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Recent reviews

Brian Farmer reviewed Event Tickets Center

“qwertyuiopas”

Nicholas reviewed Garage Doors Fixed (GDF)

“Had issues with the garage door not opening. Quick google search found GDF one phone call and arrangements made for a visit later in the day. Received a call ba...”

John Byrne reviewed Dream Singles

“DONT KNOW WHO THEY USE FOR THERE MARKETING. Have no interest in dating app or sites. God knows how this company got hold of my email address. I set up my Gmail...”

alejo polanco reviewed FUTCOIN.NET

“very very good”

Liz Burley reviewed Trending Custom

“I never received my order!”

Yaa Boakye reviewed Product Marketing Alliance

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К И reviewed Healthline

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Alex reviewed Paidwork

“Is a really good app to earn money”

Aqua Boi reviewed FreeConvert.com

“Very good website. thanks for the help.”

MC reviewed Curacao

“Be very wary of this company it is the worst service I have ever experienced in my life. I'm boggled how this company is still in business. They especially targ...”

Susan Robinson reviewed Embrace Pet Insurance

“Both my veterinarian and I are frustrated with Embrace. After my puppy's intake visit with my vet in December 2022, the vet submitted what she thought was all ...”

elpanaderoconelpan ʕっ•ᴥ•ʔっ reviewed Lootably

“It was good to get the robux I recommend it”

DJ Hosea reviewed Wander Prints

“Real easy to order, we lover the print and shirt”

graham dodds reviewed Speargpt

“This company, that used to be UniTrust Ventures, is an outright scam. They have no intention of offering any form of service, they are not regulated and, for ex...”

Mike Hayward reviewed Tesco Mobile UK

“Went to Yate store for 9am opening. Scruffy bloke in jeans turned up at 9.10 dragging some sort of storage trolley. After several more minutes finally found tim...”

Tank reviewed ExpressVPN

“Simple, reliable, and fast! Great first time user experience!”

Marilyn Corteselli reviewed Ecualama

“Very fast shipping. Product was excellent. So smooth and soft”

Roger Howard (StevietheWonder) reviewed Moonpig.com

“I have been using moon pig for years. I would not wish to change ANYTHING YOU ARE DOING AT THE MOMENT (except), I would add a range of Black race cards and othe...”

Sharon reviewed Prosperity Of Life

“The simplicity but deep level in which the content was delivered was outstanding! breaking the six higher faculties of mind into a day each was outstanding it ...”

Catie reviewed Vio.com

“Emese was very helpful! I actually appreciate and use your website all the time.”

Lauren Harris reviewed Prestige Flowers

“A total disgrace and waste of money. Didn’t arrive on delivery day and half dead flowers.”

Revival Servers reviewed Physgun

“I used to be under a different host for quite a long time, near 5 years. But the customer service and quality of servers provided was subpar. I switched over to...”

Martha Sertsay reviewed FKS Clinic - Hair Transplant in London and Istanbul

“I had a wonderful experience at the FKS clinic. When I meet Dr Kuddusi and the team I feel relaxed. Dr Kuddusi explained everything very well. the nurses Feyza ...”

Steve Flewin reviewed Welcome Pickups

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Cathy Goodwin reviewed WPX

“Currently transfering from another host - great personalized service and very fast transfers.”

trading bot reviewed PO

“The Pocket Option platform is respectable for several reasons First, the speed of the software interface of the chart is also available, as it has several moder...”

K T reviewed Dr.Cinik Hair Transplant Clinic

“This clinic does not conclude any contract with you, does not give checks when paying. At the time of paying cash, you sign only two papers - informed consent ...”

Linda Walters reviewed Handle King Hardware

“Was really pleased with the handle I received just what I had been looking for also delivery was on time.”

Donald and Sheila Estep reviewed Great Value Vacations

“Outrigger Fiji was amazing. The beach was Nice. The service was outstanding. Loved our side trip to the village.”

Thekyan Paw reviewed UberEATS

“I usually order Uber eats a lot now I don’t even want to anymore I order from a Japanese restaurant when I see that it was loading too long I refreshed the page...”

Rachel reviewed Made With Love & Sparkle

“Excellent customer service. I ordered a few days before Mother’s Day just before the last guaranteed delivery and it came with one name wrong. Contacted them an...”

Gina E Shaw reviewed MYKA

“The ordering process was easy. Product came fast and the item itself just beautifully made! I will be ordering more.”

Milly Jackson reviewed Swoon

“Really beautiful furniture, hunted around for ages and finally found this website which had exactly what we were looking for.”

durod brown reviewed Priceline

“Falsely advertised a hotel in downtown Detroit when really it was in Maryland ....once the confirmation came and I saw it was in Maryland I called and tried to ...”

Mark Bravington reviewed Nationwide Building Society

“This organisation has got to big for its boots branchs and contact centres say they care about there members biggest joke simply like making there members life...”

Marvin Guidry reviewed Epitomeseeds.com, Inc.

“They handled all orders swiftly thanks an they have new products all most every time I visit website i think they are very reliable thanks”

Daria Keenan reviewed Imagen

“This software is mind blowing! Got my first set of photos back and the accuracy is amazing! Better than other retouchers I've used for Lightroom edits!!”

Nandkishor Shimpi reviewed Gorvins Residential LLP

“Tom Atkinson was professional and extremely efficient and helpful. He worked quickly and effectively and helped us through our purchase very effectively.I would...”

Trev Knight reviewed BEERWULF.com ®

“I order a full 7 days in advance to ensure a weekend delivery with the exact date you tell us to state..we both work..the third time the absolutely useless Yode...”

BeHappy reviewed Algosniper

“I am a beginner and not really into using app right away, I just saw this on Twitter and tried it and it was user friendly and the Algorithm helps me a lot.”

Wahab Adebola Okoosi reviewed SPORTSBIKESHOP

“Normally go to store to buy and the service is great, but decided to order online on this occasion and it was speedy next day delivery. 5 stars sportbikeshop”

David Moorhouse reviewed PMT Online

“The item was packed extremely well and arrived intact.I ordered a second hand semi acoustic guitar which plays and sounds great and is in excellent condition.Ma...”

elvis paschal reviewed Capterra

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MOMOTAJ RAHMAN reviewed Sadafscollection

“Excellent service, I love the dress I bought and the quality was soooo good, This is my favourite shop now and will be shopping there for eids and party outfits...”

Sjdhusyss Sjshsysy reviewed BabyPips

“They will literally rob you off your fun*ds, its better you stop dealing with them and reach out to internet fruad specialist @[genexservices.live>]. before yo...”

April Rose Majan reviewed Litepick

“Started earning with bonus spins and played games until i made my first withdrawal.. it came into my account quite fast! now i'm making another deposit and repe...”

Nasma Haj khalaf reviewed Headout

“It was a very, very wonderful experience. I did not find anyone doing his job like Mr. Mohamed, the tour guide and driver. He was the greatest person I met, wor...”

Graham Beard reviewed Crystal Travel

“verry good company , i would rate this company out of 10 , 1 ia no good and 10 is verry verry good i rate crystal travel 10. and ronnir who did all the work fo...”

abdikadir mohamed reviewed Cryptoprofix

“Big scammers, and they scammed me 2,738 dollars for my hard earned money. Initial investment of 500 dollars plus activation all had been stolen from me. Please ...”

Dana Quartey reviewed David's Bridal

“Be wary of the return policy which is a paltry 7 days! And please don’t expect to be assisted by a human being. I waited FIVE HOURS for a return text. Yes, a “c...”

Our 2022 Transparency Report has landed

We’re looking back on a year unlike any other. Read about how we ensure our platform’s integrity.

Trustpilot is a review platform that’s open to everyone. Share your experiences to help others make better choices and encourage companies to up their game.

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Each review has a personal story.

Fixed my broke fone. But I still can't get a date on Tinder.

Max experienced Re-Tech

The first birthday gift my wife didn't want to return.

Robert experienced Songfinch

Gonna love making my flat a small jungle :)

Marjori experienced Patch

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Electronics, office supplies, real estate, browse reviews from over 5 million users.

Colleen M. reviewed StyleWe

Okay, I am hopeful this jumpsuit gets delivered on...

“Okay, i am hopeful this jumpsuit gets delivered on time for my high school reunion may 5 weekend!”

MATILDA H. reviewed StyleWe

“Good shopping experience. The items appear to be like those advertised.”

KimiS U. reviewed eShakti

I would like to be able to sort by the different manufacture...

“I would like to be able to sort by the different manufacturers since i know that...”

“I would like to be able to sort by the different manufacturers since i know that wayword fancies...”

Robin B. reviewed K9 Training Institute

Information

“This has given me useful tips on training my chittenden puppy. Very informative!”

Katrina C. reviewed ResumeGenius

I like that I put in my information and it generates...

“I like that i put in my information and it generates quick answers for the bullet points and experiences. And then at the end it shows you different resume templates so you...”

“I like that i put in my information and it generates quick answers for the bullet points and...”

KISHAYLA E. reviewed SmartFares

“Very very very very very fast and efficient process.”

Danielle M. reviewed ChicMe

So far I've loved everything I have bought from chic...

“So far i've loved everything i have bought from chic me!”

Mekhia A. reviewed Hebeos

Was easy to shop but i'm 5'1 so i hope it's not very...

“Was easy to shop but i'm 5'1 so i hope it's not very long”

Ann K. reviewed AquariumPlants.com

Easy to find, liked the 2 for 1 deal as it had the...

“Easy to find, liked the 2 for 1 deal as it had the plants i really wanted”

Howard G. reviewed CustomWritings

Pleased by your work.

“Thank you so much customwritings for always helping me in nursing assignments. I am very much pleased by your work.”

“Thank you so much customwritings for always helping me in nursing assignments. I am very much...”

Esther T. reviewed Costway Australia

Easy transaction.

“Easy online ordering. Good updates along the way and fast delivery. Excellent quality...”

“Easy online ordering. Good updates along the way and fast delivery. Excellent quality items....”

Shirley G. reviewed Peachy Essay

Satisfaction to work

“Pleased that i found them. It's a satisfaction to work with their writers.”

Ashley A. reviewed ChicMe

Love shopping on the website and and a little thing...

“Love shopping on the website and and a little thing and x small fits me just right thanks in advance”

Melissa L. reviewed Noracora

I haven't found another site that can compare to the...

“I haven't found another site that can compare to the selection of clothes i find here. My granddaughter and i can find what is perfect for each of us reven though she's in...”

“I haven't found another site that can compare to the selection of clothes i find here. My...”

Tyra G. reviewed Rugs USA

I love the feature that allows me to see the rug in...

“I love the feature that allows me to see the rug in my room.”

Stephanie d. reviewed Book Outlet

Well, here is the thing: I could have bought this book...

“Well, here is the thing: i could have bought this book from different sellers. However,...”

“Well, here is the thing: i could have bought this book from different sellers. However, they made...”

David J. reviewed BannerBuzz Canada

The discount code came off mid-way through the order...

“The discount code came off mid-way through the order process but paypal seems to be charging the right amount... A little nervous.”

“The discount code came off mid-way through the order process but paypal seems to be charging the...”

Joanne B. reviewed Noracora

Very satisfied with first items. Hopefully these next...

“Very satisfied with first items. Hopefully these next ones will be just as good.”

Brodie F. reviewed Rapid Essay

Affordable assignment writing help

“For the longest time, i wanted to take assignment writing support but i could not get...”

“For the longest time, i wanted to take assignment writing support but i could not get it because...”

Holly L. reviewed JiffyShirts

Fast shipping, always have the sizes I need, great...

“Fast shipping, always have the sizes i need, great selection, great prices!”

Trending businesses

Sitejabber extension: Review as you browse

See ratings of sites as you browse the web right in your search results and browser bar.

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Are you “leaving money on the table” with your website right now ? Most websites are.

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These and many more issues can be identified by a professional website review from a trusted, independent expert.

When it comes to your website, everyone has an opinion. From customers to family members to the local taxi driver. Don’t be overwhelmed by a wave of different opinions. Choose an informed, professional website review from someone who understands usability, website design and selling online.

We’re here to help you. Our website reviews have helped hundreds of website owners improve their websites.

Whether you’re a small business, international publishing house, run an e-commerce site or have a service portal, we can help.

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Please note that although these are useful examples, they are free short reviews done for our public blog and our sister site SelfAssemblySites, and are not representative of the detail that we go into during a WebsiteDoctor ® Professional Website Review.

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How many sales are you missing out on every day because of issues with your website? For many small businesses, the cost is $1,000 dollars per week or more, for larger businesses significantly more than that.

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32 Customer Review Sites for Collecting Business & Product Reviews

Updated: August 13, 2021

Published: August 11, 2021

We (and the rest of the internet for the past decade) have already spent some time convincing you of the importance of acquiring online customer reviews for your business. (Did you know that in a recent HubSpot Research survey, 1/3 of respondents said review sites played an important role in their purchasing decision-making process?)

But if you're new to customer reviews or not sure where to find them, let's brush up on some basics and highlight why they're relevant for your business.

In a bit of a time crunch? Use the jump links below to navigate to the exact content you're looking for.

Table of Contents

• Customer Reviews & Their Benefits

Best Customer and Product Review Sites

Customer review sites for b2c companies.

• Customer Review Sites for B2B Companies

Customer Review Sites for Both B2B & B2C Companies

Other places for consumer reviews, customer reviews.

Customer reviews are pieces of feedback given to a business based on a customer's experience with the organization. These reviews can be public or private and are collected by either the company or third-party review sites. By obtaining and analyzing customer reviews, businesses can measure customer satisfaction and improve their customer relations.

Benefits of Customer Reviews

There are two major reasons why customer reviews are important.

1. Customer reviews are a learning opportunity for your business.

Negative or neutral reviews provide your company with an opportunity to learn and develop. You can see exactly where your business is failing to meet customer needs and remove common roadblocks in the customer journey .

For particularly poor reviews, reps can follow up with these customers and prevent potential churn. They can highlight specific pain points and craft personalized responses geared to specific problems. This makes your customer service team appear more invested in your customers' goals, which results in fewer negative reviews and increased customer retention.

2. Customer reviews are marketing and sales tools for your business.

The other major reason for obtaining reviews is the opportunity to share them with potential customers. Positive reviews can be used as customer testimonials during lead acquisition and can help you add more contacts to your CRM . In fact, 91% of consumers read at least one review before purchasing a product. So, don't just pat yourself on the back the next time you get a five-star review; Make sure everyone knows how good a job your company is doing.

With that in mind, it's not safe to assume we all know where to track down those positive customer reviews. I mean, we might all be able to rattle off one or two sites ("Yelp! And I think you can get them to show up in Google Maps, too?"), but we don't exactly have a laundry list of options at our disposal

Check out our list of the best product review websites for B2B and B2C companies. Keep in mind that every industry has niche sites, too. For instance, those in the restaurant industry may want to be on UrbanSpoon or OpenTable. This blog post won't get into sites that are specific to one industry, but it will provide review sites that apply to businesses in almost any industry.

• Amazon Customer Reviews
• Angie's List
• ConsumerReports
• Consumer Affairs
• TripAdvisor
• Google My Business
• Yahoo! Local Listings
• Influenster
• HubSpot's App Marketplace
• FinancesOnline
• Compare Camp
• TrustRadius
• Salesforce AppExchange
• Better Business Bureau
• Facebook Ratings and Reviews
• Top Ten Reviews
• Your Own Website

1. Amazon Customer Reviews

Amazon was one of the first online stores to allow consumers to post reviews of products in 1995 , and it remains one of the most important resources for consumers looking to make informed purchase decisions. Even if people can and do buy a product elsewhere, if it's sold on Amazon.com — unless it's gasoline or drug paraphernalia , that is — then many people will look up its Amazon review before they decide to buy.

What's going to separate your product from one that looks just like it? Those shiny gold stars and good customer reviews. Products are rated on a five-star rating scale, which is broken down by the percentage of reviews per star, followed by most helpful customer reviews and most recent customer reviews.

Benefits of Amazon Customer Reviews:

• Amazon has over 300 million users who can see your review.
• Amazon's rating system is straightforward and easy to understand.
• Amazon offers a product ranking feature that rates your product's popularity.
• Amazon users are loyal — 22% won't look at competitors if they discovered the product on Amazon.

2. Angie's List

Geared toward U.S.-based service businesses, Angie's List is a "higher-end" review site, because users actually have to pay for membership. But you get what you pay for. The reviews, given on an A–F scale, are typically very well-thought-out — not a lot of that ranting and raving that's more common on free review sites. The reviews can't be anonymous, which helps cut down on fake or misrepresentative reviews, and companies are allowed to respond to the reviews posted about them, too.

It's free to set up a page for your company. Once you have yours, encourage your customers who are on Angie's List to leave reviews there — members are the only ones allowed to do it!

Benefits of Angie's List:

• Reviews on Angie's List are typically of high-quality since users need to pay to use the site and can't post anonymously.
• Even though this is a paid subscription service, it's free to list your company on Angie's List.
• If a customer has a bad experience with a recommended provider, Angie's List will work with both the customer and the company to resolve the issue.

Have customers working in academia? Better yet, are they located in Australia? Choice is a member-funded review website based in Australia. It independently evaluates academic resources — like libraries — and provides detailed reviews to its members.

The bulk of its work involves reading academic writing, creating comparisons for each resource, and writing buying guides for customers. In addition, it allow members to rate and discuss specific resources and libraries with other Choice members. If you have customers in Australia, we recommend encouraging those who are on CHOICE to leave reviews there.

Benefits of Choice:

• Choice posts over 200,000 reviews each year and serves about 2,400 institutions worldwide.
• Since Choice evaluates academic resources independently, its reviews are unbiased.
• Choice offers a "Review of the Day" feature that reviews one academic resource per day. You can read it even if you are not a Choice member.
• Choice has a "Choice Picks" page where you can see the best products that it recommends.

4. Trustpilot

Trustpilot is a fast-growing, community-driven consumer review platform based in Denmark, although it has expanded out of Europe into 65 countries, including the U.S. The platform for businesses helps companies from all over the world proactively collect customer reviews. It's the customers who write both product and seller reviews, keeping it third-party verified.

While there is a basic version for free (this lets you create a profile page and collect customer reviews), the paid versions let you create customizable review invitations, share ratings and reviews on social media, and link review data to your internal business systems.

Benefits of Trustpilot:

• Over 500,000 websites are rated on Trustpilot.
• Trustpilot uses its own review system to rate its website. Based on about 136,000 reviews, Trustpilot is rated four stars out of five.
• Trustpilot has advanced SEO features that help your website rank higher on SERPs when customers leave reviews for your company.
• Trustpilot can be integrated with Shopify, Magento, and MailChimp.

5. TestFreaks

Similar to TrustPilot, the Swedish-based TestFreaks helps companies proactively collect customer reviews and write seller reviews to complement them.

Another cool addition? Its question and answer feature, which lets prospective customers post questions and receive answers directly from your customer service team.

Benefits of TestFreaks:

• TestFreaks has 100 million crawled reviews from over 15,000 sources.
• TestFreaks provides a content moderation team that analyzes content in over 20 languages.
• TestFreaks has an import feature where you can upload external customer reviews into its website.

Which? is an independent consumer review organization that tests and reviews products and then writes about them. Unlike Angie's List, it's the folks at Which? who write the reviews — not the customers. They don't accept submissions for product testing or survey inclusion, but they do encourage people to let them know about their products and services by emailing [email protected] .

While this leaves less room for you to influence whether your products end up on their site, it's still worth knowing about and checking in on this popular site, especially if you have customers in the U.K. The website has product reviews for everything from dishwashers and tablets to cars and credit cards. It tests and reviews all these products, and then writes about both its methodologies and results. It also surveys customers for things like the best and worst firms for customer service .

A lot of its content is free, but customers can become members for £10.75 per month to get access to a "Best Buys" and "Don't Buy" list, the latest reviews of products from its test labs, and access to its consumer legal advice service.

Benefits of Which?:

• Which? offers more than 8,000 free reviews.
• Which? tests and reviews more than 3,600 new products every year.
• To prove that it's impartial, Which? provides a video that shows users how it tests and reviews each product.
• Which? is 100% independent. It doesn't accept freebies from product manufactures or retailers so its reviews remain unbiased.
• Which? offers a "Safety Alert" feature that notifies users when a product is deemed unsafe. There's also a "Brand Alert" feature that lets you know if a brand has a history of creating unsafe products.

7. Consumer Reports

A nonprofit organization, Consumer Reports is an independent product-testing organization that runs unbiased tests to rate and recommend products. It has reviewed over 7.7 million products, accept no advertising, and pay for all products that it tests. (Fun fact: The company buys and tests 80 cars each year! ) This is about as legitimate as it gets. As such, there's not much you can do here "except" if you sell a product, make sure it's really, really good.

Image Source

If nothing else, you could take this website as a lesson in excellent content creation. For each product it reviews, it provides the review criteria, product overviews, a buying guide, and social sharing buttons. It's all quite comprehensive and, well, helpful. Pretty much the key to great content, am I right?

Benefits of Consumer Reports:

• Consumer Reports has over 63 testing facilities — including its 327-acre auto test center.
• Consumer Reports has spent over $30 million on testing and rating products.
• The company plans to test more than 8,500 new products in 2021.
• There are over eight product categories to choose from — each having several subcategories within them.
• Consumer Reports provides an overall score for each product, so you know exactly how it compares to other products in its category.

8. Consumer Affairs

Consumer Affairs is a for-profit organization that reviews companies using an “overall satisfaction rating." This average is scored on a one to five-star scale that's updated every time a new review is submitted. Each company's page provides a list of all its reviews, which includes the consumer's star rating as well as a short explanation for its score.

Consumer Affairs also allows users to submit review recordings, which are two-minute videos where people talk about their experience with a brand. This makes the review much more compelling because you can actually see the person talk and express their genuine feelings about the company.

Benefits of Consumer Affairs:

• Consumer Affairs offers a "trending" section where you can view its lastest and most popular reviews.
• Consumer Affairs provides a demo for brands looking to buy a subscription to its service.
• The "Review Feed" feature allows you to research all of your customer reviews in one, scrolling feed.
• Consumer Affairs has a "Video Review" option where customers can record themselves giving a review.

9. TripAdvisor

If you're in the travel, hotel, airline, entertainment, or restaurant industries, you'll want to check out the reviews on the popular website, TripAdvisor. As the largest travel site in the world, it has over 225 million reviews, opinions, and photos taken by travelers. It also has some awesome content on low airfares, travel guides, rental listings, and advice forums for pretty much every location in the world you could possibly imagine. A lot of people look there before booking a trip.

The key to a successful profile on TripAdvisor is making it as close to the top of the popularity index as possible, so that people searching for information in a specific place see your listing. According to TripAdvisor , the popularity ranking algorithm is based on three key components: quantity, quality, and recency of reviews. Here's an excerpt of the advice they give businesses looking to improve their ranking:

"Quantity : Ask your guests to write reviews, and use our management center tools to remind them after they check out. Offering incentives for reviews is against the rules, though — take a look at our policy to make sure you understand what is and isn't okay.

Quality : Guests who enjoyed first class hospitality and a memorable experience are more likely to write positive reviews. Monitor what previous reviewers have written to see what worked and did not work best for your property so you can maintain and improve your service.

Recency : Recent reviews factor more strongly on your popularity rankings and older reviews have less impact on a hotel's ranking over time. Once again, encourage guests to write reviews to keep fresh content rolling in."

Benefits of TripAdvisor:

• TripAdvisor has collected over 887 million reviews for eight million companies.
• TripAdvisor Plus gives you access to discount hotel pricing for over 100,000 locations.
• The average TripAdvisor Plus member saves about $350 the first time they use their membership.
• TripAdvisor Business Advantage showcases your company's best reviews so customers see them first when reviewing your profile.

Yelp is a free review site that lets consumers rate businesses on a five-star scale. Any business can set up a profile on Yelp for free, and users can set up their own free profiles to review a business. You're free to respond to reviewers, too, but we recommend taking a balanced and polite approach to any negative reviews you receive, as Yelpers are in a pretty tight-knit community.

Yelp has also come under fire over the past few years for some slightly shady practices, like incentivizing businesses to advertise with them in exchange for gaming the search results for their business ("Pay us money and we'll push bad reviews down!"). Savvier consumers have learned to look at Yelp reviews as a whole and with the reviewer's clout in mind, instead of getting turned off by a business because of one bad listing.

That being said, it's still to your benefit to get a constant stream of positive online reviews coming to your business' Yelp account so happy customers are always at the top of your review feed — especially if you're a location-based business. Yelp profile information contains things like store hours and location information, so your profile will often turn up when people Google your business.

Benefits of Yelp:

• Yelp has roughly 184 million monthly users worldwide.
• Anyone can sign up for Yelp and it's fairly easy for customers to leave a review — making it a good source of customer feedback.
• Yelp users are a tight-knit community. Active users will provide a lot of detailed feedback for your business.
• Research shows an increase of one star in your Yelp rating can increase revenue by 5-9%.

11. Citysearch

Benefits of Citysearch:

• Citysearch uses a bi-modal, thumbs up/thumbs down rating system. This is calculated based on the percentage of users/scouts that have recommended the business.
• Cityseach has over 20 categories to browse through. Each one shows results filtered to the location that you specify.
• Users can write only one review per business. This prevents fake or unfair reviews and keeps ratings accurate.

12. Google My Business

You know those reviews that show up when you search Google for a business? Yeah, those things are on this list in a big way.

Google's Pigeon algorithm update uses distance and location ranking parameters to deliver improved local search results. So, in order for your business' website to be properly optimized for search, you'll want to set up verified accounts with local directories — especially Google's, called "Google My Business." Getting reviews, comments, pictures, and so on, especially on Google, can give you a boost in search. Only verified local Google+ pages can respond to reviews.

An added bonus? Google Maps pulls that information and those reviews into the app, so having a lot of content in there will make your business look more reputable.

Benefits of Google My Business:

• Google is the world's largest search engine and controls over 90% of the search engine marketshare.
• Google can localize your review search, meaning it will only show results for businesses located in the area that you searched.
• It's free to create and customize your Google Business Profile. Setting up only takes a few minutes.
• Nearly 10% of Google's search algorithm is influenced by Google Reviews. The more positive reviews that you have, the higher your business will rank on SERPs.

13. Yahoo! Localworks

Similar to Google My Business reviews, Yahoo! Local reviews let users post reviews of businesses with a five-star rating system. Here's what the results might look like:

According to Statista , Yahoo! still receives about 3% of search engine share. So while you might not want to invest time figuring out the intricacies of Yahoo!'s algorithm, obtaining some favorable reviews on the Yahoo! Localworks sure couldn't hurt for that 3%.

Benefits of Yahoo! Local Listings:

• Yahoo! Localworks integrates other popular review sites into your business profile. That way, you can see all of your customer reviews in one place rather than having to log into separate accounts.
• When you update your business information in Localworks, it updates your company profile on all of the customer review sites that you have linked to your account.
• Yahoo! Localworks triggers a notification every time a customer leaves a review, making it easier to respond quicker to negative reviews.

14. Influenster

If you sell consumer products, Influenster is a review site you'll want to make sure you've covered.

Influenster features customer reviews and news about consumer products — primarily skincare, beauty, makeup, hair, and other health and body products. Visitors can search the site by brand name or by a specific product they're looking for, and Influenster links to websites where visitors can buy the products.

The reviews are comprehensive and feature lots of detail and images to accompany them. So if you're in the beauty business, consider directing your shoppers to review your products on Influenster to help attract new customers, too.

Benefits of Influenster:

• There are over six million users who are actively leaving reviews on Influenster.
• Influenster users have left over 50 million organic reviews on the website.
• Influenster sends its users "VoxBoxes" where they can test out new products for free.
• Influenster helps businesses create "sampling campaigns" where you send users a sample of your product then follow up afterwards to sell them the complete version.

Review Websites for B2B Companies

15. hubspot's app marketplace.

HubSpot's App Marketplace is a space where businesses can browse through extensions, tools, and apps that connect to their HubSpot account. Some apps are built by HubSpot, while others were designed by partners and third-party organizations. Offering all of these tools in one place makes it easier for HubSpot users to add new features to their accounts that may not be included with their subscription.

The nice part about this customer review site is that it's categorized based on the product you're looking to install. There's individual sections for Marketing, Sales, and Service tools, as well as other sections like finance, workflow integrations, popular apps, and more.

Reviews are rated on a five-star scale and customers have to answer questions like, "What did you like about this product? What did you dislike about it?" and "What problem did this product solve?" These questions provide more context into the review so you know exactly why a customer rated a business or product the way they did.

Benefits of HubSpot App Marketplace:

• There are more than 500 apps featured in HubSpot's App Marketplace.
• Product pages not only list reviews, but also pricing info, notable features, and account requirements for downloading each tool.
• Customers have the option to upvote reviews that they find helpful.
• The reviews on this site provide "quality ratings" for features like ease of use, functionality, purchase value, and customer support.

16. FinancesOnline

FinancesOnline is one of the fastest-growing platforms for B2B & SaaS software reviews, with more than 2,800,000 visitors every month . It gathers thousands of user reviews every month, with each reviewer authenticated via LinkedIn to ensure only actual users share their experience with the community. User reviews are based on detailed surveys, which offer a really in-depth look at each tool. Algorithmic analysis is also a foundation for quarterly reports in the most popular categories. To balance the user perspectives, each review also includes a detailed analysis prepared by the internal team of B2B software experts, who analyze key usability factors such as features, integrations, mobile support, etc. This evaluation is then combined into the unique SmartScore™ system, which gives readers an easy reference on what the experts' community thinks about each business solution. As an added bonus, the product pages rank high in Google, so getting a few positive user reviews on their site could be beneficial for your brand recognition.

Benefits of FinancesOnline:

• FinancesOnline has roughly three million visitors to its site every month and over ten thousand detailed company reviews.
• The SmartScore system grades products on several factors including functionality, collaboration features, customization, ease of use, and more.
• FinancesOnline uses a customer satisfaction algorithm that calculates an overall score for a business based on reviews, comments, and opinions that are posted on various social media channels.
• The "Verified Quality Seal" let's users know that a business or product is reliable and trustworthy.

17. Compare Camp

Compare Camp is a B2B review site that deals primarily with business software. If you're looking to introduce a new tool or system to your company, Compare Camp can help you pinpoint the exact software that's right for you. Not only does this site show you how other people feel about a specific product, but it also lays out the key benefits of the product as well as any new trends that may be occurring in that particular industry.

When you first navigate to the site, Compare Camp provides you with a list of software categories to choose from. After you select a section, it gives you a description of the category along with a detailed list of product and company options. Compare Camp also explains any varying types of products within that section as well as the top features you should look for when buying that software. It's a very handy guide to have especially when you're considering a product that you haven't purchased before.

Benefits of Compare Camp:

• Over 100,000 companies use Compare Camp every month.
• There are over 25 product categories to choose from, including CRM Software, Sales Software, eCommerce Software, and more.
• Each category provides a "Top 10" list of the best software available in that section.
• If you're not familiar with a product, each category provides a brief description of what the software is and why you might want it.

18. G2 Crowd

If your business sells software, you'll want to be sure you have a presence on G2 Crowd. Every month, more than 5 million people looking to buy software read the 1+ million user reviews on this website so they can make better purchasing decisions.

G2 Crowd operates kind of like Yelp, but in a specific niche. Companies are reviewed on a five-star scale, and reviews cover everything from setup and ease of use to security and support. Reviewers answer questions like "What do you like best?"; "What do you dislike?"'; and "Recommendations to others considered the product." Also, you can upvote and downvote others' reviews.

Benefits of G2 Crowd:

• There are nearly 1.4 million reviews featured on G2 Crowd.
• G2 Crowd offers a video review option where users can record themselves leaving a review.
• When a customer leaves a review, you can see whether the customer is a verified user and how active they are on the platform.
• G2 Crowd allows businesses to request reviews from customers. This helps you build a pool of customer reviews for your company.

19. TrustRadius

Like G2 Crowd, TrustRadius is an online review site for software businesses. Reviewers on the site are authenticated via LinkedIn to make sure they're users (although the reviews themselves can still be anonymous), which allows users to see what their LinkedIn connections are saying about particular pieces of software on TrustRadius. This adds a layer of trust for someone reading the site.

You can use the site to browse reviews of individual companies, or compare two companies side-by-side to compare their five-star ratings, screenshots of their products, pricing details, and user comments from reviewers.

In addition to the company reviews, TrustRadius has put together a whole bunch of buyer guides for categories including talent management software, business intelligence software, core HR software, social media, and A/B testing to help people find the right product for them based on hundreds of reviews and user ratings.

Benefits of TrustRadius:

• There are over 300,000 customer reviews posted on TrustRadius.
• TrustRadius does not sell leads or ad placement. This keeps reviews unbiased and vendors can't skew results.
• TrustRadius reviews are more in-depth. On average, each review has more than 400 words.
• Each customer review is vetted by TrustRadius' research team and is evaluated for quality, depth, and detail.

20. GoodFirms

GoodFirms is a B2B research and review platform that focuses on connecting service seekers with the right software and service providers.

GoodFirms analyzes the top-performing companies and software solutions based on three important pieces of criteria: Quality, Reliability, and Ability. These metrics are further segmented into authentic feedback by customers, a portfolio of the company, its market penetration, years of experience, and serviceability. The companies are then ranked based on their cumulative research scores. GoodFirms offers quick filters to sort the service providers by their hourly rate, location, and number of employees.

Benefits of GoodFirms:

• GoodFirms has over 30,000 customer reviews and 60,000 business profiles on its website.
• GoodFirms offers a discussion platform where customers can form an online community and talk about specific products and brands.
• GoodFirms provides over one thousand unique case studies that outline new trends and technology emerging in your industry.
• When searching for a specific company or product, customer reviews can be filtered by device, location, and industry.

21. Salesforce AppExchange

Have an app on the Salesforce AppExchange? Then you'll want to keep track of your app's ratings and reviews there.

Reviews are based on a five-star rating system, and each app has reviews listed with the most helpful positive review and most helpful negative reviews first, followed by all reviews, from which users can filter by rating, date, and helpfulness. This customer review site has embraced transparency, letting users access thousands of reviews and see the number of downloads with just a few clicks.

Benefits of Salesforce AppExchange:

• There are over five thousand products that are listed in Salesforce AppExchange.
• This site features a live chat option where you can speak with someone if you have questions about a business, product, or review.
• Users in Salesforce AppExchange can comment, like, and report other customer reviews.

22. Better Business Bureau

A nonprofit site, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) evaluates all types of businesses against a set of best practices for how businesses should treat the public. It doesn't directly recommend or endorse any businesses, products, or services; it simply provides the public with information about businesses, and whether they have met the BBB's accreditation standards. It will also review both accredited and non-accredited businesses.

A business' profile listing on the BBB contains general overview information, like a short company bio and the company's accreditation status, a history of any complaints made about the business and whether they were resolved, customer reviews, and the BBB's A - F rating of the business.

