What Are The Best File Hosting Solutions?

File sharing is one of the oldest practices that came with the dawn of the Internet. If you are looking for a way to share files to your friends, then the easiest and fastest way to do so is to upload the file into a file hosting site. It doesn’t matter what type of file it is, whether it is a movie, music, software, documents, a file hosting site can accommodate your hosting needs. Here at PixelPoke, we know that it is not easy to find a file hosting site that’s best for you. So we took the liberty of researching the best file hosting found in the Internet. These are both free and paid file hosting solutions.

Paid File Hosting Sites

It is worth noting that uploading to these file sharing sites can earn you a good amount of money if someone downloads the file that you have uploaded. Although mostly it is only applicable if you purchased a premium account.

Paid File Host	Features	Upgrade	Action
	Up to 5GB Upload Free Unlimited Storage Unlimited Downloads	$9.00 / 30 days	Visit Website
	Maximum Download Speeds Up to 2GB Upload Unlimited Parallel Downloads	$9.99 / 30 days	Visit Website
	No Download Limit Unlimited File Size Highest Download Speed	$9.99 / 30 days	Visit Website

FileSonic

Filesonic is formerly known as SharingMatrix.com. If you want the best download speeds with no limitations, then you owe it to yourself to get a premium account. FileSonic offers great speed when it comes to downloading, whether it is a small or huge sized file. Payouts are handed to me every Thursday and they are always on time. Customer support is also very friendly and helpful. FileSonic is definitely one of the paid best file hosting solution in the market.

Overview:

• Great Uploading Service
• Excellent Customer Support
• Reliable File Hosting
• Payouts are always on time
• Great Promotions

FileServe

Over the years, you can definitely the growth of FileServe. It is arguably one of the most popular hosting solution in the Internet. People just seem to love downloading from FileServe. The free account that’s offered by FileServe is somehow very limited, with only about 1GB of data allowed. In addition to that, the waiting time is simply unbearable. This is quite a downer for free users. Fortunately their premium account is one of the best in the business. If you are a free user, then you might want to look elsewhere. But if you are to avail a premium account, then FileServe is definitely for you.

Overview:

• Pays on time with a minimum of $20
• PayPal, WebMoney and Alertpay are supported
• Offers download manager tools
• Great Features for Premium Accounts
• Highly Popular

MegaUpload

Megaupload is probably one of the oldest file hosting site to this day. And this can be a testament to their service. Uploading your files in Megaupload is quite very easy. Choose the file that you want to upload, check your desired options and upload. After the upload, you will be seeing the link for your uploaded file. Downloading from Megaupload can be quite a pain though, and downloaders can be limited based on their IP, which is a huge drawback.

Overview:

• Very popular among downloaders
• You can only earn from them if you are a premium member
• SSL Secured
• Provides file backups
• Up to 2GB upload allowed per upload

Free File Host	Features	Price	Action
	100% Free Up to 200MB per File No Signup	FREE	Visit Website
	Unlimited Storage 200MB File Max File Manager	FREE	Visit Website
	5GB Max Upload 1 Click Hosting No Signup	FREE	Visit Website

Zippyshare

At first glance, upload limit of Zippyshare isn’t all that impressive. Which is why I won’t recommend using it for uploading large files. But when it comes to small file sizes such as music and documents, then you can’t go wrong with Zippyshare. There is no registration and no sign-ups, you can upload your file right away and they  will host it for you forever (as long as the file doesn’t go inactive for 30 days). And the best thing is, you do not even have to wait for an annoying countdown before you can download.

Overview:

• Great for small files, not recommended for large file sizes
• Fast Download Speed
• File Life: 30 days after no activity.
• 200MB Max Upload
• Files are available for download 24/7

MediaFire

It is hard to argue with the popularity of MediaFire, it is not only one of the most popular file hosting sites, but it also considered to be one of the most popular websites in the world. Hosting a file requires no registration, although you can create an account that enables manage, update and organize the files that you have uploaded. MediaFire is simply one of the best free file hosting solutions around.

Overview:

• Users can create free account
• Drag and drop file management
• Unlimited Storage Space
• Unlimited Number of Downloads
• Can Upgrade Account to MediaFire Pro

File Dropper

Talk about keeping things very simple. One look at File Dropper’s website and you will have an idea at just how this particular file hosting loves simplicity. As for me, I love it. File Dropper will host your files for as long as it is active within 30 days, if not, the files are deleted. The most impressive thing about File Dropper is definitely the maximum file size for uploads, which is a whopping 5 GB. Fast upload / download speeds, no waiting time, minimal advertising, ridiculously high upload limit, File Dropper is definitely one of the best free file hosting solution.

Overview:

• 5GB Maximum Upload Size
• No Registration Required
• Extremely Simple Interface
• No Waiting Time During Downloads
• Can Upgrade to Premium Account

What’s The Best Image Hosting Sites?

Hosting images from your own server is simply not an option for some bloggers, especially if you do not have a web hosting account. Even if you do have a hosting account, uploading images to your own server can consume a lot of system resources and it can cause slowdown to your website. In addition to that, there is also the problem with limited bandwidth. So here we are to recommended to you the best image hosting sites this side of the Internet, both free and paid.

Paid Image Host	Features	Upgrade	Action
	Multiple Photo Sizes Themed Pages/Packages Social Networking Uploading	Pro: $3.95/mo	Visit Website
	Multiple Photo Sizes Customizable URL Video Uploads	Unlimited: $8.00/mo	Visit Website
	Photo Editor Video Uploads Social Networking Uploading	Pro: $24.95/yr	Visit Website

Photobucket

Photobucket is one of the oldest image hosting sites in the planet. With over 46 million site visitors per month worldwide, it is no doubt that it is also one of the most popular. It offers both free and paid accounts, where the latter is provided with more bandwidth. It gives the user the ability to post, share and link their images with relative ease. Photobucket is very easy use with lots of options on uploading and manipulating images.

Pros

• User friendly interface
• Easy Uploading
• Multiple Photo Sizes
• Ability to create album and make them private
• Allows Free and Paid Accounts

Cons

• Excessive advertising on free accounts
• Confusing Sign-up procedure
• Only one account per email

ImageShack

Yet another popular image hosting site in the Internet, and it is certainly one of the fastest growing. Founded in 2003, ImageShack has grown to be one of the premier image hosting site which is used by millions of people. ImageShack is known for the intuitiveness and ease of use of their user interface. One can upload as many files as they want and direct linking is also possible. Offers both free and unlimited accounts.

