The ultimate guide to web hosting

Your website may have all of the amazing features your customers will love – including excellent content, images, videos and interactive elements – but if you don’t have a web hosting plan, no one is going to see it. 

Prospective website owners should understand the importance of web hosting before getting started, but if you’ve never created a website before, all of this terminology might be confusing and overwhelming. 

But fear not – our Ultimate Guide to Web Hosting is here to clear up the jargon and show you exactly what web hosting is, why you need it, the types of web hosting on offer, and how to choose the right web host!

Table of contents

• What is web hosting?
• Types of hosting
  • Shared web hosting
  • VPS hosting
  • Dedicated hosting
  • Cloud hosting
  • Bare metal hosting
  • WordPress hosting
  • Managed hosting
  • Windows hosting
  • Linux hosting
  • Reseller hosting
  • Domain and email hosting
  • Which type of hosting is right for you?
• How much does web hosting cost?
• How to choose a web hosting provider
• Frequently asked questions about hosting

What is web hosting?

Web hosting is a service where you can rent server space from a web hosting provider to make your website accessible to people on the internet. 

A server is a powerful computer that stores data and provides computing resources (such as disk space, RAM, CPUs and bandwidth) to other computers (or ‘clients’) over a network. A web server is a type of server that stores, processes and delivers web content to users who request it by clicking on a web page.

By storing your website’s files (including text, images, videos and code) on a hosting provider’s server, this data can be shared to users when they request it, meaning that your website is live and accessible. Therefore, without web hosting services, there would be no way to deliver your web content to users.

It’s possible to bypass the need for a web hosting provider by having your own server that you store website files on, but this would be very expensive and inefficient for the vast majority of website owners.

To own a server outright, you would need to purchase the expensive hardware yourself, store it in your own data centre or server room, and pay for its power and cooling needs.

However, with a web hosting service, the provider or web host takes responsibility for running their own data centre and purchasing their server equipment, and all you need to do is rent the server space you need at a fraction of the cost of buying and maintaining your own server.

Why is web hosting important?

Web hosting makes your website accessible on the internet, which is crucial for reaching customers online. Not only is this important for ecommerce businesses, but it’s also important for brick-and-mortar businesses looking to attract new visitors. 

Without an online presence, businesses nowadays will struggle to compete against other companies that are able to offer online products and services, or even just online information about the business on a professional-looking website that builds consumer trust.

A website that’s quick-loading, well-maintained, easily accessible and secure will improve your brand’s reputation, authority and trustworthiness. On the other hand, choosing the wrong web hosting plan could negatively impact the performance and accessibility of your website, driving away potential customers who will look elsewhere for a more professional site. 

Who needs web hosting?

Anyone who wants to build a website! Whether you want to create an ecommerce website, a blog, a business website, an online portfolio or a personal website, you’ll need a web hosting plan from a reputable hosting provider to make your site accessible to visitors. 

However, choosing the right website hosting services is also very important, as different packages will offer different resource levels, security measures, and customisation opportunities to suit different customers and website types.

Types of hosting

For those who are new to web hosting, perhaps the most confusing and overwhelming part is choosing the right kind of web hosting plan for their needs. With so many types of hosting on offer, comparing different providers and server types can be a huge task. 

Luckily, Fasthosts is here to help! Here’s our guide to the main types of hosting, their pros and cons, and who is the ideal customer for each:

Shared web hosting

The most basic and affordable type of web hosting package is shared hosting. Ideal for smaller websites like personal blogs and portfolios, shared web hosting gives you access to a portion of a provider’s server. This means you share computing resources and bandwidth with other customers on the same server. 

Hosting costs are shared between customers to keep them low, but since you’re sharing resources too, you can potentially run into issues if your neighbours are using more than their fair share. This is known as the “noisy neighbour” effect.

Another downside of shared hosting is that your neighbours’ security vulnerabilities can potentially affect your site too. If one customer gets hacked, all other customers on the server could be at risk too. 

