web hosting,web host review,top web hosts

y name is Dan Scott. I’ve worked in the computing industry for over twenty-five years. Recently, I decided to create my own web site for my family. Although I’ve worked with the technology for years, up until now it had always been on either a customer’s servers or on corporate servers. This was my first time to look for a public hosting site for myself. I thought it would be easy; with my experience I thought I could quickly find the best hosting site for my needs…I was wrong.

I spent days reading reviews, studying hosting web sites, searching through forums trying to find the best web host. Just any host wouldn’t do, I wanted the best. And, the more I read the more I learned just how much a poor choice in a web host could affect me and just how many poor ones there were. Horror stories of people who had worked for months getting a web site put together only to have their hosting company disappear, taking all their work with them. Sites that were down more than they were up and technical support that appeared to be run by Don Rickles. Even stories of domain names being stolen and the user blackmailed to get it back…by the hosting company!

In the end, I found a company I have been happy with. But, I felt bad for all those that would come after, all going through the same hassle that I had or worse, just picking one at random and potentially adding their story to the list of web hosting horror stories.

So, I’ve created a list of the top sites I have found, along with how they all scored in the areas I think are critical for a web host. I’ll update the info once a month (this is now current for the month of May). I’m really sorry folks (and thanks for asking), but I’ve been flitting from one side of the country to the other for the last several weeks now and haven’t been able to devote the hours it takes to gleaning the information I need to update my table. I should catch a break here shortly and will update as soon as I am able.

Curious where these numbers came from and what they mean? Look below to see how I came up with them.

May Results (June data coming soon!)

Host Name	Price	Reliability	Customer Service	Technical Support	Ease of Use	Features	Storage Space	Bandwidth	Final Score
	$6.95	9.85	9.33	9.52	9	9.52	1500 GB	15000 GB	98.50%
	$6.95	9.73	9.6	8.6	9	10	1500 GB	15000 GB	97.42%
	$6.95	9.53	9.47	9.23	9	9.4	1500 GB	15000 GB	97.12%
	$6.95	9.25	9.25	*	8	10	1500 GB	15000 GB	96.13%
	$11.95	9.9	8.92	9.17	8.63	9	unlimited	unlimited	95.50%
webhostingpad.com	$6.95	8.83	8.33	*	8.25	9.5	1700 GB	17000 GB	91.42%
ipower.com	$6.95	9.38	8.88	9	6	10	1500 GB	15000 GB	91.11%
	$7.95	8.65	8.71	8.05	8.6	9.42	unlimited	unlimited	89.69%
dot5hosting.com	$5.95	9.07	8.23	9.8	7.2	8.18	1500 GB	15000 GB	89.69%
hostgator.com	$7.95	8.86	8.52	8.34	*	8.33	600 GB	6000 GB	89.34%
	$5.95	9.36	8.03	8.07	7.2	9.3	1500 GB	15000 GB	87.74%
godaddy.com	$6.64	8.85	7.92	8.59	8	8.5	150 GB	1500 GB	87.29%
dreamhost.com	$5.95	7.19	9.06	8.31	*	8.5	500 GB	5000 GB	85.69%
hostpapa.com	$7.95	9.1	8.2	9	6	7.75	1500 GB	15000 GB	85.35%
ipowerweb.com	$6.95	8	8	9	7.5	8.45	1500 GB	15000 GB	85.31%
powweb.com	$5.77	8.33	8.33	10	5	8	1500 GB	15000 GB	84.74%
lunarpages.com	$7.95	8.85	8.08	7.75	7	8.53	5 GB	400 GB	84.24%
anhosting.com	$6.95	8.33	8.67	8	5.33	8.67	500 GB	5000 GB	82.44%
vistapages.com	$7.95	8.75	8.75	8	6	6	1800 GB	18000 GB	80.67%
1and1.com	$4.99	7.47	6.03	4.68	8	8.25	120 GB	1200 GB	69.82%

(*) – No data available.

So, where did this data come from? I’m glad you asked. This is actually the result of many days of work scouring the web for reviews on the various web hosts. I limited my research to only include those reviews that have quantitative data; just saying, “somewebhost.com (hopefully, that’s not a real web site) has really good customer service” was not enough. I needed something I could use to compare to other sites, like response times or time to resolution. Also, a web host had to have at least two independent reviews to be included in the final results. I converted everything I found to a one-to-ten scale and put it all in a table. All of that information was then averaged and sorted. When averaging I weighted Reliability highest, then Customer Service and Technical Support higher than Ease of Use and Features.

