Category: Web Building

IONOS is a web hosting and cloud partner focused on small and mid-size businesses. The company is the leading web hosting provider in Europe and one of the largest in the US. In this IONOS review, we cover its pros and cons, pricing, and features.

What separates IONOS from the pack is its expertise. IONOS has more than 30 years of market experience in developing a robust infrastructure. They’re experts in logging as a service (LaaS) and their portfolio of services vary from selling domains, website builders, web design services, online store builders, and web hosting. It offers affordable, relatively fast, and scalable website hosting performance.

Our Verdict 

IONOS

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You’ll see in this IONOS review that its web hosting services cater to three types of users: entry-level and first-time users, intermediate, tech-savvy business owners, and advanced ones. At less than $1 per month as entry pricing (in promotional pricing, it may cost $0.50) for 12 months, you can get their bestselling plan with a tier of features that fits any type of business–and scales as you grow. All plans come with a domain name included for a year, a professional email account with 2GB, free Wildcard SSL, and Site Scan.

• Affordability
• Fast website performance
• Monthly billing hosting option

• No free website transfer
• Limited customer support
• Registration limited to few countries

IONOS at a Glance

Most IONOS services are straightforward–you know what you’ll get for the service you’re signing up for. The web hosting plans are no different. The pricing structure is easy to understand, and the company displays a table comparing all hosting services on the hosting page. But if you still are not sure, you can visit its dedicated web hosting landing page.

The Essential plan, the entry-level web hosting package, is slightly more expensive than the Business plan, but only for first-time users. The Business plan starts at $0.50 for 12 months at its promotional pricing, while the Essential costs $4 per month for the same period. You’ll have to pay in full, annually, and IONOS will inform you about the basic contract terms such as renewal rate and total amount at the checkout page after three steps. 

The company advertises itself as “blazing fast hosting” and the fastest in the US. However, many users have reported that IONOS page loading speed can be slower than some of its competitors. Hostinger, for instance, has an average load speed of 143 milliseconds, while IONOS delivered 898 milliseconds on average in 2021. But this isn’t bad news for companies with less traffic. 

There is a bit of transparency when it comes to IONOS’s pricing. Prices and plans are straightforward–it guarantees a refund in the first 30 days, and cancellation is online or through the phone. 

Speaking of customer support, IONOS falls short in this aspect. Despite advertising 24/7 customer support, the live chat is only available for customers. Non-registered users can only contact the customer service team through phone or email. 

Who IONOS is Best For 

IONOS focuses on small to mid-size organizations. However, the company also provides web hosting services for scalable businesses and complex, mid to large companies. 

Pricing 

IONOS’s plans start at $0.50 (promotional pricing) for the shared hosting 12-month Business plan. The goal is obviously to get you to sign up for a plan that has more features, but also renews at a higher rate than the lowest-priced plan.

Essential: Pricing starts at $4 per month for 12 months, then it renews at $6 monthly

Business: Starts at $0.50 per month for 12 months, then it renews at $10 monthly

Expert: Starts at $8 per month, for 12 months, then it renews at $16 monthly

For WordPress users, IONOS offers a dedicated hosting plan. Pricing ranges are similar to shared hosting plan tiers. The storage capacity is slightly lower than in shared packages (25 to 200GB versus 50 to 500GB); however, the WP storage type is SSD. PHP and RAM in WP packages come with more storage.  

Here’s a comparison between the three shared hosting plans offered by IONOS.

Plans

Essential

Business

Expert

Price

Starts at $4/month for 12 months

Starts at $0.50/month for 12 months

Starts at $8/month for 12 months

Unlimited storage

Unlimited website

Professional email included

Domain for a year

CDN

SSL Certificate

Unlimited traffic

30-day money-back guarantee

Above, we’ve listed the main features you should consider when choosing the right web hosting  plan for your business. The best one depends on your needs and priorities. However, things like storage type and space, website capacity, security badges, traffic capacity and guaranteed refunds are essential for all types of business. 

IONOS Features

There is a broad range of features, and looking at all of them may be confusing, especially if you’re not familiar with some technical names and acronyms. In this IONOS review, we’ve analyzed and listed the main features to look for.

Storage

Even if this is the first time you’re building a website and most likely won’t need to upload heavy files at first, over time, you’ll need to grow your database, so you should consider larger data storage limits. 

IONOS offers unlimited storage for the Business and Expert plans and 10GB for the Essential plan in the entry-level plans. Shared web hosting plans use HDD storage, while WordPress packages offer SSD, which are faster in reading data than the traditional HDD. 

The Business plan provides the best bang for the buck–it’s the most affordable and has unlimited storage. 

Domain and Email

IONOS offers two of the main features in the web hosting realm: free domain name and free email for all of its plans. A domain name is free for one year with Essential, Business, and Expert shared hosting packages. 

You’ll also get a professional email account with a 2GB mailbox in addition to already included storage. The email comes with state-of-the-art anti-spam protection.

Control Panel 

One of the most important features for beginners is how beginner-friendly a web hosting interface could be. We considered how quickly you can access it and how easy it is to use. IONOS has developed its own control panel and made its user’s navigation more effortless. 

Unlike the standard (and confusing) cPanel most web hosts offer, this control panel is intuitive. You can easily find all the tools you need: website design, security solutions, email access, and domain management.

Security

IONOS takes its users’ security very seriously. Besides the standard SSL certificate most web hosting sites provide, IONOS takes it a step further to make its customers feel safe. The company offers HTTP/2, PHP 8.1, a Wildcard SSL certificate, DDoS protection, and geo-redundancy included in all packages.

Speed

Low speed doesn’t only annoy customers, but it compromises SEO scores. Despite a good overall performance, IONOS still falls short on page loading speed. The company delivered an average page loading speed of 776 milliseconds in 2022. 

Customer Support

In case you run into a problem, having responsive and quick problem solving customer support is crucial to resolving the issue as soon as possible. We found IONOS customer support limited. Despite the 24/7 availability, the live chat support is restricted to registered users only. Non-registered user support is available only via phone or customer support page. 

