Best Web Hosting For Your Money - January 2023
Introduction
Hi and welcome to this month’s guide to the best shared web hosting for your money. It’s one place where you can find some of South Africa’s best web hosting packages all nicely tabularised for easy reading. Every row can be clicked on to reveal more information about the package. The point of the guide is simple: Find the best value for money web hosting.
Three web hosting companies have been added this month: Domaincheap, Elitehost and MI HOST. This brings the total amount of hosts for November 2013 to thirteen. The hosts are:
- @tlantic
- Afrihost
- Ample Hosting
- Cybersmart
- Domaincheap
- Elitehost
- Gridhost
- Hetzner
- Host4Africa
- MI HOST
- MWEB
- Serve-Hosting
- Web Africa
Just like the first post, I’m basing all my opinions on the price and features of the hosting packages. It’s also important to keep support in mind. In time I would love to review all the hosts but for now it’s just not possible and we will have to judge according to price. So you will find that the tables are sorted by price and that I’ve included a new field, whether the package is hosted locally or not.
Categories
Linux Shared Hosting
-Cheapest of the cheap (R0 to R50)
-Medium sized website (R50 to R100)
-Large with fries (R100+)
Windows Shared Hosting
Final Word
Linux Shared Hosting
Cheapest of the cheap (R0 to R50)
| Cost | Traffic | HDD Space | Local | Emails | Databases | Free Domain | Domains | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cybersmart-Pink | R0 PM | Unlimited | 600 MB | Yes | 5 | Yes | No | ? |
| Domaincheap-Free | R0 PM | 1 GB | 50 MB | Yes | 1 | No | No | ? |
| MI HOST-Bronze | R6 PM | Unlimited | 100 MB | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | Unlimited |
| Gridhost-Personal | R8.95 PM | Unlimited | 70 MB | No | 15 | 2 | No | 1 |
| Afrihost-Bronze Home | R9 PM | Unlimited | 300 MB | Yes | 5 | No | Yes | 1 |
| Host4Africa-Basic Hosting | R9.99 PM | Unlimited | 50 MB | No | 5 | 1 | No | 1 |
| Cybersmart-Blue | R18 PM | Unlimited | 2 GB | Yes | 25 | Yes | No | ? |
| Afrihost-Silver Home | R19 PM | Unlimited | 750 MB | Yes | 25 | No | Yes | 1 |
| Hetzner-Micro | R19 PM | 1.5 GB / 5 GB | 1 GB | Yes | 20 | No | No | 1 |
| Web Africa-Starter | R19 PM | 750 MB | 750 MB | Yes | 5 | No | Yes | 1 |
| Domaincheap-Micro | R24 PM | Unlimited | 2 GB | Yes | 20 | 0 | Yes | ? |
| Gridhost-Blogger | R24.95 PM | Unlimited | 2 GB | No | 30 | 3 | No | 3 |
| Ample Hosting-Echo 2 | R26 PM | 20 GB | 4 GB | No | 7 | 7 | No | 1 |
| Gridhost-Personal | R26.95 PM | 3 GB | 800 MB | Yes | 15 | 2 | No | 1 |
| MWEB-Lite | R29 PM | Unlimited | Unlimited | Yes | 1 x 50mb | 1 | Yes | 1 |
| @lantic-LinuxWeb | R29 PM | Unlimited | 100 MB | Yes | None | 1 | No | 1 |
| Serve Hosting-Serve 1 | R29.99 PM | 12.5 GB | 1 GB | No | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | 10 |
| MI HOST-Silver | R31 PM | Unlimited | 500 MB | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | Unlimited |
| Elitehost-Unlimited | R35 PM | Unlimited | Unlimited | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | 1 |
| Cybersmart-Yellow | R38 PM | Unlimited | 4 GB | Yes | 75 | Yes | No | ? |
| Afrihost-Gold Home | R39 PM | Unlimited | 2 000 MB | Yes | 75 | 1 | Yes | 1 |
| Hetzner-Micro Pro | R39 PM | 3 GB / 10 GB | 2 GB | Yes | 50 | No | No | 1 |
| Host4Africa-Standard Hosting | R39.99 PM | Unlimited | 250 MB | No | 15 | 1 | No | 1 |
| MI HOST-Gold | R46 PM | Unlimited | 1 GB | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | Unlimited |
| Cybersmart-Green | R48 PM | Unlimited | 10 GB | Yes | 200 | Yes | No | ? |
| Afrihost-Platinum Home | R49 PM | Unlimited | 3 000 MB | Yes | 200 | 5 | Yes | 1 |
| Ample Hosting-Echo 3 | R49 PM | 100 GB | 10 GB | No | 250 | 10 | No | 3 |
| Ample Hosting-Silver-U | R49 PM | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | 1 |
