In this guide to the best web hosting in Australia, we’ll cover the top options for a range of use cases and the features and functionality that really differentiate the best providers. To satisfy Aussie customers visiting your website, you must guarantee speedy page loading, outstanding security, and solid server uptime.
We’ve tested an array of Australian web hosting platforms and found that HostGator has the best Australian hosting service. This company offers a wide range of reliable and cost-effective hosting services and some of the best website-building tools.
HostGator also guarantees 99.9% uptime and provides its users with unmetered bandwidth and a robust security suite. We admit that its competition in the Australian market is tough, though. So, to find out the best web host to ensure online success, check out our list of the best web hosts in Australia for 2024.
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The Best Web Hosting in Australia Ranked
Let’s take a deep dive into our detailed list of the best web hosting available on the Australian market.
- HostGator – Best Australian web host overall due to attractive introductory deals, feature-packed shared hosting with a free domain, and unlimited bandwidth.
- BlueHost – Boasts one-click WordPress site installation and the ultimate user-friendly interface.
- Hostwinds – Unlike most of its competition, Hostwinds offers unlimited storage space no matter the plan.
- InMotion Hosting – Ideal for Australian businesses that require reliable niche hosting options such as VPS or reseller hosting.
- DreamHost – If you want a 100% uptime guarantee and trouble-free website setup and management, DreamHost offers some of the best website-building tools and straightforward account management.
- Cloudways – A versatile managed hosting option with a host of advanced security features and a unique blend of performance and ease of use.
- Hostinger – Hostinger delivers cost-effective plans ideal for budget-conscious individuals, startups, and micro businesses.
- SiteGround – Singapore-based data centre guarantees stellar service for Australian-based users.
- A2 Hosting – Best known for its Turbo plans that can amp up your site speeds by up to 20 times.
- HostPapa – An excellent choice for eco-friendly website owners on a tight budget.
The Best Website Hosting in Australia Compared
If you are still wondering how to choose the best web hosting service in Australia, the following table might help. It shows what each of the reviewed companies offers in its lowest tier plan and at what price. For your convenience, we converted all the prices to Australian dollars.
Web Hosting Platform | Starting Price | Uptime | Average Page Load Speed | Traffic | Storage | Free Domain | Money-Back Guarantee |
HostGator | $4.20/month | 99.9% | 1.03s | Unmetered | 10GB SSD | 1st-year | 30-day |
BlueHost | $3.05/month | 99.9% | 925ms | Unmetered | 10GB SSD | 1st-year | 30-day |
Hostwinds | $8.05/month | 99.9% | 1-3s | Unlimited | Unlimited | No | 3-day |
InMotion | $4.60/month | 99,9% | 1.97 s | Unlimited | 100GB SSD | No | 90-day |
DreamHost | $4/month | 100% | 1.9s | Unmetered | 50GB SSD | 1st year | 97-day |
Cloudways | $54/month | 99.9% | 2.5s | 30k/month | 15GB | No | 3-day |
Hostinger | $4.60/month | 99.9% | 500ms | Unlimited | 100GB SSD | 1st-year | 30-day |
SiteGround | $6/month | 99.9% | 1.2s | Unmetered | 10GB | No | 30-day |
A2 Hosting | $4.60/month | 99.9% | 1.5s | Unmetered | 100GB SSD | No | 30-day |
HostPapa | $4.50/month | 99.9% | 1.8s | Unlimited | 100GB SSD | Yes | 30-day |
The Best Web Hosting Providers for Australia Reviewed
Finding the best website hosting in Australia is no easy task since there are so many things to consider, including different hosting options, price, performance, security, and customer support.
Don’t worry, though. We have gone through a detailed testing process so that by the end of this section, you should be able to find the best web hosting services in Australia for your needs and budget.
1. HostGator – Overall Best Hosting Provider In Australia
Starting Price | Uptime | Average Page Load Speed | Traffic | Storage | Free Domain | Money-Back Guarantee |
$4.20/month | 99.9% | 1.03 s | Unmetered | 10GB SSD | 1st-year | 30-day |
HostGator is one of the leading providers of affordable and reliable web hosting solutions in Australia due to its strong commitment to customer satisfaction, impressive 99.9% uptime, and user-friendly cPanel.