Benefits of the Better Business Bureau:

• There are more than 5.4 million business profiles listed on the Better Business Bureau.
• As a government-sponsored organization, you can trust that its reviews are unbiased.
• Attaining your BBB accreditation shows that your business is reliable and trustworthy.
• Last year in the United States, BBB reviews were accessed more than 120 million times.
• 85% of consumers prefer to do business with a company that is BBB accredited.

23. Glassdoor

Glassdoor is an employee review site that helps anyone — from prospective employees to prospective customers to investors — get an idea of what a company is really like from the inside. In other words, it helps measure the more qualitative factors of things like valuation.

Employees can share what it's like to interview and work at their companies, and the site shows visitors which companies are rated highest by their employees. Many employers use it to build their employment brand so they can target and recruit candidates, but you can also use the reviews to share ideas internally for improvement among your management team.

Creating an employer account is free, and it's easy to track and respond to reviews. For example, you can set up alerts so you get an email each time a new review is posted so you can acknowledge and respond to each one.

Benefits of Glassdoor:

• There are about 90 million reviews, salaries, and insights listed on Glassdoor.
• Over 60 million people use Glassdoor every month to research a company or provider.
• Reviews are left by employees who have experience working with that company.
• When a company responds to a review, it shows you the name of the employee as well as their job title.

Manta is a customer review site that primarily features small- to medium-sized businesses. Rather than displaying the top customer reviews right away, Manta organizes search results based on the relevance of your keyword. Then it displays the list of companies with their contact information, so users can quickly connect with a business.

Manta is different than most review sites because it focuses more on connecting people than it does on reviewing products and services. To find customer reviews, you need to select a business, go to their individual listing page, and scroll past their features and products before seeing a review. That way, customers use the reviews as one of the final selling points for purchasing a product or service.

On Manta, the goal is to rank your business as high as possible for each relevant keyword that users can search. So long as your company is in the top search results, you'll have a higher chance of connecting with leads using this site.

Benefits of Manta:

• Manta has data on 35 million businesses spanning across 149 countries.
• Every month, Manta adds 14,000 new listings to its website.
• It's easy to leave reviews on Manta. You just fill out a star rating and write a short description justifying your rating.

25. Capterra

If you're a SaaS business, Capterra is a review site that evaluates software sold by B2C and B2B companies. It has an easy-to-use internal search engine which lets users search for software based on industry, company, or software type. Once a search processes, Capterra displays a list of companies relevant to your keyword and a brief summary describing their product(s).

Users can also compare products on the site. Capterra has a "compare to" feature which lets you select up to four companies and displays the benefits of each side-by-side. You can see everything from ease-of-use to the quality of their customer support, all in one comprehensive view. This makes it easy and efficient for users to find software that best fits their needs.

Benefits of Capterra:

• There are over 1.5 million validated customer reviews posted on Capterra.
• Capterra provides 800 categories to choose from as well as reviews for over 50 thousand products.
• Before clicking into a review, Capterra provides a brief overview of the company, its products, and its mission.
• Capterra provides a pros and cons list for each business profile. This gives users a snapshot of the best and worst features for each company.

26. HundredX

HundredX is a review site and a customer service tool . Businesses create an account on the website and ask customers to leave feedback after working with them. HundredX streamlines the process by providing tools that automatically send out surveys and collect feedback on behalf of the business. With this site, customer services teams don't have to manually seek out reviews or scan third-party sites to obtain customer feedback .

The benefit of signing up for HundredX is the reviews are private. If you get a bad review, leads can't see that feedback and be influenced by the negative comments. This gives your company a chance to correct your mistake before losing potential customers.

Benefits of HundredX:

• HundredX provides profiles for over 1,600 businesses spanning across more than 60 unique industries.
• HundredX offers incentives for users to leave reviews. Roughly 90% of its users participate on a regular basis.
• HundredX's tools helps you create an automated system for creating surveys and collecting customer reviews. This provides an ongoing stream of feedback as you continue to grow your customer base.

Online reviews also exist on sites that aren't necessarily built just to publish online reviews. Some businesses use their social presence and website to encourage online reviews ... and some brands just get them unsolicited, for better or for worse.

Here are some sites that, if you choose to (please, choose to) can serve as additional hubs for online reviews. And they're awesome, because they have enormous reach, and you have some — if not entire — control over these properties.

27. Facebook Ratings & Reviews

Did you know there's a place on Facebook for fans to leave ratings and reviews of your business? There sure is ... it's named, aptly, Facebook Ratings & Reviews. It appears on the left-hand side of your Facebook Page, and you can't move or remove it like you can other parts of your Page.

Anyone logged into Facebook can post a rating or review of a business. All they have to do is go to the Reviews section of your Page, click the grey stars to choose a rating, and then write an optional review. They can make that review public, visible to friends, or visible only to them.

Benefits of Facebook Ratings & Reviews:

• There are more than 2.7 billion users who are active on Facebook each month.
• To collect reviews on Facebook, all you need to do is set up a Facebook Business Profile.
• 2/3 of Facebook users visit a local business's Facebook Profile at least once a week.
• Facebook is a platform designed for communication. This increases the chance of having productive conversations with those who leave a review for your business.

28. Twitter

The ridiculously fast-paced nature of Twitter makes it seem like a weird place to try to accumulate reviews. But while users might not always search for reviews directly on Twitter (unless you started some kind of review hashtag, perhaps), tweets are still indexed in search results. That means a user's tweet, whether complimentary or less-than, could pop up in the SERPs when someone's searching for reviews on your business.

Not only that — there are things you can actively do with the positive tweets coming at you. For instance, we tested the element of social proof on conversions here at HubSpot, attaching three tweets that gave positive reviews on an ebook we were promoting at the time. Guess what happened? The CTA with the three tweets converted better than the CTA with no tweets. If you start to "Favorite" tweets that could serve as positive reviews in the future, it'll be easier to find them when you want to use them in your marketing.

Benefits of Twitter:

• There are over 186 million daily active users on Twitter.
• Twitter lets you communicate both publicly and privately with users. This means you can respond to customers on your feed, but also move the conversation to direct messaging if needed.
• Feedback on Twitter is very immediate. When customers want to voice an opinion about your business, they can do it almost instantly on Twitter.
• Twitter reviews are qualitative. You don't have to worry about an overall rating or satisfaction score when customers leave reviews.

29. Foursquare

Yes, people still use Foursquare. In fact, a ton of people are still using it: In January , Foursquare was racking up 55 million monthly active users (MAUs).

Not only can you check-in to different locations and businesses using the app, you can also leave reviews on Foursquare — making it another interesting platform where your brand or business could be discovered by potential customers looking for suggestions — and five-star reviews.

If your business depends on walk-in foot traffic — restaurants, coffee shops, shopping boutiques, etc. — make sure your Foursquare business profile is filled out and updated so people can find you when they go to check-in — and then ask your visitors to review you there.

Benefits of Foursquare:

• There are over 55 million monthly active users on Foursquare.
• Over two million businesses are using Foursquare to connect with customers.
• Foursquare provides marketing tools for your business. You can give special promotions and discounts to existing customers as well as provide tips for new users who are visiting your business for the first time.

30. Superpages

Superpages lets you search for businesses based on their distance from you, overall rating, industry subcategory, online videos, and even promotional coupons.

Once you find a company that you like, this site shows you where the business is on the map as well as a review summary outlining all of the reviews left for the organization. Visitors can quickly assess what other users are saying about the business and use the coupon links to get the same deals as other customers.

Benefits of Superpages:

• Customers primarily use the map/location features to search for businesses. This is ideal for small- to medium-sized businesses that many only be located in a few areas.
• Each company profile has a "view services" tab that explains exactly what the organization has to offer.
• Superpages provides a service that evaluates your brand's online reputation for free.
• Superpages is centered around local participation. So, you can trust that reviews left for your business are coming from customers in your area.

31. Top Ten Reviews

It’s hard to resist a good top 10 list. Top Ten Reviews satisfies this craving by giving visitors a list of 10, detailed reviews for every post on the site. These posts have a wide topic range as well, touching on everything from mattresses to landscaping to laptops.

There's also a "trending" bar that shows you categories that are currently popular on the site. As a business owner, this can give you an idea of what consumers are buying more of at that particular moment.

Benefits of Top Ten Reviews:

• Top Ten Reviews has reviews for products ranging everywhere from gas-powered lawnmowers to eyeglasses.
• Each review has an "our verdict" section that summarizes the pros and cons of each product as well as whether or not the website would recommend it.
• For each product, Top Ten Reviews provides the latest deals available and links users to where they can find them.
• Top Ten Reviews are very detailed. They have sections outlining the product's features, its specs, overall performance, user testimonials, and more.

32. Your Own Website

Finally, the one place where you have total and utter control: your website. It's an excellent place to publicize reviews you receive (perhaps embed some of those tweets you favorited?).

You could carve out a section of your website dedicated just to reviews and testimonials , and even include a form so happy customers can submit their unsolicited reviews.

But if you're actively campaigning for positive online reviews and you encounter happy customers who want to leave you a positive review but don't have accounts on sites like Yelp, Angie's List, or Google, it's handy to have a place on your website to publish their kind words. Consider adding testimonials to landing pages and product pages, too.

Benefits of your own website:

• You have complete control over the format and rating system for your reviews.
• You can dictate which reviews you want to publish on your website.
• Having reviews on your website is timely. People browsing your site can read your positive reviews as they're shopping for your products.

Which customer review site is best?

The easy answer is all of them. The right answer is a little more subjective.

The best customer review site for your business will be whichever one(s) your customers are using most. The more reviews you obtain, the more you'll learn about your business and how customers feel about you.

Don't forget to share this post!

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Marija Todorovska

30+ review sites to collect more customer reviews in 2023.

Find practical tips and a list of industry-specific websites where you can submit your business to collect and display reviews from your customers.

What’s all the fame with online reviews and review sites? 

Well, maybe if you know that  82% of consumers visit review sites before they purchase a service or a product, you’ll see how big a deal this is, which means that online reviews can make or break any big or local business. 

Yes, that big is their power.

If you’re new to customer reviews and you’re not sure where to find them, collect them, or how use them, let me clear things up for you.

In the following text, you can find practical tips and a list of industry-specific websites where you can submit your business to collect and display reviews from your customers.

5 reasons to be present on business review websites

1. general review sites, 2. review sites for smes, 3. travel & hospitality review sites, 4. home services review sites, 5. restaurants review sites, 6. ecommerce review sites, 7. review sites for legal services, 8. it review sites, 9. medical & healthcare review sites, 10. automotive industry review sites, 11. real estate review sites, the most important one, now, what to do with all that reviews.

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Before the list, just check the reasons why you need to start creating a profile on some of these websites today:

1. Consumer reviews are everywhere!

You can’t hide from reviews. 

Like it or not, they will be displayed online, and they can make or break a business’s bottom line. Fortunately, reputation management plans and strategies can bring a positive change to your online reputation.

So, you should consider managing your business listing on as many relevant review websites.

2. They make you more visible

Being a wanted brand means being a visible one as well. 

People will look on Google and social media when they want to make a purchase. Search engines have their specific functionality algorithms and ways of indexing and ranking. 

Having a good reputation will help you favor those algorithms and have a top position in local searches. Having positive reviews can significantly boost your local SEO efforts.

3. They ARE your social proof

People are becoming increasingly dependent on third-party reviews. 

When it comes to making a purchase decision, they really rely on recommendations and customer reviews, even from total strangers. This is why social proof is so powerful.

With this in mind, businesses have a massive demand for customer feedback and reviews. And people are not shy in giving them – positive and also negative reviews.

4. They are trust signals

Your business reputation is your number one asset. 

Having carefully managed and optimized consumer reviews can emit strong trust signals and influence potential customers’ decisions to make a conversion. 

This makes your business profile trustworthy.

5. Consumers are comfortable leaving reviews

People are usually more comfortable saying their opinion on review sites than on your own business page or website. 

That’s because they go there with the intent to buy something from a business and they usually return. Sometimes to buy again, sometimes to rate the provider high, and sometimes to say that the seller sucks.

Google My Business

Google business profile is a free tool offering businesses to manage their online presence across Google. You’ll have to set up a verified account and information so your business’s website will be optimized appropriately. 

You’ve got a bonus: This amplifies Search and Maps as well – making your business look even more reputable.

• Why care?  Google is the master of internet search.
• Pricing:  Free
• You need it if you want business reviews for ANY type of business.

Learn how to get more Google reviews >

As the most popular social platform, Facebook is now used for business purposes as well. Anyone logged in on Facebook can post a recommendation on your business page. 

That’s why consumers commonly leave reviews and recommendations there. Those are the reasons why Facebook is becoming a popular review source. You’ll definitely want to claim your business’s best here – on your Facebook page.

• Why care?   Facebook recommendations are often consulted before making purchase decisions.
• You need it if you want business reviews for   any type of business.

You want your business to be taken seriously? If so, you need to keep up a high reputation on the most professional social media network. 

LinkedIn product reviews allow members to share their feedback on a particular product on LinkedIn product pages. Leaving constructive and honest feedback, members help each other in making informed purchase decisions.

The name and the profile picture of the reviewer are visible to anyone that views the product reviews. That’s why they are so credible. It’s almost impossible to fake reviews.

• Why care?  LinkedIn’s professional experiences give added credibility to any review given.
• You need it if you want business reviews for any type of business

Oh yeah, people are still using Foursquare business reviews. You can check in to different locations and places using the mobile app. But most important – you can leave a review for any of those places. 

If you are a business on the go, make sure your Foursquare profile is up to date and full of positive reviews.

• Why care?  The most popular check-in review platform.
• You need it if you want business reviews for   any type of business that’s on the go.

It is a review website where people can post reviews about local businesses. The good thing about Yelp is that your happy customers are always at the top of your review feed. It’s effortless for business owners to manage and respond to reviews from the Business dashboard.

Yelp became one of the most popular review sites, especially for SMEs, so you should seriously consider managing your Yelp profile.

• Why care?   97% of people will read local business reviews  before giving them a shot. That’s huge. You should really, really care.
• Pricing:  Free and Paid Version

Better Business Bureau

BBB (Better Business Bureau) helps in finding businesses across the US. It’s one of the most trusted and ethical review platforms for local business clients. The good thing is that BBB has its own ways to put pressure on business owners, so they implement the changes that want to be seen.

The accreditation process guarantees that your business is working in good faith to resolve customers’ concerns.

• Why care?  Showing the BBB’s badge on your website shouts integrity.
• Pricing:  Only Paid Version

Glassdoor is an employee review platform allowing employees to anonymously review their former and current companies, salaries, employers. Glassdoor gives an accurate picture of how one company is from the inside.

The platform is very user-friendly. You can easily find your reviews and respond to them. Also, you can set email alerts never to miss a review.

• Why care?  Glassdoor amplifies employee advocacy.
• Pricing:  Free and Paid Version

Yellow Pages

Yellow Pages transformed from paper to digital and still is one of the most popular review directories. It offers many types of information, such as maps, email addresses, phone numbers, business listings, and many more.

The main goal is to support local businesses for marketing and reviews. 

• Why care?  You can claim your business on YP and have the opportunity to have premium visibility on the website.

Manta is an SME review website with substantial traffic and review capabilities. It doesn’t display your good reviews right away, but instead, it organizes the search results based on your relevance for the keyword. 

Business owners can easily customize their profiles to improve their visibility and marketability. And users can leave star ratings and write reviews.

• Why care?  The platform can rank your business higher for each relevant keyword and get the best chances of connecting with leads.

TripAdvisor

If you’re in the traveling or hospitality business, you’ll want to check out the reviews on TripAdvisor. As the king of the niche, it has millions of reviews and users’ experiences. 

Its popularity rating algorithm is based on the quantity, quality, and recency of reviews. So, you’ll want to put some effort into managing these reviews for sure.

• Why care?  It’s the largest travel site in the world, with over 225 million reviews, opinions, and photos taken by travelers around the world.

Booking.com

Booking.com is the synonym for looking for accommodation, you should seriously consider your Booking reviews. Guest reviews play a crucial role in people’s decisions, both travelers and business owners. They matter to travelers as independent sources of information. 

On the other hand, for business owners, reviews are reputation factors and a valuable source of feedback. So make sure you encourage your guests to leave you a review.

• Why care?  You want to be present on the platform that has over 215M visits, don’t you?

Angie’s List

Angie’s List is a US-based home service online review site, being one of the most credible. User reviews are scaled from A to F and can not be anonymous, which gives trustworthiness to the business. That’s why homeowners feel comfortable picking services from this site.

You can set up a page for free where customers can leave reviews right away.

• Why care?  It’s a business review site that gives significant credibility to small businesses.
• Pricing:  Free

HomeAdvisor

HomeAdvisor is a digital marketplace connecting homeowners with local service professionals and service providers to handle home improvements and maintenance. All the reviews, referrals, and testimonials are going through an extensive screening process. You can be confident that all the reviews are verified, and the chance for fraud is almost equal to zero.

• Why care?  HomeAdvisor allows businesses to engage with leads and new customers on a much higher level by giving credibility.

If you run a restaurant, make sure you have your business listing on OpenTable. This business review platform enables customers to make reservations and write reviews for the locals they visit.

Restaurants receive a star rating from the OpenTable administrators based on the number of reviews they received by visitors. 

• Why care?  The more reviews you collect, the better restaurant’s rating and credibility.
• Pricing:  Paid Version

Claiming your business on Zomato is a smart move to go with. It takes only a few steps, and you’re ready to collect your reviews. 

You can choose from two methods: searching your business through Zomato Business Page or adding it manually in the database. Either way, in just a few clicks, you’ll be all set-up for your customer reviews.

• Why care?  The platform provides online ordering, table management, and many advertising and merchant tools.

Eat24 is straightforward and user-friendly, with filters that allow users to search by restaurant location or cuisine type.

Eat24 is a leading food delivery service that covers thousands of local restaurants nationwide. And with so many reviews on the mobile app from people across the country, you’re sure to offer a dish for even the pickiest eater.

• Why care?  Eat24 is the go-to service for food delivery and pickup. Make sure you’re there.

Since it is one of the oldest online stores, Amazon has trained the consumers to leave reviews almost every time they experience the products and services. 

It’s a trustworthy site for ratings, and it’s one of the most important resources when consumers are looking to make informed purchase decisions.

• Why care?  Amazon is the key source of information for any business that does any amount of eCommerce. It’s the damn leader!

If you have a store on Shopify, you better start collecting product reviews. Shoppers won’t take action before seeing at least 4 good reviews  for an item.  As an online retailer, you have to know that.

Shopify is ease of use eCommerce platform, and you should take the advantages it gives you to establish a strong reputation on it. The great thing is that you can manage and moderate the reviews you receive. Also, you can create stunning Shopify reviews widgets  to make your shop stand out.

• Why care?  Shopify is the new black for eCommerce. Make sure you’re keeping the step up.

Avvo provides legal services to anyone in the market for help, a simple and cost-effective way to find the right attorney. On their profile page, you can see past clients’ reviews, disciplinary actions against them or others with similar names that could be confusing, client endorsements from other lawyers and peers in the industry, and some helpful guides.

• Why care?  97% of the attorneys in the US are rated on Avvo. So, your competitors are there, why wouldn’t you?

Lawyers.com

Lawyers.com provides consumers with legal information, as well as the ability to search for lawyer reviews by location or specialization. 

The platform offers valuable insights into every attorney’s rating. It lets your potential clients know how many current and past clients have given your law firm ratings in addition to peer ratings from other professionals in the field.

• Why care?  Over 34 million people look for help on Lawyers.com every year.
• Pricing:  Paid Version

Captera is a very relevant SaaS review site. When you search on Capterra, instead of showing reviews, it displays a list of companies/products relevant to your keyword and a short summary for each. 

Also, it lets users compare the results, which makes the platform very user-friendly.

• Why care?  It is very effective in connecting users with the right software solutions.

You will want to be present on this site for sure! This site has massive traffic from people who are looking for software solutions and reading reviews about them. 

The specific thing here is that the software reviews cover everything connected with the software – from how easy-to-use it is to technical support.

Why care?  G2Crowd is the number one review website for software solutions. You can shine with your greatest assets.

TrustRadius

TrustRadius is based on LinkedIn authentication. Users can see what their LinkedIn connections are saying about the software products and solutions. The comparing option allows users to have a deeper insight into the chosen products or companies.

• Why care?  The LinkedIn authentication gives double credibility – TrustRadius + LinkedIn.

Caring.com is a website that provides information and support for those caring for aging parents or loved ones. 

The site has a comprehensive directory complete with reviews of caregiving services, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, independent communities, memory care facilities, and continuing care retirement communities. 

• Why care?  For such a delicate matter, your audience is looking for social proof . Make sure to provide one.

Doctor.com is a company that connects medical professionals with patients and the public, providing them visibility on popular review sites like Google, Yelp, Bing, Vitals, and Healthline. 

With an audience of about 30 million people each month and incorporation of these popular sites into their network for additional exposure for all members involved in the process, Doctor.com provides a platform where patient reviews can be generated quickly and efficiently instead of having to go through the tedious task themselves. 

• Why care?  The platform provides visibility on sites across its network and access to review generation tools.

Cars.com is a popular site for car buyers, rentals, and dealerships because it offers comprehensive automotive information in the form of price comparison tools, inventory search, expert opinions, photo galleries, and of course, a large new and used car inventory.

It gives you the ability to collect and display your customer reviews in one place with an enhanced testimonial feed.

• Why care?  It’s the most consulted car dealership website in the USA.

Car Gurus is an automotive research and shopping website. It assists shoppers in comparing cars across the platform.

Users have the option to rate a car or a car dealer and write a review. They can search for your business and compare it with others based on the rating you already have.

• Why care?  The car dealer review site with over 47M visits. 
• Pricing:  Free to post a car, but you’ll be charged $99 when the vehicle is sold.

Realtor .com

Realtor.com listings are the closest to the gold standard. The platform is updated daily by realtors. For this reason, Realtor.com is picked for the most accurate real estate website.

Leaving reviews and writing testimonials is very easy. Users can compare homes, neighborhoods, and even realtors. So, make sure you keep an excellent rating there.

• Why care?  It has the best reputation among real estate review platforms.

Zillow takes authentication very seriously. They will want to make sure that you use legit information and not posting anything that will bring customers to delusion. That’s why it a trusted review website for real estate. 

It is connected to other listing providers, which makes the sync-in information easy.

• Why care?  It includes information on 110 million US homes, complete with online reviews and ratings of real estate pros and firms.

Definitely, the one site you must use to boost your business reputation is your own website! 

It is the only site you have under total control. You can hand-pick your best reviews to shine on your website and  manage the negative reviews  the way they should be treated.

You can collect your best reviews from all sites and display them on your own website. You can even create a dedicated page with reviews and testimonials and show how proud you are of your well-earned reputation.

You can embed a review collection form on your website and keep the reviews coming. That way, your users can submit their reviews effortlessly.

You’ve done a big job there, claiming your business on the most critical directories! Congrats!

But, the process doesn’t stop here. That’s only a step. 

Now, you have to take the management in your hands to keep that reputation up high. You’ll have to respond to that reviews, ask for new ones, and organize all of them. 

We created this  proven plan for online review management  to help you maintain an outstanding online reputation.

As said before, there’s no running away from online reviews. They are here to stay. So make sure you play the game right.

And, remember: ALWAYS is the right time to outline your reputation management strategy, set your goals, and get started now!

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Top 100 Best Product Review Sites in 2023 – Marketing Heaven

What is a Product Review?

If you have been ignoring product reviews, then your marketing efforts are bound to be extremely half-hearted. If you take a step back and regard the climate of competition that has entered digital marketing trends and technologies, you will understand that creating the right narrative is the key to winning over your customers. And this is something that is constantly reaffirmed by the best product review sites , over and over again. 

Before we delve deeper into the realm of Internet Marketing product reviews  to give you a comprehensive list of the top 100 best product review sites , let us understand why product reviews are so important for your brand story and the narrative that it creates online. We can easily sum this up with one very crucial word – visibility. 

When you enter the online sphere for your business, you are doing so for two reasons – either to create brand awareness or to get into E-commerce . With an online presence, you can create the right story around your brand so that customers come flocking to you and find your products and services at the stores or corporate towers where you offer the same. Or, you can directly make a sale online by joining the E-Commerce bandwagon.

Either way, you would need to make sure that your existing customers talk about your product otherwise your brand story will be an incomplete one – and this incomplete gap can easily get filled by your competition.

In the current climate of competitive digital marketing, visibility is a matter of turning in content that one simply cannot turn away from!

This trend has sparked the birth of influencer and content marketing with a number of formats including product reviews and various other pieces that basically shed light on services and products in an organic way within the stories of bloggers, influencers , and other such platforms that are content-based.

  Product review sites are one of the best platforms on which you can actually go ahead and create a number of tutorials, articles, and listicles that can work in your product with a review based story.

With that, let us understand the importance of product reviews on the best product review sites :

1. Amplifies Your Message

When your brand is being talked about by other people apart from you – the business owner – then you are bound to grab eyeballs and make the necessary dent as far as the attention of your prospect or customer goes. This would amplify your message since a well-written product review can be shared many times over since it would also be informative and it can help in spreading awareness of the niche in general. Take the example of a certain new technology. If a product review talks about how it works and how well your brand has managed to make it work, the people in that niche would want to know more about it and hence the sharing of this information would begin. 

2. Incentives

When you offer an incentive so that you get a product review on the best product review sites , you would also be building your brand image in a good way. This would be a good talking point for the viewing party since they will be able to show how accessible your products are. You can also offer a similar or related accessory for the product so that the reviewer is bound to give you a great review. An accessory always makes the product look good and much easier to use, which would definitely amplify the benefits. 

3. A Simple Process

The process of logging on to the best product review sites and leaving a review should be a very easy one. When you prompt someone to leave a review for you on one of these product review sites , you would do well to check which ones offer a simple process so that the reviewer or the customer should not abandon the process midway due to far too many steps. Since no one has the time in this day and age, it would also show the reviewer that you truly care and they would be prone to leave you a good review. 

4. Rewards Programs

You can easily lure your customers into becoming repeat customers and leave them some fantastic reviews by offering a rewards program that will help them know about new offers and discounts before the same would hit the market. You should be careful to pick and choosing someone from that niche who would need products like yours on a regular basis.

This would not only build brand loyalty but would also ensure that when you have a new item or a product, the customer would be more than willing to upgrade. Also, cross-selling would become easier since, by this time, you would be even more aware of the various things that your customer would need. This data would also help you in upselling, reselling, and cross-selling to other people connected with the customer.

When you run a rewards program, you will also give the customer an incentive to buy the same thing for a lesser price. This would also bring on reviews for the new products and help spread the word about the same. 

All in all, you can see that having a presence on the best product review sites can easily lead to greater revenues and authoritative standing in the market. This would also help you reach out to more and more people since the reviewing party would also share the reviews on a constant basis! 

If you are having trouble finding such product review websites , then this list should be printed out and tacked to your notice board!

Presenting the top 100 product review sites with reviews of the best 21

you can be sure to bump into some stellar brands that would have detailed product descriptions from a network of over 800,000 users.

2. Capterra

Selecting the right software becomes easier since you get reviews that help you choose based on one’s specific needs.

You can easily compare, choose, and make integrated blocks that will help users find the perfect app for the business.

4. FinancesOnline

FinancesOnline with  one can discover apps that will help you generate reviews and views of products with 2.5 users on its database!

5. CrozDesk

CrozDesk helps you find the right software for your business with its featured and popular categories to streamline the process for you.

6. Product Hunt

Product Hunt is here to show you how to find products, deals, and numerous other things with reviews that really matter!

7. Software Advice

Software Advice with real research and authentic user product reviews, you can never go wrong with Software advice.

8. Trust Radius

Trust Radius you get to go through 200,000 reviews with 100% verified customers which literally puts your product on the map.

The power of AI will help you find the right software for you. One of the best software comparison sites out there.

10. Fit Small Business

Fit Small Business helps you get reviewed even as it posts articles and blog posts that direct users to its website seamlessly.

11. Marketing Automation Insider

Marketing Automation Insider y ou can get your product or service out there with reviews by a community working to automate your marketing needs.

12. CMS Critic

CMS Critic with a content-based approach, it helps you get featured in stories that will put your product at the forefront.

13. Featured Customers

Featured Customers is the one-stop-shop that will help you earn reviews in stories of a network of users.

14. Trust Pilot

 Trust Pilot with real-time experiences, the focus of the reviews to create a legitimate brand standing for you.

15. SaaS List

Get CRM you will enjoy standing amongst some of the best businesses in your niche so that your audience also sees your reviews in such a repertoire!

16. Predictive Analytics Today

Predictive Analytics Today you will find product reviews, buying guides, and some amazing content to boot!

17. Top 5 Best CRM

Top 5 Best CRM you will find the right CRM platform for your business needs, which will catapult you into the attention span of your ideal audience.

18. Saas Worthy

Saas Worthy you will get featured alongside some of the top software and products out there so that your audience can notice you and approach you!

19. Small Biz CRM  

Small Biz CRM is here to help you stand tall amid your competition. Their main focus remains on small businesses and helping them stand out.

20. Pick Saas

Pick Saas with you to get the advantage of consulting so that you can choose the best CRM platform.

21. The SMB Guide

This is a major player in the SMB space. Y ou can actually make a dent and reach out to your audience in an effective manner.

  All these consulting and product reviewing websites are in the top 21 from our list of 100! With product review websites, you would do well to check the number of users and ask about verified users so that you do not end up with dummy reviews given from fake profiles.

Do a little Google search on the website that you are planning to go with, and ideally one should trust a website that also routinely presents content that keeps people on their platform. This will help in amplifying your reach even as the reviews trickle in to make a difference and create a brand identity for your small business.

 Here Are The Remaining 80 Best Product Review Sites

selecthub.com

project-management.com

goodfirms.co

sellmorenow.com

reviewthecloud.com

sourceforge.net

martechadvisor.com

softwareadvice.it

ambitionbox.com

stacklist.com

gartner.com

ecommerce-platforms.com

top5projectmanagement.com

alternative.me

softwaresuggest.com

reviano.com

reviewster.com

technologyadvice.com

appvizer.com

crm.walkme.com

mycustomer.com

savedelete.com

comparecamp.com

expertmarket.com

inspectorjones.com

activerain.com

accuratereviews.com

financesonline.com

softwarepundit.com

crmsearch.com

consumersadvocate.org

getabettercrm.com

bigofficer.com

reviews.com

blinklist.com

elearningindustry.com

angieslist.com

choice.com.au

which.co.uk

itcentralstation.com

itunes.apple.com

techpikk.com

  Hotrate.com

reviewzap.com

open-source-guide.com

spiceworks.com

itqlick.com

toolowl.com

stylefactoryproductions.com

softwareconnect.com

serchen.com

directory.clickz.com

business-software.com

bestcompany.com

5bestthings.com

bizofit.com

gsuite.google.com

saasgenius.com

affgadgets.com

suggestnext.com

digital.com

gedlynk.com

nichepursuits.com

todaytesting.com

1minutereview.org

crmmatch.net

lawyerist.com

techalook.com

smartbusinesstrends.com

digitalgyd.com

emailmarketingscience.com

bloggingeclipse.com

entrepreneurshipfacts.com

emailtooltester.com

authorityhacker.com

merchantmaverick.com

testfreaks.com

fanreviews.co

These are the top 100 product review websites out there for you to try. Always remember to choose the product review website depending on the exact niche in which your product or brand may be operating.

Apart from product reviews, you would also do well to check out product review websites that would feature plenty of content that sets a tone for the trends and encapsulates the evolution of your industry.

  Product reviews are the best way to grab the attention of your ideal audience and make sure that they understand your USP so that they can come to you. An ideal product review website would also help you highlight your solutions for your niche market in the content that they produce on their website as well. This would help you in creating a brand standing for your product or service.

  The above 100 tech product review websites can help you get the most authentic reviews for your technology, and business products so that your audience can read about you and more than anything else, gain awareness of your niche so that they are able to trust your brand.

Product reviews also help in catapulting you into mass consciousness so that you can make an impression in the minds of your readers and audience. The above 100 best product review websites will show you a number of niche websites that will help you tap into your perfect audience base without merely buying reviews from fake accounts.

FAQs or Frequently Asked Questions 

Let us look at the some of faqs for product review sites:, why is product review important for product marketing.

Just think about it for a minute. If you do not have proper product reviews on the best product review sites , then your competition will swoop in and let the customer know that there is something better waiting for him or her and the competing brand may even bring in product reviews online review sites to back these claims. The best customer review sites are around for a very strong reason.

You cannot merely post the reviews on your own portal or on your Amazon product page. You would also have to get product and customer reviews on a number of other portals and platforms so that the customer may be redirected to your online shopping or listing page in a legitimate and organic manner. 

WHY DO YOU NEED AN ORGANIC PRODUCT REVIEW?

This is due to the fact that direct selling does not have a purchase frequency when it comes to several products. Indirect selling with the help of online review sites as well as influencer marketing will always do the trick when it comes to showing rather than telling the new prospect about the efficacy and brilliance of your unique product or service. And what better way to showcase your product than with the review of someone who is not on your payroll or on your website?

WHAT ARE THE BEST PRODUCT REVIEW SITES?

Now that you have understood the importance of weaving product reviews into the narrative and story of your brand online, let us understand what product reviews actually are. The best product review sites showcase your product and bring on reviews that customers can leave behind based on their experience from the actual purchase to the delivery and the use of the product along with after-sales services as well. These words can be backed by links, images, and various other things that can show your product in detail and explain all the various qualities as well as the features for a prospective buyer’s purchase intent to be shaped. 

WHERE CAN I FIND PRODUCT REVIEWS?

The point is to shape the buyer’s intent here. And the point is also to hold on to the attention of the buyer for a long enough period of time so that the intent may be skillfully shaped with the efforts of the review and the influencer marketing expert as well. Apart from consumer product review sites , you can also approach influencer marketing experts in your niche or industry so as to show what your product is all about and what its practical usage looks like.

This is helpful for a number of industries from fashion to software and so much more. Many of the product review sites also feature profiles of influencer marketing experts for that niche so that you can turn to them for publicizing and promoting your product in an organic way so that it does not look like direct marketing by any means. 

WHERE CAN I WRITE A PRODUCT REVIEW?

A product review on any of the best product review sites can always have a call for action that leads a person to an E-Commerce portal where the actual purchase may be made. But what happens when a purchase is not on the horizon just yet? Even then a product review would be very helpful since it can give a call for action that registers the data and starts an email marketing campaign to familiarize the end user with the benefits of using that product in the long run. This can be done so that you keep the channels of engagement open and as and when the customer would need to buy that product, you would be uppermost in his or her mind thanks to the engaging emails that you have been sharing. 

HOW CAN A PRODUCT REVIEW LEAD TO A SALE?

This is one of the key ways in which product reviews can tie in all your efforts across many different platforms. Further, these reviews can also be shared on social media platforms and pages so that you can show your prospects what the customers are getting out of your product or service. It is also a good way of highlighting your USP or unique selling point. 

