Best DreamHost Alternatives for Beginner Friendly Web Hosting

While DreamHost has been my go-to hosting provider for years, I’ve recently tested several alternatives that match or even surpass its offerings. This comprehensive review highlights the top DreamHost alternatives that deliver exceptional value and performance.

Choosing the right hosting provider can make or break your online presence. You need rock-solid uptime, fast loading speeds, and a robust set of tools to manage your site effectively. And let’s face it – finding all this at a reasonable price point is essential.

DreamHost has long been a frontrunner in the hosting industry, offering excellent value and a diverse range of hosting solutions. Its reputation is well-earned, built on years of reliable service and customer satisfaction.

But the hosting landscape is constantly evolving. So which companies are giving DreamHost a run for its money, and what makes them stand out? I’ve put several top contenders through their paces to find out.

In my experience managing dozens of websites across various hosting providers, I’ve found that each platform has its unique strengths. Some excel in raw performance, others in user-friendly interfaces, and a few manage to strike an impressive balance between features and affordability.

This review will dive deep into the alternatives that have impressed me most. I’ll share real-world performance data, pricing comparisons, and insights from hands-on testing. Whether you’re looking for better speed, more robust security, or simply a change of pace, you’ll find options here that might surprise you.

Let’s explore these DreamHost competitors and see how they stack up in terms of features, performance, and value.

Hosting Service	Plans Start From	Free Domain On All Plans?	Money-Back Guarantee?	Best for…
SiteGround	From $2.99 per month	No	30 days	All-rounder for speed and performance
Bluehost	From $1.99 per month	Yes	30 days	All things WordPress
Hostinger	From $2.99 per month	No	30-days	Businesses planning to scale
GreenGeeks	From $2.95 per month	Yes	30 days	Carbon neutral hosting
A2 Hosting	From $2.99 per month	No	Anytime	Independent bloggers
HostGator	From $3.75 per month	Yes	30 days	Total beginners
Scala Hosting	From $29.95 per month	Yes	Anytime	Managed VPS hosting
ChemiCloud	From $2.99 per month	Yes	45 days	Customer support
HostArmada	From $2.99 per month	Yes	45 days	Regular data backup
NameHero	From $4.48 per month	No	30 days	Managed cloud hosting

Top Alternatives to DreamHost in 2024

After extensively testing numerous hosting providers this year, I’ve compiled a list of the top 10 DreamHost alternatives. Each offers unique features that may better suit your specific needs. Here’s my breakdown based on hands-on experience:

1. SiteGround: Best All-Rounder for Speed and Performance

Is there something better than DreamHost? Absolutely, and it’s called SiteGround.

SiteGround has been going since 2004 and has since amassed over 2.8 million websites on its servers. Folks love SiteGeound for its superior speed, performance, and security.

On its top plans, you can expect SiteGround to perform up to 500% faster than other hosting providers. 

On top of that, you can enjoy having access to the latest and greatest hosting technology. SiteGround does an excellent job of keeping its service updated and current and frequently integrates new and efficient technologies into its offering.

The SiteGround team is renowned for providing top-of-the-line, live and dedicated support so you’ll never feel stranded.

And, if that wasn’t enough, SiteGround is one of only three hosting services that is officially endorsed by WordPress.

SiteGround Main Features

SiteGround has a wealth of high-quality features that make this service such fantastic value. Here are the highlights:

• 30-day money-back guarantee with all SiteGround hosting plans
• Up to 500% fast than other hosting providers.
• 100% renewable energy match (one of only two hosting platforms on this list that are environmentally conscious.)
• 24/7, reliable, and helpful live customer support.
• Dashboard featuring simple and intuitive functions.
• Free email service is included with all plans.
• Built upon Premium Google Cloud infrastructure.
• Free daily data backup service.
• Up to 5x faster speeds for WordPress thanks to static and dynamic caching.
• Fully-managed WordPress and WooCommerce hosting.
• Free SSL.
• Unlimited databases on all plans.
• 1-click automatic site migration.
• Website builder included on all plans.

SiteGround Price Plans

No matter what type of hosting you need, SiteGround’s hosting plan options have you covered.

Prices are as follows:

• Shared hosting from $2.99/month
• WordPress hosting from $2.99/month
• WooCommerce hosting from $2.99/month
• Cloud hosting from $100/month
• Reseller hosting from $3.99/month

These are promotional rates valid for the length of your chosen billing period. Once you move onto a new billing cycle, the prices will rise to the standard rates.

Give SiteGround a whirl for free with a 30-day money-back guarantee for all plans.