HostGator’s range of web hosting services can meet the unique needs of every client. However, what sets it apart from the pack and makes it the best choice for Australian clients is its shared hosting offer.
HostGator presents both Linux and Windows-based shared web hosting packages ideal for small- and medium-sized businesses. These plans are not only feature-rich but also allow you to scale up your website without having to change your plan or migrate.
For Linux services, HostGator offers the Hatchling plan (regular rates start at $27.60 AUD if you pay every month, $11.99 per month if you opt for an annual plan, and $18.40 AUD if you commit to a three-year program). This plan includes unmetered bandwidth, 10GB SSD web storage, 24/7/365 Live Chat support, free SSL certification, one-click WordPress installs, and POP3 email accounts.
If you sign up for at least a year, you’ll receive a free 1-year domain registration. After this time, your domain will renew at a regular rate. If you cancel your subscription earlier, even within the money-back guaranteed period, you’ll have to pay a $27.60 AUD fee. Also be aware that HostGator no longer offers free domain transfers.
If you want to activate the speedy Cloudflare CDN on your account, you’ll have to pay a bit more for HostGator’s Baby or Business plan. That will also provide you with more web storage space, and grant you access to phone support.
Windows shared hosting personal plans start at $15.30 AUD, while enterprise plans start at $30.60 AUD. Surprisingly annual plans end up costing you more on a monthly level. As your website grows, you can consider VPS, dedicated, or cloud hosting, but not all plans have the Windows server option.
We rate HostGator as the best domain hosting for Australia.
Pros
- Excellent service for budget-friendly shared hosting packages
- Easily scale your web hosting services as your business grows
- Round-the-clock customer support with a 90% overall customer satisfaction rating
- Suite of additional services – professional email hosting, domain name registration, and a website builder
- WordPress Cloud Hosting delivers lightning-fast speeds, regardless of the user’s location
Cons
- Annual commitments are sometimes more expensive than monthly
- Some plans lack Windows hosting options
- Dedicated servers are based in USA
2. Bluehost – Best Australian Web Hosting For WordPress Sites
Starting Price | Uptime | Average Page Load Speed | Traffic | Storage | Free Domain | Money-Back Guarantee |
$3.05/month | 99.9% | 952 ms | Unmetered | 10GB SSD | 1st-year | 30-day |
BlueHost is one of the most popular Australian web hosting platforms – and as favoured worldwide. It offers a plethora of features at a reasonable price, but for us, its best trait is its user-friendly interface with a simple website builder and WordPress integration.
We think there might not be a better WordPress hosting provider in Australia – even WordPress itself recommends it. BlueHost Linux-based packages for WordPress hosting offer potent features, such as SEO tools and staging areas.
Even the less tech-savvy individuals won’t have any trouble creating and maintaining their website thanks to automated WordPress installations and updates and intuitive tools (WonderStart, WonderBlocks, and WonderAssist).
We find it reassuring that BlueHost services are supported by in-house WordPress web hosting experts, too. It means you can get professional help every step of the way. BlueHost offers their customers 24/7 Live Chat support. However, if you prefer phone support, you might end up disappointed since it is available only from 7 am to 12 am EST.
As mentioned, Bluehost’s competitive hosting plans are of good value, with prices starting at only $3.05 AUD a month for shared hosting. At this cost, you receive a free domain name and SSL for one year, free CDN,10GB SSD storage, e-mail addresses, and plenty of WordPress themes. You can save up to 40% if you buy a three-year plan.
BlueHost platform is pretty great for an e-commerce website due to its secure, stable environment, powerful servers, and dependable network infrastructure. Due to its scalable hosting options, as your site grows, you can upgrade your plan to Plus, Prime, or Pro shared hosting, as well as VPS, Cloud, or dedicated hosting. To find out more about these hosting options, read our full Bluehost review.