| Ample Hosting-Silver | R49 PM | 10 GB | 5 GB | Yes | 35 | 10 | No | ? |
| Domaincheap-Starter | R49 PM | Unlimited | 4 GB | Yes | 30 | 1 | Yes | ? |
| MWEB-Pro | R49 PM | Unlimited | Unlimited | Yes | 5 x 50mb | 2 | Yes | 1 |
| Gridhost-Storefront | R49.95 PM | 6 GB | 2 GB | Yes | 20 | 5 | No | 2 |
Domaincheap joins Cybersmart in offering a free hosting package. For both of them you need to register a domain. There are also some very cheap deals that include a domain so it makes for some difficult choices. Here are my winners:
Cheapest of the Cheap: Cybersmart
Domaincheap may add another free package but it doesn’t come close to Cybersmart’s deal. All the hosting packages at Cybersmart have doubled in allowed hard drive space this month so that adds even more value. Plus you get access to a database and unlimited traffic.
The Most Space: MWEB
MWEB still takes this one but you got to wonder how “unlimited” their HDD space really is. It will be worth it to contact them and find out before hosting with them just for the storage space.
Most Sites on a Single Package: MI HOST
All their shared hosting packages allow for unlimited sites. You are basically only held back by the amount of HDD space. I had to make sure if it can be true and yes, they confirmed that there is no limit to the amount of domains per hosting plan.
Best Low Cost Deal: Cybersmart
Last month I picked Gridhost but Cybersmart must be the winner. Their free plan is just out of this world and if that doesn’t suit you even the plans that are a little bit more expensive offer so much. My only gripe is that they don’t seem to reply to me when I email them. The one time they did it took very long. I just hope their actual hosting support is better.
Medium sized website (R50 to R100)
| Cost | Traffic | HDD Space | Local | Emails | Databases | Free Domain | Domains | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gridhost-Standard | R59.95 PM | Unlimited | 4 GB | No | Unlimited | 10 | No | 10 |
| Elitehost-Unlimited Plus | R60 PM | Unlimited | Unlimited | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | 3 |
| Afrihost-Bronze pro | R65 PM | Unlimited | 4 GB | Yes | 500 | 20 | Yes | 1 |
| Host4Africa-Power Hosting | R69.99 PM | Unlimited | 750 MB | No | 30 | 1 | No | 2 |
| Web Africa-Premium | R79 PM | Unlimited | 5 GB | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | Yes | Unlimited |
| Ample Hosting-Gold | R79 PM | 20 GB | 10 GB | Yes | 50 | 20 | No | ? |
| Ample Hosting-Gold | R79 PM | 100 GB | 1 500 MB | Yes | 25 | 10 | No | ? |
| Gridhost-Blogger | R79.95 PM | 9 GB | 4 GB | Yes | 30 | 3 | No | 3 |
| Ample Hosting-Gold-U | R86 PM | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | Unlimited |
| Elitehost-Business | R89.95 PM | 30 GB | 10 GB | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | 1 |
| Serve Hosting-Serve 2 | R89.99 PM | 36.5 GB | 3 GB | No | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | 25 |
| Cybersmart-Aqua | R98 PM | Unlimited | 20 GB | Yes | Unlimited | Yes | No | ? |
| Afrihost-Silver Pro | R99 PM | Unlimited | 10 GB | Yes | 2000 | 100 | Yes | 1 |
| Domaincheap-Silver | R99 PM | Unlimited | 10 GB | Yes | 50 | 5 | Yes | ? |
| MI HOST-Elite | R99 PM | Unlimited | 2 GB | yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | Unlimited |
| Hetzner-Basic | R99 PM | 20 GB / Unlimited | 5 GB | Yes | 100 | 5 | No | 10 |
| MWEB-Ultra | R99 PM | Unlimited | Unlimited | Yes | 10 x 50mb | 3 | Yes | 2 |
| Host4Africa-Mega Hosting | R99.99 PM | Unlimited | 1.5 GB | No | 75 | 1 | No | 5 |
Almost Unlimited – Local: Web Africa and Elitehost
The closest to having everything unlimited locally is shared between two hosts. Web Africa limits you to 5 GB hard drive space and Elitehost limits you to 3 domains. So it all depends on your own needs.
