10 Best Web Hosting Providers in 2023 (Free Domain Name and Global Data Center)

WRITTEN BY

Daren Low

UPDATED

December 05, 2023

The best web hosting providers offer high speeds, reliable features and generous resources to help support your website. We’ve shortlisted the top 10 web hosts based on the quality of their services and paid special attention to their server performance and their reliability.

This article also explains how we define the best web hosting, the prices you should expect to pay and the importance of identifying the best solution for your website. We also discuss our criteria for fast web hosting (with an average global server response time under 180 ms) and share top recommendations for small businesses, beginners and WordPress websites. Finally, we’ll examine the importance of server location and how this affects which data center you should host from.

Our research reveals Hostinger as the #1 recommended web hosting provider overall.

1. Hostinger

https://www.hostinger.com/

Hostinger is the #1 web host on this list because they provide premium-level server performance and localised support at surprisingly affordable prices. They operate a wide spread of 8 data centers across 4 continents and scored a top A+ grade on our server speed test tool with an impressive average global response time of 136 ms.

Hostinger offers generous resources that include 100GB SSD disk space, unlimited bandwidth and a free domain. Their plans are great for businesses and include 100 emails. Hostinger is also perfect for beginners. They’re budget-friendly, optimized for WordPress and offer a user-friendly hPanel control panel and multilingual support. However, they don’t provide phone support.

Our 3 Hostinger test sites reported very fast server speed. This combines with speed features like a Cache Manager, LiteSpeed cache and NGINX caching. Hostinger’s introductory pricing is exceptionally low and their renewal prices don’t increase as much as most other web hosts. Hostinger operates 8 strategically distributed data centers, making them a high-quality hosting solution no matter where your audience’s geographic location. You can host 100 websites on this plan. Read our full Hostinger review for more details.

2. DreamHost

https://www.dreamhost.com/

DreamHost’s strengths lie in their WordPress expertise. They’re one of the few web hosts with an official WordPress endorsement. DreamHost’s interface and features are perfect for beginners and include a drag-and-drop WordPress site builder and support team of WordPress experts. Their unusual 100% uptime and 97-day money back guarantee aim to give users peace of mind about their reliability. DreamHost scored an A+ speed grade with an average global response time of 118.4 ms.

DreamHost users get unlimited disk space on SSD drives, unmetered bandwidth and a free domain on their Shared Unlimited plans. They even offer free unlimited email which makes them perfect for business use. DreamHost offers excellent affordable features for beginners, especially those on WordPress websites since this is Dreamhost’s area of expertise.

Our DreamHost test site recorded a 99.95% uptime and the highest server speed grade of A+. Dreamhost’s introductory pricing is very low at $2.95/mo but jumps up considerably to $12.99/mo on renewal. They operate 2 data centers that are both in the US. This makes them ideal for websites targeting audiences in this region, but less ideal for those targeting Asia or Australia. You can host unlimited websites on this plan. Read our full DreamHost review for more details.

3. SiteGround

https://www.siteground.com/

SiteGround is officially WordPress-endorsed and built on the Google Cloud Platform. This means they’re extremely fast, scalable and offer very high-quality hosting solutions you can rely on. They scored an A+ ranking on our server speed tool with an average global response time of 136.9 ms.

SiteGround’s StartUp plan offers a lower amount of disk space, but unmetered bandwidth. You will need to pay extra for a domain. Businesses will benefit from free unlimited emails. SiteGround is also suited for beginner websites and has earned an official WordPress endorsement. Our test sites on SiteGround reported an outstanding 99.99% uptime and A+ server speed ranking.

SiteGround’s prices in general are higher than the competition. However, their lightest plans are ideal for smaller websites who don’t want to pay for more resources than they need. Their low introductory prices start from just $2.99 but their renewal prices skyrocket up to $17.99. They have one of the best data center spreads on this list with 11 locations to choose from. It’s a shame that this plan can only be used to host one website, but you’ll have peace of mind knowing it’s receiving premium care. Read our full SiteGround review for more details.

4. Bluehost

https://www.bluehost.com/

BlueHost is a strong web hosting choice for WordPress blogs and small business sites. They have an official WordPress endorsement. They have 20+ years of experience in the hosting industry and understand that people are looking for fast server speeds and reliability. Bluehost scored an A+ on our server speed test tool with an average global response time of 153 ms.

Bluehost’s Choice Plus plan offers 40GB disk space, unmetered bandwidth and a free domain. They’re ideal for businesses requiring free unlimited emails. Their WordPress expertise, fairly cheap plans and free domain also make it a decent option for beginners. Our Bluehost test sites scored a 99.99% uptime and an A+ server speed grade.