I am a passionate blogger and developer sharing business tips. I Help others solve programming problems on various online forums.

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Top 10 online business review websites to get more customer reviews (Updated 2022)

By Heidi Abramyk | Aug 5, 2022 | Marketing | 19 min read

So what’s the big deal about business reviews and review websites? Why is everyone looking for the best review sites to list on? Well, more than 93 percent of consumers take online reviews into account when making their purchase decisions. Having business listings on the best review sites can help you make more sales. Businesses are told to get more online reviews on the best review websites to keep attracting new customers. And, as consumers, we are constantly being asked to leave an online review for almost every transaction we complete.

Get FREE templates for responding to online reviews and give a boost your clients' online presence. Download your online business review templates now.

Two big reasons why online reviews on the best review websites are kind of a big deal

Businesses are often afraid to manage online customer reviews on business review websites as they don’t want to end up in one of these situations :  

• receiving zero business reviews on any of the best review website
• receiving zero recent online business reviews
• receiving negative online reviews
• or, the business simply has unmanaged online reviews across multiple business review websites

Unfortunately, these businesses are missing out and hurting their business through inaction, as reputation management drives conversion . Being proactive and taking the steps required to get listed on the best review websites and asking customers for website reviews and online reviews is critical to success today.

1) Online reviews and social posts help shape a company's online reputation

In fact, one of the worst things a business can do is ignore their online reviews and social posts. As easy as it is to make a mistake when managing a business’s online reputation , it can also be  easy to recover if you monitor the online reviews properly.

While damage will inevitably happen, a business can take steps to mitigate the degree of damage that can occur on business review websites. The biggest mistake of all a company can make is not participating in helping to shape the conversation about their company online.

2) Online reviews provide valuable feedback for businesses

While it can be easy for a company to take negative online reviews to heart, it is important to recognize that website reviews are constructive feedback. Whether they're on your website or the best review sites, all in all, online reviews are actually valuable feedback! They help a company gauge their performance and see how they can improve. There is always room for improvement and a lot can be learned even from positive business reviews. 

Through online reviews, businesses can see which products or services they should be boasting, determine which ones need work, and even discover employees who rock at customer service. If we have not yet sold you on the importance of being listed on the best review sites and getting online reviews, maybe these 50 stats on online reviews will . 

Top 10 best review sites to get online reviews from your customers

Why are these the best online review websites for businesses.

All companies should strive to get online reviews on these best review sites. That's because these best review sites are those that people know about (and go to), and that are relatively frictionless (sites consumers have logins or can go in easily to leave an online review).

Similar to our Top 100+ Online Business Directories list , we wanted to bring you another list backed by numbers.

Traffic talks folks, and the more consumers that visit business review websites, the more they are likely to leave and read other online reviews. Let's face it, no one wants to create another login or account on another site to manage yet another password.

Related Reading: The Top 10 Online Real Estate Directories

Three important tips for business review websites:

1) Add or claim listings on the best review sites online

There are many niche business review websites and directories out there, and we have brought you a mix of the very best review sites in the online world.

In other words, it’s a good idea to add or claim a listing or business profile on these best review sites (unless a business doesn’t fit with the niche), correct the business’s listing information, and start getting more online business reviews! For example, add a business to Waze or claim an Apple Maps listing to get more online reviews from customers on two of the best review sites with maps.

Plus, getting a business's listing information on business review websites corrected only heeds positive citation results, especially when listed on these big guys below.

2) Businesses should keep asking their customers for online reviews

Asking the average customer for an online review can be hard work. Granted, it is often easiest to get online reviews from consumers that are either really happy or really unhappy with the level of service they were provided.

Businesses should always remember to ask as customers are busy creatures and will not remember unless they are asked nicely to leave feedback.

3) Customers are more open to leaving online reviews on the best review sites

With that being said, which business review websites are the best to ask customers to leave online reviews on? Why not just ask for online reviews or testimonials on a business's website? Well, asking consumers to leave a review on a business’s website seems a lot more screened and inauthentic than simply asking consumers to leave their online reviews on a trusted review site.

The list of the top 10 best review sites

1.  google online reviews.

Average monthly US traffic (Alexa):  158.03 million

Business reviews for: any business

Google Business Profile is a free tool for businesses to manage their online presence across Google, including Search and Maps. Google is the go-to search engine of choice: as more and more consumers conduct multiple searches on it every day, more businesses are vying for top SERP results .

Very important: Businesses must verify their information to complete their Google Business Profile registration.

Google Business Profile puts business data on Search, Maps, and Google+. Because of this, customers can easily find a location from desktop, mobile, or anything in between. Google customer reviews show up in search and are known to bolster SEO , so they are essential to the credibility of all businesses.

Google is the king of web traffic

Did you know that Google’s search engine performs over 3.5 billion searches per day ( internetlivestats.com )? Businesses should aim to be on Google’s snack pack in order to be readily found when consumers perform a local search.

Users can leave online reviews for a business easily and simply. The less friction involved in the business review process, the easier it is to get more reviews. Getting online reviews through a business’s Google Business Profile account is a great place to start.  

How to get more online customer reviews on Google

Step 1. Send out online review requests. Available reputation builder tools such as Customer Voice can help to simplify this process. Gather online reviews from real customers quickly and easily.

Step 2. Link your Google review page to the business website. Much like attaching social pages to a website through their logos, you can also create this shortcut to the Google reviews page.

Step 3. Create a Google review landing page on the business website. This will also be helpful for SEO purposes as the online reviews will have keywords. Having online reviews pulled directly onto the business site should encourage other site visitors to leave online reviews.

Step 4. Create a Google review CTA banner or button. This should live on the homepage of the business website where most traffic will land. Make it as convenient as possible.

2.  Amazon online reviews

Average monthly US traffic (Alexa): 85.44 million

Business reviews for: e-commerce related transactions

Amazon is a powerhouse. Therefore, it is no surprise that it is a popular go-to business review site for e-commerce products. If you don’t use Amazon, you probably know someone that has used Amazon (or uses Amazon faithfully).

In fact,  Amazon has been training consumers to use their online review system for a long time now. Therefore, we should probably thank them for helping train a mass of consumers to start leaving them and making it as part of an online consumer etiquette, if you will. 

Amazon is much more than book reviews today

For companies that do any amount of e-commerce, Amazon is a key source of information. While Amazon as a business review website is more targeted and fitting for Amazon marketplace partners, it is a worthy site to note, especially for retailers about what customers like about certain products and how the service aspect of transactions was handled. 

Did you know that online business reviews have been a part of Amazon’s websites for over 20 years ?

Another fun fact: Amazon’s online business review system was improved in 2015 to start weighing customer reviews so they are more up-to-date and helpful.

How to get more customer reviews on Amazon

Step 1. Set up automated emails to be sent post purchase. These can either be to thank the customer for their purchase, ask for feedback, or drive traffic to social channels. Make sure a link is included in the email to direct customers toward the review section.

Step 2. Use social channels to request Amazon reviews.  Consumers following a business on social media have likely purchased from the business before or will have a positive opinion of the business.

Step 3. Ask for online reviews from users who reviewed similar products. Similar to an online shopping experience, you can see 'customers who bought this item also bought,' as well as customers who view items. These are visible from the business's product page.

3.  Facebook online reviews

Average monthly US traffic (Alexa):  85.57 million

Facebook is a social networking platform where users can create profiles, upload photos and videos, send messages and keep in touch with friends, family and follow their favorite businesses and brands. But it's also one of the best review sites. Companies can create business profiles that users can follow and also leave business reviews based on their experience with the company.

Customers now commonly leave online reviews on social media

Consumers increasingly interact with brands through social channels, and there is no social platform more prevalent than Facebook. It follows, then, that the business reviews on Facebook are seen and shared by many potential customers. Businesses should take note of the big wins and online reputation management fails big mistakes that a business can experience when opening themselves up to social media.

But again, please note that consumers are talking about a business whether that company's representatives are aware of it or not (and whether businesses have claimed their business profile or not). With that being said, it is pertinent that businesses are actively monitoring their social media mentions at all times.

Facebook is becoming one of the best review sites today

Due to the sheer size of the user base of Facebook, it is gaining momentum towards being one of the most best review sites. Since most users on the site already have a Facebook account, the process to leave a business review is relatively frictionless.

Consequently, this reduction in friction gives Facebook an advantage over other business review websites where users must create unique logins or log in to the site each time (compared to those consumers that are already living and breathing in Facebook).

How to get more customer reviews on Facebook

Step 1. Manage all online reviews with responses. Negative reviews are as easily managed as positive reviews as long as you stay on top of them. Set up notifications for reviews so that none get missed and potential customers will see that the business cares about the customer experience. This will encourage more people to leave reviews.

Step 2. Ask customers to "check in" to the business on Facebook. This will help to boost the business's Facebook presence as the action of checking in automatically shares a post with that customers' followers. The business name and link to its Facebook page will show up in that post. More positive actions on social media lead to greater potential for reviews.

Step 3. Add a CTA button to the business website.  Create a button specifically for customers to leave online reviews and have it placed on the main page of the business website. Try to uncomplicate the act of leaving online reviews, and the chances of customers leaving reviews will increase.

4.  Yelp online reviews

Average monthly US traffic (Alexa):  40.47  million

Yelp is a platform (one of the best review sites, actually, as well as an app) where users can publish reviews about local businesses. Also, Yelp trains small businesses how to respond to business reviews, host social events for Yelpers (a.k.a. Yelp reviewers) and provides data about businesses including health inspection scores ( Yelp.com ).

Reputation management is essential on business review websites

Yelp has become a name synonymous with business review websites, as the site has over 102 million reviews and counting. As the world’s largest outlet for online reviews grows, it might be time for all small businesses to start caring about what consumers are saying online; and more specifically, about their Yelp reviews.

Image Source: Yelp

Consumers aren’t going to give a small business any attention if all they see is negativity surrounding their Yelp customer review page.

Yelp has a distinct reviewer culture of "yelpers"

Consumers who review businesses and leave business reviews on Yelp have become known widely as “yelpers.” Yelpers leave business reviews to help others in the community make purchasing decisions and it’s important for your local business clients to keep an eye on them.

Business review websites such as Yelp point to the growing importance of review monitoring to manage a business’s online reputation. In summation, if we haven’t won you over on Yelp yet, maybe these hilarious Yelp reviews will . 

How to get more customer reviews on Yelp

Step 1. Buy or craft Yelp reviews.  This review generation tactic doesn't have to be as dirty as it sounds. You can buy reviews from actual customers by providing incentives for them to leave a review. This could include discounts, freebies, or whatever the business is willing to trade for customer reviews. This request will have to be done on the website or through social media as Yelp will penalize businesses that ask on their platform.

Step 2. Display online reviews on the business website. ReviewTrackers recommends using widgets that can display reviews directly on a website such as Yelp badges. These should update automatically as new reviews are posted on Yelp.

S tep 3. Encourage customers to check in on Yelp. Similar to Facebook, this tactic shares a business's Yelp page with other users. It also rewards the customer who checked in with a special offer from that business.

5.  TripAdvisor online reviews

Average monthly US traffic (Alexa):  28.27  million

TripAdvisor is a travel website company where users can leave business reviews of places they’ve visited. Users can also book rooms, find flights, discover to do, and reserve tables at participating restaurants. TripAdvisor operates some of the best review sites internationally in over 25 countries.

King of the niche: travel directories and travel-related reviews

Another fun fact:  business review volume occurs the highest in the travel vertical .

Apparently, vacation stories must also travel the gap between online and in person. Well, if a person really wants, at least they can avoid the vacation slide shows online. 😉

How to get more customer reviews on TripAdvisor

Step 1. Ask guests to leave online reviews at the end of their trip. This is a no-brainer, but it might not always happen. Ensure employees are on top of this since customers are more likely to leave a review when asked to do so. If not in person then through automated emails like discussed in the Amazon section.

Step 2. Personalize your thank-you message. In the post-experience email sent to customers, ensure it's personalized and includes links back to the TripAdvisor page.

Step 3. Make it easy to write a review.  Include leading questions such as 'what was the most memorable part of your experience,' or templates that can be lightly personalized for customers who are on the go.

6.  Better Business Bureau online reviews

Average monthly US traffic (Alexa): 6.15  million

The Better Business Bureau aims to help people find and recommend businesses, brands and charities they can trust (bbb.org).

The BBB is built on trust

Based on a business rating review system, BBB educates consumers and assists people in finding trusted businesses. The Better Business Bureau tries to protect consumers from fraudulent business or scammers.

Company profiles on BBB contain a short company bio and a history of complaints made about the business, as well as an  A - F rating.

How to get more customer reviews on Better Business Bureau

Step 1. Use the Customer Review Generator. BBB has a tool that accredited businesses can use that sends review requests either via text message or email. All that needs to be collected from customers is their contact info and sending a text adds another level of convenience.

Step 2. Take advantage of BBB's customer review toolkit. This includes a customizable 'leave a review' button for the business's website to drive traffic to the BBB review site. Sample social media posts, newsletter and blog templates, and email signatures are all included as well.

Step 3.   Share positive online reviews. Spread the word of positivity with the business's social media followers and post them on the business's website. There's no reason to keep a great review in one place only.

7.  Yellowpages online reviews

Average monthly US traffic (Alexa):  10.5  million

YellowPages is an online internet yellow pages directory owned by YP. YP is a local marketing solutions provider that focuses on helping local businesses (and the communities within) grow.

YP: a IYP directory with large traffic volume and review capabilities

Yellowpages has business review capabilities. Companies can manage their customer reviews on the review site after claiming a free business listing on their page.

How to get more customer reviews on Yellowpages

Step 1. Follow-up with customers.  However the business is able to whether that's email, social media, or text message, reach out and ask for those reviews.

Step 2. Promote where customers can leave online reviews through the business on social media. Inform potential or current customers of which review websites the business uses, and make sure to include a link to the website homepage. This should be where all of the CTA buttons exist to direct people to each review site.

8. Manta online reviews

Average monthly US traffic (Alexa): 6.48  million

Manta is an online small business service directory, search engine, and review site that provides small businesses with the information to network.

Manta: a directory with solid traffic volume and review capabilities

The site helps small businesses connect and grow through their community where users can buy from, partner with, and connect to companies.

How to get more customer reviews on Manta

Step 1. Run an email campaign.  Keep it simple, HubSpot found with a/b testing that a short and sweet ask performed best. Another option is to offer a chance to win something for the business such as discounts.

Step 2. Ask satisfied customers to review the business at the end of a short survey.  Send out a survey to check in with customers and include a section at the end that asks for a positive review.

9.  Angie online reviews

Average monthly US traffic (Alexa): 5.44 million

Business reviews for: service-related businesses

Angie is a service listing and review website that offers user-based rankings and reviews of service professionals in local areas.

Angie reviews are from members

Because Angie is one of the best review sites for paying businesses, it is known to be less filled with rambling reviews from customers and spam. Members grade companies using a report card scale from A-F on price, quality, responsiveness, punctuality, and professionalism.

Angie is divided into categories such as house, auto, health, pets, and services.

How to get more customer reviews on Angie

Step 1. Pay for 'verified neighbor' reviews. Angie (formerly Angie's List) only allows members to post reviews on this site through the system mentioned above.  Businesses can sign up to the platform for free and access their reviews from the business profile page.

Step 2. Show customers how leaving a review can benefit them.  Businesses use information from reviews to better their products and services. The more reviews left, the more consumer information that businesses will have to build from.

10.  Foursquare online reviews

Average monthly US traffic (Alexa): 3.67 million

Business reviews for: any business, mostly restaurants

Foursquare is a local search and discovery service mobile app. The app helps users discover new places/businesses through other Foursquare business reviews.

Foursquare is a powerful social media review tool

Users can let friends know where they are and find out where their friends are. Users can also collect points, prize badges, and coupons for checking in at places. In any case, with 55 million monthly active users, Foursquare is a powerful force to monitor customer loyalty and feedback.

How to get more customer reviews on Foursquare

Step 1. Use Foursquare's sister app Swarm. Swarm focuses on check-ins like Facebook, and sharing with friends in that network.

Step 2. Sign up for an account.  The business may already exist on Foursquare because anyone can create a listing. This means there may be reviews and ratings that the business hasn't even seen.

Why companies should want customer reviews on the best business review websites

The importance of responding to customers online could not be more important, as online reviews are often the first point of contact a potential customer has with a business . Aside from the fact that business reviews from customers help other customers decide whether they should visit a business or not, business reviews are now more prevalent on search results pages.

How can businesses get more online reviews?

There are a variety of methods a business can employ to ask for more business reviews, including emailing consumers manually, asking consumers to leave reviews with codes and review sites on their receipts, or utilizing review generation software to automate the business review process. But first, companies need to be listed on the best review sites listed above.

Business reviews can now appear in search results

In Google’s markup—the annotated content that appears in search—of a company or product, business reviews and ratings can now be included in search results. In other words, when a user performs a search on Google, Google will find and possibly display review summaries from online business reviews and consumer ratings. Below is an example of how business reviews now showing up in search results.

Business reviews are here to stay

In conclusion, there’s no getting away from online business reviews. Sorry folks. The good news is that there are methods to get more positive reviews for company clients  as well as effectively managing reviews from customers .

Also, you don't need to fear negative online reviews , there are ways to negate the effect of negative reviews (see what we did there?)!

The moral of the story: get on the best review sites and always respond to online business reviews, whether they are good or bad

Indeed, the important takeaway here is that it is important to respond to reviews, good or bad . By and large, it shows that a company cares about their consumers.

About the Author

Heidi Abramyk

Heidi Abramyk is what some would call a content-a-holic. She is among the select breed that finds the subject of local SEO and business listing citations absolutely fascinating. Heidi enjoys words (especially the best ones), designing (in every form but hand drawing) and formulating content strategies to take over the digital marketing world.

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The Best Online Learning Platforms for 2023

Whether you're looking to get ahead in your schoolwork, improve a business skill, edit video, or even master French pastry baking, the top online learning sites we've tested can help.

I've been contributing to PCMag since 2011, at times as an analyst and currently as deputy managing editor for the software team. My column, Get Organized , has been running on PCMag since 2012. It gives advice on how to manage all the devices, apps, digital photos, email, and other technology that can make you feel like you're going to have a panic attack.

• Best Learning Software for Kids
• Best Language Learning Software
• Best Free Language Learning Software
• Best Software for Learning to Code
• Best American Sign Language Software

MasterClass

Khan academy, linkedin learning.

Online learning sites enable us to expand our minds and creative spirit. No matter where you are in the world or how little prior experience you have with a subject, you can learn just about anything, so long as you have an internet connection. We test and review dozens of online learning platforms, and here we list the best ones for all kinds of non-matriculated learning.

"Learning" isn't limited to the education taught in school. There are sites where you can pick up new software skills, become a better manager, study the art of memoir writing, watch a tutorial on how to set up a sewing machine, and listen to a world-renowned master in their field explain how they got there. Are you looking for practical skills? Business skills? Professional development? Inspiration? Or are you a student who needs tutoring in AP History? You can learn any of these things and more.

Read on for the top services we've tested, followed by everything you need to know about online learning.

Best for Inspiration

Why we picked it.

Everything about MasterClass deserves an A+. Instructors are among the top names in their fields. Each class is designed in painstaking detail. The production quality is superb. And what you learn from MasterClass is a combination of practical skill and inspiration.

Who It's For

MasterClass is for anyone who has a curiosity and desire to learn, from teenagers on up. It's for people who want insight into a chosen field, as well as those open to learning what they can from the highest achievers in other fields. Whether you're passionate about standup comedy, filmmaking, leadership, baking, music, or scholarship, you can find wonderful insight from MasterClass.

• A-list celebrity instructors
• Supremely high production values in videos
• Well-thought-out course structure
• Great breadth of topics
• Video and course run times and year filmed should be clearer
• No free trial

Best for Free Academic Learning

Khan Academy is one of the best online learning sources because it clearly and strategically helps you learn academic subjects for free. Whether you need to master a mathematical concept or advance your understanding of macroeconomics, Khan has you covered. The videos, readings, and interactive components it uses to teach are well thought out and delivered with care.

Khan Academy focuses on learning materials for students in kindergarten through early college. That doesn't mean other people can't use it or find immense value in it. When you look at the available courses, however, you will notice that many of them closely map to the US education system. So for example, there are courses under the heading High School Physics. Khan Academy is especially adept at teaching math, science, computing, economics, history, and personal finance, among a few other subjects. You get sequential material, too, so you can work through one lesson at a time in order until you've learned what you need to know.

• No account necessary
• Uses video lectures, readings, and quizzes
• Impressive test-prep and college-prep resources
• Generous language support
• Missing some subjects, such as foreign languages and music
• Caters uniquely to the US education system and needs

Best for Free Access to University Courses

Coursera is different from many other online learning sites because it hosts real courses from prestigious universities and makes many of them available for free. In other words, you can get all the lectures (recorded to video) and reading materials from a class at, say, Yale University without paying anything at all. Coursera has other kinds of classes, too, but the university material is really what sets it apart. For some courses, there are options to pay for it and earn a professional certificate, bachelor's degree, or master's degree. If you don't pay, you still get the exact same learning materials, but you don't get any interaction with instructors or any grades on your assignments.

Coursera is for people who want access to real university classes and have the self-discipline to follow through on all the assignments, which can often take weeks or months to complete. You mostly learn through videos, readings, quizzes, and assignments. If you use Coursera for free, you may be able to get feedback on your assignments from other learners, but not the instructor. Coursera is best for learners who can handle college-level course material.

• Offers real courses from universities for free
• Partners with private corporations for job-specific skills
• Reasonably priced certificate courses
• Interface dated in some areas

Best for Quizzes and Games

We picked Kahoot! as one of the best online learning platforms because it lets you create games, quizzes, and other interactive content for your learning materials. Whether you are designing games and quizzes or playing them, Kahoot! is easy to use. We love that it adds engagement to all kinds of get-togethers, whether in the classroom, meeting room, or living room.

Kahoot! is an ideal platform for businesses that need to teach something, as well as educational instructors who want to make their content more engaging. Once you have an account, you'll see other fun ways to use the platform to create, for example, trivia for family gatherings or activities at conferences

• Encourages interaction in a fun way
• Variety of uses, from business training to student learning
• Easy to use as creator or player
• Players don't require an account
• Strict 120-character limit on question text field
• No auto-advance option; host must manually move to next question or slide

Best for Creatives Learning Practical Skills

Skillshare's videos teach you skills to lead a creative life. It covers everything from creative hobbies to tips for running a creative online business. This site offers short videos, sometimes as part of a much longer series, where you learn and practice mostly hands-on skills. You get additional materials, such as PDF handouts, and sometimes community forums where you can upload examples of your work to get feedback from other learners. While its pricing has jumped around over the years, Skillshare now has a reasonable annual cost.

Skillshare is for people who want to develop creative skills or need help learning the ins and outs of running a creative business. It's especially good at helping people with drawing, painting, digital arts, photography, cooking, writing, sewing, and other crafts. One aspect of Skillshare that we appreciate is that it does have some very short courses or lessons within courses that you can complete as a one-off. For example, if you just want to practice drawing cacti for five minutes, Skillshare has videos that will indulge your creative cravings.

• Varied content topics all suited to creative types
• Optional assignments and community interaction
• Some free courses
• Feedback from other learners is rarely insightful or instructional
• No guarantee that instructors participate in community features

Best for Programming and Vocational Skills

We picked Udacity as one of the best online learning platforms because it teaches highly specific, job-focused skills and gives learners an opportunity to create sample work to prove it. Udacity delivers rigorous courses, called Nanodegrees, that teach highly specific job-related skills, mostly in the tech arena. Some of the Nanodegrees have been created in partnership with big-name companies, like IBM Watson and Google. Learners come away not only with new skills but also—fairly often—sample projects to show their work, perhaps for a job interview.

Udacity is clearly for job seekers who want to work in a specific technical field and perhaps for a specific employer. How specific? There's a course called Self-Driving Car Engineer, developed in partnership with Mercedes-Benz, Nvidia, Uber, and other companies. Udacity does offer some more general business courses on topics such as marketing. That said, Udacity is best for people who are willing to pay a few hundred dollars per month to complete one of its highly targeted Nanodegrees.

• Focused on specific job skill development, especially in programming and computer science
• Nanodegree learners come away with relevant work samples
• Self-service cancellation, data download, and account deletion
• Difficult to measure the value for job seekers
• Less inspirational and motivational than other learning sites

Best for Curious Minds

Wondrium is a subscription-based  video streaming service  that focuses on educational programming. Wondrium was formerly called The Great Courses Plus, and while it has expanded its catalog in recent years, it still has everything that The Great Courses Plus had. The courses come across as a series of TV lectures or simple documentaries. You can watch video courses not only on your computer, but also via Apple TV, Roku, and other devices. The service has an overwhelming amount of content on topics such as philosophy, religion, and the natural world.

The best way to describe Wondrium is to call it couch-side edutainment. It's not geared toward teaching you hands-on skills or helping you achieve a specific learning goal (though it does have some skills-focused classes). Instead, Wondrium feeds your curiosity with videos that explore ideas that perhaps you know nothing about. In that sense, it's wonderful for beginners or people who don't have any prior knowledge of the subjects it covers.

• Excellent accessibility options
• TV quality production values
• Variety of content
• No free account or content
• Prices somewhat high

Best for Business Skills

Many years ago, there was a learning site called Lynda.com that was absolutely brilliant at teaching software skills, such as how to use Photoshop and other business-level creative skills. Then LinkedIn acquired Lynda.com. Luckily, all the old courses from Lynda.com are still available in the site that's today known as LinkedIn Learning, and LinkedIn has added new content, too, mostly focused on business skills.

LinkedIn Learning is for people who want to develop business skills, both hard skills (how to use Tableau, for example) and soft skills (management, leadership, etc.). Really, it's for people who have a paid LinkedIn membership, because access to LinkedIn Learning is included. If you wouldn't get much out of the other benefits for a paid LinkedIn subscription, then we don't recommend paying nearly $40 per month just for LinkedIn Learning.

• Wide range of learning courses, with plenty related to business
• Great for specific hard skills, such as software training
• High production quality
• Many videos have an overly corporate tone
• Confusing classes categorization

Best for Taking One-Off Courses

We included Udemy in this list of the best online learning platforms because it sells discrete video courses on an array of topics. Many people end up using Udemy because they met an instructor through another context, and the instructor pointed them to Udemy to purchase their course. Generally speaking, Udemy's content covers both personal and professional development, with excellent lessons in management training, software use, and programming. We like that you can pay for Udemy courses one by one, with prices varying per course, or you can get access to a catalog of content with a business subscription. Regrettably, the subscription prices are high, and you need a minimum of five people for a business account.

Udemy is for three kinds of people: 1) those with a business subscription to the site who can simply explore what it has to offer, 2) people who are interested in a specific course offered on the site, and 3) instructors who want to host and sell their courses on Udemy. For the third use case, we didn't do detailed testing or analysis, instead focusing on Udemy from the learner's perspective.

• Great learning courses for hard and soft professional skills
• Interesting array of content
• Clear resources for instructors
• No subscription for individuals; pricing is per class
• Price for Business accounts somewhat high, with a minimum of 5 people

How Effective Is Online Learning?

All the sites included in this roundup use video as the primary teaching method. Some add interactive quizzes, PDFs, links to additional resources, and discussion areas (usually little more than a section for comments) so that everyone engaged with the material can learn from one another.

Videos can be standalone, although usually, they're part of a series. A course might contain several hours of videos, but they're always broken up into parts. The best learning sites take care to plan out how much content goes into each video as well as the sequence of videos. In this way, your learning is cumulative. You're typically building new ideas or concepts on top of what you've already learned.

When quizzes are available, they can be private to you or shared with an administrator or instructor if your login is part of a business account or associated with a formal class or tutoring (in the case of Khan Academy). They help you track how well you've retained new information. Some sites offer certificates upon completion. They are not widely accepted by other institutions, but they may be helpful to you in some cases. For example, if your employer pays for you to have a subscription to a learning website, you can offer these certificates as evidence of using it.

A note on language learning: There are so many excellent websites and apps for learning a foreign language that we have a separate article for them. When you want a language app, you'll have specific questions, such as: Which one offers the language I want? How much time do I need to spend on it each day? How much does it cost? You might also want to know which apps are better for developing a base vocabulary versus advancing existing skills. Our roundup of the best language learning apps and websites covers all these points and more.

Similarly, PCMag has a separate article on the best courses for learning to create websites . It's another concrete skill that comes with specific questions. We have another entire article dedicated to the best online courses for Photoshop .

Is MasterClass Worth the Money?

MasterClass is an on-demand learning website where you get hours and hours of video featuring top talent talking about their fields. Everything about it is extremely well made, and if you're interested in even one course, we think it's worth paying for a year's subscription. You will certainly find other courses if interested once you get into the catalog.

MasterClass is simultaneously binge-worthy, educational, and thought-provoking. The quality alone leaves you whispering, "How is this so good?"

In the recent past, MasterClass has done a good job of improving its lineup of instructors to include more top talent who are people of color and women (it was previously weak in this regard). The catalog of classes is growing all the time. The content is top rate, and the quality is exceptional.

Where Can You Take Real College Classes Online?

Coursera is one of the best online learning sites that offers plenty of free video courses and materials. It also partners with universities to make some of their degree programs available online. If you want the degree, you have to apply to the program and pay tuition to the school, just as if you were an in-person student. However, if you don't care about getting the degree and you just want access to real courses and materials from the likes of Yale, University of Singapore, and Sciences Po in France, then you can create a free Coursera account and have access to them.

No matter how you attend, you get video lectures, reading materials, quizzes, and in some cases the opportunity to submit assignments for peer-review (when you audit a course) or grades (with paid enrollment).

Recommended by Our Editors

Coursera partners with private companies, too, to offer accessible education in a variety of fields from programming to designing with AutoCAD. Other examples of classes you can take include Introduction to Food and Health, Google IT Automation with Python, and Introduction to International Criminal Law.

What Are the Best Online Learning Platforms for Specific Job Skills?

If you need to learn specific job skills, there are two online sites that we recommend. One is Udacity because it teaches highly specific, job-focused skills. If you are aiming to get a job from one of the companies that Udacity partners with, the Udacity courses could give you a leg up. While Udacity offers a handful of courses that aren't technical in nature, the majority are, and they are highly specific. How specific? There's a course called Self-Driving Car Engineer, developed in partnership with Mercedes-Benz, Nvidia, Uber, and other companies.

The other site is LinkedIn Learning. We like it best for brushing up on general job skills, such as public speaking and developing interviewing strategies; we also love its video tutorials on learning creative software, such as Photoshop. Many of those software programs come from Lynda.com, which was acquired by LinkedIn some years ago. Lynda.com was the best resource for learning software for many years, and we're happy it lives on today at LinkedIn.

Learn at Your Own Pace

The next time you feel like you need some fresh ideas , take a spin through one of these sites and learn something new. You might find yourself caught up in wonderment at new and interesting ideas or taking notes on something useful. The beauty of online learning sites is that they don't require any commitment, so you can learn what you want at your own pace.

Compare Specs The Best Online Learning Platforms for 2023

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Dig Deeper With Related Stories

Pcmag stories you’ll like, about jill duffy, columnist and deputy managing editor, software.

My latest book is The Everything Guide to Remote Work , which goes into great detail about a subject that I've been covering as a writer and participating in personally since well before the COVID-19 pandemic.

I specialize in apps for productivity and collaboration, including project management software. I also test and analyze online learning services, particularly for learning languages.

Prior to working for PCMag, I was the managing editor of Game Developer magazine. I've also worked at the Association for Computing Machinery, The Examiner newspaper in San Francisco, and several other publications.

Follow me on Mastodon . I'm currently on hiatus from Twitter @jilleduffy, but maybe I'll be back. Who knows?

Read Jill's full bio

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Best web hosting services of 2023

We’ve tested all of the best web hosting services currently available to bring you top quality options for each use case

• Top three in brief
• Best for overall performance
• Best for shared hosting

Best for WordPress hosting

• Best of the rest
• Web hosts to also consider
• How we test
• How to choose
• Web hosting FAQs

Web hosting is one of those things that websites need in order to exist online. Its very definition according to the dictionary is “the activity or business of providing storage space and access for websites”. You’ve landed on this guide because you’re presumably about to launch a site and want help choosing a web hosting service that best suits your needs, or, you’ve already got a web hosting provider but you’re searching for a new one.

Not all web hosting providers are equal in regards to the quality of the service, therefore, we test and analyze each product range, compare control panels, explore their tools, build a site or two, try out each customer support option, and run some in-depth uptime and speed tests. The type of web host you choose only matters if you’re after a specific type of hosting. That’s why we’ve handpicked the best web hosting for almost every use case. You’ll find quality providers for shared hosting (opens in new tab) (a way to host your website on a single physical server that also hosts additional sites), WordPress hosting (opens in new tab) (hosting that has been optimized to better meet WordPress' performance and security needs), cloud hosting (opens in new tab) (hosting that makes applications and websites accessible using cloud resources), VPS (opens in new tab) (a virtual platform that stores data), and more. 

The ten major players on this guide include Hostinger, HostGator, Bluehost, Scala Hosting, to name a few. Each of these hosts have pros and cons but will, overall, get the hosting job done.

Quick list: The best 3 web hosting services in brief

1. Hostinger - Best for overall hosting performance (opens in new tab) Hostinger (opens in new tab) is our number one pick for several reasons. When testing its service compared to others, our site performed the best while being hosted on Hostinger. It has one of the most extensive lists of features that mostly come at no additional cost and it’s one of the cheapest. Read more below

2. HostGator - Best for beginners using shared hosting (opens in new tab) HostGator (opens in new tab) missed first place by a small fraction as its service is extremely easy to use and its shared hosting plans all come with unmetered bandwidth and a free domain. HostGator is fast and has one of the most responsive customer support services on the market. Read more below

3. Bluehost - Best for WordPress enthusiasts (opens in new tab) Bluehost (opens in new tab) is so accommodating to WordPress sites that it's the obvious choice for anyone in need of WordPress hosting. Bluehost’s custom control panel organizes account and hosting features, and reliably installs WordPress in barely a minute. If you’re a small business site that’s already well-versed in using the WordPress, Bluehost will be a breeze. Read more below

The best web hosting services 2023

Why you can trust TechRadar Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test .

The ten web hosting services we've selected are the best in their respective categories, and while each web hosting provider offer several different types of hosting, we’ve highlighted each one based the specific service it exhales in the most.

Top three web hosting services in depth

Best for overall web hosting performance, 1. hostinger.

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

Founded in 2004, Hostinger (opens in new tab) is an established Lithuanian web hosting provider with more than a million subscribers around the world. Hostinger sells itself on value, and two or three seconds into checking it out, the service specifications reveal why. It offers shared hosting, WordPress hosting, cloud hosting, VPS hosting, Minecraft server hosting, email hosting, plus has a website builder.

