Introduction to Shared Windows Hosting
The best decision you can make for your website is to choose the right hosting plan. While there are various options in the market, be sure to choose one compatible with your Operating System (OS).
If you’ve run a website before, you may have come across the term shared hosting. This is when different websites share one physical server, its space, and resources. Many first-time website owners prefer to use shared hosting plans because of their low cost and accessibility. Plus, with this hosting plan, the hosting service provider handles the technical parts of running the server, making it a beginner-friendly option.
It differs from dedicated hosting, which means a single server is hosting one site at a time, and Virtual Private Server Hosting (VPS), where different site owners share one server, but each gets a partitioned section. However, these alternatives are expensive and require users to maintain their own servers.
Our expert team has conducted extensive real-time performance testing of several shared windows companies. They carried out an independent study that includes thousands of user reviews, tests, and surveys on some of the leading shared windows hosting providers. We understand if you don’t want to read the whole study right now, so let’s cut the story short.
Here are our recommendations for the best-shared windows hosting providers.
ֵShort on Time? Check Our Top 10 Best Shared Windows Hosting Providers
- Hostgator – Best Shared Windows Hosting Overall
- InMotion – Best Shared Windows Hosting for New Sites
- Interserver – Best All-Rounder Shared Windows Hosting
- Godaddy – Best Shared Windows Hosting for Beginners
- AccuWeb Hosting– Best Secure Shared Windows Hosting Provider
- Hostwinds – Best Cutting-edge Windows Service Provider
- Ionos – Best Shared Windows for Dedicated Support
- MilesWeb – Best Ultra-fast Shared Windows Hosting
- ResellerClub – Best Shared Windows Hosting for Developers & Business Owners
- iPage – Best Mobile-friendly Shared Windows Hosting
How Do We Rank and How You Should Choose Your Best Shared Windows Hosting?
- Uptime & Speed8%
- Reliable Customer Support7%
- Ease of Use5%
- Flexible Plans & Pricing15%
- Resources That Don’t Limit You8%
- Diverse Security Features5%
- Valuable Hosting Extras12%
- User Reviews30%
What Is Best Shared Windows Hosting, And Who Is It For?
Windows hosting refers to any website that runs on a Windows operating system. Most website hosting plans offer two hosting types – Linux and Windows.
- Linux hosting is a popular website hosting service, with many website owners hosting their sites because of its flexible and affordable pricing. It is compatible with MySQL and PHP, and supports scripts like PhpBB, Zen Cart, and WordPress. Click here for our Shared Hosting Pricing page.
- Windows hosting, on the flip side, offers Windows-based technologies to its users, like Microsoft SQL Server (MSSQL), Microsoft Access, Microsoft Exchange, ASP, and . NET. So, this hosting service is suitable for users whose website uses Windows tools and languages.
Many first-time users fall into the trap of thinking they must use the same operating system as their personal computer because they know how it works. But when it comes to website hosting, it is not advisable to tie your choice to your personal preference.
Rather, the compatibility of the operating system with your website’s operating software matters. Some websites work only with Linux, others with Windows, and yet others, like WordPress, can run on both systems.
Overall, shared windows hosting is recommended if you have a small site with limited storage, RAM, and CPU needs. It’s ideal for small businesses, especially because it helps cut costs, an important feature to look out for.
However, this is not to say that shared windows hosting is without constraints, as all users share one server and have to use the same configuration and operating system the host provides. So, you ordinarily cannot optimize the server for your own needs, and the host prohibits your sites from running heavy applications like streaming to prevent one user hogging all of the server’s resources.
If your site falls into the category that will benefit from a shared windows hosting plan, then read on because, in the next segment, we will detail some of the best options in the market and help you choose the best windows hosting server for your website.
The Best Shared Windows Hosting Services of 2022 (Bought and Tested):
If you want a reliable Windows shared hosting provider with friendly customer care, you should consider going with HostGator. Since they have been in the web hosting business since 2002, with such a huge customer base, there’s evidence that they’re doing something right.
They provide a range of web hosting services suitable for almost every website, starting at only $2.75 a month.
- Overall Score: 5.0
- Ease of Use: 4.9
- Useful Features: 5.0
- Uptime & Speed: 4.9
- Customer Support: 5.0
- Plans & Pricing: 4.9
HostGator stands out as one of the oldest, biggest, and most reliable hosting service providers, promising super savings with 65% off, 99% uptime, and free domain, among other perks. It is where the pros go to host!
Research Findings
Ease of Use: HostGator was created with beginners in mind. As such, the site is full of tutorials, and articles in its Knowledgebase, to help new users navigate the world of data centers and DNS. All its templates are customizable and modern, with a drag-and-drop feature to make the design process easy.
