Best Website Hosting for Small Business: 7 Top Providers
John Hughes If you’re looking to take your company to the next level, it’s time to bring it online. Launching a site can help you promote your brand, reach new audiences, sell products through an ecommerce store, and plenty more. The first step in the process is finding the best website hosting for small business.
The good news is that plenty of hosting providers have features designed specifically for small businesses. What’s more, some web hosts offer streamlined, all-in-one solutions that allow you to get started right away.
📚 In this guide, we’ll explain what to look for in a hosting provider for your small business. Then, we’ll review seven of the best hosts for small businesses. Let’s get started!
What to look for in website hosting for small business
Since there are so many website hosting providers available, it can be tricky to distinguish between them.
Here are some key features to consider when searching for the best website hosting for small business:
- 🏅 An uptime guarantee. Your site going offline could deter new visitors, prevent shoppers from purchasing items in your store, and hurt your business’s reputation. Therefore, it’s worth investing in a host with a high uptime guarantee to ensure that your website is always accessible.
- 🤑 Affordability. If your business is still growing, you may not have a huge budget for web hosting. Shared hosting is an affordable option where your site shares resources with other websites.
- 🔧 All-in-one solutions. Some web hosts offer additional features that can streamline the setup process, such as one-click WordPress installs and a domain name included in your hosting plan. Furthermore, if you opt for managed hosting, you’ll get access to ongoing maintenance services like automatic updates, file backups, and integrated security solutions. All of these features can take some of the load off your shoulders and allow you to focus on running your business.
- 📧 Email hosting included. Investing in a business email address can make your company look more professional when communicating with customers. Fortunately, some hosts have email hosting within their packages.
- 📈 Performance. Fast loading speeds are essential to your site. As such, we recommend investing in a performance-focused host with plenty of resources, caching, and a built-in content delivery network (CDN) to supercharge your site.
All of these requirements might sound overwhelming, but plenty of hosting providers fit the bill. In the next section, we’ll provide an in-depth review of some of the best web hosts around, so you’ll be able to make an informed decision.
Seven best website hosting for small business compared
Now, let’s look at the best website hosting for small business. Here are our seven top picks:
1. Bluehost
Bluehost is one of the most popular website hosts for small business. Not only does it offer a beginner-friendly interface and setup process, but it’s also officially recommended by WordPress.org.
With Bluehost, you’ll be able to choose from various plans, including shared, virtual private server (VPS), and dedicated hosting. Plus, each plan is highly scalable, and Bluehost offers free migrations between servers if you decide to upgrade.
When you’re just getting started, you can use the shared plans to save money. However, it’s nice to have those other plan types in case your small business ever outgrows its current one.
Furthermore, Bluehost is very easy to use. It has all-in-one packages with one-click WordPress installs, a domain name, and even email hosting. Therefore, you’ll have everything you need to launch your small company site.
⚙️ Key features:
- Free domain name and SSL certificate for the first year
- Beginner-friendly interface and setup
- Access to a Cloudflare CDN to boost site performance
- One-click WordPress installs
🏎️ Performance (based on our tests):
- Uptime: 100%
- Load time – USA: 0.79s
- Load time – Europe: 0.67s
- Load time – Asia: 0.46s
💳 Price:
Bluehost plans start at $1.99 for the first year. Note that the price will increase for the second billing period to match regular rates.
2. A2 Hosting
If you’re looking for speedy loading times and flexible hosting options, A2 Hosting could be the way to go. This provider offers a variety of plans, including shared, VPS, and dedicated options.
It also provides email hosting. Moreover, you might opt for managed WordPress hosting and get access to time-saving and performance-enhancing features like automatic backups, hosting on A2’s turbo servers (powered by LiteSpeed), object caching, and automated updates.
A2 Hosting’s WordPress-specific plans come with WordPress preinstalled, making it easy to launch your small business site. They also include various security features to safeguard your data, such as two-factor authentication, free security scans, DDoS protection, and a firewall.
⚙️ Key features:
- Free site migrations
- Free SSL certificate
- Unlimited free email accounts
🏎️ Performance (based on our tests):
- Uptime: 99.97%
- Load time – USA: 0.96s
- Load time – Europe: 1.07s
- Load time – Asia: 1.81s
💳 Price:
A2 shared hosting plans start at $1.95 per month. Additionally, all packages include a 30-day money-back guarantee.
3. Hostinger
Hostinger is one of the best website hosts for small business if you’re on a tight budget. It offers some of the cheapest entry-level plans on the market, as well as plenty of options like WordPress, cloud, VPS, and agency hosting.
Furthermore, Hostinger can help you build a site through its integrated website builder module. You’ll also get access to a free domain name, email hosting, and an SSL certificate to keep your data safe.
⚙️ Key features:
- Free domain, SSL certificate, email hosting, and DDoS protection
- 24/7 live support
- Managed WordPress features, including one-click installs and auto-updates
🏎️ Performance (based on our tests):
- Uptime: 100%
- Load time – USA: 1.45s
- Load time – Europe: 0.98s
- Load time – Asia: 0.98s
💳 Price:
Hostinger web hosting plans start at $2.69 per month for the first year. Keep in mind that this package will renew at a higher price for the following years.