Then I went to each of the hosting web sites and captured their current information on pricing, storage space, and bandwidth for a typical one year hosting package. Why include so many if I only need one host site? Well, for one thing, I have chosen the ‘top’ provider based on my own criteria of reliability and customer service, but somebody else might use different criteria to make their selection. And, in spite of all the work I already went through to gather and summarize this data I realize people will still want to compare it to other reviews and I wanted them to be able to get all the data I could provide.

If you find this information useful, please use the link from my web page to your chosen host. It won’t cost you anything or commit you to anything if you should change your mind, but the revenue I receive helps to pay for this web site and my time in keeping it up.

For the sake of full disclosure, I am currently using HostMonster and have been very satisfied with them.

1. Colocation Network Services of Terremark, Deploys EU Utility Computing Platform - Integrated Tier-1 Internet exchange and managed IT infrastructure solutions provider, Terremark, has completed deployment of the Infinistructure utility-computing platform at its facilities in Madrid and Amsterdam.
2. Liquid Web Hosting Firm, Garners 693rd Placement, as US Fastest Growing Company - Web hosting company, Liquid Web, has been honored by INC. Magazine as the 693rd fastest growing company in the United States, for the second consecutive year.
3. Web Hosting Services Firm, New Edge Networks, Chosen by InMotion, for Airport - Earthlink subsidiary and broadband network company, New Edge Networks, has been chosen by the largest entertainment and electronics airport retailer in the United States.
4. Web Hosting R1Soft Software Provider Partner Program, Welcomes WpWeb - Developer of near-continuous data protection products for Linux and Windows, R1Soft, has welcomed integrated Internet solutions and media development company, WpWeb S.r.l, into its Hosting Partner Program.
5. Colocation Web Hosting Firm, Data393, Provides High Density for National Pension - Colocation, managed hosting, disaster recovery and IP network services, Data393, has entered into an agreement to deliver high density colocation services to business and technology public pension organization services firm, Sagitec Solutions.
6. HostingPanama, Welcomed by Parallels, in Gold Service Provider Partnership - Server virtualization, automation and software provider, Parallels, has welcomed provider of offshore web hosting, dedicated servers, and colocation, HostingPanama, as a Gold partner.
7. Hosting Business from BroadSpire, Acquired by Momentum -
   Ontario, Canada - (The Hosting News) - August 26, 2008 - IT hosting and managed website services, Momentum Advanced Solutions Inc., has acquired the Los Angeles, California based IT hosting division of BroadSpire, Inc.

   Phil DeLeon, President of Momentum noted, ”Momentum has a […]

8. Web Hosting Provider, SingleHop, Chosen by Sphere Web Hosting -
   Chicago, Illinois - (The Hosting News) - August 26, 2008 - Web hosting managed dedicated hosting provider, SingleHop, Inc., will support Sphere Web Hosting’s infrastructure and managed services for its shared, reseller and dedicated hosting business.

   Dan Ushman, Co-founder and […]

9. Host Gator Reseller and Dedicated Hosting Firm, Ranks on Inc 5000 List -
   Houston, Texas - (The Hosting News) - August 25, 2008 - Shared, dedicated and reseller web hosting firm, Host Gator, has been ranked by Inc.com, as the 21st fastest-growing private company in the country, on its Inc 5000 list.

   Brent Oxley, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of HostGator remarked, ”I started the company with a $1,000 budget from my dorm room in Boca Raton, FL. Today the owners of more than 1.3 million websites depend on our hosting service. We are extremely proud of our strong past growth, but we’re really only getting started.” Mr. Oxley, who turned 25 in March, attributes the growth of the company to its commitment to customer service and dedication to providing customers with the best web hosting experience in the hosting industry.

   The 2008 Inc. 5000 list measures revenue growth from 2004 through 2007. To qualify, companies must be U.S.-based and privately held, for profit, independent - not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies - as of December 31, 2007, and have had at least $200,000 in revenue in 2004, and $2 million in 2007.

   HostGator revenue grew by 5297% during the measured period. In addition to being ranked #21 overall, HostGator was also ranked #1 for growth in the Houston metro, #2 for growth in the Business Services category, and #1 for growth within the state of Texas.
   
   The Houston-based company had revenues of $18,700,000 in 2007 compared to revenues of $326,000 in 2004 and projects revenues over the next 12 months will reach $50,000,000. Since moving to Houston in 2006, HostGator has created over 155 positions for highly skilled technicians and systems administrators. It recently completed renovations to accommodate a large increase in hiring activity and expects to add at least 100 new employees in Houston over the next few months.