Pros
- WordPress’ top recommended web hosting provider in the past four years
- Flexible and reasonably priced shared hosting plans with a free domain name
- Intuitive, user-friendly control panel
- Top-notch website speeds and some of the best uptime numbers in the industry
- Free SSL and CDN for added security
- Advanced PHP 8.2
Cons
- No servers in Australia
- No .com.au domains
- No local Australian support or a toll-free number
3. Hostwinds – Best Australian Web Hosting Provider For Unlimited Storage
Starting Price | Uptime | Average Page Load Speed | Traffic | Storage | Free Domain | Money-Back Guarantee |
$8.05/month | 99.9% | 1-3s | Unmetered | Unlimited | No | 3-day |
Hostwinds is a web hosting service with a free SSL certificate, unmetered bandwidth, 99.9% server uptime, and unlimited storage, even if you purchase their cheapest basic hosting plan. On the downside, its lowest-tier plan is priced higher than its competitors which can be a deal-breaker for users on a low budget.
Starter shared plan starts at $4 AUD Hostwinds offers many hosting plans, including shared, reseller, VPS, dedicated, and cloud hosting. As we saw for ourselves, migrating a website is a quick and effortless process that requires only a few clicks.
We recommend Hostwinds for small to medium-sized businesses, entrepreneurs, designers, and web developers. Thanks to Weebly website builder site creation, maintenance, and backup will be quick and easy.
However, if you are more keen on using WordPress, you should opt for Bluehost. Don’t forget though that their basic plan grants you only 10GB of storage while Hostwinds delivers unlimited disk space for all users.
If your business requires regular backups, you should know that Hostwinds offers cloud hosting backups only as an add-on (at an extra charge), but you can’t use it for multiple hosting plans with a single purchase. Hostwinds also doesn’t offer a plan tailored for e-commerce businesses. So if you wish to create such a site, you’d better look at what the other Australian web hosting providers offer.
Pros
- Multiple hosting plans with unlimited storage, numerous sizing options, and add-ons
- Free and simple migration for all plans
- Latest cPanel and user-friendly interactive UI
- Excellent customer support
Cons
- More expensive plans than its competitors
- No single add-on purchase for multiple hosting plans.
- No plan designed for e-commerce businesses
- Only 3-day money-back guarantee
4. InMotion Hosting – Best In Australia for Reseller Hosting
Starting Price | Uptime | Average Page Load Speed | Traffic | Storage | Free Domain | Money-Back Guarantee |
$4.60/month | 99.9% | 1.97s | Unmetered | 100GB SSD | No | 90-day |
InMotion might not have a data centre in Australia, but due to its fast and reliable service, excellent customer support, competitive pricing, and outstanding VPS and reseller hosting services, it is still one of the top-rated web hosting services Australia has to offer, especially for businesses that anticipate a lot of traffic or host large files.
InMotion plans are quite economical too. Their budget-friendly Reseller hosting plan that starts at $21.59 AUD provides you with some stellar features at no additional cost, such as a Web Host Manager, premium security, dedicated IP, unlimited email accounts, and 24/7 Live Chat customer support. You also get free white labelling and billing software.
We are particularly swayed by the InMotion security suite. Their Reseller accounts come with exceptional hack and malware protection, DDoS protection, and automatic backups that enable you to restore your site or database with a single click. All of this guarantees a secure, stable site and high search rankings.
Word is that InMotion has some of the most secure data centres in the world – protected by armed guards, hand scanners, and locked vaults. This supersedes anything other hosting providers offer security-wise, so you can rest assured hard copies of your data are safe and sound, too.
Since InMotion connects its servers to the internet through four separate internet service providers your site is guaranteed to stay online even if three of them go offline.
Finally, InMotion’s 90-day money-back guarantee is one of the best deals on the market since Hostwinds grants you only 3 days and most other providers give you one month. For more info, read our full InMotion Hosting review.