SiteGround Vs DreamHost

SiteGround’s performance and capabilities far outshine those of DreamHost and don’t cost much more. You can’t ignore the up to 500% faster speeds of SiteGround’s GoGeek plan, or the daily backup service as well as its wealth of premium features. 

While both sites are endorsed by WordPress, SiteGround can boast up to 5x faster speeds when you host your WordPress site on its servers.

Both hosting providers can handle large volumes of websites and are ideal for businesses that want to scale, so if the deciding factor is finding the lowest price, choose DreamHost.

Otherwise, SiteGround is your best option in all other areas.

Visit the SiteGround website here… or go and check out my 2024 review of SiteGround

2. Bluehost: Best for All Things WordPress

Bluehost is another biggie, with over two million websites currently residing on its servers. This hosting provider is an old-timer and has been around since 2003. Since then, it has firmly established itself as the go-to hosting option for WordPress.

As well as standard WordPress hosting alternatives, you have access to a specialist WordPress help and assistance team who are on hand to help you with any issues. 

On top of that, there are plans available with WordPress preinstalled, and you can take your pick from one of the many included custom WordPress themes.

Unsurprisingly, Bluehost is another site officially endorsed by WordPress.

Among other great features, you can enjoy a free domain on all plans along with up to $150 matched credit for your first Google Ads campaign. Pretty neat, huh?

Bluehost Main Features

You get a whole lot of bang for your buck with BlueHost. Here are my favorite features:

• Try out Bluehost risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
• All plans include a free domain for the first year.
• Launch your first ad campaign and receive up to $150 of matched credit for Google Ads.
• Manage and control all your websites from one easy-to-use dashboard.
• Specialized resource protection to keep your site’s performance optimum.
• WordPress, website, e-commerce building, and SEO tools are included in all plans.
• Up to 75% faster than other hosting companies.
• Free SSL.
• 1-click installation for WordPress.
• 24/7 live customer support team.
• Dedicated WordPress support team.
• Beginner-friendly WordPress page builder.

Bluehost Price Plans

Bluehost has many hosting plans available to suit most requirements. If you want all the WordPress goodies, opt for one of the special WordPress hosting plans:

• Shared hosting from $1.99/month
• Dedicated hosting from $89.98/month
• VPS hosting from $29.99/month
• WordPress hosting from $1.99/month

These are promotional rates valid for the length of your chosen billing period. Once you move onto a new billing cycle, the prices will rise to the standard rates.

All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try out BlueHost risk-free.

Bluehost Vs DreamHost

Bluehost is the one when it comes to WordPress hosting and blows DreamHost out of the water in this respect. Its dedicated WordPress support is second to none and incomparable.

Where Bluehost falls down is it’s not renowned for having the best general customer service. It also falls down for data backup services. On the other hand, DreamHost features daily data backups and has had no significant complaints about its customer support.

Overall it’s a tough call. I’d say definitely go for Bluehost if you’re planning to use WordPress. Otherwise, it’s a toss-up between the two services to see which features you prefer.

Visit the Bluehost website here… or go and check out my 2024 review of Bluehost

3. Hostinger: Best for Scaling Your Business

Founded in 2004, Hostinger is a little different since it is entirely employee-owned. It must be doing something right though, as it currently has over 1.2 million websites on its database.

Hostinger has some of the lowest prices out of all the options on this list but that doesn’t mean it has scrimped on the quality of its service.

Boasting a 99.9% guaranteed uptime plus lightning-fast speeds, Hostinger can manage all sizes of business with ease. Because of this, Hostinger is a great option if you’re a young business with ambitious plans for growth.

Interestingly, Hostinger has dedicated hosting plans specifically for Minecraft. Something that’s not often seen from a hosting provider. As well as Minecraft, you can expect to see the usual hosting plans, all with great features.

Hostinger Features

Despite the low prices, Hostinger has an impressive array of features for you to take advantage of:

• A 30-day money-back guarantee with all plans.
• 99.9% guaranteed uptime.
• Unlimited databases and unmetered traffic on all plans.
• Free weekly backup service.
• High-performance LiteSpeed servers.
• Up to 200GB SSD storage.
• Free SSL.
• Fast and efficient WordPress hosting optimization.
• 24/7 live customer service and support.
• 1-click free website migration service.
• The free email account on all but the cheapest plans.
• Managed WordPress service is available.

Hostinger Price Plans

Hostinger isn’t shy with its introductory offers and all-round low prices:

• Shared hosting from $2.99/month
• WordPress hosting from $2.99/month
• Minecraft hosting from $8.99/month
• Cloud hosting from $9.99/month
• VPS hosting from $8.99/month

These are promotional rates valid for the length of your chosen billing period. Once you move onto a new billing cycle, the prices will rise to the standard rates.

