hosting and domain reg recommendations

[billbenson]

It comes up often enough that I thought I would start a hosting and domain registration thread. This is for both good and bad. Different hosts are good for different things. If you are new, you may need telephone support. For me, telephone support is rarely required. I like to send an email to report a problem. Its better than being on hold for 20 minutes.

Also, don't host at the same place you register your domain. There are a lot of scams with this. That's why I started two lists below. One for registrars and one for hosting. Actually I started three sections. One has a link for checking if your site is up. Put any other relevant links there.

If your site is down, make sure it is down before contacting your host. I have had a number of occasions where my local ISP couldn't find my domain because of DNS problems. It was accessible from elsewhere. There is a link below for checking to see if your site is up from various places around the world. Its not always your host that is the problem.

Please copy and past the list in your post, so the last post has the entire list.

Links

Check if your site is up from around the world: Alertra Website Monitoring Service

Domain Registrars

Godaddy.com - Good registrar. Honest, but try to sell you other stuff you don't need

Hosts

Godaddy - Geared more toward the hobbyist.

cyberland-usa.com - email only support, $1.75 per month or 10.95 per month for a reseller plan. I've used them for a number of years and like them. My sites are low traffic though. I can't comment on what they can do if you have high traffic or more sophisticated server requirements.

1 and 1 - known for domain hijacking, expensive. Very large company. Don't use them.

Network Solutions - domain hijacking and expensive. Very large company. Don't use them

[KristineS]

List copied as requested. I would add Lunar Pages to the list of hosts. I host my blogs with them and have never had a problem. Liquid Web is another host. I don't use them, but I know people who do, and they're supposed to be good as well.


Links

Check if your site is up from around the world: Alertra Website Monitoring Service

Domain Registrars

Godaddy.com - Good registrar. Honest, but try to sell you other stuff you don't need

Hosts

Godaddy - Geared more toward the hobbyist.

cyberland-usa.com - email only support, $1.75 per month or 10.95 per month for a reseller plan. I've used them for a number of years and like them. My sites are low traffic though. I can't comment on what they can do if you have high traffic or more sophisticated server requirements.

1 and 1 - known for domain hijacking, expensive. Very large company. Don't use them.

Network Solutions - domain hijacking and expensive. Very large company. Don't use them

Lunar Pages

Liquid Web

[billbenson]

Kristine add recommended or not next to the list and why. That way we end up with a good list if this thread continues. Not every host is correct for every application. Backup hosts are a good idea as well.

[CADesign]

Good thread ... great timing.
I'm in the process of looking for a reasonable host.
I'll be watching as I look around.

Thanks,

Dave

[KristineS]

Kristine add recommended or not next to the list and why. That way we end up with a good list if this thread continues. Not every host is correct for every application. Backup hosts are a good idea as well.

Sorry, Bill. Let's try this again

[KristineS]

Links

Check if your site is up from around the world: Alertra Website Monitoring Service

Domain Registrars

Godaddy.com - Good registrar. Honest, but try to sell you other stuff you don't need

Hosts

Godaddy - Geared more toward the hobbyist.

cyberland-usa.com - email only support, $1.75 per month or 10.95 per month for a reseller plan. I've used them for a number of years and like them. My sites are low traffic though. I can't comment on what they can do if you have high traffic or more sophisticated server requirements.

1 and 1 - known for domain hijacking, expensive. Very large company. Don't use them.

Network Solutions - domain hijacking and expensive. Very large company. Don't use them

Lunar Pages - Recommended to me by Vangogh. Nice for people who aren't particularly tech savvy. Has install programs for popular blog programs and shopping carts.

[cbscreative]

I would second the vote for Liquid Web. We use them for this forum, so if there's a problem, you will all know it.

I've seen many complaints about 1 and 1 hijacking domains and have been told Network Solutions is bad for the same reason too. I would say to avoid these two companies.

I've heard good things and good reviews about Bluehost, and have not experienced any problems with them.

I definitely agree that you should register your domain name with someone other than the hosting company. GoDaddy is good for domain names, but not so much on hosting just as noted.

Here is one I've warned about elsewhere, but it would be good to say it again here. Beware of free domain names with hosting, or free domains and hosting with design. If the people making these offers put their name down as the owner, they own it, not you. If things go south in your relationship, you can't just take your site or move your domain. Suppose you spent time and resources promoting something you don't own. It's nice if they want to hold you hostage, but it can be a very raw deal quite similar to the domain hijacking that 1 on 1 and Network Solutions have become known for.

Hosting is definitely a volitile area, so this is a good thread to help other business owners sort through the mine field.

[billbenson]

Steve, stick a consolidated opinion in the list to copy and paste for a resource. That way the last post will have a good list for reference.

Good point. Don't use free hosts except for hobby sites.

[Business Attorney]

I saw your comment about 1&1. I have used them on some sites for several years without a hitch. I don't know about the domain hijacking, but for the package I have, they are very reasonable ($60 per year for shared hosting and that includes 2 free domains). The renewal fee for my other domains is only $6.99 a year (vs. $9.99 for my domain names registered through GoDaddy). They also have a free privacy option, versus having to pay for it at GoDaddy. Maybe some combination of packages is more expensive, but for what I pay and what I get, this is the best choice around.

More importantly, I have never seen my sites down. I can't say the same for my sites at Hostmoster, which have been down at least twice for short periods.

One thing about 1&1 - they have their own administrative panel. I am used to using cpanel on several other hosts and while there is nothing wrong with the 1&1 panel, I would prefer to have cpanel for consistency.

[billbenson]

A friend registered a domain with 1&1 as well as hosted. He had to call them to unlock his domain. They say ok, I'll transfer you to the domain department. He got put on eternal hold and then disconnected. Both 1&1 and network solutions play this game. Do a forum search and you will find a high number of dissatisfied customers. My friend had to abandon his domain.

On the other side of the coin, the big companies usually have good backup so downtime is usually good. Try to move your domain and see what happens.