Choosing a Hosting Plan: What to Look For
Choosing a hosting plan can feel overwhelming with all the options available. How much storage do you need? What exactly is bandwidth? And how many email addresses are enough? In this complete guide we help you step by step to pick the right hosting plan for your situation. We explain every component, compare different types of plans and warn you about common pitfalls.
Whether you want a simple website for your business, want to start a blog or want to set up an online store, the right hosting plan makes the difference between a fast, reliable website and a slow, unreliable online presence. Let's start with the basics: what is actually included in a hosting plan?
What is included in a hosting plan?
A hosting plan is a bundle of services and resources you need to put a website online and keep it there. Most hosting plans include a combination of the components below, although the exact specifications differ per plan and per provider.
Storage space (SSD/NVMe)
Storage space is the room on the server where your website files are kept: HTML pages, images, videos, databases and email. Modern hosting plans use SSD or NVMe storage, which is many times faster than traditional hard drives. The amount of storage in a hosting plan ranges from 5 GB on basic plans to 100 GB or more on premium plans. For most websites, 10 to 25 GB is more than enough.
Bandwidth (data traffic)
Bandwidth is the amount of data that can be sent from your server to your visitors per month. Every time someone views a page on your website, data is sent. The more visitors you have and the heavier your pages are (lots of images, videos), the more bandwidth you need. Most hosting plans offer generous bandwidth or even unlimited data traffic.
Email accounts
With most hosting plans you can create professional email addresses on your own domain name, such as info@yourbusiness.com. The number of email accounts you can create differs per plan: basic plans often offer 5 to 10 accounts, while premium plans offer unlimited email.
Domain names
Some hosting plans include one or more domain names, while with other plans you have to register your domain separately. Also pay attention to how many websites or domains you can host on your plan. On basic plans this is often limited to one domain, while premium plans support multiple domains.
Databases
Databases are needed for dynamic websites that work with a CMS such as WordPress, Joomla or Drupal. Most hosting plans offer MySQL or MariaDB databases. Basic plans usually offer 1 to 5 databases, premium plans often unlimited. For a standard WordPress website you need at least 1 database.
SSL certificate
An SSL certificate encrypts the connection between your website and your visitors. It is essential for security and is used by Google as a ranking factor. Almost all modern hosting plans include a free SSL certificate (Let's Encrypt). Always check whether this is included, because some budget hosts charge extra for it.
Comparing hosting plans: starter vs. business vs. premium
Most hosting providers offer their plans in three to four tiers. Although the exact names and specifications differ per provider, the structure is usually comparable. Here is an overview of what you can expect per tier when choosing a hosting plan.
| Feature | Starter plan | Business plan | Premium plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storage | 5 - 15 GB SSD | 25 - 50 GB SSD | 100+ GB NVMe |
| Bandwidth | 100 GB - unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Websites/domains | 1 | 5 - 10 | Unlimited |
| Email accounts | 5 - 10 | 25 - 50 | Unlimited |
| Databases | 1 - 5 | 10 - 25 | Unlimited |
| SSL certificate | Free | Free | Free |
| Backups | Weekly | Daily | Daily |
| Performance | Basic | Improved | Premium (priority resources) |
| Support | Email + phone | Priority support | |
| Price indication | €3 - €6/mo | €8 - €15/mo | €15 - €25/mo |
The comparison of hosting plans shows that the starter plan is fine for a single website with limited traffic. The business plan is the best choice for most business websites and active blogs. The premium plan is meant for users with multiple websites, heavy traffic or higher demands on performance and support.
How much storage do you need for your hosting plan?
One of the most frequently asked questions when choosing a hosting plan is: how much storage do I need? The answer depends on the type of website you have and how much content you plan to publish.
Here are guidelines for common types of websites:
- Simple brochure website (5-10 pages): 1 - 3 GB is more than enough
- Blog with regular posts: 3 - 10 GB, depending on the use of images
- Business website with portfolio: 5 - 15 GB, more if you use lots of high-quality images
- Online store (up to 500 products): 10 - 25 GB, depending on the number of product images
- Large online store (1000+ products): 25 - 50 GB or more
- Website with lots of video: 50+ GB, or use external video services such as YouTube or Vimeo
A practical tip: choose a hosting plan with a bit more storage than you need right now. Your website grows over time and it is annoying to have to upgrade halfway through. A plan with 10 to 25 GB of storage is a safe choice for most websites that will last for years.
Calculating bandwidth: how much do you need?
Bandwidth is a concept that many people find confusing when choosing a hosting plan. Simply put, bandwidth is the total amount of data your website can send to visitors per month.
