What is web hosting?

Web hosting is the service that puts your website on the internet. Your site is a set of files - pages, images, code - that have to live on a computer that stays switched on and connected around the clock. That computer is a server, and renting space on one is what web hosting is.

When someone types your address or clicks a link, their browser asks your host's server for those files, and the server sends them back. Good hosting does that quickly and reliably; poor hosting is slow, or goes offline when you can least afford it.

What you get with a hosting plan

• Storage for your files, usually on fast NVMe SSDs.
• Bandwidth to serve your visitors.
• A control panel such as cPanel to manage files, email and databases without touching the command line.
• A free SSL certificate so your site loads securely over https.
• Email on your own domain, backups, and one-click installers for apps like WordPress.

The main types of hosting

Shared hosting puts many small sites on one server and splits the cost, which makes it the most affordable way to start. It suits blogs, portfolios, small business sites and most new stores. See our web hosting plans.

VPS hosting gives you a guaranteed slice of a server with root access and room to grow - a sensible move once a busy site outgrows shared. We cover this in shared vs VPS hosting.

Dedicated servers give you a whole machine for large or resource-heavy workloads.

How to choose

For a first website, start with a shared plan that includes free SSL, backups and easy WordPress installation, then upgrade when your traffic justifies it. You rarely need a big plan on day one. If you also need a name for your site, read how to choose a domain name.