Pros

• Intuitive and easy to use interface
• Upload Multiple Files
• Multiple Photo Sizes
• Supports Video Upload
• Offers both free and paid accounts

Cons

• Excessive advertising on free accounts
• Doesn’t offer print options

Flickr

Most photo enthusiasts love to use Flickr to host their images. It’s popularity can be attributed to the fact that they offer free accounts and it is extremely easy to use. Flickr’s interface is not only streamlined and intuitive, it also looks good. Flickr provides a variety of option for users to sort, categorize and tag their images. Flickr also has an online store where you can purchase gifts and photo prints.

Pros

• Attractive and easy to use interface
• Lots of options for organizing and tagging images
• Images can be incorporated into blogs, social networking sites and so on.
• Offers both free and paid accounts

Cons

• Storage can be very limited unless you upgrade
• No Multiple Photo Sizes

Free Image Host	Features	Price	Action
	No Signup 100% Free No Hassle Interface	FREE	Visit Website
	Supports Video Upload No Signups 100% Free	FREE	Visit Website
	100% Free Photo Editing Tools Link to Social Accounts	FREE	Visit Website

Imgur

Finding the right free image hosting site can be quite a daunting task. When it comes to that, one hosting site is currently becoming quite popular. Simplicity is the name of the game with Imgur. Imgur probably is one of the hosting site that provides the most simple interface when it comes to uploading photos. Imgur supports most image format such as JPEG, GIF, PNG, APNG, TIFF, BMP, XCF (Gimp) and even PDF. It also has a built-in basic image editor that you can use after you’re done uploading.

Pros

• Very User Friendly Interface
• Fast and Easy Uploading
• Unlimited Image Upload
• No Traffic Limits

Cons

• Supports a limited variety of image format 

TinyPic

TinyPic is a known favorite by many bloggers and affiliate marketers. You can use TinyPic to upload both your images and videos to your social networking account, blog, ebay and so on. No need to sign-up with TinyPic before you can start uploading photos, so that’s a major convenience. TinyPic also provides basic resizing tools for your image uploads. The interface is user friendly and the uploading process is basically hassle-free.

Pros

• No Sign-ups needed
• Totally Free
• Easy to Use Interface
• Supports Video Uploads

Cons

• Supports a limited variety of image format 

Pictiger

Another reliable and free image hosting solution for you. Pictiger’s interface is indeed a no-nonsense one. You will see an upload and search function. Upload, for uploading your image files and start sharing them. Search, for searching photos that are uploaded by other users. This no-nonsense approach makes Pictiger as one of the best image hosting site out there. Offers basic image editing and tagging tools and it is 100% free. Highly Recommended.

Pros

• Easy to Use Interface
• Photos can be linked to social networking account
• Host of features for editing and tagging images
• Image Search Function

Cons

• Requires Signup

There you have it. If you are looking for a good image hosting site for your website of blog, then you can’t go wrong with the ones that we have listed above. Happy Hosting!!

What are Your Top Rated Options for WordPress Web Host?

If you have had experience having a blog, then you probably have an idea what WordPress is. WordPress is currently considered to be one of the most widely used blogging / CMS (Content Management System) platform in the world. If you are looking for the best provider to host your WordPress site, then we can surely help you with that. The following are WordPress host providers that receives our highest recommendations, you can’t go wrong with either of them:

WordPress Web Host	Features	Price	Action
	Unlimited Space 99.9% Uptime 1-CLICK Script Installs	$3.96/mo	Read Review Order Now
	Unlimited Space Unlimited Domains $75 Google Credits	$5.95/mo	Read Review Order Now
	Unlimited Space Unlimited Domains Courtesy Site Backups	$6.95/mo	Read Review Order Now
	Unlimited Space Unlimited Domains Free Site Builder	$4.45/mo	Read Review Order Now
	Unlimited Bandwidth Unlimited Transfer Free Ad Credits	$4.99/mo	Read Review Order Now

So Which is the Best WordPress Web Hosting?

Deciding which is the best WordPress hosting was actually quite tough since each of the hosts that are listed above are excellent in their own way, but we ultimately give it to BlueHost. It seems that BlueHost was created in order to specifically cater towards WordPress sites. BlueHost offers many features that makes WordPress hosting more convenient and easy such as SimpleScripts and Fantastico. We simply had the best experience with BlueHost in terms of reliability and ease when it comes to hosting a WordPress site.

Visit Bluehost’s website if you require more information about its hosting plan and features. For our review of Bluehost, please go here.

WordPress Web Hosting Overview – BlueHost

Pros

• High Uptime Record
• Offers VPS Level Security
• 24/7 Network Monitoring
• Anytime Money-Back Guarantee
• Secure Shell, SSL, FTP, Stats

Cons

• Lack of flexibility with payment plans
• No Upgrade Options

WordPress Web Hosting Evaluation – BlueHost

Performance and Reliability

BlueHost offers a guarantee of 99.9% network uptime. Based on my experience, I hardly experience any downtime at all. And if there are, those are usually planned downtimes due to maintenance reasons. So I can say that BlueHost delivered what they promised. As for performance, my WordPress site loads quite fast with no problems, so nothing much to say here but good job for BlueHost.

Price Value

Quite honestly, I’m not a fan of Bluehost’s payment plans. For a minimum of one year contract, you will be required to pay $7.95 a month. If you want a dollar more in savings, then you will need to avail of their 2 year package. Aside from that, I think BlueHost’s pricing for their plan is pretty competitive, not too cheap, not too expensive. It’s a good price to pay for a good WordPress hosting service.

Support

I rarely had any difficulties or problems with the hosting service of BlueHost, so I didn’t get that much chance to test out their customer service. But based on my limited exposure to their customer support, I have to say that the support staff is quite very helpful, friendly and most importantly, knowledgeable. The response time was fast, as I didn’t need t wait that long before I was attended to, which is another good sign. All in all, there is simply nothing bad to say about BlueHost’s customer and technical support.

Accessibility

Based on the performance and features that are offered by BlueHost, I can definitely say that it is highly compatible with WordPress. Features that enables the user to easily administer all the aspects of WordPress. BlueHost offers a nifty script called Fantastico which lets you install plugins, addons and scripts into WordPress in a single click. BlueHost also provides an easy to navigate and use control panel which is great for beginners.

Guide to Choosing the Best WordPress Hosting

WordPress is a great blogging / CMS platform that offers a variety of advantages such as flexibility and scalability, easy installation, support for plugins and addons, low learning curve and so on. But such benefits can only be fully realized if you host it on the best WordPress hosting provider. Choosing a web hosting provider for WordPress sites is no easy task, which is why we are here to provide you with guidelines that will help you make that decision.

