Top 10 Web Hosting Companies in Singapore Offering the Most Reliable and Fastest Web Hosting Services Today

How to Choose a Web Hosting Company to Store Your Files and Quickly Get Your Website Up and Running

It is crucial to have a reliable website hosting service for your brand to deliver a high-quality service to the public through a business site. A good hosting service can support various applications like systems, virtual stores, blogs, and websites, improving performance and enhancing security.

A web hosting service provider helps your website perform better and be more secure. It also makes hosting a website easier by handling tasks like software installation and providing technical support.

The Basics of Web Hosting

Website hosting means purchasing storage space on a web server to store and access your website's files. To sell your products (or display your website), you need to have a section for your shop and reserve a space on the server.

When you purchase a website hosting package, you essentially lease space on a web server. This enables internet users to access your products via your website, which exists as files on the server. Whenever someone visits your website, the server sends the necessary information to display the site on the viewer's device. For example, the server will send it to your browser screen if you want to view a blog. When you select a particular blog post, the server will display it on your screen.

Website hosting also means publishing your website online. The server stores all the files that make up your website, ensuring that your website is always available for viewing. The web host keeps the server running smoothly and protects it from cyber-attacks.

You can subscribe to website hosting services monthly according to your website's requirements. Although some website hosts offer free services, your control will be limited, and your website may be filled with ads to cover the cost of the service. This could give your visitors the impression of unprofessionalism or disorganisation.

The function of web hosting is to store your website files physically, whereas a domain name serves as the address of that storage location. Note that you can only create a website if you have bought a domain name, even though having a domain name does not necessarily mean you already have a website.

Types of Web Hosting

When searching for a hosting provider, you will find various types with different prices, features, and technical specifications. The resources needed to power the website differ based on its requirements. For instance, a high-traffic and high-resource website will require a hosting service with substantial power to handle its workload, while a low-traffic site can manage with less power.

These are the standard web hosting services:

Shared Hosting

Shared hosting means your account and websites will use the same resources as other accounts on that server. The main advantage of shared hosting is affordability, which is generally the most inexpensive option. Shared hosting providers often promote high limits, such as unlimited websites and storage, although such hosting is never truly unlimited.

There are better configurations than sharing resources with other accounts for optimal performance. The performance of shared hosting depends on the number of hosting accounts on each server.

VPS Hosting

A virtual private server (VPS) web hosting plan offers dedicated and shared hosting features. It creates virtually partitioned sections on the web server to host website content and provide a dedicated server-like environment while sharing the server among several users. This allows businesses and website owners to customise their storage resources without the expense of a dedicated server.

The main server is divided into multiple virtual servers that individual websites can personalise. You can choose a VPS hosting plan with optional root access if you want control over your server's settings. Your website will experience the improved performance as it will have access to more resources. This will result in faster loading times and higher uptime rates. You won't have to worry about multiple websites causing your site to crash. While a dedicated server may not be necessary for most websites, a VPS can provide some benefits at a more affordable cost.

Dedicated Hosting

Dedicated hosting means exclusive access to an entire physical server for your website(s). This allows for complete control of the hardware and software used for your site. You don't need to share resources with others. This is typically unnecessary for the average WordPress user. It is mainly intended for larger corporations that require specific technical or regulatory features. Instead, cloud hosting offers similar performance benefits as dedicated hosting at a more affordable cost for most WordPress users.

Dedicated hosting is often regarded as the top option in web hosting, providing you with a dedicated server for your website. With this type of hosting, you can enjoy excellent uptime and faster speeds. Nonetheless, it is worth noting that this is also the most costly type of hosting. Hosting your website on a dedicated server means you have complete control over the server settings, including the software and configurations. This ensures that your website operates at peak performance without sharing resources with other websites.

Managed WordPress Hosting

Managed WordPress hosting is a hosting service that caters to websites created using WordPress. It offers a more secure and optimised hosting environment than traditional hosting.