Alternatives to IONOS

If you’ve finished reading this IONOS review and you’re still not sure whether it’s the right web host for you, there may be a better fit for you elsewhere. Most web host providers offer similar pricing tiers and functionalities, but they may vary in features, performance, interface, and support. Some examples include:

Hostinger

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Hostinger is perfomance-focused and it offers one of the fastest page load speed on the market and it’s the best bang for the buck for small business. The company offers relatively low-cost pricing for premium services—plans starting at $1.99 per month. 

Hostinger uses LiteSpeed servers for all of its plans, which provides a great response time over regular servers, Google Cloud as part of its infrastructure, and uses SSD storage. It also offers quite intutive and easy to use control panel (hPanel) for everyone—from beginners to experts. However, just like IONOS, Hostinger’s customer support could be better. 

Pricing: Starts at $1.99/month

• Performance-driven 
• Affordable
• Beginner-friendly

• No free daily backup
• Customer support could be better

Bluehost

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Bluehost’s websites can handle stress quite well without compromising stability or speed, especially for website with low traffic. But, if compared to its competitors, the company works with slower servers—that means your website will load a bit slower. Pricing might be confusing, though. The plans are actually yearly (available for one year, two, or three years) and you’ll need to pay the total amount upfront.

Other than that, Bluehost is beginner-friendly, and it offers efficient customer service – the support offers three 24/7 live chat lines, email and phone support. Read the Bluehost review to learn more about its features.

Pricing: Start at $2.95/month

• Beginner-friendly
• Efficient customer support
• Featured-focused

• Pricing is confusing
• Slower servers if compared with its main competitors

iPage

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iPage offers a single and straightforward plan for all its users with many unlimited free features such as unlimited storage, unlimited websites, and a free domain for a year. Pricing is affordable and since it offers a single plan, it’s considered a great option for freelancers, bloggers, and small business owners who need plenty of storage and don’t have much budget to invest in web hosting.

If you plan to turn your website into an online store, iPage allows you to shift it into an ecommerce shop too and this functionality is free of charge. 

Pricing: Starts at $1.99 per month

• One straight to the point single plan
• Many unlimited features
• Free online store

• Lack of variety in plans
• No cloud-based hosting options

Namecheap

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Namecheap offers affordable plans with minimal renewal rates, and it’s user-friendly. You get a free domain name and the ability to host three websites in the low-entry level plan with as little as $1.58 monthly. The downside, however, is that Namecheap’s servers aren’t nearly as fast as its competitors. Also, customer support is limited – the company offers 24/7 live chat only but no phone support.

Pricing: Starts at $1.58/month

• Most affordable 
• Three websites and free domain in the cheapest shared hosting tier
• Website builder tools

• Poor performance
• Customer support is limited

Bottom Line on IONOS Review 

IONOS offers affordable web hosting plans that include helpful features for small businesses, such as unlimited storage in most plans, professional email included, and free website domain for a year. But, the downsides are customer support isn’t the best compared with some competitors, and website transfer is paid.

SiteGround is a popular web host that caters to the needs of both simple and resource-intensive websites. It offers a wide range of services and plans with growth in mind. SiteGround provides a 99.9% uptime guarantee, security features, and reliable customer support. This SiteGround review will help you decide if it’s right for you.

Our Verdict

SiteGround

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SiteGround is a Linux-based web host that offers multiple hosting options. Apart from WordPress hosting, the company also provides dedicated and cloud hosting. Users enjoy beginner-friendly-to-advanced features that ensure they don’t go through the inconvenience of changing web hosts once their websites grow.

Also, the company has numerous helpful in-house tools like WP Migrator, SuperCacher, and SG Optimizer to make it easier to run and build a website. There is also an impressive range of software solutions designed to improve your site’s performance, minimize traffic surges and tighten security.

• Attractive introductory prices with all plans
• User-friendly interface and above-average load time
• Plenty of freebies, including convenient one-click to install free features
• Reliable uptime and 99.99% uptime guarantee
• Limited accounts in shared hosting plans
• Free daily backups included in all plans and free SSL certificate
• Pretty secure with free Cloudflare, AI-bot prevention tool 
• Responsive customer service plus a no questions asked 30-day money-back guarantee

• No advertising credits
• No Windows server options
• Comparatively low storage
• No VPS plans
• Price increases upon service renewal

SiteGround at a Glance

SiteGround is a web hosting platform founded in 2004. It is headquartered in Sofia, Bulgaria, and boasts data centers and servers in the United States, Singapore, and Europe. Users enjoy fast load time, a 99.99% uptime guarantee, and tons of features ideal for both simple and resource-intensive sites.

Moreover, the platform uses unique Site Tools instead of the traditional cPanel for enhanced ease of use. It also provides resources to help users develop and run their sites. The 24/7 technical support team is helpful and pretty responsive, so you don’t have to worry about getting stuck.

Who Is SiteGround Best For?

If you prefer big box web hosts, SiteGround is probably not the ideal company to choose. It is best for entrepreneurs looking for a personalized connection with their web host. SiteGround offers hosting solutions developed in-house. The service is generally ideal for budding web developers, bloggers, and entrepreneurs who want to host their websites on WordPress.

Pricing & Features

Price-wise, SiteGround may not suit those with tight budgets. The pricing ranges from the medium-to-higher end of the spectrum. And the lower-tier plans lack advanced features.

On the bright side, beginners can take advantage of convenient features like the Weebly website builder with just one click. You’ll also get fast and easy integrations with WordPress and helpful apps like Joomla. 

As your site grows, you could consider the top-tier plans with advanced features like phpMyAdmin, SFTP, SSH, and WP-CLI. SiteGround offers four primary web hosting services. They include:

• Standard shared web hosting
• WooCommerce hosting
• Cloud hosting
• WordPress hosting

The pricing tiers remain the same across different SiteGround services, except for cloud hosting. This uniformity makes it easy for users to compare a range of offerings and choose a package that suits their needs instead of focusing on a plan that saves them money.

