iPage manages over 1.5 million domains and 1 million websites from customers in over 150 countries around the world. Though headquartered in the United States, the company has some six locations worldwide staffed by 800 employees. They offer customer support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, via phone, e-mail, and chat. Calls are answered in under two minutes and iPage has won awards for their support. iPage also has plenty of tutorials so you can do the research for yourself if you do not want to wait for a response from customer support.
iPage hosting features some of the best security in the industry and with there free Security Suite you get daily malware scans, daily spam scans, constant network scanning and a highly secure data center. Recently many hosting companies were under mass attacks from a botnet of hackers. iPage were one of few companies to successfully stop the hacking attempts which helped them forge their way to the top spot in our top 10 rankings.
Other features include unlimited domains, and MySQL databases, plus a personalized domain name that is free for the first year. You are allowed unlimited POP3/IMAP e-mail addresses that can be accessed via webmail. This service includes virus checking, forwarding, autoresponders, and customizable spam filtering.
Customers have access to FTP and FileManager in addition to a host of do it yourself design tools such as a blog setup wizard, template based site builder, drag and drop site builder, and photo gallery wizard. FTP is great for advanced users but these services level the playing field, allowing even inexperienced webmasters to design their own sites. iPage also supports custom error pages and a URL redirection service, allowing you to completely customize the end-user experience and maximize branding.
FrontPage extensions are supported, as is PERL and SSI (server side includes). Plugins and addons include content management systems (CMS), blog platforms, photo galleries, and forums. Many of these features can be installed simply and are easy to setup, learn, and maintain. As noted above, iPages offers many FAQs and tutorials though their customer support may not be able to provide help for third-party products. You can also include multimedia content on your site.
You receive some $500 worth of features with your paid account, including $100 in Google AdWords credits, $50 for Facebook advertising, and $25 for Yahoo and Bing. You also receive a security certification for your site as well a website authentication seal. iPage also includes full integration with Google’s analytics tools so you can better track performance and traffic. You get a free YellowPages.com listing as well a toll free 1-800 number if you live in the United States.
iPages has features and services that are great for both personal and business sites, including a free online store and your choice of shopping carts. PayPal integration is included, along with shared SSL. iPage’s technology and customer support are top-notch and they stand by their products with a money back guarantee.
]]>Your account includes unlimited disk storage, data transfer, e-mail accounts, and domain hosting, as well as a free site builder, domain registration for the first year and instant setup. Theoretically, you could design and establish your website immediately following the opening of your account using only the features and services provided to you by JustHost.
You can check your e-mail using three different forms of webmail or independent mailing programs and manage your site through a browser based file manager, cPanel control panel, or FTP access. Secure Shell Access (SSH), Server Side Includes (SSI), hotlink protection, override .htaccess support, and spam assassin protection are all included. JustHost also supports other options that cannot be listed here for various reasons – more than many of the other hosts, in fact.
Scripts for additional features include everything from blogging platforms like WordPress and B2Bevolution to message forums (PHPBB and more), as well as social networking scripts, form-mail scripts, poll and survey software, image galleries, mailing lists, and tons more. JustHost also supports multimedia of all kinds. Using these additional options, you can do almost anything on your site that you see anywhere else! Almost all of these scripts and services are free and extremely easy to install – usually with just one click.
JustHost has won several awards for its quality service and offers 24/7 customer support by a toll-free phone number, online chat and a help center for submitting tickets.
With JustHost you receive $125 worth of advertising credits for both Google Adwords and Yahoo Sponsored Ads. This is a great way to generate free traffic for your website and test the waters.
JustHost uses world-class technology and UPS and diesel generator power backup to ensure optimal uptime. It employs a customized Apache Web server running under the Linux operating system. The network is also monitored around the clock so any problems are usually detected soon after they develop.
JustHost also offers an affiliate program paying $60.00 for every customer you refer. You could feasibly pay for your annual hosting simply by referring just one customer a year!
