iPage gives you everything the others do and then some, with “loads” of disk space and bandwidth, as well as unlimited domains and MySQL databases. It also hosts both drag and drop Site Builder and a Site Builder that runs on templates, so you have your choice of design methods if you use Site Builder. There is also a blog setup wizard, photo gallery wizard, and a customized Google search engine for your site. You also get a personalized domain name free for one year.

Businesses get a range of free features and services as well, including a free online store. Business webmasters also have their choice of shopping carts, which can be chosen according to feature or by style, to fit the design of your site. iPage’s business sites also include PayPal integration.

iPage accounts include full e-mail, as well as webmail which allows you to check your mail online. It also has spam filters. These are not only great for webmail, but provide an extra layer of protection for all those who check their mail on a desktop application. Finally, iPage’s mailing services include virus check.

Whether you are a business or a personal site, marketing and promotion are key to your efforts. What is the point of having a great website if no one can find it? iPage provides the most marketing tools of any webhost out there, with a free Yellowpages.com listing, free toll free number (US citizens only), $100 credit for AdWords, $50 credit for Yahoo/Bing, and $25 credit for advertising on Facebook. That is nearly $200 in free advertising credit right off the bat.

Tracking and reporting is also important to webmasters, and iPage knows it, offering such features and services as integrated Google Webmaster Tools, visitor statistics and traffic reporting, and more. Most of these services are integrated into iPage’s Web Hosting Control Panel.

iPage also knows that security is important and offers several options to beef yours up, as well. Their exclusive enhanced security suite comes free with every account, and allows you to sweep your account once a year. The security suite lets you check for spam and malware across your site. You also get domain verification and a security badge for your site. iPage also hosts your site through redundant servers, not a single server with a backup. This results in better uptime and fewer problems.

iPage has customer support available 24/7, and most calls are answered within two minutes. Agents know the system and are familiar with webhosting and webmastering in general, so they are specially trained to handle your questions and concerns. There are some 800 employees ready to handle your calls.

Whatever price you pay, you are destined to get your money’s worth though, as Justhost offers unlimited bandwidth, space, e-mail accounts, MySQL databases, and more. They also offer free instant setup, a free domain name, and access to their free Site Builder application. With Site Builder, you can create a website without any knowledge of HTML or other programming languages.

Another great feature of Justhost is transferring your site from another host. Justhost will help you setup your free domain, then give you $100 worth of advertising credits for both Google and $25 for Yahoo. You may want to switch hosts to take advantage of Justhost’s great promotional offer, or you might just want a new host. Either way, Justhost will help you every step of the way.

Building a new site with Justhost is just as easy and they still provide support throughout the process. You receive everything you would get if you were transferring your site from another host, though you will probably be more dependent on the free templates and Site Builder than someone who is transferring their site. You can build entire sites using just one or two templates, and Justhost offers several. With templates and Site Builder, you can create a new website – without knowing HTML – in a matter of minutes.

Yet another great feature is their Anytime Money Back Guarantee. You can use the services for as long as you like, but if you are ever dissatisfied, you can ask for your money back right then and there. There is no 30 day limit or anything like that; whenever you are dissatisfied, regardless of how long you have had an account with the company, you can get your money back (pro-rated, of course).

Justhost also provides great customer support. You can speak to a live representative through chat from the main page, or you can call one directly using Justhost’s toll free phone number. A helpful customer service representative can answer all the questions you cannot find answers to online.

Joomla and WordPress are included free, as well. With Joomla, a Content Management Service, you can easily run a website and update its information without having to rely on cPanel’s File Manager. Content Management Systems, or CMS, break a website down into modules that are easier to update than full webpages. WordPress is also a CMS, but it is best known as a blogging platform. WP, as WordPress is known, is the premiere blogging platform on the market today.

Of course, there are some limitations on their services and features that are included in the fine print, but Justhost should have enough freebies and options to fit your needs. Justhost was rated Host of the Year in 2010.

Fatcow also has a Website Builder and “Script Barn” which includes WordPress, Joomla, phpBB, and more. Using these tools, you should be able to develop a website or blog without prior knowledge of HTML, PERL, or any other programming language. Applications include wizards that make them easy to install. Fatcow also supports FrontPage and, as noted, unlimited FTP. Google Webmaster Tools and custom search come integrated into your website.