The available plans include:

• StartUp: Ideal for smaller websites
• GrowBig: Best for mid-sized businesses with more than one website
• GoGeek: Shared hosting plan ideal for ecommerce stores and tech geeks who want more control over their sites

Plan

StartUp

GrowBig

GoGeek

Price Per Month

$2.99

$4.99

$7.99

Number of Sites

1

Unlimited

Unlimited

Free WordPress Installation, Migrator and Autoupdates

Visitors Per Month

Up to 10,000

Up to 100,000

Up to 400,000

Support

Priority Support

Storage

10GB

20GB

40GB

Bandwidth

Unlimited

Unlimited

Unlimited

Free SSL Certificate

Daily Backup

Managed WordPress

Free Domain Name

Inodes

200,000

400,000

600,000

30-Days Money-Back Guarantee

Standard Shared Web Hosting

The standard shared hosting service is ideal for online store startups, bloggers, and small business websites. Websites share the server’s resources where they are hosted, meaning you may experience more downtime if you have high website traffic. 

With this option, you’ll have access to a range of website solutions that allow you to build and launch your website with Weebly or WordPress. You can use an existing domain name or purchase one from SiteGround. Also, the company offers assistance with website migration from another host.

WordPress Hosting

The WordPress hosting service is similar to standard shared web hosting. The main difference is that it boasts SiteGround’s in-house WordPress optimization for enhanced site performance. It is worth mentioning that WordPress even recommends this service.

One of the significant perks of SiteGround’s WordPress hosting is that it comes with features that automate WordPress installation. You’ll also have access to a Starter kit once you log into your new site. The kit has everything you need to set up your site in just a few minutes. Again, users can use the free SiteGround Migrator plugin to move their existing websites from another web host.

WooCommerce Hosting

The WooCommerce hosting service is uniquely optimized to ensure improved site performance if you have an online store. You’ll have access to WooCommerce pre-installed, which allows you to set up your store in minutes and begin uploading your merchandise.

Even with the WooCommerce hosting StartUp plan, SiteGround provides a reliable range of security features, including a custom Web Application Firewall (WAF). The two top-tier plans also provide a staging tool, which allows you to evaluate any changes or updates to your website before going live.

Cloud Hosting

If you run a large or resource-intensive website, the Cloud Hosting service is an ideal option for you. It is a step up from the typical shared hosting where SiteGround uses cloud architecture to give each user of a specific server a predetermined share of dedicated resources. This also means you will have a free dedicated IP for enhanced website security.

The Cloud Hosting Service has a unique pricing tier because of the broader range of features users enjoy. For instance, you’ll have access to an auto-scaling feature that helps to prevent unexpected downtime or traffic surges. The Cloud Hosting service also has a 14-day, no questions asked money-back guarantee.

Plan

Jump Start

Business

Business Plus

Super Power

Price Per Month

$100

$200

$300

$400

CPU Cores

4

8

12

16

Memory

8GB

12GB

16GB

20GB

STB Data Transfer

Included

Included

Included

Included

SSD Space

40GB

80GB

120GB

160GB

Advanced Priority Support

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

SiteGround Alternatives 

SiteGround maintains commendable performance with its cloud hosting service. Shared hosting performance is also pretty decent, especially on the top-tier plans. Also, the company improves its products continually and offers top-notch customer support.

You may want to consider other web hosting alternatives if you find the service plans too expensive for your budget. Web hosts like Bluehost are cheaper, yet they offer similar or perhaps better services and you can also consider free web hosting providers.

It would also be ideal to check out other options if you prefer a cPanel dashboard or don’t want to switch to a Linux-based platform. Here are some alternatives you could consider:

DreamHost

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DreamHost is an independently owned hosting company established in 1996. It uses open-source technology to offer a suitable array of packages ideal for all types of websites. The company even has a competitively priced, WordPress-focused service.

Some of DreamHost’s features that genuinely stand out include unlimited visitors with all plans, automatic daily backups, and automatic WordPress updates. You could go for the month-to-month pricing arrangement or commit to a service and enjoy massive savings regardless of your chosen plan.

DreamHost Pricing

DreamHost has two shared plans. The starter plan costs $6.99 monthly or $2.59 per month if you commit to the service for three years. 

If you have more than one website, you could opt for the Unlimited Plan, which allows you to set up an unlimited number of websites. This option will cost you $11.99 per month or $4.95 monthly under a three-year commitment.

DreamHost also offers VPS Hosting for $10 to $80 monthly, depending on your plan. The Cloud Hosting service costs between $4.50 and $48 per month, while the Dedicated Hosting service goes for $149 or $279 per month for the Standard and Enhanced plans.

Who is DreamHost Best For?

DreamHost has a stronger focus on the individual needs of different users. It can accommodate the needs of both small and large websites and still provide good performance speed and reliable uptime.

Generally, the web host is best for beginners and tech-savvy bloggers, site developers, and entrepreneurs who want personalized support running their sites.

How Does DreamHost Compare to SiteGround?

DreamHost and SiteGround offer almost similar site speed and load performance. 

However, you are likely to save a decent amount of money by hosting on DreamHost, especially if you have a heavyweight website layout, theme, or design.

SiteGround’s higher pricing is still justifiable because of the numerous extra features like WordPress optimization plugin, Site Staging Tools, and in-house WordPress caching. Read our full DreamHost review for an in-depth look.

• 100% uptime guarantee and good basic plan features
• Top-tier plans offer a wide range of advanced features
• Unlimited bandwidth and data storage 
• Free WordPress website builder and a 97-day money-back guarantee
• No massive difference between month-to-month and yearly pricing

• Too many upsells
• No traditional cPanel

GreenGeeks

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GreenGeeks is one of the few web hosts that guarantee 99.99% uptime and 100% customer satisfaction. The company is the brainchild of Trey Gardner, who founded it in 2008 after working for eight different web hosting companies.

Some of the most impressive perks of choosing GreenGeek include a solid uptime performance, above-average load speeds, and reliable customer support.