]]>That said, you do get a lot for your money, though it is not much more than you get with most other hosting companies. A free domain name is included and that will save you a (very) little money but only for the first year. Also, there are no setup fees. Further, FatCow has floating limits on disk space and usage that is determined by the amount of traffic coming to your site. According to information provided on the site, most websites are never going to reach the limit but if you should, your usage will be capped. Most other hosts offer unlimited data storage and bandwidth.
While FatCow offers unlimited POP3 mailboxes, data transfer and space abide by the limitations outlined above. FatCow does not appear to support IMAP services. They do provide a webmail client for checking your e-mail from your browser, spam filtering, and newsletter manager tool for your POP3 e-mail accounts.
FatCow does offer several site tools to help you build, maintain, and manage your site. These include a website builder and FrontPage extensions and FTP access, but it does not appear that FatCow has a file manager. It does have a customizable control panel though it does not list it as cPanel, the leading and most ubiquitous control panel. Google custom search and webmaster tools are integrated into your services. Programming options include several but not all and a script library. They also support WordPress for blogging; Gallery2; phpBB forums software; GBook; Joomla (CMS or Content Management System); and polling, survey, and visitation counter tools. FatCow also offers a ShopSite online store, PayPal shopping cart integration, PowerPay, and the ability to accept credit cards.
FatCow’s “Moo Crew” support includes a satisfaction pledge and around the clock customer support via phone, e-mail, and live chat. They also provide step by step tutorials and a large FAQ library so that you can look up issues and attempt to handle problems yourself. Customer support agents may not be able to provide assistance for third-party add-ons and scripts.
FatCow offers several partnerships that can help offset the high price, including an affiliate program that pays out $100.00 and a referral program that pays $10 credits against your bill. There is also a reseller program but the payment is listed only as “deep discounts.”
Overall, FatCow falls short when compared to most other hosts. It offers little for the amount charged and its price is easily one of the highest. However, the service shines where marketing is concerned, offering credits for Google AdWords, Yahoo/Bing, and Facebook, as well as a free YellowPages.com listing. Still, these “bonuses” provide little for the cost and are pretty standard for most hosting services.
]]>Bluehost provides unlimited disk storage, domain hosting, POP3 and IMAP secure e-mail accounts, forwarding e-mail accounts, add-on domains, parked domains, subdomains, and site transfer. It uses cPanel control panel, a file manager, and has three webmail clients in case you want to manage things from your browser. They also have FTP access. Other features include customizable error pages and Cronjobs, log files and site statistics, and spam assassin protection.
Many CGI and database options are supported. This includes JavaScript, DHTML, Flash, and other programming languages that do not require add-ons or script installations. Free website scripts include form mail, message forums, social networking, blogging platforms, poll and survey software, Joomla CMS, and many more. Almost all of these are one-click installations. e-Commerce features include password protected directories, SSL secure server, and numerous shopping carts. Bluehost also supports multimedia.
With all of these features, even neophyte webmasters should be able to do anything they can think of on their sites without too much trouble. You can even try out the services using Bluehost’s live demo. Bluehost has a Getting Started wizard and library full of video tutorials to help you along the way. There is also a knowledge base filled with FAQs. If you get stuck, they provide 24/7 customer support by phone, customer ticket, and live chat. They even offer postal mail support, though you probably will not need that.
Best of all, Bluehost is very competitively priced at just under $5.00US per month. They also have an affiliate and reseller program to help offset your hosting costs or simply generate a little extra income. They do not offer much in the way of marketing and promotion but they do give new users $100 in Google AdWords credits. Though it sounds like a lot, you are certain to blow through that quickly. This means that you will have to work to get the word out and promote your site.
Overall, Bluehost stands up quite well when compared to other hosting companies. While it may not be the cheapest, it offers more than enough features for almost any type of website and its technology and customer support are top-notch. Definitely a hosting company to look into if you are planning on developing an e-commerce site.
