Top web hosting services in UK 2024
Through independent research and testing, our team of experts offers transparent and thorough reviews of web hosting providers. We use the same testing criteria for all providers to offer a fair and unbiased assessment of each hosting service.
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Selecting the perfect hosting provider is never easy – and choosing the best option for the UK can be twice as hard. It’s all about an ideal combination of performance, security, reliability, and price that will allow your online presence to thrive. So, what would be the top pick?
Together with the Cybernews research team, I tested 56 of hosting providers and – after thorough comparison – came up with the top five options for your consideration. Now, let’s dive in and find your perfect match!
Best UK website hosting 2024
- Bluehost – best hosting for the UK
- Hostinger – speedy and secure hosting for small businesses
- GoDaddy – best hosting for beginners
- HostGator – best hosting for charities
- InMotion Hosting – best VPS hosting
Our in-house research team and expert writers work hand in hand to regularly test hosting services and provide accurate and fact-checked information. Discover the ins and outs of how we test and evaluate website hosting providers.
Top web hosting providers in the UK – detailed overview
To help you choose the best host for your goals, I’ve analyzed and compared over 56 providers against various criteria, including security, price, customer support, and accessibility. The final list includes five providers offering great packages for varying customer needs.
1. Bluehost – businesses’ favorite hosting in 2024
| Rating: | |
| Starting price: | £1.55/month |
| UK servers: | No |
| Best deal: | Get up to 81% OFF Bluehost |
As the best hosting provider for the UK, Bluehost offers tailored solutions for WordPress users. It has excellent hosting plans, website-building software, and custom tools – allowing you to build pretty much any WordPress website you wish.
Features. Key features include unlimited bandwidth, a free domain for the first year, an intuitive UI, and simple WordPress management. It also provides VPS and dedicated hosting options.
Performance. With a consistent 99.9% uptime, Bluehost ensures your site is always up and performing optimally in the UK.
| Uptime: | 99.9% |
| Average response time: | 361ms |
| Fully built site loading time: | 1.8s |
Pricing. Bluehost offers exceptional value, especially for WordPress users. It starts at £1.55/month with the Basic plan, followed by Choice Plus (£3.10/month), Online Store (£5.59/month) and Pro (£7.76/month).
I’d name Bluehost the number-one choice for WordPress – which is pretty telling when you remember most of the internet is powered by it. Add a convenient user interface and incredible support (boasting speedy live chat responses).
2. Hostinger – speedy and secure hosting for small businesses
| Rating: | |
| Starting price: | £2.59/month |
| UK servers: | Yes |
| Best deal: | Get up to 87% OFF Hostinger + free months |
Hostinger, known for its flexibility and affordability, offers a range of customizable hosting options starting from £2.59/month. Its user-friendly control panel and decent server response times make it a practical option for UK businesses.
Features. Hostinger services include shared, managed WordPress, VPS, and cloud hosting, all with enhanced security. Additional features include a free unlimited SSL certificate, a free domain with yearly plans, and automated migration. It also offers a free AI website builder and AI tools with all hosting plans.
Performance. Hostinger maintains a 99.9% uptime and transparent performance, supported by several server locations worldwide, including the UK, for reliable loading times.
| Uptime: | 99.9% |
| Average response time: | 511ms |
| Fully built site loading time: | 0.8s |
Pricing. Hostinger plans start from £2.59 per month. It offers Premium (£2.59/month), Business (£3.79/month), and Cloud Startup (£8.99/month) plans, all of which include a free SSL certificate and automatic backups. A 30-day money-back guarantee is also available.
I enjoyed my Hostinger experience because it was easy and intuitive. Navigation is stress-free, making it perfect for beginners.
If you have a high-demanding, high-traffic website in mind, Hostinger won’t be your best option. However, it will be an excellent option for most businesses, especially if you’re not in the mood for navigating complex control panels.
3. GoDaddy – perfect hosting for beginners and small businesses in the UK
| Rating: | |
| Starting price: | £3.99/month |
| UK servers: | No, GoDaddy’s only Europe-based servers are in the Netherlands. |
| Best deal: | GoDaddy coupon 30% OFF |
A great choice for small businesses or those just getting started, GoDaddy stands out for its user-friendly interface, generous storage (100GB even on the cheapest plan), and range of hosting options, ensuring a seamless experience for those new to web hosting.
Features. GoDaddy offers unlimited bandwidth, high-security measures including 24/7 monitoring and DDoS protection, and plans for both Windows and Linux users. All hosting plans include a free domain name, unmetered bandwidth, and access to a simple cPanel interface with over 150 free 1-click install apps.
Performance. GoDaddy guarantees 99.9% uptime. Its only Europe-based server is in the Netherlands, which has shown great results during testing.
| Uptime: | 99.9% |
| Average response time: | 341ms |
| Fully built site loading time: | 1.5s |
Pricing. Plans start with Web Hosting Economy (£3.99/month), followed by Web Hosting Deluxe (£5.99/month), Web Hosting Ultimate (£7.49/month) and Web Hosting Maximum (£10.99/month).
And another zero-stress option! GoDaddy offered me plenty of tools and an easy, enjoyable user experience. While it’s not the best pick for high-traffic websites, it’s an excellent option for young businesses that are just getting started.
Keep an eye on the prices, though – as affordable as they are, they will increase at renewal.
