How to Choose Web Hosting

1. Reliability (Uptime Scores)

The most important factor is uptime. If your site is down, nobody can see it. You want a host with an uptime guarantee of at least 99.9%. Anything less is unacceptable in 2025.

• 99.9% uptime = ~8 hours of downtime per year.
• 99.99% uptime = ~52 minutes of downtime per year.

2. Site Speed (Performance)

Google penalizes slow websites. Your host needs to be fast. Look for:

• SSD Storage: Faster than traditional HDD.
• CDN (Content Delivery Network): Speeds up global access.
• Server Location: Choose a server close to your audience.

3. Customer Support

Things will go wrong. When they do, you need help fast. Test their support before buying:

• Is it 24/7?
• Do they have Live Chat? (This is usually the fastest).
• Are they knowledgeable?

4. Pricing and Renewal Rates

Hosting companies are famous for low introductory rates that triple when you renew. Always check the renewal price. A $2.99/mo plan might become $10.99/mo after the first year.

5. Features and Add-ons

What else do you get?

• Free Domain: Saves you ~$15/year.
• Free SSL: Essential for security (look for "https").
• Backups: Does it cost extra to restore your site?

Summary

For most beginners, Shared Hosting from a reputable provider like Hostinger or Bluehost is the best starting point. They are affordable, include free domains, and have 24/7 support.