Pros
- Multiple feature-packed Reseller plans at great prices
- Free dedicated IP
- Unique marketing suite
- Outstanding security features to protect your site from hackers and viruses
- 90-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- InMotion pricing plans can be somewhat confusing for newbies
- No data centre in Australia
5. DreamHost — Aussie Web Hosting Provider With 100% Uptime Guarantee
Starting Price | Uptime | Average Page Load Speed | Traffic | Storage | Free Domain | Money-Back Guarantee |
$4/month | 100% | 1.9s | Unmetered | 50 GB SSD | 1st-year | 97-day |
DreamHost is one of the best Australian web hosting providers due to its wide range of reliable and cost-effective hosting services and superb levels of customer satisfaction. Yet, the most praiseworthy thing about DreamHost’s service is its 100% uptime guarantee.
The firm promises your website will be up and running at all times to your visitors’ satisfaction. If your site crashes, DreamHost pledges to pay you back up to 10% of your monthly bill.
DreamHost hosting plans include shared, VPS, dedicated, Cloud, and WordPress hosting, making this company a go-to address for both newbies and experienced website builders. The DreamHost’s Starter shared hosting plan has a promo price of only $4 AUD per month.
For this price, the user receives free domain registration and SSL certificate, unlimited data transfers, 50GB of SSD website storage, WP Website builder, and a free automated migration plugin. Unfortunately, e-mail is not included, but you can get one at an additional cost of $2.59 AUD.
Those who prefer WordPress will be glad to know that it comes preinstalled. It means you can dive into creating your website content right away. The WP Website Builder’s creation wizard will do all the hard work for you, so you do not have to have any advanced technical knowledge.
Last but not least is the company’s money-back policy, which is the longest we have encountered so far and supersedes the already-mentioned fabulous 90-day money-back guarantee offered by InMotion by seven days. To find out more about this dream company, read our detailed DreamHost review.
Pros
- Optimized website loading speed for a smooth browsing experience
- Preinstalled WordPress and free automated WordPress migration
- 100% uptime guarantee
- Expert support for WordPress-based issues
- Knowledgeable 24/7 customer support through various channels (live chat, email, and a community forum)
- 97-day money-back guarantee for shared hosting
Cons
- No .au domain
- No phone support
6. Cloudways – Best Managed Hosting in Australia
Starting Price | Uptime | Average Page Load Speed | Traffic | Storage | Free Domain | Money-Back Guarantee |
$54/month | 99.9% | 2.5s | 30k/month | 15GB | No | 3-day |
Cloudways is quite different from all other Australian web hosting we have mentioned so far. It is also the best-managed web host in Australia, in our humble opinion of course. It delivers outstanding performance in terms of speed, scalability, load handling, and uptime, which makes it ideal for high-traffic websites.
The first thing you will probably notice once you look at the Cloudways pricing plans is how expensive they are in comparison to all the web hosts reviewed so far. There is a good reason for that though.
As we have explained, Cloudway offers managed cloud-based hosting plans and this means you do not get only server space but also professional assistance in Cloud Server maintenance, software updates, and website monitoring. Plus, you can count on reliable 24/7 support. This is an ideal solution for beginners with scarce technical knowledge and websites built using WordPress CMS.
Cloudways stands apart from its competition by presenting a vast choice of cloud providers, including AWS, Google Cloud, and DigitalOcean. You can also count on a user-friendly platform, performance optimization, and a pay-as-you-go pricing structure that you can tailor to your specific needs.
On the downside, unlike most cloud website hosting Australia has to offer, Cloudways doesn’t offer domain name registration. As a result, you must pay a separate fee to register your domain through a third party. Cloudways doesn’t offer email hosting either, so you’ll have to resort to Google Workspace or other hosts.
Pros
- Unlimited WordPress websites
- Custom control panel that grants you application-level and server-level access
- Free website migration
- Server Recovery feature to restore a deleted server within 15 days
- Faster loading thanks to the in-house cache plugin
- Data centers in Australia
Cons
- Email hosting is available only as an add-on
- No domain name registration
- No phone support and a very limited 3-day trial
7. Hostinger – Top-Rated Web Hosting For Small Australian Businesses
Starting Price | Uptime | Average Page Load Speed | Traffic | Storage | Free Domain | Money-Back Guarantee |
$4.60/month | 99.9% | 500ms | Unlimited | 100GB SSD | Yes | 30-day |
Hostinger web hosting is an inexpensive option that makes WordPress hosting ultra-simple. This makes it ideal for small businesses, especially start-ups. It is both beginner and budget-friendly, and yet it delivers an exquisite lineup of AI-powered tools to create and manage WordPress websites.
