Cloud hosting is one of the most popular ways for small and medium-sized businesses to host their web operations. It offers a more reliable, personal option compared to shared hosting, without the high cost of a dedicated server operation.
There are numerous cloud hosting companies out there, each offering different packages with different specifications on different networks for different prices. It can be hard to know what is the right option for you.
What is Cloud Hosting?
Cloud hosting is when the resources required to power a website are spread out across a number of virtual servers, or cloud servers. Resources are pulled from these servers as and when they are needed. Cloud hosting is the opposite of dedicated hosting when all a site’s data sits on one server that one company alone uses.
The infrastructure behind cloud hosting networks is often set up by large companies, including Amazon with their hugely popular Amazon Web Services (AWS) operation, and Google. Third-party vendors then sell space on these networks.
Advantages of Cloud Hosting
Cloud hosting is a popular option for a number of reasons including:
- Efficiency – You only pay for the resources you use.
- Reliability – The main feature of the cloud is that if one server goes down, another will step in to plug the gap. This means cloud hosts can offer good levels of uptime.
- Scalable – Your cloud can grow with your business. Plus, your cloud host can cope with temporary spikes in visitor numbers without losing speed.
Disadvantages of Cloud Hosting
There are not many disadvantages to using a cloud host. Some believe that get more security and control by using a dedicated server, but cloud hosts are getting better all the time at protecting from cybercrime and offering new features to users.
If you’re considering going with the cloud hosting option for your business, here are 5 companies that are worth looking at:
#1 – Cloudways
Cloudways, based in Malta, prides itself on being easy to use. It’s popular with its users too, with over 100,000 web apps currently running on over 30,000 cloud servers.
Cloudways offers a choice of all the main cloud infrastructures, including Amazon and Digital Ocean. Once you’ve chosen your network and your web CMS, you can be up and running with Cloudways in minutes.
Packages with Cloudways are priced at 4 different levels, ranging from $10 per month to $1035 (presumably aimed at the super enterprise level) per month depending on factors such as bandwidth, RAM, and storage. However, you can try Cloudways for 30 days for free.
#2 – SiteGround Cloud
SiteGround, like Cloudways, is a European cloud host. They’re based in Sofia, Bulgaria. It services more than 1 million domains worldwide.
SiteGround prides itself on top-level technical support, which leads to thousands of satisfied customers. They provide onboarding help, managed migration for site data, and 24/7 phone and live chat support. SiteGround allows you to install all the main CMS apps on their networks, including WordPress and Magento.
Cloud hosting packages with SiteGround start at $80 per month and go up to $240 per month. The $80 Super Power plan gets you 8 CPU cores and 10GB memory and is aimed at the enterprise sector.
#3 – BlueHost Cloud
BlueHost, based in Utah, is one of the top 20 biggest web hosts globally. It is part of the Endurance International Group.
BlueHost’s selling point for its cloud hosting is its simplicity. It’s very easy to set up, and you can monitor your site’s performance using BlueHost’s simple dashboards. It’s also very fast, with an average loading time of 151 milliseconds.
Hosting plans for Bluehost start at $6.95 per month. Their top package is $15.95 per month, which includes capacity for unlimited websites.
#4 – TMDHosting Cloud
TMDHosting, based in Orlando, Florida is cloud host to such names as Synchronized Music and MyxMobile.
TMDHosting prides itself on the technical aspect of the service it provides its users. It’s all about cutting-edge tech and power when you sign up with TMDHosting. They guarantee an uptime of 99.999%, with ultra-fast and ultra-scalable service.
Like the other hosts we’ve mentioned so far, TMDHosting offers a variety of price points. Its starter cloud package costs $5.95 per month. The most powerful package, with 6 CPU cores, is priced at $10.95 per month. All options include a free domain.
#5 – HostGator Cloud
Based in Austin, Texas, Hostgator is one of the biggest names in the cloud hosting sector. They are also a massive name in the domain registration arena.
HostGator is all about value. Affordability is the unique selling point here. Their cloud hosting is amazing value, without compromising on speed, security, or support. They run 24/7/365 support for all their cloud customers.
The entry-level package with Hostgator is $4.95 per month. Called the Hatchling Package, it offers cloud hosting on 1 domain, with 2 CPU cores and 2GB of memory. To run more domains (or more resources), it is slightly more expensive, but sometimes simple is all you need.
Cloud hosting is a great option for your business website if you are not quite ready for a dedicated server operation. There are some terrific companies out there providing space in the cloud. It’s easy to find the one that’s right for you.
At Web Hosting Sun, we would love to hear about your experiences with cloud hosting.
Leave us a comment to let us know what you think.
Do you use a cloud hosting company? Why or why not?