]]>HostGator offers three hosting plans starting at under $4.00 a month. The Hatchling Plan includes a single domain and shared SSL certificate with unlimited disk storage and bandwidth. The Baby Plan features unlimited domains, disk space, and bandwidth, as well as the shared SSL certificate. The Business Plan offers all of the features included in the other two plans in addition to free private SSL, private IP, and toll free number. These latter two plans cost $6.36 and $10.36US per month, respectively.
HostGator uses cPanel control panel and has the Easy BaseKitsitebuilder for inexperienced webmasters. You can try out both free on the site before you make a purchase. 4,500 templates and 52 scripts are included in all of the plans, along with free website transfer, domain transfer, MySQL and script transfer, and more. They also include $100 Google AdWords credits. e-Mail includes unlimited POP3 accounts with autoresponders, mail forwards, aliases, and mailing lists. SpamAssassin handles spam and you can receive e-mail on your phone with IMAP. You can also access your e-mail from your browser using three different webmail clients.
Programming options include unlimited MySQL databases with phpMyAdmin Access and FrontPage extensions. Programming languages include some but not all of them; several modules included; and system management include SSH access and at least one other one.
HostGator’s award winning support includes around the clock support via phone, live chat, and e-mail. Their online “support portal” has over 500 video tutorials and nearly 700 help articles and FAQs. They also have a community help forum where you can ask other users for help and advice.
They also offer fairly comprehensive search engine optimization (SEO) and marketing tools that rival those found on any other host. Attracta is the world’s most popular SEO toolset, used by some two million sites worldwide.
HostGator appears to be a fine host for personal websites that do not need a lot of the high-end features more robust sites do, but the cost becomes prohibitive at higher plan levels. e-Commerce sites can probably find better deals with other hosting services. HostGator does have a comprehensive reseller program however, if that is something in which you are interested. Overall, HostGator is not a bad deal but certainly not the best.
]]>In addition to a plethora of contact numbers for every department customers should ever need, HostMonster’s customer support also provides a helpdesk (e-mail ticket submissions), video tutorials, text FAQs, user-powered message forum, and live chat. Like a few other hosts, they also offer postal mail customer support although one has to wonder why anyone would ever need it. The Getting Started Wizard is essential for newbie webmasters.
As for features, HostMonster is pretty standard when compared to other providers. They have unlimited disk space, domains, bandwidth, site transfer, POP3 and IMAP e-mail mailboxes, forwarding e-mail accounts, add-on domains, parked domains, subdomains, and FTP access. That sounds nice but the truth is that few will ever need unlimited reserves of any of these things. Still, some web hosts will suspend websites if they exceed these limits and this practice can lead to all sorts of problems for businesses.
They also support MySQL and Postgre SQL databases, CGI-BIN and library, Frontpage extensions, SSH, customizable error pages and cronjobs, and more. e-Mail comes with three webmail clients and spam assassin protection. Again, all of these features are pretty standard but be sure to read the list carefully as some features are repeated under different names – for example, they list “three webmail clients” as well as “webmail access.” Despite that gaffe, HostMonster has most of the same features as competing providers.
Add-ons and scripts include forums/message boards, photo galleries, mailing lists, poll and survey software, social networking, blogging platforms, and multimedia in all forms. Programming languages supported include some of the more popular ones but not all of them. Content Management Systems like Joomla are also available. Almost all of these are one click installations, though you should be aware that customer support does not necessarily support third-party software. With all of the helpdesk options though, that should not be a problem.
HostMonster boasts of superior technology, which includes quad processor servers, a customized Apache web server running under Linux which is monitored 24/7 for maximum uptime, an OC-48 backbone connection, and UPS back-up generator. They provide courtesy site backups, though it does not say if they are recurring or have to be performed manually.
For everything they offer however, HostMonster drops the ball when it comes to promotion and marketing. According to their site, they offer only search engine submission and $100 in Google AdWords credits – which is not very much, at all. Still, all told, HostMonster is a suitable host for both businesses and individuals and quite affordable at its current $4.95US price. That cost may go up after the first term though, as the regular rate is just under $7.00 per month. While still a decent deal at that elevated price, there are less expensive hosts with the same features and a few with even more.