Which Web Hosting: Linux or Windows?

Now this depends on your personal preference of operating system. Back in the days, if you are going to use WordPress, it is highly recommended that you go with Linux hosting. But today is not the case anymore. WordPress installation on a Windows server is now possible because they finally added WordPress to their Web App Gallery. As it is mentioned before, this criteria all comes down to your personal preference.

Server Reliability

A good uptime record is a definite requirement to any sort of web hosting, whether you will be using WordPress or not. As a general rule of the thumb, never settle with anything less than 99.95% uptime. Downtimes are costly, which is especially true if you operate a high traffic WordPress website. Never take the word of the web hosting companies themselves. You can always check a web hosting provider’s uptime record through online uptime monitoring websites.

Customer and Technical Support

While it is indeed not that hard to setup a WordPress site, it doesn’t mean that you won’t run into some problems. I know I did. So in such cases, it is always nice to know that there is a support staff that can aid you with your problems. Fast response time, friendly and courteous and knowledgeable are the main qualities that you should be looking for in a customer support staff. Before you sign-up with a particular web host, you can test their customer support staff by calling them and ask about technical issues.

User Reviews and Feedback

Reading user reviews and feedback gives you a great idea if past clients have been satisfied with a web hosting company’s service or not. These are experiences of real users not paid or biased reviews. Just type in a web hosting provider’s name into Google search and you will surely find user reviews and feedbacks. In addition to that, you can also visit forums and web hosting reviews sites for honest evaluations of many web hosting companies.

What is WordPress?

Released in May 2003, WordPress is an extremely popular open source blogging platform that is powered by PHP and MySQL. Over time it was also customized to act as a Content Management System. WordPress is known for being easy to use and for its great number of features such as its template system and plug-in architecture. About 14% of the biggest website in the world is using WordPress.

Why WordPress Hosting?

WordPress is popular for many reasons. Millions and millions of people are utilizing blogging as a way to deliver news, message and stories into the Interwebs, which partly explains that extreme popularity of WordPress. But for your WordPress site to be at its best, a high standard hosting service is necessary.

Some people like to use the WordPress.com hosting service which is free but very limited in features. The features that are offered with such a free hosting solution are might be enough for a personal or hobby website, but other than that, it is simply not recommended.

With WordPress hosting, you will be able to have access to benefits such as custom WordPress themes, plugins, scripts, multiple websites, server virtualization and so on. While WordPress hosting is a paid hosting solution, the industry is so competitive that prices have become more affordable.

One of the key element that could determine an individual’s success in the world of web hosting is to know the right type of web hosting service that his website needs. There are in fact, many different types of web hosting services, and each type caters to many different levels of needs that largely depends on the website itself. Choosing the wrong web hosting type can mean a lot of hassles and headaches, so it is important that you are aware what your website needs in terms of web hosting. With quite a number of options to choose, it is easy to be left confused or overwhelmed especially if you are a beginner in web hosting. This guide will introduce you to the many different types of web hosting and I will also cite each type’s pros and cons.

The following are some of the most common types of web hosting that’s available in the market:
- Free Hosting
- Shared Hosting
- Virtual Private Server (VPS) Hosting
- Dedicated Web Hosting

Free Hosting

Ah, the good ol’ free hosting. During the earlier days of the Internet, free web hosting was quite very popular, plentiful and unlike these days, it was actually packed with features. But as the years go by, the online advertising market, which was commonly a primary source of income for many free web host providers, has experienced a slowdown. And the web hosting scene has took the hit and free web host providers have either forced to stop their operation or switched to a paid business model.

Pros:

Of course, the most obvious advantage of using a free web host is that it costs absolutely nothing. While it may not be as feature packed as paid hosting, there are free hosts that provide basic features like scripting and databases. Free hosting is a great choice for beginners who wants an entry point into the world of web hosting. It is a great way to learn about web hosting without having to spend anything. In addition, it is also ideal for small, low traffic websites such as personal sites, hobby sites and start-up businesses.

Cons:

Well since it is free, you can’t really expect much from this type of web hosting. Free web hosts are not reliable to offer any uptime guarantees. So if they go down, you will have no choice but to grin and bear it. So you can’t really expect anything from a free host in terms of reliability. Also, free web hosts are more likely to bombard your website with loads of advertising in the form of banners, pop-ups, flash ads and so on. This can be a huge drawback if you are running a business website.

Overview

• Costs absolutely nothing
• Good option for new webmasters
• Limited resources and features
• Loads of advertising

Shared Hosting

Shared hosting is the most common type of web hosting that’s being utilized today. As its name implies, your website basically shares a single server with other websites. The web hosting company’s role is manage the hardware, software and ensure that the server is up at all times. Subscribers does not have any form of control over the servers, but they have full control of the website that’s hosted through a provided control panel.

Pros:

In terms of paid hosting solution, shared web hosting is probably the most affordable and the most accessible which is one of the reasons why it is very popular. And since you are actually paying for something, shared hosting have a great of number of features that are not found or are limited in a free web host. You will have access to shopping carts, scripts, applications, software, plugins, add-ons, email features and so on. The competition is quite tough in the shared web hosting market, so you can trust that many companies will offer you with a great number of features in order to gain a competitive edge.

Cons:

Since you are on a shared server, shared hosting providers will have to consider all the clients that are hosted in a particular server. So if your website starts hogging the resources such as CPU and RAM, then it will also affect the other clients that are hosted in that particular server. A situation which is not appreciated by web host providers because they will most likely disable your account.

Overview

• The most affordable web hosting solution
• Loads of features
• Not recommended for large websites
• May not be so secure

Virtual Private Server (VPS) Hosting

VPS hosting is a higher form of web hosting where the customers’ websites are hosted in the form of virtual computers. In this type of web hosting, you are still sharing resources like CPU and RAM with other users but unlike with shared hosting, these resources are better allocated towards many different users that the customer barely feels that the servers are shared. These resources are managed better because each client is only allowed a certain percentage of the resources. These means that these resources are always available to you no matter what.

Pros:

VPS hosting is recommended for users who wants to have a control not only on their website but on the server side as well. And since the resources are better allocated and is always available to you, VPS hosting is considered to be way better than shared web hosting in terms of server stability and reliability. In addition to that, VPS servers are more secure because while you do share resources, you are provided your own file system. So if a website is hacked, the other websites will remain safe and secure. VPS hosting is like the middle ground between shared and dedicated hosting.

