Updated 18 September 2026. Originally published in 2016; revised to replace outdated advice and links.
Good hosting gives a website a reliable foundation. The right choice depends on the application, traffic and support you need—not simply whether a plan is labelled shared, cloud or VPS.
Measure the existing problem
Check availability, response times and what happens during busy periods. Review page images, scripts and external services too. A website can remain slow on an expensive server if the bottleneck sits elsewhere.
Compare the service around the server
- Who monitors faults and responds when something fails?
- What is backed up, where is it stored and how is recovery tested?
- Who maintains the software and certificate renewal?
- How will a migration handle email, DNS and enquiry forms?
- What resources and support are included in the agreed plan?
Keep ranking expectations realistic
Google’s page experience guidance describes a broader picture than a hosting label. Reliable, usable pages are worthwhile for customers; a server upgrade or HTTPS certificate is not a guarantee of higher positions.
For a practical explanation of connection security, read our HTTPS guide. For performance investigation, see how to check whether the server is the bottleneck.
The prices and limited-time SSL offer in this original 2016 article have expired. View our current hosting options and ask the team for advice.