Overall, shared web hosting is a cheap and cheerful option that’s perfect for those who don’t need a huge amount of resources, but there’s a reason why it’s so affordable. If you want guaranteed resource levels and better security and privacy, it may not be the right choice for you.

Pros of shared hosting

• Very affordable.
• Easy to use – your hosting provider will manage the server environment for you.
• Ideal for beginners and those with low-traffic websites.
• Flexible and easy to upgrade if needed.

Cons of shared hosting

• “Noisy neighbours” could use up more resources and slow down your website.
• Potential security and privacy issues.
• Limited customisation.
• Not powerful enough for higher-traffic websites.

Shared web hosting is best for:

• Small business owners creating their first website.
• Bloggers.
• Any website or project with lower resource and security needs.

VPS hosting

The next step up is VPS (virtual private server) hosting. VPS hosting is still a type of shared hosting since you’ll be sharing the same physical server space as other customers, but the difference is that each customer’s VPS is virtually isolated from other VPSs on the same physical server – which means you get your own allocated resources, security settings, operating system (OS), and the ability to customise your server environment with full root access. 

A VPS is made by splitting a physical server into isolated virtual machines (VMs) using a type of server virtualisation software called a hypervisor. Each VM or VPS can then run its own OS independently, and since changes made on one VPS won’t affect other customers, you can install your preferred software and manage your own server settings.

Ultimately, a VPS can give you your own allocated resources and more control over your server without requiring you to pay for an entire server by yourself. However, if you want even more resources and total isolation from other customers, you may have to upgrade your hosting plan even further.

Pros of VPS hosting

• Affordable.
• Dedicated resources – no need to share with greedy neighbours.
• Better performance than shared hosting thanks to allocated resources and server isolation.
• Complete admin control with full root access to your server.
• Scalable – you can add more virtual resources to your VPS plan as needed.
• Secure and private thanks to virtual isolation from other users on the server.

Cons of VPS hosting

• Not as many resources as you’d get with an entire server.
• Requires more technical knowledge because you’re in charge of managing your server.
• Can be more expensive than shared hosting (depending on your server specs).
• Potential security vulnerabilities as you’re still on the same server as other customers (although you’re more isolated compared to shared hosting).

VPS hosting is best for:

• Small-to-medium-sized businesses looking for better performance and reliability compared to shared web hosting.
• E-commerce websites.
• Websites with moderate-to-high traffic.
• Websites with seasonal traffic fluctuations – virtual servers have the flexibility and scalability needed to accommodate this.

Dedicated hosting

If your virtual server can no longer keep up with your resource demands, you may need to move from VPS hosting to dedicated hosting. A dedicated server is a single-tenant hosting environment, which means you get access to an entire server’s resources and total isolation from other hosting customers. 

Since this physical server is entirely your own, you can also fully customise it according to your needs – everything apart from the physical server hardware (which is housed in your provider’s data centre) is yours to do with as you see fit.

As you can imagine, a dedicated server is much more expensive because there are no other customers on the server to split costs with. However, for this extra cost, you get abundant resources, full root access, total physical isolation, excellent performance, and robust security. 

In fact, in certain industries with strict data protection regulations, some organisations may be required to house sensitive information (such as medical or financial information) on a dedicated server rather than on a shared server or in the cloud.

Pros of dedicated server hosting

• Dedicated resources – no sharing required.
• Unparalleled performance.
• Robust security and total data privacy.
• Full root access.

Cons of dedicated server hosting

• Expensive.
• Less scalable – you’re limited by physical server hardware (although even the smallest dedicated hosting packages will have abundant resources).
• Requires more time and technical knowledge to manage.

A dedicated server is best for:

• Large organisations with much greater resource needs.
• Hosting multiple high-traffic websites (including ecommerce websites).
• Resource-intensive projects (e.g., AI algorithm training, app development, big data processing).
• Storing large amounts of data.
• Compliance with data protection regulations.