Bluehost offers introductory prices from $5.45 which is fairly average but this unfortunately skyrockets to $21.99 on renewal. This makes them considerably more expensive than most hosts on this list. They also only offer 1 data server location in Utah, USA, which makes them less suitable for those targeting audiences in other regions. You can host 3 sites with this plan. Read our full Bluehost review for more details.

5. Kinsta

https://www.kinsta.com/

Kinsta offers Premium Managed WordPress hosting. They are powered by the premium tier of Google Cloud which lets them provide users with exceptionally high quality web hosting in terms of speed, reliability and scalability. Their team is composed of high-level WordPress experts who take care of the complicated parts of managing your website. Kinsta also offers generous CDN storage and a proactive monitoring security system to keep your site safe.

Kinsta’s Starter plan comes with 10GB disk space and allows 25,000 monthly visits. You’ll need to purchase your emails and domain elsewhere which is a downside for businesses looking for an all-in-one solution. Their higher prices and specialised offerings also make them less suitable for beginners. However, they are a very strong premium choice for WordPress sites who can afford them.

Our Kinsta test sites returned an incredible 100% uptime and A+ server speed ranking which vouches for the quality and reliability of their platform. Prices start from $29.17 which makes them the most expensive host on this list but prices don’t increase on renewal. Their use of Google Cloud gives Kinsta users to an unbeatable 35 data center locations. You can host 1 website on this plan. Read our full Kinsta review for more details.

6. HostPapa

https://www.hostpapa.com/

HostPapa is a Canadian web host with an excellent support team called the PapaSquad. This is one of its best strengths. HostPapa powers their data centers and office spaces with 100% green renewable energy. They also offer impressively fast server performance. Our HostPapa test sites reported a fantastic A+ ranking thanks to an average global response time of 121.7 ms.

HostPapa gives users unlimited disk space, unmetered bandwidth and a free domain on their Pro plan and up. They’re a solid option for businesses looking for free unlimited email accounts. They also suit beginners who want a wallet-friendly host plan for their first website. Our HostPapa test sites recorded an acceptable 99.98% uptime and an A+ server speed ranking.

HostPapa’s introductory prices are affordable but users should be aware the price will increase from $11.99 to $34.99 upon renewal. HostPapa currently operates 3 data centers within North America and Europe. This plan allows you to host unlimited websites. Read our full HostPapa review for more details.

7. GreenGeeks

https://www.greengeeks.com/

GreenGeeks’s unique selling point is their commitment to the environment. This web host offsets 300% of the energy they consume by purchasing green energy credits. GreenGeeks therefore empowers users to make eco-friendly choices without compromising on server performance. They scored an A+ ranking on our server speed checker with an average global response time of 178.6 m.

GreenGeek’s Pro Plan gives users unlimited disk space, unmetered bandwidth and a free domain. They are suitable for businesses and offer free unlimited emails. Beginners will also benefit from GreenGeek’s excellent compatibility with WordPress and budget-friendly prices.

GreenGeeks scored a fantastic 99.99% uptime and A+ score on our server speed checker. Their introductory prices are low and start at just $4.95 for very generous resources. However, this does increase considerably to $16.95 upon renewal. GreenGeeks currently operates 4 data centers that are spread out widely in Chicago, Montreal, Amsterdam and Singapore. You can host unlimited websites on this plan. Read our full GreenGeeks review for more details.

8. A2 Hosting

https://www.a2hosting.com/

A2 Hosting hails from Michigan and is known for its turbo-fast servers and dependable hosting plans. They also stand out for their generous resource allocations that are often unlimited. They also offer plans and plug-ins that are specifically optimized for WordPress. Our A2 Hosting test sites reported an A+ ranking with an average global response time of 173.2 ms.

A2’s Drive plan includes unlimited disk space, bandwidth and a free domain. Their free unlimited emails make them a good fit for businesses. Beginners also benefit from their many freebies at budget-friendly pricing, especially since they offer many plans optimized for WordPress. We were impressed by the 100% uptime and A+ ranked performance on our A2 test sites.

A2’s plans come at low prices that start from $5.99 and go up to $14.99 on renewal. They currently operate 4 data center locations in Michigan, Arizona, Amsterdam and Singapore. You can host unlimited websites on this plan. Read our full A2 Hosting review for more details.

9. Cloudways

https://www.cloudways.com/

Cloudways offers a powerful hosting dashboard that simplifies the typical complications of managing cloud servers. This allows anyone to benefit from the scalability, reliability and speed of cloud based website hosting. Cloudways partners with leaders in the cloud computing field. This gives users more flexibility as well as access to a vast distribution of servers around the world. They scored an impressive A+ speed ranking with an average global response time of 116.1ms.