Businesses are also welcome at Fatcow. They offer shopping carts for small business sites, as well as an SSL secure server. PayPal integration is available, and businesses can accept credit cards as well. You can even create a catalog with coupons and sales events. PowerPay is also an available option.

Both personal and business sites can benefit from good exposure, and Fatcow’s plan offers a host of promotional tools. These tools include $100 AdWords credit, $25 Bing/Yahoo credit, and $50 Facebook advertising credit to start with, as well as a free toll free phone number and Yellowpages.com listing. Fatcow’s marketing tools also include HubSpot’s Website Grader, which few other hosts offer.

Fatcow also offers one free domain name (a limited time offer), and a 30 day money back guarantee. If you have any questions or concerns, Fatcow’s friendly Moo Crew is available 24/7 by phone, e-mail, or live chat. Their servers are backed up daily and monitored around the clock, so you never have to worry about technical issues. Also, Fatcow’s servers are 100% wind powered, meaning your website is 100% green.

Fatcow boasts all the features and services of other web host providers, but at a steeper price. If you act quickly enough, you may be able to take advantage of their introductory price, which is far more affordable than their regular one. However, all sites automatically renew at the regular price, so you are only getting one year at a discount. Businesses in particular may find Fatcow a good draw, but personal webmasters are probably going to want to go with a more affordable provider.

Bluehost’s plan is also great for more personal websites, such as blogs and hobby sites. They have over 50 services and applications that can be installed with just one click, including WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, and more. Bluehost provides everything you need to host your blog or content management system on their services. They also support many multimedia features, including streaming video.

Bluehost is proud that they handle every aspect of the technology involved. This way, when something goes wrong, you only have to deal with one company. Bluehost builds their own servers, compiles their own linux kernel, and hosts their services from their own 50,000 square foot headquarters and two secondary data centers. You can be certain their technicians are knowledgeable about their products and services, and will be able to handle your every concern.

Bluehost is one of the older web hosting providers, having been around since 1996. They are experienced and known throughout the industry. Bluehost’s goal is to provide the best possible service at the best possible price, and this has been their standard since the company was founded. They offer a demo of their services on the site so you can check out cPanel before committing to a plan.

There are less expensive web hosting companies with more plans. Bluehost offers experience and technical knowledge, but it comes at a price. There are several competitors who offer the same, or more, at a more competitive price. If you are looking for business hosting, Bluehost is a good option; if you want hosting for a personal project, Bluehost may be more than you are willing to spend.

Bluehost’s package is nice, but overpriced. You can find competitive packages in a variety of plans through Bluehost’s competitors. Be sure to explore your web hosting options, features, and prices before committing to a purchase.

Hostgator uses cPanel, the most common and generally best reviewed control panel application. You can also connect to Hostgator via FTP with most packages. This allows you to create content offline then upload it later. SiteBuilder and the web based file manager change the website online immediately. Users also get unlimited MySQL databases with administrative access.

You can also use Hostgator to host your blog or other content management system. Hostgator includes over 75 scripts, including WordPress, Joomla, and other popular content management systems. These applications provide a framework, or graphic user interface, for managing content. They are great for webmasters and bloggers alike, and are in use across the web.

All Hostgator plans also include unlimited e-mail accounts and POP access. You can access these accounts online or setup a mailing program on your computer, mobile, tablet, or other device to monitor and handle your mail. These accounts can include SpamAssassin, which helps eliminate spam in your mailboxes.

Hostgator has been recognized as one of the fastest growing private companies in America. They employ several hundred people, many of whom work in customer service. Representatives are available every hour of the day, every day of the year. Hostgator also has thousands of videos and documents for reference, which are also available at any time. They strive to provide the best service possible, both online and offline.

For the features provided, Hostgator is very reasonable. They are one of the most inexpensive web hosting providers, and their plans include a wealth of scripts, services, and options. Even large websites requiring lots of services and applications can find a plan to fit their needs, including businesses. Hostgator’s 99.9% uptime guarantee ensures your website will be available basically all of the time, and their award winning customer support is always accessible. Hostgator plans include unlimited disk space, bandwidth, and e-mail accounts.