   In January, after reporting a successful fiscal year, has given gifts to support cancer fighting initiatives, while promoting education in underdeveloped countries.

   The company gave $100,000 to the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX, and $25,000 to One Laptop per Child. The gifts were decided upon by HostGator management and staff, including a significant contribution to the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.

   In addition. HostGator donated to the international organization, One Laptop Per Child. The Anderson Cancer Center received a gift of $100,000 and One Laptop per Child received $25,000. The goal of One Laptop per Child is spelled out in its name: to improve the educational opportunities for children in underdeveloped regions by giving every child access to an inexpensive, durable, web-capable laptop. At $100 each, the gift from HostGator should provide at least 250 laptops.

   The gift to One Laptop per Child was another easy decision, according to Mr. Oxley, ”If it wasn’t for the internet and computers we wouldn’t be in business. If just one of the kids can further their knowledge in computers and make a career out of it, in some shape or form, it will have been worth every penny.”

   At Anderson, one of the country’s largest cancer treatment centers, HostGator’s gift will go to support a variety of programs — from research and clinical trials, to education, counseling and treatments. Mr. Oxley says as HostGator continues to grow and earn profits, it will continue increasing the amount of its annual gifts.

   Inc.com, the daily resource for entrepreneurs, delivers how-to guides, advice, tools, breaking news, and rich multi-media to help business owners and CEOs start, run, and grow their businesses. Inc.com offers dynamic marketing solutions to help advertisers effectively reach Inc.com’s audience of business leaders.

   Host Gator is a provider of shared, dedicated and reseller web hosting services focused on the consumer and small business markets. Founded in 2002, Host Gator provides hosting for over 1.3 million websites and supports over 50,000 resellers worldwide with 24/7 technical support and web hosting tools, including free billing software for resellers and access to over 4,500 high quality free web templates. Host Gator has offices in Houston, Texas and its data center operations are co-located out of The Planet’s facility in Dallas, Texas, enabling it to access Tier-1 backbone providers such as UUNet, Sprint, Level 3, Global Crossing, Verio and AT and T and AboveNet.

   For more information about Host Gator, please visit: www.hostgator.com.

10. SoftLayer Dedicated Server Solutions Firm, Debuts Geographically Redundant DNS -
    Dallas, Texas - (The Hosting News) - August 25, 2008 - On-demand hosting services and virtual data center provider for the small to medium enterprise (SME), SoftLayer, has added Anycast DNS (also called IP Anycast Routing) to its offerings, free to all customers using SoftLayer’s DNS servers.

    Jacob Linscott, Director of Information Systems at SoftLayer noted, ”We are very excited to offer a high availability DNS solution to the market. Its capabilities give our customers another level of reliability and an effective mechanism for maintaining business continuity.”

    Anycast DNS is a high availability and geographically diverse advanced routing solution that allows multiple server destinations to share the same IP address and routes IP requests to the best destination based on network conditions. This enterprise-class feature increases uptime, provides exceptional opportunities for optimizing traffic flow, improves network performance, and maintains service redundancies. Previously, this functionality has not been available to organizations of all sizes as it is difficult to build in-house and very expensive to purchase from third party providers.

    Anycast DNS routing is available from all three SoftLayer data centers. All of SoftLayer’s resilient name servers have the feature enabled and offer real-time DNS record population.

    According to the company, by allowing multiple destinations to share the same IP address, Anycast DNS routing permits DNS registration information to be mirrored on server clusters either locally, regionally, or globally. Requests for the IP address are routed to the closest destination with the highest availability, preventing requests from being routed to a server that is unavailable or experiencing unusually heavy traffic.

    Key features include:

    Service Continuity - helps maintain uptime in the event of service interruptions
    Network Protection - provides a comprehensive network failover solution

    Disaster Recovery - allows critical services to be continuously maintained
    

    Earlier this summer, the company enhanced its offerings, to include virtualization with the release of Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V.
    Hyper-V was developed as a next-generation virtualization hypervisor that allows a single physical server to be separated into multiple virtual machines that can run independent operating systems’ Windows, Linux and others. As with all SoftLayer services, Hyper-V can be ordered through the customer portal and provisioned automatically along with a server’s operating system or systems.