Getting started In general, Hostinger is easy to use. The hosting service is designed in such a way that makes the process of signing up and getting started, straightforward and simplistic. You pick a plan, choose the period you want to sign up for, (one month is significantly more expensive than if you commit to 24 or 48 months) create an account using email, Facebook or Google, then select a payment type via via credit card, PayPal, Google Pay, Alipay and Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies via CoinGate - then you’re in. We were able to get started in a matter of minutes.

Features Hostinger plans are packed with essential and extra features that’s needed for a speedy site, website migration, security and customer support. For example, its starter All-In-One package comes with 100GB storage, unmetered traffic, free SSL, a free domain for year one, support for 100 websites, a choice of six data centers, automatic backups, managed WordPress, 1GB email storage, a virus scanner, spam filter and more. We found that Hostinger doesn’t bury a host of hidden catches in the small print, either. SSL (a protocol for establishing secure links between networked computers) won't cost you extra after year one, for instance: it's free for the lifetime of your account. We set up a test WordPress site on a Hostinger shared hosting package, then used Uptime.com to access it every five minutes for 14 days and report the results. Hostinger achieved 99.98% uptime, which was a little disappointing (because we expected a perfect performance over such a short test) though still very acceptable overall (because it's in line with its 99.9% uptime guarantee promise). A downside that may or may not apply to your needs is that Hostinger doesn't offer dedicated hosting plans, which is perhaps an issue for business users who need the fastest possible speeds. However, its cloud hosting plans give you dedicated system resources, which we did experience great speed in our test. Also, SSH access, CDN and daily backups are only available as an add-on in pricier packages. What else you need to know We experienced expert support from Hostinger’s team using its 24/7 live chat service. We opened a ticket asking how we could install WordPress on a subdomain, and got a response in under two minutes. Keep note that there’s no telephone support. Also, we always prefer automatic daily site backups but Hostinger offers weekly ones instead, which for the price, we think is completely reasonable. Our test proved Hostinger to be a top quality web hosting provider. 

Read our full Hostinger web hosting review (opens in new tab)

Best for shared hosting services

2. hostgator (opens in new tab).

HostGator (opens in new tab) is a hugely popular Texas-based web hosting provider that has been helping its customers get online since 2002. The company has hosting products for every level of user including shared hosting, WordPress hosting, dedicated server hosting, VPS hosting, reseller hosting as well as a website builder.

Getting started

Signing up, like most web hosting services, is generally easy if you know exactly what you want. We tested HostGator’s Hatching plan by signing up through the website and found it straightforward. HostGator gave us the option to add additional services and we noticed that SSL isn’t included in the Hatchling and Baby shared hosting plan (the two cheapest packages).

Whatever type of hosting you're after, the industry-standard cPanel combined with HostGator's own feature-packed web dashboard did a good job of helping manage our web space and account once we signed up. 

All of HostGator’s shared plans come with unlimited bandwidth and disk space, a free domain for a year, one-click WordPress installation and a bundled website builder. HostGator's WordPress plans are a little more expensive than its shared hosting, but comes with added features such as backups and malware protection, which are often paid extras elsewhere and are essential in our opinion.

Other benefits are less visible, though also important. We found that HostGator’s managed WordPress servers are optimized for WordPress, and delivered more speed and higher security to our site. And the support team has more WordPress expertise, which helped us solve tricky WordPress-specific issues.

More demanding users can choose from three VPS and three dedicated hosting plans, and if you’re the ambitious type, you could even start your own hosting business via HostGator's reseller plans. HostGator’s high-end products aren't as configurable as we've seen elsewhere, and starting prices are relatively high, but specifications are good, and you'll likely have more than enough power for most sites (we did). 

What else you need to know

HostGator also only guarantees 99.9% uptime on cloud hosting plans. Finally, there's a generous 45-day money-back guarantee, and HostGator will even move a simple website from your existing site to your new space, for free. And if you do run into trouble, no problem: HostGator's phone and live chat support has solved most of our problems within minutes.

In terms of speed, HostGator performed the best in this department when compared to the other hosts on our list. We assess web host performance by signing up for a shared hosting package, using a standard WordPress template to create a basic site, then watching how it performs in different situations. Our HostGator site handles a very acceptable average of 15 requests per second.

Read our full HostGator review (opens in new tab)

3. Bluehost (opens in new tab)

Bluehost (opens in new tab) is one of the world's largest web hosting providers, and has almost two decades of experience in helping users build a quality home on the web. Bluehost is owned by Newfold Digital (previously Endurance International Group), the company also behind major hosting names like HostGator, iPage, Domain.com and Web.com.

Bluehost is a quality choice when it comes to WordPress hosting because of its vast range of feature-packed plans, easy setup, reliable network and great live chat support to help keep your site running smoothly.

Aside from WordPress web hosting, Bluehost also offers managed WordPress hosting, WooCommerce (a hosting service that helps you to set up your online store), shared hosting, dedicated hosting, and VPS hosting.

We tested its 10GB single-site shared hosting plan, which we recommend for hosting newbies. It offers a website builder, WordPress integration, free CDN, and a free domain and SSL for the first year. Upgrading gets you unlimited sites and storage, automated backups and assorted other extras (depending on the plan).

WordPress comes preinstalled, for instance, so there was no need for us to do it ourselves. There’s also useful shortcuts to 'Customize your design' or 'Write your first blog post', which we used to immediately begin working on our site. It’s easy enough to use (even if you've never used WordPress before). 

Bluehost's starter WordPress plans are priced the same. WordPress comes preinstalled, so you can start right away. We used the Bluehost Marketplace to find quality themes, feature-packed plugins and more. We were able to manage multiple WordPress sites from Bluehost’s easy-to-use web dashboard, although the expert live chat support agents were not the fastest to respond, we got the help we needed once they were active. Another downside to note is that Bluehost has no monthly billing options and you can only commit to a minimum of one year for its hosting plans.

There's plenty to like here for experts, too, from value VPS and configurable dedicated hosting, to hosted WooCommerce plans, business-friendly Google Workspace hosting, domain registration, and even migration support to easily move an existing site to your Bluehost account.

In regards to how our site performed while being hosted on Bluehost, the results were positive, and put Bluehost towards the top of our shared hosting performance rankings. But keep in mind that we only ran tests on a single shared hosting plan; if you're looking at a VPS plan, dedicated hosting or anything else, you may see very different results.

Read our full Bluehost review (opens in new tab)

Best of the rest: Next 7 web hosting services

4. scalahosting (opens in new tab).

ScalaHosting (opens in new tab) is an experienced Dallas-based provider with 15 years of experience in the web hosting business.

ScalaHosting made our best web hosting list because its product range includes everything from shared hosting for simple sites, and VPS for more demanding business projects, to custom-built managed clusters (a group of servers handling the same site) with the power to manage even the largest websites. 

We found ScalaHosting's web dashboard to be clear and intuitive. Signing up with Scala Hosting is straightforward too. We particularly like that Scala Hosting gives us the option to pick where we’d like our server location to be. If you have no preference, you can select ‘First available’ and the web host will choose for you. We were looking to build a small personal site, and found that ScalaHosting's range more than covers the basics for a very low price. 

ScalaHosting has four website hosting packages. Its Mini plan (which is the cheapest) lets you host one website, comes with unmetered bandwidth, free 1-click Installer, unlimited emails, free SSL, and daily offsite backups. The other three plans are ScalaHosting's Start, Advanced, Entry Cloud packages which all include the features mentioned above, plus important extras such as scalable storage and real-time malware protection.

Its Advanced and Entry Cloud plans also come with spam protection, priority support and SEO analysis worth $49. Scala Hosting will send the SEO analysis of your website to you via email, but you’ll need to request it. ScalaHosting's shared plans aren't the fastest we've seen, but they give you plenty of power for your cash, and could work for bargain hunters with personal or small business sites.

Being transparent, Scala Hosting’s long list of technical features could overwhelm a web hosting newbie, and although the company does do a good job of explaining what each feature means, there’s no information whether you actually need it for your site and why.

The web knowledgebase is smaller than average. For example, the Hosting section has only 304 articles to cover shared, VPS, and reseller hosting, domains, DNS, security, email and more. Plus, the web host offers 24/7 support via its website, live chat and ticket/email.

In terms of speed, our site hosted on Scala Hosting performed fractionally slower than average, but still within reach of big hosting names on our list. The real highlight here is the company's professional and highly configurable VPS hosting, which has the power to handle serious business-critical sites.  

Read our full Scala Hosting review (opens in new tab)

5. GoDaddy (opens in new tab)

US-based GoDaddy (opens in new tab) is a web hosting giant with an absolutely huge range of products. There's shared, VPS and dedicated hosting; WordPress support covering everything from simple personal blogs to full-featured WooCommerce-powered web stores; an easy-to-use website builder, email and Microsoft 365 hosting, digital marketing tools, domain registration, payment processing, point-of-sale systems, and the list goes on.

GoDaddy makes a real effort to point you in the right direction from the get go. Our shared hosting control panel opened with a startup wizard to help us through our next steps.

We chose to also build a website from scratch using GoDaddy, and the wizard prompted us for our domain name and preferred data center location (North America, India, Singapore or Europe). We then created a WordPress account, installed WordPress, and even displayed the DNS records we should add to domains managed elsewhere (that last step can be ignored if you’re buying your domain from GoDaddy).

GoDaddy has an excellent startup tool that covers a lot of tasks, and made the setup process far easier than some of the other hosts we tested. Once our site went live, GoDaddy’s custom control panel makes it generally easy to manage. 

GoDaddy has a decent range of four shared hosting plans. All include a choice of data centers in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific; daily backups, and unusual extras such as free Microsoft 365 mailboxes for the first year. But they look a little underpowered in other areas: the lower two plans have no free SSL, which is common practice with web hosting providers generally.

We found the shared hosting has below-par server response times, which was not the best experience during our tests because it took longer to solve the hosting issue we encountered.

GoDaddy delivers a high quality service for your money, too. We found the well-designed web dashboard easy to use; and were particularly impressed by the automated installer that sets up WordPress and 150+ other top web apps in a click or two. Also, its industry-standard cPanel has every tool you'll need to manage your web space.

This all worked well for us, but if you do need help, GoDaddy more than delivers with its detailed knowledge base, and multilingual live chat and phone support available in a very impressive 15+ languages.

GoDaddy offers 24/7 support via live chat, telephone, a support website and online community (a simple web forum). There's no ticket support, unfortunately. Live chat and telephone support isn't always as speedy as we'd like. We tried a live chat session, and although an agent appeared very quickly, there were lengthy gaps between his replies.

Read our full GoDaddy review (opens in new tab)

6. InMotion Hosting (opens in new tab)

InMotion Hosting (opens in new tab) is a popular provider with over 20 years of hosting experience, and an impressive array of plans covering all kinds of applications.

This starts with capable shared, website builder and WordPress hosting products. There's free SSL, but InMotion offers plenty more, from configurable VPS plans, to powerful dedicated servers, and enterprise-level hosted private cloud solutions. However demanding your website might be, InMotion Hosting has the power to help.

InMotion Hosting's customer account panel looks more appealing than most, with the usual text links replaced by 30+ colorful cPanel-like icons. We didn’t need to use all of them, but there are some useful shortcuts, for example to launch cPanel, or Softaculous (an auto-script installer that allows its users to install and configure a wide variety of commercial and open-source apps via scripts and PHP classes) to install WordPress or hundreds of other apps.

Fortunately, we didn’t have to spend long in the account panel. One click launches Softaculous, you can have WordPress ready to go within a minute or two, and the excellent cPanel has all the email, file, database and other management tools you need to get your site running smoothly.

InMotion’s reseller hosting should appeal to anyone who wants to take a stab at becoming a web hosting provider. It offers 80GB of SSD storage and 800GB of bandwidth. With this, we were able to divide this between up to 25 customers. Everyone gets cPanel to help manage their web space, and the bundled WHMCS manages all the accounts and billing for you.

If you're feeling ambitious, upgrading gets you more storage, bandwidth and cPanel accounts. You can resell more powerful VPS plans, and WordPress VPS hosting gets you a 4GB RAM, 2 CPU VPS with five cPanel licenses. Whatever your preference, InMotion works harder than most to help keep your site running smoothly. 

InMotion Hosting has low-cost and easy-to-use shared hosting plans, ideal for low-traffic personal and small business sites.

There's 24/7 phone, email and live chat support, tickets, a support website, even a community forum to chat with others. And if it still doesn't work out, most plans are protected by a market-leading 90 day money-back guarantee period. InMotion Hosting has a '100% satisfaction guarantee' which promises your money back if you ask for it within a very generous 90 days.

There are some exceptions. There's 90 days of protection for all shared hosting, six month and longer VPS and reseller hosting packages. But dedicated servers and monthly-billed VPS and reseller plans get 30 days.

Read our full InMotion Hosting review (opens in new tab)

7. Liquid Web (opens in new tab)

Founded in 1997, Liquid Web (opens in new tab) is a quality web hosting provider of high-end managed hosting solutions for everything from email to WordPress, WooCommerce, VPS, dedicated and assorted other cloud products.

Unlike the more consumer-oriented competition, Liquid Web doesn't focus on cutting corners to hit some spectacular headline price. Instead, it builds fast and top-quality products first, and then just charges you whatever they happen to be worth.

Once we signed up and picked the plan we wanted to test out, we found Liquid Web’s dashboard design to be clean, simple, and everything we needed for monitoring and managing all aspects of our website was laid out in the main menu on the left tab. 

If you already have a site elsewhere, Liquid Web's technical team will transfer it for you at no additional cost (you just need to ask), and this is true even if you’ve purchased their cheapest hosting package.

Liquid Web's VPS plans are crammed with high-end features (Linux or Windows hosting, Plesk and cPanel management, root access, DDoS protection, Cloudflare CDN, and more), and the website claims they're also faster than AWS, Rackspace or Digital Ocean. Would you expect them to be cheaper than everyone else? Of course not.

The service quality is obvious, everywhere you look. Your host has three or four data centers? Liquid Web has ten. Most providers claim 99.9% uptime; Liquid Web quotes 99.999%. The company doesn't just make vague promises about speedy support; its Service Level Agreement guarantees a live chat or telephone response time of under 59 seconds, with hosting credits if this doesn't happen.

All this power comes at a cost, and Liquid Web's baseline prices are higher than most competitors. But they're also fair value for the quality of the service, and still very affordable. 

In our speed test, Liquid Web performed exceptionally well, much to our surprise and our site experienced 100% uptime. Keep in mind that we monitored the uptime for two weeks, which is not the longest time frame but enough time to paint a sufficient picture of the provider’s performance.

Liquid Web’s customer support staff can be reached 24/7 via telephone, live chat, and email. We received help from Liquid Web in less than a minute via its live chat offering, which was impressive.

For extra support, Liquid Web has a bunch of YouTube explainer videos should you need video explainers but we found their written guides to be just as helpful.

Read our full Liquid Web review (opens in new tab)

8. WP Engine (opens in new tab)

WP Engine (opens in new tab) provides fast and reliable WordPress hosting for over 1.5 million websites worldwide. Founded in 2010, WP Engine currently offers WordPress hosting, WooCommerce and headless WordPress solutions.

We were a little overwhelmed with the signing up process and could see how the wide selection of add-ons being thrown at us could startle a web hosting beginner. However, we did appreciate the option we were given to change plans with ease. Once we were able to weed through the additional services we wanted and didn’t want (e.g. site monitoring and global edge security), we found the process of managing our site on the dashboard to be simple.

Just about every web host claims to offer a WordPress plan, but these are often little more than their shared hosting plan with some minor tweaks (they'll preinstall it for you, rather than leave you to install it in a couple of clicks).

WP Engine's plans are built for WordPress from the bottom up, with easier setup and migration, reliable and automatic WordPress updates, extra security features, specialist performance optimizations, valuable troubleshooting features and more.

The difference is obvious. Lesser providers may give you free themes, but they're often basic offerings you'll never want to use. WP Engine throws in 10 gorgeous StudioPress themes, premium products with real value.

Staging is another WP Engine benefit. We found that when we were changing themes, adding site features or just making a few updates, the Staging area allows safely testing these on a copy of our site, before we put them live. Other advantages include safer WordPress updates, while integrated performance tests run checks on your website and offer useful speedup tips.

If you don't need all this functionality, it could be a little overwhelming. The WP Engine interface is well laid out, but it's stuffed with tools and options, and this is likely to mean a steep learning curve for inexperienced users.

Prices are above average, too, with even the most basic WP Engine plan costing around three times the price of the budget competition. But if you're looking for an optimized environment, with quality tools and excellent support, this could be a price worth paying.

In our testing, the default WordPress home page loaded in just over two seconds. This is one of the fastest responses we’ve tested, with competitor Liquid Web only slightly behind.

There’s 24/7 live chat support and a ticket system, too. In our testing, the response was quick and the agent knowledgeable. For all plans except for single-site plans, there’s telephone support, too.

Read our full WP Engine review (opens in new tab)

9. Namecheap (opens in new tab)

Namecheap (opens in new tab) was founded way back in 2000 as a domain registrar, but over the years it's grown to offer a vast range of products and services. We're not just talking 'domains with some basic shared hosting on the side': Namecheap also has WordPress, VPS, dedicated and reseller accounts, business email hosting, spam filtering, premium DNS, cloud storage, a CDN, and even a VPN. There's a good chance you could find all the web-related products you need on Namecheap's site.

Namecheap's account control panel looks a little cluttered at first glance, with lists, and sidebars, and menus and icons everywhere you look. But spend just a moment exploring, and it begins to make a lot more sense. 

There's a list of your domains over here, for instance, hosting panels over there, and some of these pages are hugely useful. We ended up spending more time managing our site than the hosting which is testament to Namecheap’s ease of use and well thought out dashboard layout.

Plans are generally good value, with low starting prices and some unexpected features. SSL comes free, but only for the first year. But positives include free site migration, a CDN, a domain for a year with website privacy, twice weekly backups, and support for hosting up to three websites (many budget plans limit you to one).

It's a similar story of value products with unexpected features in Namecheap's WordPress hosting. The company's most expensive plan (EasyWP Supersonic) gets you a site capable of 500K visitors a month, with a 99.9% uptime guarantee, and a free CDN for the best possible performance.

We found that Namecheap's VPS and dedicated products aren't quite as competitive. Prices are reasonable and there are plenty of configuration options, but they don't cover every need (there's no Windows hosting, for instance). But even here, Namecheap generally does a good job, and overall it's a great hosting provider for those on a tight budget.

Our speed test suggests Namecheap delivers at best lower mid-range shared hosting performance. But although it's trailing the speed leaders, Namecheap's times would be perfectly acceptable for many sites, and there's more than enough power here for many personal and small business sites.

Namecheap has 24/7 support via its website, live chat and ticket (there's no telephone support). The web knowledgebase is a vast collection of articles organized into common hosting categories such as email, SSL certificates, domains, and EasyWP (Namecheap's WordPress range).

Read the full Namecheap review (opens in new tab)

10. Hostwinds (opens in new tab)

Founded in 2010, Hostwinds (opens in new tab) is a Tulsa-founded, Seattle-based web hosting company with some very configurable products which work for home and more demanding business users.

Hostwinds uses industry-standard hosting tools and platforms across its service. Its web account dashboard, where you'll manage, add and cancel products, is powered by WHMCS. It's a very popular system, and if you've signed up with hosting providers in the past, there's a good chance you'll immediately know your way around.

We wouldn’t say that Hostwinds is the easiest web host to navigate on our list but it certainly isn’t challenging. 

Hostwinds offers cheap and easy-to-use shared hosting plans, ideal for first-time users and smaller home and business websites. A huge range of VPS (Virtual Private Server) plans give your site more resources for extra speed, making them a cost-effective choice for demanding small to medium business sites.

Configurable dedicated hosting plans provide an entire web server just for your site, the ultimate in power and performance. Developers and other experts can build a custom setup with multiple cloud servers, load balancers, block and object storage, whatever suits their precise needs.

Hostwinds has a decent set of features including free SSL, a free dedicated IP, a website builder, and easy WordPress installation. And optional extras include Hostwinds Monitoring, where the company monitors your site, and automatically opens a ticket if the site is down.

Hostwinds plans become even more configurable as you head up the range. VPS hosting is available in both Linux and Windows flavors, for example, and in managed (Hostwinds maintains the server for you) and cheaper unmanaged (you handle the technical stuff yourself) forms. One downside that we think you should be aware of is the fact that Hostwinds offers a very short two-day refund period for subscriptions under 12 months.

Hostwinds also excels with its dedicated server range. We were given the option to choose from 13 base servers, then add up to ten SSD or HDD storage devices, use from 8 to 32GB RAM, opt for our favorite Linux distro (or Windows server), and set our bandwidth allowance to anything from 10TB to unmetered.

Hostwinds has a less-than-generous three day money-back period covering its hosting products. The industry standard is usually 30 days.

In regards to customer support, tickets or emails can be a better choice for complicated issues. Hostwinds responded quickly to these, too - often in under 30 minutes - and again, recognized our issues immediately and quickly pointed us in the right direction.

Read our full Hostwinds review (opens in new tab)

Honourable web hosting mentions

DreamHost - Best for email hosting (opens in new tab) Some web hosts target the consumer market, others go for businesses, but  DreamHost (opens in new tab)  is a little more ambitious: its range of plans are designed to appeal to just about everybody. DreamHost's email package goes beyond the basics with a spacious 25GB Inbox.

Domain.com - Best for value shared plans (opens in new tab) Domain.com (opens in new tab) 's shared hosting is fair value and comes with free SSL and unlimited storage. Your web space is managed via a very limited dashboard, not even close to matching cPanel, but it covers the basics and you should have your site up and running fairly quickly.

How we test the best web hosting services

Our reviewers  test each web hosting service (opens in new tab) by signing up and purchasing a plan to check out what each web hosting provider offers new users, as well as how easy it is to navigate around each brand’s dashboard. We pay a great deal of attention to the support that is offered to you.

We weigh up the details of what you get, (as well as what you don't) and rank each web hosting provider based on the quality of its features that many customers will use, and how clear the web hosting company is on what the customer is getting in every product.

Because we know it’s important to pick a web hosting company you can trust, we focus on whether each web hosting provider presents its products in an honest, clear and transparent way. In our tests, this is easy to pick up on as we compare the list of features each company claims it offers, to what we actually have access to once we begin using their service.

Lastly, our web host speed tests are generally based on the cheapest shared hosting plan available from a provider.

We then upload a basic static site to our web space, including HTML and CSS files and some images, and configure Uptime.com to check the availability and server response time of our site at five-minute intervals. This gives us a general indication of the speed and uptime you are likely going to experience when you finally make a decision on the best web hosting provider for you.

Each web hosting provider below has been selected based on it being at the top of its game for one aspect of web hosting service or another. From shared hosting to reseller hosting, we have put together the best of the best for you to find a web hosting company that suits your individual needs.

Should you need more tips on buying a web hosting service, what the different types of hosting services are, or how to choose the best web hosting service for you, scroll down to the bottom of this page for all this and more.

How to choose the best web hosting services for you

Everyone has their own individual hosting priorities, and we can't tell you exactly what you'll need and what you won't. But we can give you some general rules that will point you in the right direction.

Unlimited (or unmetered) disk space and bandwidth sounds great, and all that really matters is you've enough for your site, and that may be much less than you think. Web host  Kinsta reported (opens in new tab)  that its clients' WordPress sites averaged only around 1GB in size, for instance. If that's you, paying for 'unlimited' space won't bring any benefits at all.

Your website almost certainly needs an SSL certificate to enable secure encrypted connections with visitors, and avoid the worrying 'insecure' warnings they'll get if you're SSL-free. Most plans offer free SSL, but check the small print: occasionally SSL comes free for the first year only, and you'll have to pay after that.

Many web hosting plans include a free domain name, a tempting sweetener if you don't have one already. But beware, it's typically only free for a year, and then you'll pay the provider's standard renewal fees. Dot com domain renewals don't vary much (an average $10-$20 a year), but it's a different story with others. If you need a domain, check renewal prices to find out the real long-term cost.

Websites can break for all kinds of reasons, and if you want to keep downtime to a minimum, backups are an absolute must. Look for a plan that includes a backup service, and pay attention to frequency: weekly backups might be just about acceptable for sites that never change, but daily backups are much better.

No matter how experienced you are in the web hosting world, you're sure to need support occasionally. Check out your prospective hosts' support site: does it have content on the topics you'd expect, and is this helpful and easy to read? A host should at least have 24/7 live chat support, but telephone, ticket, and email helps, too: there can't be too many ways to get in touch.

Web hosting service FAQs

What are web hosting services.

If you've found yourself asking " What is a web hosting service and how does it work? (opens in new tab) " we've written a detailed explanation with all the information you need to help you understand the service before picking the right one for your website needs.

In a nutshell, web hosting is a service that makes your site or web application accessible on the internet - and is generally considered as one of the most important elements needed when building a website of any sort.

Web hosts maintain and run physical servers that house websites, and there's lots to choose from depending on your website's needs and your budget.

From shared hosting, to VPS and WordPress hosting (opens in new tab) - the type of server space that you rent to store your website's data can be specifically tailored depending on the web hosting service you choose and what package you select from the provider.

What is shared hosting?

Shared hosting (opens in new tab) is a simple scheme where multiple websites are stored on the same web server (a type of computer).

One benefit of shared hosting is its simplicity. You don't have to spend any time maintaining the server, because your provider does that. All you need to do is work on your own site.

Sharing a web server means sharing the costs, too, and with sometimes hundreds of websites on the same server, that usually means rock-bottom prices.

The big problem with shared hosting is you’re also sharing your server's system resources: CPU time, RAM, storage and network connection. There's only so much to go around, and the more sites on your server, the slower and less dependable your own website is likely to be.

Shared hosting is still the best choice in many situations. If you're creating a simple blog, a site for family, a local club, anything with very light traffic where no-one will care much if the site is a little slow occasionally, the shared option is ideal. It's very easy to use, and you can get decent plans from many providers for around $2 to $4 a month.

But if this is something more important, a web store, maybe a business site, then a slow or unreliable website will drive visitors away. It’s well worth upgrading to something more powerful.

What is VPS hosting?

VPS (opens in new tab) (Virtual Private Server) hosting is a clever technology which divides a single physical server into multiple server environments.

Log onto a VPS and you'll have access to what looks like the full server. This is far more complex than shared hosting, but it also gives you much more control. You can install any apps, tweak any server settings, even replace the entire operating system if you like.

There will be other VPS environments on the same physical server (though not as many other accounts as with shared hosting), reducing your performance a little. But you'll have your own allocation of network bandwidth, RAM, storage and CPU time. These won't be shared with other customers, which means your site should see higher and more consistent speeds than you'll get with shared hosting.

Upgrading is often very easy, too. If website traffic grows and you need additional resources - more CPU time, extra RAM, a higher bandwidth allowance - then you can typically add them to your plan in a click or two, and they'll be available almost immediately.

This extra power comes at a price, but it might be much less than you think. Hostinger's cheapest shared hosting plan is $1.99 a month on the four-year plan; its cheapest VPS plan is just $2.99, again over four years. It's a very basic plan, but at $8.99 for a one-off month, it's not expensive to see if a VPS could work for you.

What is dedicated hosting?

As the name suggests, dedicated hosting (opens in new tab) is a plan where a physical server is dedicated to a single client. That means no more speed issues because you're sharing bandwidth, RAM or CPU time with other accounts: the entire system is yours alone.

As you're renting the entire physical server, most providers allow you to build it with whatever hardware you need. You can typically choose your CPU, storage drives and type (cheap and high capacity HDDs, smaller but faster SSDs), operating system, bandwidth allowance and more.

This can be expensive. Even budget providers like Namecheap charge a monthly $50-$60 for their most basic dedicated servers, and Liquid Web's top-of-the-range enterprise models might cost $500 or more (although they're aimed at huge sites which might have a million page views a month).

There's more work involved in managing a dedicated server, too. With shared hosting, if your server crashes, the provider support team should notice and fix or reboot it. But if you're running the server, all that is up to you, unless you pay even more to the provider to handle it for you.

If you absolutely need top performance and complete control of your server, though, a dedicated plan is probably the way to go.

What is WordPress hosting?

WordPress is a popular free platform which makes it easy to build all kinds of websites, from a simple one-page offering, to a blog, a professional business site, even a full web store.

Many web hosting providers offer WordPress plans which simplify the process of setting up your site, and often include tools to boost speeds and keep the site running more smoothly.

Buy a plan and WordPress usually comes pre-installed, for example, so you won't have to set it up yourself. WP Engine throws in some stylish WordPress themes, allowing you to create a gorgeous-looking site even if you've zero design skills. And most plans make at least some effort to automatically update WordPress with new patches as they arrive, reducing your site maintenance hassles.

If your WordPress needs are very simple, you may not need a specialist WordPress hosting plan. Most shared hosting plans have easy WordPress installation and a handful of other relevant features, and Hostinger's all-in-one shared hosting product gives you all kinds of valuable extras - automated updates, a WordPress site-building wizards, performance accelerators, more - from as little as $2.99 a month.

What is managed hosting?

Shared hosting accounts are generally very simple to operate, but higher end products - WordPress, VPS hosting, dedicated servers - often require running all kinds of maintenance tasks. You might need to test and update WordPress plugins, install operating system patches, spot and troubleshoot server errors, maybe reboot a server if it locks up or crashes.

Buy a managed web hosting (opens in new tab) plan and some or all of these tasks will be carried out by your hosting provider's regular support team. You'll potentially save real time and hassle, and if problems do crop up, they'll be speedily addressed by the people best qualified to fix them.

Sounds great-- so why would anyone do anything else? Cost, mostly. Hostwinds' 4-core 8GB RAM VPS costs $59.99 fully managed, for instance, but only $38.99 for the unmanaged DIY version, a big drop in price.

One key message here is to keep this in mind when comparing WordPress, VPS or dedicated plans between hosting providers. Host A may look seriously cheap, but are you comparing a managed with an unmanaged plan? Be sure to check the small print.

There's no precise definition of 'managed', either, so don't simply assume a managed plan means you'll have absolutely no maintenance to do. Every provider has its own definition of what's covered and what isn't, so check it out, make sure you understand exactly what's covered before you buy.

What is email hosting?

One of the big advantages of registering a domain is you can have your own custom email address ([email protected] is far more impressive and business-like than [email protected]) But it's not always as easy as you might expect.

You probably won't get email when you register a domain, for instance. Most hosting plans include some email support, but it may not be as powerful as you need, especially for business use. You'll often see strict limits on Inbox size, the number of accounts you can create, even the number of emails you can send a day.

Email hosting (opens in new tab) is a service which allows you to send and receive emails via a custom domain. You don't have to buy email hosting from the same provider as your web hosting, and in fact you don't need web hosting at all: just register a domain, buy an email hosting plan and you're ready to start creating and using all those [email protected] email accounts.

Signing up for email hosting may get you a better service. The top providers give you plenty of Inbox space, support large attachments, don't hold you back with annoying usage limits and provide built-in spam, phishing and malware filters to keep you safe.

This could be a feature well worth adding to your hosting line-up, and it's generally inexpensive; many email hosting plans cost around $1-$2.50 a month. But if you currently have a budget shared hosting plan, keep in mind that upgrading might get you better email features and a bunch of other goodies, too. Check your provider's hosting feature lists to find out exactly what you get.

What else should I consider when picking a web host?

Three or four-year hosting plans can have appealingly low prices, but they don't always work out. If you're unhappy with a host, or your site grows and the old plan can't handle the increased traffic, you may have to buy something else early. It's safer to sign up for a year (or even less), at least initially, and perhaps choose a VPS or similar plan where it's easy to add more resources as required.

Uptime (the percentage of the day that your website is available) is a key stat for any serious website. If a potential customer can't find or use your website, at best they'll think you're unprofessional, at worst they'll give up on you entirely and go elsewhere.

Web hosting providers often quote uptime figures such as '99.9%', but these don't always cover the issues you might expect. Check the small print carefully for any hidden catches.

Look for a Service Level Agreement (SLA), too, especially for dedicated and other high-end hosting plans. These go beyond vague website promises to guarantee uptime, support response times and other elements of the service, and describe the compensation you'll get if the target is missed.

And if you're looking for more specific advice on one type of hosting in particular, chances are we've an article that can help. Get started with our guides to the best free web hosting (opens in new tab) , best WordPress hosting (opens in new tab) , best VPS hosting (opens in new tab) , best managed hosting (opens in new tab) and best Minecraft server hosting (opens in new tab) . Each article has links to other guides and reviews where you'll find out more.

Web hosting features explained

If you’re new to web hosting, some of the terms and features may sound confusing. To help you understand them, we’ve come up with a quick explainer for the most common elements in web hosting services:

Domain name (opens in new tab) . It’s the address people type in their browsers to visit your website, like techradar.com. Many hosting plans include one domain name for free for the first year of registration. Choose a .com domain to establish your credibility or .online for an affordable alternative.

SSL certificate (opens in new tab) . This feature encrypts the connection between your website and your visitors’ browsers, preventing hackers from accessing it. Hosting providers usually provide one for free from Let’s Encrypt (opens in new tab) . Some also offer a premium version as an add-on, which can provide a better warranty and level of verification. 

Unmetered bandwidth (opens in new tab) . This means the hosting provider won’t monitor or cap the amount of data transferred, so there’s no need to worry about extra bandwidth usage fees once the website’s traffic grows. Each company has a different policy on unmetered resources, so make sure to read their terms and conditions beforehand.  

SSD disk space . Compared to HDDs, SSDs are a much more reliable storage solution. They’re less prone to disk failures and can serve data twenty times faster, speeding up your website’s performance.  

cPanel (opens in new tab) . With this control panel, new users can manage their hosting via an intuitive interface – no technical skills required. You can access different features, check out your resource usage, and configure the domain’s settings within a few clicks.

WordPress auto-installer (opens in new tab) . This feature lets you set up WordPress in a few clicks from the hosting’s control panel. That way, there’s no need to download and upload the CMS files yourself. 

Website migration . Most hosting providers allow transferring an existing site from another host to their servers. Typically, you have to insert some information about the website, submit a ticket to their customer support team, and wait a few hours for the migration to initiate.

Custom HTML (opens in new tab) and CSS (opens in new tab) . The control panel should provide access to your website’s files, including HTML and CSS, via the file manager or an FTP client. Feel free to edit them to customize the site’s front end to your liking. 

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Abigail is a B2B Editor that specializes in web hosting and website builder news, features and reviews at TechRadar Pro. She has been a B2B journalist for more than five years covering a wide range of topics in the technology sector from colocation and cloud to data centers and telecommunications. As a B2B web hosting and website builder editor, Abigail also writes how-to guides and deals for the sector, keeping up to date with the latest trends in the hosting industry. Abigail is also extremely keen on commissioning contributed content from experts in the web hosting and website builder field.

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Tired of Yelp? 14 Alternative Business Review Websites

If you're looking for another perspective, check out some other online review services.

