Web hosting for freelancers isn’t all that much different from generic hosting. At the same time, due to the nature of freelancers’ work – it helps if a host has as wide a diversity of tools as possible. This helps give freelancers the agility they need to support a wide variety of clients on a single platform.
While site builders like Wix and Weebly are usually freelancers’ favorites in the past, self-hosting options today are cheaper and catching up in capability (for freelancers).
ScalaHosting, for example, comes with built-in security features (auto malware scan, firewall, etc) so you don’t have to worry about your site getting hacked. Hostinger, on the other hand, provides a website building tool to help with rapid deployment requirements.
Now, let’s look at some hosting services we find suitable for freelancers.
ScalaHosting
ScalaHosting has a full range of products including Cloud and VPS hosting with its in-house built control panel, sPanel. The “Anytime Unconditional Money-back Guarantee” offered by the company transforms their offers into an irresistible proposition, particularly for those eager to experiment with their services without any financial risk.
Recommended Plans for Freelancers
HostScore
ScalaHosting Pros
- Outstanding hosting uptime and speed performance
- Affordable pricing
- Anytime unconditional Money-back Guarantee
- Automated backup with 7 restore points
- Generous offer in server resources – Even the lowest shared plan gets unmetered bandwidth and unlimited emails
- NVMe SSD storage for all shared hosting plans
- Innovative technology – SPanel, SShield, SWordPress
ScalaHosting Cons
- Price increase during the renewal
Hostinger
Hostinger has swiftly risen from its humble beginnings in 2004 to become a globally recognized web hosting powerhouse, known for its affordable, user-friendly services and innovative technologies like the proprietary hPanel. With a commitment to excellence and a rapidly expanding team, Hostinger continues to redefine the web hosting landscape, making it easier for users around the world to establish their online presence.
Recommended Plans for Freelancers
Hostinger Pros
- Affordable pricing
- Nine different data centers in four continents
- Good spread of hosting plans
- User-friendly control panel (hPanel)
- Wide range of payment options accepted
- Git environment available on shared hosting
- Additional 7% discount with coupon code “HOSTSCORE”
Hostinger Cons
- Price increase during the renewal
- Does not support Windows hosting
TMDHosting
TMDHosting is a full-service host and offer the gamut of hosting types ranging from shared all the way to dedicated servers. Plans are reasonably priced and come with significant value-added features. The company operates from data centers in five continents including South America and Africa, which is not often seen in market.
Recommended Plans for Freelancers
HostScore
TMDHosting Pros
- Affordable pricing
- Choice of global data centres in six continents
- Easy-to-use centralized dashboard
- Free white glove migration
- Host unlimited websites in Business or Enterprise plans
- Outstanding customer support
- Reinforced DDoS protection for all shared hosting accounts
TMDHosting Cons
- Lowest shared plan does not support automatic backup
- Free domain has no privacy protection
- Price increase during the renewal
Verpex
As a newcomer in the hosting industry, Verpex shows promise with feature-rich, affordable plans and solid customer support. Sadly, however, their premium hosting plans fall short in value compared to top-tier providers.
Recommended Plans for Freelancers
HostScore
Verpex Pros
- Budget-friendly shared and VPS hosting plans
- 45-day money back guarantee
- Daily backup included in all shared hosting plans
- Unlimited free site migrations
- Choice of 12 distributed data centers across five continents
Verpex Cons
- Price increase during the renewal
AltusHost
AltusHost offers a wide range of web hosting services and has data centers across Europe. The web host isn’t the cheapest around but prices are reasonable and their feature list is nicely balanced. All their shared hosting is powered by LiteSpeed server and new customers get free migration services to this host.
Recommended Plans for Freelancers
HostScore
AltusHost Pros
- Great hosting speed and uptime performance
- Generous resource allocation
- Excellent for Euro-targeted traffic
- Lots of freebies in shared hosting plans
AltusHost Cons
- Limited reach in non-European areas
- Some complaints on customer supports
- Price increase during the renewal
A2 Hosting
In the past one of the best hosting providers around, today A2 Hosting has slightly lost its shine. Pricing is above market average and performance is no longer top of its class. Still, reliability is decent and their attention to detail can be seen in prudent plan revisions on occasion.
Recommended Plans for Freelancers
HostScore
A2 Hosting Pros
- Server locations in North America, Europe, and Asia
- Free website migration assistance
- Developer-oriented features even on shared hosting
- Custom performance optimizations tools available in higher shared plans
A2 Hosting Cons
- Steep price increase during the renewal
- Free site transfers mainly for cPanel installations
- HTTP/2 only on TURBO plans
- Lowest shared plan does not support automatic backup
BlueHost
One of the oldest names in shared hosting market, BlueHost today is now owned and managed by public listed company NewFold Digital. Features are unremarkable and while sign-ups may get you steep discounts, renewal prices are about on par with market average.
