Deciding on a web hosting provider is like picking the right restaurant for a Saturday night dinner. So many options are out there, and you want to get the right bang for your buck.
And because your website directly reflects your business, choosing a hosting provider that fits your budget while having the features you need is hard to come by.
That’s why many business owners question reliability, security, and speed.
Keep reading, and you’ll learn everything you need to know about web hosting, if cheap hosting is right for you and some of the most common misconceptions.
What is web hosting?
Web hosting is a service that allows businesses to publish their websites on the internet. Web hosting providers offer space on their servers where website visitors can store and access website files and data.
Essentially, it’s like renting space on the internet for your business.
The web hosting service industry is not small — in 2022, the total revenue in the industry was nearly $80 billion and will continue to grow. Website speed, reliability, and security all factor into your web hosting provider. Selecting the right hosting solution will affect your user experience (UX).
Related content: What exactly is web hosting?
Is cheap web hosting reliable?
Yes, a cheap web hosting service can be reliable, provided you choose a reputable provider known for offering high-quality services at an affordable price. Researching different providers and considering factors like uptime, customer support, and overall performance is essential.
When evaluating various web hosting providers, consider the distinction between cheap and affordable. An affordable web hosting provider like Bluehost has fast, reliable high-quality hosting.
In contrast, a cheap web hosting provider might lack security, reliability or website speed. And according to Google, the probability of bounce increases by 32% as page load time goes from one to three seconds — so you don’t want that.
Here are some potential red flags to avoid in cheap web hosts:
- Hidden fees and unexpected costs
- Poor server performance and slow website loading times
- Limited customer support
- Inconsistent server uptime or unexpected downtime
- Lack of essential features like SSL certificates and email accounts
To make an informed decision, be sure to read customer reviews and testimonials. Positive feedback from real users can indicate that a web hosting provider offers reliable services at an affordable price.
The most common types of hosting are shared and dedicated hosting. Their differences go past the price, however. So, let’s delve into which is best for your website.
Cheap web hosting vs. dedicated web hosting — How to choose?
Choosing between shared (cheap) and dedicated web hosting can feel complex as both options have distinct advantages and disadvantages. Your decision ultimately depends on factors like budget, monthly traffic and the nature of your business.
Here’s what you should keep in mind to make an informed decision:
Price
Shared web hosting offers an affordable entry point for small businesses and bloggers. With resources divided among multiple websites, the overall expense remains low.
On the other hand, dedicated hosting comes at a higher price due to exclusive server use. The higher investment suits businesses with increasing traffic and performance demands.
Performance
With shared hosting solutions, multiple websites share resources like disk space and memory. A sudden surge in traffic for one website could affect the performance of others.
While this issue might not be a downside for smaller websites, larger websites trying to rank on search engine results pages (SERPs) might struggle. For instance, page speed affects user experience — a central ranking factor for SEO.
Dedicated hosting offers an edge for website speed and stability. If you’re anticipating significant traffic growth, dedicated hosting provides the flexibility to scale resources alongside your needs.
Scalability
While performance focuses on increasing the current capacity of your website’s speed and loading times, scalability refers to your website’s ability to handle growth and increased demand.
Shared hosting may provide enough resources for start-ups and smaller websites. But as your business grows, so does your need for hosting scalability.
Dedicated hosting allows for seamless expansion by addressing increased traffic with increasing processing power and storage capacity. Again, if you anticipate significant growth, consider dedicated hosting from the onset because of its flexibility.
Security
Most shared web hosts have ample security. However, the nature of sharing resources with other websites can pose a risk.
Dedicated hosting offers higher protection since you hold greater control over the server environment. If you handle sensitive data, your business will benefit from the enhanced security measures of dedicated hosting.
Control and customization
With shared hosting, your provider controls infrastructure like hardware and software configuration to ensure optimal website performance.
Conversely, dedicated hosting can help optimize your website so it runs as fast and as smoothly as possible. This added control enables you to customize your price, performance, scalability, and security to your specific needs.
How to sign up for cheap web hosting through Bluehost
The only cheap thing about Bluehost is its prices. You’re guaranteed to find the perfect fit for your WordPress or other website needs by choosing Bluehost as your provider.
With affordable shared and dedicated hosting options, you can rest assured knowing your website will be fast, reliable, and secure.
To get started, you’ll want to head to bluehost.com.
Head to the top left corner of your screen. If you have a WordPress website, click WordPress and WordPress Hosting.
If you want to create a website through Bluehost or host another domain, click Hosting & Websites and choose VPS Hosting, Shared Hosting or Dedicated Hosting.
Next, pick the plan that suits your needs.
Then, you’ll have to transfer your domain to Bluehost, fill out your personal information, and you’re all set.
Common questions regarding cheap web hosting services
A cheap web hosting service can be very reliable, provided you choose a reputable provider known for offering high-quality services at an affordable price. Researching different providers and considering factors like uptime, customer support, and overall performance is essential.
Yes, most web hosting providers, including Bluehost, offer easy upgrades to higher-tier plans as your business grows and needs more resources. Whether you want a cheap hosting plan or a comprehensive WordPress hosting plan, we’ve got you covered.
Many affordable hosting plans, like those from Bluehost, include a free domain name for the first year as part of their hosting package.
Reputable providers like Bluehost offer 24/7 customer support through phone, email, and live chat, even on their affordable plans.
Absolutely. Cheap hosting plans, especially from high-quality providers, can handle small business websites and blogs effectively. Although dedicated servers offer more flexibility, shared hosting plans go a long way. We recommend shared hosting to small businesses and bloggers starting out.
Yes. Many cheap hosting plans, including Bluehost’s, support WordPress and come with one-click installations. These affordable plans are optimized for WordPress performance, ensuring a smooth user experience and fast loading times for your website.
While free hosting options exist, they usually have limited features, resources, and support, making them unsuitable for serious business websites. These providers often limit custom domains, require ads and display logos on your website.
