Our recommendation for most people is RingCentral because it’s an easy and affordable online fax service. Start faxing securely today with a 7-day free trial of RingCentral. Online fax services make it easy to send or receive faxes from anywhere and retrieve old faxes with a simple search. There’s no bulky hardware, paper jams, or complex setups either. Compared to traditional faxes, online fax services are better in every possible way. Below you’ll find the best online fax services—many of which you can start using today for free. The 12 Best Online Fax Services Reviews
![]() Online fax services come in all different shapes and sizes. Some are designed for the average person that sends the occasional fax. Others are complete office solutions for high-volume business faxing. There are also solutions on the market that offer security safeguards and added privacy for compliance in industries like healthcare, legal, and financial services. I’ve narrowed down the best 11 online fax services below. You’ll learn more about the pricing, benefits, use cases, and potential drawbacks of every fax service on my list. RingCentral Fax — Best Overall
RingCentral Fax is a great solution for just about any business that wants to solve online faxing for their business. If fax is a small but important part of your business, RingCentral offers a simple online fax solution that works across all your devices and integrates with popular cloud storage providers. For people where fax is central to everyday business, RingCentral offers a complete suite of business communication services. You’ll be able to tie fax into other processes and automate a ton of the busy work. I like RingCentral Fax because it has a modern interface, offers fax scheduling, and supports attachments for large files. Another benefit of this provider is that you won’t be charged for a toll-free fax number. ![]() Getting started with RingCentral is simple. Just choose your number and log in online or through the mobile app. Then you can start sending and receiving faxes from any device. You’ll have the option to send online faxes to groups, receive notifications for all fax activity, and block any incoming faxes without caller ID. RingCentral Fax keeps an online file log of all faxes sent and received, so it’s easy to go back to access those as a reference. Here’s the plan and pricing breakdown for RingCentral Fax: Fax 1500 — starting at $17.99 per month
RingCentral MVP — starting at $27.99 per month
RingCentral makes it pretty straightforward: if you want just online fax, you can sign up for Fax1500. If you need a more robust business communications solution, RingCentral MVP can set your office up immediately. You can certainly get cheaper standalone fax services than Fax1500, but the price per page is probably not as good. You’ll also get a better mobile app experience than most of the budget-friendly fax solutions, if they offer one at all. For people in the market for unlimited online faxing, RingCentral should be on your shortlist. You may find that you can save a ton of money bundling fax with your phone. Try RingCentral Fax free for seven days. eFax — Most Popular Online Fax Service
With over 10 million users across the globe, eFax is the world leader in online faxing. It’s simple: send an online fax from anywhere using your smartphone, computer, or tablet. You don’t need a fax machine–it’s as simple as downloading an app or sending an email. Use your existing number or choose your own local, toll-free, or international number. eFax lets you have up to 10 numbers with a single account ![]() Getting started with eFax is simple, too. Select an area code based on your location, or choose a toll-free number based in the US. One of the major standouts of eFax is the ability to send international faxes, which isn’t offered by every online fax company. If you already have a fax number for your business, you can convert it to eFax. It’s worth noting that novelty and custom fax numbers are not available with eFax. As I mentioned earlier, faxing is commonly used for scenarios when signing documents is required. eFax has an integrated electronic signature feature, which allows you to sign documents without having to print anything. eFax offers unlimited online storage to safely keep your faxes on file for the lifetime of your account. It’s easy to locate documents by searching for keywords. Speaking of security, eFax won’t deliver fax content directly to your email inbox. Instead, all inbound faxes are encrypted and hosted securely. You can download any confidential faxes from there without having to worry. If you’re using online cloud storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox, or iCloud, eFax lets you fetch files from there and send them out via your virtual fax. Here’s an overview of the eFax pricing structure: eFax Plus — $18.99 per month
eFax Pro — $19.95 per month
You can save 17% when you sign up for annual billing. They also offer eFax Corporate solutions with custom pricing based on volume. You’ll need to request a quote from their sales team. These prices are actually a bit high compared to the competition. You can save some money and get two free months if you sign up for an annual plan instead of month-to-month. If you go over your monthly page allowance, you’ll be charged an additional $0.10 per page with each plan. Overall, eFax is simple, straightforward, and popular. The mobile app is modern, and you’ll benefit from high-quality faxes. eFax does fall short in terms of value. There are more affordable options out there, and it’s not great for high-volume users. Try the eFax free trial to see if it is right for you. Ooma — Best Online Fax and Phone Service Bundle
Ooma is a business phone service provider that includes online fax as part of their trusted Ooma Office suite. Ooma Office is a cloud business phone system with top-notch business features like an unlimited number of extensions, a virtual receptionist, call forwarding, conferencing, call recording, voicemail transcription, and more. You can also get access to their Ooma Faxing feature. It’s a completely online service, so you’ll never have to pay for or repair a physical fax machine again. Plus, Ooma Faxing is free and included with any Ooma Office plan. ![]() While many people still need faxing features, not many business phone systems include this feature anymore. Ooma Faxing supports both inbound and outbound faxing, and administrators can add the virtual fax feature to any user’s extension in the company. To access the virtual fax features, Ooma users just need to go through their end user portal to send one out as a PDF. When a fax is sent to their phone extension, users will receive it in their email inbox. In the portal, any user and all administrators can review their virtual fax records. The only drawback is not being able to save outbound faxes, but if you are sending it yourself, you can simply save a copy before sending. Ooma Office offers three subscription tiers:
Ooma Faxing is included with all plans. It is free to add the virtual fax feature to any user’s phone extension. While Ooma Office does have an excellent mobile app, virtual faxing must be done through the website, as users must access their portal to send a fax. Users will receive faxes via email, so they’ll get them from anywhere. Visit Ooma Office to start your free trial. MetroFax — Best Mobile App For Online Faxing
MetroFax offers online faxing at an excellent value. With plans starting as low as $8.30 per month, it’s a top option for small business owners and personal use. There’s no setup cost, no hidden fees, and every MetroFax plan comes with the same set of features:
The web interface is a bit outdated, but it’s fine. You can send, receive, and store your faxes for life on your cloud account. The MetroFax app is definitely one of the better mobile fax options out there. There’s not much you won’t be able to do directly from your phone, and it works well on Android or iOS. ![]() Unlike other platforms we’ve seen, you won’t pay any activation fee to get started. Just create an account or download the app if you want to fax on the go. MetroFax has three plans for you to choose from. As I mentioned, every plan comes with the same great features, so you are really just focused on your page limits.
These prices reflect the cost with an annual subscription. It’s slightly higher to purchase month-to-month plans. Paying for Essential month-to-month costs $11.95, for example. You won’t need to sign a contract with MetroFax, and you can cancel your service at any time without penalty. Access all of your faxes from the online portal or your mobile phone. It’s a no-frills platform that keeps faxing costs low, but MetroFax has not cut corners where it counts. Send a range of file types, including multiple document types, spreadsheets, and image formats. Overall, MetroFax is a solid choice for all of your online faxing needs. I wish the web version was a bit more user-friendly, but stick to the mobile app and you’ll be fine. Try MetroFax for free to see if it is the best fax service for your faxing needs. Nextiva — Best Standalone Online Fax Service
Nextiva is a well-known name in business communications, but unlike some of the other big platers, Nextiva doesn’t make you buy phones or video conferencing just to solve faxing for your business. For less than $10, you can use Nextiva vFax for up to 500 pages a month. This is a modern solution that works from any device. Each fax is secured with 256-bit SSL encryption, and you can track all faxes through a web portal or receive inbound faxes directly in your email inbox as PDFs. You can send faxes through the online portal, by email, or through a tablet or mobile device. ![]() Nextiva does not currently support international faxing and the web portal could be more intuitive. However, most businesses will appreciate how easy it is to manage faxes. Storing, sharing, retrieving, controlling access–it’s very straightforward. This is a great opportunity to solve fax for your business. You benefit from Nextiva’s world-class network, but you don’t have to purchase all of their services just to get fax capabilities. Nextiva offers three vFax plans:
The annual pricing is shown above, paying month to month is a few dollars more. If you need faxing for your business, this is a very affordable all-in-one solution. Some of the lighter online fax services don’t have the flexibility of Nextiva, which can work across any mix of devices and operating systems. Set up stress-free, secure online fax for your business with Nextiva today. iFax — Best Enterprise Fax Solution
iFax has the best possible security, complies with all relevant regulations, and the pricing is very economical at scale. When you need fax to work across your organization and beyond, iFax is a great choice. Hospitals, insurers, and other businesses with responsibility for keeping client information private can depend on iFax to provide a secure transmission every time. A lot of HIPAA-compliant fax apps feel overcomplicated, but iFax delivers the complete fax package in a sleek, user-friendly platform. ![]() Employees can learn how to use iFax quickly. Customers and clients won’t be confused about what you’re sending. iFax hits all the high notes that I look for in a brand claiming to be an all-in-one online fax provider. Some of the most popular features include:
There’s a strong case for using iFax for small business–and it certainly works–but the companies that will see the most benefit are those who need to automate fax workflows. This is where iFax really stands out. The programmable fax API is fully compliant with HIPAA and GLBA, which means developers will be able to connect workflows without jeopardizing privacy. Integrate your CRM, EHR, and other key software to automate repetitive fax requests. iFax includes an API test key that allows you to deploy your solution in a staging environment before you roll it out. It’s just a really well-thought-out online fax solution that works like it’s supposed to–and this is true even for companies facing the strictest privacy regulations and those with offices around the globe. You can start using iFax for free to get a sense of the platform. The free plan only lets you send five pages in a month and doesn’t have most of the features I’ve covered in this review. Paid plans start at $16.67 per month for an annual iFax Plus subscription. This has you covered for basic online faxing and lets you fax up to 500 pages per month. The Professional plan starts at $25 per month with an annual subscription. It comes with 1,000 pages per month and one fax number. There are volume discounts for additional pages, and extra fax lines cost less than $2 per number. My recommendation for enterprises is definitely the Professional plan, though iFax lets you upgrade and downgrade plans at any time. Use iFax to deploy a modern fax solution across your organization. If you, your employees, or your clients are not happy with what you are using now, take a 7-day free trial of iFax Premium today. Fax.Plus — Best for Offices that Fax Occasionally
Fax.Plus is a budget-friendly online fax service that works great for companies that fax a predictable amount each month. They offer a straightforward free plan as well as annual rates starting at $5 per month. Customers get a user-friendly interface with a great mobile app too. This is definitely a bonus, since so many services on our list seem to excel at just one or the other. You’ll be able to keep costs down, no matter how many people need to fax. Set quotas for how many pages a month each user gets, or put a hierarchy in place to make sure everything is ready for an audit. ![]() For a cheap online fax service, Fax.Plus offers quite a bit of extra features and benefits at each plan level. Let’s take a closer look at what you get with each plan. Free — $0
Basic — $5.99 per month ($4.99 with annual plan)
Premium — $11.99 per month ($9.99 with annual plan)
Business — $19.99 per month ($14.99 with annual plan)
Enterprise — $59.99 per month ($49.99 with annual plan)
The options are flexible and extensive, to say the least. But overall, I’d lean toward the Basic or Premium plans for something budget-friendly. The Business plan is good too in terms of the price, but you’re limited to just 800 pages per month, which won’t accommodate high-volume users. You can add a vanity fax number to your plan for $19.99. It’s free to sign up for Fax.Plus. There’s no time limit to the length of the free plan. You’ll just start paying per page when you go over the 10-page limit. MyFax — Best Online Fax Service For Personal Use
MyFax is another excellent option if you’re planning to send faxes from your mobile devices. But the overall standout of this online faxing service is its simplicity. The setup process is incredibly easy. MyFax is a fax-by-email service. You can deliver messages to recipients with traditional fax machines as well as those with an online fax service. ![]() Although MyFax is simple, it does fall a bit short in terms of security. They also don’t have an option for digital signatures. So I’d recommend MyFax for personal use as opposed to anything business-related or faxing sensitive information. Plans and pricing are as follows: Home Office User — $10 per month
Small Business User — $20 per month
Power User — $40 per month
Each additional page costs $0.10 when you exceed your limits for all plans. Again, I’d really only recommend MyFax for personal use. Even the Small Business plan and Power User plan are pretty limited in terms of how many faxes you can send per month. For comparison purposes, you can send and receive a total of 2,500 pages from MetroFax for less than the cost of the MyFax Power User plan. So if you are a high-volume fax user, you can get a better value elsewhere. A free trial of MyFax is only available for the Home Office plan. It’s worth trying out for a month to see if you like the platform. HelloFax — Best For Small Teams and Cloud Storage Integration
HelloFax offers a great fax service with a smooth and intuitive interface. HelloFax stands out from the competition with its cloud storage integration features and team options, which is great for small business owners. It works with Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Box, and Evernote to provide seamless access to your files, no matter where they live. The interface could not be easier to navigate. ![]() Another reason why we love HelloFax is because of its built-in editor. This makes it extremely easy for you to deal with any attachments. Unlike eFax, which counts sent and received faxes separately toward your monthly allowance, HelloFax groups them together. In my opinion, this is a much better pricing structure. Here’s an overview of the plans and pricing for HelloFax. Free — $0
Home Office — $9.99 per month
Professional — $19.99 per month
Small Business — $39.99 per month
The free send-only plan is extremely limited. It’s really only intended for someone who needs to send a one-time fax that’s less than five pages. Otherwise, there’s not much else you can do with it. For just $10 per month, you can send and receive 100 more pages than eFax, for half of the price. Plus, HelloFax won’t hit you with any setup fees. All paid plans come with a 30-day free trial and discounted rates for annual contracts. While HelloFax is great, it does have one significant pitfall that’s tough to overlook. There isn’t a dedicated mobile app, which is a bit disappointing. But if you can look past that, HelloFax is still a great option to consider. FaxZero — Best for Faxing a Few Pages
As the name suggests, FaxZero costs zero dollars to you. It’s true–FaxZero is free for a small number of pages each day. More than 20.5 million faxes have been sent using the platform. Using FaxZero is simple. Just navigate to the website and fill out the fax form. You don’t even need to create an account. Simply enter your name, company (optional), email address, and phone number. Then enter the name and fax number of the recipient. ![]() Once that information has been filled out, you can send up to three pages by attaching a file. The cover page does not count toward this limit. You can send up to five free faxes per day, for a total of 15 free pages daily. That’s pretty good considering you don’t have to pay for anything. The downside of FaxZero is that you can’t receive any faxes. But it’s the perfect choice for an occasional user who just needs to send a quick fax. FaxZero also offers an “Almost Free Fax” plan, which costs $1.99 per fax. This allows you to send up to 25 pages and removes the FaxZero branding from the cover page. I probably wouldn’t consider the paid plan unless it was just a one-time occurrence. There are other affordable plans out there that provide much better value and benefits with monthly plan options. The bottom line is simple. If you don’t have a fax machine and want to send a short fax for free online, FaxZero will be your best option. Beyond that, it’s extremely limited. Sfax — Best HIPAA-Compliant Online Fax Service
The “S” in Sfax stands for secure — which is perfect for an online fax option that’s tailored to healthcare companies. Whenever medical records are sent through any medium, privacy and security are the top concerns. Sfax is a HIPAA-compliant fax service that allows people to send, receive, manage, annotate, and digitally sign medical and other documents without a fax machine or printer. ![]() In addition to the enhanced security, Sfax can also improve your healthcare workflow process, since printing and manually signing documents is not an effective use of time. Sfax makes it possible for your remote staff, or anyone who is traveling, to send and receive essential health documents from anywhere. Since Sfax is designed for the healthcare industry, it offers flexible options for total control. You can manage your users to set access, permissions, and security options for each person. It’s also easy for groups and teams to collaborate, view, manage, and export documents. You can use Sfax with multiple locations, multiple numbers, and multiple sub-organizations all on the same plan. You don’t need a separate account for each location, and the number of users for each account won’t be restricted either. Let’s take a look at the plans and pricing options for Sfax: Standard — $29 per month
Plus — $49 per month
Contender — $99 per month
Sfax also has custom Enterprise plans for high-volume users needing 2,500+ pages per month. You’ll be charged $0.10 per page for each page over your monthly limit. As you can see, Sfax is pricey. But it’s worth it for medical practices or any company in the healthcare field. As of now, Sfax only supports faxes being sent in the US and Canada. To test out the service, Sfax offers a 14-day free trial. Biscom 123 — Best Email-To-Fax Service
Biscom 123 is one of the best options for email-to-fax on the market today. I recommend it for people who need to fax, but not all the time. It’s a very simple solution that’s going to save companies money if they don’t need high-volume faxing or advanced administrative features. ![]() You can send a fax directly from your email app using the following format: The subject line of the email you send will also be the subject of the fax cover page. The body of the email will be the memo of your cover page. But you can’t customize anything else on the cover beyond that. Simply attach files you want to fax directly to the email. Attachments get converted into fax image files and transmitted to the recipient. You’ll receive a confirmation email once all pages have been successfully transmitted and sent. While Biscom 123 integrates with email, it does have a strange drawback compared to other online fax services. You can’t send a fax from the web interface. The Biscom 123 mobile app has its flaws as well. But you must use it to link with your existing email platforms. You might experience some glitches and crashes using the app. Biscom 123 offers two simple plans: Individual — $7.99 per month
Small Group — $14.99 per month
You can try Biscom 123 free for 30 days without entering your credit card information. It’s a good option for occasional users, but definitely has its fair share of limitations. How to Find the Best Online Fax Service for YouThis is the methodology we used at QuickSprout to build this guide. We believe these are the most important factors when it comes down to the best fax service. Make sure your chosen online fax service meets your specific needs for the following criteria. Use it to help guide your own decisions. Document ArchivesThe best online fax services make it easy for you to access both sent and received faxes after you originally access them. Sometimes these archives will be limited to just a year of archives, however. It’s important to know your archive limits before you sign up. You don’t want to lose access to important documents or forget to budget additional storage if yours runs out. You also want to find something that makes it easy to stay organized. Does your fax service let you add tags to files? Are files automatically stored, or do you have to remember to save files every time you fax? Cloud Storage IntegrationIn addition to archives within the faxing platform, you can always keep your documents forever by moving them to cloud storage systems like Google Drive or Dropbox. Another benefit of cloud storage integration is the ability to send faxes from those platforms. This is much easier than the alternative of scanning, uploading, and attaching. Many of my recommendations for online fax services have integration with popular cloud storage providers, and it’s no accident. eFax, for example, has pre-built integrations with Google, Dropbox, Box, iCloud, and more. ![]() If you can find an online fax service that integrates with the cloud storage platform you are already using–great. It’s going to save you time and money, and make staying organized a lot easier. Multi-Platform AccessThe point of an online fax service is the ability to send a fax from anywhere and on any device: computers, smartphones, tablets, iOS, and Android devices. While most online fax companies offer a mobile app, that’s not always the case. Plus, some mobile apps are better than others–and some companies have an excellent mobile app, but an outdated web interface. Make your decision based on what platform you plan to use the most for faxing. The best online fax services work across many different platforms, which makes it easier for employees. If they are away from their desk, will they still be able to send and receive that important fax? Page LimitsNone of the online fax services on our list have the ability to send or receive an unlimited number of faxes. Each platform and plan comes with limits on a monthly basis. If you exceed those limits, you’ll be hit with a per-page overage charge. You’ll want to find a plan that meets your needs without going over those monthly restrictions. If you fax at high volume, unlimited page limit plans are definitely the way to go. Offices that fax less can probably benefit from shopping around to find a plan with acceptable limits at a great price. With Nextiva, for example, you can send up to 500 pages a month with their entry-level online fax plan. It’s less than $8 per month, so you really shouldn’t be paying a lot unless you are faxing every day. ![]() The Top Online Fax Services in SummarySending faxes is far from becoming obsolete. Instead, the telephonic transmission medium has evolved to meet the demands of the modern workplace. Online fax services offer a practical and convenient alternative to the old bulky and noisy machines. You can now send faxes from any device, including your smartphone, desktop, and email. Plus, with additional capabilities like incoming fax forwarding, customizable cover sheets, electronic signatures, and preset delivery times, there’s every reason to switch to an online fax service. And, you’re sure you’ll find a service that ticks all your boxes. via Quick Sprout https://www.quicksprout.com/best-online-fax-services/
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Want to jump straight to the answer? The best website builder for most people is Zyro or Wix. Building a website from scratch used to be hard. Not anymore. In fact, the best website builders turn you into a web designer overnight, even if you’ve never built one before. All you do is pick a stunning template and add your personality to it. See for yourself in our review of the best website builders on the market. The 7 Best Website Builders
![]() Website builders have gotten so much better over the years. Today, you don’t have to struggle with getting a site online or updating it to keep up with changing times. To find out which ones were the most helpful, the Quicksprout research team got in touch with people who used these website builders for their business. Keep reading to get the full story. Zyro – Best for Keeping Website Costs Low
