Information & Resources
Online Business
|
|
Review: Best Budget Web Hosting
SterlingReport.com --
On this page you'll find a summary of the top budget web hosting companies, with full reviews below the summary section. Check out the various features of each hosting company and make your selection based on what's most important to you.
Some have better customer service options such as toll free or 24-hour phone support, while others offer free domain parking (Easy-CGI), multiple website hosting (JumpLine, LunarPages), Commerce packages (Apollo, PowWeb), or have larger server storage space or data transfer limits (Globat, Infinology).
We've listed the Basic packages from each hosting company. These plans are excellent for most personal and medium-traffic business websites. Most of these web hosts also offer premium hosting packages -- it will cost more, but is definitely worth it if you're running an e-commerce business with your website. Premium services offer more storage space and data transfer, e-commerce, database and dynamic content, and even dedicated server options so you don't have to share a server with other customers.
Top Hosting - Summary Table
Full Reviews: Budget Website Hosting
| Company
|
Monthly
|
Yearly
|
Support
|
Email
|
Platform
|
Storage/Data Trsf
|
|
Easy-CGI
|
$9.95/month
(Free setup) |
$7.96/month
(Free Setup) |
800#
(M-F, 9-5 EST)
Email: 9am-11pm |
10 accts
(unlimited fwd) |
Windows
|
100 MB/5 GB
|
We rate Easy-CGI #1 Budget Web Host for its fast setup, good server performance, and the friendly and helpful customer service (email, or toll-free phone support). Best of all, if you have multiple domain names to point to one site, Easy CGI's free, unlimited domain parking allows you to point as many domain names as you want to your website. Check NetMed.com for an example of performance for an Easy-CGI hosted website (see MedicalDoc.com to see how a free parked domain works--this points to the main NetMed.com site).
Basic package includes 100MB web space, 5 GB data transfer, 10 email accounts, Microsoft Access database connectivity, PHP, ASP. You get raw logs access (but unfortunately, no stat's package is included in the basic plan), autoresponders, shared ssl, password protected directories.
Intermediate Package ($15.95/month) has all the above, plus java, jsp, coldfusion, FrontPage extensions, web stats pacakge, SQL database, 200MB web space, 25 email addresses. Customer telephone support is Monday-Friday 9 am - 5 pm. Email support is 7 days per week, 9 am-11 pm.
[MORE INFORMATION FROM EASY-CGI]
|
| Company
|
Monthly
|
Yearly
|
Support
|
Email
|
Platform
|
Storage/Data Trsf
|
|
iPowerWeb
|
$9.95/month
($30 setup) |
$7.92/month
(Free Setup) |
24/7 800#/Email |
300 accts
(unlimited fwd) |
Unix, Linux
|
500MB/30GB
|
iPowerWeb's current promotion gives you one free domain registration with your hosting account (1 yr. term). Running on Apache, the Basic account provides 500 MB storage, 30 GB/month transfer, and 300 POP3 email accounts. Included are SSL, CGI, MySQL, unlimited autoresponders, php, ssl, Webalizer web stats and log files, Frontpage support, control panel, web-based email, shopping cart, password directory, shockwave and streaming audio support.
The online knowledge-base should answer most technical support questions, but additional support is available via email or 24-hour toll-free phone support (though hold times may be long).
[MORE INFORMATION FROM iPOWERWEB]
|
| Company
|
Monthly
|
Yearly
|
Support
|
Email
|
Platform
|
Storage/Data Trsf
|
|
LunarPages
|
$9.95/month
($30 Setup) |
$7.92/month
(Free Setup) |
800# support 7-5 PT
24/7 email
|
unlimited accts
(unlimited fwd) |
Unix
|
300 MB/20 GB
|
Basic Plan provides 300 MB storage, 20GB/month data transfer, 1 MySQL database, 1 FTP account, FrontPage extensions, unlimited email forwards and auto-responders, 3 free domain parking, PHP, Python, Perl, CGI, 15 sub-domains, SSI, password-protected folders, custom error pages, mailing list, Flash & Shockwave, Windows Media & Real Media compatible, raw access logs and user stat's package.
Upgrade features include the ability to add up to 3 additional web domains to your account for only $2.50/month. You can also get ASP and JSP ($1/$2 extra)
Premium Package ($22.95/mo) offers additional storage and bandwidth (800MB/60GB), 5 MySQL databases, 25 FTP accounts, anonymous FTP ($2.50/mo), SSL and shopping cart. 3-month minimum contract for both Basic and Premium plans.
