web hosting service: top features to look for
Here is a list and an explanation of the web hosting features you should understand:
Quick Jump:
- Disk Space
- Solid-State Drives (SSDs) And Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe)
- Bandwidth
- Uptime Guarantee
- Content Delivery Network (CDN)
- cPanel (and Hostinger’s Hpanel)
- Backups
- SSL Certificate
- Web Application Firewall (WAF)
- Automated Malware Scanning And Removal
- Email Accounts
- One-Click App Installs
- Website Builder
- Customer Support
- Scalability
- Wrap-Up (plus some examples of web hosting service providers alongside)
- The Rise of AI in Web Hosting
1. disk space
Disk space is the allowed storage space available to you on the server.
Think of disk space as the size of your garage. A tiny garage can only hold a few bikes, while a spacious one can accommodate a car and many household items.
The disk space you need depends on the size and type of your website. You need enough of it to accommodate your website content (files, databases, backups, user uploads, etc).
For example, a simple blog requires less disk space than a busy online store with lots of products, images, and videos.
2. solid-state drives (SSDs) and non-volatile memory express (NVMe)
Solid-state drives (SSDs) and non-volatile memory express (NVMe) are types of storage devices that are used in web hosting.
NVMe is like hopping on a Ferrari on a racetrack. While SSDs and NVMe drives do not directly affect the amount of disk space available to you, they significantly improve the performance of your website.
With these kinds of drives, data is written at such high speeds that:
- page load time is reduced
- website responsiveness is better
- files are transferred faster
- the overall user experience is enhanced
3. Bandwidth
Think of bandwidth as the capacity for data flow – the wider a highway is, the smoother the traffic will flow.
Bandwidth measures a server’s capacity to transfer data within a specific time frame. It is a critical web hosting feature if you want your website to load faster. High-traffic websites require more of it to handle large volumes of data flow efficiently. For example, a popular e-commerce website with thousands of daily visitors is going to need more bandwidth than a personal niche blog with fewer visitors, plain text, and minimal traffic.
Picture this: everyone is finally done with work and ready to unwind. It’s 8 pm, the perfect time to kick back and stream some Netflix shows. But suddenly, there’s a surge of people trying to connect at the same time. If Netflix has low bandwidth, this influx of users will overload its servers and cause a traffic jam on its website. The result? Slow loading times, buffering, poor video resolution, and frustration all around.
Without sufficient bandwidth, a website struggles to deliver content smoothly.
4. uptime guarantee
Imagine a busy store randomly closing its doors throughout the day – not ideal for business!
Now imagine your website as a store.
A 99.9% uptime means your website is accessible 99.9% of the time, ensuring customers can always find you. it’s the percentage of time your website is guaranteed to be online and accessible to your visitors.
A reliable provider with a high uptime guarantee minimizes frustrating downtime and lost business opportunities. You need a high uptime to avoid losing visitors, customers, revenue, and business opportunities due to website downtime.
If an online business website that offers products or services is down for an hour, its owner may miss out on potential sales, leads, or conversions. Aim for at least 99.9% uptime for peace of mind, knowing your website will always be open for visitors.
5. content delivery network (CDN)
This feature keeps your website zipping along. A content delivery network (CDN) is a network of servers that are located in different locations.
A CDN caches static content such as webpages, JavaScript files, CSS, images, and videos from your website and delivers them to your visitors from the nearest server. By using a CDN service, your web service provider reduces the distance and latency between your website and your visitors and speeds up the delivery of web content.
Think of website speed as the checkout line in your store. Speed is important because it directly affects the user experience. Internet users expect websites to load super fast (ideally below 2 seconds). Slow-loading websites:
- frustrate your visitors (even if it’s a one-second delay in a page load time).
- hurt your SEO rankings (in Google). Faster websites tend to rank higher.
6. cpanel (and Hostinger’s hpanel)
cPanel stands for control panel. It’s an app that lets you manage your website hosting account.
Think of cPanel as the dashboard of your car. It’s where you control everything and make adjustments to keep things running smoothly. Inside you can upload, edit, and delete files with ease, manage all your domains (because maybe you have more than one domain), create your email accounts, create and access databases seamlessly, and more.
cPanel:
- is a popular app that is compatible with most web hosting plans
- might differ slightly from one web host to another
- is easy to understand
- has an intuitive interface with clear labeling.