The 30-day money-back guarantee applies to all plans.

Hostinger Vs DreamHost

Hostinger and DreamHost are very similar in terms of the plans and features they offer. However, Hostinger is certainly the cheapest by quite a long shot.

The downside to Hostinger here is that you do not get a free domain with its cheapest plan, while DreamHost is happy to oblige.

If we look at performance and speed, Hostinger has the edge here, while DreamHost is better built for businesses that want to scale.

Overall I’d say that Hostinger comes out ahead of DreamHost if only for the enhanced performance. Unless that free domain is super important to you, give Hostinger a whirl.

Visit the Hostinger website here… or go and check out my 2024 review of Hostinger

4. GreenGeeks: Best for Green Eco-Friendly Hosting

If there’s one thing that folks are worried about, it’s climate change, and rightly so. Therefore, it won’t come as a surprise that businesses are starting to seek out services that can prove their green credentials.

GreenGeeks are making (environmentally friendly) waves in the hosting world thanks to its green energy match promise.

For every amperage of power consumed by GreenGeek’s servers, the service matches three times the amount in renewable energy.

And, for each new web hosting client, GreenGeeks plants a tree. With 55,000 customers on its books, that’s a whole lot of trees planted.

GreenGeeks Main Features

As well as being kind to the planet, GreenGeeks offers a respectable array of features:

• 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans.
• 300% renewable energy match for all energy used for its hosting.
• For every new client, a tree is planted.
• Fast LiteSpeed servers on all plans.
• Free domain name for the first year on all plans.
• Free CDN and SSL.
• Free daily data backup service is included in all plans.
• Managed WordPress is available with its WordPress hosting.
• Unmetered data transfer on all plans.
• Free website migration service.
• 24/7 live customer service.
• Drag-and-drop website builder included.

GreenGeeks Price Plans

Four GreenGeeks plans are available. These include a free domain for the first year plus the 30-day money-back guarantee.

• Shared hosting from $2.95/month
• WordPress hosting from $2.95/month
• WooCommerce hosting from $2.95/month
• VPS hosting from $39.95/month
• Reseller hosting from $19.95/month

These are promotional rates valid for the length of your chosen billing period. Once you move onto a new billing cycle, the prices will rise to the standard rates.

GreenGeeks Vs DreamHost

DreamHost has better performance stats and a wider range of hosting options than GreenGeeks. It’s also slightly cheaper and won’t face any difficulty accommodating business growth should you suddenly find the need to expand.

The glaring difference here is the green credentials, so if carbon neutrality is a deal breaker, you will almost certainly want to go with GreenGeeks.

While GreenGeeks is a decent hosting service, it isn’t built to handle large businesses, so if you plan to stay small and care about the environment, go with GreenGeeks.

If you plan to scale and care about the environment, go with (plot twist!) SiteGround. It’s the only other hosting service on this list that has a green energy match.

Visit the GreenGeeks website here… or go and check out my 2024 review of GreenGeeks

5. A2 Hosting: Best for Independent Bloggers

Established in 2001, A2 Hosting is another independently owned hosting platform. It has built its reputation on providing a reliable and exceptionably stable platform along with notable features and tools.

Because of its ultra-fast loading rates for WordPress, A2 has become the preferred hosting provider for independent bloggers. And, with a 99.9% guaranteed uptime, subscribers don’t ever have to worry about their websites going offline, even for a moment.

The incredibly generous anytime money-back guarantee is a game-changer. You could try out A2 Hosting for several months, and if you decide it’s not for you, you can receive a full refund. How’s that risk-free?

A2 Hosting Main Features

Here’s what you can look forward to with A2 Hosting:

• Anytime money-back guarantee on all its plans.
• 99.9% uptime guarantee with all hosting options.
• Free site migration over to A2.
• Free SSL certificate.
• Fast LiteSpeed servers.
• Unlimited storage on all but the lowest-priced plan.
• 1-click installation for WordPress.
• Website building tool included on all plans.
• Choose the location for your data storage.
• High performance and turbo-boosted loading speeds are included in its higher-priced plans.
• 24/7 live customer support service.
• Unlimited email is included on all plans.
• Fast loading speeds allow you to rank higher with Google.