GreenGeek Pricing

GreenGeek offers a range of services that come with tier-based plans. The Shared Hosting service has three tiers — Ecosite Lite, Ecosite Pro, and Ecosite Premium, which cost $9.95, $14.95, and $24.95, respectively, on regular monthly rates. 

You can save a substantial amount by making a 12-month, 24-month, or 36-month commitment. For instance, the Ecosite Lite plan that goes for $ 9.95 on regular monthly rates will only cost you $2.95 per month under a three-year commitment.

GreenGeek also offers VPS Hosting for $39.95 to $109.95 per month, depending on the plan you choose. The pricing for WordPress Hosting services is similar to the Shared Hosting plans while managed wooCommerce hosting costs between $2.95 and $10.95 per month.

Who Is GreenGeek Best For?

GreenGeek is your best bet if you are serious about saving the planet and want reliable web hosting services at affordable rates. The company stands out for upholding a no-waste mindset. It is a 300% green platform that generates three times more renewable energy through the Bonneville Environmental Foundation for every amperage it pulls from the grid. 

How Does GreenGeek Compare to SiteGround?

GreenGeeks and SiteGround score high in terms of their uptime guarantees and site loading speed. They also provide solid customer support and a 30-day money-back guarantee. 

However, GreenGeeks offers more economical solutions if you want to create multiple websites.

Some of the enticing bonus features offered by GreenGeek include a free domain name and free search engine optimization (SEO) and marketing tools.

Additionally, you get unlimited web space and data transfer. On the other hand, SiteGround is your best bet if you need a reliable managed web hosting solution for WordPress.

• Environmentally friendly web-hosting option
• Reliable and secure server infrastructure
• Built-in website builder plus automatic data backups
• Latest technology for faster server load times
• Free domain name and site migration
• 100% customer satisfaction plus 30-day money-back guarantee

• No refunds for account setups and domains
• Somewhat confusing price points based on the commitment terms you choose

Flywheel

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Flywheel is an excellent alternative to SiteGround if you are looking for a reliable managed WordPress host. Like SiteGround, the company offers reliable performance and a decent range of premium features at competitive prices.

Some of the top performance features include Google Cloud hosting infrastructure, In-built server-level caching, and Nginx server for enhanced scalability. 

Flywheel also provides security features like Free SSL certificates, free malware removal, and WAF for solid protection from threats and DDoS attacks. Users also commend the well-designed custom dashboard that allows one-click feature installs.

Flywheel Pricing

Flywheel has a pretty straightforward pricing structure free of promo rules and higher renewal rates. Users can pay month-by-month for their plans or commit for one year to get two months free.

Apart from the tier-based plan, users can go for add-ons to personalize the service and ensure it matches their needs. Flywheel also offers an agency-focused plan ideal for web developers.

The four-tier plan includes the Tiny, Starter, Freelance, and Agency packages that go for $15, $30, $115, and $290.

If you are a web developer, you can opt for the uniquely priced Freelance package for $135 per month. Freewheel also offers a package for agencies at $330 per month.

Who is Flywheel Best For?

If you want a premium managed WordPress host, Flywheel is your best bet. It offers premium services and delivers a good blend of ease of use, performance, and features. This sweetens the deal and is quite convenient, especially for web developers working as freelancers or agencies.

How Does Flywheel Compare to SiteGround?

Both Flywheel and SiteGround are popular web hosts known for their quality hosting products. However, Flywheel is your best option if you want premium performance and support from your web host and are willing to pay a premium fee. 

On the other hand, SiteGround is a better or more economical option if you want to host multiple sites. You need to set your goals straight before choosing between the two companies.

• Reliable overall performance and SSL certificates included with each plan
• Well-designed custom dashboard with plenty of features
• Dependable customer support, including 24/7 live chat support
• Superb deals for web developers (both freelancers and agencies)
• Automatic WordPress updates and automatic daily backups plus an option to do manual backups

• Compared to SiteGround, the plans are more expensive 
• Limited Freebies
• No email hosting service

Final Thoughts on SiteGround Review

SiteGround offers multiple tier-based service plans making it easy for anyone with a website to find a suitable package. Their uptime guarantee with each plan further sweetens the deal, assuring bloggers, small businesses, and large ecommerce stores of no significant downtime. Also, users enjoy good site speed and a range of complementary security features.

So, is this web host right for you? From our SiteGround review, we hope you can confidently draw your conclusion. You only need to remember that the web host is a Linux-based platform with no free domains. Also, it has slightly higher service renewal rates.

In this AWS Web Hosting review, you’ll see that it lets you create your own web host package so you only need to pay for the services you actually use. It’s a smart choice for you if you are looking for a versatile cloud web hosting provider. It offers scalable solutions, multiple platform support, and flexible AWS Web Hosting pricing.

Our Verdict

AWS Web Hosting

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AWS Web Hosting may be a viable option for you if you want to personalize your web host solutions based on the requirements of your business. After all, it allows you to tailor your web services with a high level of customization. Plus, it’s compatible with various hosting platforms so you can pick the software that you prefer. Finally, it gives you solid value for your money because it doesn’t require you to spend for services that aren’t relevant to you.

Although AWS Web Hosting is a remarkable web host service, it does have some limitations. For example, you need to be fairly tech savvy to put together services that work together properly so you can maximize the potential of AWS. Aside from this, it’s challenging to figure out the approximate cost of AWS web services. You need to compute the amount first by adding the extra service fees to the base rate of the plans. Last but not least, you need to pay more for in-depth technical assistance.

• Customizable web services
• Supports different web hosting platforms
• Adjustable rates

• Technical knowledge required for optimal web service selection
• Hard to estimate pricing
• Support plans required for premium customer service

Pricing: Starts at $0

AWS Web Hosting at a Glance

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a cloud web hosting provider that enables you to create and manage websites and web apps in a versatile, cost-effective way. It offers a broad range of hosting solutions for small businesses, huge corporations, non-profit organizations, and government agencies. At present, it showcases more than 200 web host services across various data centers.

