5 Best ASP.NET Hosting Services (Small & Big Projects) in 2024

Linux may be a fan-favorite in the hosting industry, but this doesn’t mean it’s the only choice for developers. Although not as popular, Windows-based web hosting is a viable option – especially if you want to run a website based on the ASP.NET framework.

You could try using the Linux-friendly .NET Core or the competing Mono platform, but neither option has all the Windows-specific components included in ASP. In this case, you’re better off with a web host that offers Windows plans.

Finding an affordable ASP.NET host that’s also reliable is easier said than done – but not impossible. Although ASP may be open-source, Windows Server isn’t, and the cost is often passed on to you. Dozens of companies claim to be the best ASP.NET web hosts, yet only a handful optimize their servers to run it, and even fewer use the latest version of Windows Server.

I tested more than a dozen services to find the best ASP.NET hosts, and I can tell you that many didn’t make the cut despite glowing customer “reviews” (I’m looking at you, GoDaddy and Network Solutions) – so read on to find out who actually did.

What We Look For in the Best ASP.NET Hosting Services

Here’s what I prioritized in my search for the best ASP.NET hosting providers.

• Compatibility. I didn’t even take a second look at Linux setups trying to pose as ASP.NET hosts. You want the benefits of the entire .NET framework, and for that you need Windows Server.
• Optimized servers. It goes without saying that the latest versions of .NET, Windows Server, MSSQL, and IIS are preferred. An up-to-date infrastructure promises better security and improved performance.
• Value for money. ASP.NET hosting plans tend to be expensive. If a host is going to ask me for more money, it’d better give me additional (useful) features, like automatic backups and improved security.
• Database and module support. It’s helpful to have MySQL, MariaDB, and PostgreSQL support aside from MSSQL because you never know when you might have to interact with an application based on a LAMP stack. This makes an additional module like ODBC a must-have. You may also want support for other modules, like Access, MVC, or Silverlight.
• Expert knowledge. Windows Server technology doesn’t benefit from the same kind of community that Linux has. This makes it all the more important to have Windows experts ready to help when something goes wrong. And if there’s anything we can count on, it’s that if something can go wrong, it will – that’s what blue screens are for, right?

1. Kamatera – Custom Cloud-Based ASP.NET Hosting

Kamatera’s incredibly flexible cloud servers are a good solution if you need an affordable custom hosting environment.  You can add as much CPU power, RAM, and SSD storage as you need (within certain limits). Then, choose your data center location, operating system, and control panel – and you’re good to go.

The downside with Kamatera is that you only get a small amount of storage and traffic included when you sign up. Moreover, if your incoming traffic is more than double the outgoing traffic, you’ll be charged for that. To be fair, at roughly $10 per TB, the pay-as-you-go rates are nothing to worry about.

Kamatera is one of the few web hosts that maintains a large network of data centers in the Middle East. If you have a website or app with users mostly from Israel, Egypt, or the neighboring countries, you’ll definitely want to consider going with Kamatera.

Features

• Four types of CPU. Choose between shared, general purpose, burstable, and dedicated processors. Dedicated processors offer guaranteed resources and unmatched performance, but they’re roughly four times more expensive.
• Extended daily backups. This is a great feature I’d like to see included in more hosting plans. For an additional fee, you get daily, remotely-stored backups. Restore previous versions whenever you want.
• Third-party licensing. As an authorized Microsoft partner, Kamatera’s licensing costs are slightly lower than the market average. This will save you money and time you’d otherwise have to spend on registering and installing Windows products. As a bonus, software updates are implemented automatically.
• Free trial. Kamatera offers a 30-day free trial. If you’re thinking of switching hosts, this will allow for a risk-free transition.

Read our expert Kamatera review for more on pricing.

2. Scala Hosting – High-End Solution with Great Performance & Value

Like Kamatera, Scala Hosting offers customizable cloud VPSs which work well for ASP.NET development. While it does offer managed solutions, only the unmanaged VPS supports Windows OS. 

However, what’s unique about this host is its potential for performance – in our tests, Scala Hosting was the fastest ASP.NET host of the list. This is helped by the fact that even the basic server starts with a whopping 4 vCPU cores and 8 GB of RAM. You can scale these server resources up further whenever you need more power.