A2 Hosting Price Plans

A2 hosting has plenty of plans to choose from, including industry-specific options such as agencies or nonprofits.:

• Shared hosting from $2.99/month
• VPS hosting from $39.99/month
• Dedicated hosting from $105.99/month
• Reseller hosting from $17.99/month
• Managed WordPress hosting from $11.99/month

These are promotional rates valid for the length of your chosen billing period. Once you move onto a new billing cycle, the prices will rise to the standard rates.

The anytime money-back guarantee applies to all plans. Try for as long as you need, risk-free.

A2 Hosting Vs DreamHost

A2 Hosting can’t be matched for speed and reliability, but the buzz kill is that you only get access to its turbo-speed hosting capabilities by paying for the higher-priced plans. The anytime money-back guarantee from A2 is also pretty sweet.

If we compare the cheaper plans, there’s not much in it, although DreamHost costs less than A2 Hosting.

Ultimately, if you don’t mind paying extra for those ultra-fast speeds, go with A2 Hosting. If you want a cheap and cheerful plan with lots of unlimited features, DreamHost definitely wins here.

Visit the A2 Hosting website here… or go and check out my 2024 review of A2 Hosting

6. HostGator: Best for Total Beginners

One of the most easily recognized and familiar brand names out there in the hosting world.

With good reason too. HostGator has been online since 2002 and is by far the largest hosting provider, with over eight million websites on its books.

HostGator likes to keep things simple. You won’t find dazzling features and technical tools here. What you will find is a reliable, and simple hosting provider at a low price. And, if that’s all you need, you can’t go wrong with HostGator.

Because of its simplicity, HostGator is an especially good option if you’re a beginner at hosting. On the other hand, if you’re planning to scale, you may prefer a different provider.

HostGator also promises a 99.9% uptime and features a generous 30-day money-back guarantee and a free domain.

HostGator Main Features

While you won’t find any bells and whistles here, HostGator’s features are solid:

• 30-day money-back guarantee with all plans.
• Free domain for the first year with all plans.
• Guaranteed 99.9% uptime.
• Free website migration service.
• Intuitive and easy dashboard and controls.
• Unlimited and unmetered web traffic on all plans.
• Unlimited storage on all plans.
• 1-click installation for WordPress included.
• Speedy web loading speeds.
• Training center included for all subscribers.
• 24/7 live customer support team.
• Simple drag-and-drop web-building tool.
• Free SSL certificate.

HostGator Price Plans

HostGator has a wide array of hosting options, all with low introductory rates:

• Shared hosting from $3.75/month
• WordPress hosting from $6.25/month
• Dedicated server hosting from $89.98/month
• VPS hosting from $23.95/month
• Reseller hosting from $19.95/mont

These are promotional rates valid for the length of your chosen billing period. Once you move onto a new billing cycle, the prices will rise to the standard rates.

The 30-day money-back guarantee is included with all HostGator plans.

HostGator Vs DreamHost

HostGator and DreamHost are quite similar in terms of what they both offer. They’re reliable and secure and boast a range of unlimited features, even on the cheapest plans.

Therefore, it all comes down to the speed and performance of each service. And, in this respect, HostGator Hatchling comes out on top.

What I will say, though, is that HostGator is pretty poor in terms of its customer support response times. I was often found waiting for over an hour to get a reply to my message. DreamHost, on the other hand, is a lot better with quick replies.

It’s a close call. If you want low prices and decent performance, go for HostGator, but if you want good quality customer service, choose DreamHost.

Visit the HostGator website here… or go and check out my 2024 review of HostGator

7. Scala Hosting: Best for Managed VPS Services

Scala was established in 2007, but it is still a relatively small US-based hosting provider. Currently, it hosts 700,000 websites on its servers, so while it’s not as mighty as DreamHost and other big players, it still manages to pack in the features.

What makes Scala hosting shine is its over-generous range of unlimited features available on the lowest-priced plan. For example, you get a free domain, unlimited emails, databases, and bandwidth. Oh, and a daily data backup is thrown in for good measure.

If you want managed VPS hosting, then you won’t do better than Scala. With a list of features as long as my arm and includes unlimited everything (mostly), priority support, and SEO analysis, you’ll know your websites are in capable hands.

Scala Hosting Features

So many good features here to choose from. However, here are my top ones:

• 99.9% guaranteed uptime.
• 30-day money-back guarantee for new clients.
• Free domain on all plans for the first year.
• Unlimited emails, databases, and bandwidth on ALL plans.
• 1-click WordPress installer.
• Comprehensive and unbeatable managed cloud VPS hosting.
• Free SSL certificate.
• Regular free data backup service.
• Free website migration service.
• Award-winning 24/7 customer service and support.
• SS Shield Cyber security is on all but the cheapest plan.
• Industry-leading performance and speed.

