Guide
What is web hosting?
Web hosting is the service that stores your website on a server and delivers it to visitors whenever they ask for it. A hosting company owns and maintains the servers, keeps them connected to the internet around the clock and gives you space on them. You rent that space, upload your site and point your domain name at it.
The basics
How web hosting works
A website is a set of files: pages, images, scripts and, for most modern sites, a database. Those files have to live on a computer that is always switched on and always connected to the internet. That computer is a web server, and the company that runs it is your web host.
When someone types your address into a browser, three things happen in a fraction of a second.
Find the server
The browser asks the Domain Name System (DNS) which server your domain points to. DNS works like a phone book that turns yourbusiness.co.uk into a numeric address.
Connect
The browser contacts that server and sets up a secure connection if your site uses HTTPS.
Deliver the page
The server finds your files, builds the page and sends it back.
Domain or hosting? Hosting is the second and third step, and the domain name is the first. A domain is your address, and hosting is the place the address leads to. You need both for a working website, and they can come from different companies.
What you get
What a hosting plan usually contains
Most shared hosting plans bundle the same set of things, whichever company sells them.
- Disk space to store your files, databases and email.
- Bandwidth, the monthly amount of data your site can send to visitors.
- A control panel, a web page where you manage files, databases, email and domains.
- Email accounts on your own domain.
- An SSL certificate, which puts the padlock in the browser and encrypts traffic.
- An installer for common applications such as WordPress.
- Security and support, such as a firewall and a way to reach the host when something breaks.
Our own plans include all of these. You can see the specific limits on each on the web hosting plans page.
Types
The main types of web hosting
Hosting is sold in several forms. The difference is how much of a server you get and how much you have to manage yourself.
| Type | What it is | Best for | You manage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared hosting | Many websites share one server, each in its own isolated account. | Small business sites, blogs, portfolios | Your website only |
| Reseller hosting | Shared hosting split into accounts you can sell to your own clients. | Freelancers and agencies | Client accounts |
| VPS hosting | A virtual server with guaranteed resources and full control. | Developers, busy sites, custom software | The server itself |
| Dedicated server | A whole physical server rented to one customer. | Large sites with high demand | The server and its software |
| Cloud hosting | Resources spread across several machines that can scale up and down. | Sites with variable traffic | Varies by provider |
Why most people start with shared
For most people starting a website, shared hosting is the right first step. It is the cheapest option, you do not have to look after a server, and the limits are generous for a small site. Our plans are shared web hosting on UK servers.
What "shared" really means
Your website lives on a server alongside many others, but providers separate each account so one site cannot read another's files, and they limit how much of the server each account can use. A very busy site, or one running custom software that needs a lot of memory, can outgrow shared hosting. For a business site, a blog or a portfolio, that point is a long way off.
Glossary
Hosting jargon, translated
Uptime
The share of time your website is reachable. It is a target the host works towards, not a guarantee that nothing ever goes wrong.
SSL
A certificate that encrypts the connection between the visitor and your server and enables the padlock and https://.
FTP / SFTP
Ways to upload files to your hosting account. SFTP is the encrypted version and is the better choice.
PHP
The programming language WordPress and many other sites run on. Hosts let you choose the version.
Database
Where a site like WordPress stores its posts, pages and settings, separately from your uploaded files.
CDN
A network of servers around the world that keeps copies of your files closer to visitors. Useful for an international audience.
Backup
A saved copy of your site you can restore if something breaks. Keep your own, whatever your host provides.
Location
Why server location matters for a UK website
Your files sit in a real building, and the distance between that building and your visitor affects how quickly the first byte arrives. For a UK audience, a server in the UK is the shortest trip.
We publish the numbers on our server location page, where a London probe reached our server in about 5 ms while a probe in Nuremberg took about 21 ms.
It is not a legal requirement. UK GDPR does not oblige you to host in the UK, though keeping customer data on a UK server means one fewer international transfer to explain in your privacy notice.
Cost
How much does web hosting cost in the UK?
Prices depend on the type of hosting and how long you commit. Shared hosting is the cheapest, and VPS and dedicated servers cost more because you get more resources.
When you compare providers, look at the price for the billing term you will actually choose, and find out what the provider says about the renewal price. Our cheap web hosting page lists what to check.
Choosing
What to look for when choosing a web host
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Server location | A server near your visitors loads pages faster. |
| Uptime figure | It tells you how often the site should be reachable. 99.9% allows under nine hours of downtime across a year. |
| Refund period | A clear money-back window lets you test the service safely. |
| Resource limits | Disk, bandwidth, domains and databases set what you can run. |
| Support hours and scope | Know when you can reach someone, and what they will and will not fix. |
| Security basics | Free SSL, a firewall and account isolation protect you from common problems. |
| Check whether mailboxes are included and whether there is a limit. |
Step by step
How to get a website online
Pick a domain name
Short, easy to say and spell. A .co.uk or .uk name signals a UK business.
Choose a hosting plan
Pick one that fits the size of the site you want to build.
Point your domain
Point it at the hosting, or enter it at checkout so it is set up for you.
Build the site
Install WordPress in one click, or upload your own files.
Set up email
Add email on your domain, and check the site on a phone before you announce it.
Avoid these
Common mistakes new website owners make
Buying on the headline price alone
Compare the checkout total for your billing term.
Choosing a server far from visitors
This quietly slows every page.
Ignoring limits
A big photo library or a busy mailbox can fill a small plan.
Forgetting backups
Keep your own copy of your site and database, whatever your host offers.
Expecting support to build the site
Hosting support looks after the service, and website building is a separate job.
FAQ
Common questions about web hosting
Is web hosting the same as a domain name?
No. A domain is your website's address, and hosting is where your website's files are stored. You need both. They can be bought from the same company or from different ones.
Can I host a website for free?
Free hosting exists, but it usually comes with adverts, strict limits, no custom email and slower servers. For a business site, a paid plan is a safer choice.
Do I need to know how to code?
No. Installers such as the one-click installer on our plans set up WordPress and other applications for you, and you then build pages in a visual editor.
What is bandwidth?
Bandwidth is the amount of data your site can send to visitors in a month. A small business site rarely approaches the allowance on even the smaller plans.
Can I change host later?
Yes. You copy your files and database to the new host and then point your domain to it. Do this at a quiet time, and keep the old account until the new site is confirmed working.
Ready to choose? Compare the six web hosting plans, or read about email hosting if you want email on your domain.
Ready to put your site online?
Choose a plan on UK servers, and keep the 15-day money-back guarantee while you get started.