• Business review websites collect customer reviews about the companies they do business with, sharing honest feedback.
• Yelp is considered the top review site, particularly for local business marketing, but it isn’t the only game in town.
• Google Business Profile, Facebook Page reviews, Angi, the Better Business Bureau, ConsumerAffairs and Foursquare are some Yelp alternatives.
• This article is for small business owners exploring review sites to receive honest feedback and improve their companies.

The modern consumer thrives on information. Before making a buying decision, customers have long sought out the opinions and experiences of others to find out whether or not a company is credible.

Today, this process is quick, easy, and accessible to anyone with a computer or smartphone and an internet connection. There are few better sources of information for consumers than business review websites.

Yelp is considered the top review site for marketing local businesses . However, it is far from the only reputable business review site. Others may even prove more beneficial for niche products or services.

These 14 review websites are worth looking into if you need honest feedback or ways to improve your business.

What are business review websites?

Business review websites collect customer reviews about the companies they do business with. These aren’t professional reviews, and they aren’t paid – they are from actual customers sharing their honest feedback.

For instance, say you recently hired a local company to install a fence in your backyard. After the service is completed, you can review that company on a business review website.

When you leave a review, you’ll often choose a letter or number rating. You’ll usually have the option to summarize your thoughts about the service you received.

By sharing your positive or negative experience, you help other potential customers decide whether or not to use that company in the future.

Another way for businesses to solicit honest consumer feedback is by conducting business surveys .

How can business review websites benefit your company?

Many businesses feel nervous at the thought of customers leaving them a review, but customer reviews can be a powerful tool for your company. Here are some of the ways business review websites can benefit you:

• They create social proof. If a customer is on the fence about purchasing from your business, they’re more likely to move forward if they receive a positive recommendation from a friend or family member. Positive reviews create social proof and help new customers feel comfortable doing business with you.
• They improve SEO. If you run a local business, you can’t afford to ignore business review websites. For example, receiving and responding to Google Business reviews will improve your business’s search engine visibility and increase the odds that local customers will find you.
• They help you provide better customer service. Nobody wants to receive a negative review from a customer, but it isn’t always a bad thing. If you respond to negative reviews and take steps to remedy the mistake, you could build more customer loyalty over the long run. And you learn valuable information about how to improve your business in the future.

Responding to online reviews , both positive and negative, boosts engagement and helps you steer the narrative surrounding your business.

1. Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business)

Google Business Profile , formerly called Google My Business, allows you to list your business on Google Maps and show up in local search results. It’s free to list your business and information like your business location , hours, and phone number.

You can also invite your customers to leave you a review on Google.` Collecting Google reviews and responding to them shows that you care about customer feedback; more reviews will help you rank higher in Google searches.

To get started, set up and personalize your Business Profile on Google .

2. Facebook Page reviews

If you use Facebook ads for your business, you probably already have a Facebook Business Page set up. Your Facebook Business Page is a great place to stay in touch with your customers and share helpful information about your business.

It’s also an excellent place to collect customer reviews. Take advantage of this feature by turning on the ratings and reviews setting in your Facebook Page settings. From there, invite customers to leave reviews sharing their experiences with your company.

Other unexpected ways Facebook benefits businesses include helping you build an online brand, create professional bonds with competitors, and find top job candidates.

3. Angi (formerly Angie’s List)

Angi is a major name in business reviews. As a platform for accurate information about local businesses from vetted users, Angi guarantees that its reviews are legitimate.

Users pay a membership fee to access the site and write reviews, which come in the form of a letter grade. Businesses that sign up for Angi can interact with members, establish a profile, and respond to reviews about their company. The highest-rated businesses can also earn advertising for deals and discounts.

To list your business or claim a business profile created by a consumer, sign up through Angi Ads .

4. Better Business Bureau

The Better Business Bureau is one of the most trusted names in business ratings and reviews. The BBB grades businesses from A+ to F based on several factors, including reviews, complaints, and business responses to reviews and complaints.

As the BBB is a trusted organization, its ratings could significantly impact a small business. The accreditation process ensures that a business makes a good-faith effort to resolve customer complaints and respond to inquiries.

This effort makes a business more trustworthy in consumers’ eyes. With accreditation (and its fee), a business can receive increased exposure online, access to workshops and webinars, and much more.

Visit the BBB accreditation site to get started.

5. ConsumerAffairs

Collecting reviews for a business is just one service ConsumerAffairs for Brands offers. When a business signs up, it receives access to all kinds of resources.

This includes articles on how reviews and a strong reputation can increase revenue, how to find brand ambassadors , and how to convert negative customer experiences into positive ones.

Sign up for a ConsumerAffairs account using one of your business’s social media logins (Facebook, Twitter , Yelp, etc.) or an email address.

If you’re concerned about your brand’s online reputation, the best online reputation management providers can manage your social media, perform online monitoring and reporting, and more.

6. Foursquare

While Foursquare is best known for its check-in feature, businesses that claim their listings also give customers the ability to leave ratings and tips (reviews) for other customers.

If you sign up for Foursquare for Business , you’ll be able to access user analytics, add your own tips, and offer customer rewards.

7. Glassdoor

The unique thing about Glassdoor is that it provides a way for current and past employees to rate the companies they work for. It is a vital tool for job searching, letting job seekers learn as much about a company as possible.

With Glassdoor for Employers , you can read reviews of your company as a workplace and find quality candidates for a position.

8. HomeAdvisor

This site is similar to Angi, helping customers find and review professionals for home improvement projects. All reviews are verified and go through an extensive screening process.

If you are a professional offering home improvement services, HomeAdvisor Pro allows you to connect with other HomeAdviser users in your area in search of a specific service.

9. Judy’s Book

While it’s not free to add or claim your business on this site, the perks of Judy’s Book for Business are worth it. It’s free for customers to review your business directly on the site, but if you receive other testimonials through social media, email,  letters or other sources, Judy’s Book allows you to post them on your business page at no extra charge.

With a membership, business owners also get a free mobile listing, competitor tracking, a higher search engine ranking and much more.

Visit Judy’s Book Business Center to sign up and try it free for 30 days.

Expand your social media marketing efforts beyond reviews by using social media marketing solutions to streamline your campaigns and manage your posts and accounts.

Manta is a small business directory that helps local American businesses connect with consumers and each other. While customer reviews are not the site’s primary function, they are one of the site’s features.

11. MerchantCircle

MerchantCircle aims to connect customers with deals, advice and price quotes from local small businesses. Its search functions are structured primarily by city and business category. By default, it ranks the listings from highest-rated and most frequently reviewed, working its way down.

The MerchantCircle Help Center has various links to articles to help new businesses get set up.

12. OpenTable

Although OpenTable was once just for making restaurant reservations, customers can now leave reviews and star ratings. When you search for restaurants, a list based on your search criteria pops up.

One of the first things you’ll notice is the star rating under the restaurant name, the number of reviews, and the percentage of reviewers who recommend the restaurant.

If you are starting a restaurant or want to get an established restaurant on OpenTable, sign up on the OpenTable for Restaurants page to start collecting reviews and increasing your reservations.

13. PlanetRate

Unlike most other review sites, PlanetRate isn’t tied to a specific category or service. So, whether your business is a restaurant, hotel, boutique or anything else, you can register it and begin collecting reviews.

This site also allows users to write in-depth reviews specific to your business’s category, making it easier for potential customers to find the review and, therefore, your business.

VendOp ‘s goal is to connect people with vendors that best match their needs. A potential customer can search for vendors based on their needs and be presented only with vendors that provide those services, streamlining the search process.

The site also offers a community of real customers who share their experiences with vendors, so potential customers can gain a better understanding of who they’re working with while helping other vendors improve their services.

Jamie Johnson and Jennifer Post contributed to the writing and research in this article.

• Best Web Hosting Services

10 Best Web Hosting Services (March 2023)

Reviewed By

Updated: Mar 19, 2023, 1:51am

A website is essential to build and grow a business today, and web hosting is a crucial part of building a quality website. With so many different providers and plans on the market, choosing a web host can be daunting. To make your decision easier, we narrowed down the 10 best web hosting services based on key features that matter most. We selected these services based on price, performance, security, and extras such as a free domain name and free business email.

Why You Can Trust Forbes Advisor Small Business

The Forbes Advisor Small Business team is committed to bringing you unbiased rankings and information with full editorial independence. We use product data, strategic methodologies and expert insights to inform all of our content and guide you in making the best decisions for your business journey.

We reviewed 16 web hosts using a detailed methodology to help you find the 10 web hosting platforms. Our ratings consider factors that included pricing, general features, additional features and a review by our panel of experts. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

• Best Web Hosting Services For Small Business
• Best Cheap Web Hosting Services
• Best Wordpress Hosting Services
• Best Email Hosting Services
• Best Domain Registrars

The 10 Best Web Hosting Services of 2023

Forbes advisor ratings, what is web hosting, how does web hosting work, how to choose the best web hosting service for you, types of web hosting, web hosting cost, do i need a web host, beyond hosting: other website setup considerations, methodology, 2023 web hosting trends, frequently asked questions (faqs), next up in business.

Featured Partners

$9.99 / Month

24/7 Support Team

On Hostinger.com's Website

ScalaHosting

$29.95/month

50GB to 200GB

24/7 management, free SSL certificates and daily disaster recovery backups

On ScalaHosting's Website

• IONOS: Best for startups
• HostGator: Best perks
• Bluehost: Best for new websites
• DreamHost: Best for WordPress beginners
• InMotion Hosting: Best for reliability
• MochaHost: Best for lifetime SSL certificates
• GoDaddy: Best for easy site setup
• Hostwinds: Best for content-heavy sites
• InterServer: Best for website security
• TMDHosting: Best for fast-growing businesses

Best for Startups

Starting price.

$1 per month

(billed annually; renews at $10 per month)

Storage and bandwidth

10GB of storage and unlimited traffic

Extras and inclusions

Free domain, free SSL certificate, daily backups, one email account

IONOS is a top-rated web host that offers a wide variety of hosting plans to start, grow and manage your business website. All plans include a free domain name for one year, a free SSL certificate and 24/7 support. Enjoy 99.99% uptime, DDoS protection, scalable plans, geo-redundant infrastructure, unlimited storage and websites.

IONOS pricing:

Startups that are cash-strapped can appreciate its ultra-low first-year pricing at $1 per month. Pricing goes up to $10 per month after the first year. Even at $10 per month, its optimized CPU and MEM resources make it a great option beyond the initial term.

If you’re not sure which plan to choose, IONOS has expert recommendations for which to pick—for example, starting an online store or finding a better host for your WordPress website.

Learn more: Read our full IONOS review .

Who should use it:

Due to its ultra-low introductory pricing, it’s the best web hosting service for cash-strapped startups looking for a high-quality web host with a minimal investment.

• User-friendly interface
• Daily backups and data recovery
• DDoS protection
• Geo-redundant infrastructure for best uptimes
• 24/7 customer service
• 30-day money-back guarantee
• Monthly plan costs increase significantly after first year (e.g., from $1 to $10 per month)
• Limited storage in entry-level plan
• Domain only free the first year
• Includes just one email account

$2.75 per month

(three-year term)

Storage and Bandwidth

Free domain registration for a year, free website and domain transfer, free SSL certificate, $500 in Google Ads spend match credit, $100 Microsoft Advertising credit, free email

HostGator is one of our top picks for best web hosting service because of its exceptional value for money, reliable performance and generous features perfect for small and medium businesses in any industry. Hosting options include shared, WordPress, website builder, dedicated, virtual private server (VPS) and reseller hosting. It offers unmetered disk space, unmetered bandwidth and a 99% uptime guarantee. You’ll also get 24/7 support and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

HostGator pricing:

Plans start at $2.75 per month for your first term. Each plan comes with one-click WordPress installation, unmetered bandwidth, a free SSL certificate, a free domain name and free WordPress/cPanel website transfers. For its mid-tier shared hosting plan, you can have unlimited websites for $3.50 per month for your first term.

Learn more: Read our full HostGator review .

HostGator’s shared hosting plans are a great fit for individuals and small businesses who need an affordable plan with flexible hosting options.

• Unmetered disk space and bandwidth on all plans
• Free domain name
• Free SSL certificate
• Free website transfer service
• $500 in Google Ads spend match credit
• Support available 24/7/365 via phone, chat, tweet, knowledge base and blog
• Pricing reflects a three-year commitment
• Domain privacy costs extra
• Automated backups cost extra

Best for New Websites

$4.95 per month

(billed annually, renews at $10.99 per month)

Unmetered bandwidth and SSD storage starts at 10GB

Free domain name and SSL for a year, free CDN, Google Ads/Bing credits for higher-tiered plans

Bluehost is one of the most popular web hosting platforms, and for good reason. It offers a wide range of features at competitive prices, making it perfect for people just getting started with web hosting. For its Basic plan, you’ll have 10GB of storage, unmetered bandwidth, a free domain for your first year and up to 25 subdomains. Its Plus plan doubles your storage, gives you $200 in Google Ads/Bing credits and provides unlimited primary domains, parked domains and subdomains.

Bluehost pricing:

Bluehost plans start at $10.99 per month, but you can get its Basic plan for as little as $4.95 per month for your first term. Its Plus plan is $14.99 per month, or $5.45 per month for your first term. Choice Plus costs $5.45 per month for your first term and renews at $19.99 per month. Its most expensive plan is Pro, and costs $28.99 per month, though your first term is $13.95 per month.

Learn more: Read our full Bluehost review .

Bluehost is an ideal option for website owners who need a reliable and affordable hosting service that offers a wide range of features and tools to help them manage their site.

• Free business email
• Includes a CDN
• Higher-tiered plans include pro features such as client invoicing, staging and insights
• 24/7 support
• Price triples upon renewal
• Limited storage
• Must pay for automated backups
• No phone support on its Basic plan

Best For WordPress Beginners

$2.59 per month

50GB of storage and unlimited bandwidth

Free domain, free SSL certificate, one-click WordPress installation, great support

DreamHost has quickly become one of the leading web hosting providers. It’s reliable and affordable with feature-rich plans that include everything you need to build a new website, from a domain name and SSL certificate to one-click WordPress installation. In addition to its great value for the price, it also offers a beginner-friendly site builder and, best of all, very helpful support that is there no matter the type of issue you are having with your hosting or site.

DreamHost pricing:

Plans start as low as $2.59 per month for a basic package. Its Shared Starter plan renews at $5.99 per month. This comes with a single website, unmetered bandwidth, 50GB of storage, up to five subdomains, six MySQL databases, free domain name privacy and 24/7 support via ticket.

The best deal is the Shared Unlimited plan, at $3.95 per month with a long-term 36-month contract. After the promotional period ends, this increases to $10.99 per month. This plan includes unlimited websites, unlimited domain email, unlimited storage and unlimited MySQL databases.

DreamHost is overall a solid choice for web hosting that will suit most businesses’ needs. However, where it really shines is its helpful support, making it ideal for WordPress beginners who might need expert assistance at their fingertips.

• Affordable plans starting at $2.59 per month
• Free domain name and SSL certificate
• One-, three-, 12- and 36-month contract lengths available
• Long 97-day money-back guarantee
• 100% uptime guarantee
• Top-notch support
• Pricing increases upon renewal
• Lots of upsells in checkout
• Cheapest plan doesn’t include a custom domain
• Must pay for its unlimited plan for email

Best for Reliability

Inmotion hosting.

$2.49 per month with a 36-month contract

or $3.49 per month with a 12-month contract

100 GB of storage and unlimited bandwidth

90-day money-back guarantee, automatic backups (for a fee), DDoS protection

InMotion Hosting is a leading web host that stands out for its ultra-low pricing, reliability and security. It offers a long, 90-day money-back guarantee, automatic backups, DDoS protection and malware protection to help further safeguard your site and protect the sensitive information it processes, such as payment information and user data.

InMotion Hosting pricing:

Plans start at $2.49 per month with a 36-month commitment, $2.99 with a 24-month commitment or $3.49 with a 12-month commitment. This includes 100GB of storage and unlimited bandwidth, as well as a free SSL certificate, up to 10 business email addresses and security features.

Learn more: Read our full InMotion Hosting review .

InMotion Hosting is ideal for businesses that prioritize reliability and peace of mind as well as value for price, given its lengthy money-back guarantee and famously high uptimes.

• Ultra-low long-term pricing
• Automatic backups available (for a fee)
• Comes with many security features
• Known for reliability
• 90-day money-back guarantee
• Highly rated 24/7 tech support
• Minimum 12-month contract on most plans
• Domain name not included with its base plan

Best for Lifetime SSL Certificates

$2.29 per month

Unlimited disk space and traffic

100% uptime guarantee, free website transfer assistance, website builder

MochaHost is an all-around great pick for nearly any business given its highly competitive price for its feature-rich plans. For as little as $2.29 per month, you get great unlimited storage and bandwidth, making it ideal for businesses building content-heavy sites and high-traffic sites alike, a money-back guarantee, a website builder and a number of extras, such as a free domain name, a free SSL certificate and unlimited business email with WebMail.

It also offers a number of high-value features for an industry-low price. To give you peace of mind, plans come with highly rated, unlimited SSL certificates for life, 24/7 tech support, and to make your life a bit easier, it offers free website transfer service for those changing web hosts. Additionally, it has the Mocha Lightning Fast Guarantee, which promises that it loads sites faster than any other cloud hosting service, complete with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

MochaHost pricing:

MochaHost is one of the most competitively priced web hosting providers on the market for feature-packed plans. It offers three main hosting plans, ranging in price from $2.29 per month to $3.81 per month with a long-term contract. Every plan includes unlimited disk space, making it one of the most cost-effective hosts for content-heavy sites, as well as unlimited traffic, making it a good choice for those with a high number of website visitors.

With MochaHost’s impressive range of features at such an affordable price, most businesses will find it to be a good value. However, based on its inclusion of unlimited storage and bandwidth, it’s ideal for those who are building content-heavy sites, such as sites that display a portfolio, an e-commerce site with a large product catalog or any site with a high volume of website visitors.

• Ultra-low-cost plans for under $3 per month
• Lock in your price forever
• Unlimited storage and bandwidth
• Fast site load speeds
• 24/7 live chat support
• Does not offer the industry-standard one-click WordPress installation
• Free domain name is not included with the entry-level plan
• Dated interface

Best for Easy Site Setup

$4.99 per month

10GB storage, unmetered bandwidth

Daily backups, one-click WordPress installation, free SSL certificate

GoDaddy is the best web hosting service for businesses that need an easy setup and don’t require a lot of storage. It’s also ideal for setting up WordPress websites, as it offers one-click installation and daily backups. Plus, its plans include a free SSL certificate to keep your site secure. With its DDoS protection, it also offers an added layer of protection against malicious attacks.

GoDaddy pricing:

Pricing starts at $4.99 per month with a three-year contract, then renews at the same rate. Its Economy plan is $5.99 per month with a three-year term and renews at $9.99 per month. Deluxe costs $7.99 per month for a three-year term and renews at $13.99 per month. If you’ve got a high-traffic website, its Ultimate plan is ideal and runs $12.99 per month with a three-year contract and renews at $17.99 per month.

Learn more: Read our full GoDaddy review .

GoDaddy is ideal for small businesses that want to easily set up WordPress websites with one-click installation, and want to lock in low pricing that does not increase upon renewal.

• Pricing doesn’t increase upon renewal
• One-click setup of more than 150 apps
• Includes daily backups
• Beginner-friendly website builder
• Has data centers in North America, Asia-Pacific and Europe
• Storage limits

Best for Content-Heavy Sites

$5.24 per month

(renews at $6.99 per month)

Unlimited storage, free dedicated IP address, unlimited business email, free site migration

Hostwinds is one of the few web hosting providers that includes unlimited storage and bandwidth with every plan, making it the best web hosting service for content-heavy sites. It also offers unlimited business email, a free SSL certificate, a free dedicated IP address, free site migration, WordPress auto-install for easy installation and 24/7 support. It also uniquely offers three server locations to choose from (Dallas, Seattle or Amsterdam) to give you more control.

Hostwinds pricing:

Pricing starts at $3.74 per month with a 36-month contract, $5.24 per month with a 12-month contract or $6.74 per month with a month-to-month contract. Plans are feature-rich, however, while they include a lot that other web hosts don’t, such as a free dedicated IP address and the ability to choose your location, plans do not include a domain name.

Learn more: Read our full Hostwinds review .

Hostwinds is ideal for businesses that have outgrown their existing web hosting provider and need more storage without paying a ton for it. It’s also ideal for new businesses setting up content-heavy sites, such as a portfolio website.

• Low-cost plans start at $3.74 per month (with 36-month contract)
• Multiple contract lengths available (one month to 36 months)
• Unlimited storage and bandwidth on all plans
• Unlimited business email included
• Does not include a domain name
• Backups cost an extra $3 per month

Best for Website Security

Interserver.

$2.50 per month

(no contract)

Unlimited business email, free website migration, free SSL certificate, website builder, 30-day money-back guarantee

For a low price, InterServer provides a lot of tools with a number of useful features that help keep a website secure and protected. For example, plans include InterShield Security to help protect your site from web attacks, and it also has an in-house malware database, a machine learning firewall and an automatic virus scanner so the health of your site is always upheld. This makes it great for businesses that handle sensitive information, such as customer contact info.

InterServer pricing:

InterServer offers one straightforward web hosting plan that costs $2.50 per month—no contract required. It comes with unlimited storage and bandwidth and a number of industry-leading security features including Inter-Insurance, which will clean up any messes made should there be a security breach attack, and InterShield Security. In addition to its top-notch security, its plan comes packed with extras, such as 24/7 managed support, unlimited storage, free site migration, unlimited business email and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Learn more: Read our full InterServer review .

InterServer is the best web hosting service for businesses on a budget that need to ensure website security, such as those that handle sensitive information and process online payments. For example, an online store, a medical practice or a financial services provider.

• Unlimited storage on all plans
• Free Cloudflare CDN
• Includes InterShield Security
• Weekly backups included
• Free unlimited business email
• Includes a WordPress installer
• Free website migration service
• 99.9% uptime guarantee
• Does not include a free domain name
• Dated cPanel
• Live chat can be slow to respond

Best for Fast-Growing Businesses

$2.95 per month

Unlimited SSD storage and unlimited bandwidth

Free domain, free SSL certificate, free site transfer, website builder, unlimited business email

TMDHosting offers a wide variety of plan options to grow with your business, such as web, cloud, WordPress, VPS and reseller hosting. Some plans even offer dedicated servers. Smaller companies typically start with web or cloud hosting before upgrading to VPS, which is a virtual private server, or dedicated servers. Access support via phone or email 24/7/365 with response times as little as 15 minutes. There is an extensive knowledge base for self-help. However, it hasn’t been updated since 2018.

TMDHosting pricing:

Plans start at $8.95 per month (paid monthly plus a $9.95 setup fee), but TMDHosting offers regular discounts of up to 45%, so it’s usually available for as little as $2.95 per month with a 36-month contract. When paying for an annual contract or longer, there is no setup fee. A 12-month contract costs $4.95 per month and a month-to-month contract costs $9.95 per month.

All plans include unlimited SSD storage and unlimited bandwidth, as well as money-saving extras such as a free domain name, free account set up and a free SSL certificate. Plans also come with 24/7 support and a 60-day money-back guarantee, giving you a way to try it risk-free.

Learn more: Read our full TMDHosting review .

Businesses looking for high-quality and affordable web hosting plans that can grow with them. Since its plans come with everything a business needs to build and launch a website (e-commerce sites included), it’s the ideal solution for those who are in the early stages of building a website.

• User-friendly cPanel
• 60-day money-back guarantee
• Higher-tiered plans offer unlimited websites hosted
• Knowledge base last updated in 2018
• Price increases after introductory period ends
• Not the most affordable for contract-free plans

Web hosting is a service that allows anyone to essentially rent space on the internet, and websites must have web hosting in order to be accessible online. Some content management systems (CMS), such as Squarespace and Wix, include web hosting as part of their monthly fee, whereas if you’re building a site on WordPress, you’ll need to purchase web hosting from a web hosting provider, such as MochaHost or IONOS. Learn more about what web hosting is .

Think of web hosting as the process of finding your website a home. The contents of your website—the domain name, HTML code, images, text and so on—all need a place to live. Web hosting provides a place for this content to live on a server.

In short, a server is a computer that connects users to your website. In other words, the server is like a large condo building or office building and web hosting is the process of renting office space or buying a condo in that building.

Web Hosting vs. Domain Hosting

Before you can find a home for your website via web hosting, you first need a domain name. While related, web hosting and domain hosting are very different services. Web hosting is the process of connecting your website to a server, whereas domain hosting is the process of securing a domain name or web address for your website.

Following our earlier analogy, if web hosting is akin to renting space in a building then domain hosting is like putting a nameplate outside your door with your name and address. The domain is what people use to navigate to your address on the Internet.

Many service providers provide both domain hosting and web hosting, which can provide one-stop-shop convenience, but depending on your needs, you may want to consider separating the services. Regardless, before you can even consider web hosting, you first need a domain name via a domain registrar .

When choosing the best web hosting service, consider factors such as pricing, storage space and bandwidth limits, customer service, server location options, security features and whether it has automatic backups. Another thing you need to consider is its scalability. Migrating a website, even when a web hosting service does it for you, isn’t an easy task. Does the host offer a wide range of options that will scale with your site? Additionally, how easy is your web host to use?

Essential Web Hosting Features

We recommend that you look for a web hosting provider with the following key features, regardless of your specific website needs:

• Reliability and performance: Look for a hosting provider with good uptime, preferably 99.9% or higher so your site won’t experience outages. Most hosts provide a contractual guarantee where they’ll reimburse you part of your premium for outages.
• Security: Make sure your web host has DDoS protection, SSL certificates and other security features so your site is safe from malicious attacks.
• Customer service: Look for a host with 24/7 customer support, so you can easily get help if something goes wrong. What support options are available? Chat, phone, ticket and email support are typical for web hosts.
• Storage and bandwidth: Storage and unmetered bandwidth are two of the most important factors to consider when choosing a web host. The more storage you have, the more content you can store, such as videos and images. Bandwidth affects how quickly your website loads and how much data is transferred when visitors view your site. Look for a host that provides unlimited storage and bandwidth.
• Backups: It’s important to have regular backups of your website, so make sure the web host you choose offers automatic backups. If a hosting provider doesn’t automatically back up your website, consider investing in a third-party backup service.

Ease of Use

Look for a web hosting provider with an intuitive user interface and control panel. This will save you time in the long run if you need to make changes or updates to your website. A good web host should offer one-click installations for popular content management systems (CMS), such as WordPress or Drupal, and a drag-and-drop website builder if you’re not comfortable with coding.

Scalability

Finally, it’s important to consider scalability when choosing a web hosting service. How will you grow your website in the future? Will your host’s services be able to keep up with your growth? Does the host offer an easy way to scale up, such as offering VPS and dedicated hosting options? A good web host should be able to handle the growth of your website. Similarly, if you’re taking a break for a while, can you drop to a lower-tiered plan?

There are several different types of web hosting available. While there may be a tendency to favor the cheapest option, depending on your needs, this can lead to problems down the road. For this reason, it’s important to look not just at cost, but customer service, security, speed and customization options as well.

Shared Hosting

Shared hosting is most popular with small businesses and websites that don’t need a lot of customization or expect a lot of traffic. Shared hosting provides space for several websites—dozens, hundreds or thousands—on one server.

Because the costs are relatively low, it is an economical option, but there could be service disruptions or slower connection speeds because several clients/websites are all accessing the same server’s resources, including disk space, RAM and central processing unit (CPU) power.

Virtual Private Server (VPS) Hosting

A step up from shared hosting is VPS hosting . Similar to shared hosting, various websites are all housed on the same server, but each website’s files and content are housed in its own dedicated space on the server. You will pay a little more than with shared hosting, but you also have your own section of the server isolated from other clients on the server. For this reason, VPS hosting is more secure. Additionally, VPS hosting is scalable to your needs and you’ll be able to modify the server and install any software that you need.

VPS hosting can be managed or unmanaged. If you choose managed VPS hosting, the host will provide all maintenance and services necessary to keep the website and server up and running. You’ll pay a little more for managed VPS hosting, but you won’t be responsible for maintenance.

Conversely, using unmanaged VPS hosting will mean you are responsible for configuring and maintaining the server yourself, monitoring security threats, installing software upgrades and backing up your data. Unmanaged VPS hosting is a good option for website developers, businesses with a dedicated IT department and individuals with a technology background.

WordPress Managed Hosting

Because WordPress is such a popular content management system, many web hosting providers offer WordPress-specific hosting . In addition to web hosting, these providers also offer services such as technical support and software updates specific to WordPress. It offers advantages like scalability, speed and security, but it comes at a price with a cost of about $2 to $30 per month. Additionally, there are fewer customization options since it is limited to WordPress features.

Cloud Hosting

Cloud hosting houses your website on multiple servers for maximum performance and connection speeds. It is more expensive than shared hosting, but it will minimize any connection or speed issues because it can handle traffic surges with ease. Cloud hosting also offers scalability, backups and disaster recovery. These additional services come with a price, however, and the pricing models of cloud hosting providers can be confusing, depending on customization of the plan.

Dedicated Hosting

Dedicated web hosting is when a website has sole use of the entire server. Because you have your own dedicated server, you minimize security and connection issues. But it comes at a price.

The costs may be justified, however, in a few situations. For instance, if you expect your website traffic to increase significantly, service disruptions and slow connection speeds could be detrimental to your business. In this case, the cost of a dedicated server would be worth it because it will provide uninterrupted service and quick connection speeds. A dedicated server will also provide additional security, which will be helpful if you are dealing with personal information like credit card information.

Web hosting can range from a few dollars to hundreds of dollars a month, so it’s important to find a plan that fits your budget. Consider the renewal cost of the hosting plan as well, since some providers offer a lower rate for the first term and then significantly increase the price when it’s time to renew. Additionally, keep in mind that there may be some hosting features that you don’t need or can live without, so look for a plan that offers the best value.

For example, a cheaper plan doesn’t usually include a domain name, and often includes just one website. A more expensive plan may include multiple domains, more storage and bandwidth and other features.

Average Cost By Hosting Type

Pricing varies significantly between various types of web hosting services. Even within each type, there can be price differences between service providers depending on the level of customer service and the length of service plan chosen. In general, prices range as follows:

• Shared web hosting : up to $15 per month
• VPS web hosting : $18 to $85 per month
• WordPress managed hosting : $2 to $30 per month
• Cloud hosting : $5 to $50 per month
• Dedicated server hosting : $80 to several hundred dollars per month

Website Hosting Cost Factors

There are several factors that go into the cost of website hosting. These include:

• Storage: The amount of data storage your hosting plan allows.
• Bandwidth: How much traffic you can have on your website without interruption or slow speeds.
• Number of websites: Depending on the plan, you may be able to host multiple websites with one account.
• IP addresses: If you need a static IP address with your hosting plan, you may have to pay an additional cost.
• SSL certificate: An SSL certificate keeps your website secure and safe from hackers. Some hosting plans offer a free SSL certificate, but others may require you to purchase one in addition to the hosting plan.
• Customer service: Some hosting companies offer 24/7 customer service while others may only provide limited support. Others will charge a premium, but will walk you through fixing things that break on your site.
• Customization options: Hosting plans that allow for customization and add-ons, such as databases or web servers, will usually cost more.

Fees & Add-Ons

Your web hosting provider may also charge additional fees, such as setup fees (often waived when signing a contract and paying up-front), domain registration fees or monthly support fees. Additionally, there may be add-on services you can purchase to enhance your website, such as SEO optimization or extra security features. Be sure to read the fine print of your contract and thoroughly understand what is included in your hosting plan before signing up.

Having a website for your business or personal use is essential in today’s digital world. You can choose to build and host your site yourself, or you may opt for an all-in-one website builder that includes hosting. However, if you want more control over your site and access to additional features, using a separate web hosting service might be the better choice.

In addition to hosting, there are a few other items you may want to consider when setting up your website. These include website builders, domain registration, email hosting and ecommerce functionality.

Website Builder

Website builders are tools or programs that allow you to create a website without the need for coding. They provide a variety of drag-and-drop templates and often include hosting, so you don’t need to purchase a separate plan.

Domain Registration

Your domain name is the URL or web address that users type in to access your website. You can usually purchase and register a domain name when signing up for hosting, though many web hosting companies have an additional fee for domain registration . A domain name is important for businesses as it helps to create a professional online presence.

Email Hosting

Having a dedicated email address is essential if you want to build customer trust. You can usually purchase email hosting from your web host, or use a separate service such as Google Workspace (formerly known as G Suite). Other web hosts include email hosting for free in their hosting plans.

Ecommerce Functionality

If you plan to sell products or services online, then you’ll need to look for a hosting plan that offers ecommerce functionality. Hosts usually offer ecommerce hosting tools such as payment gateways, shopping carts and secure checkout pages to help you get started.

Forbes Advisor researched the industry and analyzed dozens of different web hosting providers and plans. We then scored each of these providers across five categories of features looking at 23 different metrics that were weighted to favor features that small business owners find valuable in a web host.

We did a deep dive into each provider’s pricing options. Focusing on shared hosting, we looked at the starting price of each one’s lowest-priced plan to see what it cost per month, how long of a contract (if any) was required, and what features come with that plan. Then, we looked at each provider’s high-tiered plans with the same scrutiny as well as how much the price increased for each plan upon renewal. We also looked at how many sites each provider covered for hosting under each plan as well as its money-back guarantee. Pricing accounted for 10% of our weighted scoring.

We had high expectations for features offered by web hosts―not only essential features that we thought that each platform should offer but additional features that helped a provider stand out from the rest of the pack. We graded many of these features on whether they came as part of the original plan or were available as a paid add-on. Some of the essential features we looked for included unlimited storage and bandwidth, free SSL certificate and domain name, one-click WordPress installation, offering an uptime guarantee and 24/7 support in some format.

Some of the unique features we gave weight to included offering a CDN, free business email address, website builder, automatic backups and free domain name privacy protection. Combined, features accounted for 50% of our total score.

Third-party reviews

Many real users of these web hosting platforms posted reviews on Trustpilot, so we reviewed that site to gauge what these users thought of each one. We first looked at the number of reviews left for each provider, giving a higher rating to those that received positive reviews of 3.5 or higher of at least 300 or more. These accounted for 10% of the total score.

Expert analysis

Turning to customer reviews again, our panel of experts looked at certain criteria that are also important to users of web hosting platforms. These categories included ease of use, value for the money, stand-out features and popularity. Our experts’ analysis accounted for 30% of the total score.

As the internet continues to grow and develop at an astounding rate, the web hosting industry has adapted to increased demands and greater expectations. These adaptations are apparent in the major 2023 web hosting trends we are seeing as we move into the new year.

Fewer On-site Data Centers

Similar to everywhere else, the cloud is becoming the number one choice for consumers in the web hosting industry. Companies are moving away from dedicated on-site servers and instead choose to base operations out of third-party, cloud-hosted servers. 

Servers that operate in the cloud provide a tremendous number of benefits, including increased scaling potential, more flexibility, lower costs, the ability to create backups, improved security, regular maintenance and better software capability. Cloud computing is here to stay, and we expect more entities to move operations onto the cloud in 2023.

