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How to Host a Website for the Price of a Coffee

So you’ve got a great business idea, looking to host your own online store, starting your first blog or building a side project on the web. You’re not getting far without a website, but you already know that.

In this post, I show you how to get started quickly with Verpex – for the price of a coffee per month. I also discuss what to look for in a website hosting provider, as well as the pros and cons of the top hosting services out there.

How to host a website with Verpex

  1. Head over to Verpex.
  2. Navigate to Web Hosting → Shared Web Hosting.
Verpex shared web hosting
  1. Scroll down to find the available Shared Web Hosting plans. You can choose to pay monthly, yearly or triennially (every 3 years). If you’re just starting out, it’s recommended to choose a 12-month plan. Choose Bronze if you’re just testing the waters or starting a single site, and move on to Silver or Gold as you add more websites to your portfolio.
Verpex shared web hosting plans pricing
  1. Pick your plan and select Start Now.
  2. Choose the preferred server location.
  3. Enter your domain name. If you haven’t already purchased one, you can get the first year for free with Verpex. If you prefer a different domain registrar, you need to buy a domain name first and then point it to the Verpex web servers.
Select location and enter the domain during the Verpex web hosting purchase flow
  1. Enter your personal details and make sure to apply the coupon code MOVEME for an awesome discount 😊. Take note of the email address and password used. You will need these to access your Verpex dashboard.
  1. Click on Place order & pay.
  2. Fill in your payment details and submit your purchase.
  3. Done. Your web hosting plan should be available immediately. If you’re not redirected to the Verpex dashboard, you can access it via clients.verpex.com.
  4. At the top navigation bar, select Products & Services.
Products and Services in Verpex navigation bar
  1. Select your hosting plan and click on Manage product.
  2. If you registered your domain with Verpex, your domain and web hosting plan would already have been linked during the registration process. If you have a domain with another registrar, take note of the name servers assigned to your hosting plan.
Verpex name servers
  1. Go to your domain name registrar, navigate to the Nameservers section and specify the nameservers associated with your hosting plan. The DNS change may take from a few minutes up to 48 hours to propagate across all public DNS servers.
custom nameservers specified in Namecheap
  1. That’s it! Now you’re ready to start building your website!
  2. Navigate to the cPanel by clicking on Login to Control Panel. Here, you will find all the tools you need to build your site, from setting up a custom email address to spinning up a site template in a matter of minutes.
Option to Login to Control Panel from Verpex Dashboard
  1. Follow this guide to install WordPress – the most popular content management system.

What hosting plan do you need for your website?

The steps above describe how to use a shared hosting plan for your new website. However, most web hosting providers offer multiple types of hosting services.

Choosing the right hosting service is essential for the success of any website. Different hosting types cater to varying needs, from personal blogs to large e-commerce sites. Below are the main types of hosting services, each with its unique features and benefits.

Shared Hosting

Shared hosting is the most budget-friendly and beginner-appropriate option. Your website shares the same server and its resources with other sites. This kind of hosting suits small websites and blogs that don’t need extensive server resources. However, since resources are shared, your site’s performance can be influenced by the traffic and activities of other sites on the same server.

Virtual Private Server (VPS) Hosting

A Virtual Private Server (VPS) offers more control and resources compared to shared hosting. Though your website still shares a physical server with others, it’s allocated a dedicated portion of the server’s resources. This results in better performance and more customization options, making it ideal for medium-sized websites and businesses requiring more power and flexibility.

Dedicated Server Hosting

Dedicated hosting provides an entire server for your website. This hosting type offers top-level performance, security, and control, suitable for large websites with significant traffic. However, it is more costly and demands more technical know-how to manage.

Managed WordPress Hosting

Managed WordPress hosting is tailored specifically for WordPress websites, offering an optimized environment for better performance and security. This service includes automatic updates, backups, and technical support. It’s perfect for those who want to focus on content creation and marketing rather than server management. This option is ideal for bloggers, businesses, and developers using the WordPress platform.

Cloud Hosting

Cloud hosting uses a network of interconnected servers to host your website, offering excellent scalability and reliability. Your site can pull resources from multiple servers as needed, making it perfect for websites with fluctuating traffic levels and those requiring high availability and uptime.

What should you look for in a web hosting service?

Selecting an appropriate hosting provider is a critical step in hosting your own website. Consider the following factors when making your choice.

Reliability and Uptime

Choose a hosting provider that offers a reliable service and high uptime guarantees. Providers that guarantee at least 99.9% uptime ensure your website is accessible to users most of the time.

Speed and Performance

Website speed is vital for user experience and SEO. Select a hosting provider with fast server response times and solid performance records. Look for features such as solid-state drives (SSDs) and content delivery networks (CDNs) to boost speed.

Security Features

Security should be a top priority. Seek out features like SSL certificates, firewalls, malware scanning, and automatic backups to safeguard your website and data.

Customer Support

Reliable customer support can prevent many headaches. Choose a hosting provider offering 24/7 support through various channels like live chat, phone, and email. Reviews can help ensure their support team is responsive and helpful.

Scalability

As your website grows, your hosting needs may change. Select a hosting provider with scalable solutions, allowing easy upgrades to your hosting plan as your site traffic increases.

Pricing and Features

Compare the pricing and features of various hosting providers. Look for a good balance of cost and features, including free domain name registration, SSL certificates, and one-click CMS installations.

Which hosting provider is right for you?

1. Verpex

Verpex logo

Overview: Verpex is renowned for its superior customer support and user-friendly features, making it an excellent choice for beginners and small to medium-sized enterprises. They provide a range of hosting options, such as shared hosting, reseller hosting, and managed WordPress hosting.