Besides the speedy one-click WordPress installation, Hostinger offers a free domain, free migration, unlimited free SSL certificates, and unlimited bandwidth. By purchasing their cheapest plan at a promotional price of $4.60 AUD, you can create up to 100 websites and 100 email accounts.
As far as web storage is concerned, Hostinger supersedes the majority of its competition and puts forward as much as 100 GB of space. In comparison, BlueHost and HostGator offer only 10 GB while Cloudways provides its users with 15GB of space.
The perks don’t end there. Hostinger users can count on weekly backups and a great security suite, including DDoS protection, a firewall, and Cloudflare protection. The system automatically updates and scans for any vulnerabilities.
Not everything is picture-perfect though. First of all, there is no phone support, which is a big minus for some users. Also, the lack of dedicated server hosting possibilities makes Hostinger unsuitable for large businesses. If you are eager to learn more about this web host, read our full Hostinger review.
Pros
- Beginner-friendly hosting options at an affordable price
- Intuitive custom-made control panel
- Reliable uptime
- Optimized LiteSpeed Cache guarantees fast page loading
- Range of e-commerce options
Cons
- No customer service by phone
- Lack of dedicated server hosting
- No data centres in Australia
8. SiteGround – Excellent Web Host Targeted to Australian Users
Starting Price | Uptime | Average Page Load Speed | Traffic (unmetered/k/month) | Storage | Free Domain | Money-Back Guarantee |
$6/month | 99.9% | 1.2s | Unmetered | 10GB SSD | No | 30-day |
Thanks to its global data centre in Singapore, SiteGround offers excellent web hosting service to clients in Australia and New Zealand. Besides fast speed and excellent uptime, this company presents its users with integration with CDN, and SSD hard drives, and tackles any downtime the moment it occurs.
SiteGround is a popular choice in Australia due to its fairly-priced shared and cloud hosting plans and resources. It sets itself apart from the rest of the pack by its dependable speed, renewable energy match, and stellar customer reviews.
On the downside, SiteGround’s StartUp plan is priced a bit higher than competitors. It costs approximately $6 AUD per month if you purchase a 12-month web hosting plan, but if you plan to renew it once it expires it will cost you as much as $24.59 AUD per month. It is rather steep considering it can only handle up to 10,000 monthly visits.
On a brighter note, all SiteGround plans include a free SSL certificate for all domains connected to their hosting. You can save some money if you migrate your website from another host since that is free of charge for all SiteGround clients. When it comes to other web hosts, migrating is often a costly process.
Pros
- Excellent web host for individuals and small Australian businesses
- SSD drives and CDN integration vouch for a superb hosting experience.
- Free SSL certificates and transfers
- Static and dynamic caching increases speed across all sites
- Free email and email migrator
- Great experience for Australian users thanks to a Singapore data centre
Cons
- No free domains, VPS, or dedicated hosting
- Pricier than many competitors
- No phone support
- Limited disk space and site visitor allowances
9. A2 Hosting – Unique Turbo Plans For Extra Speed
Starting Price | Uptime | Average Page Load Speed | Traffic (unmetered/k/month) | Storage | Free Domain | Money-Back Guarantee |
$4.60/month | 99.9% | 1.5s | Unmetered | 100GB SSD | No | 30-day |
A2 Hosting is a reputable hosting provider best known for its unique Turbo servers that can amp up your site speed by 20 times and handle 9 times more traffic at triple the speed of a regular server. Impressing, isn’t it?
These servers help prevent overcrowding and use improved hardware solutions and advanced cashing technology to boost website performance and handle high-speed browsing. A2 Hosting doesn’t stop there, though. To deliver fast website loading times, this company uses solid-state drives and various optimization features, such as HTTP/2 and GZIP compression.
