8 Best Web Hosting Services for Developers [2023 UPDATE]

Many web hosts try to appeal to the masses, proudly announcing how easy they are to use. But as a developer, the simplicity of a basic hosting plan isn’t necessarily what you’re looking for.

Some hosts don’t offer the features you need to rapidly deploy websites and integrate with various frameworks. Some lack vital storage space or have rigid plans that make you pay for resources you don’t need.

For an accurate perspective on the best web hosts for developers, you need to understand what each provider does best, and what all the different plans include exactly.

To save you some time, I tested dozens of services to see if they can actually provide what a developer needs. These are the ones that stood out from the crowd.

What We Look For in the Best Web Hosting for Developers

While evaluating the best web hosting services for developers, I prioritized the following criteria:

• Adequate Resources. You don’t want to have to turn down potential clients because you don’t have enough storage, RAM, CPU, or bandwidth to accommodate database-driven web apps.
• Scalability. The ideal web host lets you scale up when you need more resources and scale down when you don’t. Pay-for-what-you-use models are preferable because they give you the flexibility to switch between different-sized projects.
• Developer Frameworks. In most cases, you can manually install the needed dependencies using SSH, but pre-configured PERL, PHP, Python, Ruby, or MySQL can save time.
• Debugging Support. A developer-friendly web host will meet you halfway: if you’ve got a high-level technical problem that you can’t wrap your head around, they should offer debugging.
• Security Features. Advanced security tools and secure virtualization architecture are always a plus, especially on shared and VPS plans.
• Reliability. Uptime guarantees backed by a service-level agreement (SLA) are a big plus. You need a reliable web host that is proactive in ensuring the highest possible uptime standards.

1. Kamatera – Custom-Built Cloud VPS With Easy Scalability

Kamatera offers you a high level of customization that many other hosts simply can’t match. It allows you to build a cloud VPS from the ground up, setting the exact vCPU, RAM, and storage you need. As visitor traffic to your website(s) fluctuates, you can scale these resources any way you please.

This also allows you to adjust the overall pricing of your server at any time. Kamatera bills by the second, so any resizing of your server’s resources will be reflected immediately. It’s easy to scale temporarily to deal with a surge in traffic without having to pay a monthly premium.

What’s extra nice is that Kamatera’s entry-level servers start at budget prices. If you just have a small project or prototype you’d like to run, you can get away with just paying a few dollars per month. However, Kamatera is best for those looking for an unmanaged server – while it does offer managed service, you can get a better deal on managed VPS elsewhere.

Features:

• Fast and dependable performance, backed up by powerful Intel Xeon processors and a 99.9% uptime guarantee
• Server images for common configurations – one-click installation of Linux & Windows OSs, cPanel, WordPress, and development frameworks
• 13 data centers across 4 major continents
• 30-day free trial grants you access to a single cloud VPS with $100 credit. You’ll also get a dedicated account manager for the duration of the trial.

For the full breakdown, check out our Kamatera review.

2.  InterServer – Cloud VPS Technology at Shared Hosting Prices

I have nothing but praise for InterServer’s decision to move its VPS to the cloud. It now offers higher performance, more reliability, and increased resource flexibility for web development. If you’re looking for affordable high granular control, this is it.

You can start working on your virtual machine almost instantly with InterServer since it has an average provisioning time of 15 minutes from the moment your payment is approved.

You can start with InterServer’s cheapest VPS hosting plan featuring 1 Xeon Haswell CPU, 2GB RAM, 30GB SSD configured as Raid 10, and a free premium Webuzo license that helps you 1-click install Joomla, WordPress, Drupal, or any other CMS. With Webuzo, you can configure your VM to act like a Python, Java, LAMP, or LEMP server.

InterServer’s VPS plans come with managed support and the promise to fix any server-related issues, such as DNS, Mail, or SQL service bugs. The support team will also re-install operating systems and/or control panels when needed.

Shared plans come equipped with a LAMP stack, which is ideal if you’re experimenting. As a student, you are eligible for one full year of free standard shared hosting with unlimited websites, storage, and emails.

Features:

• Reliable and customizable virtual machines running on cloud technology, Xeon Haswell cores, and nested Raid configuration with data redundancy
• 99.9% uptime guarantee backed by an SLA. If network availability falls under the uptime guarantee, you can be eligible to receive up to 50% of your monthly fees in credit
• Free Webuzo control panel for VPS plans and Breadbasket for Shared Plans
• Managed support included in higher tier VPS plans

To learn more, read our in-depth InterServer review.

3.  Hostinger – Affordable VPS Plans for Developers

Hostinger provides the cheapest web hosting for developers. Like InterServer, it has moved its VPS technology entirely into the cloud. This move is a significant upgrade for you and your clients, who benefit from better uptime, faster page loading speeds, and full root control to boot.