- is user-friendly and easy to navigate
When using it, you get a very smooth experience.
7. Backups
Hopefully, you’ll never need to use them but they are essential because they ensure the continuity of your website at all times.
Backups are copies of your website files and data. They help you recover your website in case of data loss, corruption, or deletion caused by human error, hacking, malware, or other incidents.
Without them, if something goes wrong, you may lose your website content, functionality, and even reputation.
They also save you time and money by reducing the need for manual restoration or rebuilding of your website.
A hosting provider can offer automatic and/or manual backups:
- Automatic: they are performed by the web host without your intervention. They save you time and hassle.
- Manual: they are performed by you whenever you want or need to.
8. SSL certificate
Imagine a conversation happening in a crowded marketplace. Anyone can overhear!
An SSL certificate encrypts communication between your website and your visitors, making it like a private whisper in a noisy room.
This protects sensitive data like login credentials and financial information. SSL certificates build trust for your users. They protect your visitors from identity theft, hackers, and fraud, by encrypting the data transfer.
9. web application firewall (WAF)
Think of a firewall as a security guard at the entrance of your website. It filters incoming traffic, blocking suspicious activity and malware trying to sneak in.
A web application firewall (WAF) is a tool that protects a website or a web app from malicious attacks by filtering and blocking bad web traffic. A WAF can also monitor the web traffic and detect any suspicious activity or behavior.
A WAF applies a set of rules to the web traffic, and only allows the good traffic to pass through. It helps prevent common web attacks such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting, and denial of service. A WAF can be deployed on a server, on a cloud, or a network device. It improves the security, performance, and availability of a website or a web app.
10. automated malware scanning and removal
Along with a firewall, an automated malware scanning service protects your website.
Imagine tiny gremlins lurking in your website’s code, causing havoc!
Regular malware scanning and removal are like pest control, identifying and eliminating these malicious threats before they can do damage.
Some providers offer website scans. For example, Hostinger provides a malware scanner that is integrated into their hPanel and automatically scans your websites for harmful files.
11. email accounts
Email accounts are the number and type of email addresses that you can create with your web hosting plan.
They allow you to communicate with anyone you want (your visitors, customers, partners, etc.) using your domain name.
For example:
hello@yourdomain.com
info@yourdomain.com
support@yourdomain.com
are 3 email addresses that you can create on one domain name that you own. This looks very professional and like you’re in business, so choose a hosting provider that lets you create many email addresses like these.
12. one-click app installs
A one-click installer is a tool that helps you download and install applications with minimal effort.
It eliminates the need for technical expertise and saves time by automating the installation process.
It is used to install content management systems (CMS) such as WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla. CMS are platforms that allow you to create and manage websites without coding.
A one-click installer saves you time by installing a CMS with just one click.
13. website builder
A website builder is a drag-and-drop website tool that allows you to create a website without needing to know how to code.
It’s a great option for beginners or those who want to create a website quickly.
14. Customer support
Imagine needing help with your website at 3 am, but the support line is closed!
If you have any questions, or issues, or need technical assistance, you need customer support that is responsive, knowledgeable, and friendly.
The quality and availability of technical assistance from a web hosting provider are key when things go south.
A website prone to technical glitches benefits from available and knowledgeable support. A personal website rarely facing problems might prioritize lower-cost or more affordable hosting plans with limited support options.
15. scalability
Scalability refers to the ability of your hosting plan to adjust to your changing needs, such as increased traffic, storage, or performance.
There are different types of scalable hosting solutions. The most common ones are:
- Shared hosting: You share a server and its resources with other users. Some shared hosting providers offer unlimited plans that allow you to scale up your storage, bandwidth, and domains without paying extra fees.
- Cloud hosting: This is a more advanced and flexible option that involves a network of servers that work together to provide resources on demand. You only pay for what you use, and you can easily scale up or down your resources as needed.
- VPS hosting: This is a middle ground between shared and cloud hosting, where you get a virtual slice of a server that is dedicated to your website. You can scale up or down your resources, but you may need to reboot your server or migrate to a different plan.
- CMS-specific managed hosting: This often offers built-in scaling features tailored to the specific needs of a CMS platform (like Drupal, Joomla, or WordPress). These can be highly scalable based on traffic and resource demands.