Scala Price Plans

Scala Hosting has you covered with a decent range of price plans. The managed hosting option is exceptionally good value:

• Shared hosting from $2.95/month
• Managed cloud VPS from $29.95/month
• WordPress hosting from $2.95/month

These are promotional rates valid for the length of your chosen billing period. Once you move onto a new billing cycle, the prices will rise to the standard rates.

The 30-day money-back guarantee is for all new clients on any plan.

Scala Hosting Vs DreamHost

Scala has a really excellent managed VPS plan, so if you want all the bells, whistles, support, and help possible, Scala offers this at a very attractive price.

But, this level of service isn’t required by everyone, particularly small businesses and individuals.

If you want just a basic, no-frills hosting service, then I’d always recommend DreamHost over Scala. But, if you like the sound of managed hosting, Scala’s plans excel in this area.

Visit the ScalaHosting website here… or go and check out my 2024 review of Scala Hosting

8. ChemiCloud: Best for Customer Support

ChemiCloud prides itself on its ability to provide winning customer support to all its customers. And, since it was founded in 2016, it has certainly achieved a reputation for just that.

Along with a reliable and decent hosting platform, ChemiCloud has instant reply live chat and if its reviews are anything to go by, the team is incredibly responsive, friendly, and helpful.

Along with top-rated support, ChemiCloud provides a free domain on all plans, a 99.9% uptime guarantee, and a 45-day money-back guarantee. Despite being a fairly new company, it certainly ticks a lot of boxes.

ChemiCloud Main Features

ChemiCloud understands what its customers want. You won’t find any fancy extras here, but everything ChemiCloud provides is high-quality:

• 45-day money-back guarantee for all its subscribers.
• 24.7, 365-day friendly and helpful customer support team.
• Free daily backup service on all plans.
• Unlimited bandwidth on each plan.
• Free website migration service.
• Free SSL certificate.
• Free domain on all plans (first year only).
• Over 350 free website templates.
• Servers powered by LiteSpeed technology.
• Drag and drop website builder included.
• Global server locations.
• Unlimited email accounts on all plans.

ChemiCloud Price Plans

ChemiCloud has a plentiful selection of plans available. However, there is no dedicated server option here.

The 45-day money-back guarantee applies to all plans:

• Shared hosting from $2.99/month
• WordPress hosting from $2.99/month
• Reseller hosting from $10.48/month
• Cloud VPS hosting from $29.95/month

These are promotional rates valid for the length of your chosen billing period. Once you move onto a new billing cycle, the prices will rise to the standard rates.

ChemiCloud Vs DreamHost

If stellar customer service and assistance are important to you, then you’re in the right place. ChemiCloud has the best of the best when it comes to providing support, at least in my experience.

That’s not to say that DreamHost’s support service isn’t decent. It is. It just isn’t as good as ChemiCloud.

But, and it is a big but, ChemiCloud is a lot pricier than DreamHost. Is the premium customer service worth the extra cost? That’s for you to decide.

Visit the ChemiCloud website here… or go and check out my 2024 review of ChemiCloud

9. HostArmada: Best for Regular Data Backup

HostArmada is the newest hosting service on this list. Launched in 2019, it’s already made its way onto multiple “best of” lists across the internet. And, considering the competition out there, that’s no small feat.

What sets HostArmada apart is that all its hosting plans are cloud-based. Furthermore, even the cheapest plan has no less than seven daily backups.

On the higher plans, you get even more. This feature is completely unmatched by other hosting platforms since they offer only one backup per day.

HostArmada has thought about its novice users too. With an extensive training center and a 45-day money-back guarantee, you have plenty of time and resources to see if you like the service.

HostArmada Main Features

Despite being the new kid on the block, HostArmada has already racked up an impressive amount of features:

• 45-day money-back guarantee for all users.
• Guaranteed 99,9% uptime.
• At least seven daily data backups.
• Free website migration service.
• The free web domain for the first year on all plans.
• Zero cancellation fees should you decide to leave.
• Free SSL certificate.
• 1-click installation for WordPress sites.
• Drag and drop website building tool.
• Comprehensive training resources for new users.
• 24/7 live customer care and support team.

HostArmada Price Plans

All of HostArmada’s cloud-based plans are available at different price points. Choose between:

• Shared hosting from $2.99/month
• Dedicated server hosting from $111.75/month
• Reseller hosting from $19.09/month
• Cloud VPS hosting from $41.21/month

These are promotional rates valid for the length of your chosen billing period. Once you move onto a new billing cycle, the prices will rise to the standard rates.

