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Web Hosting Companies

Ariane Goodwin

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I asked: What are your experiences with Web hosts? Have you found one that is reasonably priced, service-oriented, and offers a wide range of options in the basic package? How long have you been with the host you currently have?

It was clear that some responses confused Web hosting with Web design/development. Also, some companies are strictly hosting companies and others offer hosting as part of a full-service, Web-development package. The former tend to have less expensive hosting fees and the later more expensive.

After contacting every service listed here, I've settled on http://www.futurequest.net.

Why? For starters, all they do is Web host. They don't even register domain names because they believe that third party companies do not serve the customer. Also, they responded to 3 queries within a couple of hours, sometimes less. My first query was at 1 am, their response at 3 am. Their answers were friendly, direct, and informative.

Then, when it felt too complicated for email, I requested a phone call. I sent that request, clicked open a file to work on, and bingo! The phone rang. A full minute hadn't passed. The gentleman who called answered every question I had. If FutureQuest didn't have what I needed, they had resources to recommend; resources that came from their own customers' experiences, not affiliate companies. After several questions, he recommended the basic package for my new Web site. No padding here.

Turns out that FutureQuest was started by a couple who, after plowing through any number of Web hosts, had developed a long list of what not to do. That's when they decided to start their own Web hosting company. So far, they are fresh air to this jaded technology customer.


N/R = Not Reported

-- Geoff Bryan

  • Name: www.futurequest.net
  • Length used: 18 months
  • Cost: N/R
  • Features: Excellent technical performance; no downtime problems; does not overbook or oversell its server space; server space you signed up for is permanently dedicated to you, even if unused; hosting packages are feature-rich; using Apache server software on Linux boxes; host a number of different domains within one; hosting account, requiring only a small one-time fee for setup
  • Service: Service-oriented company; exceptional; handled by email--responses within minutes & around the clock; knowledgeable, helpful, friendly; customers feel welcomed and involved.
  • Limitations: N/R
  • Notes: Everything is very stable, and kept up-to-date. Security is a continuing priority. I am much happier at this service than with either of my previous Web hosts, and currently have 7 domains hosted there.
  • Extra notes: When I, Ariane, contacted FutureQuest by email, I received an incredibly detailed response within two hours to my queries about their features. Their email was well organized with links to the appropriate pages on their Web site.

-- Steven Barnett

  • Name: DellHost
  • Length used: 2 years
  • Cost: About $20 / month
  • Features: N/R
  • Service: Good; haven't used tech support much because it's been very reliable.
  • Limitations: N/R

-- Claudia Rose

  • Name: LinkSky.com
  • Length used: 2 years
  • Cost: $4.95 / month
  • Features: Basic site; lots of free options; create my own sites with no knowledge of HTML
  • Service: Fantastic; love them
  • Limitations: Inability to run an autoresponse program
  • Notes: My 2 commercial sites are hosted elsewhere (see next recommendation).
  • Name: olm.net
  • Length used: Had my sites hosted by them for at least a couple of years until I found LinkSky
  • Cost: $30 / month
  • Features: Handle high traffic; very dependable
  • Service: Great
  • Notes: When I, Ariane, sent an email request off their Website email form, it bounced back four days later saying that the server had died of unknown causes. This was my second choice, until this defining moment.

-- Jill Lublin

  • Name: Planetlink.com
  • Length used: N/R
  • Cost: Pricing not on their Website because solutions are customized, varying from $25 to $50/ month.
  • Features: A Web design firm with hosting as part of the package; Internet Consulting and search engine promotion services. Hosting plans include comprehensive site statistics with over 100 different reports updated daily; optional site maintenance and support available.
  • Service: Courteous responses, excellent
  • Limitations: N/R
  • Notes: Contact Steve Lillo, call with any questions: 415-884-2022. Besides FutureQuest, this company was the most responsive. Steve sent me an email immediately when I, Ariane, had a question. I did not use their service because, though very customer friendly, it was more expensive than I wanted at this stage.

