Choosing a great web host is one of most important parts of starting a website. Here are a few reasons you need to choose a web host carefully:
- A good web hosting provider minimizes downtime.
- It loads more quickly, which lowers your bounce rate.
- It has better security, so you are less likely to be hacked.
It can be more difficult to find a web hosting provider in the United Kingdom and Central Europe. There simply aren't as many options as there are in the United States and Canada. Fortunately, there are still some good options to take a look at.
OVH
OVH is a dedicated and cloud-based hosting company based in the United Kingdom. They serve clients from all over the world, but they offer much more reliable service to their clients in the United Kingdom. One customer from Canada wrote on Web Hosting Talk that they weren't as happy with the service as many UK customers. However, they also mentioned that the pricing structure was more fair.
If you are looking for a decent web hosting company without spending a lot of money, then OVH is a great option.
PickaWeb
PickaWeb is one of the best rated web hosting companies in the United Kingdom. According to Who Is Hosting This, they have a 4.9 quality rating, which is surprisingly higher than SiteGround (a 4.5 rating) and BlueHost (3.5 rating).
There are a number of reasons that PickaWeb is such a highly rated hosting provider. One of the biggest factors is price. You can buy reliable hosting for only £3.16 a month. Many users on Who Is Hosting This have also stated that the company provides exceptional service.
Some encountered problems with their cPanel, but were able to get them sorted out in less than a minute after reaching out to the customer service team. Few companies offer this level of support.
UK2
UK2 is another reliable web hosting company, which has received a four-star rating from Trust Pilot. UK2 has always been a popular web hosting provider for customers throughout the United Kingdom.
However, there are a couple of drawbacks to be aware of:
- Some customers have said that the company has offered a more narrow range of services for the same price. They complain that it no longer offers free email hosting.
- While customers can still register domains in mainland Europe, some customers have complained that downtime is worse.
Nevertheless, UK2 is still a great service, especially for brands on a limited budget. They are currently offering web hosting for less than £3 a month.
Bplaced.net
Bplaced is a great web hosting provider for people living in Austria. According to WHTop, they are actually the highest ranked in the country. Also, they have a better track record with customers in other countries in Central Europe than most UK web hosting providers.
Choosing the Right Hosting Company
While it may seem like your hosting options are limited in the United Kingdom and mainland Europe, there are a lot of great hosting providers. You just need to know which ones are best.
If you live in the United Kingdom, PickaWeb is your best for general hosting, while Sedo is a better option if you only want to park a domain. If you live in Central Europe, Bplaced.net is probably your best bet, because they tend to offer less downtime and better bandwidth to users in that region.