Cloudways’ DO1GB plan offers 25GB disk space and 1TB bandwidth but doesn’t include a free domain. They don’t include email hosting so may not suit all businesses. Cloudways’s higher prices and non-inclusion of a domain means they’re less ideal for beginners. Our test sites with Cloudways recorded a 99.95% uptime and an A+ grade in our speed test tool. This plan starts at $11 a month and remains the same price upon renewal.

Cloudways offers an incredible 65 data centers as provided by their partners DigitalCloud AWS, and Google Cloud. This makes them officially the host with the most data center locations on this list. You can host unlimited websites on this plan. Read our full Cloudways review for more details.

10. ScalaHosting

https://www.scalahosting.com/

ScalaHosting offers powerful servers and high-quality features. Their SPanel interface is excellent and compatible with cPanel. They offer an unconditional money-back guarantee that can be claimed at any time. This is unusual in the web hosting industry where 30-day money back guarantees are the standard. ScalaHosting returned an impressive A+ ranking on our server speed tool with an average global response time of 151.7 ms.

ScalaHosting’s Mini plan comes with a modest 10GB of SSD disk space, unmetered bandwidth and a free domain. They offer free unlimited email which makes them ideal for businesses. ScalaHosting is also great for beginner WordPress websites and offers scaled-down plans that suit smaller budgets. They offer a 99.9% uptime guarantee and their server speeds impressed us with an A+ grade. ScalaHosting plans start from just $2.95 and increase to a modest $9.95 upon renewal.

ScalaHosting operates 3 data centers in the USA (Dallas and New York) and in Bulgaria (Sofia). They’re best suited for websites targeting audiences near to these regions. You can host 1 website on this plan. Read our full ScalaHosting review for more details.

What Is Best Web Hosting?

The best web hosting are web hosts that offer high-quality services to website owners. Web hosting plays a critical role by ensuring websites are accessible to visitors 24/7 and the best web hosts do everything they can to support this goal.

In our evaluation, we focus on two essential areas: performance and reliability. High-quality performance involves fast loading times, achieved through robust server hardware and optimized software configurations such as caching, CDN and CMS optimizations. It also includes efficient data transfer, low latency, and effective content delivery, enhancing the user experience.

High-quality reliability means minimal downtime, supported by redundant server setups, responsive customer support backup systems, and proactive monitoring. The best web hosting provides offer these quality services across all the types of web hosting that they offer.

Types of web hosting

There are 6 main types of web hosting and these are shared, VPS, cloud, reseller, dedicated, and WordPress hosting. These web hosting variations are tailored to meet very different website goals and levels of technical expertise, whether you’re a beginner, small business, or enterprise. Each web hosting type offers varying levels of affordability, security, resources, and customizability and the best web hosts can be trusted to provide high-quality solutions regardless of the type of web hosting chosen. We’ve explored this in more depth in our article on web hosting definitions.

10 Things To Expect From The Best Web Hosting

You can expect 10 things from the best web hosting providers, and these are:

How Much Does Best Web Hosting Cost?

The best web hosting costs between $1.99 – $30 per month on average. It’s important to understand that you will need to expect to pay a fair price if you want to use the best web hosting options. “Best” does not necessarily come with “cheap”. However, there are many web hosts that offer affordable plans to suit most budgets.

The type of hosting that you chose affects the costs of the best web hosting. This is because different hosting options offer varying levels of resources, features, and scalability to meet your website’s specific needs, resulting in differing cost structures and resource allocations. You can often lower the costs of web hosting by opting for a longer-term plan instead of a monthly plan. Check our full guide on website hosting cost for more information.

Why Is Best Web Hosting Important?

Choosing the best web hosting is important because it is the foundation of your website and business. The best web hosting is built to offer balanced hosting services. This includes combining great server speed with generous features such as email hosting for business communications. The best web hosting will not oversell things to you that you don’t need. They offer pricing that is suitable for everyone, whether you’re a small business or a beginner starting your first WordPress website.

What is fast web hosting?

Fast web hosting is a web host service that focuses on performance. Fast web hosts achieve high performance using cutting-edge hardware, fine-tuned software and strategic data center locations. As a result, their global server response time is fast. By our standards, a web host that hits at least 180 ms can be considered fast web hosting.

What is the best web hosting for small businesses?