Unlimited Everything – International: Ample Hosting
I was really hoping that there would be a local alternative in this price range but alas if you want everything unlimited for under R100 then Ample Hosting is your answer.
Best deal for R100 or less Web Africa
It’s a difficult choice but unlimited domains plus a free domain and 5GB hard drive space is great value. Even better is that it is hosted in South Africa.
Large with fries (R100+)
| Cost | Traffic | HDD Space | Local | Emails | Databases | Free Domain | Domains | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ample Hosting-Platinum | R129 PM | 40 GB | 20 GB | Yes | 75 | 25 | No | ? |
| Ample Hosting-Platinum | R129 PM | 200 GB | 3 000 MB | Yes | 75 | 50 | No | ? |
| Gridhost-Business | R129.95 PM | 15 GB | 8 GB | Yes | 60 | 5 | No | 5 |
| Gridhost-Unlimited | R129.95 PM | Unlimited | 15 GB | No | Unlimited | Unlimited | Yes | Unlimited |
| Ample Hosting-Platinum-U | R138 PM | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | Unlimited |
| Elitehost-Unlimited Pro | R140 PM | Unlimited | Unlimited | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | 7 |
| Hetzner-Standard | R149 PM | 30 GB / Unlimited | 10 GB | Yes | 250 | 10 | No | 25 |
| Gridhost-Warehouse | R149.95 PM | 20 GB | 10 GB | Yes | 60 | 15 | Yes | 3 |
| Serve Hosting-Serve 3 | R149.99 PM | 66.5 GB | 5 GB | No | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | 50 |
| Host4Africa-Ultra Hosting | R149.99 PM | Unlimited | 3 GB | No | 100 | 2 | No | 10 |
| Afrihost-Gold Pro | R165 PM | Unlimited | 20 GB | Yes | 5000 | 200 | Yes | 1 |
| Elitehost-Business Plus | R169.95 PM | 60 GB | 20 GB | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | 3 |
| @lantic-LinuxWeb+ | R179 PM | Unlimited | 2 000 MB | Yes | 250 | 5 | No | Unlimited |
| Ample Hosting-Diamond | R199 PM | 400 GB | 5 000 MB | Yes | 200 | 100 | No | ? |
| Web Africa-Premium Plus | R199 PM | Unlimited | 20 GB | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | Yes | Unlimited |
| Web Africa-Premium Plus | R199 PM | Unlimited | 20 GB | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | Yes | Unlimited |
| Domaincheap-Gold | R199 PM | Unlimited | 50 GB | Yes | 100 | 10 | Yes | ? |
| Host4Africa-Extreme Hosting | R199.99 PM | Unlimited | 5 GB | No | 200 | 5 | No | 25 |
| Gridhost-Pro | R249.95 PM | 30 GB | 16 GB | Yes | 120 | 8 | Yes | 10 |
| Ample Hosting-Platinum Plus | R259 PM | 80 GB | 40 GB | Yes | 100 | 50 | Yes | ? |
| Hetzner-Advanced | R279 PM | 50 GB / Unlimited | 15 GB | Yes | 500 | 20 | No | 50 |
| Elitehost-Business Pro | R319.95 PM | 120 GB | 40 GB | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | 7 |
| @lantic-Linux Ultimate | R399 PM | Unlimited | 4 000 MB | Yes | 500 | 20 | No | Unlimited |
| Afrihost-Platinum Pro | R399 PM | Unlimited | 50 GB | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | Yes | 1 |
| Hetzner-Master | R439 PM | 100 GB / Unlimited | 20 GB | Yes | 1000 | 40 | No | 75 |
Almost Unlimited Everything (Part 2) Local: Elitehost
Unfortunately, even in this price range there are no local hosted plans that have truly got everything unlimited. Elitehost limit you to 7 sites but everything else is unlimited and that should be enough for most people.