Zyro (pronounced like zero) is the perfect low-cost solution if you want a website you can build and update yourself. There are only a handful of excellent website builders–this is the least expensive one that doesn’t cut corners. You won’t have to hire a developer. You won’t have to learn WordPress or HTML. You can drag, drop, and click your way to a great-looking website. And you’ll save hundreds of dollars a year compared to similar services. If you are a freelancer or run a small business that just needs a website, Zyro should be at the top of your list. Can it do everything Wix and Squarespace can do? Not quite, but it’s a fraction of the price, and basically as easy to use. ![]() There are a few tradeoffs that come with the low price of Zyro. But I’d argue that many of these missing bells and whistles are not going to matter much to users that just need some basic digital real estate for their business. If every dollar counts, there is no better way to build your website than Zyro. Building a Website with Zyro“Easy” and “affordable” don’t usually go together when it comes to website builders. Zyro can offer this because they were acquired by Hostinger, one of Quick Sprout’s top picks for affordable web hosting companies. Zyro already offered a great website builder, and now it’s running on Hostinger. It’s this partnership that allows them to keep prices low. The end result is that you don’t have to compromise: pay low hosting rates and get a super-easy website builder. This is the appeal of Zyro in a nutshell. A total beginner can build, edit, and update their website for a few bucks a month. We interviewed a Zyro user who needed a polished website when they struck out as a freelancer. She’d never built a website before, and told us that Zyro is “great for anybody who’s intimidated by the web.” It took her less than a day to build her site with Zyro. “This is your confidence builder,” she said, adding that the process is “very, very intuitive.” When you’re designing your site on Zyro, it’s truly “what you see is what you get.” Pages are automatically optimized for mobile or desktop, with no extra work on your end. Everything is laid out in a grid system, which helps non-designers keep the site looking organized. Your website visitors won’t see the grid, it’s just there to help as you build. You don’t have to start from scratch, either. Zyro has 148 templates ready for you to customize. If you are willing to keep things conventional, you could have a Zyro site built in minutes. Of course, if you want to get really crafty, that will take a bit more time, but it’s all point-and-click. Add videos, links, maps, galleries, or switch up the color scheme–you’ll never have to jump into CSS or HTML to get things looking good. You could use WordPress with a solid host (like Bluehost or Hostinger) to keep costs down, but if you’re a beginner at website building, it will be more complex to get your site looking the way you want it. You’ll have to add plugins and potentially dive into the code if you want to add visual elements. With Zyro, you can avoid all of that. Zyro includes simple tools to handle the fundamentals, like creating contact forms, landing pages, and scheduling blog posts. But there are also some standout features that you wouldn’t expect from such a low-price option. The AI Heatmap tool, for instance, shows you where people are clicking, moving their cursor, or scrolling down. You’ll see a heatmap of “hot” and “cold” areas on your site based on where users spend their time. ![]() You’ll also get access to a logo maker, image editor, and tools to generate writing, slogans, and titles. These are all things you need for your website. The AI-generated writing for your website isn’t perfect, but it’s a start, and sometimes that’s all you need. The real benefit is that you’re not going to have to hunt down some free website to compress images or get rid of the background of your logo. You can do everything in Zyro. Never had to optimize an image or use SEO to improve your site’s rank on Google? Don’t worry, Zyro walks you through everything the first time you do it. There’s plenty of online help if you get stuck, and you can reach out to customer service 24/7. Some website companies won’t offer much in the way of customer service, but Zyro is on top of its game here. It has a pretty good track record from what we could see online, and the users we spoke with were very happy. “They’ll give you a canned response in some cases,” one user told us, but it “wasn’t a big deal” most of the time, because the online FAQs were very good. Overall, she said, the agents she connected with “were very, very helpful, right from the start.” Tradeoffs with Zyro Website BuilderIn terms of design, you can do more with a WordPress website than you can (currently) with Zyro. The same is true of Wix and Squarespace. So if you are trying to make a splash in the world of web design, I might point you to one of those options. Wix has hundreds more templates to choose from, for example, and far more integrations with other online tools to amp up your site. Another thing to bear in mind is what we call “template lock-in.” Some website builders like Wix and Zyro don’t allow you to switch templates. You can copy everything over to a new template in Zyro, sure, but that takes a lot more time. Squarespace lets you switch templates whenever you want with little fuss. Some users we talked with also felt a little constrained by the grid system. Yes, it helped keep the page organized, but sometimes it was tough to fine-tune things the way they wanted. “Spacing was a big issue for me,” said one user. “I wanted to move the wording down half an inch, but I had to move it a whole inch,” they explained. “It wanted to force me into that grid.” In the end, they were able to find a solution, but Wix is definitely more of a flexible tool in terms of design. One final word about price. Zyro is the best price on a good website builder looking at the total cost over time. But like most web hosting companies, you get the best deal by signing up for a long time. It’s a really low per month price, but you have to pay upfront for the whole thing. This kind of commitment can deter people. But if you’re always going to need a website, I’d say this tradeoff is one worth making. Over the years, you will save a ton of money. Why We Recommend Zyro Website BuilderZyro is hands-down the best option when it comes to a low-cost, easy-to-use website builder. You’ll be paying less than the cost of a cup of coffee each month for a fast, reliable website. Want to change the store hours or run a special sale? You can do it yourself in minutes. If you know that you always need a website, there’s not a lot of downside to signing up for a long plan, especially when that price is hundreds of dollars less over the years. Zyro gives you everything you need for your website and tools that anyone can start using right away. Bottom line: Don’t spend any more than you have to get a great-looking site for your business. Try Zyro free for 30 days. Wix – Best Website Builder for Your First Website
If you’re a beginner and looking to build your first website, the clear choice is Wix. It offers a way that makes your website building experience painless and, dare I say, fun. Their AI helps you create a website after answering just a few questions about your goals. It’s like taking a Buzzfeed quiz, but when you’re done you have a great website (instead of just wasting time during your work day). All the users we spoke to attested to how easy Wix was to use—without sacrificing the quality of the final product. “[Wix] is very intuitive and they give you great tools to create great websites,” one user told me. They also spoke highly of the hundreds of templates the builder offered, praising the variety of great-looking designs along with “its easy-to-use drag-and-drop builder.” ![]() They have templates for music, art, fashion, health, travel, photography, construction, and restaurant sites—just to scratch the surface. Wix also offered numerous revenue streams for one user we talked to. “My Wix website got me a few jobs,” they told me. “I’m also making consistent monthly income because of an online store I built on my site.” Even though Wix offers a user-friendly website builder, it also gives you a comprehensive knowledge base of articles you can use if you ever get stuck. “If I’m unsure about a certain topic, it’s quick to find answers via their support,” one user told me. If you need a little bit more hands-on help, Wix offers a 24/7 callback service for US-based users so an actual person can walk you through any issues. That’s a rarity in the website builder world—and definitely something that’ll help you in the long run. That way, if something breaks or your website crashes, you can immediately call someone up to help you. Of course, I wanted to test it out for myself, so I jumped in and created my own Wix page from scratch. Building a Website with WixWhen I set up my Wix account, I was surprised to find that it actually gave me a few ways to create my own website. First, I could get my hands dirty and choose a template and build my website from the ground up. Or, I could simply answer a few questions about the type of website I wanted to build and Wix’s ADI builder would handle all of the work for me. I had a decent-looking site after just a few answers. ![]() Once you pick a template, you can update everything from the font, logo, and colors to images and more. That means you can make any of the already great-looking templates all your own with a little bit of tweaking. When I tested Wix, I loved how easy it was to find a template that matched our vision. The AI stayed with me as I edited the page, helping me pick the next thing to edit and showing me how to do it. ![]() The Wix AI matched my new site to my existing social media accounts, used my logo to create a color palette for my site, and gave me a template pre-populated with that logo and our street address. Connecting images from existing social media accounts made it easy to pull in all the assets we already owned. Pick a business you already know and see how close Wix’s AI comes to replicating it. I used a local yoga studio as an example and Wix did closely match the studio’s existing site. Even better, I bet the studio paid a web designer for their design, while I did mine for free with an AI assistant. Tradeoffs With Wix Website BuilderTake note: all of Wix’s plans are automatically set to auto-renew. Sticker shock is real, especially if you signed up with an introductory promo pricing. As one of our users put it, “the price per month tends to be quite high.” That can be a big deal if you’re, say, a scrappy startup trying to make and save as much as possible. If you want to recoup some of the expenses with an ecommerce site, you’ll still have to pay for a more expensive plan for the subscription fee. Zyro is going to be a good bit cheaper than Wix. If you just need a website that looks good, the extra cost might not be worth it. Most of our users we spoke to did use Wix to build their own personal portfolios and blogs. That allowed them to find clients and customers. Since Wix occasionally features their own users on their official blog, it can lead to more opportunities for you if you choose the platform. That’s exactly what happened to one of our users who said, “Being featured on Wix got me some freelance opportunities and ultimately landed my full-time job.” Why We Recommend WixOverall, Wix offers the best combination of ease-of-use and customization of any platform we looked at. It’s not the cheapest, but people seemed really excited about the sites they were building. The themes are varied and fantastic. You’ll also be armed with the tools you need to customize its look and feel to your exact specifications—or pretty darn close. Wix gives you the option to essentially build your website for you through their AI site builder. That’s an amazing feature that no other website builder we reviewed offers. It takes the guesswork out of everything, especially if you just want to get a website up and running right away. And if all that isn’t enough, Wix also delivers rock solid security and reliability. It includes high-grade security compliance, 24/7 monitoring against cyber threats, a robust 99.98 percent uptime rate, ecommerce security measures that meet the highest industry standards, and worldwide data and backup centers to keep your site information safe and secure. So no matter what kind of website you build, you can sleep easy at night knowing it’s protected, without you having to do a thing. Bottom line: Wix is a great website builder for beginners looking to build a beautiful site right out of the box. Shopify – Best for Selling Products or Services
Shopify is our top recommendation for companies that need a way to sell on their website. Sell products, book appointments, schedule deliveries–it’s all incredibly easy. You can certainly do all this with other website builders, but ecommerce is Shopify’s strong suit. No other website builder will be as easy or as powerful. It’s a true all-in-one platform: website, online store, payment processor, order fulfillment, and marketing tools. If Shopify doesn’t have a built-in feature to do what you need, they have the most diverse app marketplace in ecommerce. There are 85 ecommerce website templates to start from. Tweak a few important elements to make it on-brand, and then start adding inventory. You need not be a tech whiz to make your first buck on Shopify. ![]() There are very few limits with Shopify. You can sell as many items, styles, and varieties as you like, on any channel. Shopify makes it easy to get customers on your page and gives them a polished online shopping experience with minimal work on your end. Building an Ecommerce Website With ShopifyMost people will want to start with one of the online store templates. There are nine free options, so don’t worry about having to spend more to get started. By the time you get your content and images into the template, it already looks like a professional online storefront. ![]() The best part about working within the online store templates from Shopify is that all of your products are going to look great on a mobile phone. There are no extra plugins to install–your store will look great no matter how people are browsing. In terms of driving traffic to your site, Shopify lets you sell on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tiktok, and more. You can create on-brand content that looks like it belongs in each social network. You can also start selling on Google, eBay, and Walmart Marketplace with a few clicks. No other platform has the ability to sell on as many different channels as Shopify. You’re also getting email marketing and marketing automation tools that are built into the platform. Everything you need to get the word out is included. And keeping track of sales is no problem. Shopify gives you a clear dashboard to track every aspect of your online store. ![]() Running an ecommerce store isn’t rocket science–you just have to make good decisions based on what’s working and what’s not. Shopify puts all the critical information at your fingertips, updated in real time, so you can always choose the best path forward. As we mentioned, you’ll have access to Shopify Payments to use as a secure credit card processor. You can connect Shopify with other payment gateways, but there are third-party transaction fees. Tradeoffs with ShopifyShopify is totally focused on ecommerce, so if you are looking to build a different type of website, Shopify is almost certainly not what you want. As a website builder, Shopify is pretty basic in terms of design. A beginner isn’t going to be able to build a unique or dazzling website on Shopify–at least not without the help of a developer. The nice part about the simplicity of Shopify is that it’s easy to build, edit, update pricing, swap out products, and so on. The tradeoff with that is you don’t get the depth of customization that comes with more freeform website builders. Something like Wix or Squarespace is better for people looking to make a statement with their site. Those companies also offer ecommerce websites, which may be worth checking out if you are worried that Shopify isn’t going to let you build the site you want. Why We Recommend ShopifyThere’s simply no easier way to launch an ecommerce website than with Shopify. A total beginner can start selling the day they launch their site. It’s a really welcoming platform that lets you start small and grow as big as you want. There are few limits to what you can sell and where you can market your goods. On the rare occasion Shopify doesn’t have a feature built in, you can probably find what you need on the Shopify App Store. Check it out today and see why more and more businesses are building their site on Shopify. Bottom Line: If you are looking to sell online, build your site with Shopify. Bluehost – Best for WordPress Websites
WordPress is the most popular way to build a website in the world–but you need your own hosting. Using Bluehost WordPress Website Builder is our recommendation for launching your site. A quick disclaimer: WordPress is the content management system (CMS) we use here at Quicksprout. They don’t pay us to, mind you—we just like the product. So, I can personally attest to how great it is. We’re not alone either. If you use WordPress, you join the likes of Vogue, Bloomberg, and even Beyonce who use it as their CMS. Don’t just take my word for it though; our users all thought the same thing. “With no knowledge of WordPress when I started it was a bit of a steep learning curve but I figured everything out quickly enough,” said one user. “WordPress is very intuitive and if you can’t figure something out, you just have to Google it or check on YouTube and you will likely find an answer.” Not only is it highly customizable, but it’s also scalable. This is a CMS that can grow as large as you want, or be scaled back to as small as you want. ![]() Another user loved how flexible WordPress was. That’s because it’s an open-source application so the back-end code is widely available—allowing developers and creators to make their own themes, widgets, and plugins for the CMS. That means there are a ton of different ways you can mix and match plugins and themes out there. And, if you want to get your hands dirty, you can jump into the backend yourself and customize your site to your heart’s desire. WordPress also has more than 11,000 themes. Many of them are free, some of them are paid. My recommendation: Go with a paid one if you can afford it. One of our users paid for their theme, customized the heck out of it, and made it their own. The benefit of doing this is that your website will easily stand out from the rest. When you go with one of the popular free themes, it’s just going to look like hundreds of other WordPress websites. However, if you put in a little work—and a little money—you’ll end up with a site that’s uniquely you. All of our users built their sites exclusively to draw in leads, customers, and sales. The CMS allowed them to do so with easily integrated ecommerce functions, as well as powerful SEO tools such as Yoast to help capture organic traffic. “I was able to monetize my website using affiliate marketing,” one user told me, “along with infoproducts like ebooks and minicourses once my audience got big enough.” This user runs a genealogy website dedicated to helping people connect with family members. They were able to use their ancestry-specific blog along with a popular newsletter to build a loyal community of readers (and therefore customers). “One thing that helped with that was creating an email subscriber list and a newsletter using the Mailchimp plugin,” they said. “It’s a must-have if you want to monetize your blog.” Building a Website with WordPressLike I said, this is what we use here at Quicksprout—so I’m well-versed in WordPress. That said, there is a little bit of a learning curve for new beginners. The backend dashboard can frankly be overwhelming. The good news is that after just a little bit of exploring and experimenting, you’ll get the hang of it in no time. From your dashboard, you’ll be able to do everything from creating new pages for your site, to crafting blog posts, to downloading new themes, plugins, or widgets. The blog and page editor uses WordPress’ proprietary Gutenberg interface: a user-friendly blog and page creator that leverages drag-and-drop tools to help you create the page you want. It’s not the What You See Is What You Get interface that Zyro or Wix have—but it’s close. If you want to see what your page or blog post looks like in the final product, you’ll have to click on the Preview button at the top of the editor. That’ll open up a new tab with the preview of your page/post. It’s much, much more intuitive than its old editor—and will give any other WYSIWYG editor a run for its money. ![]() Like I mentioned before, WordPress is scalable. If you want to build a big website with a ton of different assets, you can choose the right plugins to help. You can hire a developer (or yourself if you have PHP skills) to jump in the back end and build exactly what you need. “WordPress gave me everything I needed to create the blog I wanted,” one user told us. “It gave me an easy interface to post my blogs, as well as everything I needed or wanted in my blog: a subscription box, an author area; just the look I wanted and the flexibility to change things as needed.” I highly recommend you start small when it comes to plugins. My favorite plugin is Yoast SEO. It’ll help you make your page and blog posts rank better on Google search results by helping you find optimization opportunities in your content. Choosing a HostIf you want to build a website with WordPress, they give you two options:
We have a lot more information about this in our article about the best web host and best web hosting for WordPress—but the short answer is choose Bluehost. It’s one of the most popular web hosts out there. It’s also the one I highly recommend to beginners. Every Bluehost plan comes with one-click WordPress installation, allowing you to easily create a website using the CMS once you sign up. Each plan also comes with a free domain name registration too. In one fell swoop, you’ll be able to get a great domain, set up powerful and affordable web hosting, and create your WordPress site. Triple win! All of our users surveyed used the powerful combination of WordPress with Bluehost. “I’m still using Bluehost after four years for most of my sites,” said one user. “It’s great for beginners due to how the pricing model is structured.” Bluehost offers rock-bottom promotional pricing starting at just $2.75 per month. Every Bluehost plan comes with 24/7 customer support. You’ll be able to email them directly and they’ll help solve your issue as soon as possible. That was the case for one of our users when their website crashed—but they said, “I contacted their chat support and they were able to identify the issue (a broken plugin) and fix it immediately. [I’m] very grateful for that.” They’ll also help you migrate to their host if you’re coming from a different hosting service. This can easily be the biggest headache for any website manager—but Bluehost makes it a snap. “The website migration was unbelievably easy!” one user told me. “And I really prefer the portal at Bluehost compared to the old place plus the service is better for me.” Cons of WordPress’s Website BuilderWhen it came to the drawbacks, our users agreed on one thing: It’s not the most beginner-friendly website builder. In fact, they each told me about their frustrations when using the CMS for the first time. One user said, “I don’t like how it does take a bit of a learning curve to use. Sometimes I’d like to have my hand held more through the [website creation] process rather than having to look up a bunch of YouTube how-to videos to learn how.” The dashboard is complex at first look. Once you learn it, you’ll be able to jump into the backend of any WordPress website and know how to get around with ease. This can be a valuable skill set to have—and one that employers frequently look for. Still, this isn’t going to be the website builder for you if you’re looking to easily create a website out of the box with little to no site building experience or knowledge needed. For that, we recommend you look towards Zyro or Wix instead. But if you’re willing to put in the work, learning even just the basics of WordPress can result in a massive return on investment. Not only will you be able to create a fully customized website, but you’ll have a valuable skill employers definitely look for. Another thing to mention is that WordPress doesn’t have the most comprehensive support system. “I wish there was a help desk that you could contact either by email or chat,” one user opined. In fact, the only option WordPress offers for support is a forum where you can pose questions or bring up issues you’re having with your site. I decided to jump in and test it out and posted a question about a fake issue I was having with my website. It took about two hours before I received a reply. While the answer was comprehensive and answered my question, that was still a long wait before it was answered. If I had a business and relied on that income to keep my lights on, those two hours would represent my livelihood. I would need help faster than that. Why We Recommend Bluehost Website BuilderWordPress is the most popular website builder on the planet, and it’s not an accident. The users we spoke with liked how easily they were able to monetize their blogs to turn their websites into income generation engines. While there is a learning curve, once you get the hang of it, we promise you won’t look back. By the end of it, you’ll have a website that is endlessly customizable—and it’ll be able to grow as big as you or your business gets. That means if you’re creating a blog for your passion, and the blog grows a big audience, you’ll be able to turn the same WordPress blog into a website that generates revenue for you from your audience. Bottom line: It’s going to take a little bit more elbow grease, but once you create a WordPress website, you’ll have a customizable website that you can make into whatever you want it to be. Couple that with Bluehost and you’ll be able to do so easily in one fell swoop. Squarespace – Best Website Builder for Creators of All Stripes
Squarespace has long been the top choice for creatives and business owners that really care about the look of their website. It’s no coincidence the Squarespace users we talked to had creator-focused websites. These users included a web design expert who teaches students how to create jaw-dropping sites, and an interior design blog who features gorgeous home tours on their website. “I think I had my blog up and running within a day,” said one user. “Squarespace offers clean, beautiful templates you can easily tweak.” Building a Website with SquarespaceJumping in, I found that Squarespace does indeed give you an easy way to start a blog just like Wix. However, I had to admit that as much as I liked Wix’s themes, Squarespace would take home the Best In Show ribbon for how gorgeous their themes looked. ![]() ![]() ![]() The backend editor is also fairly intuitive. That’s great for beginners like the newly graduated graphic designer looking to build their portfolio, or the photographer who wants to make their first business website. Squarespace is also great for the new generation of creators and influencers across platforms like YouTube or TikTok to create a home for your brand outside of those platforms. Squarespace plays especially well with YouTube allowing you to embed videos along with more information or content that exists solely on your website. “They have a great What You See Is What You Get builder,” said one user. “That means when you’re building the page, you see what the page will look like as you’re building it.” ![]() In fact, this is something that builders like Squarespace and Wix have an edge on WordPress. You can easily see the changes you’re making to your website as you’re making them. No clicking back and forth between preview windows. This can make it easy to use if you’re just starting out. Even seasoned website managers might find it a breath of fresh air compared to the alternative. “Sometimes, like in WordPress, you’re editing your site in the backend, but then you have to go to the front end to see what it’ll look like when you’re finished,” the user said. “With Squarespace, as you’re building the blog post, you’re seeing the changes happen at the same time. And I think that’s really useful. That’s one aspect that makes it easy to use.” Tradeoffs with Squarespace Website BuilderWhile Squarespace ranked fairly high on customization, it was still an area of some contention for our panel of interviewed and surveyed users. One user enjoyed what Squarespace offered in terms of customization options and extra tools such as an ecommerce function, integrated email marketing, and podcast support. However, it’s still fairly limited when compared to the enormous customizability of WordPress. Not to mention, you might have to pay more for the plugins and widgets you need to make certain things work. “Custom CSS is only available in the Business Plan,” said one user. “It’s doable for my website, I found some great tutorials on the internet for extra CSS customization and I had to buy a sidebar plugin because it wasn’t integrated in my template. For more complex websites this might be a problem.” Mobile customization is also an area our users flagged. One user found it particularly frustrating since they essentially had to create your website twice—once for desktop and another time for mobile. But, it should be noted that the Squarespace version you use might result in a different desktop vs mobile experience. For example, Squarespace version 7.0 might have templates that include extra built in mobile styles that’ll make your site look differently depending on what device you’re using to browse. And while the website builder is easy to use, it could certainly be more intuitive. This is an area where Wix has an edge on Squarespace. One user told us, “It could be more obvious how to perform certain actions. Sometimes you have to hunt and click here and there. Every now and then I’ve accidentally deleted a blog because I’ve clicked the wrong button.” Why We Recommend SquarespaceSquarespace allows you to create a striking blog or portfolio without a lot of trouble. For people who want a million interactive features on their site, it might not be the best. But if your aesthetic is minimalist, or you really need to showcase images and videos–Squarespace should be your top choice. The website builder’s gorgeous templates and creator-friendly features earned it a spot on our list. Their designs truly can’t be matched. Bottom line: If you’re a creator looking to show off stunning visuals of your art, photographs, graphic design, and more, then Squarespace is the builder for you. Weebly – Best for Solopreneurs