As you’d expect, the cost of these servers also starts pretty high. That said, for the resources you’re getting, it’s great value – a similar setup with Kamatera would cost you more. However, Scala Hosting’s limited number of data centers, with just two in the US and one in Bulgaria, restricts its impressive performance to these regions.

Features

• Redundant data replication. Scala Hosting keeps three copies of your data across three physical servers. In the event of data loss or a server malfunction, your data will remain available.
• Free snapshots. You will be able to store three snapshots of your VPS at any given time. These can easily be restored whenever necessary and are available at no extra cost.
• Plenty of SSD storage to start with. Even the cheapest server configuration offers 240GB SSD space. You’ll have plenty of space to maneuver before you even have to think about upgrading. 
• Fast server setup. Upon purchasing a server, your Scala Hosting VPS will be set up and ready for use in just 30 seconds. 

For the details, read our Scala Hosting review.

3. InterServer – Flexible Shared ASP.NET Hosting with Unlimited Resources

InterServer runs an IIS web server stack with the latest versions of MSSQL, .NET, and Visual Studio. Its shared hosting infrastructure is based on Windows Server 2016 machines, but VPS plans also offer the option of 2019 and Windows 10.

Although there’s only one ASP.NET plan, it’s got all the resources you’ll need. You get unlimited SSD storage, unlimited email accounts, and unlimited databases. You can use this low-cost plan to host up to 25 websites, and there’s no need to worry about SSL security because you can install Let’s Encrypt certificates with a few clicks.

InterServer uses the Windows-compatible Plesk control panel, which features over 100 of the most popular apps and CMSs, including WordPress, Magento, and more. It’s not exactly Softaculous, but it gets the job done.

The downside with InterServer is that you don’t get a free domain name when you purchase ASP.NET hosting. However, you do get discounts for long-term commitments, as well as advanced developer modules. You can create apps in Silverlight, connect applications written in other languages using ODBC, and more.

Features

• Speed optimizations. InterServer’s ASP.NET plan uses the IIS web server, built-in caching in the form of FastCGI, and a 10Gbps Cisco Network. You also get access to Cloudflare CDN.
• Advanced security. All shared hosting plans benefit from InterShield security. Any IP trying to connect to your ASP.NET website is verified against known blacklists, while user requests are filtered for known hacking strings.
• Dedicated application pool. Your account gets a separate worker process, which offers a greater degree of security and guarantees improved performance.
• Underloaded servers. In an industry where many hosts overload their servers with as many users as possible, InterServer goes against the tide and promises to go no higher than 50% of server capacity.

For more on features, read our full InterServer review.

4. SmarterASP.NET – Free Trial Period for ASP.NET Hosting

Despite the corny programmer humor in its name, SmarterASP.NET has been at the forefront of ASP.NET hosting for decades. It’s one of the few companies that makes sure to keep all of its infrastructure updated. Only Windows admins can understand the sheer commitment this takes, because few tasks will test your patience more than applying updates to Windows software.

Because maintaining compatibility with Windows updates can be problematic, SmarterASP.NET gives you the option to spin up an account with legacy releases, e.g., Windows Server 2016, 2012, or .NET Core. This level of flexibility is not often matched in the Windows hosting industry.

SmarterASP.NET’s 60-day free trial is a great opportunity to test the service. You don’t even need to sign up with a credit card to get it up and running – you’ll be asked for payment details only once the free trial expires. And after two months, you get another two months to ask for a refund if you’re not satisfied.

Features

• High-performance shared hosting. SmarterASP.NET delivers some of the fastest page loading speeds you’ll see from a shared Windows server. Sucuri Load Time Tester recorded total page loading times of under a second across the board. The loading time from Los Angeles was an impressive 0.028 seconds.
• Proprietary control panel. The company’s hand-rolled control panel is responsive and easy to use, although you have to get your account verified by a support agent before you are granted access to all available resources.
• Semi-dedicated plans. SmarterASP.NET has a great in-between solution for websites that have outgrown their shared resources, but may still be too small for a VPS. Semi-dedicated accounts are hosted on servers with a maximum of 10 customers, while SQL data is hosted on a separate machine.
• Developer features. Even though this is ASP.NET hosting, PHP is available up to the latest version on all accounts, and so is Node.js. Premium accounts give you CGI scripting capability.

Need more info before deciding? Read our full SmarterASP.NET review.