You can have peace of mind with the  45-day money-back guarantee for all plans.

HostArmada Vs DreamHost

Like the Spanish Armada, I don’t think it’s going to be long before HostArmada blows the competition out of the water. Great performance, great features, and at a very attractive price. 

The multiple daily backups are enough to convince me that HostArmada is worth choosing over DreamHost, and I also really like the training center. It’s perfect for novice users.

You may be nervous about choosing HostArmada as it’s such a new provider, but I say go for it. With a 45-day money-back guarantee, what do you have to lose?

Visit the HostArmada website here… or go and check out my 2024 review of HostArmada

10. NameHero: Best for Managed Cloud Hosting

NameHero is another recent addition to the hosting scene. It currently has 30,000 websites hosted on its servers, so there’s plenty of room for it to grow. Currently, its servers are located in the US and Netherlands only.

Like HostArmada, NameHero’s hosting options are also cloud-based, providing a faster, more reliable service. NameHero also has very reasonably priced managed cloud hosting, so if you prefer to be more hands-off, this could be a great option.

Customer service is available 24/7, however, current reviews state that NameHero is lacking in this department. As the company matures, hopefully, it will improve in this area.

One nice feature worth mentioning is the website builder. You can try it out for free without subscribing to a plan.

NameHero Main Features

Lots of the features are unlimited with NameHero, which is a nice bonus:

• 30-day money-back guarantee for all users.
• 99.9% guaranteed uptime promise.
• Unlimited SSD storage for all plans.
• Unlimited email accounts on all plans.
• Unlimited monthly bandwidth for all plans.
• 100% cloud-based storage.
• Nightly and weekly data backups are included as standard.
• Free website migration service.
• Free website builder whether you’re a subscriber or not.
• Free machine learning security and SSL certificate.
• 24/7, 365 live customer support and website monitoring.
• Up to 20x faster speeds compared to other hosting providers.
• 1-click WordPress installation.

NameHero Price Plans

As NameHero is still a small service, it only has three different hosting options to choose from:

• Shared cloud hosting from $4.48/month
• Reseller hosting from $20.68/month
• Managed cloud hosting from $16.78/month

These are promotional rates valid for the length of your chosen billing period. Once you move onto a new billing cycle, the prices will rise to the standard rates.

The 30-day money-back guarantee applies to all types of subscriptions.

NameHero Vs DreamHost

The key difference between the two providers here is that NameHero has its head 100% in the clouds. That’s a good thing though, particularly if you want a purely cloud-based hosting platform.

NameHero’s website builder is a fantastic feature as you don’t need an account or subscription to use it. As far as I know, this is unique to NameHero and not available with any other hosting provider.

In terms of other features, both NameHero and DreamHost are fairly closely matched, so it all comes down to whether or not you want your data in the cloud. If you do, choose NameHero.

Visit the NameHero website here… or go and check out my 2024 review of NameHero

Worst Web Hosts (Stay Away!)

There are a lot of web hosting providers out there, and it can be hard to know which ones to avoid. That’s why we’ve put together a list of the worst web hosting services in 2024, so you can know which companies to steer clear of.

1. PowWeb

PowWeb is an affordable web host that offers an easy way to launch your first website. On paper, they offer everything you need to launch your first site: a free domain name, unlimited disk space, a one-click install for WordPress, and a control panel.

PowWeb offers only one web plan for their web hosting service. This might look good to you if you’re building your first website. After all, they offer unlimited disk space and have no limits for bandwidth.

But there are strict fair-usage limits on server resources. This means, if your website all of a sudden gets a huge surge in traffic after going viral on Reddit, PowWeb will shut it down! Yes, that happens! Shared web hosting providers who lure you in with cheap prices shut your website down as soon as it gets a small surge in traffic. And when that happens, with other web hosts, you can simply upgrade your plan, but with PowWeb, there’s no other higher plan.

Read more

I would only recommend going with PowWeb if you’re just starting and are building your first website. But even if that’s the case, other web hosts offer affordable monthly plans. With other web hosts, you might need to pay a dollar more every month, but you won’t have to sign up for an annual plan, and you’ll get better service.

One of the only redeeming features of this web host is its cheap price, but to get that price you’ll need to pay upfront for 12 months or more. One thing I do like about this web host is that you get unlimited disk space, unlimited mailboxes (email addresses), and no supposed bandwidth limits.

But it doesn’t matter how many things PowWeb does right, there are just too many poor 1 and 2-star reviews plastered all over the internet about how terrible this service is. All those reviews make PowWeb look like a horror show!