If you are not into speed, you will be glad to know that A2 hosting has a user-friendly cPanel control panel for trouble-free website development and maintenance. Thanks to its Singapore server location, this company provides solid service to Australia-based customers.
A2 hosting has plans for every user category. You can thus choose between shared, VPS, dedicated, and WordPress hosting. The Startup shared plan includes free Website Builder, SSL certificate, site migration, as well as 100 GB SSD of web storage space. You also get unlimited bandwidth, subdomains, and email accounts, plus a chance to choose which data centre you’ll use. It costs $4.60 AUD – the same as InMotion or Hosinger base plans.
The already mentioned Turbo plans are notably more expensive but besides 20 times faster page loads and handling 10 times as much traffic, the price includes unlimited NVMe SSD storage, which can read/write up to three times faster. To find out more about A2 hosting plans, read our full A2 Hosting review.
Pros
- Fast website loading time
- Beginner-friendly intuitive cPanel
- Completely scalable hosting plans
- 30-day money-back guarantee and hassle-free refunds
- Eco-conscious FutureServe Green Hosting
Cons
- Available only for the Linux operating system
- Base plan allows for only one website
- No free domain
10. HostPapa – Best Cheap Web Host for Australia
Starting Price | Uptime | Average Page Load Speed | Traffic | Storage | Free Domain | Money-Back Guarantee |
$4.50/month | 99.9% | 1.8s | Unlimited | 100GB SSD | Yes | 30-day |
HostPapa is renowned for its affordable plans which are among the cheapest in Australia, especially considering all the features and services they bring to the table. As far as pricing is concerned, you must set aside $4.50 AUD per month if you commit to HostPapa’s basic plan for three years. The Pro plan is its best deal offer, priced at $9.15 AUD. It includes unlimited storage, websites, and email addresses.
Even though budget-friendly, HostPapa’s plans do not lack helpful features and services. The lowest-tier plan offers up to 10 email addresses, 100GB SSD storage, one free domain registration, an SSL certificate, a 99.9% uptime guarantee, and 30 days to try it all out. Users also receive unique one-on-one support and training.
HostPapa provides the same user-friendly cPanel as A2 Hosting. It also uses Imunify360, to protect websites from various security threats. The higher-tier plans include advanced security features such as automated backups and daily malware scans.
The company is also committed to sustainability and is certified as a green hosting provider due to its use of renewable energy and low carbon footprint. Supporting HostPapa is supporting eco-friendly hosting practices and contributing to the green transition.
We tested the HostPapa customer service via live chat, and even though we got helpful responses we had to wait for them. We like the one-on-one training sessions that last up to half an hour and can be used to set up your site. There are also some great tutorials you can watch at your convenience.
Pros
- Cost-effective pricing plans for different needs and budgets
- Eco-friendly hosting option
- Free WordPress installation and updates & one-click installs for over 400 apps and plugins
- Imunify360 protection for enterprise-level security
- Helpful one-on-one training sessions and online tutorials
Cons
- No dedicated hosting
- No servers located close to Australia
Explaining The Different Types of Web Hosting for Australia
There are several types of hosting services available. But what’s the difference? Let’s learn what each kind of web hosting brings to the table so you can make an informed decision.
- Shared Hosting – Shared hosting means multiple websites are being hosted on one server. These websites share space and all physical server resources, including memory, bandwidth, database, and email accounts servers. This results in low cost, but also lower quality of service.
- VPS Hosting Platforms – Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting platforms allow your website to live on a server with other websites. This means you share space like with shared hosting, but with one significant difference – you have your own service resources.
- Dedicated Hosting – Dedicated hosting means your website has access to an entire server and all its resources. That gives you ultimate control and flexibility and minimizes any chance of security or connection problems, but requires quite a technical expertise and a much larger pile of dollar bills.
- Cloud Hosting – Cloud hosting services means your website is hosted on several dedicated servers, providing users with excellent performance and maximum connection speeds. This type of web hosting is typically more expensive than shared or VPS hosting.
What Features Can I Expect From Australian Web Hosting Services?