Hostgator is especially well-suited for hosting WordPress blogs and content management systems, such as Joomla.

HostMonster allows FTP and has Web based file management through the award winning cPanel. There is a demo on the website that allows you to take the application for a test drive before you make a purchase. FTP allows you to create content offline then upload it to the server later. It also allows you to change the properties and content of pages that are already live, and have the changes take effect immediately. You can do the same through File Manager from cPanel.

HostMonster has a pleasant interface that is clean and easy to read. cPanel is likewise easy to navigate, with both text and icons to guide you. HostMonster also boasts toll free customer support, and is very proud of the fact that it outsources nothing. All of its customer support is handled out of Utah, and HostMonster personally employs every other position in the company. This means you are always dealing with one company – the same company – no matter what goes wrong.

This is one of the least expensive plans out there, and it is great for personal projects like blogs or hobby sites. HostMonster has a long list of script installations that can be added in one click. These include WordPress, Joomla, and more. You can run your entire site through a content management system and install a bulletin board and messaging forum, if you like. It allows small sites to offer features you would expect from the larger ones.

This also makes it a good choice for businesses that need to keep costs low. HostMonster provides free online stores, up to three shopping carts, and more for business sites. These are in addition to the features available to personal sites, and many can also be installed in one click.

HostMonster can also handle newsletters, has an images gallery, and supports streaming audio and video. It uses a Linux operating system with a power supply back-up and 24/7 monitoring, and provides courtesy site backups. It makes no guarantees as to uptime.

HostMonster provides all the features of higher priced packages for one of the lowest prices out there. It is a great choice for personal and business accounts, especially if cost is important. HostMonster’s interface is clean and easily navigable, and they take pride in outsourcing nothing.

Businesses are more at home with InMotion and that is who they are courting. The Business Class plan is up to 50% faster than personal hosting plans, provides more spam protection, and performs daily backups. You also have 90 days guaranteed money back refund if you are not satisfied, and can pay month to month.

InMotion confusingly has three packages: Starter, Basic, and Max. Max obviously provides the most features, but is also the most expensive. Many competitors offer the same features in cheaper packages, and some provide even more. Be sure to know what you are purchasing, as there is a Business Class in addition to these three plans.

All of the packages work with Windows, Mac, and Linux, so the operating system you use makes no difference. They also include e-mail accounts and 24/7 toll free customer support. Aside from that, most of the features you will probably need are not included in the Starter package; you have to go with the Basic or Max package to get things like scripts, templates, and access to SiteBuilder. If you have no experience creating websites, the Starter Package will be of absolutely no use to you unless you use a website design program offline.

The in-depth customer support could be of great use to you here, as it could help you determine your business’ needs in a website. The help center is based in the United States, and an expert technician can field your questions if you do not find answers in their collection of tutorials and FAQs.

For the most part, the personal accounts are only good for people who already have hosting options or only need it for specific purposes. A good case would be a domain hosted for a Blogger blog. They are still more expensive than most of InMotion’s competitions’ plans, though. They also offer fewer features by plan, on the average.

InMotion is looking to build a clientele of businesses, not personal accounts, and its services and service plans are notably structured to attract businesses. If you are a business looking for an online presence, or an online business, InMotion is viable option, but webmasters with personal projects should look elsewhere for services.

All of the plans come with several hundred dollars worth of free advertising. This may be more important to business accounts, but it helps get your website into the search engines and provides exposure. Some advertising is necessary just to attract visitors. Once there, it is up to your content to impress them enough to return. This free advertising saves businesses money and gives personal accounts exposure and a free boost of traffic.

You have to purchase at least three months of the Economy plan, where you can purchase the other plans on a monthly basis. There is not a lot of disparity in price between the first two plans, as GoDaddy is trying to upsell to the Deluxe package. But if you do not need all the features it offers, the Economy package is probably your best bet. Take time to compare plans and the features and options they provide.