The hosting provider handles the technical tasks of running and maintaining the website, such as software updates, security, backups, and performance optimisation. Therefore, website owners can focus on creating and publishing content without concern about the underlying technical infrastructure.

Managed WordPress hosting provides additional services beyond generic hosting, known as concierge features, that cater specifically to WordPress users. These include automatic backups, staging, automatic WordPress updates, built-in performance optimisations, WordPress-specific security features, and expert WordPress support.

Colocation Hosting

Colocation hosting is a hosting option suited for large businesses. In colocation hosting, you buy the hosting hardware, including servers, and rent space in a different company's data centre. The company will provide power and maintenance for your hardware.

You can keep using your infrastructure but do not need your own physical space, with all the related costs, such as electricity and air conditioning.

Cloud Hosting

Cloud hosting is similar to a VPS but more affordable. It involves several remote servers, where each server has a specific role. If one server fails, the others take over its tasks. This is why cloud web hosting is becoming popular over traditional web hosting. Consider using a cloud plan if your website gets more than 50,000 monthly page visits. Rather than upgrading to a VPS, cloud hosting can be a different option for websites that have outgrown their shared plan.

Cloud servers can improve your website's uptime rates and decrease unexpected downtime caused by server errors. This will keep your website running smoothly and performing well.

One of the benefits of cloud web hosting is scalability. Traditional hosting plans may require you to choose between paying for unused resources or possibly negatively impacting your website's performance by exceeding resource limits. However, with cloud hosting plans, you can flexibly adjust your resources based on your needs.

Essential Web Hosting Features

Choosing a web host can be complicated because it significantly impacts your website's speed, security, scalability, and usability. To pick the right web hosting provider, it's essential to consider the various features they offer, such as disk space, bandwidth, security, and more. Determining your requirements and identifying which features are necessary for your website is crucial.

Disk Space

One of the two essential services offered by web hosts is disk space or storage. A website comprises many files, including files responsible for its visuals and files determining its functionality when a button is clicked.

You will need specific files stored on web servers in physical data centres to operate a website. These files occupy disk space, so you will require a hosting plan to accommodate the necessary amount of disk space. Apart from the files needed for the website's functionality, you will also require extra space to house user-generated content such as images or videos.

Bandwidth

Web hosting solutions provide bandwidth as an essential service, which refers to a server's ability to transfer data in a given time. Choosing a hosting plan with sufficient bandwidth is crucial to decrease your website's loading time. A server that shares resources with fewer sites or upgrades your web server can increase your bandwidth.

Dedicated hosting is a web hosting plan where your website has its server, giving you more control and server resources. It is expensive. On the other hand, VPS and shared hosting are cheaper, but they limit the available bandwidth. You may find ads for unlimited bandwidth, but it's impossible. Physical limitations set a maximum speed limit.

Security

The financial resource website Fundera reports that 43% of small businesses experience cyberattacks, but having a reliable web host can help defend your website against such cyberattacks. You should opt for a web hosting plan that protects the data on your website with the following:

• SSL Certificates. Free SSL certificates, sometimes included in web hosting plans, help encrypt data sent through your website so that only the intended recipient can access it.
• Automated Malware Scans. Web hosting providers offer services such as malware removal and threat identification. Additionally, some provide website scans to increase security and notify owners about potentially harmful files.
• Firewall Management. A web application firewall is a type of security software that develops a set of protocols to safeguard your website from frequently occurring attacks.

Uptime

Uptime is the measure of the time your website is accessible to visitors. The higher the percentage of uptime, the better. The top web hosting solutions provide this with the following:

• Backup Servers. This ensures that your website will have a backup if the server hosting goes down, allowing it to be quickly restored.
• Backup Servers in Multiple Locations. If a natural disaster happens, having the same server in the same data centre will not ensure your website remains operational. However, suppose the duplicate servers are located in multiple data centres in different parts of the country. In that case, the chances of your website staying available are significantly higher.

Certain web hosting companies offer a refund if they do not meet their uptime commitment. They will compensate you for their failures.

