Picking a hosting plan for your first website can feel confusing. Plans list dozens of features and limits, and they all sound important. The good news is that only a handful of questions really decide which plan you need.

1. How many websites will you run?

This is the biggest difference between plans. If you only need one website, an entry plan is enough. If you plan to run several sites, such as a business site, a blog and a landing page, choose a plan that hosts more websites so you do not have to upgrade straight away.

2. Do you need email on your domain?

An address like hello@yourbusiness.com looks more professional than a free email address. Check how many email accounts each plan includes and how much storage each mailbox gets. Our email hosting page explains the limits on every plan.

3. How much storage do you need?

Most small websites use far less storage than you might expect. Images, video and email are what fill up space. Fast NVMe SSD storage matters more than a huge number, because it makes your site and database quicker.

4. Is security included?

Look for a free SSL certificate, a firewall, malware scanning and malware removal. These should be standard, not paid extras.

5. What happens if something goes wrong?

Daily backups that you can restore yourself are essential. So is support that is available around the clock. Check whether you can reach a real person by live chat or tickets at any time.

6. Is the price clear?

Many hosts advertise a low monthly price that applies only to a long term. That is often the best value, but make sure you understand the term, what is billed upfront and what renewals cost.

7. Can you grow without moving?

Your first plan does not have to be your last. Choose a host that lets you upgrade to a bigger plan, or to a Cloud VPS, when you need more resources.

A simple rule of thumb

For one website, start with the entry plan. For several sites or a small team that needs email, choose the middle plan. For many sites or a growing business, choose the larger plan. You can compare everything on our web hosting plans and pricing page.