Myths About Small Web Hosting Providers

When choosing a web hosting company, what’s better: a large company or a small provider?

It depends what your needs are.

Let’s take a look at the differences between them.

Do You Need Support?

Some customers think a smaller host will have more time for supporting its customers.

But the ratio of support staff to customers may be the same at small and large hosts, so don’t bank on it.

The one thing that does change is the way support is handled. At a big company, tickets are passed around different staff. At a small company, you’re more likely to build a rapport.

Are You Concerned About Uptime?

Larger hosts have larger networks. They typically have more incoming connections, more servers and more routers.

However, those resources are typically divided up among many more customers.

Smaller hosts often lease space from a large datacenter shared with hundreds of other companies.

Check each host out individually. Don’t assume smaller hosts have a weaker network than a larger one.

Will Your Host Go Out Of Business?

If your host is shutting down, you’ll probably be long gone by the time it happens.

They’ll probably sell the accounts to another company before they disappear.

One reasonable fear is that your small host could be bought out by a large one. If prices and policies change, check to see if your family-run host is suddenly being swallowed up by a multinational.

Do You Need Flexibility?

Larger hosts have automated many account operations. A smaller host might be more hands-on.

This means slow setup times and slower support, but also helps you out because your host can be more flexible.

How to Choose

Don’t be afraid of using a larger firm if they suit your needs or moving to a smaller company if their products are right for you.

If in doubt, always check out hosting reviews before handing over any cash.