-- Susan Keane Baker

  • Name: the1host.com
  • Length used: N/R
  • Cost: N/R
  • Features: Site has never gone down
  • Service: 100% responsive; enjoyed working with them
  • Limitations: N/R

-- Rasheed

  • Name: ADDR.com
  • Length used: 3 years
  • Cost: $14.95 / month
  • Features: 300 MB space and 30 Gig of traffic per month; email list manager and shopping cart
  • Service: Adequate and praiseworthy
  • Limitations: N/R
  • Notes: I haven't found anything better.

-- Mark McGregor

  • Name: www.bgig.com
  • Length used: 2 yrs
  • Cost: N/R
  • Features: A Web design firm with hosting as part of the package; excellent search engine placement
  • Service: Courteous responses
  • Notes: Most of my keywords are ranked high.

-- Jon Schallert

  • Name: www.TerradonCommunications.com
  • Length used: Currently moving all our sites, all 8 domains
  • Cost: Charges less
  • Features: Maximized search engine placement; software to update and build a Website without programming; email software is great
  • Service: see other notes
  • Limitations: N/R
  • Notes: Tom Kittredge, their President, was an Internet expert at my BootCamp, and he was loved by everyone. Great guy, super smart, and very sharp. He's the best I've found in the country, I used it with a major client, and they were building a 200+ page Web site in a day.

-- Gordon Kirkland

  • Name: Netfirms.com
  • Length used: N/R
  • Cost: Free 25 megs of space with small banner ad and "netfirms" in the domain name; or $60US per year without either
  • Features: N/R
  • Service: N/R
  • Limitations: See "cost"
  • Notes: I have a fairly extensive site with a lot of graphic files.

-- Ron Jasnioski

  • Name: www.quik.com
  • Length used: N/R
  • Cost: Good rate
  • Features: A Web design firm with hosting as part of the package; broad list of services
  • Service: Very happy
  • Limitations: N/R
  • Notes: A national company with independent franchisees so you get friendly local service while backed by a large sound company.

-- Marv Marshall

  • Name: GlobalPresence.com
  • Length used: N/R
  • Cost: A Web marketing firm with hosting as part of the package; extremely reasonable
  • Features: N/R
  • Service: Excellent support
  • Limitations: N/R
  • Notes: Jason Saeler recently took over the company; very competent, and easy to reach and talk to.

-- Brad Montgomery

  • Name: estreet.com
  • Length used: N/R
  • Cost: N/R
  • Features: N/R
  • Service: I LOVE them; They are FABULOUS! Small. They care deeply. Excellent support
  • Limitations: N/R
  • Notes: (I, Ariane, tried to log onto this site and could not.)

-- Peter Krass

  • Name: CrystalTech Web Hosting; www.crystaltech.com
  • Length used: 2 years
  • Cost: $6.82/mo
  • Features: Web hosting, email, domain, remote email access via the Web, and extensive reporting
  • Service: No problems whatsoever.
  • Limitations: N/R
  • Notes: Many of my friends and colleagues use them, too, and we're all impressed by their combo of low prices, high quality.

-- Todd Brockdorf

  • Name: Aplus.net
  • Length used: N/R
  • Cost: very cheap (I, Ariane, actually found their pro package quite expensive. Also, they don't show cost of the plans until you click through to purchase, and then only at the very bottom of the form.)
  • Features: 800 # available 24 hrs/day for both sales and support; offer a handful of packages to meet most needs.
  • Service: consistently good and reliable
  • Limitations: N/R

-- Grant Holmes

  • Name: www.inetxtremes.com
  • Length used: N/R
  • Cost: N/R
  • Features: A Web design firm with hosting as part of the package; Encompasses all the attributes you mention in your post.
  • Service: N/R
  • Limitations: N/R
  • Notes: Gino Petitti is the owner and is the host for me, and most of my Web design clients. (I, Ariane, tried to email with the Web site form, and got a page-missing erro message.)

-- Jane Pollak

  • Name: www.voloservices.com
  • Length used: recent customer
  • Cost: from $20
  • Features: A Web design firm with hosting as part of the package; from basic to special needs, they offer solutions, without the hassle; CPanel, a good way to change your e-mail settings and watch your statistics
  • Service: Outstanding; small but well organized
  • Limitations: N/R
  • Notes: After problems with a big network, I have switched to Volo Services.

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