Founded by ecommerce giant Amazon, AWS Web hosting currently has millions of active users all over the world. In addition to this, the AWS Partner Network (APN) is made up of tens of thousands of independent software vendors (ISVs) and thousands of systems integrators who collaborate together to improve AWS services.

We found in this AWS Web Hosting review that it sets itself apart from competitors through its scalable pricing and functions. The features include web hosting, traffic management, platform support, server hosting, web management, and scalability. On top of this, you can select from add-on services like cloud migration, ecommerce, remote work, database management, plus backup and restore.

Who AWS Web Hosting Is Best For

AWS Web Hosting is ideal for you if you want to create your own web host package with functions and rates that fit your business needs and budget to a T. While AWS does offer plans that serve as the foundation of your package, you must already have a good idea how to mix and match additional services that work well together to make the most out of AWS. That’s why it’s more appropriate for you if you have intermediate or advanced tech expertise, instead of zero to beginner tech skills.

Pricing

The AWS Web Hosting pricing arrangement is slightly different from the usual pricing plans of most web host services. While typical hosting providers showcase plans with set pricing, AWS offers base plans yet focuses more on extra web services which you can add to your package. Here are the AWS plans you can take your pick from:

Plan

Amazon Lightsail

AWS Amplify

Amazon S3

Amazon EC2

Price

Starts at $3.50 / month

Starts at $0

Starts at $0.023 per GB

Starts at $0

Web Hosting

Simple website hosting on a single web server

Single page web app hosting

Simple static website hosting

Enterprise web hosting on multiple web servers

Traffic Management

Low to medium traffic

Up to occasional high traffic

Up to occasional high traffic

Up to demanding high traffic

Website Platform Support

WordPress, Joomla, Drupal & Magento

Single page app frameworks like React JS, Vue JS, Angular JS & Nuxt

HTML &  JavaScript

SAP, high performance computing (HPC), ML, Windows & macOS workloads

Server Hosting

Linux / Unix & Windows virtual servers

Serverless backends

No server administration required

Multiple web servers

Website Management

1 console for web server, DNS & networking management

AWS Amplify Console for workflow management

Object storage via simple web service interface

EC2 instance creation in AWS Management Console

Scalability

Scalable up to 5 servers

Scalable up to enterprise levels

Scalable up to enterprise levels

Maximum scalability

To summarize, there are four AWS plans that can serve as the foundation of your customized package:

1. Amazon Lightsail: Suitable for hosting basic websites on one web server
   • Linux / Unix: $3.50 to $160 / month
   • Windows: $8 to $240 / month
2. AWS Amplify: Ideal for hosting static web apps that require only a single load in a browser
   • Free Tier: Free
   • Pay as you go: $0.01 per build minute / $0.023 per GB stored per month / $0.15 per GB served
3. Amazon S3: Appropriate for hosting basic static websites without any server-side application code
   • S3 Standard: Starts at $0.023 per GB
   • S3 Intelligent Tiering: Starts at $0.0025 per 1,000 objects
4. Amazon EC2: Suitable for hosting enterprise websites with advanced applications
   • Free Tier: Free
   • On-Demand: $0.00 to $0.09 per GB

On top of these base plan rates, you have the option to add web host services by paying extra fees to personalize its functions. Later, we will discuss these supplementary solutions in another section of this review.

Admittedly, it can be confusing if you manually try to figure out the total price you have to pay. Thankfully, you can use the AWS Pricing Calculator to compute the estimated cost of your made-to-order package. Just add the base plan payment plus the service fees to get the approximate total amount.

AWS Web Hosting Review: Features

While AWS highlights its additional service options, the base plans do include important features which can come in handy as you build and maintain your business websites. In this AWS Web Hosting review, let’s take a look at some of the basic features of AWS, such as web hosting, traffic management, web platform support, server hosting, web management, and scalability

Web Hosting

AWS offers web host services similar to other providers. However, it stands out among competitors because it strongly takes into consideration that different business owners have a wide range of hosting needs.

While most hosting platforms showcase set plans that progress in terms of rates and features, AWS finetunes the gradations of its packages further according to the types of websites and servers you want to use.

For example, you may pick the entry-level Amazon Lightsail plan if you need to host a simple website on a single web server that runs on a development stack, Content Management System (CMS), or ecommerce app. Aside from this, you can go for the AWS Amplify package if you wish to host a single page web app that lets you monitor user actions via HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Plus, it allows you to register a domain name with just one click.

As an alternative, you may select the Amazon S3 plan if you aim to host simple static websites that don’t contain server-side application code like ASP.NET or PHP. Finally, you can invest in the Amazon EC2 package if your goal is to set up enterprise-level, application-heavy websites on multiple web servers.

Traffic Management

AWS helps you manage website traffic to ensure the smooth operations of your business site, no matter how many or how few internet users visit your landing pages each day. Nevertheless, the exact amount of traffic it supports depends on which plan you sign up for.

For instance, the Amazon Lightsail package is already sufficient if you only encounter low to medium traffic on a regular basis. However, you should consider the AWS Amplify or Amazon S3 plans if you expect occasional surges in web activity. Still, the Amazon EC2 package works best if you have very demanding traffic management requirements. After all, it prepares you to handle extremely high traffic for your website.

Website Platform Support

AWS supports a broad range of platforms that equip you to build and manage business sites and apps, which is why you have the flexibility to choose the program that suits your purposes. Aside from its WordPress website creation capability, Amazon Lightsail is also compatible with Joomla, Magento, and Drupal. Next, AWS Amplify lets you utilize single page app frameworks, including React JS, Angular JS, Nuxt, and Vue JS.

In addition to this, Amazon S3 gives you the ability to establish static websites that showcase HTML, JavaScript, images, and videos. Last but not least, Amazon EC2 allows you to run high performance computing (HPC), SAP, ML, Windows, and macOS workloads.

Server Hosting

The various AWS packages have different capabilities when it comes to server hosting. On one hand, the Amazon Lightsail plan provides you with virtual servers based on Windows or Linux / Unix, plus matching storage, memory, and processing power.