]]>The features provided depend on the package you choose but all levels are comparable to those from other hosting companies, at least where features are concerned. Obviously, the better (and more expensive) the package, the more features available but almost everything InMotion offers is available for every package except e-commerce options, which are limited at the lowest priced level.
InMotion offers a wide range of one-click install applications in addition to website plugins like a web calendar, PHP Nuke, forum software, and Content Management Systems (CMS) like Joomla and Mambo. All of the packages are Dreamweaver and Adobe Go Live compatible and support FrontPage extensions. Further, you have your choice of two website builders. Bloggers have a large selection of platforms, both popular and obscure.
For programming, InMotion supports basically all of the major platforms. You can also create custom error pages and cronjobs and have full FTP access and control. InMotion also has a file manager for managing your site through your browser.
Arguably InMotion’s strongest point is its secure POP3 and IMAP e-mail features. For one thing, your e-mail is Blackberry/mobile compatible – a feature not often seen though it is certain to become more widespread in time. There are also three webmail clients so you can check your mail through your browser. Forwarders, autoresponders, and aliases are available and work well with the many customizable spam filters. You can even access and modify your MX record.
The most important feature InMotion offers is its unique Max Speed Zones technology. According to the literature, this technology places files in datacenters closer to your location for faster response times and better performance. You can check your download time from the site to see how well your system is performing though your ISP connection will certainly play the largest part in this delivery.
InMotion has won the most awards for performance and service of any of the sites reviewed. You can check out the lengthy page for yourself but you should know that InMotion also boasts an impressive three of three stars from CNet and is a member in good standing of the Better Business Bureau. For those outside the United States, this is a consumer protection agency that helps ensure businesses act responsibly and treat customers ethically. Companies can lose their BBB status if enough customer complaints are registered with the agency.
Their customer support center is available 24/7. Aside from contacting an agent by phone, live chat, or e-mail, InMotion offers a wide range of tools, FAQs and tutorials, and other resources.
]]>One of GoDaddy’s weaknesses is that, though well organized, you are forced to pore through the site to find all of the features and options you need. This appears to be a strategic and intentional design meant to compel you to spend more time on the site but it is far from convenient for the end user.
GoDaddy’s hosting is scalable to your needs and boasts a 99.9% uptime. They also boast around the clock security monitoring which is probably a good thing these days, and may become more important in years to come, but is probably not a priority for most sites. Business site webmasters may feel safer with it though.
GoDaddy hosting comes in three sizes: Economy, Deluxe, and Ultimate. The Deluxe package is prominently advertised as the best deal and, for the price and the features it includes, it appears to be. Unlike many host providers though, GoDaddy is pretty stingy when it comes to space, e-mail accounts, and MySQL databases.
GoDaddy claims to have no hidden fees but it charges for literally every feature and option you choose. It does offer a large pool of one-click hosting options – add-ons, utilities, services, and software – that include blogging platforms, forums/message boards, content management systems (CMS), shopping cart software, social networking, and much more. These applications are conveniently categorized for easier access.
The Economy plan is probably all most freelance individual webmasters will ever need. Although disk space is limited to 10 GB, that is actually more than most websites will ever use. The Deluxe package allows for 150 GB disk space – a marked improvement over the Economy plan – 500 e-mail accounts and 25, 1 GB MySQL databases; the Economy plan allows for 100 e-mail accounts and 10 MySQL databases. Most of the hosts reviewed grant unlimited disk space, e-mail, and MySQL databases. Still, few websites are ever going to use all of these, so why pay for something you do not need? GoDaddy also grants Bing, Facebook, and Fotolio credits for each plan. It does not appear to include any Google AdWords credits.
Compared to other web host providers, GoDaddy does not stand-up very well. Again though, few websites will max-out their e-mail accounts or use all the disk space given them, even at the Economy level. All that aside, many of the hosts reviewed offer much more at a competitive price. The major benefit to hosting through GoDaddy is that you only have to deal with one company – that is, if you choose to register your domain through GoDaddy, as well.