If you are looking for a good web host, I would highly recommend looking elsewhere. Why not go with a web host that’s not still living in the year 2002? Not only does its website look ancient, it still uses Flash on some of its pages. Browsers dropped support for Flash years ago.

PowWeb’s pricing is cheaper than a lot of other web hosts, but it also doesn’t offer as much as those other web hosts. First of all, PowWeb’s service isn’t scalable. They only have one plan. Other web hosts have multiple plans to make sure you can scale your website with just one click. They also have great support.

Web hosts like SiteGround and Bluehost are known for their customer support. Their teams help you out with anything and everything when your website breaks down. I’ve been building websites for the last 10 years, and there’s no way I would ever recommend PowWeb to anyone for any use case. Stay away!

2. FatCow

For an affordable price of $4.08 per month, FatCow offers unlimited disk space, unlimited bandwidth, a website builder, and unlimited email addresses on your domain name. Now, of course, there are fair-usage limits. But this pricing is only available if you go for a term longer than 12 months.

Although the pricing seems affordable at a first glance, be aware that their renewal prices are much higher than the price you sign up for. FatCow charges more than twice the sign-up price when you renew your plan. If you want to save money, it would be a good idea to go for an annual plan to lock in the cheaper sign-up price for the first year.

But why would you? FatCow may not be the worst web host in the market, but they are also not the best. For the same price, you can get web hosting that offers even better support, faster server speeds, and more scalable service.

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One thing I don’t like or understand about FatCow is that they only have one plan. And even though this plan seems to be enough for someone who’s just starting, it doesn’t seem like a good idea for any serious business owner.

No serious business owner would think that a plan that is suitable for a hobby site is a good idea for their business. Any web host that sells “unlimited” plans is lying. They hide behind legal jargon that enforces dozens and dozens of limits on how many resources your website can use.

So, It begs the question: who is this plan or this service designed for? If it’s not for serious business owners, then is it just for hobbyists and people building their first website? 

One good thing about FatCow is that they offer you a free domain name for the first year. The customer support may not be the best available but is better than some of their competitors. There’s also a 30-day money-back guarantee in case you decide you’re done with FatCow within the first 30 days.

Another good thing about FatCow is that they offer an affordable plan for WordPress websites. If you’re a fan of WordPress, there might be something for you in FatCow’s WordPress plans. They are built on top of the regular plan but with some basic features that might be helpful for a WordPress site. Same as the regular plan, you get unlimited disk space, bandwidth, and email addresses. You also get a free domain name for the first year.

If you are looking for a reliable, scalable web host for your business, I wouldn’t recommend FatCow unless they wrote me a million-dollar check. Look, I am not saying they are the worst. Far from it! FatCow may be suitable for some use cases, but if you are serious about growing your business online, I can’t recommend this web host. Other web hosts might cost a dollar or two more every month but offer a lot more features and are much more suitable if you run a “serious” business.

3. Netfirms

Netfirms is a shared web host that caters to small businesses. They used to be a giant in the industry and were one of the highest web hosts.

If you look at their history, Netfirms used to be a great web host. But they are no longer what they used to be. They got acquired by a giant web hosting company, and now their service no longer seems competitive. And their pricing is just outrageous. You can find better web hosting services for much cheaper prices.

If you still believe for some reason that Netfirms might be worth a try, just look at all the horrible reviews about their service on the internet. According to the dozens of 1-star reviews I’ve skimmed, their support is terrible, and the service has been going downhill ever since they got acquired.

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Most Netfirms reviews you’ll read all start the same way. They praise how good Netfirms was about a decade ago, and then they go on to talk about how the service is now a dumpster fire!

If you take a look at Netfirms’ offerings, you’ll notice that they are designed for beginners who are just getting started with building their first website. But even if that’s the case, there are better web hosts that cost less and offer more features.

One good thing about Netfirms plans is how generous they all are. You get unlimited storage, unlimited bandwidth, and unlimited email accounts. You also get a free domain name. But all these features are common when it comes to Shared Hosting. Almost all shared web hosting providers offer “unlimited” plans.

Other than their Shared Web Hosting plans, Netfirms also offer Website Builder plans. It offers a simple drag-and-drop interface to build your website. But their basic starter plan limits you to only 6 pages. How generous! The templates are also really outdated.

If you’re looking for an easy website builder, I wouldn’t recommend Netfirms. Many website builders on the market are much more powerful and offer a lot more features. Some of them are even cheaper…

If you want to install WordPress, they offer an easy one-click solution to install it but they don’t have any plans that are optimized and designed specifically for WordPress sites. Their starter plan costs $4.95 a month but only allows one website. Their competitors allow unlimited websites for that same price.