Cons:

The main problem with this particular web hosting type is that it is not exactly offered by every web hosting company. So availability is an issue here. It is also possible that a deficit of resources may happen, which can cause major problems to those who are hosted in that particular server. So before signing up for a VPS host, it might be a good idea to ask how many virtual servers are being ran on a physical server.

Overview

• Percentage of the resources are allocated and is available to you anytime
• Enables the customer to run web applications without affecting other customers
• The middle ground in terms of price and stability between shared and dedicated hosting

Dedicated Hosting

Unlike in shared web hosting where multiple websites of various customers are hosted under one physical server, in dedicated web hosting, a customer is allowed to have access the resources of a single computer all to himself. Dedicated hosting is a high end hosting solution that is ideal to host large high traffic websites, business corporate websites, custom development projects and pretty much any website that requires high stability and uptime.

Pros:

Staying true to its name, signing up with dedicated hosting services allows you to utilize a server’s resources all to yourself. Dedicated hosting packages offers a large amount of bandwidth, memory, disk space and web hosting companies will have no qualms if you run CPU intensive web applications because it will not affect other websites.

Cons:

One of the main drawbacks of dedicated hosting is definitely the cost. Since you will be provided with dedicated resources, expect that you will be paying premium. Aside from the exorbitant monthly cost, you will most likely have to pay for a setup fee. Dedicated hosting may not be also for beginners because in order to effectively manage the server, you will need to have a good deal of technical and troubleshooting knowledge and skills. Since you are the one who’s managing the server, hosting providers are less likely to assist you if there are software or server problems.

Overview:

• Allows you to control all aspect of the server and its resources
• Good for high traffic websites
• Expensive hosting solution
• Requires server and software maintenance skills

These are just some of the most common types of web hosting that’s available to you. If you want to choose the best web hosting type that suits you  best, you will need to assess the needs of your website and determine whether or not you can fully take advantage of the features that a particular hosting type can offer.

In the world of web hosting, transferring to a different web host provider is common practice. Webmasters do it for a good variety of reasons. May it be that they feel that their current host is not up to par to their expectations and needs. Maybe they feel that switching to another web host is better for them in a financial standpoint. Or maybe it is simply because their website is growing and  their current web host has no means of accommodating its growth. Regardless of the reasons why a website owner switches to another web host, there are certain measures that he or she can take in order minimize any difficulties and hassles that typically comes with host migration.

• Before deciding to switch to another web hosting provider, be sure that you’ve done extensive research on your prospect. Host migration requires a lot of work, and many webmasters would agree that they do not want to do it if only it’s possible. If you have big plans for your website like turning it into a large online business, then choose a web host that can provide your website with room for expansion and growth. So this means choosing a web host that offers VPS or dedicated hosting, not just shared.

• Before you go and inform your current web host that you are pretty much done with them, be sure that you backup your website in other independent locations such as your hard drive or an offsite backup service. This is akin to packing up everything you need before you are ready to move out. Be sure that you are thorough when it comes to backing up your data. All the files, scripts, dlls, databases, config information, SSL certificates, software, driver, registry, everything that pertains to your website should be backed up.

• The next step is to check whether you are listed as the registered owner for your domain name. You can do this by visiting a WHOIS site. This is the reason why when  signing up with a new host, see to it that you do not register your domain name under the web host.  Make sure that you are the registered owner of your domain. If not, then you may have some difficulties transferring to a new host. Which is more likely the case if you are on bad terms with your current host. The best thing that you can do if that’s the case, is to ask for your new host to help you with the process of migration.

• Now it is time to move your website to your new host. The first thing to do is to load your databases, files and other important data into your new host’s servers. Some hosting providers can provide you with a temporary URL where you can upload your website while the migration takes place. Which is quite useful because it minimizes the downtime. Keep in mind that you may need to change path information to reflect the changes after the migration in order for things to work. You will also need to alter the code if you are changing database names. Conduct thorough testing and make sure that everything works fine.

• If you are an owner of a high traffic website or an online business, then extend your courtesy towards your customers and visitors by informing them about the migration of the website to a new host. This is to avoid confusion or outrage, in case a downtime occurs. Also provide an alternate email where your visitors can contact you in case the worst scenario happens.

• Next step is to update all the necessary information in your domain. Be sure that you are the registered owner when moving to your new host or else you will sure to have some problems in case you decide to migrate to a different host again in the future. If your new host has the ability to register domains, then they will most likely handle the switch for you.

• Plan the switch during the time when the least numbers of visitors or clients will be affected. This means doing the actual switch during the time of the day, day of the week and month of the year when traffic is at its lowest.

• Keep your old website up for at least a few weeks because it can take 24 to 48 hours before all the DNS (Domain Name Servers) in the world will get the updated information that your website moved to a new location. If you want to test your site for the changes, you can make some slight changes to the home page and see if the migration was successful.

• You might want to give yourself an allowance of two weeks to see if there are any errors that might occur before you proceed to delete all the files from your previous hosting account. If there are errors that will occur, you can use the transition time in order to properly correct them.

• When the new site is up and running and everything is fine and dandy, after of course thorough testing and appropriate measures are taken, it is now time to cancel your subscription or contract with your old host. It is best that you part ways with your old host as politely as possible even if you didn’t have a good experience with them. Just set aside your differences, close the account and move on.

Migrating to a new host indeed requires a lot of time and work on your part as the website’s owner. Fortunately there are many ways that you can do to at least minimize the difficulties and tedium that comes with moving to a new web host. So if you are not a fan of transferring to a new host, then be sure that you take your time to assess your needs and requirements as a website owner and do your research properly. This is to enable you to make a well informed decision when it comes choosing a new host that you can stick with on a long term basis.

Running a website can be a very stressful task, especially if you are someone who owns a major website which generates high traffic or a large business website serving a lot of clients. Extremely poor experiences with a particular web hosting service is more common than you think. I myself have experienced a lot of headache which resulted from dealing with bad web hosting companies. Choosing the wrong web host can have consequences that can overall hurt your business and reputation, not to mention of course the financial loss that you will experience. So based on my own bad experiences with many different web hosting companies, I’ve made some rules in order to keep you from committing the same mistakes that I did.

Rule #1

Always do your own independent research when looking for a good web hosting company. Inevitably, you will receive some convincing recommendations from many different people. But the wise thing to do is to ignore them. If it sounds too good to be true, then maybe it is.

Basically there are people who loves giving recommendations but still don’t know what they are talking about, it’s either that, or they are a paid personnel or a web host affiliate. So it is always best to do your own homework. Read user reviews and feedbacks from actual users. No web host is perfect so you are bound to find both positive and negative feedbacks. But a good indication of a good host is that it has way less negative incidents compared to the positive ones.