The combination of a native customer portal and a traditional cPanel is simple and functional, making everything well categorized and easy to find. From the dashboard, you can use its most basic features, while the more complex stuff is stored in the cPanel.
Useful Features: HostGator offers shared hosting plans with one-click installs, allowing you to integrate apps easily; a free SSL certificate that shows your site visitors that you take their security seriously; unmetered bandwidth to handle all the traffic your site brings in; site migration that lets you move an existing site to HostGator, and more.
Uptime & Speed: With HostGator, you get a 99% uptime guaranteed to keep your site up round the clock. The service has also improved its loading times, taking only seconds to load web pages, as it knows the impact of fast page loading times on your visitors’ experience and the trickle-down effect on your site itself.
Customer Support: HostGator provides live chat, email and phone support, and a knowledge base for quick answers to any problems you may have. It also has a Twitter support account and a blog where you can learn how to use the platform properly. The best part of its customer service is an agent ready to attend to you 24/7.
Plans & Pricing: There are three plans to pick from, depending on your usage requirements, with the cheapest plan starting at $2.75, on the condition that you sign up for three years, after which the price reverts to $6.95 a month. If that is too much of a commitment, opt for the annual plan for $3.95 a month.
Money-Back Guarantee: HostGator goes beyond the average 30-day money-back guarantee by instituting a 45-day refund policy. So, you can use this service for more than a month and still get your money back if you’re not comfortable with the service.
This guarantee, however, covers only users in the shared, reseller, and VPS packages, and if your plan came with a free domain name, the service would deduct a $15 fee from the refund amount – a small price to pay. After adding these to the other parameters we analyzed, it was an easy decision, declaring this our best-shared Windows hosting overall.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Affordable prices
- Fast loading times
- 24/7 customer support
- Free site migration
- Free domain for a year
Cons
- High renewal fees
- Servers located only in the United States
Image Credit: HostGator
HostGator’s Windows hosting features are worth shouting about. Free domain, 45-day money-back guarantee, and more. What’s not to love? Check them out today!
InMotion Hosting offers a range of generic services that targets everyone from expert web designers to startups. It’s popular for its shared hosting, VPS hosting, WordPress hosting, dedicated servers, private cloud hosting services and more.
- Overall Score: 4.9
- Ease of Use: 4.8
- Useful Features: 4.9
- Uptime & Speed: 4.8
- Customer Support: 4.9
- Plans & Pricing: 4.8
At its core,InMotion offers pretty standard features and while they may not be as popular as other shared Windows hosting providers, they are an underrated gem. Many hosting providers lock their best features behind their expensive plans, but InMotion maintains a balance across board.
Research Findings
Ease of Use: Generally, InMotion Hosting will not have you jumping through hoops to get your website up and running, as its sign up process takes only a few minutes. Its interface is well-organized with a decent cPanel.
It combines cPanel and native Account Management Panel (AMP) to create an easy user experience, and while both control panels may seem similar, they are not the same, but they are definitely well-structured and easy to use.
Useful Features: InMotion plans come with pretty standard features and allows for free website transfers. Each plan comes with free SSL certificates, meaning that all the back-and-forth on your website is encrypted, creating an extra layer of security against data leaks and hacking. Plus, your website gets a boost from search engines for being SSL-enabled.
However, resource allocation depends on the amount paid; with higher payments, you can get more email accounts, addon domains, databases, storage space, and more. InMotion Hosting also features a BoldGrid builder, making it easy to create a professional-looking site, even with no coding experience.
While daily backups are available for all users, it is not a free service.
Uptime & Speed: From its inception, InMotion Hosting has focused on providing exceptional performance to businesses. We tested them and found the hosting service provider to be pretty reliable, especially with handling intense traffic.
The shared plans are quite powerful and efficient for blogs and small to medium business sites. In terms of uptime, InMotion hosting stands at a decent 99.98% with an average response time of up to 759ms. While this leaves some room for improvement, it is still workable, considering the average among shared hosting providers is 600ms.
Customer Support: Customer Service at InMotion Hosting is pretty decent, with 24/7/365 support available through phone, live chat, and email tickets. However, since this is mainly a US-based hosting service provider, its support team is based in the US; so, that’s something to consider when calculating time zones.
Unlike other shared hosting providers, InMotion Hosting does not distinguish itself in terms of customer support, as the average wait time is 30 to 40 minutes, but once you’re able to get through to an agent, rest assured of quality service.
Alternatively, InMotion has a decent knowledge base with detailed step-by-step tutorials covering all aspects of the hosting experience. If you like to DIY, you will find this resource a helpful alternative to the live chat.