On the other hand, both the AWS Amplify and Amazon S3 packages don’t require server administration so you can run websites with serverless backends. Finally, the Amazon EC2 plan grants you access to multiple web servers across two or more data centers so you can launch enterprise websites.

Website Management

Each AWS plan allows you to manage your websites, apps, and data in different ways. For example, Amazon Lightsail includes a single console which you can use to oversee your web server, networking, and DNS.

AWS Amplify comes with a dedicated AWS Amplify Console that enables you to supervise your workflow, while EC2 utilizes the same console for instance creation. Last but not least, Amazon S3 equips you to handle object storage through a simple web service interface.

Scalability

The AWS infrastructure can be expanded or downscaled based on your business size, budget, and requirements. While Amazon Lightsail lets you start with a single server, it gives you the opportunity to go up to five servers. Both AWS Amplify and Amazon S3 let you scale your web architecture up to enterprise levels. However, Amazon EC2 trumps them all by providing you with maximum scalability to accommodate your business growth and traffic increase.

AWS Web Hosting Review: Services

On top of the basic features, the practical functionality of AWS Web Hosting will vary based on the type and number of additional services you sign up for. These are some of the AWS web hosting services that you can include in your package:

Cloud Migration

AWS enables you to upload various types of workloads to the cloud, including websites, apps, databases, storage, and virtual or physical servers. It also allows you to transfer centers from an on-premises location, public cloud, or hosting facility to AWS.

Ecommerce

Amazon is one of the leading ecommerce platforms on a global scale, which is why it’s not surprising that AWS provides you with digital commerce solutions. It offers online sales and retail services to help businesses of all sizes sell products and services to consumers over the internet.

Remote Work

AWS makes it simple for you to supervise remote workers, including call center agents, creative freelancers, and work-at-home employees. Remote work solutions boost the productivity of your team, while protecting your shared work information which is stored and transferred online.

Database Management

AWS gives you the opportunity to migrate information to databases which you can manage on a full-scale basis. Plus, it ensures that your databases operate with high levels of reliability and availability. After all, the databases of AWS are designed for speedy performance so they can handle heavy business workloads.

Backup and Restore

AWS offers backup and restore services, which you can adopt as part of your business risk management strategy. You can choose from various storage solutions, data transfer options, and networking alternatives to keep your data safe and secure on a long-term basis.

Front-End Web and Mobile Development

AWS equips you to build mobile and web apps through handy development tools. It supports workflows related to the creation of Android, iOS, React Native, and JavaScript programs. As a result, it streamlines the way you develop, deploy, and operate various kinds of apps.

Blockchain

AWS equips you through blockchain technology to manage a centralized ledger database of cryptographically verifiable records of transactions. In addition to this, it allows you to share ledgers among blockchain networks composed of multiple parties to promote safe cryptocurrency trades. 

Archiving

AWS provides archive storage solutions so you can digitally preserve your data for an extended period of time. These archiving services meet compliance standards so you can benefit from faster retrieval times and better data accessibility compared to on-premises tape storage methods.

Security

AWS offers security solutions to safeguard your accounts, information, and workloads. The data protection services include encryption, threat detection, and key management. Plus, the identity and access management services let you handle permissions, identities, and resources. Finally, the network and application protection services prepare you to implement your security policies across your business organization.

Support Plans

The AWS packages have limited support, which is why you need to subscribe to one of the support plans to get premium customer service. You can choose from developer support, business support, enterprise support, and enterprise on-ramp support based on the type of technical assistance you require for your business.

On top of these 10 services, there are over 200 web host solutions you can select from. These extra services are categorized according to use case, industry, and organization type.

Alternatives to AWS Web Hosting

AWS Web Hosting fits the bill if customizability is your top priority when choosing a hosting provider. Nevertheless, you could also try other alternatives if you value other aspects of web hosting:

Dreamhost

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Dreamhost is a web host service that lets you build and manage WordPress websites. It includes a suite of WordPress tools that assist you in digital content creation and promotion. 

Dreamhost is ideal for you if you want to subscribe to hosting plans with complete, built-in features. It eliminates or reduces the need for customizing your own plan, which you must do if you want to explore the possibilities of AWS. It’s also more affordable in some ways than AWS web hosting pricing.

However, AWS offers way more platform options compared to Dreamhost, which focuses mainly on WordPress. At the end of the day, it’s up to you if you prefer a pre-assembled plan or a personalized one.

• Ready-made plans
• Very affordable pricing

• Limited to WordPress platform
• Customer support is chat-centric, not phone-centric

Pricing: Starts at $1.99 / month

BigCommerce

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BigCommerce is an ecommerce solution that enables you to design online stores and websites. It comes with a page builder visual editor, adjustable themes, and checkout customization.

BigCommerce is suitable for you if you want to try various ecommerce options. In contrast to AWS which is based on Amazon, it gives you the chance to collaborate with other popular virtual marketplaces like eBay and Google Shopping.

Still, AWS is still a better all-purpose solution because it provides other services aside from ecommerce. In short, your choice will be influenced by whether you prioritize ecommerce or general website management.

• Multiple cross-channel ecommerce integrations
• Drag-and-drop builder interface

• Hard to expand beyond ecommerce
• Pricing not transparent

Pricing: Contact BigCommerce to get a quote

GoDaddy

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GoDaddy is a web host solution that helps you create websites with built-in marketing tools. In addition to this, it also offers domain registration and professional email services.

GoDaddy is appropriate for you if you wish to concentrate on the marketing aspect of your business. After all, it focuses more on marketing than AWS does. Nevertheless, AWS showcases much more services compared to GoDaddy, and with AWS web hosting pricing, you can choose your own package. To sum things up, your selection will be based on whether marketing or multiple web services are more important to you.

• Marketing expertise
• Matching domain name and email addresses

• Less services offerings than AWS
• Final pricing of plans only available at checkout

Pricing: Starts at free

Bottom Line on AWS Web Hosting Pricing & Review

AWS Web Hosting gets rid of unnecessary costs by letting you personalize your own package made up only of web host services you need. It’s the perfect fit for you if you need a hosting solution that combines highly customizable services, adjustable AWS Web Hosting pricing, and wide platform compatibility. Now that you have read our AWS Web Hosting review, we are confident that you can figure out if you ought to sign up for Amazon Web Services (AWS) or not.