Weebly is another flexible, out-of-the-box website builder in the family of Wix and Squarespace. We like it for freelancers and solopreneurs who need a website and a simple way to charge for their services. Weebly is powered by Square—the folks behind the popular point-of-sale system. That means if you sell products in-person like at a farmers’ market, you’ll be able to easily integrate your POS sales with your website. For ecommerce, it’s hard to beat Shopify–but if you don’t want a full online store, Weebly may have what you need. We talked to users that ranged from a musician who used Weebly to sell music directly to fans, to a LinkedIn coach and blogger who sold her coaching services via sessions directly on her website, to a website designer who used her Weebly site to bring in new clients. “I chose Weebly to design all of my websites years ago with the idea that it was simple enough that my clients could update their own websites,” said the web designer. Building a Website with WeeblyAfter hearing our users glow about Weebly’s easy site building process, I had to jump in for myself. True to their word, our users were right when they said it was easy. Weebly offers an intuitive website creation process. It is as simple as choosing a domain name and a template and creating the site. It’s also easy to add new pages to your website. One of our users told us that, “Creating the blog section of my website was super simple and took less than five minutes to set up.” ![]() I found that Weebly integrates nicely with other third-party tools that you’ll definitely want for your website such as Google Analytics and Mailchimp. The builder itself is drag-and-drop a la Wix or Squarespace. So like those platforms, it’s minimal effort and headache free. What you see is what you get. There are tools for email, SEO, site analytics, shipping, and inventory for the ecommerce plan. You’ll be able to even add a product search to your online store—which I love. If you have a big catalog of products and services, you’ll definitely want to add this function in. They also give you the ability to add badges to your products and services when they go on sale or when inventory is low for a specific item. That’s a great way to build scarcity into your products—and make your customers want to click the buy button all the more. Setting it up is simple and straightforward too. Since it’s a WYSIWYG builder, I can easily swap out products, prices, and descriptions, along with digital assets like logos, product images, and banner images. Setting up a rudimentary store took less than five minutes to do after signing up. ![]() I was also pleased by how I was able to accept payments via gateways like Paypal, Stripe, and—of course—Square. Those options are a boon for users who will be able to pick the gateway they want. Tradeoffs with Weebly Website BuilderOne of our users didn’t like how Weebly doesn’t allow you to “save” changes on your site before it goes live. That would be a good addition if you were in the process of redesigning your site. Another user we spoke to didn’t like how complicated it was to sync up their inventory between their Weebly website and their Square POS system. “Square and Weebly sometimes don’t cooperate with me or each other,” the user said. “So I can’t have full, accurate inventory reflected between the two entities.” That user also opined the fact that they had to jump back and forth between Square support and Weebly support if they needed help fixing an issue. It’s like a game of tennis and you’re the ball. “If I want to fix something and I go to Weebly, they go, ‘No, go to Square,’ and Square’s like, ‘No, you have to go back to Weebly.” Why We Recommend Weebly Website BuilderWeebly offers users a very simple website design experience with the ability to sell goods and services. We’d point most ecommerce users to Shopify, but freelancers, consultants, and solopreneurs with a simple suite of services may want to check out Weebly. Like Squarespace, Weebly also lacks the comprehensive customization and scalability of WordPress. But, on day one, Weebly is a lot more approachable than WordPress. Bottom line: If you are running your own business, Weebly works off-the-shelf. GoDaddy – Best for Building Your Website from Your Phone
On top of solid domain and hosting services, GoDaddy offers a simple and straightforward website builder. It’s not necessarily the best at any one area—but think of it as “jack of all trades, but master of none.” From ecommerce websites to blogs to portfolios, they have tons of different templates to help you create the website that’s right for you. If there was one single thing that GoDaddy does well though, that’s intuitiveness and simplicity. That was the biggest stand out for Gabriel Smith, one of the users we spoke to. In fact, Gabriel built his GoDaddy website all from his phone while he was homeless living on the street. ![]() You read that correctly. He had just finished his memoir, also from his phone, and wanted to get his words out there. So he found GoDaddy and got to work building an entire website from his phone. “I literally did it because I was homeless,” Gabe told me with a laugh. “What else could I do? Some way, somehow I was going to get my story out because I didn’t know how many people that could possibly help.” Gabe was able to easily create his website using one of his few possessions: a smartphone. Using just the mobile editor, he was able to create a website that worked for him and his goal of promoting his book. In his own words, he ranks GoDaddy’s ease of use at a five “only because ten isn’t an option.” So simplicity is definitely a strong suit for the website builder. With some more hustle and grit, Gabriel was able to secure speaking engagements because of his book and website, as well as coaching opportunities to help out folks who were in a similar situation to him. Now, he has a successful career as a motivational speaker and a self-improvement author. Building a Website with GoDaddyI tried it out for myself and found that Gabe was correct. GoDaddy offered an intuitive way to create a website via a mobile editor or a desktop site builder. ![]() That’s not to detract from Gabriel’s immense accomplishment of building a successful website on his own while homeless, mind you—just verification that it is in fact easy to use. I like that it gives you tools to book appointments, sell different products and services, and take reservations. Their drag-and-drop website builder makes it easy to do so too. One user we spoke to owns a gardening shop and regularly offers classes. They said that they like the way GoDaddy “easily integrates appointments and workshops into the site.” Our entire user panel of users also liked the tools offered—but occasionally wanted more. One user who owns a coffee roastery said they were “able to build an email list with our Godaddy website which is an extremely effective way to grow, but outside of that, the growth tools were limited.” ![]() The simplicity is a boon and a drawback (as we’ll get into shortly). But overall, I enjoy it because of how easy it is to use. It’s pretty affordable though, with plans starting at $9.99 a month. I highly recommend it if you are already using GoDaddy for your domain or web host. Cons of GoDaddy’s Website BuilderGoDaddy does seem to trade off simplicity for depth of customization. In fact, they’re too simple in some ways. One user said that while the drag and drop editor was easy to use, it’s still “quite limited and you can’t easily alter things like font size.” That user also criticized how slow the editing tool becomes if you have too many digital assets on the page. Also, if you’re hoping to direct your emails to a portal of your choice, it’s going to be tough. “I think my biggest issue with them is their webmail that’s tied to the website,” one user said. “After a very frustrating season of my emails to customers constantly getting stuck in spam filters I had to give up and switch to Gmail for all correspondence. GoDaddy has not been able to fix the issue.” They continued, “It’s a bummer because I’m paying for the service and I want to have that professional email address but I just can’t use it and have confidence that it will get to my customers.” Another user actually recently switched from GoDaddy to WordPress because they felt like they had to “compromise on some aspects” of their website when building with GoDaddy. “I wanted a store list of the physical locations people could buy our [products]. This didn’t exist,” said one user. They ended up having to get creative with a menu tool to create this page—but it obviously wasn’t ideal. The user also added, “The lack of ability to have recurring purchases for our [product] subscription service was also a big factor in deciding to switch from Godaddy to WordPress.” Why We Recommend GoDaddy Website BuilderIf you’re looking to build a website easily and quickly and don’t expect to upkeep it too much, GoDaddy could be a good choice for you. It’s a fantastic alternative if you’re a busy, on-the-go professional or someone who might be limited in the ways they can create their website looking for a dead simple website builder to get the job done. In any case, Gabriel is more than happy to tell you how happy he is with GoDaddy—and that makes it a fantastic choice in my book. Bottom Line: GoDaddy offers a simple, easy website builder—but not much else. How We Chose Which Products to ReviewI chose all seven website builders based on three criteria:
I took a look at dozens of the most popular website builders on the market today and benchmarked each of them against the three qualities above. For each website builder I found, I created a bare-bones website to test out their tools and features. I also took into account the things offered in paid premium plans. Using this method, I was able to narrow down my list of more than a dozen website builders to what I considered to be the seven best. These seven best showcased the three criteria above in unique—but effective—ways. In all, this stage of the research process took two weeks to complete. When I finished, it was time to find real users of each product. How We Reviewed Each ProductAt Quicksprout, we believe that if you want to get actual insights about a product or service, you need to talk to actual users. You can’t just trust the website builder’s marketing or even the testimonials you find on review sites. Instead, you need to find the people who have used the builders before. Only then can you get the good, the bad, and the oh-so-frustrating. It took time to find and verify users, but in the end, we were able to connect with a few dozen people that used these website builders for their business. Each person agreed to either a phone interview or a survey. Questions for both were identical, though some of our interviewees had a lot to say about their experience. We took all of our research, interviews, and surveys and synthesized them into the post you are reading now. What We Learned Choosing the Best Blogging PlatformThere’s no such thing as a “perfect” website builder. Instead, each one offers a unique set of features and tools for a different kind of user. Everyone wants something easy to use, but what exactly does that mean when it comes to website builders? Keep reading to hear insights from our research and user interviews that can help you hone in on a website builder that really matches your needs. Ease of UseIf you’re reading this, you’re likely a beginner. We all need to start somewhere. What that means is that ease of use plays a bigger role in your ultimate decision than ever. The reason is because it’s easy to get frustrated and burned out when learning a new skill like website building. That can easily result in abandoning your website-building efforts entirely. To combat that, you want to make things as easy as possible in the beginning. That’s why we highly recommend finding a platform that can help you create a site easily and quickly. With something like Zyro or Wix, a first-time user is not going to run into any trouble. “[Wix is] intuitive and has great tools to create individual website designs,” one Wix user told us. We also love that it will hold your hand through the process—and will even build out the website for you if you want. That said, Squarespace, Weebly, and GoDaddy are also easy-to-use products as well. It just depends on what you’re looking for. For example, if you’re looking for a great WYSIWYG website builder to create gorgeous blogs and portfolios, Squarespace is for you. If you want to create an online store, Shopify is for you. If you want a simple builder with a great mobile editor, look no further than GoDaddy. Depth of CustomizationBeing able to customize your website to the exact look and feel you want is crucial—but it sometimes makes the learning curve for the builder a bit steeper. This is a delicate balancing act. But once you strike it, the platform will allow you to not only align with your brand but also draw in the type of readers and customers you want. Customization also includes things outside of the way your website looks. It’s also the ability to add the features you need to accomplish your goals. For example, if you want to build a list of email subscribers for a newsletter, you want to find a website builder that’ll allow you to easily capture your visitor’s contact information. For that you might want to go with Wix, Squarespace, or WordPress as they give you either native tools to do so or allow you to download a third-party plugin like Mailchimp. Not all platforms offer the same amount of customization. A website builder like WordPress offers the deepest level of customization on this list. You’ll be able to create the exact website you want so long as you have the knowledge to code and edit, or are willing to pay someone to do so. A website builder like GoDaddy offers likely the least amount of customization. That’s not to say you won’t be able to build a good website. They’re just not open-source. As such, there’s no community out there dedicated to creating widgets, plugins, and themes for GoDaddy sites. A builder like Squarespace allows you to include things like ecommerce stores easily right out of the box. “One of the reasons why I recommend Squarespace to small businesses or bloggers is because you don’t need to go get a third-party plugin to add a shop or to have your Instagram in the footer, or create your email newsletter collection,” said one of our users. “It’s really an all-in-one system, which is wonderful.” It all starts with the templates that they give you. You start with a theme, but are able to use it as a launching point. Once you tweak and customize it to your specific needs, it becomes virtually whatever kind of website you want it to be. Ability to Earn MoneyIf you’re building a website for your business, or portfolio, or even a simple blog, you likely want to make money from it. Websites are marketing channels after all. They exist to promote brands, products, services, movements, and more. The website builder you choose will have a fairly big impact on how much money you can earn. For example, if you want to build a good ecommerce store, I would highly recommend going with Shopify. It’s a true plug-and-play ecommerce website builder that works across every sales channel. Weebly is partnered with Square—which makes it a cost-effective way for people to start selling from their site. But online stores aren’t the only way to make money. For people looking to drive traffic to their site for advertising purposes, Shopify is not going to work out well at all. WordPress is probably a much better choice for that. They offer a ton of great third-party plugins to help with SEO. Sure, you won’t have out-of-the-box ecommerce functionality. But WordPress gives you a much higher ceiling in terms of being able to customize your website and creating even more avenues to revenue beyond sales. The Top Website Builders in SummaryThere’s no one-size-fits-all solution for website builders. What works for one person or business might not work for you—and that’s okay. Look for a website builder that addresses your needs and skill level. Start with a template, and you’ll be on your way. Use the recommendations in this guide as a resource as you’re evaluating the best website builders. Our reviews still steer you in the right direction. via Quick Sprout https://www.quicksprout.com/best-website-builder/ Want to jump straight to the answer? The best HR outsourcing service for most people is Rippling or Paychex. Human resources are a vital part of every company. But not every company has the budget to staff an in-house human resources department. That shouldn’t stop you from getting the help you need or having access to the best solutions. Compare the 9 Best HR Outsourcing CompaniesHR outsourcing allows you to be flexible with some or all of your HR-related workload. These HR professionals can take care of everything from payroll taxes to benefits administration. Read on for reviews of each of the services listed below, plus a methodology framework to help you find the service most suited to your business needs.
![]() You’ll find that some of these options allow you to offload HR tasks one by one, whether it is payroll, benefits administration, or something else. Alternatively, you can outsource all your HR responsibilities to a professional employer organization (PEO). If that sounds like something intriguing, take a look at my recent review of the best PEO service providers. For the list I’ve compiled here, though, I’ve included a mix of HR outsourcing services, including those that offer PEO-type services. I offer an in-depth reviews of each, covering their features, benefits, and other key considerations. I also included a summary of the criteria I used to review each product. Read on to find the best service for you. Best HR Outsourcing Services ReviewsThere are a lot of services that will help your organization manage its human resources tasks. I’ve reviewed them all and only included the best of the best. Here’s the skinny on each service that made my list. Rippling – Best For Saving Time on HR Tasks
The details you don’t know about are what can sink a business, generate huge fines, and even create tension between employees and management. It can take years to perfect HR & IT management. ![]() That’s where Rippling comes in. This service handles onboarding, off-boarding, payroll, taxes, and reviewing state regulations no matter the state. The platform has everything integrated you need to separate HR and IT but still keep all your data unified for your workforce. Rippling is your single source of truth. And it’s just $8 per month per user to be able to control all the major parts of workflow for your business. Plus, practically every workflow you have can be automated with the Rippling Automator, such as adding new hire information, application reviews, employee compensation, and even updates for engineering documentation. Even if you don’t know anything about managing IT or HR, it’s all laid out for you. Plus the Rippling resource help center provides you with best-in-class information about every nook and cranny involving how to get the best out of this platform. Even better, Rippling has recipe templates. These make it easier than ever to just point and click and get things done. Whether it’s for reporting, workflow, or GitHub pull requests, it’s dead simple to implement. Rippling is ranked #1 in workforce global management in HR and IT services for a reason. Save yourself more than just time and get started with Rippling today. Paychex — Best HR Outsourcing for Complex Payment Cycles
Ensuring error-free payrolls for your workers is one of the most important tasks for any HR department. True to its name, Paychex is one of the best online payroll services on the market today. Paychex excels at this because it offers solutions to handle virtually any payment situation you can think of. Do you have:
![]() Beyond payroll processing, Paychex also delivers fantastic HR outsourcing services. So if you’re in need of more than accurate payroll processing, Paychex is also a great option for:
Paychex offers a solid mobile app that can be used to track things like hiring, labor costs, and employee turnover. Employees can also easily use the app for self-service and training. For mobile and remote workforces, this is a huge win. For businesses with an existing HR department in place, Paychex can act as an extension of this department by providing a dedicated outsourced HR manager. This professional can assist with hiring, onboarding, and retaining top-level talent. They can also manage workforce analytics, benchmarking, corporate culture strategy, benefits, and basic employee training. It’s everything you need in an HR manager, without the overhead of hiring a full-time, in-house employee. If all this sounds good, you can learn more at Paychex. For a limited time, you can get three months free, too. Insperity — Best HR Outsourcing Service That Runs Itself
Insperity offers excellent PEO and HRO services. But the astonishing thing about them is how they offer to bundle services, making this provider a true “set it and forget it option” for HR task management. Find your bundle and you’re done. While it does offer individual HR offerings like other products covered here, Insperity is a real winner because of their full-service solutions. Their offerings are often bundled, which gives you broader HR services in one package. For example, payroll comes with their human capital management software. With everything you could need under one umbrella, all your HR tasks will work seamlessly with each other. But it’s the bundling in my opinion that allows you to fully customize your HR package. ![]() Insperity also offers your employees great benefits including medical, vision, and dental coverage, and lets you outsource processing payroll, handling W-2s, W-4s, and employment verification. It’ll also help you with liability insurance, workers’ compensation, and other areas of risk management. This service provider helps with HR-related compliance for things like unemployment claims and government reporting. Insperity also assists with talent retention, by helping you create recognition programs and an employee handbook, and improving your employee training process. I recommend Insperity to mid-market organizations. While it has solutions for businesses of five to 149 employees, its main focus and expertise is for companies with 150+ workers. In addition to the full-service HR packages, you can also use Insperity for individual solutions including:
With more than three decades of expertise under its belt and over 70 offices across the country, Insperity is a top consideration for HR outsourcing that your midsize organization will never have to worry about. ADP — Best HR Outsourcing to Handle Some (or All) of Your HR Needs
ADP offers a full-service suite of HR software and solutions. However, I really like this company because it’s also great for companies that need a la carte HR services. You might not need the full spread of payroll from retirement to insurance—and ADP allows you to choose one service, all of them, or only what you need right now. This is great for small businesses that might not have the budget for everything under the sun. As you grow, you can add more until it makes sense to go with their PEO arrangements. ![]() ADP also offers enterprise plans for companies with more than 1,000 employees. Some of ADPs HR services include:
ADP offers business insurance as well, along with group health insurance for your employees. Since ADP is such a large company, they have leverage and bargaining power with all major health insurance providers. I also love ADP’s support team of knowledgeable HR professionals who can be reached via phone, email, or live chat. These pros can create and distribute all of the necessary forms, policies, and job descriptions for your organization. You can even create a custom employee handbook in compliance with local and federal laws. From benefits packages to compliance and setting up employee self-service tools, ADP has it all. Its pricing is not shared on the website, but you can get a free quote from them today. TriNet — Best for Big Business Benefits on Small Business Budgets
TriNet is another full-service HR outsourcing solution. It provides flexible plans and services to meet the needs of any sized business. What makes TriNet really stand out though is its ability to provide some of the most competitive benefits on the market. This is a surefire way to attract top talent to your business. TriNet has partnered with some of the biggest health insurance carriers throughout the country to help you get the highest quality coverage for your employees. Some of these top carriers include MetLife, Kaiser Permanente, Transamerica, Aetna, Aflac, MassMutual, and UnitedHealth Group. ![]() It also offers premium benefits for dental, vision, life, disability, retirement, and transit insurance along with a massive list of voluntary benefits like home policies and even pet insurance. That’s right. When you use TriNet, your employees can make sure that Fido is set up, too. TriNet’s 401k plans are flexible and transferable. TriNet also gives you a ton of discounts for computers, books, office supplies, and even services from places like Verizon, AT&T, and AVIS. And, of course, you get key HR services beyond benefits administration, like HR consulting, benefit options, payroll services, and risk mitigation. You’ll also benefit from TriNet’s comprehensive HR platform. The platform contains tools for employee self-service and mobile access, too. The best part is that TriNet caters specifically to startups and small businesses. This means your small company gets very competitive rates for very big-league benefits. If you want to offer your employees the same level of service and convenience that the Fortune 500 workers expect, get started today at TriNet. Zenefits — Best HR Platform to Wrangle Your Current HR Systems Together
Zenefits is a bit unique compared to some of the other options on our list. That’s because, technically, Zenefits is not an outsourcing service—it’s software for human resources. The platform offers a way for you to integrate and centralize your HR systems into one intuitive platform. It serves the same purpose as an outsourced service in terms of ease and cost reduction. It’s also a cheaper alternative than a full-service outsourcing firm. ![]() The best part is that it streamlines everything. You and your employees will be able to take a look at your org chart, access your benefits, request time off, and take care of onboarding all from one easy-to-navigate dashboard. Zenefits’ software has everything you need to get your HR tasks and administration in order:
They also offer dozens of integrations out-of-the-box. The platform also has options for payroll, employee benefits, employee scheduling, and time tracking. Most HR outsourcing services require you to get a custom quote from the provider. But, because this is software, Zenefits’ pricing is straightforward and available on the website.