Cloud hosting

A cloud server is a type of virtual server that’s supported by a global network of other cloud servers that deliver computing resources (such as storage and processing power) to users on demand through the internet.

Cloud hosting is based on the idea of non-localised data storage, which means that data is stored virtually and can be accessed anywhere by any device connected to the internet – rather than being stored in a single physical location to be accessed by on-site devices.

Remote access can make your hosting services more stable, especially since there’s an entire network of cloud servers to pick up the slack if one server experiences issues. Plus, since you can access your cloud environment anywhere, this makes cloud hosting great for remote working and collaboration.

However, because you don’t manage your cloud environment (this is managed by the cloud provider) and you don’t have your own isolated machine, cloud hosting can be less private and secure. For this reason, businesses in certain industries may not be able to store sensitive data on a (public) cloud server without being in breach of data protection regulations. 

Pros of cloud server hosting

• Stable.
• Scalable and flexible.
• Only pay for the resources you use.

Cons of cloud server hosting

• Security and privacy vulnerabilities.
• Reliance on internet connection.
• Possibility of rapidly escalating costs due to pay-as-you-go billing (especially if your cloud storage and backup needs greatly increase).

A cloud server is best for:

• Those with fluctuating resource needs who would benefit from pay-as-you-go rather than fixed billing.
• Cloud data backup.
• Collaboration for remote teams.

Bare metal hosting

Similar to a dedicated server, a bare metal server is a single-tenant physical server that offers abundant dedicated resources, full root access and top-of-the-line security. However, the difference is that bare metal servers can be virtualised using a bare metal hypervisor to create multiple VMs for different workloads – improving scalability and flexibility. 

Fasthosts Bare Metal Servers are supported by our CloudNX infrastructure, which means you get the power of dedicated resources with the flexibility of a virtual server. 

Rather than offering a set amount of resources and a fixed monthly payment structure, our bare metal hosting gives you the option to start, stop and pause your server whenever you need, and you’ll get down-to-the-minute billing so that you only pay for the resources you use. 

Pros of bare metal server hosting

• Dedicated resources – no sharing required.
• Unparalleled performance.
• Robust security and total data privacy.
• Full root access.
• Down-to-the-minute billing and improved scalability.

Cons of bare metal server hosting

• Expensive.
• Requires more time and technical knowledge to manage – potentially even more than dedicated hosting because you may need to manage virtualisation and your scalable resources.

Bare metal hosting is best for:

• Large organisations with much greater resource needs.
• Hosting multiple high-traffic websites (including ecommerce websites) – and especially websites with fluctuating resource needs (where down-to-the-minute billing would be more cost-effective).
• Resource-intensive projects (e.g., AI algorithm training, app development, big data processing).
• Storing large amounts of data.
• Compliance with data protection regulations.

WordPress hosting

Planning to build and run a WordPress website on your new web hosting plan? You may prefer hosting that’s specifically optimised for your favourite CMS (content management system).

WordPress web hosting is a type of web hosting that’s optimised for the WordPress CMS, which means that WordPress websites supported by WordPress hosting can benefit from improved page loading speeds, uptime, security and much more. Plus, WordPress hosts like us typically offer add-ons like pre-installed WordPress plugins and AI setup tools to make it super easy to set up and manage a WordPress website – even if you’re a total beginner!

Pros of WordPress hosting

• Server resources are optimised for WordPress, meaning improved speeds, stability and security.
• WordPress hosting plans are typically managed by your hosting provider, which means easy, stress-free management.
• Pre-installed WordPress plugins, themes, and AI setup tools.

Cons of WordPress hosting

• Only useful for those who plan to run a WordPress website (or multiple WordPress websites).
• Limited flexibility if you want to move away from WordPress in future.

WordPress hosting is best for:

• Those who want to stick with WordPress as their CMS.