WP Engine is a WordPress hosting platform that lets you create high-quality websites through powerful yet easy-to-use developer tools. In this WP Engine review, we look at the pros, cons, features, and pricing of this web hosting solution. Find out if WP Engine is the best choice for your WordPress website creation needs.

Our Verdict

WP Engine

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WP Engine is the right web hosting platform for you if you plan to set up and run business websites based on WordPress.org open-source software. The combination of handy workflow tools and user-friendly UI enables you and your team to form high-quality sites, whether you have coding skills or not. Plus, the excellent customer support grants you round-the-clock access to technical assistance.

To be realistic, be prepared to shell out major bucks if you want to maximize all the advanced features of WP Engine. Nevertheless, the startup tiers serve as viable alternatives if you have a limited budget to match your basic requirements.

• First-rate developer tools
• Intuitive drag-and-drop interface
• Flexible pricing options
• 24/7 customer service

• No domains or email addresses included
• Expensive rates compared to other web hosting services
• Confusing price listing

Pricing: Starts at $30 / month

WP Engine at a Glance

WP Engine is a web hosting solution that is dedicated to WordPress site creation and management. Powered by an award-winning technology company, this platform aims to boost your website development, enhance your online performance, and protect your privacy. Aside from managed WordPress services, it also provides ecommerce, enterprise, and agency client management solutions.

This web host stands out among other providers because it specializes in WordPress sites. Its features include website platform services, web hosting, traffic management, storage, bandwidth, developer tools, migration assistance, updates, speed optimization, security, and customer support.

Who WP Engine Is Best For

WP Engine is suitable for business owners and web developers whose main choice as a website building platform is WordPress.org. You need the help of a WordPress hosting platform like WP Engine to build complex business sites using the advanced WordPress.org open-source software. WP Engine could be the ideal solution for you if you want to streamline the way you create and maintain the professional site of your small business or corporation.

Pricing

WP Engine offers different plans that vary in terms of pricing and features. Learn how much each plan costs and what functions it includes.

Plans

Managed WordPress

ecommerce Solutions

Advanced Solutions

Price

Starts at $30 / month

Starts at $36 / month

Contact WP Engine to get a quote

Website Platform Services

WordPress sites

WooCommerce & WordPress sites

Dynamic headless WordPress sites

Web Hosting

1 to 30+ websites

1 to 30+ websites

Multiple high-traffic sites

Traffic Management

25,000 to 400,000+ visits / month

25,000 to 400,000+ visits / month

High-traffic sites supported. Contact WP Engine for details

Storage

10 GB to 50+ GB

10 GB to 50+ GB

Contact WP Engine for details

Bandwidth

50 GB to 500+ GB / month

50 GB to 500+ GB / month

Contact WP Engine for details

Developer Tools

Workflow tools plus customizable WordPress themes

Workflow tools plus customizable WordPress & ecommerce themes

Development, design & site management tools

Migration Assistance

Free automated migration plugin

Free automated migration plugin

White glove migration & launch support

Updates

Automated WordPress & PHP updates

Automated WordPress & PHP updates plus site safety updates

Automated WordPress & PHP updates, site safety updates, and real-time updates

Speed

Speed optimization w/ website caching

Speed optimization w/ website caching

Burst capacity for high-traffic sites & page-level speed tests

Security

Threat blocking & SOC2 Type 2 report

Threat blocking & SOC2 Type 2 report

SOC2 Type 2 security w/ managed web application firewall

Customer Support

24/7 chat support for basic tier plus 24/7 phone support for higher tiers

24/7 chat support for basic tier plus 24/7 phone support for higher tiers

24/7 phone & chat support plus dedicated technical success manager

To summarize, there are three main types of WP Engine plans. Aside from this, the WordPress and ecommerce plans each feature various tiers with different rates and levels of functionality.

1. Managed WordPress
   • Startup: $30 / month
   • Professional: $59 / month
   • Growth: $115 / month
   • Scale: $290 / month
   • Custom: Contact WP Engine for quote
2. Ecommerce Solutions
   • Startup: $36 / month
   • Professional: $75 / month
   • Growth: $140 / month
   • Scale: $ 350 / month
   • Custom: Contact WP Engine for quote
3. Advanced Solutions: Contact WP Engine for quote

We concluded in this WP Engine review that it offers a broad range of pricing options so you can pick the plan that fits your budget and business needs. Admittedly, the premium plans are quite expensive, but you can go for a basic plan if you have limited resources and basic requirements.

Take note that the rate information displayed on the WP Engine website can be confusing because the overview highlights the discounted price, which is only applicable for the first month. Make sure to check the standard rates so you know how much you will be paying every month on a regular basis.

Keep in mind that you need to reach out to the sales team of WP Engine to request a pricing quote for the Advanced Solutions plan, as well as the custom versions of Managed WordPress and ecommerce Solutions.

WP Engine Features

WP Engine boasts an impressive arsenal of useful features that streamlines your web development and maintenance tasks. In this WP Engine review, let’s explore the various features of WP Engine, such as website platform solutions, web hosting, traffic management, storage space, bandwidth support, developer workflow tools, migration plugins, current updates, speed optimization, security options, and customer service.

Website Platform Services

The Managed WordPress plan, as well as other WP Engine packages, automatically includes WordPress support, whether you are building a new website from scratch or migrating your existing website from a previous platform.

In addition to this, the ecommerce Solutions allow you to set up your own ecommerce stores and landing pages using WooCommerce – here are some of the top web hosting solutions for ecommerce. On top of this, the Advanced Solutions make it possible for you to create dynamic headless WordPress sites for your enterprise.

Web Hosting

WP Engine can host your business websites, no matter how few or how many sites you want to establish. Both Managed WordPress and ecommerce Solutions have various tiers with hosting options, which range from a single site up to over 30 websites. The Advanced Solutions let you build multiple headless WordPress sites, although the exact number will depend on how you customize your enterprise package.

