Web Hosting for Cheap
These dated notes were used in deciding upon hosting for APHA. Cost was a major concern since APHA is a non-profit with limited budget for non-mission critical things like a website. I've shared this page sometimes with colleagues. Bear in mind that cheap, reliable and stable (both technically and financially) don't necessarily go hand-in-hand. Also, the cheaper the host is, the less hand-holding, service and features you can expect.
Overall Sources
To check the domain availability and name/patent infringement, check with
StartStorm (formerly Namestorm). Searches a variety of databases. Highly recommended!
I can also recommend
these sites:
For really low-end hosting (but without third party commentary), check:
In addition, the following proved useful:
Specific Vendors
-
www.web66.com NSSB/Web66/Route66 (San
Bernadino, Ca.; Unix; sometimes a little slow; lots of features; customer support a bit weak and unresponsive)
- www.newglobalnet.com (similar to NSSB/Web66; Chicago area; flashier)
- www.affordablehost.com Linux; no Frontpage extensions support (11/02) MySQL, PHP; access to raw logs; mailing lists. (discounted non-profit; credit card thru www.2checkout.com)
- www.telaweb.com
(interesting; low-cost; WinNT; mid-range has dbase/ODBC for $14.95/mo; weak self-support help pages)
- www.westhost.com (Linux servers;
Frontpage, Miva)
- ImHosted.com, services starting at $9.95/mo. Frontpage, PHP?
- www.simplenet.com Simplenet (cgi and Frontpage are
extra) [From 1999 owned by Yahoo!]
- www.Cyberhosts.net
- http://www.pennyhost.com (WinNT; $10/; 5 years old; pretty fast, but not much online docs; Looks good. NB one recommender "Startplace.com" is a subsidary of their parent company.)
- PairNet, a mid-range, respectable hosting provider. Said to be reliable. Nice commerce package with FTP package and Americart.
- http://www.inr.net/ (Business oriented with room for little folk)
- http://www.halfpricehosting.com (WinNT option; good rating from C-Net 10/99. I found their billing and cancellation policy confusing. Not recommended due to billing and other disputes I had with them.)
- http://www.hostingsolutions.net (WinNT; Busines plans are $19.95/mo)
- www.Interland.com PC Magazine's editor's Choice 12/99.
- Verio, one of the largest major hosting providers.
- www.hiway.net Hiway Net (one of the bigger hosters, now part of Verio)
- www.Designspot.com Design
Spot (Big sites but looks flukey) ($29.95 per
month /150 megs; includes mSQL)