Dreaming of starting your own eCommerce business? Then one of the first decisions you will have to make is choosing a hosting service. It dictates the performance, security, storage, and more. It’s where all your website’s files and data live, ensuring your online storefront is accessible by potential customers 24/7.
A good hosting provider guarantees your website loads quickly and remains operational during peak traffic times. But with so many options available, which one would be suitable? You can choose the best service based on the features, storage space, domain, speed and performance, tech support, security, etc.
In this blog, I’ll tell you about eCommerce website hosting and how the professional eCommerce experts choose the best option for a project. Let’s begin.
What is eCommerce Hosting?
Beyond the basic web hosting, the eCommerce hosting is a specialized service designed for the unique needs of online stores. It builds on the foundation of regular hosting by offering features and functionalities specifically to optimize your online store’s performance and security.
eCommerce hosting offers:
- Enhanced security features to protect customer data
- Improved performance to handle high traffic volumes
- Integration with payment gateways and shopping cart software
- PCI DSS compliance for secure payment processing
- Scalability to accommodate business growth
- Optimized server configurations for eCommerce platforms
- Dedicated support for online retail operations
Basically, eCommerce hosting is a normal web hosting provider upgraded for the demands of an online store. If you need help with hosting for your eCommerce website, opt for our eCommerce consulting services.
Types of eCommerce Hosting
While the key purpose of hosting is to set up space for your website on the internet, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Different types of hosting offer different USPs and choosing between them depends on your individual preferences (as we’ll see in the next section).
Let’s look at the main types of hosting services available for eCommerce websites.
Shared Hosting
Shared hosting is a budget-friendly hosting option that benefits from resources on a physical server shared with other websites. It’s a good starting point for new online stores with low volume and a manageable product catalog.
It’s a cost-effective option that is easy to set up and manage and is quite suitable for beginners and smaller websites. On the flip side, you get limited resources with respect to traffic and performance, and you don’t have enough control over the server environment.
Ideal for: New online stores, low traffic websites, and simple stores (with basic setup).
Dedicated Hosting
Dedicated hosting for eCommerce is the ultimate in power and control for your online store. It’s a physical server exclusively dedicated to your website, providing unmatched performance, security, and customization options.
Its strengths include unparalleled performance, maximum security, complete customization, and outstanding scalability. But it is much more expensive compared to shared hosting, and of course, you need some technical expertise to manage a dedicated server.
Ideal for: High-traffic stores, large product catalogs, and security-critical businesses.
Cloud Hosting
Cloud hosting for eCommerce offers a unique blend of flexibility, scalability, and reliability. That makes it a compelling choice for online stores of various sizes. Imagine a vast network of interconnected computers working together – that’s the essence of cloud hosting.
Your eCommerce website leverages virtual resources from this pool, scaling up or down automatically based on your needs. The advantages of this hosting type include scalability on demand, high availability, predictable cost, and better security. And its cons include limited control over the server environment and potential vendor lock-ins.
Ideal for: Growing stores, stores with fluctuating traffic, and security-conscious businesses.
VPS Hosting
VPS hosting for eCommerce offers a middle ground between the affordability of shared hosting and the power of dedicated hosting. A VPS server partitions a physical server into multiple virtual sections. Each section functions like an independent server with its own allocated resources (CPU, RAM, storage, operating system).
The benefits of VPS hosting include improved performance and scalability, security, control and customization, and cost-effectiveness. But you will require more technical knowledge and it offers less scalability.
Ideal for: Growing stores needing more control, security-conscious businesses, and cost-conscious businesses.
Choosing the right type of eCommerce hosting depends on your specific needs and budget. Consider the size and complexity of your eStore along with the expected traffic and your technical expertise.
You can also consult with our eCommerce development agency to get a better idea on which type would be suitable.
How to Choose the Best eCommerce Hosting?
Launching an eCommerce website is an exciting step towards your entrepreneurial goals. But before you showcase your products and welcome customers, there’s crucial groundwork to be laid – choosing the right eCommerce hosting.
- Store size and complexity: Are you starting small or do you have a large product catalog? Do you need advanced features or a simple setup?
- Traffic expectations: How many visitors do you anticipate? Sudden traffic spikes during sales can strain resources.
- Technical expertise: Are you comfortable managing technical aspects, or do you prefer a user-friendly platform?
- Security: Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificates are non-negotiable for protecting customer data and building trust. They are one of the key eCommerce security features to be offered by hosting services.
- Performance: Fast loading times are essential for a positive customer experience. Look for providers with optimized servers and caching mechanisms, key for speeding up your eCommerce website.
- Customer Support: Reliable and responsive customer support is vital for resolving any technical issues that might arise.
- Freebies: Some providers offer incentives like free domain names, SSL certificates, or marketing credits.
- Ease of use: A user-friendly control panel simplifies managing your website and hosting.
- Read reviews and ratings: Check out what other eCommerce store owners have to say about different hosting providers.