]]>With this basic plan, customers can choose between Linux or Windows -based hosting – something not all hosting companies offer. It includes domain registration free for the first year and you can register an unlimited number of domains with the company through the Customer Account Page. The online control panel allows customers to see and alter almost everything associated with their account from one convenient place, including contact and billing information, registration and management of domains associated with the account, and more. The problem with it is that it lists basically every option you can think of, making it slightly difficult to find what you are looking for until you become familiar with the navigation.
The basic plan includes unlimited storage (with some provisions), bandwidth, databases, domain names, e-mail and FTP accounts, and more. Lunarpages uses cPanel Control Panel and offers three webmail clients for accessing your e-mail through a browser. e-Mail accounts allow for unlimited forwarding and spam protection although the spam protection is severely lacking. Lunarpages boasts that it supports “whatever language you want to use” for programming, including Python, PERL, Ruby on Rails, and more. They also provide hundreds of scripts and add-ons to help customize your site. These scripts and add-ons allow you to include things like social networking, blogging platforms, message boards/forums, and more.
As noted above, Lunarpages also hosts business sites and offers two plans: Standard Business Hosting and Enterprise Solutions. If you do not know whether or not you need enterprise solutions, chances are that you do not. However you can always speak with a helpful customer service representative to learn more about it if you are not sure. Business plans include a patented hacker protection service called SecureLive which monitors and tracks hackers before they can attack your site.
All plans also include SecureDesk, a help and support center that offers multiple points of contact, including toll-free support numbers, e-mail and ticket support, live chat, and a library of tutorials. Customer service by phone has limited availability and turn-around for the helpdesk can be as much as 24 hours though most tickets are usually resolved much sooner.
Lunarpages also periodically offers a plethora of free software programs with your account as well as many search engine optimization (SEO) and promotional tools to help spread the word about your site. These tools include advertising credits with several major networks including Facebook. Lunarpages is competitively priced and has a good customer service record as well as an affiliate program.
]]>The Basic plan comes with 100 GB disk space and 1,000 GB per month data transfer (bandwidth). You can have 10 site pages and up to 250 e-mail addresses. You can also have up to 100 subdomains. At this lowest level, you can still use Yahoo’s online SiteBuilder to design your site but it does not include the desktop version. The entire plan falls apart when you consider the fact that it does not include FTP or a file manager – at least it does not list either – forcing one to wonder how, exactly, you manage your site. It also excludes all programming languages and WordPress hosting. In fact, one wonders what, if anything, any webmaster can do with this stripped-down, barebones plan aside from pay for it.
The second tier package is the most popular and includes most everything you find from other hosting companies, including everything not included in the Basic Plan. It also gives webmasters 500 GB space, 500 e-mail addresses, and 5000 GB data transfer per month. The number of site pages you can include is unlimited.
The most expensive package, the Premier package, features unlimited disk space, bandwidth, and site pages, but still only 1000 e-mail accounts. Of course, almost no website or business will ever need that many.
There are few advantages to hosting your site through Yahoo although it bears mentioning that your site will benefit from being so closely tied to everything else Yahoo offers. This is particularly true when it comes to marketing; Yahoo web hosting offers a whole lot of marketing and promotional features, including a grand opening e-mail tool to announce your site’s launch. There are also detailed tutorials on search engine optimization, online advertising, and online marketing that will help you better market and promote your site. Automatic search engine submission is a given and all webmasters receive $75 Microsoft adCenter credits for advertising.
Yahoo also has its own tracking and reporting tools which provide numerical data that can help you better target audiences and improve traffic, among other things. Many webmasters use these tools in conjunction with similar plans from companies such as Google to better understand what visitors are looking for and accessing on their sites. The “comprehensive online help center” includes 24-hour e-mail and toll-free phone support as well as a library of video tutorials.
Yahoo web hosting boasts 99.9% uptime with redundant, geographically distributed data centers to improve speed and performance. Yahoo web hosting uses Apache servers running under Unix. As one of the premiere web portals on the Internet, it is safe to assume that Yahoo’s available technology is more than sufficient for your website’s needs.
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