Managed hosting

Some web hosts will offer managed packages for popular types of web hosting, including managed dedicated hosting, managed VPS hosting, managed cloud hosting and more. This means that your web host will be responsible for managing the following tasks: 

• Day-to-day server maintenance
• 24/7 technical support
• Server setup
• Server configuration
• Server monitoring
• Load balancing
• Server security (which can include firewall configuration, DDoS protection, malware scanning, intrusion detection and more)
• Resource and performance optimisation
• Physical security at their data centre
• Server hardware management
• Backups and disaster recovery
• Network infrastructure management
• Caching

If you opt for unmanaged web hosting, you’ll have to take care of these tasks yourself, which can be pretty time-consuming and technically challenging. Your web host will only be in charge of hardware provision and maintenance – all of the software maintenance, updates, and server settings configuration will be up to you.

Some customers prefer managed web hosting packages because this gives them more time to focus on other areas of their business. And for web hosting beginners, managed hosting plans can take the burden of server management off their plate and give them peace of mind that their server is being handled professionally.

However, this extra involvement from the hosting provider comes at a cost. Managed hosting plans tend to be more expensive than equivalent unmanaged hosting plans (e.g., managed dedicated hosting vs unmanaged dedicated hosting), so you have to decide whether you think the extra support is worth the cost for you. 

You should also consider that choosing a managed hosting plan will mean you have less control over server configuration, which may be a downside if you have very specific customisation needs. 

Pros of managed web hosting

• Saves you time.
• Great for web hosting beginners who are intimidated by server management tasks.
• Gives you peace of mind that your server is being managed properly (this is important for security and performance optimisation).

Cons of managed web hosting

• Can be more expensive.
• You get less control over your server environment.

Windows hosting

When choosing a web hosting plan, you’ll also have to consider your preferred operating system – Windows vs Linux. 

We explain the differences between the two in more detail in the guide linked above, but in summary, a Windows web hosting plan is perfect for those who primarily use Microsoft technologies and are very familiar with the Windows graphical user interface (GUI). 

However, Windows hosting can be more expensive due to the Windows licensing fees, and it can also be a bit slower than Linux as the Windows GUI consumes more RAM.

Pros of Windows hosting

• Great for those who primarily use Microsoft software and tools.
• Beginner-friendly GUI.
• Frequent security updates.

Cons of Windows hosting

• Not as compatible with non-Microsoft tools.
• Can be more expensive.
• Performance is slightly impacted by resource-hungry GUI.
• More often targeted by cybercriminals compared to Linux.

Windows hosting is best for:

• Those who use Microsoft software and tools.
• People who are more familiar with the Windows GUI.

Linux hosting

Linux uses a command-line interface rather than a GUI like Windows, making it less user-friendly for beginners but more direct and streamlined for tech-savvy developers and other IT professionals. 

The streamlined interface and lightweight architecture of Linux also give it slightly superior speed and processing power compared to Windows, and whilst there isn’t a huge difference in performance between the two, these small performance improvements make Linux hosting a popular choice for more experienced tech professionals. 

Another benefit is that Linux is free and open-source, so there are no licensing fees to worry about. Plus, since it’s open-source, developers around the world can contribute to the Linux project, leading to rapid updates, bug fixes, innovation, and community support.

Pros of Linux hosting

• Slightly superior performance.
• Free and open-source. 
• Excellent community support.
• Targeted by cybercriminals less often.
• Reliable and stable.

Cons of Linux hosting

• Less beginner-friendly.
• Not as compatible with Microsoft tools and software.
• More complex management.
• Lack of commercial support (e.g., Windows comes with support from Microsoft).

Linux hosting is best for:

• Developers and those more experienced with IT and server management.
• Those looking for the best possible performance.

Reseller hosting

Fancy setting up your own web hosting services but don’t have the funds to run a data centre? Check out reseller web hosting – a white-label business approach where you buy web hosting packages in bulk (at wholesale prices) from a web host and sell them onto your customers as your own service. 