A rule of thumb for calculating your bandwidth needs: multiply the average page weight (in MB) by the number of page views per month. An average web page is about 2 to 3 MB. If your website has 10,000 page views per month and your average page is 2.5 MB, you need about 25 GB of bandwidth per month.
In practice, with most modern hosting plans you rarely have to worry about bandwidth. Most providers offer generous or unlimited bandwidth. Do watch out for the previously mentioned Fair Use Policy on plans that claim unlimited bandwidth.
One domain or multiple domains on your hosting plan
When choosing a hosting plan, it is important to think about how many websites or domains you want to host. If you only have one website, a basic plan with support for one domain is enough. But if you manage multiple websites or plan to create more sites in the future, you need a plan that supports multiple domains.
There are two types of domain links you will encounter with hosting plans:
- Add-on domains: These let you host multiple fully independent websites on the same plan. Each website has its own domain, files and email addresses.
- Parked domains (aliases): These let you point extra domain names to the same website. Handy if you have registered multiple domains that all need to point to the same site.
If you plan to host multiple websites, a business or premium hosting plan is the better choice. It is often more cost-effective than buying several separate basic plans.
Email accounts with your hosting plan
Professional email addresses on your own domain name are essential for the credibility of your business. An email address such as info@yourbusiness.com inspires far more trust than a free Gmail or Hotmail address.
When choosing a hosting plan, consider how many email accounts you need. For a freelancer, 2 to 5 accounts are usually enough (for example info@, personal@ and billing@). A small business might need 10 to 25 accounts, and a larger company may need unlimited email.
Also pay attention to the storage space per mailbox. Some plans offer only 250 MB per mailbox, which fills up quickly if you receive lots of email with attachments. Preferably choose a plan with at least 1 GB per mailbox, or better still, unlimited mailbox space.
Control panel: DirectAdmin vs. cPanel
The control panel is the interface you use to manage your hosting plan. The two most popular control panels are DirectAdmin and cPanel.
DirectAdmin is a lightweight, fast control panel that is popular with many hosting providers. It is clear, stable and uses few server resources. The interface is functional and suitable for both beginners and advanced users.
cPanel is the most widely used control panel worldwide. It offers an extensive set of features and a recognizable interface. cPanel is slightly richer in features than DirectAdmin, but also uses more server resources.
Both control panels offer the same basic functionality: website management, email management, database management, file management and statistics. The choice between DirectAdmin and cPanel is largely a matter of personal preference. More important is that your control panel is intuitive and reliable.
Pitfalls when choosing a hosting plan
There are several pitfalls to watch out for when choosing a hosting plan. By knowing them, you avoid disappointment and unexpected costs.
The "unlimited" myth
Many hosting providers advertise unlimited storage, bandwidth or email accounts. In practice there is always a limit, laid down in the terms or Fair Use Policy. If you use too many resources, you get throttled or have to upgrade. Always look at the real limits in the terms, not at the marketing copy.
Cheap is not always cost-effective
A hosting plan of two euros per month looks attractive, but you often get what you pay for: slow servers, limited support and many websites on the same server. If your website is important to your business, it is wiser to invest a little more in a plan with better performance and support.
Intro price vs. renewal price
Many providers offer a sharp introductory price that only applies to the first year. On renewal the price can rise sharply. Always check what the plan costs after the introductory period. At Theory7 you always pay the same fair price, whether it is your first year or your tenth.
Missing features you have to buy separately
Some budget plans lack features you would actually expect as standard: an SSL certificate, backups, spam filtering or a decent control panel. Always check what is and is not included before you choose a hosting plan.
Checklist: choosing the right hosting plan
Use this practical checklist when choosing your hosting plan. Go through all the points to be sure your plan meets all your needs.
- Storage: Is there enough storage space for your current website plus room to grow?
- Bandwidth: Is the bandwidth sufficient for your expected number of visitors?
- Domains: Can you host the desired number of websites on this plan?
- Email: Are there enough email accounts with sufficient storage per mailbox?
- SSL: Is a free SSL certificate included?
- Backups: Are automatic backups made and how often?
- Support: Which support channels are available and what are the response times?
- Control panel: Which control panel is offered and is it user-friendly?
- Uptime guarantee: Is an uptime guarantee offered?
- Renewal price: What does the plan cost after the introductory period?
- Migration help: Does the provider help with migrating your current website?
Theory7 hosting plans: the right choice for every website
At Theory7 we offer hosting plans designed with the needs of business owners in mind. Every plan includes all the essentials you need as standard, without surprises or hidden costs.