If you want to run a medium-to-high traffic e-commerce website with as little cost and as much flexibility as possible, Hostinger’s VPS offers are perfect for you. Your server resources are guaranteed and, thanks to the VPS control panel, you can easily install scripts, applications, or manually back-up your files.

You benefit from both IPv4 & IPv6 protocols and a dedicated address. You’ll never have to deal with a null-routed IP, and your extensions will run at lightning speed. Several fail-safe mechanisms, Raid 10 configuration, and weekly/daily back-ups will protect your data.

All of Hostinger’s cloud hosting plans offer managed support. Whenever there is a roll-out of new versions for critical software, the tech crew will make sure to keep your system up-to-date and secure.  Each server is equipped with Bitninja or Imunify360, custom firewall rules, Wanguard anti-DDoS traffic analyzer, and more.

Features:

• Reliable and affordable cloud VPS, Xeon technology CPUs, and nested Raid 10 raid configurations
• 99.9% Uptime guarantee backed by an SLA. If you experience more than 0.1% of downtime you are eligible for a 5% refund
• LiteSpeed Cache included on all plans to keep your web applications running smoothly
• Fully-managed support on cloud plans and back-end support on VPS

Find out more in our complete Hostinger review.

4. Liquid Web – Offers Everything a Developer Could Need

If you don’t mind paying a bit more for a premium service, Liquid Web is one of the best hosting solutions money can buy. You can play around with various CMSs on Liquid Web’s entry-level VPS plans, that include cPanel/InterWorx or Plesk license. Or you can go with a serious server cluster to scale an e-commerce business.

One of the things I love about Liquid Web is the ability to create a staging domain or a staging server. With this feature, you can easily clone one website (or everything on a server) and then test whether new features work as intended before they go live.

Aside from being HITECH Certified, the company combines the processing power of a traditional dedicated server with the flexibility of cloud technology in its Cloud Dedicated plans. If you know your way around the back-end of a server, you can save some money with the core or unmanaged options.

If you are a dev at an Agile company and want to keep your overheads to a bare minimum, you can rely on Liquid Web’s Private Cloud. You will get all the functionality of an isolated network infrastructure and none of the drawbacks.

Features:

• Powerful and up-to-date server infrastructure backed by Intel Xeon Silver technology.
• Guaranteed uptime of 100% for all services. You will get a credit worth 10x the amount of actual downtime
• Phone support with response time of under 59 seconds for all core and fully-managed services
• High-performing servers guaranteed by third-party cloud analytics

Get more information in our in-depth Liquid Web Review.

5. Scala Hosting – A Comprehensive Solution for Developers with Multiple Clients

I consider Scala Hosting a diamond in the rough for web developers. Its proprietary all-in-one SPanel hosting platform is one of the reasons why. Aside from sparing you a license fee, this powerful, white-label API streamlines the administration of individual hosting accounts.

Scala Hosting’s self-managed VPS plans are just 20-25% cheaper than the managed ones. Given the additional value you get from a fully-managed service, though, it makes more sense to choose one. Yes, the unmanaged plans would save you a couple of extra dollars every month, but in the process, you’d give up access to specialized technical support.

Unfortunately, you don’t have the option to choose a server in the SEA region (yet). If you have clients with local businesses in Asia or Australia, loading speeds will be slightly slower.

If you have specific resource requirements, Scala Hosting gives you the possibility to fully customize your VPS resources. Let’s face it; it would have been somewhat embarrassing (given their name) if the service didn’t allow easy scaling.

Features:

• Affordable fully-managed VPS plans
• 99.9% SLA-backed uptime guarantee. If your uptime is less than this, the service will issue a full refund for your month’s expenses
• Free, white-label hosting control panel and an individual account manager
• OpenLiteSpeed integration for fast loading times

Check out our expert Scala Hosting review for more details.

6. A2 Hosting – Shared and VPS Plans with Advanced Tech Support 

One of the best things about A2 Hosting is its advanced support crew. The Guru Crew will lend a helping hand with debugging wherever possible, even on shared hosting plans.

While the unmanaged VPS plan is very cheap, keep in mind that it doesn’t include a control panel. You’d have to add the cost of a cPanel or DirectAdmin license to your budget. The good news is that all A2 Hosting’s managed VPS plans have cPanel included.

While I love the fact that I can select where my VPS server will be located (Asia, Europe, or either of the two US centers), A2 Hosting’s customizable VPS configurations can be quite pricey. The most affordable unmanaged option comes with just 510MB of RAM. If I want the baseline 1GB, the subscription price is double.

A2 Hosting boasts an anytime money-back guarantee, which means if you discover the service isn’t right for you, it’s easy to cancel your plan. Still, your goal is to choose a reliable, affordable, and easily scalable web developer environment from the start, not switch to one later on.