All you have to do is manage customer accounts in your reseller hosting control panel and market your hosting services to your target audience, whilst your reseller hosting provider rents out the server space and takes care of all of the technical details. And since this is a white-label service, you don’t have to tell your customers that you’re a reseller!

Pros of reseller web hosting

• Good profit margins.
• No technical expertise required.
• You can add your own branding to your reseller hosting packages.

Cons of reseller hosting

• You will be required to handle customer service and administrative tasks.

Reseller hosting is best for:

• People looking for a lucrative side hustle.
• Tech businesses and solo entrepreneurs (such as freelance web developers) who want to expand their business offerings with a reseller hosting service. Reseller hosting is perfect if you already have a loyal customer base that trusts you for web-related services!

Other: Domain and email hosting

Whilst they aren’t strictly related to web hosting like the other options on this list, domain hosting and email hosting are both essential services if you plan to run an online business. In addition to needing web hosting, you’ll also need a domain name if you want your website to be visible and accessible online, and if you want to send out professional business emails to your customers, you’ll need a business email hosting plan that allows you to create your own unique email address with your business’s domain.

Summary: Which type of hosting is right for you?

• Shared hosting: Ideal for small businesses or solo entrepreneurs with lower resource needs looking for a budget option.
• VPS hosting: Great for those who’ve outgrown shared hosting but don’t want to/can’t afford to pay for an entire dedicated server.
• Dedicated hosting: Excellent performance for those who need to host a large, high-traffic website (or multiple large websites) and don’t mind paying extra for more power and control.
• Bare metal hosting: Perfect for those who want the power and control of a dedicated server with the flexibility of a virtual server with down-to-the-minute billing.
• Cloud hosting: Good for those with fluctuating resource needs who want a flexible, scalable, pay-as-you-go hosting plan.
• Managed hosting: Ideal for those who lack the time or technical expertise for server management, and don’t mind paying extra for this to be handled for them.
• Windows hosting: Perfect for those who primarily work with Microsoft technologies and are comfortable with the user-friendly Windows GUI.
• Linux hosting: Great for developers looking for streamlined performance on a free and open-source OS.
• Reseller hosting: A brilliant side hustle or business expansion for solo entrepreneurs and those in the tech industry.

How much does web hosting cost?

There’s no simple answer to this question since – as you can see – there are so many different types of web hosting out there! 

From a basic shared hosting plan to an extremely powerful dedicated server, web hosting costs can range from a few pounds a month to hundreds of pounds per month. And even for the same product, costs can vary widely depending on the hosting provider you choose, the resources included in your package, and any extras you’ve added on top (such as management services from your web host).

Here’s approximately how much you can expect to spend on web hosting according to your needs:

And here are the price ranges of our most popular hosting packages at Fasthosts (after new customer discounts have ended):

How to choose a web hosting provider

Once you’ve chosen the type of web hosting you’re looking for, all you need to do next is find a reputable web host that provides the service you want at a price you’re happy with. But the price isn’t the only thing you need to pay attention to if you want to find the best deal! Here are some other essential factors you need to consider when picking a hosting provider:

Software and features

What features are included within each provider’s hosting packages? Do they offer free essentials like domain names and SSL certificates, or would you have to purchase these separately? List the features included in your favourite hosting plans to see which one offers the features you’re most interested in within the overall price. The cheapest web hosting plan isn’t necessarily the best deal, as a slightly more expensive option could offer you a lot more.

Don’t forget to also check the provider’s technical documentation to ensure that their service supports the software, tools, and languages you want to use – such as PHP and MySQL or MariaDB for WordPress. 

Performance guarantees

A reputable hosting provider should offer clear performance and uptime guarantees that are laid out in their service-level agreements (SLAs). Look for hosts that offer at least 99% uptime and compare statistics such as average page loading speeds to find a web host with excellent, reliable performance. 

Ultimately, your website’s performance can make or break your rankings in search engine results and your customers’ user experience, so you need a web host that supports rather than hinders your growth.