    A hypervisor such as Hyper-V creates a level of software in between the physical ”bare-metal” hardware and any operating system. The hypervisor then assigns and manages the hardware’s resources to create and run distinct virtual machines. Each virtual machine can run a different operating system, or even its own instance of the same operating system. This presents incredible advantages, including:

    • increased server utilization rates and decreased infrastructure costs by pooling server resources rather than managing individual servers
    • reduced provisioning times by allowing individual machines to be removed for maintenance without interrupting application use
    • decreased environmental impact, by delivering the productivity of multiple machines within only a single machine’s power, cooling and floor space requirements
    • fewer application and OS incompatibilities, as each virtual machine runs independently from others on the same physical hardware

    Headquartered in Plano, Texas, SoftLayer provides next-generation web hosting and on-demand datacenter services on a global basis from facilities located in Dallas, TX and Seattle, WA. Utilizing proprietary management tools coupled with the industry’s first network-within-a-network topology, the company delivers unprecedented power and control to securely manage IT environments while providing unparalleled scalability.

    To learn more about SoftLayer, please visit: www.softlayer.com.

Latest Industry News from The WHIR

1. Foundry Expands Product Portfolio - August 27, 2008 — ( <http://www.thewhir.com> WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) — End-to-end switching and routing solutions provider Foundry Networks has launched a suite of networking solutions aimed at the service provider market.
2. 451 Group Lists ICE Summit Speakers - August 27, 2008 — ( <http://www.thewhir.com> WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) — Technology-industry analyst firm The 451 Group announced on Wednesday the lineup of speakers scheduled to present at its upcoming 2008 Infrastructure Computing for the Enterprise Summit.
3. MessageLabs Buys Fortium ICA - August 27, 2008 — ( <http://www.thewhir.com> WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) — Integrated messaging and web security services provider MessageLabs has acquired image composition analysis software company Fortium ICA, which enables businesses to enforce acceptable use policies of email.
4. AIT, tyBit Offer Free Web Services - August 27, 2008 — ( <http://www.thewhir.com> WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) — tyBit Unified Search has partnered with Advanced Internet Technologies to offer new Pay-Per-Click advertising customers a free domain name, one year of web hosting and a free $50 credit.
5. The Planet Reduces Backup by 50% - August 27, 2008 — ( <http://www.thewhir.com> WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) — Web hosting provider The Planet announced on Wednesday it has reduced list pricing by 50 percent on its two server backup products.
6. Layer42 Adds Transmode In California - August 27 2008 — ( <http://www.thewhir.com> WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) — (WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) — Santa Clara, California-based colocation, and managed and dedicated services provider Layer42 has completed installing new equipment from optical networking solutions firm Transmode, improving its network and quality of services.
7. Promise Technology Joins Green Grid - August 27, 2008 — ( <http://www.thewhir.com> WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) — Data center storage technologies provider Promise Technology announced on Wednesday it has joined The Green Grid, a global organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency in data centers and business computing ecosystems.
8. Estonia Hosts Georgian Websites - August 27, 2008 — ( <http://www.thewhir.com> WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) — According to reports on Tuesday, the government of Estonia is temporarily hosting two of Georgia’s key websites to protect them from hackers.
9. Managed Data Holdings Buys Stargate - August 27, 2008 — ( <http://www.thewhir.com> WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) — Data center operator Managed Data Holdings announced on Wednesday it is has acquired Stargate, a local data center operator in Oak Brook, Illinois offering colocation, managed servers and managed services.

Looking for a perfect web host is kind of like looking for a perfect partner. We want to believe they exist, everyone else seems to have found one, but the search is long and it’s easy to get discouraged.

By now I’m sure you realize that, just as their is no perfect mate, there is also no perfect web host. Just like people, web hosts are subject to mishap and seem all too often to let us down just when we need them most. Given these shortcomings, finding a web host we can feel comfortable with should follow some of the same rules for finding a mate.

So, where to start? Start with yourself and your needs; self evaluation is critical before starting any long-term relationship. What needs are you trying to fill? Do you want to start a personal blog? An e-commerce web site? A family web site? A forum to discuss urban landscaping?

The list of web hosting services can be narrowed by determining what kind of site you have in mind. Do you plan on a full-blown e-commerce site with dynamically generated pages, shopping carts, and lots of database activity? You should consider going straight to a dedicated server. Just want a site to share pictures of your favorite felines with your cat club? A shared host will be more your cup of tea.