Rule #2

A good uptime record is always a must when choosing a good web host. A web host who has constant outages even if they are so called “planned”, should raise some red flags. There is simply no valid excuse when it comes frequent and extended downtimes. If you are hosting a website, consistent Internet presence is a must, which is why extended and frequent downtimes are not acceptable.

Good web hosting companies have contingency plans in case of an extended downtime. If you feel that your webhost is doing nothing about constant outages, then it is time to look for another web host.

Rule #3

If you find yourself dissatisfied with a certain web host for any reason at all, then it is highly recommended that you start doing research on another hosting company that’s similar to your price range. This does not mean that you should switch host right away, but take this step as a necessary contingency measure in case your web host drops the ball on you.

This enables you to be well prepared in case you might need to switch host right away which minimizes potential downtimes and other hassles that comes with website migration. Fortunately, there are many web hosting review sites that can provide you with useful information during cases like this.

Rule #4

Observe just how professional your current web host is. This ranges from observing how they handle billing and payments to how they deal with customers in case of a downtime. Some web hosting companies will outright lie about their situation when there is an outage. And this kind of act should not be tolerated. Abandon ship if you sense any sort of unprofessionalism on the part of the web host.

In general and not only applicable to web hosting, never continue to deal with a company who lacks professionalism.

Rule #5

Data loss is another issue that every webmaster should be concerned about.  Most web hosting services offer courtesy backups and they perform these usually on a weekly or daily basis. Other web host, offers to constantly backup your data for a fee. Despite of this, it is still highly recommended that you perform data backups on your own and not solely rely on the web hosting company. If a web host goes down or goes completely bankrupt, you simply can’t be sure if you will be able to recover your data or not.

So backup your data in your PC on a regular basis and if you want additional security, you can avail of an offsite data backup service for a fee. Just to be sure that you have more than one reliable independent location for your files.

Rule #6

Do not ever register your domain name under your web host. It is standard practice for some web hosting companies to offer their clients to register their domain for them. And for those who doesn’t know any better, they are quite quick to agree. Why not? For starters, if you register your domain name under your web host, this means that they will be holding your domain registration details. If somehow, your host went kaput or you have unfavorable relationship with them, then you won’t be able to switch to another host.

This is because if you want to change host, you will need to change the DNS (Domain Name Server) and have it directed to a new IP address. And if you can’t change it due to the fact that your host is down, then you are pretty much stuck.

Rule #7

Yearly plans or higher can be quite enticing because of the large discounts that you can avail. But if it turns out that the host that you’ve chosen is bad, then you’re in for some major headache if you’re hoping for a refund. If a host goes bankrupt, then your money is lost. If a host decides not to give a refund because you cancelled your account, then your money is lost. So it always helps to read the terms and conditions before agreeing to it.

It is recommended that you pay your hosting company on a monthly basis. And if you feel that you can trust them and you’re satisfied with their service, then that’s the time to change payment plans so you can avail of the discounts. For added protection, choose to pay through credit card or PayPal so you can recover your money through their consumer protection program in case you’re dissatisfied.

Rule #8

Keep in mind that cheap web hosting is not necessarily the best. In most cases, the cheaper the web host the more likely it is to cause some problems. But of course, that is not the always the case. Take for example, FatCow. They offer reliable unlimited hosting for dirt cheap prices. So it always helps that you do extensive research first before you ultimately decide on a web host. And that is if you want quality service and satisfaction guaranteed.

If you do find a good web hosting company that suits you best, then stick to them by all means, even if they are experiencing technical difficulties. The business of web hosting is very complex, so even the best web hosting companies will experience difficulties. Weigh the pros and the cons, and see to it that the advantages outweigh the drawbacks of choosing a particular host.

If you are a web hosting beginner, it is only natural for you to be overwhelmed about the technical aspects that comes with it. But there is no need to worry because you can always work with a control panel when it comes to handling the administrative section of your webhosting account.

What is a Control Panel?

Basically, a control panel is a user interface which lets you administer all aspects of your hosting account. A control panel effectively eliminates the need for any 3rd party software or tool when it comes to accessing the basic functions and maintenance of your web hosting account. The task of administering your hosting account is made simple by control panels. Although control panels are mostly user friendly in order to most users, it can also be used to access the most advanced commands for the more advanced users.

Control panels come in many different sorts of variants. Some web hosting company utilizes popular control panels such as Plesk and cPanel while there are those who provides their own custom made or proprietary control panels. Needless to say, a control panel is one of the most important things to consider when choosing a web hosting service.

Why Use a Control Panel?

A control panel provides a convenient way for a website owner to access the most important information regarding the website. These information are vital to the effective maintenance of any website. Examples of information that can be accessed through the control panel are the following:

• Disk Space Usage
• Used Monthly Bandwidth
• Number of Email and FTP accounts
• IP Address
• Hosting package

You can also use the control panel to change certain information about your account such as your password and other preferences.

Basic Functions of a Control Panel

There are a number of tasks that you can only perform through the control panel. Some of the basic functions of a control panel are as follows:

• Subdomains Setup – you can create subdomains in the control panel so finding sections of your website is much easier for the visitors.
• Email Account Setup – here you can create and assign new email addresses for many different users. You can also set quotas, create and manage mailing lists, manage autoresponders and spam filters.
• Site Backup – some control panel provides you with a tool that allows you to backup your site in case of data loss or corruption.
• File Management – a basic yet critical function for any web hosting account because this where you manage the content the goes into your website. File managers allow you upload / download files and create new files / folders / directories.
• Database Management – MySQL databases can be added and managed through the control panel using PHPmyAdmin.
• Statistical Analysis - a control panel lets you view various website statistics that can help you in optimizing your website. For example, by seeing the traffic analysis of your website, you can decide which aspect of your website needs to be optimized.
• Installing New Software and Scripts – control panels also enable the users to install scripts, softwares and applications. In some control panels, this process is even more simplified through one-click installs using an online library such as Fantastico. Control panels can also be used to install software for blogs and content management systems such as Drupal or Joomla.
• Security Management – yet another critical aspect of your web hosting account. With a control panel, you can configure various settings and preferences of your website with regards to security. Some basic security functions are blocking IP addresses, managing folder level security and prevention of bandwidth theft.
• Creating New Users – this gives you the ability to add and allow other people to access the control panel.