Website Speed

Websites need to load within five seconds to meet the expectations of internet users. Slow website speed can negatively impact both user experience and search engine optimisation. A reliable web hosting company can assist with delivering faster page speeds by:

• Using servers with solid-state drives (SSD). SSDs have faster data access than conventional hard drives.
• Limiting sites on a shared server. Web hosting companies limit the number of websites on a shared server to ensure enough resources for each website because websites need server resources to function correctly. The more websites are hosted on a server, the more resources they compete for.
• Offering a content delivery network (CDN) service. A CDN is a set of servers located in different places that store static website elements like images, videos, CSS, JavaScript, and webpages. Their purpose is to reduce the time it takes for web content to reach a user by placing it closer to their location.

Pre-Installed Apps

Web hosts provide various web hosting features to users. These features are available in the form of apps. Examples of such apps include:

• cPanel. The cPanel is an application that allows you to manage service processes. However, the interface of the cPanel varies depending on your hosting provider and may be either user-friendly or challenging. It's worth noting that every hosting account features a cPanel.
• One-Click Installer. A one-click installer can simplify the installation of content management systems like WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla, saving you time and money.
• File Transfer Protocol. FTP is a secure method of managing files on a server.
• E-Commerce Features. Although there are specific hosting plans for e-commerce, you can also use adaptable web hosting services to make a blog that includes e-commerce features like payment gateways and shopping carts.

Domain Names

A domain name is the address of your website on the Internet. It was created to locate and recognise internet entities without relying on IP addresses. Many hosting plans offer complimentary domain registration.

Website owners sometimes buy a domain in advance for business email accounts and later choose a different web host. Therefore, they should be able to transfer the domain to another registrar.

Website Builder

Nowadays, building a website has become easier as many web hosting providers offer site builders as a part of their hosting package. For instance, some providers have a builder with a drag-and-drop interface and pre-designed templates, making the website-building process effortless.

The website builders also offer a stock image library, custom fonts, CSS, and free email hosting and marketing.

What to Look for in a Web Hosting Service

If your website is expanding, you may require more storage space, bandwidth, and other resources. To accommodate this growth, consider upgrading to a more advanced hosting plan; choosing a provider offering many web hosting services is crucial for easy upgrading. When selecting a web host, there are several factors to consider.

Control Panel

Choosing web hosts with a hosting control panel is recommended for managing your hosting account. This will allow you to easily manage your account without logging in to the web server. It allows for an efficient and user-friendly interface to easily manage your files, create backups, and install applications for your website.

Web Host Uptime

To avoid frequent and unexpected downtime that can harm your business and erode customers' trust, ensure the web host you choose lives up to the uptime guarantee they advertise. Checking for an uptime guarantee and fair terms of service is an excellent way to gauge how committed hosting companies are to keeping their systems reliable.

Technical Specifications

In addition to ensuring that your hosting service has ample disk space, processing power and bandwidth, it's important to consider other features that contribute to smooth website operation. Ask what is used for the servers to optimise their speed.

Security

Ensure your hosting provider has advanced security measures, such as access management, automated backups, updates, and malware detection, to safeguard your site against DDoS attacks and malware.

24/7 Customer Support

If you have any issues with your website, such as slow loading or security problems, having access to 24/7 customer or technical support can be very helpful. It is also important to see if the web host provides resources like tutorials or knowledge bases.

Scalability

It is important to consider scalability when selecting a website hosting server. If storage and bandwidth concern you, ensure your web host offers increased resources or different types of hosting so that your website can handle growth and avoid crashing under pressure. Also, you can choose a server with continuous uptime, which means it can run 24/7 without disrupting your website's service.

Additional Services

A hosting plan with free add-ons and features like an SSL certificate, a business email account, or a CDN provides excellent value for money. Web hosting costs vary depending on the plan and additional services.

To create a website, you require website hosting. With several hosting options available, it is essential to determine each type's advantages and disadvantages before deciding on one.

View our list of Singapore's best web hosting services to determine which web hosting plans fit your business needs.