Providers of web hosting in Australia will generally include all the above-mentioned types of web hosting and more. To help you avoid rookie mistakes, we made a list of features an Australian web hosting service should have:
Development Tools – The best web host Australia should offer a plethora of developer-friendly tools (such as FTP access and SSH access) and support for programming languages like PHP, Python, and Ruby.
Email Hosting – An @yourdomain.com email account is a must if you want to look professional. The best email service includes SMTP and POP3 access.
Database Support – The best Australian web hosting services cover your database environment, be it virtual, physical, in the cloud, or whether it’s one server or multiple.
One-Click Installation – The best web hosting in Australia should secure one-click installations for popular content management systems (CMS) like WordPress, Magento, and more.
Security Features – Pay special attention to security. Many Australian web hosting companies offer security features such as SSL certificates, firewalls, malware scanning, IP & Bot blockers, and regular backups.
Monitoring and Analytics – Having access to monitoring tools and web analytics helps you track essential metrics, such as performance, traffic, user demographics, goals, and behaviour.
E-commerce Features – If you’re planning to sell services or products online, you need an Australian hosting service with e-commerce functionality, including payment gateways, shopping cart software, and SSL for secure checkout.
Why is Australian Web Hosting Important?
When looking for the best web hosting in Australia, it’s wise to pick a web hosting company with local servers for the Australian market.
Having servers located close to your audience will ensure pages load quickly for users, reducing your bounce rate and ultimately adding to your bottom line. This can make it a better pick in terms of value for money than the cheapest option.
The best hosting provider in Australia will ideally also have local customer support, which is readily available and has agents that have a strong grasp of the needs and requirements of the Australian market.
In addition, Australian data sovereignty and residency regulations require that health data is kept on the continent and must not be processed, stored, or managed beyond Australia’s borders. Equally, there are specific conditions required for the sharing of credit eligibility information with non-Australian organisations. In these two cases, therefore, having Australian web servers is important going on essential.
Factors To Consider When Comparing the Best Australian Web Hosting Services
Comparing the best Australian web hosting providers can be tough. Here are a few important factors you should consider when evaluating Australian web hosting providers:
- Pricing and Plan Features – Don’t be swayed by the cheapest offer. Take your time to compare different pricing plans and ensure your chosen plan offers all the features you will need in the foreseeable future. Before making the final decision, check the price for similar plans listed by other providers to avoid overpaying.
- Server Responsiveness and Speed – No one likes wasting their time, especially nowadays when everything we need is only a click away. To be competitive and rank high, you must ensure your website loads fast! It is therefore better to spend a bit more on a higher-tier pricing plan and have your website hosted on servers fully optimized for speed.
- Uptime – Poor uptime usually results in frequent downtime. Downtime leads to lower revenue and irreparable reputation damage. So take Benjamin Franklin’s advice that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and choose an Australian hosting provider with a strong track record of high uptime percentage (99.99% or more). It should help keep your website accessible at all times and your visitors’ content.
- Intuitive Dashboard – A user-friendly dashboard can make your website management tasks a breeze, leaving you more time to concentrate on other, more important tasks. Ensure that the Australian hosting providers of your choice offer an intuitive control panel and easy-to-use interface, enabling you to monitor website performance and effortlessly make necessary changes.
- Security – We’ve already stressed how important security is nowadays. However, it doesn’t hurt to remind you that your web host must have DDoS protection, SSL certificates, firewalls, malware scanning, and other security features to safeguard your website from the OWASP Top Ten online security threats.
- Customer Support- Believe us, you will encounter numerous technical problems while running your website. So, it would be ideal to find an Australian hosting provider that offers 24/7 customer support and can help you whenever needed. There are different support options, such as live chat, phone, ticket, and email support, and if your provider offers at least a few, you will never be left stranded.
Conclusion – What is the Best Web Host in Australia?
HostGator is our top choice for a web host in Australia. We are impressed by how much it offers at reasonable prices. For example, its basic plan delivers unmetered bandwidth, free SSL, and a free domain name, as well as a chance to test it for a month and get your money back in case you don’t like it. So, why not try it out?
