How to Choose a Web Host

1) Price

It's going to be one of the main determinates, so we may as well start here. With so many options available and the ammount of competition in the web hosting sphere, prices have come way, way down in the last decade or so. $4/mo. is now enough to get you started, but a fee this low is going to be a shared account that may run slowers than you would like. On the other hand, paying more is not a garauntee of a better web host. That's why I put this site together: to help people find the best host for their needs while paying as little as possible.

2) Features

Storage, bandwidth, scripting languages, databases, email addresses... the list goes on. At the bare minumum you'll need to make sure that you have enough storage for all your files (don't forget that images and audio/video files can get big fast). Think about the bandwidth and ask what will happen if you exceed that allotment. Will you be charged for the excess? Will your web host take down your site for the rest of the billing period? You'll want to know the answers to these questions.

Also, can you add email addresses and ftp accounts through a control panel. You shouldn't have to call your web host everytime you need a new email address, so make sure you have control over everything you're allowed to have control over through a control panel.

3) Uptime

Look for a web host that promises 99.9% uptime (or some other number redicioulously close to 100%). All servers have to restart at some time (like when a software patch is installed every few months), but a site should never go down due to hardware failure. That's what redundancy is for. Don't know what redundancy is? You don't really need to -- it's your host's responsibility (just make sure it's happening).

4) Support

So it's that .1% downtime, and of course it's 3am. Can you call your web host and get it worked out pronto? You'll want a web host with 24/7 telephone support. Not email support -- you have no idea is your problem is being addressed. You'll want to be able to get someone on the phone.