Guide
How to choose a web host in the UK
Choose a web host by checking ten things: server location, the full price for your billing term, resource limits, uptime, backups, security, support, email, ease of use and the refund policy. Headline prices tell you little on their own. A host that answers these ten clearly, with details you can verify, is usually a safe choice.
Checks 1 to 3
Location, price and limits
1. Server location
Choose a server near your visitors. For UK customers that means UK servers. Our London tests show the response times.
2. The full price
Look at the price for the billing term you will choose, and what the provider says about renewal. Compare totals, not headlines.
3. Resource limits
Check disk space, bandwidth and the number of domains. A plan is only cheap if it holds your site.
Checks 4 to 6
Uptime, backups and security
4. Uptime
A 99.9% uptime target allows under nine hours of downtime a year. Ask what happens when it is missed.
5. Backups
Find out how often copies are taken, where they are stored and how long they are kept.
6. Security
Look for malware scanning, a firewall, DDoS protection, account isolation and free SSL.
Checks 7 to 10
Support, email, ease and refunds
7. Support
Know the hours, the channels and what is covered.
8. Email
Check that mailboxes are included, and whether there is a limit.
9. Ease of use
A clear control panel and one-click installers save hours.
10. Refund policy
A clear money-back window lets you test the service.
A process
A simple way to compare hosts side by side
Make a short table with the hosts you are considering down one side and the ten checks across the top. Fill in each cell from the provider's own pages, and write "not stated" where you cannot find an answer. The gaps are informative.
Then run a test. Move a real site, or a copy of one, onto your top choice during the money-back window. Time the pages on a phone, send and receive email, open a support chat with a real question and see how well it is answered.
The right choice is the one that passes your own test and is clear about price and terms. It is rarely the one with the loudest advertising.
Your situation
Matching the host to the business
A sole trader with a five-page site needs a low price, a simple control panel and good email. An agency needs unlimited addon domains, backups and a way to manage many sites. A shop needs speed, security and good caching.
Write down what your site will do in the next year, not only today. If you will add a shop, a booking system or a second site, choose a host and a plan that allow it without a painful move.
Before you pay
A five-minute test you can run on any host
Reading a features list tells you what a host says. A short test tells you how it behaves. Before ordering, open the live chat on the host's own site and ask two real questions, such as how renewals are priced and whether a refund is available if the site does not suit you. Note how quickly the answer arrives, whether it is specific, and whether it matches what the pricing page says.
Then look for the same details in writing: a refund policy you can read without logging in, a named server location, and the renewal price next to the first-term price. A host that is clear on all three before you pay is usually clear afterwards too. A host that answers vaguely, or points you to long terms and conditions, is giving you useful information about what support will feel like later.
Finally, decide what you would do if you wanted to leave. Can you download a full backup yourself, and is moving away simple? Hosting is easiest to choose when leaving is easy, because a poor choice then costs you a few weeks rather than a year.
Specifics
What to look for if you run WordPress
If your site is WordPress, look for a web server with built-in caching, such as LiteSpeed, one-click installation, object caching support such as Redis, and a firewall that understands common WordPress attacks. These features make a measurable difference to speed and safety.
Check that the host lets you choose the PHP version, because WordPress and its plugins need to run on supported versions. Check that staging or at least easy backups are available, so you can test updates before they reach the live site.
Also read what the host says about WordPress support. Hosting support covers the service. It does not usually include fixing a theme or plugin, which is a different job.
Final step
Make the decision, then test it
Pick the host that gives clear answers, then treat the first fortnight as a trial. If the service is not what you expected, use the refund and move on. A host that makes that easy is one that expects you to stay because you want to.
Mistakes
Common mistakes when choosing a host
The most common mistake is choosing on the lowest headline price and discovering the extras later. The second is ignoring server location, which quietly slows every page for local visitors. The third is not reading the refund policy until something goes wrong.
A fourth, particular to small businesses, is buying far more than you need because the bigger plan sounds safer. Start with the plan that fits, and move up when the site gives you a reason. Moving up is easy, and you will have learned what you really need.
See how we answer all ten
UK servers, free SSL, weekly remote backups, 24/7 live chat and a 15-day guarantee.
Price
How to read a hosting price
Hosting is often advertised as a low price per month, billed in a long block. The number you pay at the till is the total for the term, and the number that matters is what you pay in the second and third years.
Check three figures: the price for the term you will really choose, the price when it renews, and anything you must add. Some providers charge extra for backups, SSL, email or migration. A plan that includes them is often cheaper than one that looks cheaper and then adds them.
Our plans show every billing term and price before you order, and the checkout shows the total. Billing terms cost about the same per month, so the choice is about commitment and perks.
Ask them
Questions to ask any hosting company
| Question | What a good answer sounds like |
|---|---|
| Where are your servers? | A named location, with proof such as a public test |
| What happens at renewal? | A clear statement of the price and how you will be told |
| How are backups handled? | Frequency, retention and where they are stored |
| What does support cover? | Hours, channels and a clear scope |
| Can I leave easily? | A refund window and simple cancellation |
| What security is included? | Specific tools, not vague claims |
Reviews
How to read hosting reviews
Reviews are useful when you read them carefully. Look at how many there are as well as the score, read the recent ones, and check how the company replies to complaints.
Be wary of review sites that rank hosts by who pays the highest commission. Independent platforms such as Trustpilot let you read the full history. See what our customers say and judge for yourself.
Warning signs
Green flags and red flags
Green flags
- Clear prices for every term
- A named server location
- A real refund policy you can read
- Specific security tools listed
- Honest limits on what support covers
Red flags
- "Unlimited" everything with no fair-use terms
- No mention of renewal prices
- Refunds that are hard to find or to claim
- Vague security promises
- Support that promises to build your site
FAQ
Common questions
What is the most important thing when choosing a host?
It depends on your site, but server location, the full price and a clear refund policy matter to nearly everyone.
Is cheaper hosting worse?
Not necessarily, but check what is included. A low price that leaves out backups, SSL or email may cost more in the end.
Should I choose a UK host for a UK business?
A UK server keeps pages fast for UK visitors and your customer data in the UK. It is a sensible default for UK businesses.
Can I change host later?
Yes. A migration takes some planning, and our free migration covers Small and higher yearly plans.
How do I test a host?
Move a real site during the money-back window, and check speed, email and support.
Keep reading
Related pages
Choose a host that answers all ten
See the plans and test them with a 15-day money-back guarantee.