Is this your first time? Look for a host that gets good reviews for customer service. Don’t be fooled by friendly and eager responses during those heady days leading up to a commitment. Be sure to test their support after you sign up but before you put a whole lot of effort into building your site. Pick various times of day and use all of their available forms of contact and make sure you get helpful answers in a reasonable amount of time. If you don’t get support from them now when it’s easy, you’re not going to get it later when it’s hard, either.

Make sure the software you want to run is compatible with the host you select. Will you need MySQL or POP3 support? Do they support all the PHP modules your application requires? Do they have installers for the blogging software or the image management package you want to run? Whether you already know exactly what you want to run or you’re not really sure and just want to know what’s available, ask. It’s better to find out early on in the relationship that the two of you aren’t really compatible.

If you’ve experienced the hosting scene before, think about your prior affairs and what you liked and didn’t like about them. It sounds obvious, but try to find hosts that offer the features and services you liked and avoid those you did not. So often we tend to repeat the same mistakes we made in the past both in choosing patners and in choosing web hosts. Just because they promise us a terabyte of bandwidth doesn’t mean we’ll really get it. Read the fine print.

Undertand yourself and your current situation first, then seek out a web hosting provider that meets your needs. Research thoroughly before you dive in, remember to read the fine print, and don’t be afraid to end a relationship that isn’t working.

So, there’s no such thing as a perfect web host. If you’re careful in defining your objectives and do some conscientious research you can find one that you will be happy with for the long term.

But, what if you don’t own a business? Is the web only for business marketing? If you’re not selling something (or by extension, buying something) is there no place on the web for you? Well, we already know the web is unmatched as a research tool. Though the sum of mankind’s knowledge may not be available online (yet), I think it is safe to say there is at least some kind of information on just about anything you’d care to know. So, if you have some special knowledge to impart to the world you should definitely be online.

But, what else? What if you’re just an average person, you’re not trying to sell anything or impart any special wisdom; why should you be on the web? I can say it in four words; “web two dot zero”…that is, “Web 2.0”. Although technically it’s described as the new infrastructure paradigm of the Internet after the tech bubble collapse of 2001 and is most often associated with new technology and business practices, more importantly it describes how a more mature and knowledgeable Internet community is restructuring the web to meet the needs of a new connected society.

Contrary to the early fears our parents expressed about an alienated youth living virtual lives alone in their rooms, experiencing human contact only via electronic intermediaries, in this new society people are more connected across a wider spectrum of experiences than ever. The youth of today are in near constant contact with each other. Through IM, online gaming, cell phones, blogs, chat rooms, etc. we are developing a new culture that encompasses all of the connected world, and the world is becoming more connected every day. It’s not unusual in the least to meet with friends at the coffee shop in the morning and have a chat with friends in four different countries in the evening.

Most Web 2.0 discussions tend to revolve around the changing Internet infrastructure, open source, network application platforms, data ownership and the like. By focusing on the effect they are missing the point; the real revolution on the Internet has little to do with the infrastructure or the technology…it has to do with the people. The new web is a social phenomenon, not a technical one. The Internet is becoming part of the fabric of our society and as such people are changing it and adapting to it in new and unpredictable ways.

So, why should an average person with nothing to sell and no particular drum to beat be on the Internet? Because that’s where the rest of society will be. Personal websites will be more commonplace than telephones; they’re incredibly inexpensive and easy to build, and most people will have more than one. They will have family sites to share pictures and stories with family and friends, personal blogs to maintain a dialogue with friends and strangers alike on the events of their community and the events of the world. Garage sales, wedding announcements, graduations, births, parties, resumes, recipes, pictures, videos, etc. all on your website(s).

The world is flattening and the nuclear family quickly becoming a memory. As more countries come together in common cause and open their markets up to each other, families spread out around the globe and lose touch. The Internet is opening up avenues of instant communication that allow people everywhere to see, hear, and share with each other any time they want. The personal website is the front porch in a new online society where you welcome up friends and neighbors for a sit and a chat in the evenings. It’s the fence you lean on in the afternoon to talk gossip and share recipes. It’s the living room you hold your Cub Scout meetings in as well as where you post the latest pinewood derby results. It’s even a refrigerator door where you post A+ papers next to crayon masterpieces for all the family to see.

Build a site and join an online community of millions around the globe.

At the-host-review.com, we value your information almost as much as you do. We’ll do our best to make sure it’s kept private.

We’ll also do our best to make sure we don’t annoy you with repeated emails that you don’t want. You can unsubscribe from our emails at any time.

We hope you will find our site content useful. We spend a lot of time creating it.

If you have questions, please email dan@the-host-review.com