The Many Different Types of Control Panel

In this day and age, a control panel is commonly included in most web hosting packages. There are many different types of control panel that are available, and their quality is also variable depending on the user. Here are some of the most common non-proprietary control panels that are used:

cPanel

It is hard to argue with the popularity of this particular control panel. It is not really that surprising why they are popular though. It has a simple and clean looking interface, easy to navigate menus and more options and features than its competitor. cPanel has struck the healthy balance of usability and functionality. It is easy to see why they are the industry leader. cPanel provides a demo of their product that you can try.

Plesk

DirectAdmin

Known as one of the control panels with the most simplistic and lightweight design, which also makes it as one of the most user friendly. Aside from that, it is also widely praised as highly stable. DirectAdmin is not for the more advanced users though, because it lacks all the “bells and whistles” that other control panels have such as cPanel.

H-Sphere

Just like Plesk, H-Sphere supports both Linux and Windows based systems. Created by Positive Software, this control panel is also packed with features, although it pales in comparison with cPanel and Plesk. The layout of H-Sphere is simple, intuitive and easy to navigate, making it a great alternative to more popular control panels.

Interworx

Interworx is a control panel that is Linux only. This particular control panel isn’t exactly the most popular and it is commonly used in a dedicated hosting environment as opposed to a shared hosting one. Interworx may not be your control panel of choice if you consider yourself a newbie.

There are still many different types of control panel out there, but if you want to play it safe and go for both accessibility and functionality, then your safest bet would be cPanel.

Choosing the right web host that suits your needs and requirements can be quite a daunting task. Which is totally understandable considering the vast choices that are available to you. If you are serious about your online venture, choosing a free web host is obviously out of the question because the features are way too limited and you can’t really expect anything in terms of access speed and reliability. So if you looking for guaranteed performance, paid web hosting is the way to go.

While the choices are narrowed down, it doesn’t necessarily make it easier to choose a good web host. Fortunately, there are key qualities that can help you evaluate whether a commercial web host is good or not:

Server Uptime Reliability

The bread and butter of a good commercial web host. You NEED your website to be up at all times. This is especially true if you own a website that generates high amount of traffic or you are operating an online store. Downtimes will cost you, a LOT. As far as I know, no web host can claim 100% uptime, but you need a web host that can provide at least 99.5% uptime. There are many free uptime monitoring services that you can use online.

Excellent Customer and Technical Support

A company that put its customer first, is always a good sign. Web hosting can be quite technical and there are bound to be difficulties that can’t be avoided.

So one way or another, at some point, you will need to connect with a support staff that can help you. And for that matter, you need a support staff that is not only willing to help but also highly efficient and knowledgeable. It is also important that a company’s support functions 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. If you want to test a particular company’s support staff, you can contact them and ask them technical questions just to see if they do know what they are doing.

Reasonable Pricing

Another issue that just can’t be ignored. This is more about finding a web hosting service that has a favorable cost-to-benefit ratio. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to settle with a cheap web hosting company that you can find. There are web hosting companies that charges more expensively but on a closer look, you will see that they do so for a good reason such as state of the art equipment, exclusive hosting features, better server specifications and so on. A good example of such a web host would be InMotion. In this case, this depends entirely on the budget that you can allocate for your web hosting needs. Set a price range so you can narrow down your choices.

Control Panel

This is basically the interface that enables you to manage many different aspects of your web hosting account. Some web hosting companies use well known control panels such as cPanel, Plesk or vDeck. While there are web hosts that provides their own proprietary control panel for their customers to use. Typically, what you want from a control panel aside from the most basic functions are ease of navigation and use. A control panel facilitates nearly all of the required basic maintenance   task with regards to your account. So the last thing you would want is to call a technical support staff each time you try to use the control panel and access basic functions.

Payment Plans

Most web hosting companies entice their potential customers with more savings if they avail of their annual or higher payments plans. You need to be wary of such marketing tactic. Because if you happen to be dissatisfied with their service, you will be basically tied down to a bad web host. A good practice would be to pay monthly for any new web hosting service that you choose, just so you can evaluate their performance, preferably for a couple of months. If you find yourself liking their service, that’s when you can choose to change to a higher payment plan.

Room for Growth

At some point in time, you will find that your website or online store is growing. Consequentially, it is evitable that your web hosting needs will also grow.

If you are hoping to expand and want to keep up with the growth of your website, you will be requiring a hosting upgrade such as VPS hosting or dedicated hosting. If you have big plans for your website, it is important to know how a web hosting company can handle its growth. There are many excellent web hosting services out there but they only offer shared hosting. So before you settle with a web host, make sure that is has the capacity to handle the growth of your website.

SSL Secured Server and Other eCommerce Functions

If you are planning to host an online business website, then these functions are a must. SSL is an absolute requirement if you want to integrate credit card payments into your business website. You typically need to pay for a higher priced package or additional cost in order to avail of these sort functions. So make sure that your prospective web host choice has these functions before you commit.

Policy for Data Backups

The risk of potential data loss is something that you cannot afford when it happens. If you are operating a high traffic website or an online business, the consequences would be unbearable. So one of the things that you should ask your web prospects is their backup policy. Inquire about the specifics if you have to. How often will they perform backups? What backup methods will they be using? There are hosting companies that charges extra for daily backups or they can provide you with the necessary tools so you can perform the backups yourself. It is important that you know what your options are.

Check for User Reviews

 

No, don’t check a web hosting company’s review or testimonial sections because chances are high that they are paid reviews or fake. External sources are always the best when it comes to web host reviews. Check for reviews of real users in sources that you can trust like web hosting review blogs, webmaster communities and forums and so on. Keep in mind that you can’t please everyone, so there are bound to be negative comments that you will see.

These are just some of the key qualities that you need to look for in a commercial web hosting company. These are merely guidelines to help you choose a good web hosting and not written in stone. At the end of the day, you still need to keep into account your personal needs and requirements with regards to choosing a good web host.

If you are somehow slightly familiar with the web hosting industry, then chances are high that you have heard of GoDaddy. GoDaddy is definitely one of the largest and most popular web hosting and domain registration company in existence with about more than 45 million domains under their management. They are so large that the domains that they manage are about 4 times larger than their closest competitor. GoDaddy is also known for their aggressive marketing, with advertisements and sponsorships in the Super Bowl since the year 2005. So is GoDaddy a good web hosting option for you? Read this review to find out.