GoDaddy is well known throughout the industry, and one of the biggest web hosting providers online. You can purchase a domain name and register it, then host your site through GoDaddy. This is great for keeping all of your information in one place. It is also great having to deal with only one company whenever something goes wrong. Domain registration is not included in hosting, so there is a larger initial investment, but it may be worth it to keep all of your information and correspondence simpler and easier to manage.

GoDaddy offers competitive plans and pricing, as well as frequent sales and discounts on all of its products and services. GoDaddy’s pricing includes both personal and business accounts, so your personal blog can have all the bells and whistles of a much larger, more professional, site.

GoDaddy also offers WordPress hosting. However, since the plans are the same for personal and business accounts, GoDaddy is not your best option for such personal web hosting services. Competitors offer better, more targeted, packages for these needs.

For the price and features it provides, GoDaddy is a satisfactory web host, but not the best for the price. It may be worth the cost to keep all of your accounts and information under one roof, though. GoDaddy is more convenient than it is robust.

Lunarpages boasts great uptime so your website is nearly always available – generally, this means it only down during scheduled maintenance. The interface is clean and simple, with access to all of your account information, as well as great extras given away free to all webmasters. Lunarpages uses cPanel, which also has a clean and simple interface with both icons and text to help with navigation.

Lunarpages seems to be moving in a more business-oriented direction, and has several plans for business sites. These plans may have more of the features you need for your business site, but be sure to check out the basic hosting package. You may be able to get everything you need from that and save a bit of money. Again, if live customer service is important to you, a business package might be the better way to go.

You could use SiteBuilder to create your own website without previous experience, or allow Lunarpages to customize one for you. The basic package comes with a wealth of scripts, templates, and other features, and includes web based e-mail and file management as well as FTP, making it easy for someone without prior knowledge to build and launch a website.

While it appears that Lunarpages is looking to recruit more business accounts, it is a great service for personal projects. Lunarpages has a host of one-click install scripts, including WordPress and Joomla, as well as several other blogging platforms and content management systems. Good uptime means the problems you encounter will rarely be major, so customer service will be able to provide great support. The Helpdesk also contains hundreds of documents and tutorials covering most of the things you can do with your account, including add-ons and scripts.

Lunarpages is moderately priced, but you get what you pay for online. The interface is simple, clean, and easy to navigate, making it easy to find all of your Lunarpages account information, as well as cPanel, web based e-mail, and other options. There may be cheaper alternatives, but Lunarpages’ basic plan offers all of the features of more robust packages, as well as award winning customer support, at a very reasonable price.

Yahoo also provides numerous ways to promote your site. This includes one-click search engine submission and exhaustive how-to guides, as well as a “grand opening” e-mail. Your business or personal site can also be listed in a number of other Yahoo services and areas.

Yahoo does not offer many of the features you will find on other networks, such as scripts and one-click install applications. It does offer its own version of many of these features, however. You use Yahoo media to embed video and audio content into your site, and you can incorporate other departments of Yahoo into your site to mimic features found on other websites – such as using Groups for your forums and message board. You have less control over the features you use and provide under Yahoo Web Hosting than you do with most other web hosting providers, but the services are of comparable quality.

You are not allowed to post affiliate advertising network placements or banners on your site. This can be problematic for many webmasters who want to sell ad space on their sites to help recoup operating costs, or even to make a profit. If you intend on using advertising, Yahoo Web Hosting is not the place for you.

Whether you are running a business site or working on a personal project, Yahoo Web Hosting is expensive and offers few of the features of most other companies’ hosting plans and packages. However, Yahoo web hosting provides most of the same features through its own functions. You can incorporate other areas of Yahoo, such as Groups, into your website as well. In general though, you have less control over your site and content than you will have on most other networks.

With Yahoo, you are paying for the name. If you are brand loyal or respect Yahoo’s other features, you may be willing to bear the price, but it is almost twice the cost of most similar packages from Yahoo’s competitors. You can also use other scripting languages, content management systems, and more with other providers; Yahoo internally provides all of the tools you use for sites on their network.

Yahoo is a venerable network with good customer satisfaction, but its web hosting packages are overpriced and offer fewer features than those of its competitors.