Recommended Plans for Freelancers
BlueHost Pros
- Free domain name with all shared hosting plans
- $100 free ad credits with all plans
- Comprehensive and easy-to-navigate knowledgebase
BlueHost Cons
- Renewal fees can be significantly higher
- Many upsells on additional features
- Add-ons can get expensive
- Only US-based servers
- Customer support can be better
DreamHost
DreamHost has been in business for more than 20 years today. It is a full service host that offers plans suitable for a variety of needs from shared hosting to VPS, cloud, and dedicated servers. Features are unremarkable but the company is one of the very few recommended by WordPress.org.
Recommended Plans for Freelancers
HostScore
DreamHost Pros
- Reliable server uptime performance
- Daily backup included in all shared hosting plans
- 97-day Money back guarantee
- Extensive knowledgebase
DreamHost Cons
- Price increase during the renewal
- Live chat support can be better
- Server location in the United States only
- No free site migration assistance
GreenGeeks
With their eco-friendly vision GreenGeeks has positioned themselves in a unique spot to offer hosting that some companies have bylaws mandating them to take advantage of – green hosting. Combined with above-average performance and a good spread of supporting technologies, they are an attractive option for many.
Recommended Plans for Freelancers
HostScore
GreenGeeks Pros
- Returns 3x power consumed with renewable energy credits
- Affordable pricing
- Free daily backup for all shared hosting plans
- All plans support Perl, Python and Git
- Free website migration assistance
- Root access, control panel and cPanel/WHM included in reseller hosting plans
GreenGeeks Cons
- Price increase during the renewal
- Slightly lacklustre customer service
- Non refundable setup fees
Fastcomet
While the brand may not be globally recognized, Fastcomet comes up aces when considering performance. It tacks along sterling support to bring it up to par with the best in the industry. If reliability is what you seek, look no further.
Recommended Plans for Freelancers
Fastcomet Pros
- High-speed and reliable hosting
- Decent range of hosting plans
- Comprehensive support
- Excellent reputation
Fastcomet Cons
- Limited features on lower-priced plans
NameCheap
Namecheap is another long-serving company in the web hosting business and was founded way back in 2000. They are an excellent resource for not just new domain names, but you can also bid for some existing ones as well. NameCheap also offers a good range of hosting solutions including shared, VPS, dedicated, and reseller plans. While their hosting features might not be outstanding, they are certainly adequate – especially when you consider their exceptionally low pricing.
Recommended Plans for Freelancers
HostScore
NameCheap Pros
- Budget-friendly shared hosting plans
- Excellent domain name prices with free lifetime privacy protection
- Free site migration
- Perl, Ruby, and Python support in shared hosting plan
NameCheap Cons
- Price increase during the renewal
- Limited VPS plans
- Only US and UK-based servers
- Pay extra to choose UK-data center
Chemicloud
A relatively new player in the web hosting scene, Chemicloud first emerged in 2016. Since then, they’ve been growing slowly but steadily. Part of that is their focus on increasing their capabilities alongside their customer base.
Recommended Plans for Freelancers
Chemicloud Pros
- Excellent reliability and speed
- Dev-friendly packages available
- Well-priced
- Impressive customer support
Chemicloud Cons
- Lack of other business services
- Limited knowledge base
Freelancers: Hosting Features You Need
Because of the wide diversity of needs that may occur from one client to another, freelancers would do well to find web hosts that have vast potential.
When choosing a web host as a freelancer, here are the hosting features you need to consider:
- Performance – Being in the middle of a client and a service provider is never easy. The better the website performance in terms of speed and reliability of a host, the less problematic a freelancer’s life will be.
- Scalability – Freelancers work with clients of all sizes and being able to work consistently with one host can make a difference.
- Rapid Development & Deployment – Having the tools to quickly design, build, and launch customer sites can incredibly boost a freelancer’s bottom line.
- Development Environments – Different projects may require different environments for development and a host which is more agile in this area can be helpful.
- Partner Programs – Different clients work in different ways. Ideally, a good host for freelancing has great partner programs that can handle both clients and referrals from freelancers.
The Freelancer’s World is a Crowded Place
In recent study, Upwork finds 64 million Americans freelanced in 2023 and contributed $1.27 trillion into U.S. economy (source). In this rapidly growing and fiercely competing industry, having a personal website to showcase work is crucial for standing out.
For freelancers, selecting a hosting service that is both reliable and affordable becomes essential, balancing cost-effectiveness with the need for a professional online presence.