Tabel Of Contents: - Introduction - GoDaddy Rating - The PROS of GoDaddy - The CONS of GoDaddy - Customer Support - Coupons - Packages - Customer Reviews - GoDaddy Uptime - Conclusion

GoDaddy Overall Rating Support Quality : Reliability & Uptime : Features : Accessibility : Price Value : Overall Rating : Save Cash – Use a Coupon

The PROS of GoDaddy

FREE Website Marketing Credits

Site Scanner

GoDaddy Hosting Connection

• Unlimited Bandwidth
• Unlimited Monthly Data Transfer
• FREE Website Marketing Credits
• Features for Advanced Webmasters such as SSH Access (Secure Shell)
• Extensive support for many languages and CMS
• FREE SSL Certificate (Only with Ultimate Plan)
• Host of Website Addons
• GoDaddy Hosting Connection
• Fotolia® Photo Credits
• 24/7 FTP access
• FREE Website Stats
• 24×7 monitoring
• Host of Email Account Features
• Unlimited Websites (Deluxe and Ultimate Only)
• 24/7 Phone/Email Support
• Offers Virtual Dedicated Server

Over $200 Value of FREE Marketing Credits

Signing up with GoDaddy also nets you marketing credits from Google, Bing / Yahoo and Facebook, and they are yours for no additional cost. This is a good selling point especially for those who are still starting out with their website and needs all the help they can get in terms of site promotion.

Host of Features for the Advanced Webmaster

If you are a webmaster who loves tinkering under the hood, then you will surely like what GoDaddy has to offer. It supports a wide range of languages such as PHP5, Perl, Python CGI, Ruby and so on. And it also features support for Content Management systems such as Drupal, Mambo, Joomla, Moodle, MODx and many more. There is plenty of options here for the advanced users. But be sure that you choose Linux hosting, because the Window hosting is stripped down when it comes to these advanced features.

Offers Virtual Dedicated and Full Dedicated Servers

If you need more power in your web hosting requirements, then GoDaddy offers virtual dedicated and dedicated servers. Both offers state of the art equipment for the enterprise level of reliability that you require. This is a good thing because it gives the customers room for growth and expansion in case a time will come when shared hosting will not be enough anymore.

Reliable Servers with 99.9% Uptime

One of the most important quality of a good web hosting company. Downtimes can be very costly especially for those who operates a high traffic website or an online store. So if you want more reliability in terms of server uptime, then you can’t go wrong with GoDaddy.

The CONS of GoDaddy

One of the most glaring flaws of GoDaddy is their crippled hosting plans. Take for example their Economy hosting plan, which is priced at $4.99 a month, which is a pretty competitive price for this type of hosting plan. This is of course before you take a good look at the features that it offers. Limited space, limited MySQL databases, limited email accounts and storage, limited subdomains are just some of stripped down features that I could find with GoDaddy’s basic economy plan. Where areas, at the same price range, other hosting service can offer unlimited hosting. For me, there are simply way too many limitations.

Customer Support:

For some reason, GoDaddy doesn’t seem to have a live chat support feature so I was left with no choice but to send them an email instead. Upon sending the email, they immediately sent a response that they’ve received my inquiries. And after less than 12 hours, I’ve received this response from the support staff:

Support Staff Response
Dear Patrick,
Thank you for contacting Online Support.
I will answer each of your questions individually:
Question # 1 =================
You asked: Will there be a setup fee when I sign up?
Answer: You will have to purchase hosting, but there is no setup fee.
Question # 2 =================
You asked: Do you offer secure server and ecommerce capabilities?
Answer: You can setup ecommerce applications on hosting, such as Pinnacle Cart, Zen Cart, and osCommerce. You can add an SSL to hosting with an added cost.
Question # 3 =================
You asked: Do you offer an affiliate program or referrer bonuses?
Answer: We have an affiliate account and a reseller program.

GoDaddy Coupons

GoDaddy Package Details

Shared Hosting Plans

Virtual Dedicated Server Packages

Dedicated Server Packages

Customer Reviews

Godaddy Hosting – Windows Deluxe.
” ” I’ve hosted several data-driven websites with GoDaddy over the past few years and it has been a decent service. Pros: customer service, dependability, plenty of technology choices. Cons: low SQL Server space quota, mediocre on-line documentation, uncertainty about service in the future.” ” – Anonymous
Rating :

Godaddy – there are much better options out there.
“” I have fallen into the trap of constantly using Godaddy because its what I am most familiar with. Enough is enough. If you are relying on there services for eCommerce, beware because you will experience a lot of latency and constant downtime. Call in and expect the following answer, “Sorry after looking into the problem, our server support team has indicated that there is a problem with the database server and they are actively working on getting this resolved.” ” – John from Dublin, CA
Rating :

Go Daddy Economy Hosting.
“” Go Daddy’s service is great, but their hosting is lousy. If you get the economy plan, your site is shared on a slow server with 5 other websites. I regularly can’t browse to my own site because of spikes in response time. When I ping my server, I average a latency of 120-140ms, with spikes up to over two seconds. This is simply unacceptable for serious webhosting. If a customer were to see this, they’d just assume we were either out of business or some shady fly-by-night operation. I called them and they recommended that I upgrade to a dedicated server, which is simply not an option for me. “ – Ben Julian
Rating :

Outstanding Customer Service and Support.
” We moved our small business website to Godaddy three years ago and could not be more pleased. Our site is integrated with merchant services for the shopping cart and credit card settlement as well as QuickBooks. We get timely access to and response from technical support with problem resolution in one call. No hassles, just results and follow-thru. From our perspective, all customer contact operations should be so professional.” – Gailforcewatersports.com
Rating :

GoDaddy Uptime Monitored since: 29 December 2005 Monitored sites: 4 Total days of monitoring: 1967 Overall uptime: 99.963 %
GoDaddy Uptime Chart Year Outages Approx. Downtime Average Uptime 2009 14 1.83 hours 99.979 % 2010 17 2.22 hours 99.974 % 2011 35 4.55 hours 99.853 %

Conclusion:

There is no doubt that GoDaddy is probably one of the most popular hosting company that is operating to this day. What I like about them is the number of tools and applications that an advanced webmaster can play with, providing it with more freedom and flexibility. GoDaddy is a solid and reliable hosting service but there are some significant flaws with them that are worth mentioning. First is the price, their most basic economy package is kind of stripped down when compared to other service with similar pricing. It is far too limited in my opinion. Another thing that bothers me is that, GoDaddy is not the most user friendly web hosting company out there. From their main website to their control panel, they seem to be needlessly complicated to navigate. With that said, GoDaddy is indeed a very solid web hosting choice, but they’re certainly not the best in the industry.

MyHosting is a web hosting company that has been around since 1997. Based in Toronto, Canada, MyHosting is definitely one of the oldest web hosting service in the industry. This particular web hosting company’s goal is to provide superior value towards their customers by giving them superior quality products and services. MyHosting is owned by SoftCom Inc. which is based in Canada.