You can also add modules for payroll, HR advisement, and third-party benefits administration separately for monthly fees. If your small business needs to improve the way you handle HR tasks but don’t have the funds to completely outsource the service, Zenefits is the perfect solution for you. Engage PEO — Best HR Outsourcing for Unique Compliance Needs
>> Compare Quotes Engage PEO is a full-service professional employer organization. They provide a PEO experience that always aims to put the client’s needs first with its innovative business model. What makes Engage PEO so unique as an HR services provider? It’s the people…who are also all lawyers. Seriously. Every member of their HR consulting team is an attorney. These legal professionals have significant experience with labor and employment law. ![]() It also means that they’ll make all of your nitty gritty compliance headaches disappear like a magical ibuprofen for annoying legal issues. That makes this a perfect solution for companies with complex HR legal needs. We’re talking about industries with strict compliance like construction, marijuana, healthcare, security, finance, and more. Engage PEO will be a top choice for you to consider. Here’s a quick overview of some of the top outsourced HR functions offered by this provider:
As a PEO provider, Engage PEO also offers payroll and tax administration, workers’ compensation, risk management, employee benefits, and integrated technology solutions. Bottom line: If you have complicated compliance matters, Engage PEO is your choice. G&A Partners — Best HR Outsourcing for Employee Training and Development
>> Compare Quotes G&A Partners offers full-service HR outsourcing for things like payroll, benefits, compliance, workplace safety, performance management, and recruitment. There are two different ways that your company can work with G&A Partners—you can also work with them through a PEO or an ASO (administrative services only) model. So there’s a little bit of flexibility in terms of what you’d like them to help you out with. But, what I really like about G&A Partners is that it offers an automated training and development system for all of your employees. This gives you access to almost 1,500 training courses that can be scaled and customized to your company’s exact needs and specs. ![]() You can assign any number and combination of courses to your employees, and track their progress as they learn. This is a great centralized way to develop and train your employees no matter where they are in their careers. There are also plenty of reporting tools and dashboards for you and your employees, so you all know exactly what they need to work on. Training content includes things like quizzes, videos, interactive assignments, and AICC and SCORM courses. Is there something you want that G&A doesn’t offer? You can work external training into its programs as well. Overall, it’s a great option if employee training and development are important to your company (and they should be). Another unique standout of G&A Partners is its employee development services. This HR function includes candidate sourcing, job description, job postings, resume screening, and pre-hire assessments. Once an employee is hired, this outsourced firm can handle onboarding, benefits enrollment, and performance management as well. In addition to human resources, G&A Partners offers payroll services, benefits packages, and HR technology. They’re a particularly great and experienced choice for these types of industries:
Boost your employees’ ability from the moment they’re hired by utilizing G&A Partners. Tandem HR — Best HR Outsourcing for Minimizing Your Risk Liability
>> Compare Quotes Tandem HR offers a wide range of human resources solutions for small businesses. This provider has the tools and expertise to help small businesses as they scale. What sets them apart is their standout risk management solution. They give you solutions such as safety audits, OSHA record keeping, accident investigations, and more to make sure that your company is ready for the worst-case scenario. ![]() And if things go bad, they even offer you worker’s compensation conversation and claims resolution services. Remember: a safer workplace is a better workplace is a cheaper workplace. It benefits not only your employees, you, and your business, but it also helps everyone’s pocketbook. That’s like a quadruple win. As a full-service PEO provider, Tandem HR also has tools and solutions for:
These custom HR solutions will help you save time, save money, boost employee productivity, retain talent, and remain compliant at the state and federal levels. Get started with Tandem HR here. How to Choose the Best HR Outsourcing Service For Your BusinessWith so many options at your disposal, how can you be sure which HR service is the best for your needs? This is the methodology we use at Quick Sprout. You can use it as well to help narrow down your choices. A Hands-On vs. Hands-Off HR PartnerSome companies on our list are PEO (professional employer organization) providers. They provide business services like HR, payroll, benefits administration, and worker’s comp. Some PEOs even go the extra mile to assist with recruiting and onboarding. Many PEOs are considered “co-employers” of workers—meaning if there’s a legal issue, both your business and the PEO provider are responsible. This hands-on role taken by the PEO provider means things are more hands-off for you. Other providers on our list fall into the ASO (administrative service organization) category. Unlike PEOs, ASOs are not co-employers of your workforce, and they don’t typically offer the same comprehensive range of services as a PEO. Both PEOs and ASOs typically come in at the same cost. So It’s just a matter of how much responsibility you’d like to assume when it comes to administering employee benefits. Customizable and Sweeping Service PackagesThe HR provider you choose will ultimately determine how many (or how few) services you can offer your employees. For example, ADP TotalSource is great if you’re looking for a comprehensive PEO with payroll, time trackers, recruiting, retirement plans, medical/vision/dental insurance, and more. G&A Partners offers a great ASO service that allows you to pick-and-choose HR services in an a la carte fashion. That is great for building out an HR package if you have specific needs you want to prioritize. Whatever unique circumstances your business might have, there is usually a human resource outsourcing service that specializes in it. You should also consider how intuitive the new employee onboarding process is. Things like time off request approvals and employee self-service for insurance information are key. Always request a demo before committing to a service so you can see what the dashboard looks like for both admins and employees. Current Level of HR MaturityThe level of HR systems a business currently has in place should play a big role in outsourcing considerations. Your business might be a startup looking to offer employees medical insurance and 401ks. Or your business could be an enterprise-grade operation that wants to supplement (or replace) the HR department with a good third-party solution. Outsourcing firms typically have experience working with certain types of businesses. It all really boils down to if you have an HR system already and, if you do, how long you have had it in place. For example, if you’re a small business owner with no HR infrastructure, you want to choose a service that has experience building from the ground up with smaller organizations, such as Tandem HR. Large companies might not need that type of assistance. Instead, a larger business might just need a certain role or task outsourced. TriNet is a good solution for flexible HR services. ADP is another good one if you already have a few HR systems but just want a platform to manage it all from a single dashboard. No matter what, decide whether or not you’re looking to simply add onto your current HR infrastructure or if you’re looking to fully outsource it. Prompt Customer SupportLike a jumper cable or toilet paper, the worst time to realize you don’t have adequate customer support is when you need it but don’t have it. Some common headache-inducing examples include:
That’s why the level of customer support played a large role in determining our list of HR outsourcing services. Some HR service providers are on hand at all hours to help you at all hours of the day such as ADP. They have live payroll support available 24/7/365 to help answer any questions you might possibly have. Paychex also has 24/7 customer support along with a massive HR online library that gives you resources and tools for everything you might need related to HR. Also worth noting is whether the HR service you’re considering gives you a dedicated account manager. If they don’t, who is your point person when issues come up? Be sure to note how support is doled out throughout each of the HR providers you research. Some of them offer the same level of support no matter what pricing plan you choose. Others, such as Gusto, offer more intensive, hands-on support with more expensive pricing plans. The Top HR Outsourcing Services in SummaryRippling, Paychex, Insperity, and ADP provide the best human resources outsourcing services. Whether you need an entire HR department or just need to outsource a single function, the best HR outsourcing services in this guide have you covered. From payroll assistance to benefits administration and HR software, there’s an option for every business to lighten its load.via Quick Sprout https://www.quicksprout.com/best-hr-outsourcing/ Want to just get started? Click here to sign up for Hostinger and create a website today. You can create a website in less than 20 minutes. You don’t need to be a tech wizard either. It doesn’t matter if it’s for business or pleasure. You don’t need a fancy designer or an expensive developer. Just follow the simple steps below and you’ll be online in no time at all. Top Web Hosting Providers To Create A WebsiteIf you want to create a website, you’ll need a web hosting provider. Here are the best options.
You can read our full reviews of each web hosting provider here. But to get your new website going right now, go straight to our Quick Start checklist. It will help you launch your new website in just two simple steps. Quick Start Checklist To Create A WebsiteWant to just get your website running as quickly as possible? Follow these two steps to get your own piece of internet real estate up and running in 15 minutes or less. 1. Sign up for Hostinger. Select their Single Shared Web Hosting plan for just $1.99 per month. It’s a four-year contract, but it’s the best deal out there and you get a free domain name, too. Follow the steps to create an account and purchase the plan.
2. Install WordPress. You can install WordPress as your content management system (CMS) with just one click from your Hostinger control panel. You’ll use your CMS to control the look and feel of your website. It’s also how you’ll upload all your content. Voila! In less time it takes to watch an episode of your favorite show on Netflix, you can have your new website live. If you want to create a website that builds an audience and makes you money the right way, there is a bit more to do. But don’t worry! Everything you need to know is covered in the rest of this post. 9 Steps to Create a WebsiteHere’s a summary of the steps to build your website:
![]() Feel free to use these links to jump around to the section you need as you create your website. Step 1: Choose the Perfect DomainChoosing a domain is the most important decision you can make for your site. It literally says how you want to be represented to the world. It’s the address for your site and the way people will remember who you are. While many of the best domains are taken, that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to find a perfect domain for your brand. When brainstorming good domain names, consider the following elements:
If you want to learn more about this topic, check out our article on how to buy the right domain name. Come up with a few potential domain names in case your top choice is already taken. The Hostinger Domain Checker is free, and it will let you know if the domain name you want is available. ![]() Type your desired name in to the Domain Checker. If it’s available, fantastic. If not, Hostinger will automatically provide a few recommendations that are close to what you are looking for. Maybe one of the recommendations works for you. Maybe you have to try a different approach. I recommend you brainstorm ideas and search until you find an available domain you like, rather than taking something that isn’t quite right just because it is available. It’s possible to buy a domain that’s already taken—but I don’t recommend doing that because it’s very expensive. In fact, quality domains typically cost a few thousand dollars at a minimum. I’ve seen it go as high as six or seven figures for a domain. My advice is to get scrappy, get creative, and be flexible. You will be able to find one that’s available at a reasonable price. Don’t add the domain to your cart at this time–you can get a domain for free by signing up for their Premium Shared Hosting service, which is what I recommend. I’ll walk you through that process next. Step 2: Get Web Hosting and Free Domain Registration With HostingerA website needs just two things to go live: A domain name and a web host. You just came up with your domain name. Now it’s time to put it to use with a good web host. We highly recommend you use Hostinger for your website’s host. They offer a fast and reliable web host. Hostinger also allows you to register your domain free of charge.
You can get Hostinger today for just $1.99/month using our discount link. It’ll give you all you need to get your website up and running. Start by going to Hostinger’s website. Then click on Start Now. ![]() It’ll give you three options for shared hosting, which is the type of hosting most people want to create a new website. Hostinger offers three options for shared hosting: Single, Premium, and Business: ![]() I recommend signing up for Premium unless you already have a domain name. My reasoning is that the Single Shared Hosting plan does not come with a free domain, whereas Premium and Business plans do. Since you need a domain name in order to have a website, the vast majority of users looking to create a site are going to want both domain + hosting bundled together. Both Premium and Business plans come with the ability to create 100 websites, 100 email accounts, and other tools to keep your site at top performance. The Business plan comes with more storage and bandwidth, so your site will be able to handle more traffic than with a Premium plan. For most new sites, Premium will be more than enough, but if you are expecting a ton of traffic right away, Business might be a better choice. View a complete rundown of everything that’s included with each plan on Hostinger’s homepage. Once you select the best plan for you, Hostinger will ask you how long you want to sign up. Here’s what that looks like if you choose the Premium plan: ![]() I chose the 48-month period for my Premium plan so that I could max out the discount. As you can see, I’ll wind up paying less than $100 for four years of hosting! That’s a phenomenal price, especially when you consider that many other hosting providers charge extra for things like SSL certificates, website builders, email accounts, and other critical features that Hostinger bundles in for free. After selecting the length of your hosting agreement, complete the rest of the information on the page.
Once your payment goes through, and you confirm your email address, you’ll be able to begin setting up your site. If you need managed WordPress hosting, WPEngine is a fantastic option. As a managed host, WP Engine professionally maintains speed and security at the server level, so you don’t have to do anything. To learn more, check out our WPEngine Review. Step 3: Claim Your Free DomainFollow the instructions in the welcome email to log in to Hostinger. Once you log in, you’ll answer a series of straightforward questions about the website you are trying to create: ![]() And it’s basically this easy throughout the whole setup, which only takes a few minutes. You’ll have the option to claim your free domain as long as you signed up with Premium or Business Shared Hosting: ![]() At this time you can also connect domains you already own (the walkthrough is very simple) or buy additional domains. As you select from free domains, keep an eye on the renewal pricing. Your domain is free for the first year. After that, you have to renew, typically at a higher price. This is no different from any other host, but you don’t want to be surprised about renewal pricing. ![]() The top example where the renewal price is more than 50 times higher than starting price is unusual. But it happens. The bottom example is much more within the normal range for domain name renewals. Step 4: Install WordPress with HostingerNext, you’ll choose your content management system (CMS). I recommend using WordPress. Hostinger will give you other CMS options, but unless you have a compelling reason to do otherwise, WordPress is the easiest, cheapest, safest play you can make. ![]() Create a WordPress account with a strong password, and choose from dozens of different layout options for your site. Different layouts are known as WordPress themes. You just have to make a choice at this time–you’ll be able to change themes and customize the site later. We’ll go into all that in the next steps. For now, just confirm everything is correct: ![]() Double-check all this, and if for whatever reason Hostinger has located your website in an incorrect region, adjust that by clicking the purple pencil edit button. Once you are sure that the information is right, click Finish Setup. This takes less than five minutes. Congrats! You now own a piece of the internet! Let’s dive into using WordPress. Step 5: Access WordPress in Hostinger DashboardHostinger offers a very convenient dashboard for you to manage your site. It’s known as hPanel, and is very welcoming to new users, as far as website control panels go. And if you have any confusion, Hostinger has tons of support about how to navigate hPanel. You’ll be prompted to use WordPress to create your site. If you miss the prompts or skip them for any reason, you can always log in to WordPress using the left-side dropdown panel in the dashboard: ![]() Enter the WordPress account password you created in the last step to log in and start customizing your new website. Step 6: Design Your Website with Customizable ThemesYou already selected a WordPress theme to build your site, and if you are happy with the way it looks, great! If you want to see what else is out there, you can explore tens of thousands of themes on WordPress.org. A lot of them are free. There are also some you need to pay for. Pro tip: Don’t worry too much about this section. It’s easy to get caught up with perfectionism and think that you need to get your theme right the first time. That’s not true. The most important thing you can do is choose a basic theme and go with it. You can always change your theme later. Go to your WordPress website’s administration dashboard. You can do this through the Hostinger dashboard, or you can use the URL [your website name].com/wp-admin. Then simply use the username and password you got in the previous step. Once you’re in the admin dashboard, go to your sidebar and click Appearance>Themes>Add New Theme. ![]() This will allow you to add any theme you want from WordPress’s library. Choose one now. For this article, we’ll be using OceanWP. This is a free theme that’s very flexible. Whether you need a blog, ecommerce store, or whatever else, OceanWP can get it done. ![]() Search for the theme using the search bar. Once you find it, click Install. ![]() Once it’s finished installing, click on the Activate button. This will implement the theme onto your website. ![]() You can now customize the theme to your liking by clicking on the Customize button. ![]() You’ll now be able to change any aspect of your website you want. This includes things like your website’s colors, menu options, header images, and more. After clicking on customize, you’ll see a look at your website as you customize it as well as a left sidebar with different customization options. Each theme offers different options, but there’s a lot of overlap between themes. We’re going to go into more detail about what each option does—and whether or not it’s vital:
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Now, customize your website to your heart’s desire. Once you’re finished, click Publish, and voila! Your website will update automatically to reflect your changes. Your website’s still going to look a little sparse. We need to create some pages for it. Step 7: Build Your Website’s ArchitectureIf your website is a house, it’s currently an empty lot. It has a solid foundation and it’s connected to essential utilities—but it needs the walls and rooms. To build those, you need to create web pages. These are documents on the internet that readers access through your website. But you should think of them as the rooms of your house. These are the areas visitors will see and get to know you and your website. While there are a lot of different types of web pages that exist, the most essential ones are:
Creating pages on WordPress just takes a few clicks. Let’s jump into how you can create the most important page now for your website. How to Create a HomepageOceanWP gives you two different ways to create a homepage:
The first option is straightforward: Create blog posts and the homepage will automatically show all your latest blog posts. That’s why we want to walk you through creating a static page for your website. This can be especially useful for companies that just want a branded page to introduce their audience to the website. It’s also much more customizable than a page showing your latest blog posts. First, head back to your WordPress website dashboard and click on Pages>Add New. ![]() Now, you’ll be in WordPress’s page editor mode. This area allows you to create a page by adding text, images, videos, memes, or whatever else you want to showcase on your homepage (or any other page for that matter). ![]() In the Add title box you can create the — you guessed it — title for your home page. This will display a big piece of text at the top. Below that is the content box where you can add text or media. On the top left, you can click on the + button to add new content blocks. ![]() This is a very important area that allows you to easily add media, quotes, pull quotes, new paragraphs, headings, and more. On the top right, you’ll see five buttons:
Create a basic homepage now by adding a title and content. It doesn’t need to be fancy. We’re just doing this as a test run. You can always change it later. Once you’ve done that, click Publish in the top right. The website will now be live! But that doesn’t mean it’s your homepage yet. Go to Appearance>Customize on the sidebar. ![]() Then go to Homepage Settings. You can now click on A static page underneath your homepage displaying settings. This will allow you to select the homepage you just created in the dropdown menu underneath Homepage. ![]() Select that page, then click on Publish at the top. Congrats!! You just created your very first homepage. How to Create an About, Contact, Landing, or Any Other PageCreating any other page for your website will consist mostly of the same steps as your homepage. First, head back to your WordPress website dashboard and click on Pages>Add New. ![]() And in the page editor create the page you want to create. It’s really as simple as that. However, if you allow your readers to easily discover that web page, you’ll have to create some navigational elements for them. Step 8: Connect Your Web Pages with MenusCreating menus is going to vary from theme to theme. However, in OceanWP it’s fairly simple. From your WordPress dashboard, click on Appearance>Customize. ![]() Then click on Menu>Create New Menu. ![]() Here you’ll be able to give your menu a name and choose where you’d like it to appear. For now, we’re going to go with the very creative name “New Menu” and choose Top Bar for the menu location. You can always change this later. Then click Next. ![]() Now it’s time to add some links. Click on + Add Items to start building your menu. ![]() From here you can add pages via the pages that you have already created, custom links to different websites, blog posts, categories, tags, and more. For now, we’re going to add our Home, Contact, and About pages (which we created in the previous parts) onto the menu. Click on the pages under the Pages section to do so. ![]() They will now appear in the top bar menu of your main website. ![]() One thing to note is that you can create drop-down menus for bigger categories you can think of. For example, let’s say we want to add our Contact page to our About section. You can do so by dragging the Contact menu underneath the About section when customizing the menu (see below). ![]() Your About menu will now include a dropdown where visitors can access your Contact page. ![]() Once you’re finished making the menus, click on Publish at the top. And you’re done! You just created your very first website. Check out your new website in all its glory: ![]() Okay, we admit: It’s a little underwhelming right now—but that’s because you haven’t gone about branding it or adding any real content yet! We showed you how to get your website up and running. Now it’s YOUR turn to make it with content. Step 9: Create Compelling Content for Your WebsiteWhat you ultimately choose to include in your website for content is entirely up to you. However, there are two areas that we’ve found to be the most important when it comes to successful websites: design and content. Below are our best resources for leveling up both: Designing Your Website
Writing On Your Website
You Just Made Your First Website! What’s Next?