Key Features:

  • Uptime Guarantee: Nil
  • Speed: Rapid load times with SSD storage and optimized servers.
  • Security: Complimentary SSL certificates, daily backups, and malware scans.
  • Customer Support: 24/7 support via live chat, email, and phone.
  • Pricing: Competitive rates with frequent promotions.

Pros:

  • Outstanding customer support.
  • Intuitive interface.
  • Free migration service.
  • Free SSL certificate.
  • Multiple global data centers.
  • 45 days money back guarantee.

Cons:

  • No uptime guarantee
  • Best suited for smaller websites.
  • Renewal prices are slightly higher.

Ideal For: Small to medium websites, bloggers, and small businesses seeking reliable and affordable hosting with excellent support.

2. Hostinger

Hostinger logo

Overview: Hostinger is a popular choice for those looking for budget-friendly web hosting without sacrificing quality. They offer various hosting services, including shared, VPS, cloud, and WordPress hosting.

Key Features:

  • Uptime Guarantee: 99.9%
  • Speed: Superior performance with LiteSpeed cache and SSD storage.
  • Security: Free SSL, Cloudflare protection, and regular updates.
  • Customer Support: 24/7 support via live chat.
  • Pricing: Among the most affordable, with very low introductory prices.

Pros:

  • Extremely affordable plans.
  • User-friendly control panel.
  • Free weekly/daily backups.
  • Strong performance and speed.

Cons:

  • Limited phone support.
  • No dedicated hosting plans.

Ideal For: Budget-conscious users, beginners, and small businesses needing cost-effective hosting with solid performance.

3. Bluehost

bluehost logo

Overview: Bluehost is one of the most recognized website hosts, particularly recommended for WordPress users. They offer a variety of hosting services including shared, VPS, dedicated, and managed WordPress hosting.

Key Features:

  • Uptime Guarantee: 100% (with Cloud Hosting Plan)
  • Speed: Good speed with SSD storage and CDN integration.
  • Security: Free SSL, domain privacy, and daily backups.
  • Customer Support: 24/7 support via phone, live chat, and email.
  • Pricing: Competitive rates with a free domain for the first year.

Pros:

  • Endorsed by WordPress.org.
  • Free domain name for the first year.
  • Extensive customer support options.
  • Comprehensive features for beginners and advanced users.

Cons:

  • Higher renewal rates.
  • Upselling during signup.

Ideal For: WordPress users, small to medium businesses, and those seeking reliable hosting with extensive support.

4. SiteGround

SiteGround logo

Overview: SiteGround is acclaimed for its superb customer support and high-performance hosting. They offer shared hosting, cloud hosting, and dedicated servers, along with managed WordPress hosting.

Key Features:

  • Uptime Guarantee: 99.99%
  • Speed: Fast performance with SSD storage, NGINX servers, and CDN.
  • Security: Free SSL, daily backups, and AI anti-bot system.
  • Customer Support: 24/7 support via phone, live chat, and email.
  • Pricing: Higher but justified by quality service.

Pros:

  • Exceptional customer support.
  • High performance and reliability.
  • Free daily backups and SSL certificates.
  • User-friendly interface with custom tools.

Cons:

  • Higher pricing.
  • Limited storage on lower-tier plans.

Ideal For: Users needing high-quality support, performance, and security, including small to medium businesses and developers.

5. A2 Hosting

A2 Hosting logo

Overview: A2 Hosting is known for its speed and reliability, offering a variety of hosting options, including shared, VPS, dedicated, and reseller hosting. They also provide specialized WordPress hosting.

Key Features:

  • Uptime Guarantee: 99.9%
  • Speed: Turbo servers for up to 20x faster performance with SSD storage.
  • Security: Free SSL, perpetual security, and HackScan protection.
  • Customer Support: 24/7 support via live chat, phone, and email.
  • Pricing: Competitive pricing focused on performance.

Pros:

  • Exceptional speed and performance.
  • Free site migration.
  • Anytime money-back guarantee.
  • Developer-friendly features.

Cons:

  • Turbo plans cost more.
  • Interface can be complex for beginners.

Ideal For: Developers, tech-savvy users, and businesses needing high-speed hosting with excellent performance and security.

6. WPX Hosting

WPX Hosting logo

Overview: WPX Hosting specializes in high-performance managed WordPress hosting, making it a great option for WordPress users needing fast, reliable, and secure hosting. They focus on exceptional speed and customer service.

Key Features:

  • Uptime Guarantee: 99.95%
  • Speed: Extremely fast with custom-built CDN and SSD storage.
  • Security: Free SSL, daily malware scanning, and DDoS protection.
  • Customer Support: 24/7 support with a 30-second average response time.
  • Pricing: Premium pricing with all-inclusive features.

Pros:

  • Exceptional speed and performance.
  • Outstanding customer support with quick response times.
  • Free malware removal and daily backups.
  • Free website migration.

Cons:

  • Higher price point.
  • Focuses exclusively on WordPress hosting.

Ideal For: WordPress users prioritizing speed, security, and customer support, including businesses and bloggers with high-traffic websites.

Conclusion

Selecting the right web hosting provider hinges on your specific needs and budget. Verpex and Hostinger are excellent for those seeking affordable and dependable hosting with great support. Bluehost is ideal for WordPress users needing extensive customer support. SiteGround offers top performance and support, suitable for more demanding websites. A2 Hosting is perfect for those prioritizing speed and performance. WPX Hosting excels in managed WordPress hosting, providing top-tier speed and customer support.

When choosing a hosting provider, weigh factors such as uptime guarantees, speed, security features, customer support, scalability, and pricing. By understanding your website’s requirements and comparing the features of these leading providers, you can make an informed decision and ensure your website’s success.

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