If you are looking for a new hosting provider, then you have come to the right place. We have reviewed the best VPS hosting providers according to their pricing, features, and customer support. All of this information is provided to help you make the right choice when selecting a new web host. Let’s get started.
Features
While most web hosts offer a decent feature set and price, some of the biggest names in web hosting also offer a wealth of features. These extra features often come at a cost, so it’s essential to consider what you will need and want before committing to a particular package. Some of the most popular features which you might want to consider for your VPS are:
- Free Domain Name – Many web hosts offer this as standard, but it’s always a good idea to register your own domain name as soon as you install WordPress to ensure you have ownership of the URL.
- Free Blogger installation – If you are planning to use a free blog to showcase your work, then you will need to register that site as a blog with WordPress as well.
- SSH Access – This is a way of securely transferring files to and from your website using Secure Shell – a secure command line tool built into most linux distributions. Having this option will greatly enhance your capability as a web developer or designer.
- VPN access – If you are working remotely a lot then it’s essential to have a way of securely connecting to your company’s network when needed. Most web hosts provide this feature as standard, but some charge for it.
- Free Cloud based Email – Setting up an email account with a free provider like Google or Microsoft is easy and requires no special skills. However, if you need something more robust, then you should consider paying for a reputable cloud service like MailChimp or Campaigner.
- Free Cloud Storage – Most web hosts offer this as standard, however, if you are looking for more flexibility, then you should consider paying for additional cloud storage.
- Free CDN – This is content delivery network which basically serves content from other websites to increase your site’s speed. Most web hosts provide this as standard, however, some require you to pay for it.
- Free SSL Certificate – If you are looking for a way to ensure your visitors and customers can’t easily be tricked into paying for content, then you should consider installing an SSL certificate on your site. Most web hosts provide this as standard, but it’s always good to know you can purchase one if needed.
- Free DDNS – Dynamic DNS is a service which automatically changes your site’s IP address as needed. When you sign up for this feature, you need to provide an alternate email address where you will receive updates about your domain name. Many web hosts provide this service for free, but it’s always a good idea to investigate before purchasing.
- SSH Key management – This is where you can control access to your server. You need to generate a new public/private key pair and upload the public key to your server. From there, you can allow anyone you wish to connect to your server, revoke access for certain users, or set up password protection. You can find many useful tutorials online which can help you along the way.
- Shell access – As earlier stated, SSH is a way of securely transferring files to and from your website using Secure Shell – a secure command line tool built into most linux distributions. If you have a dedicated server, then you will need to have a way to securely log in to it whenever you want. Most web hosts offer this as standard, however, if you are interested, then you should contact their technical support to find out what level of access you will need.
- MySQL Database – If you are looking to build a database driven site, then you should consider purchasing a hosting plan which includes a free MySQL database. A database is a large collection of information which can be extremely useful for establishing and maintaining a stable site. At times, it can also be a convenient way of storing and retrieving large amounts of data.
- PHP – Hypertext Preprocessor is a general-purpose scripting language which you can use to create dynamic and interactive web pages. If your site will be mainly focused on text and not graphics, then it is highly suggested that you choose a hosting package which comes with PHP support.
- Python – This is a general-purpose scripting language similar to PHP. If you are looking for a more modern and intuitive alternative to PHP, then you should consider Python. Python supports a large number of methods which allow for quick and easy development of web applications.
- Perl – This is a general-purpose scripting language similar to Python. If you are looking for a more powerful alternative to PHP, then you should consider Perl. Perl offers a larger number of useful modules which allow for quick development of complex applications.
- Ruby – Ruby is an open source web development language which is perfect for developing dynamic and interactive web pages. It is also one of the most intuitive languages to learn. If you are looking for a new language to work with, then you should certainly try Ruby.
- Bash – This is the default shell of most linux distributions. It is a powerful tool which provides you with various scripts and utilities to perform various tasks. It is also possible to use bash to connect to a server and perform various text-based tasks remotely. If you are interested in trying out this feature, then you should contact your hosting provider directly.
- AJAX – Asynchronous JavaScript and XML is a method of transferring data to and from a website without having to reload the page. You can use AJAX to create dynamic and interactive web pages, automate tasks, or even make your site more convenient for your users.
- XHP – XHTML Hypertext Preprocessor is a language which combines XML and HTML to form a template-based language. As the name suggests, it can be used to create dynamic and interactive web pages. It is also a great option for those who wish to build a multilingual site.
Most of these features are standard and come at no additional cost. Some of the biggest names in web hosting also offer a dedicated IP which prevents your site from being banned by most content-based websites. This information is priceless to any business owner or internet marketer who wishes to keep their site alive and kicking. If you add all of these features together, it is possible to create a fully-functional website without having to worry about the cost to maintain it.
All these features make a dedicated server a great option for anyone who wishes to run a website or business online. The price may be a little higher than average, but you are purchasing a professional environment which will greatly improve the performance of your site and save you money in the long run.
Pricing
The pricing of any web hosting plan can be quite complicated to figure out, as different providers use different methods of calculation. Most web hosts use a price-per-month or a tiered pricing structure, where you are charged according to the number of GB of traffic you generate. There are also some hosts which charge you based on the type of content you store on your server or the number of email accounts you have. Knowing how these numbers are determined is important, especially if you wish to compare apples to apples.
In general, the pricing of VPS hosting is very similar to the pricing of traditional shared hosting. The biggest difference is that with a shared host, everyone sharing the server will consume the same amount of bandwidth and storage. With a VPS hosting plan, however, you are sharing a virtual server with a designated amount of resources which will be used by the other applications installed on it. The other difference between the two types of hosting is that with a traditional shared host, you will have only one IP address, which will be shared by other sites hosted on the same server. With a VPS hosting plan, you can purchase a dedicated IP which is not shared and ensures you have a unique address even if you have multiple sites hosted on the same server.
If you are looking for a one-stop-shop for all your web hosting needs, then you should consider a VPS hosting plan from GoDaddy. They are currently the #1 web host according to several reputable review sites which is a great indicator of their quality and service. Let’s have a look at their pricing and plan options.
Plan Options
GoDaddy’s shared hosting plans come with a one-click install of WordPress which is a great asset if you are a beginner or someone who is simply looking to build a quick and dirty blog. The one-click install means you can have a fully-fledged, blog-ready-to-go WordPress site up and running in less than an hour. Naturally, you will need to have some technical knowledge to do this, but it’s still one of the most convenient and user-friendly shared hosting plans out there. You can choose from a variety of affordable shared hosting plans from GoDaddy, depending on your desired level of flexibility.