Plans & Pricing: InMotion Hosting is not expensive, with shared hosting plans starting at $2.99 a month. It offers flexible payment options, with allowances for one month, a year, two years, and three-year options. There is a 90-day money back guarantee, three times the industry average, giving you enough time to decide if this is a service you want to work with.
InMotion Hosting plans have no hidden setup fees, and you can pay for your subscription plans using major credit cards, money transfers, or PayPal. With each plan, you get a free domain, but the renewal costs can be quite steep.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Fast loading pages
- Stable and reliable hosting service provider
- 90-day money back guarantee on subscription plans
- BoldGrid website builder
Cons
- Its servers are only located in the United States
- Higher than average pricing
- Automated backups are not free
- No NGINX
Image Credit: InMotion Hosting
Are you looking for an effective managed web hosting service with killer specs? Search no further than InMotion. It’s a plus if your major audience is in the United States.
Interserver may not be the biggest name in the industry, but it is far from your regular Windows hosting provider. See it as the underdog, providing comprehensive web hosting services for 21 years, even without serious marketing campaigns.
This service provider is recommended if you are an experienced web hosting customer.
- Overall Score: 4.5
- Ease of Use: 4.4
- Useful Features: 4.5
- Uptime & Speed: 4.5
- Customer Support: 4.5
- Plans & Pricing: 4.4
Interserver’s selling point is its broad range of offerings. With in-built protection, limitless space, improved features, connectivity, and backup at an affordable cost, Interserver is a diamond in the rough.
Ease of Use: Interserver’s dashboard borrows from the famous cPanel design, with a sleek and easy-to-use interface, often the first thing users notice. You can access the cPanel from the account section, and because it’s minimalist and comprehensive, you can easily navigate your tasks.
A search option allows you to insert a query, enter what you are looking for, and the cPanel will find it for you.
Useful Features: Interserver offers free, fast, and regular backups on all shared accounts – WordPress Managed, Standard, Boost, and Reseller. All users get matching email accounts to their domain, and there are no restrictions on the number of emails you can send from an account.
Thanks to these capabilities, you can forget about third-party services like Google Workspace to manage your email accounts. Both businesses and individuals can use this service and enjoy free site migration with assistance from Interserver.
This means you can use Interserver to migrate a site you hosted elsewhere. All packages come with a free SSL certificate, one of the ways Interserver builds its credibility with its clientele.
Uptime & Speed: Interserver aims to give users the best page speed possible, loading pages in milliseconds when tested. It has an average response time of 3.5 seconds, which is impressive. In terms of uptime, Interserver does not promise 99.9% uptime, preferring to stay safe at 99.953%.
However, a cash back guarantee entitles you to a refund if the uptime falls below 99.9% in 30 days.
Customer Support: With Interserver, you can access ticket assistance, chat, and email support 24/7. There are also native language call centers in specific areas like Israel, Brazil, and Mexico to further bridge the language barrier gap and carry all users along.
However, Live Chat remains the most effective way to get through to Interserver customer support because of their quick responses through that medium.
Plans & Pricing: Apart from its reasonable pricing and limitless storage, Interserver’s fair approach to its users distinguishes it from other web hosting providers. With Interserver, you pay the same amount from when you first subscribed to the time of renewal.
Its basic VPS plans also cost less than other web hosts, starting at $6 a month. Only the advanced VPS and dedicated servers have competitive prices, with dedicated servers starting with a $66 monthly charge.
Interserver allows a variety of payment methods – monthly, three months, six months, two-year, and three-year payments, whichever is convenient for you. To crown it all, there is a 20% discount for organizations and a money-back guarantee on all plans.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Independent data centers
- Stable, transparent, and affordable prices
- 24/7 support via phone, chat, and tickets
- Unlimited storage, email, and sites
- Free site migration
- High-security levels
- Weekly backups
Cons
- Limited service
- Outdated interface
Image Credit: InterServer
With cheap plans starting at $2.50 and a load of awesome features, InterServer is an all-rounder in providing shared Windows hosting services. Get started today!
If you are a beginner in web hosting, you don’t have to get lost in the web of service providers. It is strongly recommended to get a GoDaddy subscription, the best beginner-friendly shared Windows hosting provider you can find!
- Overall Score: 4.8
- Ease of Use: 4.7
- Useful Features: 4.8
- Uptime & Speed: 4.8
- Customer Support: 4.8
- Plans & Pricing: 4.7
GoDaddy is popular for its domain registration services, but it does more than being the top domain registrar in the world. It is a shared web hosting provider compatible with Windows and has affordable plans to get your site up in no time.
Research Findings
Ease of Use: GoDaddy is the perfect hosting provider for users new to websites. It has an inbuilt web builder that does all the dirty work; you only have to select what you want your website to look like from a wide range of templates.