4. DreamHost
DreamHost could be an excellent choice if you’re looking for affordability and user-friendliness. The host offers a variety of packages, such as managed WordPress, WooCommerce, and cloud hosting. Additionally, even its cheapest plans include a free domain name, WordPress preinstalled, a free SSL certificate, and the option to add email hosting at low cost.
Moreover, DreamHost also has its own website builder tool to help you get your site up and running. Alternatively, you can enjoy free migrations if you’re moving your site from another hosting provider.
⚙️ Key features:
- Free domain name and SSL certificate
- Preinstalled WordPress and free WordPress migrations
- Unlimited traffic and unmetered bandwidth
🏎️ Performance (based on our tests):
- Uptime: 99.99%
- Load time – USA: 1.45s
- Load time – Europe: 1.12s
- Load time – Asia: 2.47s
💳 Price:
DreamHost plans start at $2.59 per month for the first year. Once you renew the contract, you’ll be paying $6.99 per month.
5. SiteGround
If you’re looking for high-performance features at affordable prices, SiteGround is worth considering. It’s another host that’s explicitly recommended by WordPress.org, demonstrating its reliability. Additionally, you’ll get plenty of free features included in your hosting plan, such as a domain name, an SSL certificate, email hosting, access to a CDN, and daily backups.
All SiteGround plans include managed WordPress features like one-click installs, automatic updates, and access to WordPress support. Plus, it’s easy to launch an online store for your small business with automated WooCommerce installation.
We’ve also put together a guide on the best SiteGround alternatives if you’re looking for a similar provider! While not all of these picks made our best website hosting for small business roundup, they’re all still quality options.
⚙️ Key features:
- Free domain name, SSL certificate, and email hosting
- Managed WordPress features on all plans
- Integrated firewall protection and an anti-bot system
🏎️ Performance (based on our tests):
- Uptime: 100%
- Load time – USA: 1.21s
- Load time – Europe: 0.86s
- Load time – Asia: 0.92s
💳 Price:
SiteGround shared hosting plans start at $2.99 per month. Note that this promotional price increases to $14.99 per month after the first year.
6. Namecheap
Namecheap is perhaps best known for its domain services. However, it also offers highly affordable web hosting packages with reliable performance. You’ll be able to choose between various plan types, including shared, WordPress, VPS, and dedicated hosting, all of which come with a free domain name.
Even on the cheapest plan, you’ll be able to host up to three websites with Namecheap. Moreover, you’ll get access to a free SSL certificate, website-building tool, CDN, and website migration. Overall, if you’re looking for the best bang for your buck, Namecheap is well worth considering.
⚙️ Key features:
- Free domain, SSL certificate, email hosting, CDN, and website builder
- Speedy WordPress deployment with the Softaculous installer
- Automated backups with all plans
🏎️ Performance (based on our tests):
- Uptime: 99.98%
- Load time – USA: 0.72s
- Load time – Europe: 1.01s
- Load time – Asia: 1.81s
💳 Price:
Namecheap shared hosting plans start at $1.58 per month. After the first year, this cost increases to $4.48 per month.
7. WP Engine
Finally, WP Engine could be the best website hosting for small business if you’re looking for a managed WordPress provider. Although it’s one of the pricier options on our list, WP Engine includes performance-boosting features, automatic updates, daily backups, access to a staging environment, and a free SSL certificate.
WP Engine is performance-focused thanks to its proprietary EverCache technology, access to multiple servers worldwide, and a CDN to speed up page loading times. Therefore, it could be a great option if your small business caters to international customers.
However, keep in mind that WP Engine doesn’t include a domain name service or email hosting. It may also be more challenging to configure for complete beginners. However, if you have the skills and the budget for WP Engine, it might be worth the investment.
⚙️ Key features:
- SSL certificate, daily backups, automated updates, staging environment, and CDN
- Free premium themes
- Integrated security features and performance monitoring tools
🏎️ Performance (based on our tests):
- Uptime: 99.99%
- Load time – USA: 0.8s
- Load time – Europe: 0.85s
- Load time – Asia: 1.72s
💳 Price:
WP Engine plans start at $20.00 per month if you pay annually.
Which is the best website hosting for small business?
The easiest way to reach a larger customer base is to get your company online. A business website will help you collect leads, sell products directly, increase brand awareness, and deliver customer support. However, you’ll first need to choose a hosting provider.
If you’re looking for an affordable and all-in-one hosting solution, Bluehost is a safe bet and our overall pick for the best website hosting for small business. It offers one-click WordPress installs, email hosting, a free domain name, and an SSL certificate.
Alternatively, Namecheap is a very budget-friendly provider that doesn’t skimp on performance, which can make it a solid option if money is tight.
Do you have any questions about choosing the best website hosting for small business? Let us know in the comments section below!