All our plans include:
- Fast NVMe storage for maximum website speed
- Free SSL certificates for every website
- Daily automatic backups
- Generous email storage on your own domain name
- User-friendly control panel
- Support from hosting experts
Also take a look at our WordPress hosting if you specifically want to build a WordPress website, or compare all options in our hosting comparison.
Step by step: from choosing a hosting plan to going online
Now that you know what to look for when choosing a hosting plan, here is a concise step-by-step plan to get from your choice to a working website. Also read our extensive step-by-step plan for building a website.
- Determine your needs: How much storage, bandwidth and email accounts do you need?
- Compare plans: Look at several providers and compare on price, features and reviews.
- Register your domain: Choose and register a fitting domain name.
- Choose your plan: Select the hosting plan that suits you best.
- Install your CMS: Install WordPress or another CMS through the control panel.
- Build your website: Choose a theme, create pages and fill your website with content.
- Go live: Check everything and make your website accessible to visitors.
Frequently asked questions about choosing a hosting plan
How much storage do I need for my website?
Most websites need 5 to 25 GB of storage. A simple website gets by on 5 GB, a blog with lots of images needs 10 to 15 GB, and an online store with hundreds of products can need 25 GB or more.
What is the difference between a starter and premium plan?
A starter plan offers basic resources for a single website. Premium plans offer more storage, more domains, better performance, more extensive support and extra features such as daily backups and priority resources on the server.
Do I need a separate SSL certificate?
With most modern hosting providers, a free SSL certificate (Let's Encrypt) is included with every plan. A separate premium SSL certificate is only needed for specific business use cases with extended validation.
Can I upgrade to a larger plan later?
Yes, with virtually all hosting providers you can easily upgrade to a larger plan. At Theory7 this can be done without downtime and your data is automatically carried over to the new plan.
Do I have to register my domain name with the same provider?
That is not required but it is convenient. If your domain and hosting are with the same provider, management is simpler and the configuration is often automatic. You can also register your domain with another registrar and link it to your hosting.
Choosing a hosting plan: industry-specific advice
The ideal hosting plan differs per industry. What works for a blogger is not suitable for an online store or a business service provider.
Plans by type of website
| Type of website | Recommended plan | Minimum storage | Extra features needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blog/portfolio | Basic shared hosting | 10 GB SSD | SSL, email |
| Business website | Premium shared hosting | 25 GB SSD | SSL, email, daily backups |
| Online store (small) | Business shared hosting | 50 GB SSD | SSL, staging, extra memory |
| Online store (large) | VPS or dedicated | 100+ GB NVMe | CDN, dedicated IP, load balancing |
| SaaS/application | Managed VPS | 50+ GB NVMe | Root access, Docker support |
Recognizing when to upgrade
Your current hosting plan no longer suffices when you regularly hit CPU or memory limits, your website slows down during peak hours, you have more than 25,000 unique visitors per month, or you need advanced server configurations. Monitor your usage through your hosting provider's control panel and upgrade proactively before performance problems affect your visitors.
Want to know more about the costs? Take a look at our complete price overview for website hosting or directly compare the best hosting providers.
Hosting plan: frequently asked questions
Choosing a hosting plan raises many questions that we answer below. Can you upgrade to a larger plan later? Yes, with most providers you can scale up seamlessly without downtime or data migration. What if my website gets too much traffic? A good hosting provider warns you proactively and offers an upgrade option before your website experiences slowdowns. Do I need separate email? No, most hosting plans include email accounts with your own domain name, but do check how many email addresses are included. Is a more expensive plan always better? Not necessarily. If you have a simple website with limited traffic, a basic plan is perfectly fine. Choose a plan that fits your current needs with room to grow, and upgrade only when needed.
Hosting plan: choosing for the future
Choose a hosting plan that not only meets your needs today but is also ready for the future. A good rule of thumb is to choose a plan with 50% more resources than your current usage. This gives you room to grow without having to upgrade right away. Watch the contract terms: month-to-month gives you more flexibility, while an annual contract often earns a discount. At Theory7 you can always upgrade seamlessly to a larger plan when needed.
Choosing the right hosting plan is the first step toward a successful online presence. Take your time for a well-considered choice.
Hosting plan: conclusion
A good hosting plan combines enough storage, speed, security and support at a fair price. Compare at least three providers, test the customer service, and read current reviews before you make a choice. Remember that the cheapest plan is rarely the best: invest in quality for a reliable online presence that lasts for years without surprises.