If you are creating your first website and don’t want to create something elaborate or put too much energy into building your site, you will find GoDaddy very useful.
Useful Features: GoDaddy has a service that automatically backs up your data, so you don’t have to worry about server crashes and other incidents that can delete your files. But this is a paid service that comes at an extra $2.99 monthly cost.
Security worries are non-existent with GoDaddy, as it has a 24/7 monitoring facility that seeks out suspicious activity and prevents hackers from gaining access to your site. There is also inbuilt DDoS protection that handles all DDoS attacks your site may experience.
Uptime & Speed: Load times are very important when choosing a hosting service because nobody wants to wait around for a website to load. GoDaddy offers an average load time of 171.1 ms, making them a super fast hosting server.
The more data servers a hosting provider owns, the faster its speed. GoDaddy has three data centers in the US, Europe, and Asia that deliver fast loading speeds to users in different parts of the world.
Customer Support: These days, customer service feels automated and more difficult to access than it was in the past, but that is not the case for GoDaddy. Although this web hosting provider uses bots, there is the option of telephone support and live chat to pick from, and both are available 24/7.
Connecting with a human customer care agent takes about 20 minutes or less when you call in. When testing it out, we discovered that it took less than two minutes to get a real person on the phone, which is unheard of with most hosting service providers.
If you don’t want to speak to an agent, you can turn to the video guides for help, and this support option is different from what’s available on other platforms. GoDaddy’s video guides have playlists with videos showing solutions to basic issues like how to set up your email, and planning your online presence.
Plans & Pricing: GoDaddy has a range of different plans to meet user needs, like other hosting service providers. If you have a small site with few pages, go with the shared hosting plans because they are the least expensive option. The deluxe plan provides the most value, allowing you to host an unlimited number of websites, get unmetered bandwidth, storage, and more.
Free Domain: One parameter that distinguishes GoDaddy from other hosting providers is the free features it offers its users. The biggest freebie you can get from GoDaddy is a free domain, which it offers for the first year, after which it reverts to the regular price.
When you consider that domain names can cost anything in the neighborhood of $5 to $5000 a year, a free domain name is a nice gesture to new users, even if it lasts for only a year.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- 200MB MSSQL Database Storage
- One-click installations for various apps, including WordPress
- 24/7 phone and live chat support from Mondays to Fridays
- Plesk Control Panel
- 33% first-year savings on introductory Windows prices
- Free office 365 with 5 GB of dedicated storage for your first year
- One-click setups for GoDaddy registered domains
Cons
- A limited basic plan with no special features or bonuses
- Expensive renewal fees
- Too much upselling
Image Credit: GoDaddy
Round-the-clock site monitoring, free domains, and superior customer service? Check out GoDaddy today for a hosting plan that suits your needs.
AccuWeb Hosting is a Microsoft-approved WebMatrix Compatible Hosting company, with a long industry run of 19 years. So, if you want a reliable shared hosting provider with industry experience, here’s one to consider.
- Overall score: 4.9
- Ease of Use: 4.8
- Useful Features: 4.8
- Uptime & Speed: 4.9
- Customer Support: 4.8
- Plans & Pricing: 4.9
AccuWeb Hosting boasts of fast servers, the latest ASP.Net tools and SSD drives on each package. Each of their shared Windows Hosting packages come with database support, IIS 8, free email accounts, MS SQL 2012 and more.
With their high-powered infrastructure, a liberal refund policy, and plenty of security features, this is a service provider you want to try.
Research Findings
Ease of Use: AccuWeb Hosting features a cPanel that’s easy to navigate. With a few clicks of your mouse you can edit your site’s SEO settings, set up email accounts, install WordPress, add subdomains and more.
Its colorful and intuitive interface places information at your fingertips, so you don’t need to contact support for everything. Both advanced users and beginners will find it easy to use this service because of its simplistic interface.
Useful Features: AccuWeb Hosting’s shared Windows hosting plan offers a generous amount of SSD storage with every package. They also come with free daily backups, SSL certification and a LiteSpeedWebServer to ensure your website pages load fast.
While some hosting service providers limit the features of their Windows hosting plans, or charge higher for them, AccuWeb Hosting gives equal attention to its Linux and Windows shared hosting plans; so you don’t miss out on anything.
AccuWeb Hosting also offers free daily backups, unlike the industry standard weekly backups for shared hosting plans, distinguishing it from the competition. Each user account on this service enjoys two layers of DDoS protection and on every cPanel is a free security monitoring tool, and antivirus to keep linked websites safe.