Multicloud Hosting

Multicloud hosting refers to the practice of delegating a site’s computing tasks to two or more different cloud computing platforms. Essentially, some functions of a site are performed by one vendor and other functions by another.

Multicloud hosting has become increasingly popular in recent years. By using this model, a company is not dependent on a single vendor for all its needs, and it can take advantage of the unique benefits and areas of strength each host offers. We expect to see multicloud hosting becoming an even more popular choice in 2023 as companies try to stay competitive in the virtual world.

What is the best web hosting company?

If you’re searching for a web host that can support and grow your business website, IONOS is the perfect solution. With all of their plans, you’ll receive one year of complimentary domain name registration, an SSL certificate free-of-charge as well as 24/7 customer service should any unforeseen issues arise.

HostGator has earned a place in our list of the best web hosting services due to its impressive value for money and dependable performance, as well as its abundant features tailored specifically to small-and medium businesses. It provides limitless disk space, unlimited bandwidths and even boasts a 99% uptime guarantee.

Bluehost stands out as one of the most popular web hosting solutions, and there’s a reason why. It provides users with an impressive array of features at budget-friendly prices – perfect for novices in need of reliable web hosting.

How do I transfer my site from one host to another?

If you are planning to transfer your website from one host to another, the process is relatively straightforward but can vary depending on your current web hosting provider. Generally, you will need to create a backup of your website, download it from your current host and then upload it to the new hosting provider. You should also update your domain name record to point to the new server. Your web hosting provider may be able to help you or provide assistance with this process.

What is bandwidth in web hosting?

If you want to ensure efficiency and reliability for your website, be sure to select a web hosting plan with an adequate amount of bandwidth. Bandwidth is the measure of data that can be transmitted between your site and its visitors, typically in megabytes or gigabytes per second. The higher it is, the more guests you can accommodate on your page without lagging speeds. Many hosts offer numerous levels of bandwidth so make sure to pick one tailored toward fulfilling all needs pertaining to your website!

What is web hosting and why do I need it?

Web hosting is a service that allows anyone to essentially rent space on the internet, and websites must have web hosting in order to be accessible online. Some content management systems (CMS), such as Squarespace and Wix, include web hosting as part of their monthly fee, whereas if you’re building a site on WordPress, you’ll need to purchase web hosting from a web hosting provider, such as IONOS or HostGator.

What are the different types of web hosting services?

There are a number of different web hosting services, but the most common are shared, VPS (virtual private server) and dedicated. Shared is the most popular choice as it’s also the most affordable. However, VPS and dedicated hosting offer more site security and enhanced website performance, making them a more popular choice amongst large and well-established websites.

How do I choose the best web hosting services?

When choosing the best web hosting services for your business, you’ll need to consider a variety of factors. The most important include your website’s size, traffic and goals. You’ll also want to consider the type of hosting you need—shared, VPS or dedicated hosting. And finally, factors such as which come with the extras you need (e.g., a domain name or business email) and support in your preferred contact method (e.g., live chat, phone or email) should influence your decision.

What is the cheapest way to host a website?

There are some web hosts offering free hosting and domain names, but you shouldn’t use them as a business. This is because you’ll have the web host’s domain after yours (mycoolsite.webhostname.com). Shared hosting is your cheapest option, and we have a list of the best cheap web hosting services to consider.

Why is website hosting so expensive?

Website hosting can be expensive because it’s a competitive market. Most web hosts offer similar features and resources, so the best way to stand out is to offer more features, which often come at an additional cost. Web hosts also have to pay for the servers and infrastructure that power their websites, as well as 24/7 customer support.

Can I host my own website?

Yes, you can host your own website but, for most, this doesn’t make the most sense. It will be more costly and time-consuming than using a web hosting company because you’ll need your own servers and software as well as the knowledge of how to maintain them.

What is the difference between shared and VPS hosting?

Shared hosting is the most affordable type of web hosting as multiple websites are hosted on the same server, thus sharing resources and reducing costs. VPS hosting‌ is a more secure type of hosting as each website is hosted on a virtual private server with its own resources. This setup allows for more control over the server, making it ideal for larger and more established websites. However, VPS hosting is more expensive than shared hosting.

What does unlimited bandwidth mean?

Unlimited bandwidth means that your web hosting service doesn’t limit the amount of data you can use. Does this mean you can use as much bandwidth as you want? Not necessarily. Most hosting companies have fair usage policies, so while they may not limit the amount of data being used, they will monitor your usage and may ask you to upgrade if it becomes excessive.

• Best VPS Hosting Services
• Best Cloud Hosting Services
• Best Reseller Web Hosting
• Best Shared Hosting Services
• Best Dedicated Hosting Services
• What Is A Name Server?

Kathy Haan, MBA is a former financial advisor-turned-writer and business coach. For over a decade, she’s helped small business owners make money online. When she’s not trying out the latest tech or travel blogging with her family, you can find her curling up with a good novel.

• Industry Specific , Reputation Management , Review Management

Top 23 Review Sites To Get Customer Reviews

Andrew mcdermott.

• August 11, 2020

What’s the simplest way to boost top-line growth in your business? 

With customer reviews, of course! A study showed that brands with 82 total reviews (or more) earn  54 percent more in annual revenue than average. The unsurprising downside is — review sites aren’t created equal. You’ll need to invest your time with the right review platforms to achieve consistent growth in your business. 

Which online review sites are most important for reputation management, driving visibility, and social proof? 

We’re going to get an answer to that question today. I’ll provide you with a detailed look at a variety of review platforms, outlining what works and why. 

Table of Contents

Get the reputation you deserve with grade.us, why your business needs the top review sites.

Top review websites produce disproportionate returns for your business. Reviews have a significant impact on your brand, conversion rates, and revenue. It’s important then, to prioritize the review platforms that will produce the greatest results for your business.

With the right data, you can identify these platforms.

This isn’t just about accumulating a large number of reviews (though that’s still essential). It’s about all of the other benefits that come from a strong review portfolio. These are the incentives you want to optimize your efforts around.

• Strong rankings in organic and local search results
• A steady and reliable showing in Google's search features (e.g., the knowledge graph, local pack, featured and rich snippets, etc.)
• Excellent conversion rates with consistent revenue growth
• Decreased advertising costs
• Powerful branding and improved brand perception and recall

You’ll want to optimize your efforts around the primary, secondary, and tertiary review platforms that produce these benefits consistently. Today, we’re going to take a look at the top review platforms.

Let’s get started.

Top review website #1: Google Reviews

Customers can write reviews for businesses via Google Maps. According to Google , “more than a billion people using Google Maps every month and more than 5 million active apps and websites using Google Maps Platform core products every week .”

That’s 13 percent of the population on Earth.

Why Google reviews are important

Google accounts for 57.5 percent of all reviews worldwide , across all review platforms . If your customers are going to leave a review, there is a very good chance it’s going to be on Google. If you’re like me, you’re probably wondering how is that possible ? 

Google receives 92 percent of all search visits in the United States (as of 2020), and 96 percent of mobile organic visits. Google is the number one review platform, with 63.6 percent of consumers searching for reviews on Google first. Fifty-three percent of customers visit a business within 48 hours of performing a local search on Google. It sounds like they have a monopoly. 😏

Features: Google Reviews

• With your Google My Business (GMB) account you can track reviews, set alerts, respond to reviews and upload photos, videos, and posts to your profile.
• You’re encouraged to request reviews from customers directly via a short URL that’s specific to your business.
• Business reviews appear next to your listing in Maps and Search. and are displayed for organic and location-specific search queries.
• Google doesn’t provide an official widget or embed code you can use to share your reviews. They do provide that information via their API, and you can use plugins to add that functionality to your site.

Caveats and warnings for Google Reviews

• Review gating is prohibited on Google.
• Offering reviewers an incentive to share their feedback is strictly prohibited.
• Google penalizes fake reviews by decreasing rank or banning offenders.
• Short names and URLs must adhere to Google’s terms of service , additional terms , content policy , and policies for representing a business on Google .

Bonus: Check out our compr ehensive guides on Google Reviews and optimizing your Google My Business account!

Top review website #2: Facebook Recommendations

Facebook is the most popular social network on the planet. Over time, Facebook has grown to provide users with a variety of essential services, including reviews, which they call recommendations. Users have grown accustomed to these new features over time, as Facebook has worked to act as a facilitator between users and brands.

Why Facebook Recommendations are important

Facebook states that one in three people (on Earth) use their platform to look for recommendations and reviews. According to Statista, Facebook has 2.41 billion monthly active users (more if you include Instagram and Whatsapp). More than 795 million people rely on Facebook for recommendations and reviews each year. 1.6 billion people use Facebook for local search.

Features: Facebook Recommendations

• Brands are encouraged to request reviews and recommendations from customers, provided that they follow Facebook’s policies and standards (see below).
• Facebook will show the recommendations provided by the closest friends to your customer first, this will increase your reach and make you discoverable across Facebook.
• Rich Endorsements allow customers to indicate whether they recommend your business by using tags, texts, and photos or videos. This makes it easier for customers to get an immediate sense of what your business is about.
• Recommendations can be embedded and shared on and off Facebook. They’re treated like status updates and have similar functionality.

Caveats and warnings for Facebook Recommendations

• Comply with Facebook’s terms of service , policies , and community standards when responding to customer recommendations.
• Facebook Recommendations are binary; customers are either for or against your business. There’s not much in the way of nuance.
• Facebook uses your reviews and recommendations to calculate your page’s ratings. They use a variety of factors to calculate your score, including reviews and recommendations, and the performance of other similar pages.

Bonus: Here’s our comprehensive guide on attracting more visitors via Facebook Recommendations and optimizing your Facebook business page .

Top review website #3: Yelp Reviews

Yelp is a controversial yet impactful review platform. Their site has attracted a significant amount of attention from critics, business owners, and, most importantly, customers. 

Why Yelp reviews are important

The majority of traffic to their domain arrives via Google search. While Yelp and Google have been locked in a dispute for the past six years, Yelp reviews are still highly visible in Google’s search results. Additionally, Yelp has 35 million mobile app unique users per month.

This means Yelp would still be a valuable review platform for businesses to target.

Features: Yelp

• A verified Yelp account is required to leave reviews, respond to reviews, bookmark a business, add photos and videos.
• Businesses can respond to customer reviews publicly under their customer’s review, or privately via a direct message.
• Individual reviews can be shared on Facebook, Twitter, via a direct link, or embedded on your website directly.
• Yelp allows businesses to remove competitor ads (as long as they’re willing to spend a little more for the privilege).
• Yelp provides a comprehensive dashboard for businesses that includes recent activity, Yelp ads, page upgrades, reviews, photos and videos, nearby jobs, check-in offers, and more.

Caveats and warnings for Yelp

• Yelp states that review gating is strictly prohibited on their platform.
• Businesses are not allowed to request reviews.
• Businesses are instructed to use neutral phrasing (e.g., Find us on Yelp).
• Incentives and solicitation are also prohibited on their platform.

Bonus: Take a look at this step-by-step walkthrough showing you how to maximize Yelp reviews (without asking) and optimize your Yelp business account .

Top review website #4: TripAdvisor Reviews

TripAdvisor is the world’s most popular travel app. Billions of people worldwide rely on TripAdvisor each year to find accommodations, restaurants, airlines, cruises, and more. 

Why TripAdvisor reviews are important

TripAdvisor generated 860 million user reviews and opinions across 8 million listings covering a variety of industries, including restaurants, hotels, vacation rentals, and attractions. Their website is a travel behemoth, and it’s a must-have for businesses in their core industries. Beginner and experienced travelers alike make TripAdvisor their first stop for research and reviews.

Despite the major toll the pandemic has taken on the world, travel will come back and you’re going to want to make sure that your business is ready with a beautiful impactful selection of reviews (even if they’re not as fresh as normal times.) In fact, outside of the United States, travel is already returning across the world. 

Features: TripAdvisor

The TripAdvisor management center allows business owners to manage the essential portions of their review profile, and business owners can :

• Use Review Express to invite recent visitors to share their reviews on TripAdvisor.
• Respond to reviews, answer traveler questions, and manage photos and listing details.
• Access the Analytics Suite , where you can see key metrics and performance indicators for your TripAdvisor listing.

Caveats and warnings for TripAdvisor

• TripAdvisor penalizes businesses that incentivize customers to leave a positive review. It’s a good idea to take a more cautious approach and avoid promising gifts or incentives.
• Businesses with a history of fraudulent behavior can expect a drop in rankings in TripAdvisor’s popularity index and even a red penalty notice on your profile page (to warn customers about fraud).
• An unattended page will drop in TripAdvisor’s popularity index. If you’d like a steady stream of customers, your page needs a constant stream of attention from you.

Bonus: Take a look at our detailed breakdown showing you how to get more reviews on TripAdvisor.

Top review website #5: G2 Reviews

G2 is the world’s largest tech marketplace and peer-to-peer review site. G2’s focus is aggregating user reviews for business software. G2 helps businesses and individuals discover, review, and manage the technology they need to reach their potential.

Why G2 reviews are important

G2 asked themselves this question. “Why is it easier to get unbiased information about a $100 hotel room than a $100,000 piece of software?” G2 solves a high-value problem for businesses, namely which websites are a good fit for my business. So far, G2 has answered this question for more than 4 million people in thousands of organizations.

Features: G2

• Businesses can invite existing customers to write a review on G2, they can respond publicly, share or mark a review as “helpful.”
• Automate review collection via a dedicated G2 landing page.
• Collect video reviews, add testimonial widgets, or build customer reference pages.
• Track and manage SaaS spend, including usage, contracts, and compliance with G2 Track .
• Get email notifications when prospects visit your profile and export leads to your CRM.

Caveats and warnings for G2

• G2 relies on its algorithm to monitor its platform for fraudulent reviews, including fake reviews from company employees.
• Reviews are manually screened and voted on by the community to discourage spam and unhelpful comments.
• G2 also requests screenshots of the reviewer using the product for verification purposes.
• G2 aggregates review data, using it to score business software products on The Grid, which competes with Gartner’s magic quadrant review model.

Top review website #6: Zillow

Zillow is an American online real estate database company  and the leading real estate marketplace. Users can search for real estate, apartments, mortgages, and property values on their platform.

Why Zillow reviews are important

Eighty-five percent of the homes in the U.S. are listed in Zillow’s U.S. database. They have a significant amount of public and proprietary information on home sales, properties, values, etc. Zillow receives 194 million monthly unique users (as of Q2 2019). One hundred eighty-six homes are viewed every second on their platform. 

Zillow also has more than 2 million consumer-submitted real estate agent and mortgage lender reviews on its platform.

Features: Zillow

• Real estate agents can list recent sales, listings, professional bio, service areas, photos, and videos on your profile.
• With an agent account, real estate pros can request and respond to reviews from clients.
• Manage your leads with features such as lead segmentation, lead routing, lead reporting, and lead forwarding.
• Email templates: Create, save, and send email templates to respond to common questions, comments, or concerns.

Caveats and warnings for Zillow

• Only agents and real estate pros with a Zillow profile can be rated and reviewed.
• Removing your profile removes all reviews associated with your business profile.
• Only clients who have communicated or worked with a real estate pro can write a review and submit a rating on that pro.
• A dedicated team of specially trained moderators evaluates all reviews before they are published.
• Pros can respond publicly on the site to any review they receive. Additionally, reviews can be flagged for Zillow to re-moderate.

Bonus: Our detailed guide shows you how to build a profitable real estate business using Zillow reviews in 60 days or less!

Top review website #7: Avvo Reviews

Avvo is an online legal marketplace that connects qualified attorneys with clients who are in the market for their services. An attorney’s profile includes client reviews, disciplinary actions, peer endorsements, legal guides, and more.

Why Avvo reviews are important

In a  recent interview  with BizJournals.com, Avvo stated that it generates more than $8 billion in revenue each year for lawyers and law firms. A survey  from SoftwareAdvice.com found 83 percent of prospective clients use review platforms as an initial first step to evaluate a pool of attorneys. 

Seventy percent of clients stated that they would be willing to drive further and spend more if their attorney had better online reviews than a competitor that was closer to home. Lastly, 97 percent of attorneys in America are rated by Avvo, meaning your competitors are on Avvo.

Features: Avvo

• Attorneys and law firm representatives can respond to client reviews. Attorney comments are displayed immediately.
• Reviews can be removed through Avvo’s dispute process if the review is fraudulent or inaccurate.
• Legal Q&A forum where attorneys can answer publicly posted questions on a variety of legal issues.
• Avvo uses a 1-10 rating system, with ten being superb. Your reviews do not affect your Avvo rating.
• Attorneys are encouraged to request reviews from clients.
• Attorneys should be vigilant, ensuring that they comply with the ABA’s Model Rules of Professional Conduct, specifically Rules 7.1 through 7.5 .
• There should be no quid pro quo for reviews.
• Attorneys may not solicit, encourage, or assist in the posting of fake, false, or misleading reviews.
• Attorneys may not threaten, bully, or harass the client to provide a positive 4- or 5-star review.

Bonus: How to win 4.5x more clients using Avvo Reviews .

Top review website #8: BBB Reviews

Does the BBB still have value as a review platform? Some perceive the BBB as an ancient relic for old-timers, a review platform that offers very little value. As a result, there seems to be some confusion about the BBB and the value they provide to local businesses.

Why BBB reviews are important

In 2018, the BBB received 160,175,192 inquiries (170,350,626 in the US and Canada), 835,846 complaints and settled 654,890 complaints. Statista confirms the BBB as one of the top nine sources customers used to read online reviews and ratings.  Customers are still using the BBB as a review and rating platform. If they’re using it, you should be using it too.

Features: BBB

• Any consumer who has a marketplace interaction with a business can post a customer review, anonymous reviews are not allowed.
• A BBB complaint is not the same as a customer review. They’re treated differently.
• For a consumer to file a complaint with BBB, they must be seeking a resolution from the business. BBB staff works with both the company and the consumer to resolve the issues, and BBB reports the details of that process.
• A customer review is simply feedback about their experience with a business and doesn’t require a resolution.

Advertising

• Online Directory: Accredited businesses are listed first as part of the BBB’s Accredited Business Directory. Like sponsored listings, accredited businesses are rewarded for their memberships.
• Sponsored Listings: “To help further increase your company’s visibility, the BBB offers you the opportunity to showcase your business as a Sponsored Business above the Accredited Business listings in your business categories.”

Caveats and warnings for BBB

• Businesses are expected to follow the BBB’s accreditation standards .
• Businesses also need to follow the BBB partner code of conduct .
• Your profile must adhere to its content guidelines .
• The BBB validates each of the reviews that come in.

Bonus: How to generate leads and attract new customers with reviews on the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

Top review website #9: Healthgrades Reviews

Healthgrades is the leading online resource and review platform for comprehensive information about physicians and hospitals. They provide consumers with information about physicians, hospitals and health care providers, collecting data on more than 3 million U.S. health care providers.

Why Healthgrades reviews are important

Half of all Americans who see a doctor this year will visit Healthgrades. They’re the number one platform for patient-doctor connections. This is significant when you realize they have a large number of competitors — many with deep pockets.

Features: Healthgrades

• Professionals and clinics can register their facility with physical address, phone, fax and directions on Healthgrades by signing up at Partners.Healthgrades.com .
• Add a list of patient reviews that can be filtered by recent (the default), highest, lowest, and most helpful.
• List your biography, specialties (e.g., family medicine, pediatrics, surgery), board certifications, education, and awards.
• Add specific variations of keywords so patients can find you using local search.
• Healthgrades encourages healthcare professionals to request reviews from their patients.

Caveats and warnings for Healthgrades

• Reviews from both patients and professionals are expected to follow their review guidelines .
• Professionals should not mention or endorse specific products, including pharmaceuticals.
• Professionals should not post content that mentions legal matters or proceedings.
• Reviews with personal website links are prohibited.

Bonus: Take a look at our detailed guide – How to boost patient referrals with Healthgrades reviews .

Top review website #10: HomeAdvisor Reviews

HomeAdvisor got their start as Service Magic in 1998. Then, In October 2017, HomeAdvisor merged with Angie’s List to form ANGI Homeservices, trading on the NASDAQ as ANGI. This merger created the largest digital marketplace for home services.

Why HomeAdvisor reviews are important

HomeAdvisor connects 4.2 million homeowners to 60,000 pros, facilitating over $10 Billion in home improvement spending. Their site receives more than 4 million unique visitors to its website each month.

Features: HomeAdvisor

• Homeowners can post anonymous or public reviews to share feedback on a specific service provider.
• Home improvement pros can provide detailed information on their services, service areas, facts, credentials, website, expertise, business overview, and more.
• A dedicated team follows up on reviews to determine authenticity and all honest, objective feedback is posted – good or bad.
• Professionals have the opportunity to respond to the reviews they receive and there is a resolution process for customer complaints.

Caveats and warnings for HomeAdvisor

• HomeAdvisor verifies reviews to ensure they’re honest.
• Honest reviews are posted, whether they’re good or bad.

Bonus: How to double your lead flow, using HomeAdvisor Reviews , in 45 days!

Top review website #11: RepairPal Reviews

As the name implies, RepairPal helps you find trustworthy auto repair shops in your area. They’re a niche review platform and referral service so the consumers who rely on their service tend to be more sophisticated than generalists who frequent mainstream sites like Google Reviews.

Why RepairPal reviews are important

RepairPal doesn’t accept everyone. Instead, they maintain a carefully curated list of providers. Jill Trotta, VP/GM at RepairPal, explains. “We don’t just list anybody in our network. We’re not a pay-to-play network. You have to apply and be accepted, and once you are, we send customers to you.” Shops that are part of RepairPal’s member network meet their stringent quality standards.

Features: RepairPal

• Only customers who have been independently verified by RepairPal can leave reviews.
• RepairPal shops must offer a 12-month or 12,000-mile warranty on its repairs (at a minimum).
• Shops are evaluated by a team of ASE certified technicians to verify competency.
• Shops can respond to customer reviews.

Caveats and warnings for RepairPal

• Reviews are moderated by RepairPal staff.
• The RepairPal community can flag or notify staff of an inappropriate review.
• Reviews that are not first-hand accounts, or that violate RepairPal’s terms of service will be removed.

Top review website #12: Caring.com Reviews

Caring.com is a senior living review site. Caring.com receives visits from two groups; families of seniors and seniors themselves.

Why Caring.com reviews are important

Adults age 65 and older are expected to outnumber children by 2030. In fact, approximately seven baby boomers are turning 65 every minute. All baby boomers and 1 in 5 U.S. residents will have reached “retirement age.” Caring.com is a helpful way for seniors to identify the facility that best meets their needs.

Features: Caring.com

• Caring.com requires that reviewers have firsthand experience with the listed service provider (without being an employee or paid representative).
• Offers senior living communities the option of collecting reviews via phone call.
• Offers senior living communities self-addressed, postage-paid postcards that can be sent to seniors to request reviews.
• Almost 80 percent of Caring.com registered users are female between the ages of 40 and 69.

Caveats and warnings for Caring.com

• Caring.com is a pro-facility platform, meaning that they’re looking to protect facilities so they’re not destroyed by malicious reviewers who are looking to punish your business.
• Reviews and responses (from facilities) are heavily moderated

Bonus: Here’s a detailed guide , showing you how to attract more seniors with 5-star Caring.com reviews .

Top review website #13: Glassdoor Reviews

Glassdoor is an employment review platform; they allow former and current employees to anonymously review companies, view salaries, and apply for jobs.

Why Glassdoor reviews are important

Glassdoor amplifies employee advocacy. Employee advocacy is employee-led, company promotion that includes: employee-led recruiting, promotion, and development. It makes it easier for your organization to attract employees and customers, retain employees, and outperform competitors in the marketplace.

Features: Glassdoor

• Glassdoor reviews from employees are largely anonymous.
• Employers can respond to employee feedback.
• Employer reviews are averaged for each company. Ratings are based on user-generated reviews.
• Employees reviews are screened and verified to ensure they come from real employees at the organization.

Caveats and warnings for Glassdoor

• Attempts to game the review process are policed heavily by Glassdoor staff, employees at the target company, and the Glassdoor community.
• Review manipulation or dishonesty is publicly outed, often leading to an avalanche of negative reviews.

Bonus: Learn how you can boost your reputation on Glassdoor with our deep dive guide.

Top review website #14: The Knot

The Knot describes itself as an “all-in-one wedding planner” with “the #1 wedding app.” Their platform provides couples with the A-to-Z information, tools, and support they need to plan the wedding of their dreams. 

Why The Knot reviews are important

According to Wedding Wire’s 2019 newlywed report , reviews and photos, aside from price, are the most important features couples look for when determining which vendor they’d like to contact. The Knot reviews provide couples with the important information they need to evaluate vendors.

Features: The Knot

• Vendors can’t be added to the platform without permission. Reviewers can refer a vendor to The Knot who will reach out to the vendor.
• Couples share reviews which usually consist of first name, last initial. Users are allowed to edit their review.
• Vendors are allowed to respond to reviews, to provide shoppers with a complete picture of the events.
• Reviews can be added to The Knot message boards and forums, vendors will have the opportunity to respond to their reviews provided that they meet the following criteria .

Caveats and warnings for The Knot

• The Knot is pro couples. Their platform is oriented around taking care of and pleasing their users/customers so vendors should act accordingly on their platform.
• While no official reporting mechanism exists yet, The Knot encourages reviewers to report inappropriate reviews at [email protected]
• Reviews can be shared in a variety of places including The Knot forums.

Top review website #15: YP

The Yellow Pages originally got their start as a business directory listed in alphabetical order. In 2013, they decided to rebrand their business to YP, adding a variety of new products and services to help businesses.

Why YP reviews are important

YP receives more than 23 million visitors to their site monthly. More importantly, YP has partnered with the Better Business Bureau, displaying ratings for listings of businesses that have earned an A or A+ rating or BBB accreditation. This shared partnership provides a significant lift to both the BBB and YP, improving the results brands achieve across both platforms. 

Features: YP

• YP users are loyal and well acquainted with the platform and seek it out directly (vs. searching in Google).
• Reviews from BBB are syndicated in YP along with YP reviews.
• Users can flag reviews they feel are inappropriate.
• Users can share reviews via Facebook, Twitter and direct link.

Caveats and warnings for YP

• Reviews can disappear without warning.
• YP is a niche platform so it would be best to build your review portfolio using YP and a variety of other mainstream platforms.

8 more review sites to get reviews

Zocdoc has expanded its service dramatically covering 40 percent of the U.S. population across 2,000+ cities. They’re used by more than 6,000,000 people each month. Oliver Kharraz, MD, The founder, and chief executive of Zocdoc, states that he comes from a family with a 300 year tradition of being doctors.  Check out our detailed Zocdoc reviews guide for more information.

Thumbtack and Angi

Thumbtack and Angi (rebranded from Angie’s List) are lead generation and review platforms for home service providers. They focus on “Mom-and-pop shops helping next door neighbors. Busy families hiring family businesses.”  We’ve got plenty of insights on Angi reviews.

Indeed is a job search engine that also provides employee prospects with reviews on the company they’re applying for a position with. Indeed receives more than 376 million visitors each month.

Lawyers.com

Lawyers.com is owned by Martindale-Hubbell, the very same people behind Avvo and Nolo. This website, along with Avvo, gives law firms access to their extensive network.

Capterra and TrustRadius

Capterra and TrustRadius , like G2, are software ratings platforms that focus primarily on SaaS companies. These review platforms help managers and decision makers choose the right software for their business using reviews from other like minded customers.

WeddingWire

WeddingWire lists more than 250,000 wedding professionals on their platform. They’re not as well known as The Knot, but they place special emphasis on making things as easy for their users/customers as possible.

A good rule of thumb with these review sites would be to focus your attention on the mainstream review platforms to start, then add industry-specific, and niche sites as you gain traction with your review management campaigns.

Use these top rated review websites to generate reviews

Your customers decide which review sites are viable for your business. Invest your time wisely, focus on the right review sites and you’ll have the tools you need to boost top-line growth on demand. 

These top rated review sites attract a disproportionate amount of customer attention you can use to grow your business.  Start with these review websites, then branch out and niche down to build a strong review portfolio that protects you from competitors, attracts customers, and establishes you as the market leader.

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Small Business Trends

26 business review sites where customers rate you.

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What is a Customer Review?

Best business review sites, 1. google my business, 2. bing places for business, 3. facebook ratings and reviews, 4. better business bureau, 5. amazon customer reviews, 7. foursquare, 8. homeadvisor, 9. yellow pages, 10. tripadvisor, 11. angie’s list, 12. trustradius, 13. opentable, 14. planetrate, 15. salesforce appexchange, 16. trustpilot, 17. glassdoor, 23. financesonline, 24. merchant circle, 25. sitejabber, other review sites, 5 tips for leveraging business review sites.

Encourage Business Reviews 

Make it a habit to encourage customers to share a review or give feedback on your Facebook page, Yelp, the BBB, or other review sites. Reviews essentially are word of mouth. Instead of speaking one-on-one with a neighbor or friend, consumers take to review websites.

Respond to Negative Reviews

Never let negative reviews go unanswered. Keep an open mind, remain unemotional and apologize if necessary. Take negative comments back to your team and use them to improve. If you did nothing wrong, acknowledge the situation and empathize. Avoid arguing with a customer or flaming the reviewer.

It turns out that 30% of consumers reverse negative reviews on online review sites when the company responds, according to a survey by ZenBusiness. Yet, only 12% of consumers say their reviews are often or always responded to. Therefore, by responding, you gain a real advantage over all the other small businesses that never respond.

Do I Still Need My Own Website if I Have Review Site Listings?

Should i display reviews on my website.

Yes. A number of software apps are available to help with aggregating reviews and displaying them on your site. The software reminds customers to review your business post-sale. The apps also automate collecting reviews that have already been published on third-party sites, and provide widgets so you can embed and display reviews on your own website. Examples: GatherUp , Reviews.io and BirdEye .

Do Customer Review Sites Help with Search Engine Rankings?

Home » Reviews » Top 10 Best Business Review Sites

Top 10 Best Business Review Sites in 2023

The article is checked by our editorial team, Which includes entrepreneurs who are painfully aware of how overwhelming and challenging it is to start a business for the first time.

All products recommended by Bizreport are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Best Brand's visibility boost

Visit Website

Google My Business

Top Reviews from various sites

Bing Places for Business

Best small business feedback

Using a reputable and appropriate business review site for your small local business will assist you in obtaining the appropriate consumer reviews for reputation management and identifying satisfied customers through positive reviews and places for development.

Read more: Best LLC services

We examined and compared over thirty reputable local business review websites to come up with a list of the ten most trustworthy for your small business in the United States.

Top 10 Best Business Review Sites 2023

• Yelp – Best Business review platform overall
• Google My Business – Very effective in boosting brands visibility
• Bing Places for Business – Reviews from other business review sites
• Better Business Bureau – Very reliable for small businesses
• ConsumerAffairs – Best with free resources
• Business Consumer Alliance – Best for local business product promotion
• Foursquare – Best for customer analytics
• Yellow Pages – Best for advertising and listing
• TrustRadius – High level of transparency and most trusted
• Trustpilot – One of the leading global review platforms

Features Of The Best Business Review Sites 

The above-mentioned popular business review sites all have certain common features that benefit local businesses. The following are some of the features.

• Free or low cost advertising
• Improved Search Engine Optimized (SEO) results.
• Constructive criticism
• A better relationship with users
• Peer recommendations

• Free to list your business on Yelp
• Beginner’s guide to small business SEO
• Detailed feedback for your business
• Prominent terminus for customer reviews

• Rich Media for business marketing
• Direct connection to customers
• Better place to understand your competition

• Local search results with more visibility
• Algorithm factors more in social signals
• Better and improved visuals

Better Business Bureau

• Provides business marketing solutions
• Good dispute resolution with consumers
• Recognizes small business of year through awards.

ConsumerAffairs

• Seller-buyer connection
• New customer leads
• Easiest way to grow your brand

Business Consumer Alliance

• Addresses business-related conflicts
• Products promotion
• Increased customer feedback

• Real-time location to target customers
• Easy choice for small business
• Black Friday learnings and insights

Yellow Pages

• Outstanding advertising tools
• Assists in competing and winning
• Great way to promote a small business

TrustRadius

• Transparency
• Reliable information to make better decision
• Many resources for tech marketers/vendors

• Reliable feedback to boost sales
• Real-time consumer insights
• Leading global review platform

Top 10 Best Business Review Sites For Your Business 2023

Yelp is a popular review site that has helped many local businesses persuade potential clients to conduct business with them, with over 90% of online consumers purchasing after visiting Yelp. 

• Prominent terminus for customer reviews (Yelp gets a lot of traffic)
• As a business, you have no control over the listed reviews

With over 90 million visitors and more, Yelp has become synonymous with business reviews. Yelp has a massive repository of information in almost every business category. In addition, it has a large number of potential customers searching for local businesses. 

Yelp allows customers to design discounted promotional deals for customers and receives a commission based on the number of successful purchases through the platform.

The best part about creating a Google My Business listing for your local business is that it’s completely free! You can also utilize Google Analytics [1] to see information about visitors who click on their posts, allowing for better targeting in the future. 

Google My Business gives your businesses a great chance to appear in Google Search engine results, Google being the king of web traffic.

• Free with rich Media for business marketing
• Presence in google maps listing
• Doesn’t allow addition of critical details eg phone number

Google My Business is a free service that allows you to choose how your business appears in Google Search and Maps. When customers search for your company on Google, the information appears in a Knowledge Graph window that displays in their search results. 

This includes the name of your business, address, hours of operation, and customer feedback. A Google My Business listing will enhance your presence online while letting potential clients know where your business is physically located.

 Bing Places for Business

Bing Places for Business provides easy-to-use and effective management, allowing you to focus on the most critical aspects of your business. It is easy to use; perhaps you will like it, and it works perfectly on iOS, Windows, and Android devices.

• Less traffic compared to Google My Business

Local businesses can add a listing for their business on Bing through the Bing website. 

Local business owners can also use Bing Places for Business to authenticate their existing Bing listing, amend or modify the relevant data, and add photographs, videos, services, and other material that better describes their business.

 Better Business Bureau

You can better manage your local business listing if you are Better Business Bureau (BBB) accredited. Obtaining accreditation accelerates good consumer reviews — you can update your profile with information such as hours of operation and services offered

• Provides top-notch business marketing solutions
• Recognizes small business of year through awards
• Medium traffic

Since 1912, the Better Business Bureau has been a private, nonprofit organization [2] that indexes businesses and assigns them a score based on various ranking criteria. 

BBB has approximately 100 independently administered offices, many of which are located in the United States.

Besides, BBB provides dispute resolution services, directory listings, and Grow with Google workshops.

ConsumerAffairs’ primary mission is to prevent consumers and brands from having a one-star experience. 

When you sign up for your local business with Consumer Affairs, you gain access to many resources, including articles on how reviews and a strong reputation can help you increase profitability, find brand ambassadors, and turn negative customer experiences into positive ones.

