Picking a web host can feel a bit overwhelming, kind of like choosing your favorite paintbrush – it needs to feel right!
I’ve been building WordPress websites for quite a while now, both for myself and for small businesses, and I’ve tested out a bunch of different hosting providers along the way.
Based on my experience, here are a few great web hosting services that I think would be a great fit for artists like you, whether you’re just starting or looking to level up your online presence.
Here’s A Quick List of My Top Three Picks:
Best Overall For Businesses
- Free domain, SSL, and email
- Excellent customer support
- Free daily backups
- 100% Customer focused
- Plans starting at $2.99/month
Good Budget Friendly
- Free domain, SSL, and email
- Good customer support
- Free weekly backups
- Too many changes & upsells
- Plans starting at $2.99/month
Fair Third Option
- Free domain and SSL only
- Fair customer support
- No free backups available
- Chat support only at $2.95
- Plans starting at $2.95/month
SiteGround
Best For Small Businesses
Pros and Cons
- Excellent Support
- Free Domain
- Free Email
- Free SSL
- Daily Website Backups
- 30-Days Money-Back
- High Renewal Costs
- Database Size Limit
Why I Picked It
I chose SiteGround because they’re a very reliable web hosting company and their customer support is amazing. I use them to host this website. They’re a bit pricier than some other options, but totally worth it for the peace of mind!
Who It's For
SiteGround is great for small businesses or someone looking to create a website but do not have a lot of experience and need a dedicated customer support team ready to help them.
Features & Specs
- 10 GB SSD Storage
- Free Email Migrator
- Unlimited MySQL Databases
- Free CDN
- Enhanced Security
- Power & Hardware Redundancy
- Out-of-The-Box Caching
- Unlimited Subdomains
- Friendly Site Tools
- 100% Renewable Energy Match
- Transfer Websites to Clients
- The Ability To Add Collaborators To Help You
My SiteGround Experience
Think of SiteGround as your partner in crime for your online art gallery. They’re all about helping artists like you showcase their work beautifully and effortlessly. I use them to host this website that you’re on.
Here’s why I think they’re a great fit for artists:
Speed and Security: SiteGround uses technology that makes your website load super fast. This is important because no one wants to wait around for slow-loading images, right? Plus, they have amazing security measures in place to keep your precious artwork is safe from hackers.
Amazing Support: Imagine having a tech-savvy friend who’s always there to help you with any website issues. That’s exactly what SiteGround’s support team is like. They’re super knowledgeable and friendly, and they genuinely care about solving your problems. They’re available 24/7, so you can always reach out if you need help.
Simplicity: SiteGround keeps things simple and straightforward. Their website is easy to navigate, and they don’t bother you with confusing tech stuff or try to sell you things you don’t need. They focus on providing a great service, and it shows.
Sustainability: As artists, I think we often care about the environment. Well, SiteGround is committed to sustainability and uses renewable energy to power its operations. That’s a big plus in my book!
I’ve personally used SiteGround for my own website, and I’ve been incredibly happy with their service. They’ve earned my trust, and I wholeheartedly recommend them to any artist looking for a reliable and supportive web hosting partner.
Hostinger
Best For Cheap Price
Pros and Cons
- Good Support
- Free Domain
- Free Email
- Free SSL
- Weekly Backups
- 30-Days Money-Back
- Higher Renewal Costs
- No Priority Support
- Too Many Website Changes
Why I Picked It
I like Hostinger because their prices are really hard to beat, especially if you’re just starting out. It’s a good way to get a website up without spending a fortune, even if it means you would have to deal with their frequent website changes.
Who It's For
Hostinger is a good option for beginners who want to create a website for themselves and if you’re on a tight budget, but keep in mind they change their website layout frequently, which can be frustrating.
If you value consistency, excellent customer support and a smooth user experience, you might want to consider spending a bit more for a different hosting provider. In my experience, I do not recommend Hostinger for small businesses.
Features & Specs
- 100 Websites
- 100 GB SSD Storage
- Free WHOIS Provacy
- Free CDN on More Expensive Plans
- Free DDOS Protection
- LiteSpeed Caching
My Hostinger Experience
Honestly, my experience with Hostinger has been a bit bumpy. At first, I was very excited about their crazy-low prices – who doesn’t love a good deal, right? But over time, I realized that those bargain prices sometimes come with a few trade-offs.
One of the biggest things that bugged me was how often they redesigned their website. It felt like every few months, they were moving things around, changing the layout, and just generally making it harder to find what I needed.
As a small business owner, I’m sure you can relate – time is precious, and we don’t have the luxury of re-learning a website every other week.
It kinda made me feel like they weren’t putting the user experience first. And for me, having that consistency is important. I want a hosting service that’s reliable, easy to use, and doesn’t keep changing things up on me.
Now, I’m not saying Hostinger is all bad. If you’re on a very-tight budget, they might be a decent option to get started. But just be aware that those low prices might come with some frustration.
Bluehost
Best For Your First Blog
Pros and Cons
- Free Domain
- Free SSL
- Cheap Renewal Costs
- 30-Days Money-Back
- Free Email - 1st Year ONLY
- Basic Customer Support
- No Free Website Backup
Why I Picked It
I like Bluehost because they’re beginner-friendly and easy on the wallet, which was perfect when I was just starting out. However, I wasn’t a huge fan of their customer service, so I eventually switched to a different host.