Security is one of AccuWeb’s strong suits, and not only does it provide basic website protection, it also carries out automatic malware cleanups, checks blacklist statuses, and monitors domains’ reputation.
Uptime & Speed: Aside from being lightning-fast, AccuWeb Hosting offers 99.9% guaranteed uptime. You can rely on AccuWeb Hosting to deliver a rock-solid shared Windows hosting experience.
Customer Support: There are four ways to contact the AccuWeb Hosting customer support team: via telephone support, 24/7 live chat, emails and ticketing. The live chat has an average response time of seven seconds, while ticket reponses take about 11 minutes, making it a reliable customer support service.
Alternatively, there is a rich knowledge base that covers a range of articles, tutorials and FAQs, if you prefer to troubleshoot your issues independently.
Plans & Pricing: One distinguishing feature with this hosting service provider is its affordable pricing, with shared Windows hosting plans starting at $3.49 a month. The beginner plan offers a 10 GB storage, 500 GB Bandwidth, 250 MB RAM, with one domain name.
If your site gets heavy traffic, you can upgrade to the Turbo plan for only $13.99 a month, which allows you to host five domains, access 50 GB storage, 1.5 TB Bandwidth, and 750 MB RAM. So, whatever plan you choose, you get fair pricing for topnotch quality.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Vast knowledgebase
- Reliable 24/7 customer service
- Uber fast servers
- WordPress features
- Crystal Report Runtime Engine
- ASP.NET SQL Server Session Support
- Fully-secured tier 3 data center
- 24/7 server monitoring
Cons
- Its cheapest plan can’t withstand high site traffic
- Does not offer 24/7 phone support
Image Credit: AccuWeb Hosting
Undoubtedly, AccuWeb Hosting is one of the market’s secure and reliable shared Windows hosting services. By combining premium features with high-performance, and with superior security systems, AccuWeb Hosting distinguishes itself from the competition. To top it all, they offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, so what do you have to lose?
Hostwinds is a customer-centric shared Windows hosting provider with attractive features, fast servers, and cutting-edge technology at affordable costs. This is one of the best if you need fast and reliable windows hosting for your business or personal use.
- Overall Score: 4.8
- Ease of Use: 4.7
- Useful Features: 4.8
- Uptime & Speed: 4.7
- Customer Support: 4.8
- Plans & Pricing: 4.7
Hostwinds stands out from the competition because it owns all its systems, servers, and structures. This allows you to save costs by offering cutting-edge technology at affordable prices.
Research Findings
Ease of Use: Hostwinds has easily-customizable cloud servers with various 1-click installation options. Its website builder is easy to use, and you don’t need to code before setting it up. With the drag-and-drop website builder, you can launch your website in minutes from its range of customizable themes.
Useful Features: All shared hosting plans have monitoring services that watch your site 24/7. If any issue arises, it automatically dispatches a ticket to the team of expert support engineers to deal with it.
Daily backups are guaranteed with Hostwinds, so your data is ready whenever needed. Shared hosting plans include a free domain name, unlimited disk storage space, email accounts, subdomains, and more.
Uptime & Speed: Hostwinds has a 99.9% guaranteed uptime because it has a backup system that ensures its services run round the clock. This service provider believes its users should not worry about network connectivity, so it takes extra steps to guarantee that all sites connected run at high speed.
Customer Support: Hostwinds boasts of a team of expert technicians available at all hours. This support comes at no extra cost; you can contact them as your schedule permits.
Plans & Pricing: Hostwinds’ selling point is its small prices, with its basic shared hosting package starting at $6.74 a month and its advanced hosting plan costing $14.24 a month.
We investigated and found that Hostwinds offers big benefits at low prices. So, turn to them for reliable shared windows hosting.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Free SSL certificates
- Free website transfer
- 99.9% uptime guarantee
- Responsive customer support
- Easy to use dashboard and control panel
Cons
- Limited server locations, with data centers only in the United States and Amsterdam
- None of the shared hosting plans come with free domain names.
Image Credit: Hostwinds
Check out this hosting service provider for the best technology at affordable prices.
I would go for 1&1 Ionos if I wanted an affordable, easy-to-use Windows hosting provider with hands-on technical support.
- Overall Score: 4.4
- Ease of Use: 4.3
- Useful Features: 4.4
- Uptime & Speed: 4.4
- Customer Support: 4.3
- Plans & Pricing: 4.4
While it manages over 12 million domains worldwide, 1&1 Ionos is not for everyone. Personally, It is recommended for small businesses that want cheap pricing and dedicated support.
Its online reviews are mixed, with many users complaining about sneaky add-ons and difficulty canceling plans. So, Ionos can do more in terms of its service, but it still offers good value for money and a wide range of hosting options.
