You probably already recognize the name 1&1, because they have long been considered one of the leaders in the cheap website hosting field. In fact, they have been operating in this fashion since all the way back in 1988. Being one of the grandfathers of the industry, they really know a thing or three about web hosting. The 10+ million domains hosted on their servers that are located all around the world certainly point to that. Even the most basic plans offered comes with a strong variety of services and one of the lowest prices you will find.
Cheap Website Hosting At a Glance
Hosting Features | Marketing Bonuses | Additional Features |
---|---|---|
24/7 Phone and Email Support | Google Sitemaps | Multiple Web Applications & Scripts |
FREE Domain Transfer | 1&1 Site Analytics | SSI, Perl, Cron Jobs |
Host Single Domains | Email Marketing Manager | Image Library & Archive |
Unlimited Bandwidth | FREE Website Builder | Daily Site Backups |
100GB Disk Space | 100 Email Boxes | 20 TP Accounts |
Hosting Plans and Features
With 1&1 you get a solid, basic hosting plan that includes the ability to host a single domain. There is 100GB of disk space and you can drive an unlimited amount of traffic to the site. Of course, if you already have a domain, you can easily transfer this over for free. There is a full 30-day money back guarantee and you will also be protected with daily site backups. The company also offers a very nice 99.9% uptime guarantee and you will even be able to password protected some of your files and directories.
Being a managed hosting solution, you might not expect much in the way of additional features. However, there is an extensive script and application library to choose from. This includes multiple blog platforms, forum software, even an online chat application. There are also a number of advanced tools and software support, such as PHP, Perl, Python, and more.
Value for Money
While it is true that this basic plan option does not offer unlimited everything, it is still more than enough in terms of space, bandwidth, and other important hosting features to get you started. You also have access to a huge library of scripts and applications that allow for an almost unlimited variety of functionality. On top of this, the entire process is managed and very easy.
The price is also very affordable here at 1&1. In fact, you can sign up right now and receive your first year for just 99 cents. Yes, less than a dollar for the entire first year. Of course, the plan does renew at a monthly rate of $5.99 after this term ends. That means that if you stayed with the service for just two years, your effective monthly rate is only $3.03, making 1&1 one of the lowest priced providers around. Truly an excellent value.
Pricing Information | |
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Monthly Price | $5.99/Month (after 1st year promotion) $0.99/12-Months $72.87/24-Months |
Money Back Guarantee | 30 Days |
Renewal Price | $5.99/Month |
Customer Support
You can always tell a lot about a company by looking at their customer support. Every business is going to be nice to prospects, but the real test is how people are treated after paying their money. In the case of 1&1, they do offer 24/7 support via a toll-free phone line. The reps are very friendly and helpful as well as well trained and knowledgeable. You may also search through the online knowledgebase and frequently asked questions; the answers to most questions are in there. The online video tutorials are also quite helpful. The only thing really missing is live chat.
Reliability & Security
Everyone wants a site and hosting partner that is reliable and secure. 1&1 understands this and begins every customer with a 99.9% up-time guarantee. This ensures that your site will remain online and accessible to everyone with an internet connection. Since this is a managed plan that also means the company needs to make sure their network is rock solid in order to offer something like this. They have multiple data centers physically located in different places throughout the world. There are also thousands of individual servers and everything has a backup.
Bottom Line
If you want a strong basic company and plan to build an online presence, then 1&1 is the way to go. They offer plenty of web space, bandwidth, tools and features to get going along great customer service and some of the lowest prices around.
A writer with a passion for technology, Adam enjoys sharing his knowledge. Have any questions about hosting? Contact Adam at Adam.Hawkins@top10bestcheaphosting.com