BlueHost holds a close second place. Its user-friendly interface almost earned it the pedestal, but due to HostGator’s supreme speed and ability to handle more traffic, we had to give the latter a slight advantage this time around.
We have no doubts though, that both of these companies, as well as all other web hosting companies on our list, can satisfy Australian customers and help them drive their businesses forward.
How We Tested the Best Australian Web Hosts
We’ve thoroughly tested all the providers that appear on this page, looking at their features, plans, and customer feedback. Here are the key criteria we used to assess the best Australian web hosting services:
- Pricing – Pricing is one of the ways hosting providers compete with each other, so we try our best to find the best deals and most cost-effective plans. We go through the entire process to detect potential red flags such as false marketing or hidden fees.
- Features – We ensure Australian web hosts deliver what they promise so that you don’t have to worry about not receiving features and services you count on once you purchase one of their plans.
- Integrations – Even though most Australian web hosting companies offer Linux support, only a few are there for Windows users. We consider OS compatibility and other integrations so that you can be sure you are getting inherent support for the CMS, apps, and OS you work with.
- Automation – We believe that automation is the key player in modern web security management. So we pay special attention to whether a web host offers automated features, such as automatic website backups or malware detection scans which can save your website from serious problems.
- Ease of use – Not every Australian hosting provider is as straightforward as we would want them to be. For this reason, we test control panel user-friendliness through extensive surveys and real-life testing procedures.
- Third-Party Reviews – Real customer satisfaction is the best indicator of the web host’s uptime, speed, and customer support responsiveness. So, we go through thousands of unbiased and objective user reviews and expert opinions.
How To Choose The Best Domain Hosting in Australia
There are a lot of hosting providers on the market today, and it can be difficult to know how to compare them. Here are some of the most important factors to consider when picking the best hosting service for Australia:
- Budget – The most expensive plan is not necessarily the best, nor is the cheapest plan always the most cost-effective one. Consider your budget and needs so that you do not end up with a service plan that can’t meet your needs or pay for advanced features you will never use. We also urge you to look into introductory offers, renewal prices, and money-back policies.
- Ease of Use – It doesn’t matter whether you are a tech expert or an amateur – you should still opt for an easy-to-setup platform with a user-friendly control panel, such as the celebrated standard cPanel.
- Compatibility – Before opening your wallet, consider if the plan you are about to purchase offers the OS compatibility and integrations you need. If not, you might want to consider a higher-tier plan.
- Key Features – Usually the more you pay, the more you get. The same goes for Australian web hosting. However, if you are on a limited budget you should at least try to secure hosting essentials, such as sufficient storage capacity (preferably SSD), bandwidth, e-mail functionality, and security features – most of all a free SSL certificate (ideally with a 1-click install option). In our opinion, the best Australian web hosting company is one that offers an all-inclusive package (including a free domain name/transfer, 1-click installs, automated backups, and a website builder) at a reasonable price.
- Scalability – Hopefully your website traffic is going to grow fast. You should be prepared for that and consider those hosting providers capable of supporting your growth in the foreseeable future. Unfortunately, free web hosting in Australia is limited in both its functionality and growth opportunities. So, opting for a more flexible and scalable hosting plan from the start might be a better solution.
- Customer Support – As far as Australian web hosting is concerned, customer support is often a weak spot. It’s usually all good on paper since most hosting companies claim to offer 24/7 support across several channels, but in real life, a customer rarely gets instant help. For this reason, we recommend trying out the company’s customer support beforehand. Send an e-mail or start a live chat and see how long it takes for you to get a response or resolve your issue. Alternatively, check reputable sources for unbiased and objective opinions and personal experiences.
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Tamara Veli?kovi? Slavkovi?
Technology JournalistTamara V.S. is a versatile professional, combining her roles as a content writer, PR manager, and corporate journalist. Armed with a Master’s degree in English language, she delves into the tech world with enthusiasm. Tamara’s forte lies in crafting highly informative articles on topics like cybersecurity, the newest apps, software, VPNs, and AI.