[MORE INFORMATION FROM LUNARPAGES]
|
| Company
|
Monthly
|
Yearly
|
Support
|
Email
|
Platform
|
Storage/Data Trsf
|
|
Globat
|
$9.95/month
($39.95 Setup) |
$7.50/month
(Free Setup) |
Email support
|
1,000 accts
(unlimited fwd) |
Unix FreeBSD
|
1,000MB/50 GB
|
Basic Plan provides a whopping 2,000 MB storage and 60GB/month data transfer, MS FrontPage 2002, Flash, MYSQL, PHP4, PERL5 and SSI support. Globat also supports Shockwave Flash, MYSQL, PHP4 and PERL. In addition, you get up to 2,000 email accounts, unlimited e-mail forwarding, aliases and autoresponders, and web-based e-mail.
Commerce Packages are available for $14.95/month (starter package), which includes SSL, shopping cart, shared digital security certificate, 3,000 email accounts, 3,000MB storage and 80GB/month of data transfer. A larger commerce package is also available.
[MORE INFORMATION FROM GLOBAT]
|
| Company
|
Monthly
|
Yearly
|
Support
|
Email
|
Platform
|
Storage/Data Trsf
|
JumpLine
(6 domains)
|
$16.95/month
($2.79/domain)
($30 Setup) |
$14.95/month
($2.49/domain)
($15 Setup) |
800# M-F, 9-6 EST
24/7 online
|
100 accts
(unlimited fwd) |
Linux
|
200 MB/7.5 GB
|
The biggest advantage with JumpLine is that you can host up to 6 websites for the price of one, which comes out to less than $2.50/month for each website hosted (one-year term). It's a great value if you have multiple domains to host. (Note that since the separate websites are on a shared account, you can not set up different emails -- for example, you would not be able to have both these email addresses as separate: sales@FirstDomain.com and sales@SecondDomain.com -- emails to both these addresses would go to the same account).
Customer phone support is very quick and helpful, and email support usually offers responses within 12 hours. We have experienced some technical glitches in new website setup, but JumpLine seems to be automating the processes, and customer support has been knowledgeable and helpful in resolving the issues quickly. Visit Znews.com and PacificScooters.com for an example of Jumpline-hosted websites.
Jumpline provides 200 MB storage and 7.5 GB data transfer. If you expect to get a huge amount of traffic, you may want to consider a host that allows for greater data transfer, but if you have average traffic and don't host alot of images, this should be adequate.
Also included are: 50 Autoresponders, MajorDomo Mailing List, Web-Based Email, MX Record Changes Available, FrontPage 2000 Extensions, unlimited MySQL Databases, MySQL Perl Libraries (DBI), PHP 4, Perl 5, Python, SSI, Javascript, Java, Shockwave, Flash, QuickTime, HTTP Streaming Audio/Video, Wireless Application Protocol Ready (WAP), CGI-Bin, Shared SSL, Control Panel, Virtual Dedicated Server (VDS), Unlimited FTP Access, Personal FTP Accounts, SSH, File Manager, Password Protected Directories, Custom Error Pages, Web stats (for main site), Access to Raw Logs.
[MORE INFORMATION FROM JUMPLINE]
|
| Company
|
Monthly
|
Yearly
|
Support
|
Email
|
Platform
|
Storage/Data Trsf
|
|
Infinology
|
$12.95/month
($50 setup) |
$6.95/month
($50 setup) |
Email |
30 accts
(unlimited fwd) |
Unix, Windows
|
9000 MB/50 GB
|
Very popular in the budget hosting category, Infinology's yearly cost provides a substantial discount of over 50%, coming out to only $6.95/month.
Infinology's SmartConsumer Basic hosting package does not come with a lot of management tools, but it does pack a lot of punch. This hosting package is designed for advanced users who want a lot of disk space, bandwidth, and power: 9,000 MB (yes, nine thousand) RAID Level 5 Protected Storage Space, 5,000 POP 3 Email Accounts, 50 GB/month bandwidth, Perl 5.6, CGI Access,PHP 4.2.2, MySQL 3.23, Coldfusion supported on Windows hosting, Control Panel 4.08, and Webalizer stat's package.