Congrats on creating your first website! Seriously, you should pat yourself on the back. Now that you’ve signed up for Hostinger and installed WordPress, there’s still some work to be done once your website is up and running—the journey has just begun. You’ll still need to tweak and make adjustments to your site regularly to optimize its performance and ensure it’s meeting your audience’s needs. If you want to put your website to work for you and make some extra cash, check out these excellent resources on monetizing your site:
All of these guides are beginner-friendly and easy to follow. Enjoy and good luck! via Quick Sprout https://www.quicksprout.com/how-to-create-a-website/ Want to jump straight to the answer? The best direct mail service for most people is PostcardMania. Direct mail is an effective and affordable way to drive brand awareness and generate fresh leads. With it, you can put your message in people’s hands and target the streets and neighborhoods that matter to your success. It’s an excellent opportunity for both new and established businesses to reach new consumers who otherwise may not see a company’s digital presence. The 8 Best Direct Mail Services of 2022
![]() A direct mail company will print, stamp, and deliver your flyers, postcards, or brochures for you. Some services go further by providing design templates and helping you create a list of viable addresses. I’ve researched direct mail companies and narrowed them down to the top eight on the market today. Below, you’ll find in-depth reviews of the benefits, drawbacks, and use cases for each direct mail service that made my list. Best Direct Mail Services ReviewsPostcardMania — Best for Multi-Channel Marketing Campaigns
PostcardMania is great for high-volume postcard direct mail due to its excellent bulk discounts. It’s also a great option if you are looking to make direct mail one of many marketing channels. Let’s take a look at the traditional direct mail options first. PostcardMania offers the following services:
While it offers stellar postcard and brochure mailing campaign offerings, where the company really stands out is with its Everywhere Small Business product. ![]() This is a multi-channel marketing effort that includes direct mail. In addition to mail, you’ll also benefit from mail tracking, targeted Facebook follow-up advertisements, Instagram ads, Google follow-ups, and call tracking. PostcardMania targets the people who receive your promotions in the mail across digital advertising channels. It brings multiple campaigns together for lead generation and brand awareness. Pricing for high-volume standard-sized postcards starts at just $0.05 per piece. You likely won’t find a better bulk rate in the industry. For a limited time, you can get 1,000 postcards printed free with your first Postcard Mania order. Vistaprint — Most Postcard Designs
Vistaprint is one of the most popular printing solutions out there. While it’s best known for business card printing service, it also offers a great direct mail postcard service. It includes more than 1,000 postcard designs too—so it’ll likely have something that’s right for you and your brand. Simply design your card, send in your list of addresses, and Vistaprint will handle the rest. Vistaprint has both standard and oversized postcards. ![]() One other service I really like is that you can buy a targeted list directly through this platform as well. These lists can be targeted to audiences by demographic data, like income, hobbies, new homeowners, or even B2B-targeted industries. Vistaprint is great because it has so many other products and services. No matter your marketing needs, Vistaprint has you covered. Some popular categories include:
If you want your mailing service from the same provider as your promotional products and printing needs, VistaPrint puts it all in one place. Gunderson Direct — Best for Hands-Off Marketing Campaigns
Gunderson Direct is a full-service direct marketing agency. That means its representatives will work with you to create a fully customized direct mail campaign that’s perfect for your brand. These reps give you everything you need to get the most out of your direct mail campaigns. Tap into their expertise to create mail campaigns that complement and work in conjunction with your marketing strategy. You’ll start with a consultation with the Gunderson Direct team. As a full-service agency, Gunderson makes sure every aspect of your program is optimized for success—from testing to data, messaging, and offers. From that consultation, you’ll get all the insights you need to build a successful program. Gunderson Direct can help you create direct mail collateral from your in-house database as well as external sources. Its award-winning design team will provide you with targeted, print-ready creative and its production expertise ensures you’re mailing out high-quality material. From start to finish, the company will take care of most every aspect of your marketing campaign for you, making sure to consult with you as needed to make sure it gets the results you’re looking for. These services even include in-depth reporting and analytics so you can measure your success. That’s a rare offering when it comes to direct mail services. Get in touch with the Gunderson Direct team to get a custom quote for your company’s direct mail needs. PrintingForLess — Best for Targeting Specific Neighborhoods
>> Compare Quotes PrintingForLess is a well-known and reliable direct mail service. It’s a one-stop shop for both printing and mailing. The company offers a wide range of tools like free templates, direct mail tips, and integration with marketing automation platforms. They also have web-to-print for employees so they have easy access to sales and marketing collateral. Where it really stands out is in the Every Door Direct Mailing (EDDM) service. This service helps you to determine a specific neighborhood or region that you want to target and make sure your mailers get to those houses. This is great for promoting your restaurant or retail business’s opening day, local promotions, and other location-specific advertisements. ![]() While a few other services on this list offer EDDM (such as NextDayFlyers), none of them offer it with the amount of variety of mailer types that PrintingForLess gives you. This brand also has a lot of experience working with political campaigns to make sure their mailers get out to constituents and potential voters. If you’re holding an elected office (or aspire to), I highly recommend PrintingForLess. Another thing I like about PrintingForLess is that their people really stand behind their product. If your mailing and printing aren’t on time, they’ll fully reimburse you for your incurred costs. That eliminates a lot of the anxiety that surrounds big marketing projects. Before you start producing and mailing at scale, PFL will give you custom free printing samples. You can choose from different paper types, weights, coatings, binding options, and effects to see which one is the best for your business. >> Compare QuotesNextDayFlyers — Best for Fast Turnaround TimesTrue to its name, NextDayFlyers will give you an incredibly quick turnaround to make sure you get your mailers out quickly. In fact, the company offers next business day printing turnaround. Although you will pay extra for this premium service, it’s an excellent option for time-sensitive offers and campaigns. ![]() With NextDayFlyers, your company can send:
NextDayFlyers will store your inventory, verify addresses, presort your products, and send your mail. You can also rent mailing lists for campaigns as well. Navigating through this platform is easy. Simply choose the size of your flyer, customize the cardstock, add a gloss or matte coating, and select your quantity. You can create artwork directly on their website or upload your own file. You’ll see the cost for your direct mail campaign in real time as you continue to make changes. >> Compare QuotesCactus Mailing — Best for Coordinated Google Ad Campaigns
>> Compare Quotes Cactus Mailing is a simple and straightforward direct mail service that offers great postcard and brochure mailers—along with a unique offering focused on Google Ads. Top services include:
![]() Where this brand really shines, though, is in its Smart Marketing product. This service helps you create a coordinated Google Ads campaign that compliments your direct mail campaign, driving better results. Doing so will increase response rates which boosts both leads and sales. This program includes Google display ads along with landing pages to support your direct mail postcards and brochures. This differs from the multi-channel offering of PostcardMania because Cactus focuses solely on Google Ads. PostcardMania offers Facebook and Instagram ads along with follow-ups. Some of the top industries using Cactus Mailing include dentists, restaurants, salons, spas, churches, real estate, retail, and fitness. Cactus excels at creating beautiful brochures to promote your business. Another reason to consider Cactus Mailing is its great specials when you combine more than one service. The company runs these specials regularly, so you always have a chance to save. >> Compare QuotesSaaSMQL — Best for SaaS Lead Generation
>> Compare Quotes SaaSMQL offers account-based demand generation for SaaS businesses. This is extremely unique compared to the other direct mail services on our list. If your organization falls into this category, SaaSMQL should be a top choice to consider. In most cases, direct mail isn’t associated with SaaS. But SaaSMQL has revolutionized the way you approach lead generation strategy by using direct mail to create leads and opportunities with mid-market and enterprise-level prospects. ![]() One of its clients generated more than 50 qualified meetings using a direct mail campaign in less than two months. This generated over $2 million. This success is attributable to SaaSMQL’s unique approach. Instead of just sending a flyer or a postcard, SaaSMQL sends packages to businesses. This stands out compared to the hundreds of emails, calls, and junk mail these recipients get on a daily basis. Nobody is going to throw a package in the garbage without a second thought. In addition to direct mail, SaaSMQL helps you with other account-based marketing campaigns and analytics. It has everything you need for SaaS demand generation across multiple channels. >> Compare QuotesPsPrint — Most Options for Mailer Type
PsPrint offers a wide range of products available for direct mail. In fact, it offers 10 types of mailers to send to prospective customers. That’s much more than other services which often offer just one or two mailer options. PsPrint’s products include:
This is a huge variety of direct mailers they’ll send for you. It’s also worth mentioning they offer mailing list processing (CASS certification, inkjet addressing, and postal resorting), foil stamping, die cutting, and even a graphic designer to work with you to get exactly the look you want. ![]() PsPrint offers a quick turnaround as well. In just two to five days after printing is complete, your order can be mailed. The entire process can also be managed online. Just select your product, upload your artwork, and attach your mailing list. PsPrint will even send you extra prints that weren’t mailed. The “overs” are free if they fit into one box. For those of you who don’t have a mailing list, PsPrint will help you create one in less than 15 minutes. Just answer some questions related to your target market based on age, income, ZIP Code, and other details. If you want to get your hands on a finished product before you make a decision, sign up for a free Sample Kit from PsPrint. How to Choose the Best Direct Mail Service For Your BusinessEvery direct mail service is unique. Finding the best one for your business isn’t impossible to do on your own, but can be a challenge. That’s why we’re here. We studied five key areas to see how each service stacked up and narrowed down our choices based on the results. Use these criteria to find the right service for your specific business needs. Industry-Tailored SolutionsA local mom-and-pop restaurant isn’t going to need the same services as a multi-million dollar B2B company. That’s why they shouldn’t go to the same place for direct mail services. Research the industries each direct mailer targets. For example, Gunderson Direct focuses on telemedicine, B2B companies, and financial advisors. SaaSMQL is, as the name would suggest, a great choice for SaaS companies. PostcardMania, on the other hand, helps any business that relies on postcards and brochures as part of its marketing efforts. These include AC and heating, restaurants, roofing, and real estate, to name a few. When researching direct mailing services, be sure to see who some of their past clients are, too. Do they have solutions to target your specific customers? Can they effectively promote your offerings? If not, they’re not the right service for you. Mailer VarietiesYou may have specific marketing needs today, but what if those evolve in the future? You want to find a direct mailer that gives you options. Common mailer types include:
A postcard might be more than enough for your business to promote something simple like an upcoming event or sale. But if you want to send out more detailed information about your organization, a brochure or catalog might be more appropriate. A service like Gunderson Direct offers a wider variety of offerings that include letters, brochures, and more. They’ll even work with you to help plan out the most effective direct mail campaign for your brand. Less commonly, companies like SaasMQL even send packages via direct mail for certain business types. Finding a service with diverse offerings may help you keep the same service provider no matter how your marketing efforts expand. Of course, the converse is true, too. Some services, like PostcardMania, are limited in their offerings—but they excel at what they do. If you only need postcards or brochures and don’t anticipate that need to change anytime soon, choosing a service that specializes in that area is another good strategy to follow. Eye-Catching DesignsFirst impressions are crucial for direct mail campaigns. You want your final product to:
This can be a very tough balance to achieve — but good direct mail services do so while staying true to your brand. Some services offer industry-specific templates (e.g. PostcardMania has postcard designs for realtors). That provides a good starting point if you’re not very experienced in graphic design. Other companies let you choose the quality, size, and finish of your products. That helps if you have a very specific vision of what your mailer will look like. When consulting with or researching a direct mail service, be sure to look at any case studies they might have along with samples of their previous work. This should give you a good indication of their design quality and whether the service is a good fit for your brand, industry, and target customer. It is important to note that sometimes the price for their graphic design services is separate from their direct mail service. For example, PostcardMania offers graphic design as a separate offering, while Gunderson Direct offers it as part of your whole package. Supplemental ServicesWhen your marketing efforts are coordinated and work together, they can have an even greater impact on your bottom line. The best direct mail service companies offer additional marketing products to help support your direct mail campaigns. For example, PostCardMania also gives you an omnichannel marketing plan including Facebook, Instagram, and Google ads, along with call tracking, follow-ups, and mail tracking. An offering like that can be very helpful to keep your marketing efforts centralized and focused, not to mention more cost-effective. With all your marketing handled by one company, you’re not juggling a ton of different companies and services at once, trying to make them all work together. You can avoid the typical headaches that scenario often brings. Vistaprint can whip up a ton of really cool on-brand promotional swag for you, like handbags, hats, or whatever else you think people will use. The point is to get your company name out there beyond simple mailers. Even if you don’t need every service a company offers today, it’s something to consider for your future plans. Turnaround TimeThis is not necessarily the most common element businesses look for in a direct mail service. However, there are times when it can be important for businesses and brands to get mailers out to potential customers quickly (e.g. when you have a very time-sensitive promotion). Not to mention that if customers and prospects are receiving a mailer after a promotion has expired or come to an end, it’s a huge waste of money and reflects poorly on your business in the eyes of those recipients. As such, turnaround time is a consideration we factored in when researching this list. Once printing is complete, mailing turnaround time typically ranges anywhere from next business day to ten business days. You can usually pay extra to get your mailers out faster. But it’s better to find a direct mail service that works quickly at no additional cost. Luckily, some direct mail campaigns are more time-sensitive than others, like NextDayFlyers which can turn around your mailers fast. The Top Direct Mail Services in SummaryDirect mail works really well in many situations. It’s easy to lose sight of this when you’re focused on email, online advertisements, and other digital marketing tactics. PostcardMania is the best direct mailing service for most businesses. Regardless of your budget, printing needs, or direct mail strategy, you can find what you’re looking for using the reviews and recommendations in this guide. via Quick Sprout https://www.quicksprout.com/best-direct-mail-services/ Want to jump straight to the answer? The best VPS host for most people is Hostinger or Kamatera. Shared hosting is cost-effective for beginner or low-traffic websites. But when your traffic grows, it’s time to start looking for virtual private server (VPS) hosting. With VPS hosting you won’t be sharing hosting resources with anyone and you can set up the server the way you want. After researching dozens of providers, I’ve narrowed down the top VPS hosting plans. The Top 10 Best VPS Hosting Providers
![]() In this review I highlight each provider’s plans and pricing and explain what makes each a good VPS hosting option. I also share some potential downsides or weaknesses of each provider, and provide a methodology you can use to select the best VPS host for your needs. I’ve also included a quick review of VPS hosting in case you’d like a refresher on what this service is and how it works. Virtual Private Server ReviewsRead on for detailed reviews of the VPS hosts listed above. Hostinger — Best Value VPS Hosting
Hostinger offers fast and reliable servers with the best pricing of any VPS hosts on our list. Its best value plan starts from $2.99 per month – an excellent deal for VPS hosting. You still get 1 TB of bandwidth and 20 GB of SSD storage. On top of that, Hostinger ensures excellent loading times with a 100 MB/second guarantee on your network. In addition, you have complete control over your hosting as it offers full root access. ![]() Hostinger has a dedicated IPv6 block infrastructure to keep connections secure and efficient. Its servers provide enough processing power for medium to large-scale online projects. Hostinger offers eight VPS plans: ![]() As you can see, Hostinger’s VPS hosting provides a wide variety of options. Coupled with its great pricing and rich features, the VPS host offers the best value for money. Personally, I’d go with the VPS 4 plan, which gives you all the bandwidth and RAM you’d need to make sure your online project runs smoothly. I highly recommend Hostinger to anyone that wants fast, secure, and reliable VPS hosting. Sign up today at Hostinger. Kamatera — Best VPS Hosting for Instant Scaling
Kamatera gives you unlimited storage. You can add new servers as required, start and stop servers at any time, and add new databases as you grow. That’s why they are one of the most scalable VPS services out there. They are perfect for scaling on demand. More than that, they offer a wide variety of flexible cloud-based VPS solutions for web hosting. Instinctively set up their servers for anything you need–email, CRM, ERP, VoIP–and the service grows with you. And it takes no time at all. You can increase your server numbers in a matter of minutes. This is ideal for any growing startup that needs to increase the power of their website over time. The same is true if you’re strapped for resources and need to temporarily pull in the reins. With Kamatera, you don’t have to choose among plans. Instead you can dial in the exact amount of resources you need. ![]() Kamatera lets you customize the type of servers, OS, and control panel for your VPS hosting. Their global technical support network also operates 24/7 worldwide with more than a dozen data centers in North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. If you ever have any issues, you can always get someone on the line to help you. Since its services are customized to your exact specifications, we can’t share exact pricing details here. But we can say that prices begin at just $4 for an unmanaged server. Kamatera is a great deal for people who want total control over configuration. If you want a more hands-off experience, Kamatera’s managed plans start at $54. InMotion VPS — Most Reliable Uptime
InMotion specializes in VPS hosting. Their plans come in two flavors: managed and cloud. While its managed hosting is great and offers tremendous performance, I highly recommend its cloud hosting plan. This plan offers even more control over your VPS server for developers and website managers. It also comes with enterprise-level hardware to ensure a 99.9%+ uptime rate. Let’s take a look at each one to see what’s best for your website. ![]() InMotion Managed VPS Hosting InMotion’s managed plans are ideal for business owners, agencies, and resellers, which is why InMotion landed at the top of our list of top reseller hosting providers. Each plan offers free server management, updates, and free site migrations. You’ll also benefit from a resource monitoring dashboard, unlimited domains, unlimited email accounts, and unlimited MySQL databases. Here’s what their plans look like for three-year contracts:
All plans are ecommerce-optimized and come with optional root access for those of you who want more advanced control over your settings. These prices reflect the longest contract commitment and best pricing option. InMotion Cloud VPS The cloud hosting account plans offered by InMotion are best for developers and system administrators. That’s because each plan comes with full root access, including SSH keys, which gives you total control over customization. As a developer, you’ll essentially get a blank slate to customize a VPS to meet the exact needs of your website. You can also code in the language of your preference, like Java, Ruby, and other popular choices. InMotion Cloud VPS provides enterprise-level hardware, with SSD servers that are 20x faster than the competition.
In my review of InMotion hosting I found that in order to get the best introductory rates for cloud VPS, you need to commit for one year, as opposed to two years with the managed plans. Prices for managed plans and cloud hosting plans are a lot alike. The biggest difference between the two is basically how much control you want over the server. Unless you’re a developer, I think that the majority of you should lean toward the managed plans, just based on simplicity. Learn more at InMotion. Bluehost VPS — Easiest Upgrade from Shared Hosting
Bluehost is an industry leader in the web hosting space. Its VPS plans offer a wide range of hosting options to accommodate the needs of nearly every website. Bluehost is an excellent choice for anyone new to VPS hosting—or new to hosting in general. VPS hosting gives you more control over the server than standard shared hosting does. However, with that control comes increased responsibilities, which many inexperienced users find overwhelming. Not with Bluehost, though. It has designed everything with beginners in mind. ![]() Bluehost offers a massive knowledge base that allows you to learn anything you want about VPS hosting. It also has a great customer support team that can be reached by telephone, email, or live chat 24/7 to help out with any questions or issues. Bluehost allows multi-server management, meaning you can add more space to your plan at any given time. This is ideal for websites that need to scale at a moment’s notice, without any delays or downtime. You’ll be able to accomplish this directly from your advanced cPanel, without any assistance from a Bluehost administrator. Bluehost has several powerful plans with straightforward pricing. No hidden fees or surprises. They even give you a free domain name just for signing up. Standard VPS
Enhanced VPS
Ultimate VPS
Bluehost offers pricing and resources for websites of all shapes and sizes. I found in my deep-dive review of Bluehost that even if you’re looking for an entry-level VPS plan, the Enhanced VPS makes more sense than the Standard option. For just $10 more per month, you’ll get double the SSD, RAM, and bandwidth. It is worth noting that prices listed above are promotional rates. You’ll pay $29.99, $59.99, $89.99, and $119.99, respectively, when your plan renews. All VPS plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. For a reasonable price, you’ll benefit from plenty of resources, support, and uptime compared to other options on the market. Try Bluehost today. Liquid Web VPS — Best VPS Hosting with High Memory and Storage
Liquid Web is one of the most under-the-radar VPS hosting services out there. What they lack in name recognition, they make up for in a very powerful VPS hosting service. ![]() All Liquid Web VPS plans are fully managed. That means your hardware and network are taken care of for you. Their administrators also handle all security updates and patches, as well as support for the operating system and all software. Each of their virtual private servers boasts a staggering 10 TB of bandwidth. That’s the most we’ve seen so far. The 16 GB of RAM plan has up to 200 GB of SSD disk space, which is also the highest we’ve seen. To put that into perspective for you, 16 GB of RAM is double the amount of the highest plans offered by both Bluehost and InMotion (both of which still offer very good VPS plans). Unlike some of the other hosting providers we’ve seen so far, Liquid Web doesn’t have any special or fancy names for their plans. You’re essentially paying for your resources, starting with RAM.
