Can I has cheap hosting plz?

May 19, 2008 6:06 PM

What's a good web host for a novice, who wants her own online space on someone's server to play around with? The idea is a blog and maybe a sample of my cartooning, hosted somewhere that won't break the bank.

After messing around with blogging through the various free hosting services online (blogger, wordpress.com, livejournal, journalspace), I want my own domain name and a teensy bit of hosting space to mess around with a cheese toast blog. However, given the breadth of the internet and the competing advertising for 'cheap hosting!!' VS the dunning reviews cursing out all the big name companies in this business, I find myself adrift.

So Mefi, what's a good host for a novice? I want something cheap, n00b friendly and good with blogs, who'll help me secure a domain name (the one I want is available at the moment, no worries there) and won't crash every other day/eat my data monthly. Oh yeah, I'm Canadian, if that matters.

posted by Phalene to computers & internet (12 comments total)

Dreamhost would probably be what you want, but I've had a terrible experience with them really wouldn't recommend them. Lots of downtime, terrible speeds, slow and clueless customer service, et cetera.

I would recommend MediaLayer -- I've not had a single issue with them, and their control panel is fairly novice friendly. Their cheapest plan, though, is about $10 a month, which is definitely worth it. The only host I've tried (and I've tried numerous hosts before finding MediaLayer) where I haven't run into any major problems. They're also quick to respond when you do have a problem.

They get my highest recommendations.
posted by Dreamcast at 6:19 PM on May 19

I've liked bluehost.
posted by browse at 6:20 PM on May 19

Oh, but I can't tell you if they provide domain registration, as I used domains registered with GoDaddy. They have a pre-sale forum, though, if you have any questions.
posted by Dreamcast at 6:20 PM on May 19

For domain registration, my web savvy friends swear by Gandi. I notice they've started offering web hosting, too.

And bluehost has also been recommended to me for hosting.
posted by needled at 6:29 PM on May 19

I've been using NearlyFreeSpeech.net for four years and always suggest them to large business clients and friends. What will make the big difference in your life is their billing policies. They only bill you for how much storage and bandwidth you use. For a small blog, you can expect to only spend a few dollars a year.

There have been a few Ask.Mefi threads about them. Check them out
posted by lockle at 6:41 PM on May 19

I'm going to have to agree with lockle. NearlyFreeSpeech is great, I still use them for personal things and have since 2005, but they can get expensive if your site starts using up a lot of bandwidth.
posted by Dreamcast at 6:44 PM on May 19

Geekstorage is good, they're who I use.

I've had good experience with Freehostia. Normally I'd say that free hosting isn't exactly a good route, they offer paid hosting as well so they have to keep the servers up.
posted by theichibun at 6:58 PM on May 19

I registered my current domain with GoDaddy as well (and have had at least five others over the course of time - absolutely no problems with them) and use Cirtex for hosting. They offer a solid plan with more than I need at $3-4 a month:

They're also extremely fast when it comes to support - I always get quick replies to emails, so I couldn't be happier.
posted by Bakuun at 7:47 PM on May 19

If you're concerned at all about US privacy laws/DMCA/wiretapping/data security etc then it makes sense to keep your stuff within Canada. I highly recommend Fanclub Media. Their servers are safely within our borders. Just contact them directly for a custom package if the ones they list on their site aren't suitable.
posted by loiseau at 8:31 PM on May 19

I have been a loyal customer of Dreamhost for several years. They give me a huge amount of storage and bandwidth, lots of options for add-ons, and if I'm feeling geeky, I can install most UNIX-hosted web apps there manually if they don't have an auto-installer for precisely what I want.

They did have a problem with billing recently in which they mistakenly billed everyone for the entire year of 2008. They refunded, though, sometimes (in banking time, where payments often take days to clear whereas credits can take hours) before the bill went through for the debit. They also changed policies to prevent such a thing from happening in the future, and were fairly responsible about it (though the support folks involved, as humans sometimes do, were a little flippant in inappropriate times, apparently hoping the problem wouldn't be as bad as it actually was).

I am comfortable continuing to work with them all the same, but if your margins are lower than mine, you may wish to find an alternate hosing company.

Just remember that everyone makes mistakes, though. Dreamhost already made their big one for the decade, and might not make another.
posted by kalessin at 5:43 AM on May 20

I've had really good luck with Host Monster. I've been using them for about a year and a half.
posted by picklefoot at 6:37 AM on May 20

I always recommend my webhost, ASmallOrange. $25/year buys you a very dependable host, and unlimited email accounts.
posted by Thorzdad at 7:54 AM on May 20