Infinology puts fewer accounts per server than other hosts, so there's more bandwidth for each customer. Note that Infinology SmartConsumer basic hosting offers completely automated and unmanaged hosting, and is for savy consumers and advanced users who have purchased web hosting accounts previously. While the plan provides tremendous resources, it does not come with 1 on 1 Customer Service Support (support available through email and website).
[MORE INFORMATION FROM INFINOLOGY]
|
| Company
|
Monthly
|
Yearly
|
Support
|
Email
|
Platform
|
Storage/Data Trsf
|
|
Apollo Hosting
|
$19.95/month
($10 Setup) |
$15.92/month
($10 Setup) |
800# 7 days, 8-6 CST
24/7 email
|
unlimited accts
(unlimited fwd) |
Linux |
200 MB/10 GB
|
200 MB Disk Space, 10 GB data transfer, Web Based Email, Autoresponders,
PGP Encrypted Email,
20 Mailing Lists, SPAM Filtering Control Panel, website stats, Password Protect Directories, custom 404 error page, Real Video, Flash, Shockwave, Quicktime Video, MP3 support, MySQL, PHP, Perl, Java, SSI, Cron. Includes free Miva Merchant eCommerce package (up to 10 items). No access to logfiles, subdomains $10 each.
[MORE INFORMATION FROM APOLLO HOSTING]
|
| Company
|
Monthly
|
Yearly
|
Support
|
Email
|
Platform
|
Storage/Data Trsf
|
|
Your-Site
|
$6/month
(free setup) |
$5/month
(Free Setup) |
Toll phone M-F, 9-6 ET
24/7 email
|
25 accts
(unlimited fwd) |
Unix
|
50 MB/6 GB
|
Your-Site provides a solid value for basic website hosting. If you have a personal website, or a low maintenance business website, Your-Site provides good hosting at a great price.
There is a 3 month minimum contract, and you get 50 MB Disk Space, 6 Gigs Transfer, Frontpage 98/2000 extensions, web stats, log files, RealAudio and RealVideo support, CGI, SSI, SSH, Perl, Java, Python, Cronjobs, C/C++, PHP3/4, TCL, Custom Error Pages. Stats package is Urchin Lite, which only shows number of visitors and pages viewed (no top referrers, keywords, entrance pages, tracking, etc).
For complete web statistics, you can add Urchin Pro for a one-time $10 charge. Urchin Pro is a very clear and well designed stats package that shows visitors, referring URLs, pageviews, and more and will give you a good understanding of your site traffic and where it comes from. For a small extra charge, you can also get additional storage space, MySQL, Mailing List, and SSL support.
Your website may run a bit slower on Your-Site than with other hosting companies and setup may take a couple of days. But technical support is available by telephone Mon-Fri 9 am to 6 pm (EST) or by email (though email takes about 24-hours for response). Your best bet for technical assistance is phone support during business hours.
[MORE INFORMATION FROM YOUR-SITE]
|
| Company
|
Monthly
|
Yearly
|
Support
|
Email
|
Platform
|
Storage/Data Trsf
|
| HostSave
|
$7.95/mo
(Free setup) |
$7.58/month
(Free Setup) |
24/7 online
|
10 accts
(unlimited fwd) |
Unix
|
100 MB/5 GB
|
HostSave provides reliable web hosting for small to medium size personal or business websites, and includes the Webalizer traffic analysis program, a basic but very good package.
Currently HostSave has a 1-month Free special offer. Free domain transfers, 100 MB disk space, 5 GB/month Data Transfer, Shared SSL, Email Autoresponder, FrontPage 2002/2000/98 Support, Form to Email CGI, Visitor Counter CGI, Custom Error Page, Log File Access, ava Applets, Flash, Shockwave Supported, HTTP Streaming Audio/Video, PERL 5, PHP 4, Web Based Control Panel. Does not support ASP. Check Credit-Offers.net for performance of a website hosted at HostSave. 3-month minimum contract term.