Research Findings
Ease of Use: 1&1 Ionos has a custom setup, different from other service providers that work with cPanel. While this is a unique and creative approach, it can get confusing for users. Since they target small business owners who may be beginners, it is best to update its control panel to something more user-friendly.
Useful Features: You get free daily backups, auto-installation of WordPress and other apps, a free SSL certificate, and more for every hosting plan.
Uptime & Speed: This service provider has a great uptime score. After testing, it showed a 99.98 uptime score, which matches the “almost 100% uptime” claim on its website. So, stability with this plan is guaranteed.
While it may not be the fastest hosting service provider, 1&1 Ionos does not perform poorly, as it has 15 data centers with performance varying depending on the data center in use. Usually, you’d get a data center closer to you.
Customer Support: Since Ionos had rebranded to 1 & 1 Ionos, it upgraded its abysmal customer service, and now each user receives one-on-one support from a dedicated customer support agent, free of charge.
Plans & Pricing: 1 & 1 Ionos is a budget-friendly service provider, beating every other service provider’s offer with a $1 monthly rate. While other platforms have complex pricing structures, Ionos is upfront, with fixed prices for its first year and subsequent upgrades.
All plans come with unlimited storage, one free domain name for a year, and one email account with 2 GB of email storage.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strong uptime
- Fast loading speed
- A free domain name and email account
- Free SSL security
- Cheap hosting service
- Dedicated support for each customer
Cons
- Only available in select countries
- No free site migration
- Hidden costs
- Negative online reviews
- Complex control panel
Image Credit: 1&1 Ionos
There’s not much that beats having a personal support consultant to handle your web hosting issues. Try 1&1 Ionos today.
If you want the latest technology and optimum performance from a shared Windows hosting provider, then MilesWeb is the right choice, with its great features and fair pricing.
- Overall Score: 4.4
- Ease of Use: 4.3
- Useful Features: 4.3
- Uptime & Speed: 4.2
- Customer Support: 4.3
- Plans & Pricing: 4.5
MilesWeb combines speed and affordable pricing to create some of the market’s most reliable shared Windows hosting packages. If you’re a new website owner or small business, this service can help reduce your overhead costs with its cheap pricing.
Since prices are constant, even at renewal, nothing surprises you, and you can plan your website hosting budget ahead of time.
Research Findings
Ease of Use: MilesWeb has a clean, versatile web-based control panel with a user-friendly interface (GUI) for easy website management. The powerful Plesk control panel is a constant feature on all its shared Windows hosting plans. It allows access to SEO tools like MarketGoo for analysis, easy WordPress installation, and more.
Useful Features: MilesWeb’s cloud-based infrastructure is a definite plus for the service provider, as customers tend to lean towards reliable, fast, and secure hosting services. Its shared Windows hosting plans feature a one-click installer for easy app installation and other state-of-the-art technologies.
You don’t have to wait hours to set up your hosting, as it offers an instant account after the payment process is complete. MilesWeb has a team of migration experts that can help move your site over while preserving your treasured data. The best part is that its data migration is free of charge!
Uptime & Speed: Performance is everything regarding hosting, especially if you want an Ultra-fast web solution. MilesWeb understands this and guarantees 99.95% uptime, with cutting-edge Tier 3 and Tier 4 data centers spread across six locations (USA, Canada, UK, India, Singapore, and Australia) to help it keep this promise and provide excellent uptime.
It has powerful SSD-based servers for storing user websites and providing blazing-fast speed. When we conducted a speed test, we discovered that it took about 2.1 seconds to load a single page, which is as good as it gets.
Customer Support: There is a decent amount of DIY customer support options on MilesWeb, unlike other service providers. Apart from its extensive searchable knowledge base, it has a video library packed with loads of tutorials covering various topics and a support forum with answers from the MilesWeb support team.
Alternatively, users can access the customer support team via live chat, telephone, email, or ticket. This service is available round-the-clock, all year-round.
Plans & Pricing: MilesWeb’s pricing is very reasonable, easily making it one of the market’s most affordable shared hosting services. Its cheapest shared Windows hosting plan, W-Solo has a tempting offer of $3 a month and allows you to host one website, add 10 email accounts, get 1GB SSD space, enjoy unlimited bandwidth, and more.
If you want to host unlimited websites and enjoy more storage space, up to 40GB, there is the W-Multi option; its highest shared Windows hosting plan. So, with MilesWeb, there’s something that fits every budget, and if you don’t like the service, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee that ensures you get a refund.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Free SSL certificates
- Onyx Plex Panel for website management and more
- 24/7 expert support
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- No free domain on its cheapest plan
- Unlimited packages are not exactly unlimited
Image Credit: MilesWeb
Looking for an Ultra-fast shared Windows hosting provider to rely on? Search no further; MilesWeb has you covered!