The only reason I can think of to host my website with Netfirms is if I was being held hostage. Their pricing doesn’t seem real to me. It’s outdated and is much higher when compared to other web hosts. Not only that, their cheap prices are only introductory. That means you’ll need to pay much higher renewal prices after the first term. The renewal prices are twice the introductory sign-up prices. Stay away!

What is DreamHost?

DreamHost is an old faithful in the hosting service industry. It’s been around for more than 20 years and has amassed a very respectable 1.5 million websites hosted on its platform.

Having had so long to perfect its offering, you can be sure that DreamHost hits the spot in almost every way.

From a 100% guaranteed uptime, 24/7 live support, and one of the easiest and most intuitive interfaces to get to grips with, DreamHost is well, a dream to use right from the get-go.

DreamHost is additionally one of the three hosting providers that WordPress endorses, so you can be sure you’ll be well looked after if you use WordPress. Plus, with their DreamPress hosting plans, WordPress comes preinstalled, so you don’t waste any time getting started.

For the cherry on the cake, a whopping 97-day money-back guarantee gives you plenty of opportunity to try out the service with no risk.

While DreamHost is for everyone, it is particularly great for bloggers, freelancers, and startups. This is mainly due to the platform’s ease of use and attractive prices.

Plans & Prices

There is a wide range of price plans available, including managed WordPress and dedicated server hosting. All include a 97-day zero-risk money-back guarantee:

• Shared hosting from $2.59/month
• DreamPress hosting from $63.95/month

These are promotional rates valid for the length of your chosen billing period. Once you move onto a new billing cycle, the prices will rise to the standard rates.

Pros and Cons

While DreamHost certainly has its fair share of benefits, there are a couple of downsides to be aware of too.

DreamHost Pros

• 97-day zero-risk money-back guarantee
• Cheap month-to-month web hosting
• WordPress preinstalled
• 24/7 unlimited live chat support
• 100% uptime guarantee
• Custom control panel
• Unlimited traffic
• Endorsed by WordPress
• Free domain for the first year on all plans
• 1-click software installation
• Unlimited data storage, bandwidth, MySQL databases, and subdomains

DreamHost Cons

• A lot of DreamHost’s features come with an additional cost.
• Optimized WordPress hosting costs extra.
• There are often long wait times for a customer support response.
• The control panel isn’t as intuitive as other hosting platforms.

Are There Any Downsides to DreamHost?

Honestly, this provider is so good it’s hard to find any issues with the service. There is, however, one slight downside to the month-to-month payments option.

DreamHost offers a free domain to users paying upfront for a one or two-year shared plan or an annual paid DreamPress plan. A free domain is sadly not available on monthly payment options.

Visit the DreamHost website here… or go and check out my 2024 review of DreamHost

Our Verdict ⭐

DreamHost remains a solid, dependable hosting option that I’ve relied on for years. However, the hosting landscape has evolved, and there are now several compelling alternatives worth considering, depending on your specific needs.

In my experience managing dozens of websites, SiteGround has consistently outperformed DreamHost, particularly in terms of speed and overall performance. I’ve seen page load times improve by up to 40% after migrating client sites from DreamHost to SiteGround. Their server response times are consistently under 200ms, which is crucial for SEO and user experience.

That said, SiteGround might not be the ideal choice for everyone. For instance, I’ve found Bluehost to be more budget-friendly for small personal blogs, while WP Engine offers superior performance for high-traffic WordPress sites willing to invest more in their hosting.

Carefully consider your specific hosting requirements before making a decision. Think about factors like expected traffic, technical support needs, and budget constraints. Most providers offer money-back guarantees, typically ranging from 30 to 90 days. I recommend taking advantage of these trial periods to test different hosts and see which one best suits your needs. In my testing, I’ve found that real-world performance can vary significantly from advertised specs, so hands-on experience is invaluable.

How We Review Web Hosts: Our Methodology

When we review web hosts, our evaluation is based on these criteria:

1. Value for Money: What types of web hosting plans are on offer, and are they good value for money?
2. User Friendliness: How user-friendly is the signup process, the onboarding, the dashboard? and so on.
3. Customer Support: When we need help, how quickly can we get it, and is the support effective and helpful?
4. Hosting Features: What unique features does the web host provide, and how do they stack up against competitors?
5. Security: Are essential security measures like SSL certificates, DDoS protection, backup services, and malware/virus scans included?
6. Speed and Uptime: Is the hosting service fast and reliable? What types of servers do they use, and how do they perform in tests?

For more details on our review process, click here.