Tabel Of Contents: - Introduction - MyHosting Rating - Things to Love About MyHosting - Things You Will Hate in MyHosting - Customer Support - MyHosting Packages - Customer Testimonials - MyHosting Uptime - Conclusion

MyHosting.com Overall Rating Support Quality : Reliability & Uptime : Speed : Price Value : Accessibility : Overall Rating :

Things to Love About MyHosting

FREE Plesk Site Builder

FREE Web Templates

Spam Filtering and Anti-Virus

• Unlimited Hosting Space
• Unlimited File Transfer
• Unlimited Domain Hosting
• Google Spam Filtering and Anti-Virus
• Site Builder Included
• Free Web Templates
• A number of eCommerce hosting options
• Easy to Use Web-Based Control Panel
• Excellent 24/7 in-house email, chat and phone support
• Free One-Click Auto Installation
• FREE dedicated IP address
• FREE SSL Certificate
• FREE Installation for known CMS such as WordPress, Drupal, Magento and so on.
• Also offers VPS hosting
• Optional Search Engine Tools
• Offers 30 day money-back guarantee

Web-based Control Panel

MyHosting utilizes Plesk as its control panel. This easy to use interface allows the users to manage all aspects of their hosting account. The interface is very simple, clean and easy to use which is always appreciated in any web hosting solutions. This makes them very accessible even for complete beginners in web hosting.

Spam Filtering and Anti-Virus

MyHosting also offers email hosting, so you can trust that spam and virus protection for them are considered to be serious business. MyHosting’s spam filtering technology is powered by Postini which feeds from the most up to date information with regards to spam and virus sources. I’ve tested it and I can say that the number of spam mails I’ve received are highly reduced.

The Option for VPS Hosting

Having an option for upgrade is always a nice thing to have. If you feel that someday shared web hosting is not enough for your needs, then you can always opt to upgrade to VPS hosting in order to facilitate your ever growing hosting needs. It is also worth mentioning that MyHosting offers pretty extensive options when it comes to their VPS hosting service which is certainly a good thing to have especially if you are planning to expand someday.

Excellent Support Staff

Luckily, the instances when I have to call or contact customer support has been quite far in between. But during those times when I have to, I must say that I was quite pleased with their service. I have used the tech support service via phone and I am pleased to report that they were quite courteous and helpful. I can really tell that they really do know what they are doing and is eager to see my problem through. A definite plus point for MyHosting.

Things You Will Hate in MyHosting

My main complaint about MyHosting is definitely their pricing. For their basic hosting package, you will be paying $4.84 per month, which is pretty reasonable at first look but when you look and realize the features that are included, they are simply too limited when compared with other hosting solutions. Limited email accounts, limited MySQL databases, limited FTP users are just some of the glaring limitations of the basic hosting package. Another thing that irks me a bit is that their so called free website builder can only build one free website and they will charge for the succeeding ones.

Customer Support:

I wasn’t able to connect with MyHosting’s live chat support until my third try. Not much to say about MyHosting’s chat support except that he’s snappy and good. Here’s the chat log with MyHosting’s customer support:

You are now chatting with Konrad M. (myhosting.com Sales )
Konrad M.: Thank you for using Myhosting.com Live Support my name is Konrad how can I help you?
Patrick: Hi Konrad, I have some inquiries about new accounts, I’m hoping that you can help me?
Konrad M.: Sure.
Patrick: Ok.. if I signup, will there be a setup fee? Transfer fee?
Konrad M.: No set up fee.
Konrad M.: What do you mean exactly by transfer fee? Domain Transfer?
Patrick: yeah, when I transfer my website with you..
Konrad M.: You would have to FTP the data to our server.
Patrick: Ok good, so If I signup with your basic hosting plan, will I be able to upgrade in case my needs will grow someday?
Konrad M.: Yes.
Patrick: If I’m not mistaken, you have vps hosting right?
Konrad M.: Yes we do.
Patrick: Does the account comes with ecommerce tools that I can use for my online store?
Konrad M.: Yes.
Konrad M.: Magento and cubecart I believe. You can also download them directly from the sites and upload them to the server and install manually.
Patrick: Do you offer trial periods? Guarantees?
Konrad M.: 30day money back guarantee.
Patrick: Oh ok.. that will be all I guess. Thank you for your time Konrad..
Konrad M.: Thanks for taking the time to visit myhosting.com. Have a great day!

MyHosting Hosting Packages

Customer Testimonials

An OK Host.
” I like the control panel very much because they are extremely easy to use. If there is one thing to complain about this host, it is with the aspect of customer service. Their support team could at least improve their response time. There have been a couple of times where I had to wait a bit too long before I was attended to. Other than that, MyHosting is a good hosting choice.” – Douglas
Rating:

All in all a great company to deal with.
“” I am into my 5 years of subscription with MyHosting, and I must say that I am very satisfied. I’ve experienced very little downtime and the features I need have always been available. I normally use Joomla to create and maintain my sites and I have had very little problems with Joomla and myhosting servers.” – Arny
Rating:

Great Customer Support
” I think one of their strong points is their customer service team. I contact support from time to time and am always very satisfied with the service. Especially for the price – their rates are incredibly reasonable. I have contacted support a few times over the years (I host about 10 websites with myhosting) and it has always been a pleasure. I’ve used both email, phone and chat, and all options had excellent reps that answered my questions easily. Sometimes my questions are about billing, sometimes about domain renewal, and recently about hosting.” – Trish LaFleur
Rating:

Find someone else, as I am.
” I have been a subscriber of MyHosting for about 8 years, and I must admit that the experience was phenomenal. But as time goes by, they raised their prices and stripped down their services. Their customer service went from responsive to slow and mediocre. Now, they are simply way too overpriced for what they are able to provide.” – David Rose
Rating:

MyHosting Uptime Overall Uptime: 99.99% Monitored for: 2,073 days Monitored since: Sept 2005 Uptime Rating: Excellent
MyHosting Uptime Chart Year Outages Approx. Downtime Average Uptime 2008 1 6 mins 99.999 % 2009 3 45 mins 99.991 % 2010 1 10 mins 99.999 % 2011 0 - 100 %

Conclusion:

MyHosting is yet another solid web hosting choice in this ever growing web host market. They have great uptime, excellent customer support and even offers VPS hosting, which is great for potential hosting expansions. MyHosting is great both for beginners and veteran webmasters. But what brings them down a couple of notches is the fact that for a mid priced service, what they can offer are pretty limited. Compared to other web hosting service at similar price range, MyHosting simply comes up short. But still, MyHosting is a good alternative if you find that your current host does not suit your needs well.