Working as a web designer, I am often asked which is the best (and most affordable) web hosting company. There's really not one answer to this question, it really depends on what you need in a hosting company. However, I do recommend not paying $1/month for web hosting with ANYONE. You get what you pay for and you (along with the people who visit your site) will have a terrible experience. I tell my clients to stick with the "Big Guys." That being said, you may ask, "Who are the big guys?"

To answer the above question, in my experience, the companies I define as the "Big Guys" and who I have personal experience with, are LunarPages, GoDaddy, and HostGator. Here is a guide to help you decide which web host is best for you:

• LunarPages: If you are a Designer/Developer you will LOVE Lunarpages. Their webhosting is superb and very inexpensive. Their plans vary depending upon your needs, but they have shared hosting plans that start as low as $2.95/month. Although inexpensive, all Lunarpages accounts come with a very robust CPanel, 99.9% uptime and a variety of free add-ons. For the money, LunarPages can't be beat.
• GoDaddy: If you are a Consumer/End User that is looking for hosting to handle your own personal web page, photo galleries or to host your blog, GoDaddy is top notch. Their customer service is one of their biggest selling points. If you ever have a "stupid question", they won't make you feel that way. They are always just a phone call away and very easy to get a hold of. Plans start under $5/month with a one year agreement.
  
• HostGator: If you are in need of hosting for more than one domain, HostGator could be for you. Hosting packages for UNLIMITED WEBSITES start at just $7.95. They also have excellent customer service and are very reliable. These guys have a lot of horsepower and are not some stand-alone server in a basement somewhere. Definitely worth a look if you need more than one domain hosted.

These are not necessarily the cheapest web hosting companies, but in my experience, they are the most affordable and reliable. Hopefully my descriptions will help someone in need of a server make a more educated decision.