Unlimited Everything (Part 2) International: Ample Hosting
Their plan includes a dedicated IP and Rapid SSL. It’s just amazing value for money.
Windows Shared Hosting
| Cost | Traffic | HDD Space | Local | Emails | Databases | Free Domain | Domains | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cybersmart-Blue | R18 PM | Unlimited | 2 GB | Yes | 25 | Yes | No | ? |
| Web Africa-Starter | R19 PM | 750 MB | 750 MB | Yes | 5 | No | Yes | 1 |
| MI HOST-Silver | R28 PM | Unlimited | 2.5 GB | Yes | 5 | 6 | No | 1 |
| MWEB-Lite | R29 PM | Unlimited | Unlimited | Yes | 1 x 50mb | 1 | Yes | 1 |
| Afrihost-Bronze Home | R29 PM | Unlimited | 300 MB | Yes | 5 | Yes | Yes | 1 |
| Cybersmart-Yellow | R38 PM | Unlimited | 4 GB | Yes | 75 | Yes | No | ? |
| Cybersmart-Green | R48 PM | Unlimited | 10 GB | Yes | 200 | Yes | No | ? |
| MWEB-Pro | R49 PM | Unlimited | Unlimited | Yes | 5 x 50mb | 2 | Yes | 1 |
| Afrihost-Silver Home | R59 PM | Unlimited | 750 MB | Yes | 25 | Yes | Yes | 1 |
| @lantic-WinWeb | R79 PM | Unlimited | 200 MB | Yes | None | 1 | No | 1 |
| Web Africa-Premium | R79 PM | Unlimited | 5 GB | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | Yes | Unlimited |
| Cybersmart-Aqua | R98 PM | Unlimited | 20 GB | Yes | Unlimited | Yes | No | ? |
| MWEB-Ultra | R99 PM | Unlimited | Unlimited | Yes | 10 x 50mb | 3 | Yes | 2 |
| Afrihost-Gold Home | R99 PM | Unlimited | 2 000 MB | Yes | 75 | Yes | Yes | 1 |
| Afrihost-Platinum Home | R149 PM | Unlimited | 3 000 MB | Yes | 200 | Yes | Yes | 1 |
| Afrihost-Bronze Pro | R199 PM | Unlimited | 4 GB | Yes | 500 | Yes | Yes | 1 |
| @lantic-WinWeb+ | R199 PM | Unlimited | 2 000 MB | Yes | 250 | 1 | No | Unlimited |
| Web Africa-Premium Plus | R199 PM | Unlimited | 20 GB | Yes | Unlimited | Unlimited | Yes | Unlimited |
| Afrihost-Silver Pro | R249 PM | Unlimited | 10 GB | Yes | 2000 | Yes | Yes | 1 |
| Afrihost-Gold Pro | R349 PM | Unlimited | 20 GB | Yes | 5000 | Yes | Yes | 1 |
| Afrihost-Platinum Pro | R599 PM | Unlimited | 50 GB | Yes | Unlimited | Yes | Yes | 1 |
Cheapest Worthwhile Deal: Cybersmart
Just like their Linux plans, the Windows ones are very cheap and you get so much value for under R20 per month. Top notch stuff.
Best Windows Hosting Deal: Web Africa
I’m hoping that I will eventually find out how many sites may be hosted on a Cybersmart package. For now though, Web Africa wins with their Premium plan. Your only limit is the 5 GB of storage space and that’s a great deal in my opinion.
Final Word
Some questions remain and will hopefully be sorted out by next month. Overall your choice of web hosting will depend on your needs and hopefully these tables will help. I would like to make a special mention this month to MI HOST. They may only have been the winner of one of my choices here but they are friendly, quick to help and reply and I give them a special shout out for their good support.
My choices may not be the same as yours. Who would you recommend? Who should people stay away from? I would love to hear your opinions. I make use of Disqus here and it’s used by a lot of websites so it’s one login for everywhere. You can even log in using Twitter, Facebook or Google. So please leave a message, everyone’s welcome.