While many hosting companies have complex features, ResellerClub has beginners in mind, offering a perfect mix of features that come out simplistic and easy to use. However, advanced web professionals are ResellerClub’s target audience, as the shared Windows hosting provider offers users full SSH access, even on a shared hosting plan, without upgrading to VPS hosting plan.
- Overall Score: 4.0
- Ease of Use: 4.3
- Useful features: 4.0
- Uptime & Speed: 3.8
- Customer Support: 3.6
- Plans & Pricing: 4.5
They may not be popular among average internet users like other service providers, but ResellerClub is famous among web professionals, especially because of its unique hosting resale services that empower web developers.
Research Findings
Ease of Use: ResellerClub features an intuitive WebPro Panel perfect for business owners. This easy-to-use control panel allows you access to a readymade storefront where you can sell your products, fully branded accounts so your buyers can handle their orders themselves, and tools to create invoices for your services.
If you’re always on the move, you can take advantage of the ResellerClub Mobile App to manage your business on the go. It’s compatible with Android and iOS devices.
Useful Features: There is an inbuilt website builder that allows you to pick from hundreds of templates and extensions, using the drag-and-drop feature to apply them on your website easily. As it has developers and business owners in mind, ResellerClub allows you to optimize any website for eCommerce.
Users enjoy on-demand and automatic backups, AES 256-bit encryption from its CodeGuard Website Backup, and an SSL certificate. The platform also features a SiteLock Website Security which conducts daily scans, network scanning, and malware removals.
Uptime & Speed: ResellerClub promises 99.9% uptime, despite having only two data centers, one in the United States and another in India. However, it does not have positive reviews about its speed, but we found that the closer you are to any of its data centers, the faster your network will be. So, we recommend using this hosting provider only if you’re close to the US or India.
Customer Support: ResellerClub boasts a 50+ strong support squad equipped to give you the best technical assistance and round-the-clock guidance. You can reach the support team through the 24/7 live chat, support email, or direct telephone lines in the UK, USA, and India.
Alternatively, you can get answers to your pressing questions through its extensive Knowledge Base containing helpful videos and blog articles.
Plans & Pricing: ResellerClub has a range of affordable shared hosting packages, starting at $3.49 monthly for a single website or blog and $7.49 for medium to large businesses.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Affordable pricing
- Easy-to-use cPanel
- SSL Certificates
Cons
- Limited server locations
- Slow loading times
- Beginners may find some features too advanced to use
Image Credit: ResellerClub
ResellerClub has hosted over 200,000 customers in 150+ countries since its inception 24 years ago. So, they have the industry experience to host your business website and offer you the necessary technical services. Try them today!
iPage is ideal if you want high-quality, fast shared windows hosting at a pocket-friendly price.
- Overall Score: 4.5
- Ease of Use: 4.4
- Useful Features: 4.5
- Uptime & Speed: 4.5
- Customer Support: 4.5
- Plans & Pricing: 4.4
This award-winning shared Windows hosting service provider has 24 years of experience in the game, offering a broad range of features and managed services for its shared hosting packages.
Research Findings
Ease of Use: The iPage mobile-friendly website builder allows you to build your site from any device easily. With loads of pre-built themes and templates, you don’t need to be an expert to get your website up and running.
Useful Features: iPage offers you everything you need to build, market, and grow your site, all in one platform. Installing WordPress with iPage is fast and secure, and you can use the inbuilt eCommerce features to sell your goods online.
As an added benefit, iPage promises not to put a cap on the number of domains you can host on your account. So, feel free to add unlimited domains.
Uptime & Speed: iPage has rock-solid uptime, with 99.9% guaranteed on all plans.
Customer Support: Direct all technical issues or inquiries to the iPage support team through phone support and live chat. Customer support is not one of iPage’s strongest suits, as the hosting service provider only handles phone complaints daily between 7 am and 12 noon Eastern Time.
However, you can consult the extensive KnowledgeBase or follow the interactive blow-by-blow tutorials available on the platform.
Plans & Pricing: iPage is popular among beginners looking for an affordable plan, thanks to its low-priced entry-level subscription packages starting at $1.99. Its cheapest plan allows you to add unlimited websites and gives you a free SSL certificate, unlimited storage, and more.