• Easy-to-use website
• Lack of free trial

ConsumerAffairs, a platform customer news and resource center formed in 1998, showcases itself as an unbiased, reliable source of customer information, recall information, and user evaluations for a number of brands. 

ConsumerAffairs is a fully-featured consumer interaction platform that can help your local business in various areas, including customer support, marketing, sales, and product development.

BCA’s main selling point is its competence to resolve disputes between businesses and customers.

• User complaints about its claim to be part of BBB

Business Consumer Alliance, Inc. was founded in 1928 as a non-profit corporation. Due to ongoing policy disagreements with BBB’s parent organization, the organization resigned from the Better Business Bureau system in March 2013. 

BCA’s overall goal is to promote business self-regulation.

They accomplish this goal by supporting customers in addressing business concerns and then using that information and other pertinent data like customer reviews to forecast local business reliability.

Signing up with BCA will assist you in resolving concerns and providing a positive customer service experience, which will help you retain clients. Businesses can also use BCA’s website for marketing their products and services to attract new clients.

Users analytics are available to businesses that actually use Foursquare. Foursquare allows customers to view places they visit and rank them

• Real-time location for target customers
• Top tips for small businesses
• Black Friday insights
• No as many reviews as competitors

Foursquare is a mobile app for local search and exploration. The application assists users in discovering new places/businesses by utilizing other apps. The majority of Foursquare business reviews are for restaurants, although they can be for any business.

Users can also leave recommendations for other people visiting the businesses. Besides, businesses can post tips and offer customer incentives. Data from Foursquare is frequently used on other websites and maps.

Yellow Pages’ selling point is its low advertising cost, making it an inexpensive option for small businesses. This capability is used by businesses to target specific neighborhoods, surrounding suburbs, and cities in the nearby region.

Local businesses can increase their consumer base by reaching out to people who live or work in the area, adjacent regions, or even outside of town.

• Low or no charges for adverts
• Requires minimum work
• Not so popular nowadays

The yellow pages are a well-known part of everyday life. As a result, whenever people relocate to a different residence, they bring the phonebook to quickly discover service providers such as cleaners, restaurants, and supermarkets in their new neighborhood. 

Because businesses list their services alphabetically, the yellow pages are user-friendly. The best thing about yellow pages is that they are accessible to individuals who do not have computers.

TrustRadius is the most reputable business technology review site, servicing both buyers and sellers. They support businesses in leveraging their consumers’ genuine voices across sales and marketing platforms. 

They collect feedback from their consumers on a large scale, then distribute the content where it may have the most influence.

• Reliable information to make better decisions
• There is a lot to learn during onboarding and lack of free package

TrustRadius is an online business review platform for various businesses. All reviewers are verified through LinkedIn adds to TrustRadius’ legitimacy. 

This allows businesses to see what their LinkedIn contacts have to say about their businesses and products.

Trustpilot’s key selling feature is its ability to transform into a marketing tool, establish trust, and inform users about which aspects of the business need improvement.

Because it uses consumer comments and feedback to influence prospective customers’ decisions, Trustpilot can become your local business’s best marketing tool.

• Pricing is not friendly for smaller businesses that do not get many reviews.

Trustpilot was formed in 2007 to create an autonomous trust between consumers and businesses. It’s a digital platform that connects businesses and customers to build trust and encourage collaboration. 

The platform collects reviews from customers to help them purchase with certainty and provide businesses with valuable information to help them improve the quality of services they provide. 

The more consumers who utilize this business review platform and express their ideas, the more information firms get and the more chances they have to acquire consumers’ trust worldwide.

Tips For Leveraging Business Review Sites

The following recommended practice tips will assist you in obtaining highly sought-after, favorable evaluations through the usage of online review sites.

Do not manipulate people to write reviews.

While you can convince customers to leave reviews, you should not reward them for doing so. You should use those funds to improve other areas of your business.

Know the guidelines for each review platform

It is indeed crucial to know the guidelines for each review site. Some, such as Yelp, have tight standards for soliciting feedback.

Do not make up phony reviews.

Fake business reviews may result in your company being blocklisted from the review website. Consumer trust is essential to review sites, and they have systems to help eliminate fraudulent reviews [3] . It is not worth the risk, and it could harm your business ’ reputation if you are noticed.

Claim your business’s listing.

Many review sites, such as Google My Business and Yelp, allow you to claim a profile, which you should do. This will enable you to update or verify information about your company, such as your phone number, hours of operation, and email address. 

You can comment on customer evaluations, upload images, and link to a blog post or article on occasion. Your profile becomes an extension of your business’s website, and it’s an excellent method to attract new clients.

Encourage clients to post a review of your business.

Invite users to leave a review or provide comments on your Yelp page, the Better Business Bureau, or other review platforms. 

Should You Display Reviews On Your Business Sites?

Yes. However,  we recommend sticking to positive reviews only. They’re helpful for more than just increasing local business conversion rates. 

If you want to improve the performance of your website and business, you should display content that can assist you in doing so, and publishing consumer reviews on your website is an excellent place to start.

Do Customer Review Sites Help with Search Engine Rankings?

Yes. According to statistics, 79% of potential online customers believe they can trust online reviews as much as they trust personal recommendations. 

When it comes to online reviews, Google is the most popular, with 59 percent of people utilizing it to read them. Before purchasing a product, more than half of people read at least four reviews.

You would probably like to get as many positive reviews and feedback as possible. However, it’s equally important to have your business mentioned on as many websites as possible. 

The more reviews your business receives, the more backlinks [4] your website will receive. Of course, you want every single one of these to be favorable. 

As a result, positive customer feedback significantly impacts search engine ranking.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Yes, over 80% of review sites provide reliable information and are trustworthy

Businesses found manipulating reviews can be banned from review platforms

You can respond to negative reviews with an apology and try to show the customer that you are genuine and authentic.

Local SEO [5] is used to optimize a website for local search to improve traffic, leads, and brand exposure.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ABOUT THE REVIEWER

+ 5 sources

Bizreport Advisor adheres to strict editorial integrity standards avoids using tertiary references. We have strict sourcing guidelines and rely on peer-reviewed studies, academic research. To ensure the accuracy of articles in Bizreport, you can read more about the editorial process here.

• WebFX. (2022). What Is Google Analytics? | Definition, Data, & Uses | WebFX. [online] Available at: https://www.webfx.com/analytics/glossary/what-is-google-analytics/ [Accessed 7 Mar. 2022].
• ‌Investopedia. (2022). What Does Not for Profit Mean? [online] Available at: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/n/not-for-profit.asp [Accessed 7 Mar. 2022].
• ‌Boast. (2021). Are Paid or Fake Testimonials Illegal? – Boast. [online] Available at: https://boast.io/paid-fake-testimonials-illegal/ [Accessed 7 Mar. 2022].
• ‌http://facebook.com/syedbalkhi (2019). What is a Backlink? How to Get More Backlinks. [online] WPBeginner. Available at: https://www.wpbeginner.com/glossary/backlinks/ [Accessed 7 Mar. 2022].
• Mailchimp. (2021). Qu’est-ce que le SEO local, et comment fonctionne-t-il ? | Mailchimp. [online] Available at: https://mailchimp.com/fr/resources/what-is-local-seo/ [Accessed 7 Mar. 2022].

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Best Web-Hosting Services for 2023: Top Hosting Providers

We compared popular web-hosting services across essential criteria like security, uptime and more to help you find web hosting that fits your needs.

In this article:

• Web host comparison ​
• Best web-hosting services ​
• Other web-hosting services to consider ​

More web-hosting services we looked at

• Criteria for web-hosting services ​
• Web-hosting terms to know ​
• Web-hosting FAQs ​

If you want to create a blog, kick off a side hustle or build an online portfolio, you'll want the best web-hosting service for your website. Web-hosting services house your website on one or more servers in data centers around the world. Think of these servers as apartment buildings, and depending on what kind of hosting plan you select for your site, your site can live in a shared space in the building, its own private area or it can live in the entire building. 

Comparing website hosting services and plans can be confusing, and that can make choosing the right hosting service for you more difficult. We looked over the data for 22 web-hosting services to make things a little easier on you.

You can read more about our  criteria for the best web-hosting services , including how we assess security and customer support, and you can check out  important web-hosting terms to know .

Note: Pricing for web hosting is a bit tricky to follow. Listed prices are generally introductory rates attached to contracts that usually last a year or more and renew at the regular -- read higher -- rate at contract's end. Make sure to take regular rates into account when trying to figure out a long-term hosting provider. You can also see our recommendations for  how web-hosting providers should advertise their prices .

Web host comparison

Best web-hosting services.

• Ionos: Great security features
• GreenGeeks: Climate-conscious web hosting
• A2 Hosting: Customer service-focused
• InMotion Hosting: Good for first-time website owners
• HostGator: Good for data-heavy sites
• AccuWeb Hosting: Worldwide data centers

Great security features

• Extensive security features, including backups
• Unlimited traffic, so no need to scale up plans to handle additional traffic
• 99.99% uptime guarantee
• Website builder costs extra
• Plan prices increase, sometimes by huge margins, over time

Ionos has the lowest starting price point of any other service on this list, but once the plan renews, the price increases drastically. Ionos also has customer support numbers for 14 countries, making it a good choice for international customers.

Hosting plans

Ionos  offers shared, VPS, dedicated and managed and unmanaged WordPress hosting. The company also differentiates between hosting plans meant for smaller and larger organizations to help customers better understand what plan is best for them.

Security features

Ionos offers security features that go beyond what other web-hosting services offer. All plans include SSL certificates, malware scans and DDoS protections. Some plans also help repair damage malware might cause on your website. Backups at least once every 24-hours are also standard with each plan, and each backup is held for 20 days. A full set of a customer's data is also stored in two separate data centers as a security measure, that way customers will always have access to their data, even if one data center is brought down by a cyberattack.

Ionos has a 99.99% uptime guarantee, which is a higher guarantee than most other web-hosting services. Battery-operated power supplies and backup generators help maintain power to Ionos data centers so your site and services stay online even if its data center loses power.

Customer support

Support is available any time, either by phone or chat. A directory also provides customer support numbers for customers in 14 different countries. Ionos also offers a personal consultant who will be your main point of contact if you need help with your site. A personal consultant and phone numbers for different support centers around the world gives Ionos customers more ways to get help compared to some other hosting providers.

Other features

Ionos offers a  status page  to alert customers when services go down or are being repaired. The page also logs the times when services go down and are brought back up, and it lets customers know of any scheduled maintenance. 

Ionos' prices start lower than most other web-hosting services for similar services. However, prices rise -- shared and WordPress hosting rise by 800% -- after a certain amount of time. That means Ionos is a good entry point for web hosting, but it may not be the best long-term home for your website if cost is your primary concern.

• Shared hosting starts at  $1 a month .
• VPS hosting starts at  $2 a month .
• Dedicated server hosting starts at  $45 a month .
• WordPress hosting starts at  $1 a month .

Climate-conscious web hosting

• Offers a wide variety of plans for all needs
• Features website builder to help create your site
• Produces three times the amount of wind energy it uses
• Phone support isn't active 24/7
• Prices of some plans are above average

GreenGeeks' promise to offset its energy needs makes this service a clear choice for climate-conscious customers. Some plans also offer unlimited storage and bandwidth. However, prices are a little high compared to other plans.

GreenGeeks  offers shared, VPS, dedicated, WordPress and reseller hosting plans. Each plan offers tiered options that let you scale up as your site's needs grow. Some plans are managed, but at a higher cost. Each plan also includes a website builder so you don't have to build your site from scratch.

Each plan includes a slew of security features like SSL certificates, DDoS protections, daily backups, malware cleanups and more to help protect your site. 

Like most web hosts, GreenGeeks offers a 99.9% uptime.

GreenGeeks says it checks its servers every 10 seconds for any issues, while other services might check every 30 seconds, every minute or longer. This means if your site runs into any issues, GreenGeeks might already be working on resolving it before you contact them. For more direct customer support, GreenGeeks offers 24/7 chat support. You can also email GreenGeeks support, and the company says you can expect a response in about 15 to 20 minutes. Greengeeks phone support, however, is active every day, but only from 9 a.m. to midnight ET. 

For every hosting account, GreenGeeks plants a tree, and GreenGeeks also creates three times the amount of energy used through renewable energy sources. Data centers contribute about 0.3% of  global carbon emissions , according to the International Energy Agency, so GreenGeeks' environmental commitment makes it a web-hosting option that gives back.

GreenGeeks' pricing is average compared to other web-hosting services. However, most of the lowest prices from GreenGeeks require a three-year contract paid in full upfront. Other contracts are available at an increased price per month, but must also be paid in full upfront.

• Shared hosting starts at $3 a month .
• VPS hosting starts at  $40 a month .
• Dedicated server hosting starts at  $169 a month .
• WordPress hosting starts at $3 a month .
• Reseller hosting starts at  $20 a month .

Customer service-focused

• 24/7 "Guru Crew" customer support by chat, email or phone
• Free site migration when coming from another service
• Servers are physically secure on site
• Lowest prices require three-year contracts
• Some plans don't offer enough to justify higher prices

A2 Hosting offers great customer service options, as well as many different types of multi-tiered hosting plans. Plans offer a lot of features at no extra cost. The biggest downside is that the cheapest plans require a three-year contract.

A2 Hosting offers shared, VPS, dedicated, WordPress, reseller and cloud hosting, including tiered options within each plan. Shared hosting, for example, offers plans labeled Startup, Drive, Turbo Boost and Turbo Max. These additional plans give customers more options to choose from to better fit their needs, and allow customers to scale their operation as needed.

Each plan comes with security features like an SSL certificate, dual firewalls, virus scanner and brute force defense. Each plan comes with a Patchman enhanced security tool, which regularly costs about $25 a month , as well as DDoS protections that can detect DDoS attacks as soon as they happen to help keep your site safe. A2 Hosting also boasts about the physical security of its servers -- in order to access them, someone needs to have two separate key cards to enter the parking lot and the server center. 

A2 Hosting has a 99.9% uptime commitment. An uptime of 99.9% means your site shouldn't be down for more than nine hours a year, which is the industry standard.

The real distinction for A2 Hosting is its commitment to customer support. A2's "Guru Crew" is available by chat, email or phone 24/7. And if you want to figure something out without talking to anyone, A2 Hosting has a large Knowledge Base filled with information to help you develop and grow your site.

If you are looking to switch web-hosting service providers, A2 Hosting offers free site migration. The average cost of a site migration in 2021 was between $300 to $400, making this a generous offer.

A2 Hosting pricing is about average at first glance, but the lowest prices also come with a three-year contract, so to get the lowest price you are locked into this service for a long time. Some of the service's tiered plan options might not offer enough to justify the price increase, as well. The Turbo Boost and Turbo Max shared hosting, for example, are $7 and $13 per month, respectively. The plans appear to have two differences: Boost has 2GB of physical memory compared to the Max's 4GB. In addition, Max offers "5X More Resources" by using nonvolatile memory express drives, which are faster than solid-state drives . Nonvolatile memory express drives don't seem much faster than SSDs on paper, but if you're trying to sell something in real time online every second -- or millisecond -- counts.

• Unmanaged VPS hosting starts at $5 a month .
• Managed VPS hosting starts at $40 a month .
• Unmanaged dedicated server hosting starts at $106 a month .
• Managed dedicated server hosting starts at $156 a month .
• WordPress hosting starts at $12 a month .
• Reseller hosting starts at $19 a month .

InMotion Hosting

Good for first-time website owners.

• 90-day money back guarantee
• Many customer service options
• Free website builder
• US servers only
• Month-to-month payment plans not available for all plans

InMotion Hosting has one of the longest money-back guarantee time frames, so even if you aren't totally satisfied with its service you can still get some cash back after a month or two. However, InMotion Hosting only has US-based servers, so it's not the best choice for anyone with an international audience.

InMotion Hosting  offers shared, VPS, dedicated, WordPress and reseller hosting with different tiered options for each type of hosting. InMotion Hosting also offers managed hosting services. These services can be purchased for one month for $90, or you can purchase these services for three months, six months or a year with prices starting at $48 a month.

Each plan comes with free SSL certificates, DDoS protections and hack and malware protections. Automatic daily backups are also available for some plans.

InMotion Hosting offers 99.99% uptime, placing InMotion Hosting above the standard in terms of uptime. Customers should expect less than an hour of downtime per year, compared to nine hours for companies that only offer 99.9% uptime.

InMotion Hosting's customer support offers more ways for customers to contact them than many other services. Customers can contact a customer support representative by phone, chat, or email 24/7, they can file support tickets or Skype with a representative. InMotion Hosting also offers customers access to a database of instructional posts, as well as a community forum customers can look through for the answer to a question if you can't find it anywhere else.

Most web-hosting services offer a 30-day money back guarantee, but all InMotion Hosting plans come with a 90-day money back guarantee. That makes InMotion a great option for anyone who's trying out a website for the first time but isn't sure if they're ready for a longer commitment.

As with other web-hosting services, the listed price is only applicable before the renewal cost. These can be confusing when comparing prices since some plans appear to cost the same despite one offering more perks. For example, the shared hosting Launch plan costs $5 a month with a three-year contract and the shared hosting Power plan costs the same for the same contract length but has more features -- seems like a no-brainer to go with the Power plan, right? However, after the contract ends, the Launch plan renews at $12 a month and the Power plan renews at $16 a month, leaving subscribers paying more for the Power plan.

• Shared hosting starts at  $2.29 a month .
• VPS hosting starts at  $20 a month .
• Dedicated hosting under the "Bare Metal" tab starts at  $70 a month .
• WordPress hosting starts at  $3.49 a month .
• Reseller hosting starts at  $17 a month .
• Managed hosting services start at  $48 a month .

Good for data-heavy sites

• Unmetered bandwidth and disk space
• Free site and domain transfers
• 45-day money back guarantee
• Restoring data from backups costs extra
• Add-ons add up

HostGator makes it easy to start and maintain a website with a database of tutorials and walkthroughs. If you already have a site, you can transfer it to HostGator for no extra charge. Make sure you read the fine print when it comes to backups, though -- it left us with questions.

HostGator  offers shared, VPS, dedicated, WordPress and reseller hosting plans with tiered options. Each plan comes with unmetered bandwidth and disk space so you can load as much data on your site as you want. That makes it a great option for anyone with lots of video, images or animated page elements. 

HostGator offers free SSL certificates, DDoS protections and automated backups. After the backups are taken, HostGator scans the files and makes sure they are free of malicious code, and if any is located the files are quarantined. However,  HostGator writes  that anyone with "critical business information or important data are  STRONGLY  encouraged to seek a third-party backup service…" (emphasis theirs). Undermining your own backup system is an odd choice.

HostGator has an industry-standard 99.9% uptime guarantee. Shared and reseller hosting customers can request a one-month refund if their uptime doesn't meet that guarantee. However, VPS and dedicated hosting customers won't get a refund if their uptime isn't met. Instead those customers receive a prorated credit for how long the server was down.

Customers can reach HostGator customer support representatives by chat, email or phone 24/7. A database also offers customers video tutorials, articles and guides. Not all services offer video tutorials, which could help solve an issue when it feels like talking to customer support over the phone or online isn't helping.

HostGator offers a 45-day money back guarantee, which is above average when compared to most other web-hosting services. The tutorials and walkthroughs available also make it easy for first-time site managers to get started.

In addition to renewal prices jumping after a plan's contract ends, add-ons can also significantly increase the price. Restoring backups, for example, costs an additional $25. So while, yes, HostGator offers automated backups, you still have to pay extra to access those backups, which makes it feel like backups are really an additional cost. This is certainly unusual.

• Shared hosting starts at  $2.75 a month .
• VPS hosting starts at  $24 a month .
• Dedicated hosting starts at  $90 a month .
• WordPress hosting starts at  $6 a month .

AccuWeb Hosting

Worldwide data centers.

• Global data centers 
• Cloud hosting offers 100% hardware uptime
• Free site migration
• No unlimited data options on most plans
• Customer support phone service not available all hours

AccuWeb Hosting has data centers around the world to better serve international customers. It offers both Linux and Windows servers for web-hosting needs, but phone support is limited to 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, which is less than ideal if you're in another time zone.

AccuWeb Hosting  offers shared, VPS, dedicated, WordPress, reseller and different cloud hosting options. There are options for cloud shared and cloud VPS hosting plans as well. Customers can also choose which of AccuWeb Hosting's global data centers will host their data. This means if you anticipate most of your traffic to come from outside the US, you can choose to have your data in a different data center so your site loads quicker for non-US visitors. 

AccuWeb Hosting offers free SSL certificates with each plan, free antivirus tools and free daily backups, which are an upgrade over the more standard weekly backups. Security tools like malware cleanup are also included.

While AccuWeb Hosting guarantees an impressive 99.99% uptime, its cloud hosting plans offer 100% hardware uptime. However, just because the hardware is up 100% of the time, doesn't mean your site is reachable all the time as well. If a server is up and running but the network is down, sure the hardware is fine, but your site still won't be reachable.

Customers can chat and file tickets with customer service 24/7, but phone services are limited. Right now, phone service is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET and based in the US and Canada, despite having data centers around the globe.

While other services limit the number of domains an account can have and usually only allow one domain with basic shared plans, AccuWeb Hosting gives you unlimited domains no matter what plan you sign up for. Other services also limit the number of email accounts basic shared plans can host, usually between one and 10, but basic shared plans with AccuWeb Hosting offer 150 business email accounts, so instead of sending an email from your personal account, you can send an email from your business account and give your message more credibility.

Some AccuWeb Hosting plans, like shared plans, are a little higher than other services, while midlevel plans, like VPS plans, are cheaper than other services. If you choose a shared plan but plan to scale up to a VPS plan, the price averages out.

• Shared hosting starts at  $4 a month .
• VPS plans start at  $8 a month .
• VPS cloud hosting starts at  $8 a month .
• Dedicated hosting starts at  $80 a month .
• WordPress hosting starts at  $4 a month .
• Reseller hosting starts at  $12 a month .

Other web-hosting services to consider

These services don't offer one of the three hosting options, don't include sufficient security features, an uptime guarantee or have some limited customer service options. The following services aren't as robust as our top picks, but they're still reasonable offerings.

Lengthy money-back guarantee

Dreamhost offers a 97-day money-back guarantee, which is the longest time frame for a web-hosting service on this list. If you're new to web hosting, this window could give you enough time to make an informed decision about whether to stay with Dreamhost or not. Dreamhost offers shared, VPS, dedicated and WordPress hosting plans, as well as an upgraded WordPress plan called DreamPress. Dreamhost has a 99.9% uptime guarantee, and plans come with security features like SSL certificates and malware remover. Chat and email support are available 24/7, and phone support is available via callback, however one phone callback request costs an additional $10. You can also purchase three callback requests a month for an additional $15. Callbacks are also only available between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. PST. Dreamhost offers a step-by-step online user guide with how to handle technical issues. The least expensive plan includes one month of hosting. Afterwards, the price renews to the standard rate, which is about quadruple the starting price.

Dreamhost plans start at $2.59 a month .

Low-priced plans

NameCheap offers some of the cheapest pricing plans. Month-to-month plans in particular are less expensive compared to monthly plans from other services. Some other services might offer monthly shared hosting plans for $20, but a NameCheap monthly shared hosting plan can cost less than $5. NameCheap also offers VPS, dedicated, WordPress and reseller hosting plans. NameCheap has a 99.9% uptime guarantee for VPS and reseller plans, as well as a 100% uptime guarantee for most shared, VPS and dedicated plans. Each Namecheap plan comes with a free virus scanner, two-factor authentication and DDoS protection to help secure your data and your visitors' data. SSL certificates are free for one year. After that year, you can buy SSL certificates through NameCheap. Prices start at $6 a year with a five-year contract. NameCheap offers 24/7 email and chat support, but no phone support. The pricing for some plans can be confusing. For example, the cheapest dedicated hosting plan comes with a one-month contract for $41.88, and then the price reverts to the standard rate of $61.88. Over a one-year period, this plan will cost $722.56. This appears to be a good deal, but the same plan with a one-year contract costs $650.88, a difference of about $72.

NameCheap plans start at $1.98 a month .

Helpful video modules

Hostinger  offers a competitive price point. Shared and WordPress plans start at $2 a month, VPS plans start at $4 a month and cloud hosting plans start at $10 a month. There are also video modules on  YouTube  to show you how to, for example, build your WordPress site or how to change your domain name. Plans include SSL certificates and all servers have an  advanced security module  to protect your data. Some lower-tier plans offer weekly backups, while higher-tier plans offer daily backups. Hostinger has a 99.9% uptime guarantee, too. Customer support is limited, though. Live chat is available 24/7, as is email, but Hostinger doesn't offer phone support. 

Hostinger plans start at  $2 a month .

Many security features

SiteGround  is a good option if you're new to web hosting. It offers a 99.99% uptime, 24/7 customer support and plans include security features like SSL certificates, spam protection and a web access firewall to help protect your site. The company also has a 100% renewable energy match. However, Siteground offers shared, cloud, WordPress and reseller hosting options, so while these are good options to have, as your site grows and gains more traffic you might want to consider a service that offers VPS or dedicated hosting options. 

SiteGround plans start at  $3 a month .

Free e-commerce plugin with WordPress plans

GoDaddy Web Hosting  offers unmetered storage and bandwidth with its plans so you can upload as many images and videos onto your site as you want. GoDaddy offers shared, VPS, dedicated and WordPress hosting plans, has a 99.9% uptime guarantee and 24/7 customer support. However, its security offerings are inconsistent. For example, SSL certificates are included with some higher-tiered shared plans, but not lower-tiered plans. If this is your first site, you might want to start with one of the lower-tiered options, but the lack of security features might push you to get a more expensive plan. 

GoDaddy Web Hosting plans start at $3 a month .

Present in more than 50 countries

HostPapa has global data centers, so you can choose the best data center to reach your visitors the quickest. Hosting options include shared, VPS, managed WordPress, reseller hosting and PapaCare Plus, which is similar to managed shared hosting. HostPapa has free SSL certificates, DDoS protection and other security features included in each plan, a 99.9% uptime guarantee and 24/7 phone, chat and email support. However, the lack of a dedicated hosting option means if your site grows too large, you will have to migrate to another service. Also, if you choose HostPapa, make sure to look over what you are buying when you're checking out. As I went through checkout, some features, like automated backups and a security tool, were automatically added for an additional charge. When comparing plans, these additional features are mentioned and marked as included in higher-tier plans, but not in all plans.

HostPapa plans start at $2.95 per month .

Most VPS plans

Hostwinds  offers unlimited storage and bandwidth, as well as unlimited free business email accounts with each plan. It offers shared, managed and unmanaged VPS, dedicated, reseller and cloud hosting plans, has a 99.99% uptime guarantee and offers 24/7 chat support. Hostwinds plans also come with free SSL certificates and free nightly backups. However, in comparison to other services, Hostwinds isn't as forthcoming with information on other features or plan differences. Usually services show detailed charts that lay out what features come with plans. Hostwinds' shared chart, for example, only lists bandwidth, disk space and how many domains come with each plan. Since bandwidth and disk space are unlimited, the only noticeable differences with each plan are the domains offered with each plan, the price and name of each plan. 

Hostwinds plans start at  $5.24 a month .

Officially recommended by WordPress

Bluehost specializes in WordPress hosting and offers additional resources, like its Blue Flash customer support team, for anyone who chooses WordPress hosting. It offers shared, VPS and dedicated hosting as well as managed and unmanaged WordPress hosting. All plans include free SSL certificates, two-factor authentication and anti-spam protections. Bluehost customers can call or chat with a customer support representative 24/7. Bluehost doesn't offer an uptime guarantee, but instead says it resolves issues within  15 minutes of them being reported . However, it doesn't say how many issues you should expect on average. If your site is down for about 15 minutes a week, your site could be down for about 13 hours a year, which is higher than standard. 

Bluehost plans start at $2.95 per month . 

Elastic site plans similar to VPS plans

GlowHost's  worldwide data centers give you the flexibility to host your site from a certain region if you anticipate most of your traffic will come from that region. Glowhost offers shared, cloud VPS, dedicated, semi-dedicated, reseller and what Glowhost calls an elastic plan, which it compares to a managed VPS plan. Security features include free SSL certificates and McAfee Secure, which starts at $30 a year, and customer support is available by phone or chat 24/7. Uptime is harder to discern though. Some dedicated hosting plans  guarantee 100% uptime, but  a Glowhost administrator in 2008  said it could be 99.7% or higher, which means your site could be down for at least a day over the course of one year. 

Glowhost plans start at $3.47 per month .

Low entry price point

iPage offers customers a free website builder to get their site up and running, as well as e-commerce tools to easily integrate into your site. iPage offers shared, VPS, dedicated and WordPress hosting plans, and has a 99.9% uptime guarantee. The service only offers 24/7 chat support . Each iPage plan comes with a free SSL certificate, but additional security features like daily malware scans and backups are not included. To fill those security gaps, iPage offers SiteLock, which starts at an extra $4 a month. iPage's site is also hard to navigate in comparison to other services. For example, I had to scroll to the bottom of its homepage to find additional web-hosting plans, like VPS and dedicated. 

iPage plans start at $2 per month .

No price increase upon renewal for some plans

Mochahost , unlike most other web-hosting services, offers a  lifetime discount guarantee . However, this discount doesn't apply to every contract, so it can be a headache to figure out where the lifetime discount does or does not apply. From what we've seen, the lifetime discount guarantee is usually attached to three-year contracts, but these contract lengths aren't usually the lowest priced. The advertised prices might be the lowest price, but that doesn't mean they'll save you the most money. The largest discounts often apply for just one month, and the renewal price could be double that original cost. Longer contracts, like those that are three years long, are more expensive for the first month, but you'll save money in the long term because the lifetime discount is lower than the renewal price of shorter plans. In other words, longer contracts that appear more expensive can save you money after about the second month. Mochahost offers shared, VPS, dedicated cloud, WordPress and reseller plans, a 100% uptime guarantee and 24/7 live chat support. Phone support is also available on callback. Free SSL certificates are included in each plan as well, but other security features, like spam and malware filters, come at an additional cost or with more expensive plans. 

Mochahost plans start at $2.29 per month .

WebHostingPad

Power plan mini good for first-timers.

WebHostingPad offers shared, managed and unmanaged VPS, WordPress and a mini hosting plan for smaller sites. Each plan includes free SSL certificates and SiteLock Lite, and WebHostingPad has a 99.9% uptime guarantee. Chat support is available 24/7, but phone support is only available Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. CST. WebHostingPad also offers competitive prices, starting at $1.99 a month, but they're only available with four-year and five-year contracts. There is a mini plan that has a fixed price point of $3 a month, but it's offered with a three-year contract, otherwise the price is $3.50 a month for one year or $3.25 a month for two years. Domains are also an additional $17 at checkout. 

WebHostingPad plans start at $2 a month .

Most of these services specialize in one type of hosting, like shared or WordPress, which means they're not the best if you plan to grow your site. They also tend to be missing some security features and customer support options. However, they could be right for you and your needs if you have specific or smaller-scale hosting needs.

Liquid Web : No shared hosting. Security features include an integrated firewall and standard DDoS protections. Offers 99.99% uptime and 24/7 chat or phone support. Prices start at $15 a month .

Web Hosting Hub : Offers shared and WordPress hosting. Has free SSL certificates but other security features cost extra. Offers 99.9% uptime and has 24/7 chat and phone support. Prices start at $6 a month .

WP Engine : Offers WordPress hosting. Security features like free SSL certificates and daily backups. Has a 99.95% uptime guarantee and offers 24/7 chat and phone support. Prices start at $20 a month .

Kinsta : Offers WordPress hosting. Security features like free SSL certificates and automatic backups. Has a 99.9% uptime and 24/7 chat support. Prices start at $35 a month .

Pantheon : Offers WordPress hosting. Security features include DDoS protection and automated backups. Offers 99.9% uptime and customer support is available 24/7 via chat, phone or even Slack. Prices start at $41 a month . 

Finding the right web-hosting service can help you launch a blog or a website for your small business. 

Criteria for web-hosting services

While we didn't test the services, we did carefully examine each service's offerings and ranked them according to essential web-hosting features. Here's what we looked for to determine the best web-hosting services. You can also check out CNET's  11 things to know about web hosting  for more information about these and other features.

• Hosting plans : We checked to see if the service offered shared, VPS and dedicated hosting plans. Inclusion of all three plan types allows customers to scale their plan up as their site grows. 
• Security features : Services need to include some basic security features such as SSL certificates, DDoS protections and backups to protect your data as well as your visitors'. The best web hosts do this at no extra charge.
• Uptime of 99.9% or higher : An uptime of 99.9% or higher ensures your site won't go down for more than 20 minutes a month, so you keep losses of readers and sales to a minimum.
• Customer support : All services offer some kind of customer support. Most services offer email support, which is a good start. Others offer live chat -- which is better -- and others offer phone support -- which is best. The best services offer all three at no additional charge. Even if phone support is only available in a certain timeframe, it's better than nothing.

The best web-hosting services meet all four of those criteria. If a service falls short on one or more of those measures, you'll find it in our list of other web-hosting services to consider or our list of additional web hosts we looked at.

Web-hosting terms to know

Content management systems can help create and maintain your website. A CMS is a lot like the tools used to create posts or upload pictures to your social media profile, for example. A CMS does the same thing, but for your site. You don't need a CMS, but without one you'll have to code your site from the ground up. In addition to WordPress, a few other CMS tools are Joomla and WooCommerce.

A file transfer protocol is a method for transferring large files -- like videos and other data-heavy files -- from one location, like a server or computer, to another. Think of FTP as a type of delivery service. Imagine you order a television from a company and have it delivered to your home. The delivery truck that drops off the television at your home is the FTP. If you've ever used software like FileZilla, you've used an FTP. While  FTP is generally vulnerable  to malicious actors intercepting your data,  secure file transfer protocol  (SFTP) and  FTP over SSL/TSL  (FTPS) offer safer ways to transfer your files and data with security measures, like firewalls and data encryption. If given the option, always choose SFTP or FTPS rather than FTP when choosing a web-hosting service.

Electronic commerce (e-commerce) is buying and selling items online. If you've bought anything online like a new shirt, food or digital music, you've participated in e-commerce. Web-hosting services will usually mention e-commerce in plan descriptions to signal it includes tools to help get your online shop up and running. If you plan on opening an online store or selling items online, you should look for plans that include e-commerce tools and resources.

Content delivery networks, or content distribution networks, are groups of data centers and servers that help deliver content to people on the internet based on a visitor's physical location. Imagine you are hosting a site out of Dallas: 

Without a CDN, if people from the Netherlands try to access your site, your visitors might have to wait a while for the content of your site to be delivered to them because of the distance. However, if your web-hosting service uses a CDN and has a data center in the Netherlands, your visitors from the Netherlands will access a version of your site stored in the much closer data center. This version of your site has some cached files stored in it to boost webpage load times and reduce bandwidth usage. This is good for you since some web-hosting services limit bandwidth usage, and faster load times means happier visitors. 

