UK.
5 popular web hosting providers in the UK
1. HostGator.
HostGator is one of the world’s largest web hosting companies, with over 8 million customers and over 400,000 websites. Founded in 2002, HostGator has grown to become one of the most popular web hosting providers on the planet.
HostGator offers a wide range of web hosting services, from shared hosting to dedicated servers. They also offer a wide variety of domain names and email accounts. Their customer support is top-notch, with 24/7 live chat and phone support available.
HostGator is definitely worth checking out if you’re looking for a reliable, affordable web host!
2. Bluehost
Bluehost is one of the largest web hosting companies in the world, with over 2 million customers.
They offer a wide variety of services, including shared hosting, WordPress hosting, VPS hosting, and dedicated servers.
They have a very user-friendly interface, and their customer support is excellent.
It is a highly recommended web hosting provider to anyone looking for a reliable web hosting company here in the UK.
3. Truehost Cloud
Truehost Cloud is a cloud hosting provider that offers a variety of features to help businesses grow and succeed online.
With Truehost Cloud, businesses can get started quickly and easily with a simple control panel and easy-to-use tools.
Plus, Truehost Cloud offers 24/7 support so businesses can always get help when they need it.
4. GreenGeeks
GreenGeeks is one of the leading green web hosting companies. They offer affordable, reliable, and eco-friendly web hosting services.
They aim to help make the internet greener by offsetting their energy consumption with renewable energy sources.
They have been in business since 2008 and are strongly committed to customer service.
GreenGeeks offers a variety of features that make them a great choice for web hosting, including unlimited disk space and bandwidth, free domain name, free SSL certificate, and more.
5. SiteGround
SiteGround is a web hosting company that offers various services, including shared hosting, cloud hosting, and dedicated servers.
They have been in business since 2004 and are one of the most popular web hosts in the world. SiteGround has over 500,000 customers, and its servers are in 24 countries.
This hosting provider offers a wide range of features that make them great for web hosting. Their excellent customer service offer a 99.9% uptime guarantee.
They also have an anytime money-back guarantee, so you can cancel your account anytime and get a full refund.
Final thoughts
When choosing a web host in the UK, there are several important factors to consider.
First, research the different hosting types available and select the one that best suits your needs.
Second, be sure to read the fine print and understand all of the terms and conditions before signing up for service.
Third, be sure to compare prices and services between different web hosts to find the best deal.
And finally, don’t forget to contact customer support if you have any questions or concerns.
By following these simple tips, you can be sure to find the best web host in the UK for your needs.
Web hosting in the UK FAQs
How can I host a website for free UK?
There are a few ways that you can go about hosting your website for free in the UK. One way is to use a free web hosting service. These services usually give you a subdomain (yoursite.theirdomain.com) and provide basic features and storage space. Another way is to find a paid web hosting service that offers a free trial period. This will allow you to test the service and see if it meets your needs before committing to anything. Finally, if you have access to a server, you can host your website yourself for free. This requires some technical knowledge, but it is doable.
Do I need a web host with WordPress?
With over 60 million installations, WordPress is the world’s most popular content management system (CMS). Many people choose to use WordPress because it is free and open source. However, you need a web host to install WordPress on your website.
So, do you need a web host with WordPress? The answer is yes! A web host provides the server space and bandwidth you need for your website to be accessible to visitors. Without a web host, you will not be able to use WordPress.
There are many types of web hosts out there, so you will need to research to find the best one for your needs. Make sure to read reviews and compare prices before making your decision. Once you find a good web host, you can install WordPress and start creating your website!
Can I create a website without a domain name?
Yes, you can create a website without a domain name. You can use a free web hosting service like Webs.com or WordPress.com. You’ll be able to create a website and post content, but your website will have a web address that includes the name of the free web hosting service. For example, yourwebsite.webs.com or yourwebsite.wordpress.com. If you want to have your domain name (like www.yourwebsite.com), you’ll need to pay for web hosting and purchase a domain name from a registrar like GoDaddy or Namecheap.
What is the difference between domain and hosting?
Domain names are the web addresses people type into their browsers to find your website. They work like an address for your home; they tell visitors where to find you on the internet.
Hosting, on the other hand, makes your website accessible to everyone on the internet. It’s the physical place where all of your website’s files are stored. You need a domain name and a hosting account to create a functional website.
Think of it this way: Your domain name is your street address, and hosting is the plot of land your house is built on. You can have the best house in the world, but if it’s not built on land, no one can come to visit you. Similarly, you can have the coolest website in the world, but if it’s not hosted online, no one will be able to see it.
What is the difference between web hosting and web server?
When it comes to web hosting and web servers, there are a few key differences that you should know about. For starters, a web server is a computer that stores all of the files for your website. This includes the code for your site, as well as any images or other multimedia files. A web host, on the other hand, is a company that provides space on its servers for you to store your website. In most cases, you will need to pay for this service.
Another key difference between these two terms is that a web server is used actually to serve up your website to visitors. This means that when someone types in your URL, they connect to your web server and request your site’s files. A web host simply provides the space for you to store those files – they don’t serve them up to visitors.
What does website hosting include?
You’ll need to find a web host when you’re ready to launch your website. Website hosting is a service that provides the technology and services needed for a website or web page to be viewed on the Internet. A web host will give you a domain name, the address people will use to find your website. Once you have found a web host and registered your domain name, you can start building your website.
Your web host will provide space on their server to store your website files and give you access to their bandwidth so that people can view your site. Your web host will also provide you with email accounts and other features, depending on your chosen package.
When choosing a web host, it’s important to consider what kind of support they offer, as well as the price and features of their packages.
How do I connect my domain to my web hosting?
Assuming you’ve already bought a domain name, there are only a few steps you need to follow to connect it to your web hosting account.
First, log into your web hosting account and find the DNS settings. Once you’re in the DNS settings, you’ll need to add two ‘A’ records. The first ‘A’ record should have @ in the hostname field and your web server’s IP address in the points to field. The second ‘A’ record should have www in the hostname field and your web server’s IP address in the points to field.
That’s it! You’ve now successfully connected your domain name to your web hosting account.
What is a cPanel?
A cPanel is a web hosting control panel that provides a graphical interface and automation tools designed to simplify the process of hosting a website.
cPanel is the most popular web hosting control panel on the market today. Over 70% of all web hosting providers use cPanel to provide their customers an easy way to manage their websites.
cPanel makes managing your website, email accounts, DNS entries, and easier. With cPanel, you can quickly and easily make changes to your website without contacting your web hosting provider.