These are all annual contract-based prices. You’ll pay more if you want to do month-to-month. Liquid Web has 2-year plans available upon request. But you’ll need to talk to its customer service team to find out those special rates for your website. Liquid Web is perfect for cases where you need a lot of bandwidth and disk space. It’s a key differentiator for sites with a lot of videos, cached images, or interactive elements. The support offered by the Liquid Web team is exceptional. They are available 24/7 via phone, email, and live chat. Most VPS providers don’t offer a 16 GB plan. Though I doubt most of you will need it, for those who do this is where I recommend getting it. Click here and use coupon code QUICKSPROUT to get 40% off 2 months of any Liquid Web hosting plan. Scala Hosting — Best for Customizing VPS Resources
VPS gives you more resources—RAM, disk space, and CPU cores—than shared or cloud hosting will. But sometimes, bespoke VPS hosting packages give the exact amount of those resources that your specific business needs. Scala Hosting lets you tailor your VPS servers to the exact specifications you’ll want for your sites. And by exact, I mean exact. Scala offers a build-your-own VPS hosting tool. Check it out below: ![]() You can use sliders to set the number of CPU cores (choose from one to 24), how much RAM (2 GB to 128 GB), and the storage space of your SSD (50 GB to 2,000 GB). Enter the combination you need for your site and Scala’s tool will spit out prices for monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual billing. Managed VPS plans also come in two-year and three-year terms. For example, let’s say you have a social networking site where people can share photos, post videos, and contribute as much content to the community as they’d like. It’s a small but active community, so you never have to worry much about traffic spikes, but you need the site to run smoothly when dozens or more are posting and browsing at once. And you need ample storage for all the content they’re posting. In that case, you could set up a VPS plan through Scala that has four CPU cores, 10 GB of memory, and 400 GB of storage. Paying annually, that would run you $69/month for self-managed VPS through Scala. That’s just nine bucks more than Bluehost’s Ultimate VPS package, where you get the same number of cores, but 2 GB less RAM, and 280 GB less SSD space. That same package for Scala’s fully managed VPS is a very competitive $119.95/month. Plus, you can select your preferred datacenter—choose from New York, Dallas, or Europe—at no extra charge. On self-managed plans, you can select one of eight operating systems. For fully managed, you can select whether you’d like SPanel for your control panel or cPanel for anywhere from five to 1,000 accounts. Customization doesn’t stop there. Choose from 24 different add-ons to tweak your package even further. You can add unbranded WHMCS, Softaculous, or ClientExec for client management, additional cPanel licenses, a CloudLinux license, and more. Don’t want to build your own? Prebuilt self-managed VPS packages start at $10/month and the same for fully managed plans start at $9.95/month. If you know exactly what you need and don’t want to jump through any hoops to get it for your sites, go with Scala Hosting. HostGator VPS — Best VPS for Hands-On Customer Support
HostGator is another popular name in the world of web hosting. Its VPS plans are known for their excellent pricing. Where HostGator really shines, though, is in its excellent customer support offerings. For example, it offers free content transfers if you’re migrating from a different web host. That’s a service that you’d normally spend hundreds of dollars at another hosting site. But HostGator transfers “website files, databases, scripts, and one free domain registration” for absolutely no cost to you. You just have to do it within 30 days of signing up. That’s world-class support. ![]() With VPS hosting, getting timely customer support from the right person is crucial. The increased control you have over the server environment means that a huge number of issues can arise. Questions get technically complex very quickly, and you may not even know how to articulate what is going wrong. Their customer support team is also on hand 24/7/365 via phone, email, or live chat to help you with any of your needs. Here are the VPS pricing plans for HostGator: Snappy 2000
Snappy 4000
Snappy 8000
Although these plans aren’t the lowest that we’ve seen, they’re still pretty good. HostGator’s VPS plans are geared towards more professional, experienced web managers, though. They’re very good at giving developers great control over their exact hosting specifications. HostGator also stands out with its reliable and multi-layer security network. This enhanced protection paired with the ability to easily scale your resources is what makes HostGator a top VPS choice on our list Along with that, you get unlimited MySQL Databases, full root access, and unlimited SFTP users. So if you want more control over technical aspects of your website, this is the host for you. They also offer good cloud hosting plans, as I found in my review of HostGator cloud hosting. A2 Hosting VPS — Best Unmanaged Plans for Developers
A2 Hosting offers some of the fastest hosting out there. It especially stands out for offering both managed and unmanaged VPS plans. Typically, unmanaged VPS plans with root access and custom features come at a higher price point. But not with A2 Hosting. ![]() Experienced developers can get an unmanaged virtual private server for as low as $5 per month. Although with just 20 GB of storage and 512 MB of RAM, this entry-level plan likely won’t meet your needs. You’ll also get root access for both the unmanaged and managed plans. This gives you greater control to make custom changes to your virtual server. Coupled with the low price point, this makes A2 a top choice for anyone who’s looking to really take the reins of their website. Here’s a closer look at A2’s VPS plans: Unmanaged VPS Plans
These are all based on 3-year contracts. If you want a one year or monthly contract, it will cost more per month. With the unmanaged plans, you can configure your server preferences for disk space, CPU, memory, and bandwidth. Obviously, any adjustments will impact the price. Managed VPS Plans
These are all based on 3-year contracts. If you want a one year or monthly contract, it will cost more per month. The only difference between the Managed plans and Core plans is that the core plans come with root access. However, you won’t be able to configure your server the same way you would if you select an unmanaged plan. Overall, A2 is a great choice for developers who want complete control and customization over their VPS at an affordable rate. For traditional managed hosting, I’d probably look elsewhere. With that said, A2 Hosting has one of the best customer support teams on the market. So if that’s something that you prioritize, it’s worth taking a closer look at their plans. Check out my full review of A2 hosting for more about the company. iPage VPS — Best VPS Hosting If You’re Starting from Scratch
iPage is an affordable VPS plan with a few useful tools for people just starting out. You’ll also get a high degree of customer support, which isn’t always the case with VPS hosting. iPage actually specializes in web design and other services, as I discovered in my in-depth review of iPage hosting. For those of you who are building a new website from scratch and want to start with a solid, affordable VPS hosting plan, iPage is a top choice. ![]() The drag-and-drop website builder allows you to create a great looking website easily. No coding or web development knowledge is required. iPage will also throw in a free domain for you. That makes it a great package for someone creating a new website with VPS hosting. Let’s take a closer look at their plans. Basic VPS
Business VPS
Optimum VPS
As you can see, these are the lowest prices that we’ve seen so far, even after the full-price renewal rates kick in. Even with these low rates, you’ll still benefit from quality 24/7 support. You just won’t get the capacity and resources offered by some higher-tier providers. Learn more at iPage. iDrive Compute — Best for Edge Computing
Your organization can unlock a different power of VPS servers through iDrive Compute. Beyond website hosting is VPS for edge computing, leveraging powerful servers spread out across strategic physical locations to boost overall computational power. This can have a wide array of useful applications, depending on the nature and work of your company. Perhaps you are involved with intense, data-driven research at a massive scale. Using virtual machines on several different servers allows you to process data in a fraction of the time, while still keeping it secure. Or maybe you’re the key technology behind monitoring patients, beds, and devices in a hospital system with many locations. Edge computing through VPS servers means you’ll always have a data center near enough to each hospital that you won’t lose lives because your tech couldn’t sync, respond, or alert fast enough. Even companies whose business itself isn’t in IoT or intense computing can stand to wield the better speed, reliability, and security of VPS edge computing. If you have factories with any autonomous devices, if you deploy smart monitors at dozens of work sites, or if you’re involved with smart personal devices, home devices, or self-driving vehicles—the gains you receive from edge computing cannot be understated, especially as demand grows both in terms of users and the sheer quantity of data being transferred. ![]() That’s exactly why iDrive developed this service offering, featuring 4,000 servers across the world and 300 petabytes of storage capability. iDrive Compute is scalable, secure VPS hosting for edge computing and running virtual machines—and it comes at a price tag that makes it as accessible to young, ambitious companies as it is to mature, enterprise-grade operations. You can get 90% off your first year of either shared or dedicated VPS infrastructure, bringing its entry-level shared CPU package (one CPU, 1 GB RAM, 1 TB transfer, 40 GB NVMe storage) down to $6 for the first year. Dedicated VPS is split into CPU-optimized and memory-optimized packages, which start at $48 and $72 for the first year, respectively. All plans scale pretty high in terms of resources. If you know you really need the beans from the get-go, iDrive Compute has a plan ready for you. And iDrive’s dedicated support can not only help you choose the right plan for your needs, they’ll handle all hardware upgrades and maintenance for you. Learn more about edge computing with VPS by visiting iDrive Compute today. How to Find the Best VPS Host for YouNow that you’ve had a chance to look at some specific VPS plans, it’s time to determine the best possible choice for you and your website. The two main questions to consider are straightforward:
In most cases, price and features will go hand-in-hand. If you need the highest possible RAM, disk space, and storage, then you should expect to pay higher prices. Aside from that, you could lean toward one provider or plan over another based on other features like customer support, security, and the ability to scale. Some of you might be wondering what qualifications and standards we used to determine which VPS services are the best. All of the plans on our list scored high based on the following considerations. You can see them below and use them when making your final decision: 24/7/365 White-Glove SupportGood customer support isn’t just a “nice to have” when it comes to VPS hosting—it’s an absolute necessity. In fact, good customer support should be a deal breaker for anyone looking for a VPS web host. This is especially true if you’re managing a website for your business. If your website goes down, or you become a victim of a DDoS attack, you need to be able to pick up a phone and have someone on the other end help you address the issue ASAP. Each minute they don’t help you could mean tons of lost revenue. At the bare minimum, I’d recommend a VPS plan that comes with 24/7 phone and live chat support. Some of the choices on our list stand out for their support more than others. I made sure to point that out in the reviews above. Of course, customer support doesn’t start and end when things go wrong. You also want real people working for the hosting provider to be there to help you with other things that come up when managing an online business. For example, if you’re creating a new website from scratch then you probably don’t care about free site migrations. But for those of you who are looking to transfer from another provider, a free migration and free domain transfer could save you a couple of hundred dollars. If that sounds like your situation, look to HostPapa. It offers free VPS migration and free domain transfer on top of 24/7 customer support. Root Access AvailabilityRoot access gives Linux, Unix, and Linux-adjacent users the ability to implement more command over their websites and digital assets, allowing for greater access and customization. To be clear, not every VPS plan on our list comes with root access. But, not everyone needs it. Root access is only necessary for those of you who are developers, are technically advanced, or want to make custom changes to your virtual server. The vast majority of you will be better off choosing a fully managed VPS plan. But if you’re looking for a VPS host, you’re likely looking to have more control over your website anyway. Luckily, there are some fully managed plans that come with optional root access as well. For example, InMotion Managed VPS Hosting gives you optional root access for more advanced control. With InMotion Cloud VPS, you’ll get full root access along with SSH keys for further secure customization. A2 Hosting is another standout if root access is important. They offer full root access in plans that start as low as $5 per month. So, just make sure you know before choosing a plan whether you want to have root access or not. High Uptime RatesUptime is arguably the most important factor to consider in web hosting. In many cases, uptime is the reason why anyone would want to upgrade from a shared host to a VPS host. That’s why you need to put a premium on uptime rates. Every VPS plan on this guide performed well in our uptime tests. Most providers guarantee a 99.9% uptime rate and they’ll credit your bill if they fail to meet those standards. However, you’d like to avoid this scenario altogether for a few reasons. First, getting a few extra bucks back isn’t worth your site being down when it could be up and making you more money. And, depending on how long it’s down for, that could mean a lot of money. Second, do you know how much time you actually lose each year if your site is down even a fraction of a percentage point? It’s probably a lot more than you think. The difference between 99% and 99.9% uptime is over 80 hours a year! That’s more than three days that your website is down annually, all because you didn’t get a good web host. That’s why you want to find a good web host company that guarantees at least 99.9% uptime per year. If you’re evaluating VPS plans from an uptime perspective, you can rest easy knowing that every provider on our list is a safe option. Also, if or when your website goes down, you’ll want the VPS host to be there at any hour of the day to help you out—which goes back to our point about always-available white glove service. During downtime (both planned and unplanned), this transparency and communication is key. Powerhouse PerformanceThe main appeal of VPS hosting is that it can drastically increase your website’s performance. Your website will experience a major speed boost now that it’s not sharing resources with other sites. Site speed is important for all websites. A one-second delay in load time can mean page views reduced by 11% and 7% fewer conversions. This is especially crucial for those of you who plan to experience high volumes of traffic. You want to make sure that you find a plan that can accommodate your traffic without sacrificing speed. The VPS hosts on this list have been reviewed and researched to make sure that they offer the best load times of any host. Though much of your website’s speed depends on the amount of media and assets you have on it (and how it’s optimized), there are two very important elements to take into consideration that impact your website’s overall performance: SSD Disk Solid-state drive (SSD) disks are the devices that store your website’s assets, like images, videos, content, web pages, and so on. They also help boost your website much more quickly for the user. As such, they greatly improve performance overall. RAM RAM refers to the amount of working memory that can be accessed by your server’s CPU. When a program is booted up, it is temporarily stored on the server’s RAM for easy access. If you have too little RAM, then that information is stored on your SSD or hard drive—which takes much longer to access. So the more the better in general. But it all really depends on your website’s demands. We’ve seen RAM as low as 512 MB (A2 Entry Unmanaged VPS) and as high as 24 GB (HostPapa Extreme VPS). The number of resources you’ll get will be determined by the plan you choose. It all depends on what you need and how much you’re willing to spend. This is particularly important for websites that need a high threshold for RAM and disk space. For example, if you need email hosting, in-browser games or apps, or IoT platforms. What is VPS Hosting?VPS hosting is a step above shared web hosting. With a virtual private server, you’ll still be sharing a single server, but you’ll be sharing it with fewer websites. Here’s how it works. Basically, a virtual private server is one server that’s divided into separate virtual machines. Each virtual server can be run with custom configurations and separate operating systems. VPS hosting comes with dedicated server resources as well. So even though you’re sharing a single server with other websites, your RAM and CPU are independent of those sites. A virtual private server is best for those of you who want the benefits of a dedicated server, but don’t want to pay the high costs associated with dedicated hosting. Most of you probably don’t need a dedicated server. But you’ll eventually outgrow your shared hosting plan. Upgrading from a shared plan to a virtual private server will improve the speed and performance of your website. Since you won’t be sharing resources, your site will be more responsive on the user-end. VPS hosting is more equipped to handle traffic spikes as well. For more information on how VPS stacks up against other hosting options, check out my guide on the best web hosting providers. Now, that’s just for hosting websites. VPS servers can also be used to ratchet up your tech infrastructure’s capability, primarily through edge computing. If you find a provider with enough strategically placed data centers, you can leverage their VPS servers for a wider array of applications. This runs the gamut from monitoring, accommodating, and syncing IoT devices (such as smart personal or home devices, self-driving vehicles, and automated production lines) to dynamic content delivery, gaming, and data processing. In the end, you get VPS servers at several physical locations at your disposal, with which you can spin up virtual machines to run programs, applications, or functions. Edge computing is the future endpoint of our current journey from distributed through cloud computing. User demand, the amount of data being transferred, and resource needs have never been greater. So, many companies across diverse fields and sizes can benefit from leveraging VPS for edge computing. Virtual Servers Compared to Other Hosting OptionsBefore you finalize your decision on a VPS hosting plan, you need to make sure that a virtual private server is your best option. If you’re creating a new website from scratch and don’t plan on having too much traffic for a long time, then shared hosting will be your best bet. For those of you who want complete customization over your server and expect 100,000+ visitors each month, then you might want to consider a dedicated server. You can refer to my guide on the best dedicated hosting plans for more information on this. VPS hosting is for everyone else who falls in the middle. So if you’ve outgrown your shared plan but don’t need the resources offered on a dedicated server, then a virtual private server will be perfect for your website. The Best VPS Hosting in SummaryVirtual private server (VPS) hosting offers more memory, better performance, and greater flexibility at an affordable price. It’s an excellent option to consider when you’ve outgrown a shared hosting plan. Different VPS hosting providers are better for various use cases. Some are built for scalability, while others are made for developers. Certain providers stand out for price and value, while others offer unique services for IoT devices and edge computing. via Quick Sprout https://www.quicksprout.com/best-vps-hosting/ Want to jump straight to the answer? The best mobile device management software for most people is Kandji or Jamf Pro. With the rise of BYOD in the workplace, employees use phones, tablets, and other mobile devices to access work-related business apps. But the practice of using personal devices at work poses a threat to corporate security. Enter MDM—mobile device management. MDM software allows IT teams to manage, monitor, and facilitate personal devices in the workplace. The Top 8 Best Mobile Device Management Software
![]() The reviews below contain the features, benefits, pricing, use cases, and potential drawbacks of each MDM solution in this guide. Kandji – Best MDM software for Apple devices
If you’re looking for a mobile device management and security platform that works as smoothly and seamlessly as your team’s Apple devices, Kandji should be at the top of your list. Kandji delivers powerful device management while offering users the elegant interface they already enjoy and expect. Kandji supports iOS, macOS, ipadOS, and tvOS devices. Kandji’s Liftoff feature makes it easy for new hires to take their Mac from the box to enterprise-ready with the correct apps, settings, and security controls in place–all from wherever they are located in the world. Liftoff also automates as much as possible for your IT administrator, making remote deployment a piece of cake. ![]() Kandji also gives admins full control over crucial functionality like OS updates, software management, and automated patch management. Admins can deploy this functionality with minimal disruption to users’ workflows, too. Kandji integrates seamlessly with the rest of your tech stack and offers users the convenience of single sign-on functionality through its Passport feature. This makes life easier for your workforce, while simultaneously raising the security bar for your business. Users can also manage their workspaces through Kandji’s Self-Service portal. Admins can fully customize the portal from logos to labels, so the entire user experience stays on brand. Users can browse and download from a library of curated apps—all without IT involvement. Kandji stands out from the crowd with its:
You get all this functionality at a competitive price point. Kandji offers completely custom pricing based on the number of devices you manage and the types of operating systems they run on. For a custom quote, you can reach out and request to speak with someone from Kandji directly. Previously, if you wanted to take advantage of the Kandji API, you had to pay an extra $150 per month until you reached 750 devices. After that, the API was included in the monthly fee. Likewise, the Kandji single-sign-on Passport features also cost extra until you reach 3,000+ devices. Now with the fully customized pricing model, you get exactly what you need from the start. Get a free 14-day trial to see if Kandji is right for you. Jamf Pro — Best MDM Software For Apple Integrations
Formerly Casper Suite, Jamf Pro is an enterprise mobility management tool designed specifically for Apple devices. The software supports iOS, tvOS, and macOS devices. Jamf Pro is an ideal solution for businesses and educational institutions that distribute Apple devices to employees or students. The tool helps automate device management while driving productivity and creativity on the user-end. ![]() Jamf Pro is extremely flexible and seamlessly works with other tools you’re using for asset management, network access, and IT services. The software integrates with:
You’ll also benefit from an active directory for user authentication and group memberships, conditional access for Mac, and a REST API for custom integrations. Jamf Pro is easy to deploy and helps your IT team with device management, app management, inventory, security, and more. Users will also benefit from self-service tools like the ability to install apps and maintain their own devices without help desk ticket support. The software costs $3.33 per iOS or tvOS device per month and $7.17 per macOS device. Jamf Pro is billed on an annual basis. Inquire about volume discounts or educational discounts if you fall into one of those two categories. Contact Jamf Pro to request a free trial. Scalefusion — Best Overall Mobile Device Management Software
Scalefusion is another one of the best MDM software on the market today. It’s trusted by 4,500+ businesses of all sizes across a wide range of industries. Industry leaders like Subway, Bose, and Yamaha rely on Scalfusion for mobile device management. The software allows your IT team to manage and secure various devices, including smartphones, tablets, desktops, laptops, POS, rugged devices, and custom devices. Scalefusion supports multiple operating systems. Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows 10 are all covered by this software. ![]() Getting started is easy. You can enroll devices via email, QR code, ROM, G Suite, Office 365, Android zero-touch, Apple DEP, and more. Some of the top security features of Scalefusion for MDM include:
Scalefusion offers location tracking, website blacklisting, role-based access, reporting, alerts, and so much more. For such a robust solution, Scalefusion is surprisingly affordable. There are three plans to choose from:
All plans are billed annually. Even the Starter plan covers all device types and operating systems. It also supports BYOD, location tracking, Android Enterprise, and Apple Business Manager. Try Scalefusion free for 14 days. IBM MaaS360 — Best For Unified Endpoint Management (UEM)
IBM is a global leader in technology. So it’s no surprise to see IBM MaaS360 rank so high on our list of MDM software. The software takes a unique approach to mobile device management. IBM leverages AI technology and analytics to support unified endpoint management (UEM) with an open cloud approach. In addition to MDM, MaaS360 supports enterprise mobility management (EMM) and BYOD. ![]() The software gives your IT team complete visibility, security, and management for iOS, macOS, Android, and Windows devices in the workplace. MaaS360 allows you to implement OTA (over-the-air) enrollment for rapid deployment. Whether your organization is running on a specific operating system, mixed environment, or multiple devices, MaaS360 has everything you covered.
Depending on the plan you select, IBM charges you per device and per user, which isn’t convenient for all businesses. The pricing structure can add up quickly. Here’s a look at the monthly rates for MaaS360
The entry-level Essentials plan comes with basic features. In addition to MDM and mobile app management for all operating systems, you’ll benefit from identity management, expense management, a container app, and more. The Premier plan comes with features like browser gateways, document gateways, OS VPN, and business dashboards. Most organizations will likely lean towards the Premier solution, at a minimum. Try IBM Maas360 free for 30 days. ManageEngine Mobile Device Manager Plus — Best MDM Software For Multiple Platforms at Scale
Mobile Device Manager Plus from ManageEngine is a complete MDM solution designed for enterprise workforces. The software allows you to boost employee productivity with BYOD without compromising corporate security. Unlike some of the other MDM tools on the market that only support one operating system, ManageEngine lets you manage iOS, macOS, Android, Windows, and Chrome OS. The software also supports a wide range of devices, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktops. With Mobile Device Manager Plus, it’s easy to enroll and authenticate both BYOD and corporate devices. Configure user profiles to enact with your policies for wifi, VPN, and additional parameters. ManageEngine has an intuitive dashboard, which gives you a complete overview of your organization’s total device ecosystem. You can even troubleshoot devices in real-time with remote control capabilities. Other top features and benefits of ManageEngine’s Mobile Device Manager Plus include:
ManageEngine is available for cloud-based or on-premises deployment. Small businesses can benefit from a free plan for basic use, which includes up to 25 devices. The Standard Edition starts at $495 for 50 devices, and the Professional Edition starts at $895 for 50 devices. Miradore — Best For Simple Mobile Device Management (MDM)
Miradore is trusted by 10,000+ businesses across 180+ countries, making it one of the most popular solutions on our list. What makes Miradore so popular? In a word—simplicity. Mobile device management can be a complicated topic, especially for non-IT experts. Even if you don’t have a complete IT team, you can use Miradore to easily deploy Miradore to manage mobile devices in the workplace. ![]() Use Miradore to manage smartphones, tablets, and laptops across operating systems like iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows. Here are some of the top highlights of using Miradore for mobile device management:
Miradore has a free plan for basic use that accommodates an unlimited number of devices. Business plans start at $2 per device per month, and Enterprise MDM starts at $2.75 per device. Try any paid Miradore MDM plan free for 14 days. SimpleMDM — Best Cheap Mobile Device Management Software
As the name implies, SimpleMDM is another easy-to-use mobile device management solution. It’s used by organizations like FedEx, Discovery Channel, Rosetta Stone, Rip Curl, Deloitte, and more. The software can support companies of all shapes and sizes. Whether you need MDM tools for 10 devices, 10,000 devices, or 100,000 devices, you can count on SimpleMDM to accommodate your needs. ![]() While other MDM solutions offer low rates but force you to lock in annual contracts, SimpleMDM has cheap month-to-month pricing. Instead of confusing with you complicated plan options, SimpleMDM’s rates are transparent—$3 per device per month gives you access to all of its features. The price drops to $2.50 per month if you sign up for yearly billing. With that said, SimpleMDM only supports Apple devices. So it’’s not a viable option for organizations that need to manage Android or Windows devices. Compared side-by-side with Jamf Pro (the other Apple-exclusive MDM solution on our list), SimpleMDM saves you about $1 per device per month. But Jamf Pro doesn’t offer month-to-month billing. SimpleMDM has exceptional technical support as well. Expect a reply in 30 minutes or less during business hours—no extra charge. Try SimpleMDM free for 30 days. Baramundi — Best For Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM)
Baramundi is a German-based company that has been providing software solutions for 20 years to businesses worldwide. The Baramundi Management Suite accommodates a wide range of use cases—including enterprise mobility management (EMM). ![]() It’s easy to install, implement, and operate. Your IT team can reliably manage and protect all of the mobile devices within your organization at enterprise scale. Baramundi supports Apple, Android, and Windows. Through a single interface, you’ll be able to see a comprehensive overview of your total IT infrastructure. Some of the top EMM features and benefits of Baramundi include:
Pricing for Baramundi is not available online. But you can try the software free for 30 days with no obligation. How to Find the Best MDM Software For Your BusinessGenerally speaking, there is no “best for everyone” software for mobile device management. There are certain factors that must be taken into consideration as you’re evaluating prospective solutions. This is the methodology that we used to narrow down the winners above. You can use it as well to find the best MDM software for you. Device TypesMDM software can cover a broad stroke of potential devices. In addition to smartphones, there are tools out there to support tablets, laptops, desktops, TVs, rugged devices, IoT devices, and more. What types of devices are being used in the workplace? You need to answer this question before you choose a software. Otherwise, you might not be fully covered. Operating SystemsWhat OS are those devices running on? The best MDM software supports iOS, Android, Windows, Chrome, and more. There are certain solutions out there that only support Apple devices and the corresponding operating systems. But those are really only viable if your organization is distributing Apple-only devices to staff or students. Otherwise, the chances of every user working on an Apple device is slim. At least a few people will have Android or Windows devices mixed in there. EnrollmentOnce you find a solution, you need to make sure that the device enrollment process is easy. This can be a challenge at scale. If the onboarding process doesn’t go well, it could have long-term effects on the user experience and productivity—we don’t want that to happen. The best MDM software will offer a wide range of device enrollment capabilities, like email enrollment, QR codes, and more. Administrative ControlMake sure your IT team has the ability to lock, locate, or wipe a device that’s been lost or stolen. You should also look for software with role-based permissions and an easy-to-use dashboard. At the admin level, features like device monitoring, alerts, automation, kiosk mode, application management, sharing permissions, screen capture, and wifi configuration will go a long way. Integrations will also make your life much easier. So make sure you take a long look at the feature sets for any software you’re considering. The best way to get a feel for those administrative features is by testing the software with a free trial. Data SecurityThere are multiple approaches to data security. It all depends on the software provider in question. Some software simply provides secure file sharing and syncing functionalities. Others offer features like protecting copy and paste from information within a corporate application. You should also consider how the software separates business app data from personal app data. This is crucial from a BYOD standpoint. The Top MDM Software in SummaryJamf Pro and Scalefusion are the best mobile device management tools on the market today. MDM software has become a must-have tool for any company with employees using smartphones and tablets at work. Whether your staff uses their personal devices or company-issued phones, MDM software keeps your IT infrastructure secure. via Quick Sprout https://www.quicksprout.com/best-mobile-device-management-software/ I’ve registered hundreds of domain names. Doing so, I’ve purchased domains from virtually every platform in existence. Some experiences were great, others were awful, and the majority fell somewhere in the middle. Whether you’re buying a domain for the first time or looking to change providers, you need to understand that you have options. Where can you register a domain name? The choices can be segmented into three categories:
I’ll show you the difference between these options and point out the top platforms within each category. Use this guide to learn the best way to buy a domain name. Register a Domain With These Top-Rated Domain RegistrarsIf you want to register a domain, you’ll need a domain registrar. Here are the best options.