Traffic Management

WP Engine enables you to manage your website traffic, regardless of the number of visitors who typically check out your site on a regular basis. Depending on your preferred tier, the Managed WordPress and ecommerce Solutions alike can support from as little as 25,000 visits to as much as 400,000 visits every month. While the exact number of monthly visits supported by Advanced Solutions is not indicated in the product website, the enterprise plan can definitely handle high website traffic.

Storage

WP Engine provides you with local storage so you can upload data that you want to display or store in your website, such as text, photos, videos, documents, or downloadable resources. Both Managed WordPress and ecommerce Solutions can provide storage space from as low as 10 GB to as high as over 50 GB. Again, the exact storage capability of Advanced Solutions is not available in the official website, but you can contact the provider for more details.

Bandwidth

Bandwidth is the maximum amount of data which you can transfer over the internet during a set period of time. WP Engine provides different bandwidth rates for each tier. For example, the Managed WordPress and ecommerce Solutions offer from 50 GB to more than 500 GB each month. You may inquire with WP Engine to find out the specific bandwidth rate for the Advanced Solutions plan.

Developer Tools

WP Engine equips you with web development tools that enable you to build websites whether you are a coding expert or not. The Managed WordPress plan comes with workflow tools, plugins, and StudioPress themes so you can make personalized WordPress websites, no matter which type of organization structures you plan to use for your web content.

In addition to this, the ecommerce Solutions package allows you to set up WordPress ecommerce and WooCommerce sites through store creation tools. Also, it comes with premium ecommerce themes and blocks which you can use to customize online stores.

On top of this, the Advanced Solutions plan empowers you to make dynamic headless WordPress sites through development, design, and site management tools. Plus, it allows you to keep track of these headless websites through code-level monitoring and insights.

Migration Assistance

The migration features make it possible for you to transfer your existing websites from your previous web host to WP Engine. Both the Managed WordPress and ecommerce Solutions packages include free automated migration plugins to streamline the process. Aside from this, the Advanced Solutions plan provides white glove migration and launch support for a smooth transition.

Updates

WP Engine continuously improves its services through various updates. The Managed WordPress plan includes automated WordPress and PHP updates, while the ecommerce Solutions plan throws in auto-plugin site safety updates into the mix. In addition to these, the Advanced Solutions showcases real-time updates to enhance performance and functionality.

Speed

All WP Engine plans boost the performance of your business websites and online stores. The Managed WordPress and ecommerce Solutions packages alike are designed to optimize site speed, SEO results, and website caching. To level up the speed even further, the Advances Solutions plan includes burst capacity to handle high-traffic sites and virtual stores. Plus, it showcases page-level speed tests so you can assess how fast your web pages are loading.

Security

WP Engine protects the privacy of your website data through industry-grade security features. It proactively blocks cyber threats that could compromise the confidentiality of your business information. While the Managed WordPress and ecommerce Solutions packages come with SOC2 Type 2 reporting, the Advanced Solutions plan amps it up via SOC2 Type 2 security with a managed web application firewall.

Customer Support

WP Engine has been recognized in the tech industry because of its outstanding customer service. The award-winning support team provides 24/7 chat support for the basic tiers plus 24/7 phone support for the higher tiers of the Managed WordPress and ecommerce Solutions plans. Beyond this, the Advanced Solutions package includes the exclusive services of a dedicated technical success manager.

Alternatives to WP Engine

WP Engine is a solid pick if you need a web hosting service that lets you maximize the potential of WordPress. Still, you could consider other options if you have other priorities aside from WordPress website creation. Here are some interesting alternatives to WP Engine:

Wix

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Wix is one of the popular website builders that lets you design and develop websites through the Wix editor and customizable website templates. You can use it to start a blog or build a virtual store for your business. Wix is suitable for you if you want to create and manage your business sites with minimal effort. After all, Wix is easier to use than WP Engine. Still, WP Engine is a more scalable, powerful service compared to Wix.

• Simple website editor
• Cheaper plans than WP Engine

• Wix sites harder to scale than WordPress sites
• Not as featured-packed as WP Engine

Pricing:

• Connect Domain: $4.50 / month
• Combo: $8.50 / month
• Unlimited: $12.50 / month
• VIP: $24.50 / month

Shopify

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Shopify is one of the widely used ecommerce platforms that you can use to sell and ship products or process payments from customers. It comes with handy tools that allow you to set up an online store, increase sales, and manage daily operations. Shopify is ideal for you if the focus of your business is ecommerce. After all, Shopify specializes in online selling more than WP Engine does. Nevertheless, WP Engine is still better as an all-purpose web host compared to Shopify.

• Ecommerce expertise
• Domains available for purchase

• Expensive plan rates
• Feature set not as well-rounded as WP Engine

Pricing:

• Basic: $29
• Shopify: $79
• Advanced: $299

WordPress.com

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WordPress.com is a well-known website builder that lets you quickly set up a simple website or blog for your business. Take note that WordPress.com, which is an online web host, is distinct from the WordPress.org software. The blocks let you insert media, forms, reviews, and maps, while add-ons may be installed to boost your site’s functionality.

WordPress.com is appropriate for you if you want to experiment building a basic blog for free or at a minimal cost. After all, WordPress.com is way more affordable compared to WP Engine. However, the features and scalability options of WordPress.com are very limited so you might end up upgrading to WP Engine once you’re done experimenting.

• Free or budget-friendly pricing
• Very simple to use

• Extremely sparse features and storage compared to WP Engine
• No custom domain name for free version

Pricing:

• WordPress Free: Free
• WordPress Pro: $15

Bottom Line on WP Engine Review

WP Engine is a smart choice for you if your business website creation goals revolve around WordPress.org. It simplifies the way that you create business websites using the WordPress open-source platform, thanks to its top-notch developer tools, intuitive UI, versatile pricing options, and round-the-clock customer service. We hope that our WP Engine review has helped you decide if this web hosting service is the perfect fit for your business or not.