The best web hosting for small businesses is premium grade shared hosting because it strikes a balance between performance, features, and cost. Such plans, like Hostinger’s Business Shared Host plans, cater well to the needs of small businesses by offering fast server speeds, a free domain, security features such as SSL certificates and dedicated customer support. The low cost of shared hosting also helps keep business overheads low.

For eCommerce sites, it is recommended to use a cloud hosting plan. This is because eCommerce sites will require more resources to handle product pages, transactions, and possible spikes in traffic during sale seasons. A cloud hosting plan will provide better reliability and scalability to make sure your online store stays up and functioning.

Can I host my email address with the best web hosting?

Yes you can host your email address with the best web hosting providers. All of the plans listed above allow you to create as many as 100 email accounts which is ideal for business use. Many offer unlimited email accounts. Kinsta and Cloudways are the only brands on this list who do not provide email hosting.

What is the best web hosting for beginners?

The best web hosting for beginners is Hostinger’s Shared Hosting Plan because it is affordable and adequately covers the needs of a small website. Shared hosting involves sharing a server with other websites and ensures each user only pays a fraction of the overall server upkeep.

Shared hosting is also particularly user-friendly with control panels and 1-click installers. It often includes automated security and is optimized for WordPress. Many plans offer a free domain to save beginners even more money. Check out our guide to the best personal website hosting.

What is the best WordPress hosting?

WordPress is a world famous CMS and used by 43.1% of websites, according to a survey by W3 Tech. The best WordPress Hosting is the hosting service that is optimised to host WordPress websites efficiently and help you unleash its full potential. WordPress hosting comes with different types such as Shared WordPress Hosting, VPS and Cloud WordPress Hosting. Always go with a Shared Hosting Plan if you are a beginner. Learn more about the best WordPress Hosting by checking out our full guide.

Is Server Location Important For Web Hosting?

Yes, server location is important for web hosting because it is directly related to a critical aspect of user experience called latency. Latency, measured in milliseconds (ms), represents the time it takes for data to travel between a user’s device and your web host’s server. If your web host only offers server locations that are very far from the geographical region of your audience, data packets must traverse great distances which causes delays and negatively impacts your visitors’ experience of your site.

However, it’s important to note that the ideal server location varies based on factors specific to different countries. Considerations such as local privacy laws, internet connectivity, the level of infrastructure and language compatibility can influence the choice of the best server location.

Best web hosting Canada

For best web hosting Canada, it is advisable to use the data center that is located in Canada because of the privacy and security benefits covered by Canada’s strict PIPEDA laws.

Best web hosting United Kingdom

For best web hosting UK, it is advisable to use the data center that is located in London, UK, or elsewhere in Europe, because of the privacy benefits required by mandatory GDPA compliance.

Best web hosting Australia

For best web hosting Australia, it is advisable to use the data center that is located in Australia or Singapore because of the physical subsea cable connectivity of these regions.

Best web hosting India

For best web hosting India, it is advisable to use the data center that is located within or closeby to India, because of the potential for localised support at the correct time zone. You can also host from Singapore because of its excellent connectivity to the rest of the world and its and proximity to India.

Best web hosting Singapore

For best web hosting Singapore, it is advisable to use the data center that is located in Singapore itself. This is because Singapore is one of the best-connected hubs in the world. It ranks 1st in Asia for digital infrastructure and has ambitious plans to double its submarine cable landing sites by 2033.

Best web hosting Philippines

For best web hosting Philippines, it is advisable to use the data center that is located in Singapore because of its close proximity to the Philippines. Singapore currently hosts approximately 50% of Southeast Asia’s data center capacity, according to the Singapore Economic Development Board. This is because of its cutting-edge infrastructure and connectivity.

Best web hosting Nigeria

For best web hosting Nigeria, it is advisable to use a data center from an international web host. This will let you take advantage of international standard customer service and cutting-edge server hardware.

Verdict: Which Is the Best Web Hosting For You?

The best web hosting for you will cover the most important needs of your website, including speed, reliable uptime, value for money, and geographic coverage. Your priorities will differ depending on whether you’re a business or beginner, and your web host needs to meet these specific requirements.

It’s critical to examine the quality of a web host’s offerings when answering the question “what is the best host for a website?”. The best web hosting providers offer generous resources such as disk space and bandwidth, and offer strong tech support and features to help simplify your website management.

All 10 web hosting providers on this list met these criteria and scored an A+ speed ranking. Our top choice is Hostinger because of the way it combines high-quality hardware and software at affordable prices regardless of the type of hosting you purchase. We’d recommend their reliable Shared Hosting plans for both businesses and websites and their widespread of 8 data centers offers customers a wide choice of server locations to choose from.