You can read our full reviews of each domain registrar here. ![]() 1. Domain RegistrarAs the name implies, a domain registrar’s primary function is domain name registration. There are some registrars that provide additional services as well, such as hosting plans or website builders. But the best domain registrars specialize as platforms to buy a domain name. Let’s review four of the top domain registrar services on the market today. Domain.com![]() Domain.com is the best domain registrar for first-time and experienced buyers alike. The process is simple, straightforward, and the registrar provides exceptional service. You can register a .com domain for just $9.99 per year with Domain.com. During the checkout process, this registrar gives you the ability to buy your domain for up to five years. I love this feature because you won’t have to worry about renewing every year. When you register a domain, your name and address become available to the public. Domain.com offers privacy and protection for $8.99 per year per domain. If you’re registering a domain under a company name (that’s what I do), you can skip this. Otherwise, you’ll definitely want to add the privacy and protection. Some domain registrars offer this for free, but it’s worth paying a little extra for the personal privacy. Domain.com hits with you additional upsells throughout the checkout process. This is pretty standard practice in the domain registrar industry. I’d skip the add-ons. Things like an SSL certificate and SiteLock should come standard from your web hosting provider. Registering a domain from Domain.com takes less than a minute. It’s the perfect registrar for those of you who plan to buy multiple domain names. Domain.com also has exceptional 24/7 customer support, making it a top choice for domain transfers as well. Namecheap![]() Namecheap is another top choice to consider for domain registration. More than 10 million domains have been registered through this platform. The process is easy for someone who has never bought a domain before. Namecheap has .com domains available for $8.88 per year. They also offer free privacy and protection, which is a nice bonus since it’s something you’ll likely need to have. Like most domain registrars, Namecheap offers a wide range of upsells during the checkout process. Since you’re getting privacy and protection for free, you can skip everything else. Namecheap has an excellent knowledge base of resources if you need some assistance. Live chat is available 24/7, and their support team provides ticket response times under two hours. With a simple process, free privacy protection, and outstanding support, Namecheap delivers everything you want and need in a domain registrar. NameSilo![]() If you’re looking for a no-frills domain registrar, NameSilo has you covered. As you can see from the screenshot above, their website is very outdated. But this hasn’t stopped them from becoming one of the most popular domain registrars in the world. Buying a .com domain from NameSilo starts at $8.99 per year. You’ll benefit from bundle discounts if you’re registering more than 50 domains in a single order. NameSilo lets you search for up to 500 domains simultaneously. You can even upload a list of domains from your computer to save you time. If the outdated interface doesn’t bother you, NameSilo will be a top choice for those of you who want to buy multiple domains at the same time. There are barely any upsells during the checkout process. WHOIS privacy and protection is free, and ICANN fees are included in the total. You can be out the door for $8.99 per year per domain. NameSilo allows you to enable auto renew as well, so you won’t have to worry about the name lapsing if you forget to do so manually. 2. Web Hosting ProviderEvery website needs to be hosted. So once you register a domain name, the next step is finding a web hosting provider. With that said, some hosting providers let you register a domain directly from through their platform. If you’re planning to register multiple domains over time, use a domain registrar. But if you just need one domain, you can save some money by bundling your hosting and registration together. Bluehost is the best web hosting provider for domain registration bundles. It’s what I recommend the most. But if you’re set on using another hosting provider, there are a few other platforms that deliver decent deals and service for hosting and domain registration. Bluehost![]() Even though Bluehost is a web hosting provider, you can still purchase a domain directly from them without using their hosting services. However, I don’t recommend this. A .com domain from Bluehost is $11.99 per year. Privacy and protection is $11.88 per year. For the same price, I can register two domains from a domain registrar and still have change to spare. However, you can get a free domain name from Bluehost if you bundle your domain registration with their hosting services. The process is extremely simple. Just choose your web hosting plan, and Bluehost will prompt you to register a new domain. If you follow these steps, your domain will be free for the first year. You’ll still have to pay $11.88 per year for privacy and protection. Bluehost provides a free SSL certificate, one-click WordPress installs, and 24/7 support. Bluehost is the best web hosting provider on the market today, and it’s the only web host I actually recommend for domain registration. Dreamhost![]() Dreamhost is another top consideration for web hosting. While it’s not as popular as their web hosting products, Dreamhost does offer domain registration services. You can get a .com domain with Dreamhost for $7.99 per year. This includes free privacy and protection. Furthermore, Dreamhost has more than 400 TLDs, with .xyz extensions as low as $0.89 per year. While $7.99 for a .com domain is definitely a great deal, there is a catch. Your domain will renew at $15.99 per year. I really can’t justify this price, especially from a platform that specializes in web hosting, not domain registration. HostGator![]() HostGator is another well-known web hosting provider. In fact, they rank high on my list of the best cloud hosting services. In addition to web hosting, HostGator offers a wide range of other services, including a site builder and domain registration. You can register a .com domain with HostGator for $12.95 per year. While it’s a bit high compared to the domain registrars we reviewed, it’s just the introductory offer. The price actually jumps up to $17.99 per year upon renewal. Privacy and protection is an additional $14.95 per year. So your initial registration comes to $27.90 and will renew at $32.94 per year. I could get three domains from Domain.com, Namecheap, and NameSilo, for the same price. So can you get a domain name from HostGator? Yes, the option is available. But I really don’t see any reason why you would. SiteGround![]() SiteGround is one of the most popular and well-known web hosting providers on the market today. The platform also has domain registration services, although I can’t say I recommend it. You can register a .com domain from SiteGround for $17.99 per year. That’s double the price of Namecheap’s registration, and there’s still a catch. You’re only able to use SiteGround for domain registration if you have a SiteGround web hosting plan. So if you wanted to buy a domain from SiteGround and host your site elsewhere, that’s not an option. For those of you looking to bundle domain registration with web hosting, you’re much better off using Bluehost. With Bluehost, you’ll get a free domain for the first year, which is not available with SiteGround. 3. Website BuilderMost people don’t associate website builders with domain registration. Similar to web hosting, I normally wouldn’t recommend buying a domain from anywhere other than a registrar. But with that said, there are a handful of site builders offering domain registration services. These are some of the best website builders to consider for buying a domain name. Wix![]() Wix is best known for its simple drag-and-drop website builder. If you don’t know how to code and you’re creating a website from scratch, Wix is a top choice to consider. Wix is also one of the most reliable and secure platforms out there right now. Their 24/7 live security team is constantly monitoring for cyber threats and keeping Wix websites safe. They also have an impressive 99.98 percent uptime rate, meaning your site will be available virtually all the time. No unexpected downtime to thwart visitors. You can’t exclusively buy a domain using Wix. You’ll need to bundle your domain registration with their website builder. With that said, there are two ways to get a free domain with this platform. Every Wix site comes with a free Wix subdomain. Without spending anything, you can have a domain in the following format: wixusername.wixsite.com/yourdomain I don’t recommend this to anyone unless you’re just experimenting with the Wix platform. Once you’re ready to take things to the next level, you’ll need to register your own domain. Wix also offers a free domain for one year with all paid site builder plans. Privacy and protection is included free as well. You could even bundle your web hosting through them, although I can’t endorse that option. Squarespace![]() Squarespace is another one of my favorite website builders. It’s great for beginners and people with an eye for great design. But like Wix, getting a domain from Squarespace means you’ll have to bundle it with a site-building plan. All Squarespace annual plans come with a free custom domain name for the first year. WHOIS privacy and protection is included. Additional domains can be purchased between $20 and $70 per year, depending on the extension. Those prices are outrageous if you compare them to the domain registrars that we reviewed earlier. If you need to buy more than one domain, this is not the platform to do so. I would only consider registering a domain with Squarespace if you need one domain, you’re using the site builder, and you think it’s easier to purchase everything from one provider. Just know that you could run into problems if you need to transfer your domain and website to another platform in the future. WordPress![]() WordPress is the world’s largest CMS platform. We use WordPress here at Quick Sprout to power our website. This website builder is best for those of who are comfortable with coding and want to get the most out of your site’s content. Although WordPress does have plugins that allow drag-and-drop building capabilities. You can also use WordPress to buy a domain. The domain will automatically be connected to your website, and renewals get handled through your WordPress account. While it may be tempting to get a domain directly from WordPress, it’s not the most convenient procedure. You’ll have to go through a six-step process, which includes creating your WordPress account. Plus, the domain registration is a bit pricey. A .com domain from WordPress costs $18 per year, which is more than double the price of the cheapest domain registrars. Weebly![]() Weebly is a website builder geared toward ecommerce sites. Compared to some of the other website builders out there, registering a domain name with Weebly isn’t the worst idea. Two of Weebly’s premium plans (Professional and Performance) come with a free domain for one year with an annual contract. Those plans start at $12 and $26 per month, respectively. You can use Weebly to register a domain without a site builder plan. The nice part about using Weebly for domain registration is that you’ll save money by registering for longer periods of time.
But even though you can save up to 37% off with an extended registration, the ten-year price is still more expensive than NameCheap, NameSilo, and Domain.com. How to Find the Best Place to Buy a DomainWith so many options to choose from, finding the best place to buy a domain can be challenging. There are certain features and elements that must be taken into consideration when you’re evaluating a prospective platform to buy a domain. This is the methodology that we used to narrow the search. Price and Contract TermsThe price should always be the first thing you look at. If all of these platforms are basically offering the same thing, it makes sense to go with one that’s cost-effective. Don’t just look at the cheapest extensions. Always compare the prices for .com domains, since that’s what you should be registering. Look at the length of your contract. Some providers will require a minimum registration period, such as one or two years. Others will offer discounts for long-term registration. Keep an eye out for additional fees. Most add-ons you’ll be able to ignore. But you’ll definitely want to get WHOIS privacy and protection. This comes free with your registration on some platforms, but others upcharge for it. Make sure that your contract makes it easy for you to renew your domain. Look for automatic renewals or contracts giving you a grace period after the domain expires, in case you forget to renew manually. Domain TransfersIf you’re unhappy with your domain registrar, for any reason, you might want to transfer your domain in the future. You cannot transfer a domain within the first 60 days of registration. However, you’re free to do what you want with your domain after that. Just make sure that your registrar makes transferring easy for you. Platforms like GoDaddy, have a reputation for throttling down outgoing transfers. So always check customer reviews about the transfer process before you settle. The best domain registrars make transfers easy and don’t impose any extra fees. Additional ServicesAs you’ve seen from this guide, you can get a domain name from a wide range of platforms. Some of those platforms specialize in additional services, like web hosting or website builders. The ability to bundle multiple services shouldn’t sway you toward one provider over another. Most providers are better at one service compared to the other. Just because a platform is one of the best website builders, it doesn’t mean they have a flawless domain registration process. In many cases, domain registration is more expensive from website builders and hosting providers. Some of these platforms let you to buy a domain independently from their primary services, while others force you to bundle everything. Sometimes it’s worth it to go with a service bundle. For example, Bluehost gives you a free domain for one year when you sign up for a web hosting plan. Support and User ExperienceRegistering a domain name shouldn’t be complicated. If a platform is making you jump through hoops, it’s probably best to look elsewhere. Most of the time, you should be able to register a domain in a minute or two, at most. If you’re interested in buying dozens or even hundreds of domains simultaneously, look for platforms that support those needs. In some cases, you may want to request some assistance. Although this usually won’t be required unless you’re transferring a domain. In any event, you’ll want to make sure that the platform provides excellent customer service to assist you with transfers or whatever else you need help with. ConclusionThere are three main options for buying a domain; domain registrars, web hosting providers, and website builders. Within each category, you’ll have tons of different providers to choose from. Buying a domain from a domain registrar like Domain.com will almost always be your best option. These providers specialize in domain registration, so you’ll get the best price, quality, and customer service here. Plus, domain registrars won’t force you to bundle your registration with another service. Using Bluehost to bundle your domain registration with web hosting is the only time that I’d consider bundling services. That’s because Bluehost gives you a free domain for one year when you sign up for a hosting plan. Other providers have similar offers, but overall, they fall short in one category or the other. via Quick Sprout https://www.quicksprout.com/options-for-domain-registration/ Our recommendation for the best domain auction site is Namecheap because it’s secure, incredibly user-friendly, and reasonably priced. Start listing domains on Namecheap today. If you’ve always liked the idea of flipping houses but have zero interest in remodeling, you might want to try flipping domain names. A desirable domain name is a powerful asset that the right person will pay good money for. But where do you find people who need the domain names you’re selling? Domain auction sites. We researched all the domain auction sites on the web, carefully reading reviews and testing tools. The five sites below stood out as the best of the best. The Top 5 Best Domain Auction SitesEach of the five domain auction sites on our list comes with different strengths. Thanks to its intuitive UI, commitment to security, and fair pricing, Namecheap is the best overall domain auction site. Start selling—or buying—today.
Let’s take a look at why you might need these domain auction sites and what we love about them. ![]() Match Your Scenario to the Right Domain Auction Site SolutionHere you’ll find a breakdown of what to consider when you’re looking for a domain auction site. We’ll also offer a variety of scenarios you might find yourself in and match a domain auction site to each scenario.