A very popular example would be the:
Managed WordPress hosting: in this service, all technical aspects of running WordPress are managed by the hosting provider. Managed WP hosting can be highly scalable due to its built-in features and ability to handle high traffic and performance demands.
Wrap-up (plus some examples of web hosting service providers alongside):
| # | Feature | Description | Importance | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Disk Space | Storage capacity for your website files, images, and databases. | Essential More space is needed for larger sites |
A2 Hosting |
| 2. | SSDs & NVMe | Fast storage technology. Improves website loading speed and performance. | Highly Recommended Crucial for optimal performance, especially for busy websites. |
Hostinger ScalaHosting A2 Hosting Cloudways |
| 3. | Bandwidth | Handles more traffic and larger files. | Essential Higher bandwidth is needed for handling more traffic and larger files. |
Ionos Cloudways DreamHost inMotion Hosting |
| 4. | Uptime Guarantee | Percentage of time your website is accessible. | Essential Aim for at least 99.9% for reliable service. |
Hostinger GoDaddy MochaHost inMotion Hosting |
| 5. | CDN | Network of servers delivering your content from geographically closer locations to users. | Recommended Improves website loading speed and accessibility for global audiences. |
Cloudways WP Engine GoDaddy SiteGround WPX Nexcess |
| 6. | cPanel | Control panel for managing your website files, email accounts, and other features. | Essential User-friendly interface for managing your web hosting account. |
Hostinger InMotion Hosting GoDaddy A2 Hosting |
| 7. | Backups | Regular backups of your website files and databases in case of data loss. | Essential Crucial for disaster recovery and protecting your website content. |
SiteGround HostArmada DreamHost Hostinger Ionos |
| 8. | SSL Certificate | Encrypts the communication between your website and visitors, protecting sensitive data. | Essential Mandatory for security and building trust with users. |
Nearly all reputable web hosting providers today offer free SSL certificates with their hosting plans |
| 9. | WAF | Protects your website from malicious attacks and vulnerabilities. | Recommended Enhances website security and prevents unauthorized access. |
A2 Hosting SiteGround ScalaHosting HostArmada |
| 10. | Automated Malware Scanning & Removal | Detects and removes malware from your website automatically. | Recommended Proactive security measures to keep your website clean and secure. |
inMotion Hosting SiteGround A2 Hosting Cloudways WP Engine wpx |
| 11. | Email Accounts | Professional email addresses with your domain name. | Recommended Creates a branded and professional image for your business. |
Included in most hosting plans. The number of accounts vary |
| 12. | One-Click App Installs | Easy installation of popular website applications like WordPress, Joomla, etc. | Recommended Saves time and simplifies website creation, especially for beginners. |
Dreamhost |
| 13. | Website Builder | Drag-and-drop tool for creating websites without coding knowledge. | Optional nice for beginners or those who want a quick and easy website setup. |
Hostinger |
| 14. | Customer Support | Availability and quality of support offered by the web hosting provider. | Essential Crucial for resolving issues and getting help when needed. |
SiteGround Ionos LiquidWeb ScalaHosting wpx |
| 15. | Scalability | Ability to upgrade your hosting plan as your website grows. | Recommended for future growth and handling increased traffic. |
A2 Hosting Hostinger Ionos Cloudways SiteGround |
Note:
* A specific feature offered varies depending on the provider and the hosting plan.
* The information in the column ”Examples” is accurate and up-to-date, but keep in mind that providers can change the features they provide.
The Rise of AI in Web Hosting: A Boost in web hosting features
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the web hosting landscape, offering innovative features. While adopting AI features in web hosting is growing, it’s still not as widespread as the established features listed above in this article. Nevertheless, some providers are already embracing these innovative features like Hostinger who offers an AI-powered Website Builder. Other providers offer integrations with external AI tools or plugins. Here is what ai powered features do in web hosting:
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- create a professional-looking website quickly and easily (ai website builders)
-
- provide customer support to visitors (ai chatbots)
-
- track your website’s performance
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- provide better security features against cyber threats
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- optimize the website for search engines (ai SEO tools)
New AI tools are constantly emerging and as technology advances, we can expect even more sophisticated AI features to emerge, shaping the future of web hosting for the better.