Who It's For
Bluehost is a good starting point for beginners creating their first blogs and looking for an affordable and easy way to do it.
However, they might not be the best option long-term because their customer support and billing practices aren’t the greatest.
Features & Specs
- 10 GB SSD Storage
- cPanel Access
- Free CDN
- DDos Security Protection
- Free WordPress Staging Site
- Free Malware Scanner
My Bluehost Experience
I’ve been around the block with web hosting, and I even started with Bluehost myself. They’re definitely beginner-friendly and easy on the wallet, which is a plus. But if I’m being honest, they wouldn’t be my top recommendation these days.
Here’s the thing: I’ve found that their customer support and account management could be better. You know, as artists, we pour our hearts into our work, and we deserve to feel valued and supported by our web host too.
I remember a few times when I needed help from Bluehost, and it felt like pulling teeth to get someone on the line. And when I eventually wanted to moved on to another provider, it was a bit of a hassle to switch.
Plus, I’ve heard whispers from other folks about surprise charges and billing issues. That’s a no-go in my book. Clear communication and transparency are key, and I think Bluehost could step it up in that department.
Namecheap
Best For Low-Cost Shared Hosting
Pros and Cons
- Free Domain
- Free Email
- Free SSL
- Cheap Renewal Costs
- 30-Days Money-Back
- Free Domain is Not a.com Domain
- Good Customer Support
Why I Picked It
I like Namecheap website hosting because they’re affordable and I already buy my domain names from them. Their cPanel is a little tricky to figure out at first, but overall they’re a good host to create a website with, if you’re on a really tight budget.
Who It's For
Namecheap is a great option for people who are new to creating websites and are looking for affordable web hosting, especially to keep costs down.
Just a heads up, they use cPanel, which can be a bit tricky to navigate at first, but if you don’t mind that you’re all good. If you’re looking for web hosting for small businesses I recommend SiteGround instead of Namecheap.
Features & Specs
- 20 GB SSD Storage
- cPanel Access
- Free CDN
- Apache/Litespeed Server
- MySQL Databases
- PHP MyAdmin
- Free WHOIS Domain Privacy
My Namecheap Experience
You might already know Namecheap as the place to buy your domain names, but they’ve also got a pretty sweet web hosting gig going on. I was curious myself, so I decided to give it a whirl.
Honestly, for the price, Namecheap really surprised me. It’s a solid, budget-friendly option, which is perfect when you’re first starting and don’t have a lot of money to spend.
My website hummed along just fine on their servers, no complaints there.
Now, here’s the thing: they use cPanel. It’s a classic control panel, but it can be a bit tricky to navigate at first, especially if you’re new to this whole website thing.
Some hosts have these sleek, custom dashboards that are a bit easier on the eyes and more user friendly.
But if you’re already familiar with cPanel or willing to spend a little time getting to know it, Namecheap could be an option.
HostGator
Best For Beginners and Bloggers
Pros and Cons
- Free Domain
- Free SSL
- Cheap Renewal Costs
- 30-Days Money-Back
- Free Email Trial - 1 Month ONLY
- Basic Customer Support
- No Free Website Backup
- No Free CDN
- No Free Website Transfer
Why I Picked It
I like HostGator because their plans are pretty straightforward, even though they’re not the absolute best and definitely not my first choice (SiteGround). I figured it’s a good starting point for someone who doesn’t want to spend a lot of money on web hosting.
Who It's For
HostGator is a good option for someone who is just starting out and need a simple website up and running. They’re owned by the same company as Bluehost, so their pricing and plans are pretty similar.
Features & Specs
- 10 GB SSD Storage
- cPanel Access
- MySQL databases
- phpMyAdmin access
- Free Malware Scanner
My HostGator Experience
HostGator is a pretty well-known name in the web hosting world. They’ve been around for a while and have a lot in common with Bluehost, which you might have also heard of. They’re kind of like siblings, run by the same parent company.
Here’s the thing about HostGator. They’re solid for the basics. If you’re just starting out and need a reliable place to park your website, they’ll generally do the trick. But, and this is important for artists, there are a couple of things to consider.
Their customer support is decent, but not amazing. Sometimes you need a little extra hand-holding, especially when you’re dealing with the tech side of things. I’ve had better experiences with other hosts who really go the extra mile to make you feel supported.
HostGator can be a bit vague about how much traffic your site can handle on their different plans. This is important because as your art gets more popular and you get more visitors, you don’t want your site to slow down or crash.
For artists, this could be a deal-breaker. Imagine you’re finally getting that big break, your art is going viral, and suddenly your website can’t keep up! That’s not the kind of stress you need when you’re trying to focus on your creative work.
Which Web Hosting Would I Use as an Artist?
As a web designer, I’ve tried my fair share of hosting providers. Knowing what I know, if I were starting out as an artist today and needed web hosting for a website I’d probably go with SiteGround.
They have an amazing customer support team, which is very important when you’re just getting started and might need a little extra help.
Plus, they have a good reputation for reliability and speed, and that’s crucial for showcasing your artwork on your website for visitors to see.