You want to learn more about domain investment and dip your toes into it slowlyBest Option: NamePros NamePros offers a place to buy and sell domains, but the heart of NamePros is its forum. Covering topics from industry news to how to start selling domains, NamePros conversations are active every day. The forum is basically Reddit but for all things domain-related. ![]() Another great choice: Namecheap There’s no true comparison to the NamePros forum, but Namecheap provides a slightly different way to ease your way into domain investing with its robust help center. You’ll find:
Take a look around. You’ll be a pro at domain investing by the time you’re done exploring the Namecheap help center. If you want to take a slow approach to domain auctioning, pay attention to:
You want to buy a bunch of domains and save them for laterBest Option: Sedo Domain parking offers a way to earn money and test the popularity of a domain before selling. To park a domain, you purchase an available domain and park it with a service like Sedo. When people visit your domain, they won’t see an under-construction sign. Instead, they’ll have a page of ads to click—plus a banner inviting them to buy the domain. Parking with Sedo is free. The company also takes care of setting up advertisements on a page. When a visitor clicks on the ad, you get paid—and Sedo takes a cut. ![]() Another great choice: GoDaddy If you don’t want to bother with ads, GoDaddy offers simple domain parking so you can save a domain for later. Or, you can use its CashParking tool, which offers domain parking. GoDaddy takes a bigger cut than Sedo: 60 to 80% of revenue. If you want to park domains before auctioning them off, keep these points in mind:
You need to find out how much your established domain is worthBest Option: Flippa Flippa’s domain valuation tool analyzes data gathered from thousands of domain and website sales to determine the value of your domain name. Best of all, the valuation tool is free—and you can use it as many times as you want. Just make sure your domain is at least 12 months old before you get started. ![]() Another great choice: GoDaddy GoDaddy also offers a domain valuation tool. It’s so quick and easy to use that you can enter multiple domains in one sitting. This can help you get a picture of how your domain compares to others with a similar name or target audience. Are you looking for domain name valuation? Keep these points in mind:
You want to learn about domain auctioning by looking at hard, cold dataBest Option: Namecheap Our research team loved how easy it is to browse recent sales on Namecheap. When you click on one of the expired listings, you get to explore all the data related to the auction and sale. In the screenshot below for the domain name dogcarehelp.com, you’ll see a list of bids, the final bid price, a sale date, the year the domain was registered, and how many keyword searches it gets per month. ![]() Another great choice: GoDaddy With GoDaddy, you can get plenty of data about current auction listings, from how many bids a listing has to estimated monthly site traffic for each domain. If you want to learn more about domain auctions by looking at data, pay attention to:
You want to host your website and sell domains from the same placeBest Option: GoDaddy GoDaddy makes it easy for you to search interesting domains, buy ones that haven’t been taken, and turn them into websites—if you want. You can also buy a couple of domains and then develop one into a website for your business. GoDaddy offers it all: domain registration, web hosting, and website building. Use GoDaddy’s CashParking tool to profit off the domains you don’t turn into websites until you decide to auction them off. ![]() Another great choice: Namecheap Namecheap offers a website builder for shared hosting websites. If you’re not interested in shared hosting, Namecheap-powered EasyWP comes with WordPress hosting and site-building. If you want to host a website and manage domains from the same place, pay attention to:
Domain Auction Sites Company ReviewsIn this section, we’ll dig into each domain auction site and find out why it made our list—and what it’s extra good at. Let’s get started. Namecheap – Best Overall![]() Namecheap offers a place for users to purchase unclaimed domain names at a low price. If you want to build a website with a Namecheap registered domain, you can. Or you can hold onto it, keep an eye on the auctions in Namecheap Marketplace, and auction it off when the time is right. If you’re just starting in the world of domain investing, you’ll find that Namecheap is easy to navigate. You can easily configure your domain in the Domain Name System (DNS) from within your Namecheap dashboard. While Namecheap has been offering top-notch domain registration and auctioning for years, some reviewers have expressed dissatisfaction with Namecheap’s customer service. Also, its web hosting is fine, but there are definitely better options out there. What Makes Namecheap GreatNamecheap is one of the most user-friendly domain auctioning sites out there. If you explore Namecheap Marketplace, you’ll notice that active auctions are separated into several categories:
Once you’ve poked around for a while, you’ll probably know what types of domains you want to buy. Create a free Namecheap account and search for your desired domain. While many are already taken, some aren’t. In the screenshot below, you’ll see my search for doglifelite.com. It’s available—but Namecheap will pull up a bunch of related alternatives just in case. Buy the one you want and then decide whether to auction it off or park it for a while. ![]() As you probably noticed from the screenshot above, pricing varies depending on which domain you’re purchasing. But in general, unclaimed .com domains cost around $7.88 a year. When it’s time to sell—or buy—Namecheap takes a 10% cut of the sale price. Learn more about Namecheap’s other services in our detailed review. GoDaddy – Best All-in-One Domain Management![]() Established over 20 years ago, GoDaddy is a time-tested domain registering, web hosting, and website building service. If you want to commit to domain investing from every angle, GoDaddy gets you there. Let’s say you purchase seven domains with a decent appraised value. With GoDaddy, you can develop one of these into a website for your company or brand. If one of the domains came with an especially high appraised value, sell it with Afternic, GoDaddy’s extensive domain marketplace. Take a couple others and park them with GoDaddy CashParking—which includes a free membership to GoDaddy Auctions. Place one or two domains on GoDaddy Auctions and watch the bids roll in. Whatever you want to do with GoDaddy and domains, you can do it. It can be slightly confusing to navigate between Afternic, GoDaddy Auctions, and GoDaddy CashParking, but this is a minor complaint. What Makes GoDaddy GreatLike any other type of investment avenue, domain investing can be confusing when you’re just starting out. I love that GoDaddy offers all the tools you need to get serious about domaining. But it also comes with invaluable resources. In addition to a comprehensive knowledge base that’s all about domain investing, you can join the GoDaddy Community. Here you’ll get the chance to connect with other domainers, browse conversations, and ask specific questions. ![]() Unclaimed domains start at $0.01 a year. GoDaddy Auctions costs $4.99 per year, and you can list as many domains as you want. GoDaddy takes a 20% cut on domains that sell for $0 to $5,000. Learn more about GoDaddy in our detailed review. NamePros – Best for Finding a Domaining Community![]() Do you want to join a community that lives and breathes domain investing? Enter NamePros. With over one million domainers on NamePros’ forums, you won’t find a community more dedicated to domaining. Here’s a sampling of NamePros’ discussion topics:
The already-impressive post counts grow every day. With NamePros, you’ll get answers from real-life domainers who actually want to help you. Even better? Once you’re a pro, you can return the favor. What Makes NamePros GreatEven though its focus is the NamePros forums, NamePros also offers its own buying and selling marketplace. This doesn’t stop NamePros domainers from asking questions about non-NamePros transactions, though. The forums address questions from around the domainosphere. Whether you have a question about parking domains on Sedo or you’re concerned about a GoDaddy Afternic listing, NamePros probably has a thread on it. ![]() We also love that if you want to pay for a membership, you can get professional domain appraisals—ones that aren’t solely AI-powered but have a real person behind the final estimate. You can sign up for a free account today and upgrade to an Insider account for $10 a month to get the full benefits of NamePros. Sedo – Best for Parking and Selling Domains![]() Sedo offers domain buying, selling, and appraisals, but my favorite Sedo tool is its domain parking service. Here’s why: for every domain you park on Sedo, you’ll get detailed analytics on its performance. This data can be incredibly helpful when you decide to list a previously parked domain for sale. Sedo includes traffic information on its listings. If your domain has garnered steady traffic while parked, you’ve got an extra selling point under your belt. And it’s not like Sedo puts random advertisements on your parked page. Instead, it selects ads that align with the domain name. One thing to keep in mind is that some reviewers expressed frustration when Sedo blocked their domain parking accounts—because they promoted a parked domain on social media. This goes against Sedo’s terms, so make sure you read the fine print and adhere to all the rules that apply to your situation. What Makes Sedo GreatIt’s free to park domains with Sedo. The company works with an advertising partner to drive clicks from your website, and before it pays your share, both Sedo and the advertising partner take their cut. It’s not clear how much this cut is, which is a drawback. Still, you won’t pay any noticeable fees or commissions on your end. When you’re ready to sell a domain, Sedo helps you move it out of parking and list it on the Sedo marketplace using auctions, trades, or fixed-price sales. You can also submit domains to Sedo’s bi-monthly GreatDomains Auctions. For these, a Sedo brokerage team reviews and accepts select domains for a super-charged, widely promoted auction. ![]() Sedo takes a 10% cut of every fixed-price sale and %15 of every auction. Learn more about Sedo’s pricing before you get started. Flippa – Best for Selling Domains from Established Websites![]() With Flippa, you can sell domain names and entire websites alike. Flippa bases its valuations on past domain and website sales within the Flippa marketplace. It analyzes:
One downside to Flippa is that you’ll need to have owned a domain for at least 12 months before getting an accurate appraisal. This is partly because Flippa specializes in appraising websites using historical sales and traffic data, and it analyzes domain value using the same tools. That’s why Flippa is best for people who have decided to move their website business to a new domain—from Love.com to Love.me, for example—and want to sell the old domain. With a wealth of data behind the previous domain, Flippa can come up with an accurate valuation. What Makes Flippa GreatFirst, a note on what Flippa isn’t great for. If you want to buy, park, and then sell domain names, choose a different tool on this list. From what we found in our research, Flippa won’t even give you a valuation for a domain that isn’t backed by an established website. But for those established sites that are moving on to a new domain name, Flippa is the ideal place to sell the old domain. In this screenshot, pay attention to the age of these domains. Most are at least 15 years old! ![]() When you’re ready to sell, choose a Flippa listing package that fits your needs. The pricing begins at a one-time fee of $29 plus a 4% cut of the sale. Quick Sprout Domain Auction Sites Related ContentDo you want to learn more about how to start flipping domains or auctioning off domains you already own? Here’s a list of our best resources related to domain auctioning. Domain Auction Sites Guides and How-TosDomain Auction Sites Related Top ListsThe Top Domain Auction Sites in SummaryAfter spending days digging into the intriguing world of domaining, Namecheap won out as our top pick for domain auctioning. But the other domain auction sites on our list all come with strengths as well. Explore each of the domain auction sites to find out which one works best for you. via Quick Sprout https://www.quicksprout.com/best-domain-auction-sites/ Want to jump straight to the answer? The best conference call service for most people is Nextiva or RingCentral. The best conference call services support quick calls, video conferences, team collaboration, and even 100-person webinars. Regardless of your budget or team size, you’ll find a perfect solution below. This guide contains in-depth reviews on the best free and paid conference call services. The Best Conference Call Services
![]() I looked for providers that offered VoIP (voice over internet protocol), which means you can make calls over the internet instead of a landline. This option costs less and is much easier to manage than a traditional phone line. Still, if you want to use your traditional phone service, most of the options on my list have you covered. Nextiva — Best Overall
We don’t believe anyone should gamble with their business. And having crappy call audio quality during your conference calls will make you look like an amateur. Nextiva solves this problem. They offer a complete suite of business communication tools at a competitive price. For less than $30 per month, you’ll get unlimited voice and video conferencing with HD audio. I like it because you’re getting a full business phone system, complete with the ability to route calls, a mobile app, and voicemail to email. Even if you are just using Nextiva primarily for conference calls, you’ll appreciate the strength and resilience of using their network. Especially when your conference calls are how your team works together on projects or presents your offerings to potential clients. ![]() Nextiva is a recognizable name in this space. And with that cachet comes technology to match. With eight points of presence (POPs), you’ll never have to worry about high latency because your VoIP calls are connected to the nearest POP between you and whomever else is on the line with you. Plus, Nextiva’s infrastructure is carrier-grade, meaning its data centers are rated for high availability and built to handle periods of intense usage. But even that can’t guarantee everything will be perfect 100% of the time. Not to worry—Nextiva’s support is also top-notch. Their representatives are available 24/7 and go the extra mile to solve emergent problems or help you get the most out of your VoIP system. They can even walk you through extra steps to take with your own tech stack to ensure even better conference call quality. Nextiva offers video calling and conferencing calling as part of their business phone system. There are several plans to choose from, but you will need to pick the Professional, Enterprise, or Ultimate plan in order to access these features. Below you’ll see the pricing for Nextiva’s phone service, excluding the Essentials plan, which doesn’t offer conference calling. **Nextiva runs promotions often and you can save even more on the plans below. Click here for the current sale prices. ![]() The Professional plan limits your conference calls to 40 people–the other two plans allow unlimited participants. You can, however, have up to 250 participants on a video conference with the Professional plan. If you don’t want to worry about limits at all, an upgrade to Enterprise allows for any number of participants on either conferencing form. Of course, quality may diminish if your network isn’t up to handle hundreds of people on a single call, so make sure your infrastructure can bear it. You can run a free speed test on Nextiva’s website to simulate your network’s call quality for up to 200 phones. Secure the best conference call quality and reliability in the biz--get started with Nextiva today. RingCentral — Best for Small Business
RingCentral is a well-known business communication company with a long history of helping small businesses grow. Their conference calling services come as part of their competitively priced platform–it’s never been this easy and affordable for companies to stay in touch with their teams, clients, and customers. Instead of having to purchase 5-10 tools, companies can use RingCentral to handle conference calls and so much more. RingCentral provides free video conferencing for up to 100 people and unlimited audio conferencing. Because they are a VoIP phone service, all of this takes no more than an Internet connection. Start conference calls from your phone on the RingCentral app, or from the web app on your computer. ![]() The free plan competes well with others on this list. While you’re capped at 40 minutes per meeting, you can still have up to 100 participants. That’s great for scrappy startups. You can easily add on larger meeting options to your plan if you upgrade to one of their several paid plans that start as low as $19.99/month. The system offers nearly every calling, collaboration, and mobile feature businesses would want from a phone system. Since it is housed in the cloud, there is no equipment to install, and they take care of all the maintenance and upgrades. RingCentral also has stout enterprise solutions and you can save some money by bundling RingCentral Meetings with a VoIP business phone plan. Click here to visit RingCentral and get started for free. Zoom — Best for Large Teams
Zoom makes meeting with large teams easy—that’s one reason they are so popular. Here are a few more. They are reliable, affordable, and incredibly easy to use. The company has grown considerably and now offers some very attractive corporate conference call solutions. This cloud-based system offers a wide range of free and paid options to accommodate both individuals and businesses of all sizes. ![]() That said, Zoom is best for large or enterprise teams. For $199.99 per year, you can have up to 300 participants in a single call. That’s larger than any of the other providers (outside of enterprise-level plans). You’ll get tools for recording and transcribing conference calls, as well as SSO and managed domains to ensure that calls are secure. On top of that, you’re going to get world-class performance in audio and video. There’s perhaps no better conference call service out there that offers such sharp image quality with less lag and dropped calls. There’s a reason they became a major part of society during the pandemic after all. Their first paid plan should be enough for most of you. You could always upgrade to Zoom Business as your company scales. Zoom stands out amongst its competitors for video conferencing and cloud conferencing rooms. You’ll definitely want to lean toward this service if you plan to make professional video presentations via conference calls. While it’s not for everyone, Zoom Enterprise is a top solution for those of you who fall into that category. Big companies like Uber, Zendesk, Ticketmaster, GoDaddy, and Pandora are just a handful of brands that rely on Zoom for conference calling solutions. Zoom has an extensive knowledge base as well as 24/7 phone support and live training with some of the plans. But the audio quality can be a bit unstable at times. GoTo Meeting — Best for Call Transcription
GoTo Meeting offers straightforward, high-quality solutions for small business conference calls. It doesn’t matter if you have a home office or a massive 12-person boardroom. You’ll be able to create a video and phone conferencing solution with all the screens and audio tools you need for your business. That makes it perfect for teams of all sizes. Where it stands out from the crowd is the automated meeting transcription feature. GoTo Meeting turns recordings into transcripts, which you can search later. If someone misses a call, or you want to check what someone said, it only takes a few seconds. Unlike some of the other paid conference call solutions on the market, GoTo Meeting does not have a basic free plan. However, you can still try it out at no cost with a 14-day trial. ![]() GoTo Meeting has three plans:
The Professional and Business plans can host conference calls with up to 150 and 250 participants, respectively. The Enterprise plan is for up to 3,000 participants. All plans come with these basic features:
GoTo Meeting also has unlimited recording capabilities and automatic transcriptions of your conference calls. Performance is where GoTo Meeting stands out over the competition. Lots of free and paid conference call services out there fall short with audio quality. But GoToMeeting customers rave about the crystal clear sound and connection of their conference calls. Overall, it’s a great choice for those of you who manage large remote teams or if your team is able to work in a physical location—and want to upgrade your conference room. Try GoTo Meeting for free for 14 days. ClickMeeting — Best for Webinars and Presentations
ClickMeeting is a bit different from the others on our list. That’s because it’s a webinar solution that gives you a great way to conduct conference calls as well. It might not seem like a drawback — but it’s actually pretty great if you often hold web events. Not only will you have a way to meet and collaborate with your team, but you’ll also have a lead generation engine with webinars. Their collaboration software is really great for teams and distributed companies. As such, it should stand out to any remote workers out there. ![]() When it comes to conference calls, ClickMeeting’s robust set of presenting and agenda tools allows you to conduct highly engaging, fruitful meetings with your team, clients, customers, and more. It’s a perfect way to let your team walk away with actionable insights as well as easily onboarding and training new employees. Since it is also a webinar tool, it does come with more features geared towards sharing insights. As such, if you’re looking for a pure conference call tool, you might want to look elsewhere. However, this is still a fantastic tool if you’re looking for a great conference call solution that’s multifaceted and flexible when it comes to your use. The customization they offer really facilitates viewer interaction with the material a presenter is discussing. Overall, I’d say it’s great for agencies, teachers, and other education professionals. Their webinar solution also integrates with PayPal, allowing customers to purchase access to your webinars easily and securely. If you need a highly-customizable webinar and collaboration tool, and also need something that goes beyond conference calling, this is the service for you. Pricing starts at $25 per month and is billed annually. However, it does come with a free 30-day trial to test it out. Phone.com — Best for Small Teams
Phone.com strikes a perfect balance for smaller teams that need always-available voice, video, and messaging. They fill in that much-needed “middle-of-the-road” option for most people. That doesn’t mean they skimp on features. They offer a great balance between value and providing you with the tools you need. ![]() Phone.com starts at $10.39 per user per month for its Basic Users plan. You get 300 pooled minutes, 1,000 pooled text messages, and video conferencing for up to 10 people. Take just one step up to the Plus Users plan–$19.99/user per month—and you won’t have to worry about limits at all. There, you get unlimited minutes and text messages, plus video conferencing for up to 25 participants and video recording. Notice that the participant limits are just for video calls. A lot of teams and companies prefer video conferencing, especially now with more remote workers involved. But if you just need voice conference calling some or most of the time, Phone.com is even more appealing. On every plan, you get a free conference bridge that can handle up to 500 participants. And, audio conferencing doesn’t eat into your monthly minute limits. So, that means if you’re doing a bunch of inbound and outbound calling, you can settle on the lowest Phone.com pricing plan and be just fine for all of your conferencing needs. That makes Phone.com a steal for smaller teams—especially ones with team members spread all over the map—who lean more heavily on conference calling than any other voice product. Another nice aspect of choosing Phone.com is that you can mix and match plans. This is a big deal because it allows you to get cheap plans for some users and premium plans for people who need unlimited minutes or advanced features. With most conference call and phone service providers, you have to select a single plan for your whole company–Phone.com lets you outfit your teams with exactly what they need. You’re never paying for more than people are using. The Basic Users plan doesn’t skimp on additional features, either. It also comes with:
And that’s just a sampling of the standard features. You can get started today stress-free because of Phone.com’s 30-day money-back guarantee. Don’t wait any longer searching for a conference calling solution, your smaller team has found your perfect fit in Phone.com. Webex — Best for Collaboration
>> Compare Quotes I recommend Webex highly for teams, especially those that are wary of using cheap conference call software. Webex is a Cisco product built with the latest technology. Video and audio quality are exceptional, as are the security and privacy protections. The Basic Webex Suite is HIPAA compliant. HIPAA compliance doesn’t typically come free, but such are the benefits of going with Cisco. The Basic Webex Suite is free for up to 100 participants, and comes with a deep feature set for scheduling, team messaging, and in-conference collaboration. Be aware that the free plan does cap calls at 50 minutes, which is still generous. It’s easy to share files, share screens, take polls, or pop into a breakout room. Webex is very user-friendly. This is not a Cisco product from 2002. ![]() Premium plans include interactive whiteboarding, meeting recordings, and some helpful administrative features for larger organizations. Access controls and integrations allow you to collaborate with clients and stakeholders across a host of third-party applications and software. Another very helpful collaboration tool is Webex Assistant, an AI digital assistant that takes notes, gives team members reminders, and also provides real-time transcriptions, closed captions, and even translations. This is great for teams that have folks who speak other languages, are hearing impaired, or would like an accurate record of meeting minutes. Here’s an overview of the four different plans offered by Webex: Webex Suite – Basic
Webex Suite – Business
Webex Suite – Enterprise (a customized premium plan)
Webex Meet Plan
Webex Call Plan
Many companies are going to be fine with the free plan, especially if they are only using conferencing for internal communications. It’s incredibly secure and surprisingly feature-rich for a freemium product. The Webex Meet Plan is very attractive if you are looking for a little bit more than what the freemium plan offers. You’ll have the ability to record and store meetings directly to the cloud, run a livestream on Facebook, or hold a full Q&A session with a panel of speakers. If you are in the market for new conference calling software, it’s worth giving Webex a look. The free plan holds its own against anything else I’ve recommended, and the product only gets more powerful from there. How to Find the Best Conference Call Service for YouCompare Quotes From The Best Conference Call Services Get matched up with a conference call service that fits your specific needs. To narrow down your choices, you need to know what to look for when you’re evaluating a potential service. This is the methodology that we used when researching the solutions in this guide. We benchmarked each of the conference call services against these criteria. Now, you can use it to help inform your choices. Number of ParticipantsThe maximum amount of participants is a crucial element to keep in mind. In fact, these limits are the most important numbers when it comes to which plan you ultimately choose. Some free plans will limit you to just 10 participants and 40 minutes per conference call, while other paid options give you up to 1,000 participants with no limits on call duration. Pick a service based on what you need. If you have a small business with just a handful of remote employees, you probably don’t need to pay for a conference call service with a limit of 250 participants. Services with unlimited call durations are your best options. It won’t be effective or productive if you’re forced to cut meetings short based on these limitations. For example, RingCentral and Zoom are great options if you’re a scrappy entrepreneur looking to host smaller conference calls with your clients. They both give you a free plan that allows 40 minutes for up to 100 participants. Their paid plans give you even more allowed participants (e.g. Zoom gives you up to 300 participants with their Business plan) with longer call durations. Video ConferencingBusinesses are turning to video conferencing now more than ever. In the wake of the global pandemic, it’s been an indispensable tool for schools, businesses, families, friends, and more. That’s why you should put a premium on a conferencing service that includes video. Not just that, but they also need to include tools that help enhance your experience. This might include collaboration tools such as screen sharing and audio sharing, text chats for collaborative communication, and whiteboard tools like the ability to write on the screen. Tools like Dialpad Meetings and Zoom (pictured below) all give you those tools for easy collaboration. ![]() Certain conference call services specialize in video calls. So if you’re planning to use video for the majority of your calls, look for an option that specializes in this area. Many of the options on this list offer one form of video conferencing or another. However, an offering like Grasshopper only focuses on audio calls and conferencing. If you’re looking for video, you’ll have to turn elsewhere. Video and Audio QualityIf you’re making calls over the internet, you need a strong connection. It’s not that voice calls put a huge strain on the network–they don’t–it’s that any delay or lag in the connection is a big deal. When you’re downloading a file, a slight lag is no concern. But when you’re trying to have a conversation, the loss of quality leads to miscommunications. It’s frustrating trying to talk to a single person, and nearly impossible to hold a productive conference call. You can test your connection right on Nextiva’s website, simulating up to 200 phones. ![]() But even if the internet connection is solid, there are still potential issues with call quality that the best conference call services can help you address. Some tools and features to keep an eye out for:
The only way to really know how good the call quality will be is to test it out. Take advantage of any free trials offered by a provider and use it as much as possible to see if you’re happy with the results. In our research, we found that RingCentral offers the best overall quality if you’re looking for a solid UCaaS platform. From phone calls to video conferencing, they offer consistent, HD-quality audio and video services. If you’re looking for one system to handle both your business’s phones and video calls, they’re definitely a top consideration. When it comes to purely video calls, though, we found that Zoom offered the best overall quality. The picture tended to be the clearest and (depending on your web connection) rarely encountered any lag or dropped calls. The audio was also very clear. However, they have a feature that automatically mutes certain audio when people talk over each other. That can be good or bad as it helps lessen the chaos of big meetings but can result in dropped dialogue. Call RecordingThe ability to record your conference calls is another big advantage. Not every free service comes with this option. There are different levels of call recording capability. Some services will record the call and then force you to store it locally on whatever device you’re using. Others have cloud storage options, based on your plan. Make sure you understand any storage limits before you sign up for a plan. Otherwise, you might be forced to upgrade when you run out of space. It’s also worth noting that some call recording plans also come with transcription services. This will make it easier for you to go back and find certain points within a call without having to search through the audio. If you’re going to take advantage of video calling features, see if the service records the videos or if the recording is just limited to audio calls only. The ability to share the recorded calls later is also crucial. See what file type the recorded calls are downloaded under and make sure they’re easily shared with others. Good conference call services like Dialpad make it easy to store and share recordings and will even create a transcript of the recording if you need it. Sharing these recordings takes a few clicks. ![]() Zoom and GoToMeeting also offer great call recording features. Webex doesn’t record your video or audio, but they do offer call transcription services. Call Scheduling and SetupNothing’s worse than a confusing back-and-forth between you and the person you want to talk to about how you’re going to meet. That’s why being able to easily schedule and set up calls is the foundation of any good conference call service. Good platforms integrate with your favorite calendar app and put the call on your schedule with a few clicks. These integrations are key to simplifying your scheduling processes. For example, Google Calendar integration automatically connects conferencing software with your Gmail account so you can easily schedule calls with your existing contacts. ![]() Zoom (pictured above) has integrations with Google Calendar, Office 365, and iCal. You’ll be able to schedule the day, time, and location (e.g. Zoom room link) and then send an invitation to call participants via email. Adding new users to a call should also be as simple as sending them a link to the conference “room.” If it’s any more complicated than that, you might want to look elsewhere. The Top Conference Call Services in SummaryAll conference call services offer the same core functions. But the best conference call solutions stand out with collaboration tools, high-quality video, crystal-clear audio, and other valuable features. Factors like team size, budget, and primary use case should also be taken into consideration here. A startup with five employees won’t need the same solution as a mid-sized company hosting webinars with hundreds of attendees. via Quick Sprout https://www.quicksprout.com/best-conference-call-services/ |
Sean BrianWhile radishes deter certain insects naturally, they require similar growing conditions as carrots. Although the crops both have roots, radishes grow and germinate quicker, allowing carrots to continue growing in the soil space available when the radishes are harvested, Archives
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