- Compare features and pricing: Don’t get caught up in the cheapest option. Ensure the features align with your needs.
- Shared vs Dedicated Hosting: Shared hosting is cost-effective for beginners, but resources are shared with other websites. Dedicated hosting offers more control and power for high-traffic stores, but comes at a higher cost.
- All-in-one solutions: Platforms like Shopify handle hosting alongside website creation, offering convenience but potentially limiting customization.
These are the key factors to consider when choosing the best eCommerce hosting solution. If you need help with that, consult with our eCommerce developers.
Best eCommerce Hosting Services
Hosting is one of the key undertakings in building an eStore. If you are using Shopify for creating your eCommerce website, you’re in luck; Shopify takes care of the hosting. Other such platforms include Wix, BigCommerce, and Squarespace.
But if you have set up your eCommerce website with WooCommerce or other self-hosted platforms, you will need eCommerce hosting services, like:
Hostinger is a budget-friendly option that provides a good balance of features and affordability. With this service, you get shared hosting plans suitable for smaller eCommerce stores, as well as cloud hosting and VPS plans for businesses with higher traffic volumes. Hostinger offers good uptime and performance, making it a reliable choice for your online store.
Price: Starts from $2.99 per month
HostGator is another popular option for eCommerce hosting. They offer a variety of shared, cloud, and VPS hosting plans to accommodate businesses of all sizes. HostGator is known for its user-friendly interface and helpful customer support. They also offer a number of features specifically designed for eCommerce stores, such as free SSL certificates and one-click shopping cart installations.
Price: Starts from $24.95 per month.
Bluehost is a well-known web hosting provider that offers a variety of plans, including shared hosting, VPS hosting, and dedicated hosting. They are a good option for businesses that are looking for a reliable and affordable hosting solution. Bluehost also offers a number of features specifically designed for eCommerce stores. These include free SSL certificates and integration with popular shopping carts like WooCommerce.
Price: Starts from $9.99 per month.
DreamHost is a popular web hosting provider that offers a variety of plans, including shared hosting, VPS hosting, and dedicated hosting. They are known for their excellent customer support and their commitment to uptime. DreamHost also offers a number of features specifically designed for eCommerce stores, such as free SSL certificates and one-click shopping cart installations.
Price: Starts from $2.59 per month.
IONOS is a web hosting provider that offers a variety of plans, including shared hosting, VPS hosting, and dedicated hosting. They are known for their reliable performance and their focus on security. IONOS also offers a number of features specifically designed for eCommerce stores, such as free SSL certificates and pre-installed shopping carts.
Price: Starts from $2 per month.
SiteGround is a web hosting provider that specializes in WordPress hosting. They offer a number of features that are specifically designed for WordPress websites, like automatic updates, caching, and security hardening. SiteGround is a good option for businesses that are planning on using WooCommerce to power their online store.
Price: Starts from $2.99 per month.
A2 Hosting is a web hosting provider that offers a variety of plans, including shared hosting, VPS hosting, and dedicated hosting. They are known for their focus on speed and performance. A2 Hosting offers a number of features that are specifically designed for eCommerce stores, such as free SSL certificates and pre-installed shopping carts.
Price: Starts from $12.99 per month.
There are several other hosting solutions for eCommerce websites. But which one would be the most suitable? Well, you can select the one that best meets your business needs and helps you create a reliable, fast, and secure online store.
For that, you will need to consider a few key factors or consult with our eCommerce development company. We will help you select a suitable hosting and build a high-quality eCommerce website.
FAQs on Choosing the Best eCommerce Hosting
Q1. I'm just starting a small online store. Do I need expensive eCommerce hosting?
Not necessarily! Many providers offer affordable shared hosting plans suitable for beginners with low traffic websites. These plans often include essential features like SSL certificates and basic security measures. As your store grows, you can then upgrade to a more robust plan.
Q2. Should I choose an all-in-one eCommerce platform like Shopify that includes hosting?
This can be a convenient option, especially for beginners. Platforms like Shopify handle both hosting and website creation, eliminating the need to manage separate services. However, be aware of potential limitations:
- Customization: All-in-one platforms may offer less flexibility compared to building your own store with a separate hosting provider.
- Pricing: While some offer free trials or introductory pricing, ongoing costs might be higher in the long run compared to choosing your own hosting provider.
Q3. Is managed hosting worth it for an eCommerce site?
Managed hosting can be valuable for store owners who lack technical expertise or time to handle server management. It typically includes services like security updates, backups, and technical support.
Conclusion
Hosting plays a big part in eCommerce website development. It acts as the foundation of your online store, influencing everything from customer experience to your bottom line. The hosting service impacts the security and trust, performance and speed, growth and scalability, uptime and reliability, and more.
Remember, the perfect eCommerce hosting solution depends on your unique needs. Consider the size and complexity of your store, your anticipated traffic volume, and your technical comfort level. Prioritize features like security, performance, scalability, and reliable customer support.If you need help with choosing the hosting and building the best eCommerce website, consult with our experts today!