5. Liquid Web – Premium, Full Managed ASP.NET Hosting

If you don’t mind paying extra for quality ASP.NET hosting, Liquid Web’s Cloud Sites is an excellent solution. You get a redundant cloud environment that spans multiple VMs and servers, so when your traffic increases, resources are scaled automatically.

The best part about Cloud Sites is the managed service that comes with it. Just a click allows you to set up operating systems, CMSs, databases, and email accounts. Our auto-installers ensure fast deployment, and whenever you need to, you can ask the Liquid Web team to add additional modules. Meanwhile, we will handle load balancing, DNS, firewalls, and more for you.

Features like preview links and the white-label dashboard allow you to manage projects for clients. If you’re a developer or agency, these tools will make your life much easier. Show your clients how their website is progressing at a test URL, and then give them access to a white-label dashboard once everything is up and running.

Features

• Load balancing. Whether you run just one or multiple websites or apps, load balancing ensures traffic spikes won’t bring down your platform by routing visitors across multiple servers.
• Cloudflare CDN. All Cloud Sites accounts come with Cloudflare’s CDN integration. This will significantly speed up static content loading for worldwide visitors.
• Enhanced protection. Liquid Web’s firewall package is quite expensive on its own, so you’re getting an awesome deal by having it included in your plan. All incoming traffic will be processed and vetted before it reaches your website.
• Built-in autoscaling. Liquid Web’s cloud infrastructure automatically allocates more resources as required to your websites. If your account uses more bandwidth than what is included in the Cloud Sites plan in a given month, the host will charge you a per-GB overage fee.

See why our expert recommends Liquid Web in our review.

Which ASP.NET Hosting Service Is Best for You?

While there is significant competition in the hosting industry for ASP.NET hosting, you’ll discover fewer choices compared to PHP-based hosting. Among these options, only a select few hosts provide exceptional Windows hosting services.

If you want an affordable shared hosting plan that is ASP.NET-ready, InterServer is the best overall choice. Despite being shared hosting, you’ll still get speed optimizations, advanced security, and underloaded servers.

Kamatera’s customizable servers are ideal for both large and small projects. Scale resources as needed without upgrading plans or paying for extra features you don’t need. Kamatera comes with a 30-day free trial so you can test out the service before committing.

Alternatively, Scala Hosting’s cloud VPS offers great performance if your primary user base is in the US or Europe. It’s your best-value option for resource-intensive projects that may continue to grow in size.

If you want to try out a service before committing, SmarterASP.NET has a 30-day free trial period. You can take advantage of this offer to see if SmarterASP.NET is the right fit.

If you’re still on the fence about the best ASP.NET host for your needs, I’ve summarized the most important features of each service in the table below:

FAQ

Which is the best host for ASP.NET?

InterServer is an affordable Windows hosting option. Its ASP.NET plan includes everything you need to reliably host websites on Windows Server, from the latest version of MSSQL, .NET, and Visual Studio to speed optimizations, and more. This host makes it very easy to build any type of website.

With InterServer, you don’t need to worry about storage, data transfer, or email inbox limits – there’s no cap on any of these. InterServer often has some great deals you can find on our coupons and deals page.

Can you get free ASP.NET hosting?

Technically, yes. InterServer, Scala Hosting, and Kamatera all offer a money-back guarantee. This means you can receive a full refund within a certain amount of time. Be sure to read the fine print carefully, though. All of the web hosts on our list of best hosting services in 2024 have a money-back guarantee, with the exception of Hostwinds.

SmarterASP.NET has a free 60-day trial period, and an additional 60-day timeframe where you can claim a refund.

Can you host ASP.NET on Linux?

Yes, in theory. You can use a Linux-friendly ASP.NET Core package released by Windows – but aside from missing modules, you’re also likely to encounter a lot of configuration issues. ASP.NET was intended to be used with IIS and Windows Server, so for the most reliable hosting experience, you should use Windows-based hosting.

Can you run ASP.NET on Apache?

Yes, there are two ways to do so. The first is to use Mono, which is a cross-platform, open-source version of .NET that will work with Linux. The second involves setting up ASP.NET Core on Linux. This isn’t an easy or beginner-friendly task, though, as you’ll have to dive deep into sysadmin territory.

Generally speaking, you’re much better off to choose a host that supports IIS and Windows Server, as these technologies are optimized for and fully compatible with ASP.NET-based websites.