4. HostGator – best for nonprofits in the UK
| Rating: | |
| Starting price: | £2.89/month |
| UK servers: | None |
| Best deal: | Get up to 81% OFF HostGator |
When it comes to website building, nonprofits look for the perfect balance of low cost and reliability. Enter HostGator, with its excellent price-to-performance ratio offering great speed.
Features. HostGator offers plenty of hosting options, including WordPress, VPS, web, and dedicated hosting. It also allows site transfers and is famous for its 24/7/365 support.
Performance. HostGator has a 99.9% uptime record and truly impressive speed, although for now, it only offers servers in the US.
| Uptime: | 99.9% |
| Average response time: | 551ms |
| Fully built site loading time: | 1.0s |
Pricing. It starts at £2.89/month for the Hatchling Plan, followed by £3.47/month for the Baby Plan and the Business Plan for £4.81/month.
For me, HostGator’s most significant advantages were its responsive support and speed. Still, while it proved perfect for running several websites, the VPS and dedicated plans showed much weaker results.
5. InMotion Hosting – best VPS offering
| Rating: | |
| Starting price: | £1.77/month |
| UK servers: | None; its only European server is in the Netherlands. |
| Best deal: | Get InMotion Hosting, now 81% OFF |
InMotion offers some of the best VPS offers on the market, with a wide selection of balanced plans at a reasonable price.
Features. InMotion provides advanced security features, including DDoS protection and server redundancy. It also boasts solid security and 24/7 support.
Performance. InMotion guarantees 99.9% uptime. However, as of now, its servers are located in the USA and the Netherlands only.
| Uptime: | 99.9% |
| Average response time: | 585ms |
| Fully built site loading time: | 1.0 to 3.0s |
Pricing. Starts at £1.77/month with the Basic plan, followed by Launch and Power Plans (£3.07/month each), as well as the Pro Plan (£7.32/month).
The title says it all – for me, InMotion was probably the best VPS option. It also offers an incredible 90-day money-back guarantee compared to most hosts offering just 30 days.
Nevertheless, two cons to consider are the absence of UK servers and a relatively weak control panel.
Best UK web hosting providers – compared
| Brand | Rating | Starting monthly price | Uptime | Free SSL | 24/7 customer support | Servers in the UK |
| Bluehost | £1.55/month | 99.9% | Yes | Yes | No | |
| Hostinger | £2.59/month | 99.9% | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| GoDaddy | £3.99/month | 99.9% | Yes | Yes | No | |
| HostGator | £2.89/month | 99.9% | Yes | Yes | No | |
| InMotion Hosting | £1.77/month | 99.9% | Yes | Yes | No |
How we tested and ranked top UK web hosts
I performed hosting performance tests and practical assessments with the Cybernews security research team to determine the best UK hosting services. Here's how we conducted the evaluations:
- Setup. We created basic websites on various UK hosting platforms, including installing the CMS and some essential plugins.
- Performance tests. We simulated real-world traffic with virtual users to assess site performance under load.
- Monitoring. We tracked metrics like uptime, response time, and page load speeds to asses overall performance.
Features we analyzed include:
- Performance. Near 100% uptime and fast loading times are crucial. We tested with about 50 virtual users to ensure robust performance.
- Features. Essential tools include security measures, business optimization, and SEO enhancements.
- Interface. We looked for user-friendly interfaces that wouldn’t make it hard for beginners.
- Customer support. We checked for speedy and reliable 24/7 customer service.
- Price. We compared prices, looking for reasonable options with free trials and money-back guarantees.
How to choose the best UK website hosting
Selecting a web host may feel overwhelming, but this task gets easier when you focus on key factors:
- Website type. Consider your own website type when making a decision. Whether it’s a blog, a growing business, or a flourishing enterprise, you may need a different plan and set of features.
- Server location. To ensure optimal performance for UK audiences, choose a provider with servers in the UK or Europe.
- Pricing. Match the plan to your needs and budget. Keep in mind long-term subscription costs, renewal prices, and upselling attempts.
Final thoughts
When looking for the best possible hosting provider, look for the option to provide both you and your website’s visitors with a stress-free user experience and top-tier performance.
For UK hosting, Bluehost is my number one pick. It excels with robust security, user-friendly tools, and competitive pricing. Bluehost's reliable service is backed by a 99.9% uptime guarantee and 24/7 support, distinguishing it from competitors. Bluehost stands out for its comprehensive features, setting it apart as the best hosting choice in the UK, while Hostinger remains a strong alternative.
Web hosting in the UK: FAQ
How do I host a website in the UK?
Hosting a website in the UK involves several steps. You must choose a UK hosting provider (seek servers in the UK for optimal performance), register a domain name, select the hosting plan, and set up your website. When looking for a provider, consider factors such as performance, features, pricing, and customer support.
Can I use Hostinger in the UK?
Yes, you can use Hostinger in the UK. Hostinger offers servers in the UK, ensuring fast loading times and reliable performance for UK-based visitors. It also provides various hosting options, including shared, VPS, and cloud hosting.
Is GoDaddy the best hosting?
Whether GoDaddy is the best hosting provider depends on your specific needs. While GoDaddy is a viable option for UK users, other hosting providers like Bluehost offer competitive features and may better suit your particular requirements.
