How to choose the right web hosting for your website

Web hosting is your website's "home": it is where your files, database and email live. A good choice means a fast site that stays online and doesn't need fixing every month. A bad one means lost customers. Here is what to look at, one step at a time.

1. Speed matters more than storage

Many offers compete on gigabytes: 50 GB, 100 GB, "unlimited". The truth is that a business website needs 1–2 GB, and an average online store 5–10 GB. What matters far more is how fast your pages load. Look for:

• NVMe drives (several times faster than older SSDs);
• up-to-date PHP (8.2 or newer) and the option to choose your version;
• server-side caching and compression (gzip / brotli);
• servers located close to your visitors — for Europe, a European data centre.

2. Free SSL, included from day one

Without an SSL certificate, browsers show your site as "Not secure" and Google ranks it lower. Today SSL should be free and automatic: installed and renewed for you. If someone charges extra for a basic certificate, look elsewhere.

3. Email on your own domain

An address like hello@yourcompany.com builds far more trust than a free webmail one. Check whether the plan includes email accounts, how much space each mailbox gets and whether you can use it on your phone and in Outlook. Good webmail and spam protection are a must.

4. Automatic backups — your insurance

A broken plugin, a bad update or an accidentally deleted file can happen to anyone. Ask:

• Are backups taken daily?
• How many days are kept?
• Can I restore them myself from the panel, without contacting support?

5. A simple control panel

You shouldn't need to be a developer to manage your website. A good panel lets you install WordPress in one click, create mailboxes, change DNS settings and see statistics — all in plain language.

6. Support from real people

When something breaks, you want an answer in minutes, not days. Check for live chat, tickets and a help centre with guides. Read the customer reviews too.

In short: choose speed, free SSL, included email, daily backups and support that actually answers. The rest is marketing numbers.

Which plan do you need?

• Business site or blog: a basic plan is enough.
• Small online store: a mid-range plan with more resources and daily backups.
• Several sites or heavy traffic: an advanced plan or a dedicated server.

Not sure which one fits? Get in touch and we'll help you choose, no strings attached.