[MORE INFORMATION FROM HOSTSAVE]
|
| Company
|
Monthly
|
Yearly
|
Support
|
Email
|
Platform
|
Storage/Data Trsf
|
|
PowWeb
|
$7.77/month
($20 Setup) |
$7.75/month
(Free Setup) |
Toll phone (7 days)
24/7 online
|
650 accts
(unlimited fwd) |
Linux
|
650 MB/45 GB
|
Provides built-in osCommerce (shopping cart), 650 MB storage, 45 GB Data Trsf, 10 FTP Users, CGI, SSI, .htaccess, Cronjobs, Web-Based Email, PHP4, Perl5, Sendmail, FrontPage 98/2000/2002, free Webalizer Web stats, Access to Raw Log Files, SSL (Secure Server), DNS Control ( A record, Cnames, MX records), Flash, Shockwave, Midi, Mulitmedia Support, MySQL Database. Phone support is toll call (not 800#), but available 7 days -- Mon-Fri: 7am-7pm PDT; Sat-Sun: 11am-4pm PDT.
[MORE INFORMATION FROM POWWEB]
|
| Company
|
Monthly
|
Yearly
|
Support
|
Email
|
Platform
|
Storage/Data Trsf
|
| ThinkHost
|
$8.95/mo
($10 setup) |
$8.95/month
($10 setup) |
24/7 email
|
10 accts
(unlimited fwd) |
Unix
|
20 MB/1 GB
|
Fast and easy sign-up, 20 MB disk space, 1 GB Mb/month transfer bandwidth, runs on FreeBSD Unix Apache server, FrontPage 2002/2000/98 extensions, Autoresponders and email forwarding, full development environment, PHP4 + Perl 5 + mod_rewrite and other modules, C, C++ development environment, Full cgi-bin capabilities with SSI support, variety of upgrades and options including e-commerce, Raw server logs and detailed hit statistics with free Webalizer stat's package. Customization features include, Macromedia flash & shockwave, Custom error pages, Full .htaccess capabilities, Procmail support. Addition add-ons available include: Sub-domains (one free w/account), SSL, dedicated IP, mySQL, Majordomo mailing list, and ecommerce shopping carts. They also have more robust ecommorce packages available. Basic package has fairly low disk space and transfer rate, so this package is not as good for large-sized or higher traffic sites.
[MORE INFORMATION FROM THINKHOST]
|
| Company
|
Monthly
|
Yearly
|
Support
|
Email
|
Platform
|
Storage/Data Trsf
|
|
Website Source
|
$9.95/month
($30 Setup) |
$7.92/month
(Free Setup) |
800# support 8-5 CST
24/7 chat
|
unlimited accts
(unlimited fwd) |
Linux
|
200 MB/6 GB
|
3 month minimum. 200 MB Space, 6 GB Transfer, Control panel, Unlimited Email accounts, Unlimited FTP, mySQL database, 5 free Domain Parking, SSI,PHP4,SSL,CGI/Perl, log file access, 20 mailing lists, webmail, spam blocking, SSH Telnet, Web Stats, Streaming Media, Real audio/Real video, Microsoft Media, Shockwave Flash, Quicktime Video, MPEG video clips. Free Miva Merchant eCommerce shopping cart. $20 setup fee can be credited back to your account if you don't want the Miva Merchant or Helix (for streaming media).
[MORE INFORMATION FROM WEBSITE-SOURCE]
|
| Company
|
Monthly
|
Yearly
|
Support
|
Email
|
Platform
|
Storage/Data Trsf
|
|
HostRocket
|
$14.95/month
(Free Setup) |
$11.95/month
(Free Setup) |
24/7 online
|
unlimited accts
(unlimited fwd) |
Linux
|
350 MB/20 GB
|
350 MB storage and 20 GB data transfer, unlimited autoresponders, Spam Blocker, Web Mail Access, PHP,
Integrated Bulletin Board, 10 MySQL databases, Perl (free Perl module instalations), CGI, SSI, Web stats, unlimited ftp accounts and telnet access,
Anonymous FTP Server, SSL, FrontPage 2002, unlimited subdomains, 10 free domain parking, password protected directories.
Dedicated Static IP Address $2/month extra. Premium accounts also available. For extra storage, try the "Economy Special" package ($11.95/month for 1 yr payment), which gives you 750 MB storage and 37 GB/month data transfer.
[MORE INFORMATION FROM HOSTROCKET]
|
Individual Reviews:
Apollo | Easy-CGI | HostRocket | HostSave | Infinology | iPowerWeb
Jumpline | LunarPages | PowWeb | ThinkHost | WebsiteSource | Your-Site
Copyright 2002-2003, SterlingReport.com
|
Starting an Internet Business