However, you can’t pay every month; Instead, you must commit to annual billing options, which may not be a big deal, considering the company throws out a lot of discounts. There’s a 30-day money-back guarantee if you change your mind along the way.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Unlimited websites
- Unlimited storage
- Easy-to-use website builder
- Money-back guarantee
- Cheap pricing
Cons
- Zero cloud-based options
Image Credit: iPage
iPage believes affordable shared Windows hosting services do not have to come with a catch. So, if you want to enjoy quality features and an easy setup without the high cost, head over to iPage today!Ranking comparison between the Top Providers
Why You Should Choose A Shared Windows Hosting Plan
When starting your business or website, you may have to decide between getting a Linux or Windows shared hosting plan. While they may be limiting because many websites link to the same server, they are cheaper than dedicated or VPS hosting plans.
Here are some reasons why you should choose Windows over any other option:
- Windows as a platform is easier for newcomers, especially as it offers familiar Microsoft products. You don’t have to start learning new things or systems before using your website.
- If your website has to work with Microsoft solutions or programs like ASP.Net or MS Access, it only makes sense to choose a Windows hosting plan because of its compatibility.
- Windows servers are very stable and reliable, and using a top Windows shared hosting provider will guarantee that your site stays online at all times. Their plans are also scalable, so you can upgrade when needed.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Shared Windows Hosting Plan
High Scalability
When you start, the traffic demands on your website may not be much, but as your business grows, so will your website traffic. So, when looking for a shared Windows hosting provider, go for one that offers high scalability.
The plan you go for needs an unlimited database capacity because you will need it as your website grows. Check out their file transfer protocols because this determines how you will transfer files between the network and your computer; you don’t want limitations when the time arises.
Reputation/Reviews
There are many tempting offers on the internet, but take a step back and check a hosting provider’s reputation before committing to a package. These user reviews from third-party sites give unbiased insight into a hosting provider’s quality standards.
It would be wise to go for reasonable market value over tempting discounts.
Cost
Web hosting services typically have two fees – the initial set-up and renewal costs. Many hosting service providers give amazing discounts, charging less upon sign-up, but the renewal charges may be too heavy to bear.
So, read the fine print before choosing a shared Windows hosting service. Your chosen plan should match your budget, so check for transparent pricing, which tells you what to expect in the future.
The important question to ask yourself is whether you can keep up with the provider’s pricing or not. Go for the best price-value ratio and not the cheapest available package.
Features and Added Services
Before choosing a shared Windows hosting provider, investigate what other benefits the prospective provider offers. You should look for free SSL certificates, free domain registration, SSH access, and the kind of control panel it provides.
Some hosting providers offer customized control panels, but a standard option like a cPanel may be better for you. So, double-check these factors before choosing a plan.
Customer Support
With shared hosting, your website may face challenges like slow page loading, page unavailability, and more. What do you do? Who do you turn to? Your hosting service provider?
This is where customer support comes in. Look out for hosting providers that offer 24/7 support through different channels like live chat, emails, social media, and more. Also, ensure their support team consists of real people, not just bots or machines.
Speed and Website Security
A website that takes forever to load is an absolute turn-off for visitors and the site owner. Even if you have a cheap hosting plan, you would still want your website to load fast.
As you already know, your hosting service determines your website speed. So, do your research and choose a company that ranks high up the list of services with fast performance.
Security is another concern, especially with shared hosting packages. Hackers will find it difficult to access and steal data from a site that is well monitored. So, ensure that your chosen hosting package comes with the best possible website security systems.
Managed vs. Unmanaged
A network switch is the brain box of a network, the networking hardware that connects all devices and redirects and forwards data to its destination. Managed switches generally allow users better control over how their data travels and who can access it.
With managed switches, you can adjust each port to any setting and configure the network in many different ways. These managed switches allow you to track data and use them for network capacity and troubleshooting purposes.
On the flip side, with unmanaged switches, all devices belong to the same domain, and when two devices in the same domain try to send data simultaneously, a collision may occur.
The major differences between managed and unmanaged networks are their features, cost, security, control, and performance. Unmanaged switches, for instance, have basic security, while managed systems have better-secured systems.
Another difference is in cost, as unmanaged switches are more affordable than their managed counterparts. Small businesses can deploy unmanaged switches, but a standard organization typically requires a managed switch.
Best Shared Windows Hosting Services: Final Recommendations / Summary
As you can see, shared Windows hosting is the better option for small businesses, newbies, websites that do not have enough traffic, and people on a budget. It is preferable if you start a website from scratch or already have an existing medium-scale website. As your site grows, you can upgrade, but this is a good place to start.
But, remember that not all shared Windows hosting providers are the same, as some offer more comprehensive policies than others. So, consider the parameters in this guide when choosing your preferred plan.
The best way to find the right fit for your needs is through user and expert reviews. Third parties who have used the service before you may be the best way to determine what a service is worth. Don’t be afraid to take advantage of free trials and money-back guarantees before committing to a plan.