A2 Hosting doesn’t have cloud hosting plans for you to upgrade to. In the long run, if your projects involve high-traffic and require a serious amount of storage and bandwidth, switching to A2 Hosting’s dedicated option will be more expensive than going with Hostinger’s or InterServer’s cloud hosting.

Features:

• Knowledgeable support squad that help with debugging wherever possible
• Anytime money-back guarantee
• Easily-scalable VPS configurations
• Pre-installed developer tools: PHP, MySQL, Python, PERL, Node.js and more

If you’d like to learn more, don’t miss our full A2 Hosting review.

7. HostPapa – Fully Managed Solutions for Small Businesses

HostPapa’s hosting plans suggest that its target audience is mostly new users and small businesses. As a developer, your choices are limited, since the company does not offer an affordable unmanaged VPS solution.

While you can opt for a self-managed VPS, this won’t make a difference in terms of your monthly costs. You’re better off going with a managed option, which gives you a solo cPanel/WHM license that will ensure rapid deployment of your developer frameworks.

Despite its higher price tag, the basic plan starts at a comfortable 4 cores, 60GB SSD, and 2GB of memory. HostPapa’s real strength lies in its reseller hosting options. Its Gold plan includes a free billing and automation suite, namely Client Exec or WHMCS, 8 core CPU, 8GB RAM, and 120GB SSD.

HostPapa does not offer cloud hosting or dedicated servers. If you know you’re going to need to scale up soon, it might not be the best fit for you.

Features:

• Data centers powered by 100% renewable energy
• Reseller plans with great value
• Proactive security monitoring of network infrastructures
• PHP modules installation and upgrades for managed plans

Don’t miss our expert HostPapa review for the full list of features.

8.  SiteGround – Easy Cloud Web Hosting for Freelancers

SiteGround is an excellent choice for independent developers who regularly need to scale for big projects.

I love the fact that I can manually upgrade my VPS resources or turn on SiteGround’s auto scaling feature, which will add more RAM and CPU if traffic spikes test the current resources. This feature gives me peace of mind that my clients won’t experience unresponsive pages if their e-commerce storefronts are overloaded.

Even though you pay extra, cloud VPS servers come equipped with CentOS, Apache or Nginx, managed PHP versions, as well as complete support and active security monitoring.

Overall, SiteGround’s web hosting plans are perfect for you if you work with major applications and companies. Still, I would have liked to see a premium cPanel license included.

Features:

• Fully-managed and easily scalable cloud virtual machines
• Fail-safe, redundant data storage
• Intuitive customer area GUI with separate control panel
• Git and WP-CLI integration

See all the pros and cons in our in-depth SiteGround Review.

Which Host Is the Best for You?

There isn’t one best web host for developers. You have your own list of must-haves, and each service has its strengths and quirks.

Whether you are starting out as an independent professional or searching for an infrastructure to improve client management, it is vital to carefully evaluate your needs and choose a web host accordingly.

If you require total flexibility, I’d go with Kamatera. It offers a level of customizability unmatched by the other hosts on this list. Additionally, its global network of data centers allow you to serve your target audience anywhere in the world.

If you’re looking for the best mix of value and features, you should go with InterServer because its managed support, state-of-the-art network infrastructure, and low prices really stand out from the crowd.

If you want to enjoy peace of mind when taking on resource-hungry projects, Liquid Web is the provider most likely to give you the support you need. In exchange for a higher fee, of course.

For an overview of all the web hosting options included in my list, check out the table below.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best website hosting service for developers?

It depends on you and your clients’ needs. In this article, I’ve covered everything from the most affordable website hosting for novice developers to services that scale your resources to match multinational-level loads.

If you’re not sure which host is best for you, I’d recommend you check out our list of the best web hosting services right now.

Which is the fastest web hosting provider?

Page loading speeds are dependent on where you host the website, the location of visitors, as well as the configuration of the site itself. Kamatera Hostinger, A2 Hosting, and InterServer frequently achieve page loading speeds that are under 1 second and even under 0.5 seconds, in many cases.

What is the best free web host for developers?

Free web hosts are usually quite limited in features and resources, and their users often experience long periods of downtime. A free web host won’t be your best bet for long-term hosting. However, they can be a good solution if you just need to test a site you’re working on.  Click here for a list of free hosts you can actually rely on.

I’m learning to develop – should I use AWS for web hosting?

AWS is expensive and better-suited for businesses rather than individuals. If you’re looking to design a few Joomla/WordPress sites to learn web development, AWS is not the right choice for you.

You can use AWS for web hosting, but it’s complicated and time-consuming. You’ll have to register a domain, create buckets, configure the root domain, set-up traffic logging, and more. This complexity detracts from the rapid deployment you need from your web hosting service.