Security

Web hosts should also take responsibility for protecting their customers from cyber attacks as much as they can. Whilst not all security threats can be completely eliminated, your hosting provider should offer standard security measures such as multi-factor authentication and DDoS protection for your peace of mind.

If security is a key concern of yours, look for a hosting provider that offers additional security measures – such as Fasthosts’ free Acronis Cyber Protect Basic for our dedicated hosting customers!

Scalability

As your business grows, you want your hosting plan to grow with you. Keeping up with your resource needs is essential for ensuring optimal performance and minimal downtime. So, if you notice that your current hosting plan can no longer meet your demands, you need a web host that can help you upgrade your plan or move up to the next level (such as from a VPS to a dedicated server) quickly and easily – and without excessive disruption to your projects.

Customer support

Downtime and other technical problems can be catastrophic for online businesses, so if something goes wrong, you need a host that can get working on your issues as quickly as possible. And if they offer multiple communication channels – including phone, email and live chat – this will be even more convenient for you.

Here at Fasthosts, we offer 24/7 support to our customers, so no matter what time your website experiences problems, we can help straight away to keep your business running smoothly. 

Pricing

Whilst the price isn’t everything, it’s still incredibly important that your hosting plan fits within your budget. Look for a host with a wide range of different hosting packages and tier levels to make it easier for you to find the plan that’s perfect for you. 

In addition to the price itself, pay attention to the billing structure when looking for a hosting plan. Do you prefer consistent monthly payments, or would you prefer a flexible pay-as-you-go billing plan?

Reviews and testimonials

Don’t forget to listen to what other customers have to say! Check online reviews and testimonials of the web hosts you’re considering to see if there are any glaring issues you need to be aware of before making your decision. And if someone you know has created a website themselves, ask them for their opinions and advice! 

Frequently asked questions about hosting

Where is a website hosted?

Your website’s files are stored in your web host’s servers, which are housed in their data centres. If you choose Fasthosts Website Hosting, your files will be safe and secure in our ISO 27001-certified UK data centres.

Why not choose free web hosting?

You can find free website hosting offers online, but we’d recommend staying away from these deals. If it seems too good to be true, it usually is!

Free or suspiciously cheap web hosting often comes with major downsides, including poor security, less reliability and slower speeds. This can impact your site’s SEO and user experience, leading to poorer conversion rates or brand reputation in the long run.

To create the best website possible, you should avoid ‘free hosting’ and choose your hosting provider carefully, ensuring that they can provide robust security, super-fast speeds, 24/7 support and a high uptime guarantee. Check each host’s SLAs and online reviews before committing. 

What is the best web hosting for beginners?

An affordable web hosting service like shared hosting is perfect for beginners who don’t need a huge amount of resources yet. Plus, these shared server environments are largely managed by the web host, so you won’t have to get too technical with server maintenance.

If you outgrow your shared hosting plan, it’s easy to migrate to a more powerful (yet still affordable) VPS hosting plan with Fasthosts.

Can I host a website myself?

It’s possible to host your own website, but this would mean buying your own server hardware and powering it yourself. Not only is the hardware expensive, but it requires a lot of electricity to power the server and for server cooling requirements, which means that web hosting services from a hosting provider are much more affordable, accessible and convenient for the vast majority of people.

Can I use my PC as a server for my website?

This is also possible, but you’ll need a lot of technical expertise to set up a local web server, manage it all by yourself, and ensure that appropriate server security measures are implemented. Plus, this will use a lot of power and bandwidth – especially because your PC would have to be on 24/7 to keep your website live – resulting in a struggling internet connection and skyrocketing electricity bills. If you want a more reliable, stable and affordable server, it’s best to use web hosting services rather than trying to do it all yourself.

Don’t know which type of hosting is right for you, or struggling to get started with your new web hosting services? Get in touch with us today for expert advice, or check out our other ‘Ultimate Guides’ for all of the web hosting information you need!