According to a study by  Digital.com , half of shoppers expect a site to load in three seconds or less, and almost a quarter of shoppers said slow load times are their main source of dissatisfaction when shopping online.

Web-hosting FAQs

You can check out CNET's web-hosting FAQ or tips to help secure your site for more information, too.

What is web hosting?

Web hosting is the act of storing a website's data on a server or series of servers. Imagine a website as a work of art. That art needs to be housed somewhere for people to see, and web hosting is like a gallery where your art can be stored for others to view.

Data centers are filled with servers that can house hundreds of websites.

What are the basic types of hosting?

There are three common types of web hosting: shared, virtual private server and dedicated hosting.

Shared hosting is typically the most basic, and the least expensive, type of hosting. Continuing the art example, shared hosting is like a small gallery presented in a coffee shop. Yes, the art you created is there, but so is art by other people. Shared hosting is similar. You're usually charged a few bucks a month to house your site, but you don't get a lot of resources to help you take care of your site. These plans usually cost between $2.50 and $15 a month .

VPS hosting is a step up from shared hosting and is a little bit more expensive. Here, your art is stored in a gallery downtown. Other art is still stored and displayed alongside yours, but unlike shared hosting, each artist has their own booth within the gallery. With VPS hosting, you get more resources which allow you to handle more traffic and display more items. These plans usually cost between $20 and $80 a month.

Dedicated hosting is when you house your site on a whole server without anyone else. This is like having the entire art gallery to yourself. Everything there is your art and you get dedicated people to help take care of your art. These plans are the most expensive, but you get the most resources. Dedicated hosting plans usually cost between $80 and $300 a month.

What are some other types of hosting?

Some other types of hosting include reseller, cloud and WordPress hosting.

Reseller hosting involves subscribing to a web-hosting service and selling that space to a person who wants to put a website online. Back to the art example: Imagine you don't own any art, but you see a bunch of people who want to display their art. You have some money so you buy a space in a building for artists to display their work and charge them for using that space. That's reseller hosting. You buy space on a server, not to use, but to resell to people in order to make money. 

Cloud hosting is like having copies of your art featured online, instead of just physical locations. That way, even if one gallery is closed your art is still viewable somewhere else. Cloud hosting is similar in that your data is stored in a network of servers so if anything happens to one server, visitors can still view your site like usual. These are generally used by larger businesses and organizations.

WordPress hosting is optimized to use WordPress as a content management system. WordPress is a popular system used by many organizations , offering over 54,000 plugins to help build your site. This system is designed to be easy to learn, which means WordPress is a good choice for people who are hosting their first site.

What's uptime and why is it important?

Uptime is a measurement of how long your site operates without going offline. The longer your site stays up, the more traffic it can handle and the more money you can potentially make if your site is for a business. Imagine you've narrowed down where to hang your art to two places: One is open two days a week and the other is open seven days a week. You want more people to see your art so you go with the place open seven days a week. That's similar to uptime. However, uptime can be confusing. Generally when you see something is 99% effective, you think that's pretty good. But a 99% uptime means your site is down for over three days a year. The industry standard uptime is 99.9%, and anything more is best for you and your visitors. Most web-hosting services have uptime guarantees and offer some form of reimbursement if your site is down longer than the guaranteed uptime.

What are the differences between unmanaged and managed hosting?

Unmanaged hosting plans place responsibility for some administrative work on you as the customer. Managed hosting plans, however, leave the heavy lifting to the web-hosting service provider. Unmanaged is like if you hang your art in a gallery and you have to clean it, make sure it's hung right and generally maintain it. Managed is like gallery employees handling those tasks for you. Unmanaged plans are generally more cost effective, but managed plans free up your time to focus on your site.

What security features should I look for in a hosting service?

Some of the key security features you should be on the lookout for are secure socket layer certificates, distributed denial of service protections and web application firewalls. 

SSL certificates are a form of cryptographic protocols that encrypt and authenticate data between servers, machines and applications operating within a network. These are like a coded language between the server your site is hosted on and the computer of a visitor. Only your server and your visitor's computer have the keys to the coded language, ensuring no one intercepts any of your or your visitor's data.

A DDoS attack is a flood of traffic to your site that overwhelms and shuts down your site, and potentially the sites of others depending on your hosting plan. Imagine you hang your art up in a coffee shop, for example, and someone doesn't like your art so they convince hundreds of thousands of protesters to swarm the shop to stop anyone from seeing your art. Not only can most people not see your art because of the crowd, but people can't see other artist's work either. Having DDoS protections in place helps monitor your site's traffic for anything suspicious, and stops DDoS attacks from happening before they cause significant damage.

A WAF is a layer of security on your site that filters, monitors and blocks malicious traffic from accessing your site. You have hung your art up, and in order to protect your art and anyone who's come to see it, the gallery has hired a bouncer to pat down people as they walk in to see your art. The bouncer is the WAF. If traffic looks suspicious, the WAF blocks it. 

DDoS attacks can make your site unreachable for an extended amount of time.

What are website builders? Do I need one of those?

Not necessarily, but if this is your first site you might find a website builder helpful, and some web-hosting services offer free website builders with plans. Instead of coding your site from scratch, website builders are tools that help you easily create your site through simpler interfaces.

What is site migration? Can I do that myself?

Site migration is the process of moving your already established website from one web-hosting service to another. You might do this because the price to renew your current web-hosting service increased dramatically or you're unhappy with your current service. Some services will migrate your site for free, while others will charge you to migrate to their service. You can migrate your site manually, but you could lose traffic as well as content if done improperly. If it's your first time migrating from one service to another, it might be best to let someone else handle it.

Should I use a Linux or Windows server?

It depends on your goals, but a Linux server will work for most people. Servers that run the Linux operating system support most programming languages and have more features web developers might expect. Linux is also the more popular server operating system, powering about 37.8% of all websites on the internet, according to Web Technology Surveys . A lot of website-creation tools and applications run on Linux so they will work on these servers with no extra effort. Linux servers are also generally cheaper than Windows servers. If you're a small business owner maintaining your own site, or you're starting your own blog or online store, a Linux server has what you need. 

Servers that use the Windows operating system use the programming language C#. That means if you already know Python, Perl or another language, you'll have to learn C#. Windows servers also use Microsoft-specific tools and applications like Microsoft Access, Microsoft SharePoint and MSSQL. If you run into issues with these applications or your server, you can contact Microsoft's customer support who should be able to solve your issue in a timely fashion. Linux is an open-source operating system, so while there is a community of people working to fix bugs, you'll likely have to dig around to find a solution that works for you. Many large corporations and organizations use Windows servers, so if you want to work for one of them in the future, you could benefit from practicing with your own server and putting that on your resume.

For more on web hosting, check out the best website builders , the best VPN services and the best identity theft protection services .

Top 7 Web Hosting Services in 2023

We tested and reviewed 20+ hosting providers

Jenni McKinnon

Staff Writer

Every website deserves good web hosting.

If homepage visuals load fast, navigation happens instantly, and videos never lag, your might think it has an excellent web host.

However, besides speed, another important factor is uptime over a longer period of time.

For example, it’s common for websites go down minutes or hours without website owner not noticing it. For example, if your website uptime is 99.99% then it’s approx 50 minutes of downtime per year – which is quite good. However, if your website uptime is 99.67% – then you have nearly 30 hours of downtime per year which can cost visitor experience as well as possible income.

But finding such a service is difficult because the web hosting market is humongous.

How we rank web hosting companies

We have refined a 6 step process over the last five years to test every web hosting provider in real-world conditions.

1. Buying a Test Domain Name

We start by purchasing a test domain name to associate with each host. That allows us to test the web hosting provider’s name servers with an external domain name.

For example, for testing out SiteGround web hosting service, we first bought the domain name; hostingfacts-siteground.com

We do this as translating domain names can have an impact on performance if configured poorly.

2. Signing Up With Each Web Hosting Provider

To ensure an accurate assessment, we never use free accounts to assess web hosting providers. We have discovered this is often not representative of the paying customer’s experience.

We choose their cheapest (shared plan) for the maximum length. That ensures we have enough data and time to compare it against other providers.

By selecting the cheapest shared plan, we ensure a consistent benchmark across all web hosting providers.

Below are examples of invoices that we’ve paid to different web hosting companies:

3. Deploying a Standard WordPress Installation

Once we have connected the domain name with our web hosting provider’s servers, we deploy our standard test WordPress installation.

The size, structure, and theme of each website are identical, making monitoring page load speed more accurate.

4. Gather Uptime And Load Time Data for Over Year

To accurately represent real-world performance, we monitor all websites for at least one year using industry recognized benchmarking tool, Pingdom .

Pingdom checks the hosting at one-minute intervals to ensure the site is up and to monitor its performance. This data is available to you through our  Pingdom dashboard .

5. Testing Customer Support

Customer support is a crucial component of any web hosting provider’s review.

You want to be confident you can get help when you need it, which is why we always test the customer support experience.

We assess customer support based on the two most critical criteria; the speed of response when your website goes down and the accuracy of customer support answers.

6. Reviewing Features and Price

Finally, we assess web hosting providers on their overall package.

These vary between web hosting providers, but critical include:

• Renewal costs.
• Free domain options.
• Whether the site is secured through SSL.
• Whether the site has the performance benefits of a CDN.
• Refund options.
• Customer support quality.

Full disclosure : We are affiliated with all the hosting providers listed in this review. This is how we cover the costs of testing 20+ hosting services year round.

Best Web Hosting Services for 2023 (last 12-months averages)

• Hostinger : Best all-round | historic data
• Bluehost : Best uptime web hosting | historic data
• A2 Hosting : Best speed (load times) | historic data
• DreamHost : Best “month-to-month” web hosting | historic data
• Nexcess : Best WordPress hosting | historic data
• GoDaddy : Best for domains | historic data
• SiteGround : Best uptime guarantee | historic data

1. Hostinger

Best all-round hosting / Visit Hostinger

Hostinger has cloud, VPS, WordPress, and eCommerce web hosting for small to medium-sized websites. It also offers web hosting for agencies and their clients.

Over a recent 12-month period, the average uptime of Hostinger was 99.95% based on our tests. There was also a total downtime of 3 hours and 33 minutes with an average of 18 minutes. During six months of this period, there was an uptime of 100%.

The average response time was 318 ms with the quickest time being 291 ms, and the slowest was 341 ms. This web hosting option is suitable for small to medium-sized sites based on these results from our tests.

Shared web hosting plans start at $9.99 per month, prepaid and billed annually. A free domain is included if you upgrade to the Premium or Business Web Hosting plans for $10.99 and $16.99, respectively.

For one website, you get 50 GB of storage, 100 GB of bandwidth, Cloudflare CDN, an email account, and two databases.

The shared web hosting is WordPress-ready with weekly backups.

Beyond that, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try out Hostinger, worry-free. But, keep in mind that this doesn’t include a refund for a domain name that you register with them.

2. Bluehost

Best uptime hosting / Visit Bluehost

Bluehost has a focus on WordPress web hosting, but it also has shared, VPS, dedicated, and eCommerce hosting plans. There’s 24/7 support, and also premium support called WP Live where an expert will walk you through every step. Plans for that start at $24.00 per month.

Through our year-long test, we found the average uptime was 99.91%. The total downtime was 5 hours and 31 minutes. A total of three months out of the year had 100% uptime. Out of the web hosts on the list, Bluehost saw the least months with 100% uptime.

The average response time was 661 ms, with the fastest time being 555 ms, and the slowest was 877 ms. Compared to the other hosts on the list, Bluehost is in the middle when it comes to the speed of the shared hosting plan.

Bluehost has shared hosting plans that are billed either annually or for a 36-month period. If you pay annually, the price works out to $10.99 for the Basic plan, which is meant for one site or blog. If you choose the 36-month billing period, it works out to $9.99 per month.

A free domain name is included for one year. You also get a CDN, and 10 GB of storage space. Bandwidth is unmetered. You can have up to 20 MySQL databases as long as they don’t exceed 5 GB in size, and 10 GB in usage.

3. A2 Hosting

Best speed hosting / Visit A2 Hosting

A2 Hosting offers shared, dedicated, VPS, and WordPress hosting. If you want to sell hosting as a service, you’re able to do that with their agency hosting. For over 15 years, A2 Hosting has been working to offset carbon emissions through reforestation efforts by partnering with Carbonfund.org.

Our test results show that the average uptime was 99.98%, and the total downtime was 70 minutes. Out of 12 months, six of them had an uptime of 100%, and the lowest was 99.94%.

In terms of speed, the test site’s server started loading content after an average of 295 ms. The fastest response time was 263 ms while the slowest was 325 ms. Based on our tests, A2 Hosting is the third fastest on this list.

The shared hosting plan is $10.99 per month for the Startup Web Hosting plan.

It includes one website with 100 GB of storage, and 5 databases. You’re also able to create a staging site so you can test changes to your site before making them live to customers to ensure everything works well.

When you upgrade, these features become unlimited. Pre-configured settings for optimal performance is standard for all shared hosting plans, but there are more features like caching, and automated backups when you upgrade.

There’s a 30-day money-back guarantee. After 30 days, you can get a prorated refund.

4. DreamHost

Best month-to-month hosting / Visit DreamHost

Apart from shared hosting, Dreamhost also has VPS, dedicated, cloud, and WordPress web hosting. It’s employee-owned, which drives focus to the user’s experience. A 100% uptime rate is also guaranteed.

But how does that guarantee stack up? Our tests showed an average uptime of 99.86% with a total downtime of 10 hours and 2 minutes. Out of the 12-month testing period, only four months had an uptime of 100%.

According to our tests, Dreamhost’s shared hosting is the slowest on this list, averaging a response time of 1815 ms. The quickest time was 1702 ms. The slowest was 1926 ms.

With users exiting 32% more if a page loads between one to three seconds , these load times aren’t ideal.

The Shared Starter plan is $7.99 per month for one website, and it includes a free domain name. If you decide to go with the annual plan, the price works out to $6.99 per month.

If you need more than one site, the Shared Unlimited plan includes unlimited sites. This plan is $13.99 per month. With either plan, you get unlimited bandwidth because they don’t track it, and WordPress comes pre-installed.

Dreamhost also has a 97-day money-back guarantee for shared hosting plans if you place an order with a credit, or debit card.

Best WordPress hosting / Visit Nexcess

Nexcess has WordPress, Magento, and cloud hosting. There’s also eCommerce hosting, which is built using WooCommerce and WordPress. If you need hosting for other platforms, it’s also possible since Drupal, ExpressionEngine, and Craft CMS are also supported.

The average uptime experienced through our testing was 99.80%. The total downtime was 18 hours and 1 minute. Out of 12 months, 8 of them had an uptime of 100%. Nexcess hosting saw the most downtime when compared to the other hosts listed here.

Even though our tests showed a lot of downtime, it was isolated to one month. It comes in second when it comes to the hosting with the most uptime of 100% during a 12-month period.

The response time average was 275 ms. The fastest time was 246 ms, while the slowest was 303 ms.

For managed WordPress hosting, the plans start at $19 per month. If you choose to pay annually, the price becomes $15.83 per month.

It includes 15 GB of storage, 2 TB of bandwidth, daily backups, and unlimited email addresses. You’re also able to set up a staging site to test changes before you push them to your live site.

When you get spikes in traffic to your site, you also get 10 or more PHP workers to help you autoscale. That way, you’ll experience less downtime overall.

A 30-day money-back guarantee is also available so you can test Nexcess.

Best domain hosting / Visit GoDaddy

GoDaddy has shared hosting as well as WordPress and eCommerce hosting with WooCommerce. Its hosting plan can also support Drupal, Joomla, and more.

Our tests showed average uptime of 99.96%, with a total downtime of 3 hours and 6 minutes. The average downtime was 16 minutes per month.

Over 12 months, four of them had an uptime of 100%. GoDaddy advertises an uptime of 99.99% so they definitely fell short on that based on our testing.

The average response time was 292 ms. In keeping pace with most of the other web hosting companies listed here, the slowest response time was 342 ms, and the fastest was 250 ms.

For GoDaddy’s Economy plan for shared hosting, the price is $10.99 per month, or $8.99 if you choose to pay annually. If you do, you also get a free domain name, and two Microsoft 365 email addresses.

For both options and for one website, you get 25 GB of storage, and 10 databases.

If you upgrade, you get unmetered bandwidth, more sites, and storage. You also get extra email addresses, but you don’t get a free domain name. Similar to the Economy plan, you only get the Microsoft 365 email addresses if you choose to pay annually.

7. SiteGround

Best features / Visit SiteGround

SiteGround has shared, cloud, WordPress, and eCommerce hosting with WooCommerce. There’s also reseller hosting available for agencies.

Out of all the web hosting options in this list, SiteGround had the highest average uptime at 99.99%. If you round up, the average was 100%. The total downtime for the entire year was only 15 minutes.

During 12 months of testing, nine had an uptime of 100%.

In terms of site speed, our tests showed that the average response time was 384 ms. The quickest response time was 343 ms, while the slowest was 522 ms. SiteGround had the best uptime, but it’s average for speed when compared to the other web hosting providers listed above.

For SiteGround’s StartUp shared hosting plan, it’s $14.99 a month. You also get 10 GB of storage, and free email accounts for one website. You also get SSH, and SFTP access.

If you upgrade, you can get more storage, advanced priority support, free private DNS, white-label hosting for agencies, and more.

No matter which plan you choose, data transfer is unmetered, and you get a free domain name. On top of that, you also get access to create a staging site for testing your changes, and you can create an unlimited number of websites.

If you wish to see all the providers we monitor and their reviews, please check our web hosting category .

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How to Do a Website Review

Reviewing websites is simple enough. Just go to a website, browse through the pages and form an opinion about what the website offers. Good or bad, the review should focus on what is important to the audience. The audience is made up of potential users of the website. Let people know why the website is worth visiting, or why it's not.

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Look at a good number of the pages of the website that your reviewing, or, if possible, sign up for a free membership or trial demonstration to understand the functionality of the site. Does the site live up to what the designer says the website can do? Try to learn about the purpose of the site and if those functions can be completed with the current design of the site. This will allow you to make a fair review.

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Think of ways to make the site better. If you can't think of anything, then maybe the site has reached its full potential. Determine if the site is user-friendly or requires technical knowledge in order to use the site. In your review, you might include your suggestions. But it is important to focus on what the site does and how easy or hard it is on the user.

Find potential problems with the site, if any. When reviewing the site, try to remain unbiased. If you only write reviews about sites that you like, your audience will not appreciate that you only talk about the positive aspects.

Don't always be over-critical, but challenge the usability and functionality of the site. These criticisms are what make web designers better and allow websites to solve issues that arise in early start-up.

Inform your audience of the main functions of the website, giving readers a brief overview of what the website can do without too much technical data. If problems come up when your testing the site, then address them in your review. But never assume that because you had an issue with something then everyone will. Lastly, if you've been to similar websites, then state the similarities and express how you think the two websites compare to each other. Again, including a comparison will often make or break if someone is going to visit the website at all, so don't talk about how superior another website is if your trying to encourage people to visit the website that is being reviewed. If you are looking for a great website that offers new reviews daily, check out "KillerStartups.com."

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Software and Business

Unbiased peoplelooker review: pros, cons, and features.

By Ahad Waseem Paradise Media

We may earn a commission if you make a purchase through one of our links. The newsroom and editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content.

Are you curious about PeopleLooker ? Wondering if it’s worth your time and money? In this comprehensive review, we’ll explore the features, pricing, and overall value of PeopleLooker to help you decide if it’s the right choice for you.

Whether you’re looking for background information while investigating a potential scammer, or simply trying to reconnect with an old friend, our review has covered you.

What Is PeopleLooker ?

Based in New York, PeopleLooker is a data aggregation platform that provides users with access to millions of public records from state, federal, and county sources. Additionally, it searches through popular social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to offer relevant search results.

By simply inputting a person’s name, address, or phone number, PeopleLooker provides accurate and up-to-date information associated with that individual. However, it’s important to note that the service isn’t intended for tenant screening, employee background checks, assessing creditworthiness, or hiring household workers, as using it for such purposes may be illegal.

Is PeopleLooker Legit?

Before investing your money in PeopleLooker, you may want to confirm its effectiveness. You might also be curious to know if the platform can deliver on its bold promise of providing fast access to information about anyone.

Rest assured, we firmly believe that PeopleLooker lives up to its promise, as evident from numerous reviews. In this review, we’ll explore the contents of a PeopleLooker report, its functioning, and its ability to uncover hard-to-find information that may not be readily available on Google. Read on to discover more about this authentic platform.

What Can You Do With PeopleLooker Reviews?

One of the best things about PeopleLooker is that it provides fast and reliable search results. The accuracy will depend on the available records online. You can feel confident about the results because they make sure to update all their data.

Even if there may not be any information on any given person today, it may appear soon. It is pretty common for the data of the person that you have recently searched to get updated. If this happens, you will automatically be sent an updated repo.

PoepleLooker Features

PeopleLooker packs quite a few differentiating features that make it one of the best personal background search companies on the market.

It uses secure SSL certificates when processing your requests, assuring maximum safety, and privacy. All searches performed on PeopleLooker are confidential, which is crucial when digging up background information. On top of that, the website is very clear in how they collect and use the information and how their customers should use it as well.

Some basic features provided by PeopleLooker include

• Full name including maiden names
• Phone numbers
• Email addresses
• Social media profiles
• Criminal records
• Court records
• Photographs of the individual
• Property information including prices, buyer and seller information

People Search

You can enter one or more parameters that can help narrow the search and make it more accurate. Aside from using someone’s first and last name, you can also enter their place of residence, email, or phone number.

Once you provide the parameters, the website analyzes huge bulks of data and cross-references different records to find the best match. While this does take some time, PeopleLooker provides a very detailed report. A typical people search report would include the birthdate and first and last name (also maiden name). PeopleLooker also may show you:

• Phone number
• Close relatives
• Social media
• Criminal record
• Bankruptcies

The site does a fantastic job of finding the right person no matter how limited your starting information is. By using a people search site like PeopleLooker, you can do a better job of protecting yourself against dubious online service providers and financial scams.

You can also use it for screening potential romantic interests. Especially in the online dating world, people tend to create fake profiles so it’s always a good idea to run a quick online background check before meeting someone in person.

Information Removal

Another reason people use PeopleLooker, or any other background search site for that matter, is to look up their own name and see what kind of information they can find.

Luckily, the PeopleLooker information removal service allows you to opt out of any data about you. Just follow the instructions on the website. After the request has been submitted and approved, it takes about 24 hours for the information to disappear from the website. It’s also worth noting that this service is completely free, and you don’t have to have a registered account.

The removed information won’t show up again. However, keep in mind that this does not mean any other data related to you might not get posted in the future. Luckily, the process is fast and easy to complete, so you can opt out again.

Property Check

Buying a home is a once-in-a-lifetime investment for most people, so making the right choice is crucial. By using PeopleLooker’s address lookup service, you can check ownership history, projected value, associated taxes, square footage, and when the property was built.

Thanks to PeopleLooker’s comprehensive property search capabilities, you can form a better impression of the neighborhood, too. Find out more about the local businesses that serve the community, amenities such as parks and community centers, schools, and the local demographics.

By performing an address search, you can pull up the crime stats for that area. That way, you’ll be fully aware of the potential risks of moving into the neighborhood. People most often search for the number of reported violent and sex offender incidents.

Additional Features

It uses secure SSL certificates when processing your requests, assuring maximum safety, and privacy. All searches performed on PeopleLooker are confidential, which is crucial when digging up background information. The website is very clear in how they collect and use the information and how their customers should use it as well.

PeopleLooker is committed to following all the regulations set by the Fair Credit Reporting Act and expects the same from its users. Even though it’s a public record search engine, the company values privacy and transparency over everything else.

How Does PeopleLooker Work?

By collecting data from numerous public sources, PeopleLooker provides users with a convenient way to gather the information that would otherwise require extensive independent research and multiple trips to various locations where records are stored. With a single search, users can access a vast amount of data that was previously scattered across courthouses and public records repositories.

PeopleLooker aggregates its data from federal, state, county, and local public records. The information on the website makes it very clear that you’ll only be able to turn up information on people that are geographically in the US.

However, when we ran several searches, we noticed that PeopleLooker’s search engine also goes through a wide range of social media networking sites. These include social networks you’d expect, such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

PeopleLooker Pros and Cons

• Good-looking interface
• Easy to use
• Searches are confidential
• Mobile apps for both Android and iOS
• Affordable pricing plans
• Simple pricing system
• Offers unlimited searches
• Transparency
• Cannot be used to research employees as it’s not a consumer reporting agency per the Fair Credit Reporting Act
• No dark web scanning
• Customer service could improve
• Takes a lot of time to process a request
• No live chat support
• Charges extra for certain information
• Some searches only available on mobile

PeopleLooker Cost

There are three plans available at PeopleLooker. You can either choose a seven-day trial subscription which costs $1, or you can choose from the following two plans:

• Monthly membership – $22.86/month
• Three-month membership – $18.28/month

If you buy their subscription, you get access to background reports, contact information, phone lookups, arrest records, email lookups, and more.

Customer Support

You can get in touch with PeopleLooker’s customer service via email, which takes 24-48 hours to respond.

Or else you can contact them on their toll-free number. They’re available seven days a week from 6 am to 11:30 pm (EST).

PeopleLooker Reviews From Real Users – How Legit Is It?

To save you some time, we looked through a ton of online PeopleLooker reviews to find out what real people thought of PeopleLooker based on their personal experiences with the service. This will help you get a solid answer to whether PeopleLooker is a legit service and if it works.

Some of the common complaints include inaccurate or outdated information, difficulty canceling subscriptions, poor customer service, and unexpected charges. Some customers have also reported feeling misled by the service’s marketing tactics or being charged for services they did not sign up for.

Alternatives to PeopleLooker

Truthfinder.

TruthFinder is an online public records search service that provides individuals with access to information about other people. Users can search using a name, phone number, email address, or physical address to get information such as contact details, criminal records, and property records.

TruthFinder offers a reverse phone lookup feature, which can identify the owner of an unknown phone number. TruthFinder is user-friendly and offers a mobile app for convenient access to search results. However, like other similar services, there is a cost associated with using it. Read more about whether TruthFinder is legit or not .

This is another great option to avail if you’re looking for an effective background check service. Intelius provides access to a wide range of information, including contact details, criminal records, property records, and employment history. Intelius also offers a background check feature, which allows users to obtain a comprehensive report on an individual.

Intelius provides a reverse phone lookup service and offers a mobile app for convenient access to search results. However, users should be aware that there is a cost associated with using Intelius and that some users have reported inaccuracies in the information provided by the platform.

BeenVerified

BeenVerified provides the public with affordable and easy access to public information and has been used by more than 1 million people. It was featured on MTV’s show Catfish and allows for a vehicle search, email lookup, address lookup, phone lookup, or name search.

BeenVerified has a superb customer support team and provides detailed reports with affordable access. They also use a unique 7-in-1 search system to provide faster access to information.

PeopleFinder

PeopleFinder is a people search engine that stands out for its unique features, including a comprehensive criminal records database, the option to conduct background checks on individuals, and the ability to search for people using their social security numbers.

PeopleFinder also offers a “people search plus” feature, which provides users with additional information about individuals, such as their education history, job titles, and social media profiles.

PeopleFinder allows users to create and manage their address book, which can be useful for keeping track of contacts and their information. PeopleFinder is a powerful tool for anyone looking for information about individuals and conducting thorough background checks.

Instant Checkmate

Instant Checkmate is a website that does background checks and enables users to browse through the public record information of other people. It’s widely regarded as one of the most trustworthy and comprehensive background check services currently on the market.

People use the service on a personal level to gather information about their neighbors, acquaintances, and even possible romantic partners, even though it cannot be legally used in a professional setting such as screening new workers.

The service provides access to many searchable databases that include phone numbers, email addresses, postal addresses, social media accounts, and criminal histories.

Spokeo has been around since 2006, honing its ability to provide background information, criminal history, or even leads for tracking down an old friend. Over 20 million users have come to trust the site during this time. For the most basic results, you can use Spokeo free of charge by entering a name or phone number.

It does provide a limited amount of information, but almost everything is blurred out and undecipherable. Those reading between the lines should be able to pull out some pertinent information while combing through the data.

As one of the most reputable names in the space, US Search offers a simple and effective background check tool and people search finder. Best of all, it’s designed to protect your privacy, and the people you search for won’t know you’re looking for them.

US Search combs through its massive database of public records and assembles all the relevant details into a single report. PeopleLooker provides an affordable and more efficient way of finding data while reducing the cost of discovery.

Things to Consider Before Using a Background Check Service

A professional background check service has many advantages. Checking one’s criminal history or that of a potential employer used to be impractical and expensive. The convenience of having easy access to data is undeniable.

You can use PeopleLooker to learn more about a new acquaintance or to investigate your own background and the backgrounds of your loved ones. You could look up a person online and find their address, phone number, and possibly even their family members’ names.

Due to the accessibility of people searching tools like background check services, there’s a reason most services will give you the option of sharing your data with the provider. Testing for opt-out status may be difficult.

PeopleLooker Review – Frequently Asked Questions

Does peoplelooker have apps.

Fortunately, PeopleLooker has apps that you can download on your respective smartphones and will work on both the Android APP and Apple’s iOS. This means that no matter where you are, you can immediately conduct a quick investigation on someone. You no longer have to wait till you get onto your computer just to log in to your PeopleLooker account.

How to Cancel Subscription?

PeopleLooker offers hassle-free cancellation. To cancel your subscription or membership, just keep your nine-digit membership ID handy. Once you have your membership ID, simply call them on their support number, 1-800-592-7153, they are available from 6:00 AM to 11:30 PM EST daily.

Will the people I search for be notified by PeopleLooker?

PeopleLooker reports are confidential and the people that are searched will not receive any notification.

Is PeopleLooker legal?

PeopleLooker states that you can run background checks through privacy-friendly public record searches, although according to FCRA laws, PeopleLooker is not a consumer reporting agency and thus cannot be used for employment or tenant screening.

Final Thoughts on PeopleLooker

If you’re new to PeopleLooker websites and want something affordable, reliable, and keeping things simple, PeopleLooker is for you. The service is straightforward to use, and the beautiful design and attention to detail throughout are a huge plus.

Besides, when you sign up with PeopleLooker, you know exactly what to expect. Whether it’s the pricing structure or what the site can or cannot do, you’re safe knowing that the company is committed to being transparent and upfront.

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• What is TruthFinder

DISCLAIMER: You may not use the non-FCRA approved services mentioned in this article or the information they provide to make decisions about consumer credit, employment, insurance, tenant screening, or any other purpose that would require FCRA compliance. These services don’t provide consumer reports and are not consumer reporting agencies. (These terms have special meanings under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 USC 1681 et seq., (“FCRA”), which are incorporated herein by reference.)

The information available on our website may not be 100% accurate, complete, or up to date, so do not use it as a substitute for your own due diligence, especially if you have concerns about a person’s criminal history. The services we mention do not make any representation or warranty about the accuracy of the information available through our website or about the character or integrity of the person about whom you inquire. For more information, please review each service’s Terms of Use.

Ahad Waseem

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Big Boys review – an achingly brilliant queer coming-of-age classic

BFI Flare festival Isaac Krasner delivers a sublime breakout performance as a lovestruck teen in Corey Sherman’s restrained but magical debut

W ith its come-on of a title, its coming-of-age narrative and its teen hero on the verge of coming out, Big Boys sounds like the sort of LGBTQIA+ fare that grows on trees. In fact, this debut from the writer-director Corey Sherman is a real four-leaf clover: delicate, unique and subtly magical.

In its 16-year-old lead actor, Isaac Krasner, the film boasts a star and a breakthrough performance reminiscent of Jason Schwartzman in Rushmore . (No wonder he has just been snapped up to star with Nicole Kidman in the thriller Holland, Michigan.) His 14-year-old character, Jamie, also exudes the studied charm and comic fastidiousness of Rushmore’s hero Max Fischer. Preparing for a long weekend at Lake Arrowhead, California, with his loutish brother Will (Taj Cross) and their doting older cousin, Allie (Dora Madison), Jamie – whose hero is Anthony Bourdain – packs an array of spices to season the campfire meat.

He is chagrined to learn that Allie’s new boyfriend will be tagging along on what was intended as a cousins-only jaunt. That is, until he claps eyes on the interloper, Dan (David Johnson III), with his strong arms, backwards baseball cap and warmly blokey manner. Jamie blabbers nervously about the importance of guarding against wild animals in the woods but there is a different sort of bear on his mind right now.

One of the joys of Big Boys lies in the contrast between the film’s easy-going, unforced rhythm and Jamie’s mounting desire for Dan, whose large build and pillowy eyes make him seem like the boy’s older double. The kid is all fingers and thumbs around him, with Krasner’s highly expressive fidgeting betraying Jamie’s internal chaos. Sherman’s script refrains from any confrontation or crisis, allowing the emphasis to settle instead on the teenager’s tendency to read meaning into Dan’s every wink or smile.

That central tension dominates the picture but the other relationships have room to breathe. Allie and Jamie’s mutual protectiveness is conveyed in a handful of fond exchanges. A flame of fraternal camaraderie, left over from childhood and all but extinguished by adolescent hostility, flickers between Jamie and Will when they play sea-monster games in the lake. And a squirming encounter between Jamie and another shy teenager, Erica (the breathless Marion van Cuyck), spreads the romantic agony around and provides a mirror image of his yearning for Dan. The pseudo-drunken pantomime he affects simply to avoid Erica’s lips creates the closest thing here to a comic crescendo.

It is a mark of how well-judged the script and performances are that only one moment feels remotely false: Dan’s unprompted announcement, during a conversation about The Lord of the Rings, that he would “go gay for Viggo Mortensen”. Even that, though, could be a sign that he has subconsciously intuited Jamie’s longings and is doing his fumbling best to reassure him.

From Gus Bendinelli’s luminous cinematography to an ethereal score by Baths (aka Will Wiesenfeld) that is layered with surging voices, Big Boys is defiantly low-key, more reminiscent of the 1977 heartbreaker Blue Jeans – about a French exchange student pining for the boy who steals his girlfriend – than anything as forthright as Call Me By Your Name.

One of the film’s final cuts, which whisks us from the lake back to the suburbs in a single dissolve without so much as a goodbye, gives the sense of experiences melting away, and a summer gone too soon.

Big Boys premiered at the BFI Flare festival .

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South Portland mail carrier charged in dark web drug trafficking case

New York prosecutors say Katie Montgomery offered FireBunnyUSA advice as it shipped illegal drugs through the postal service.

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A South Portland mail carrier facing up to 25 years in prison after allegedly aiding a drug trafficking ring continues to work her daily shift for the U.S. Postal Service, according to a local union head.

The Manhattan, New York, District Attorney’s Office last month indicted Katie Montgomery of South Portland on a charge of felony conspiracy following an investigation into FireBunnyUSA, a vendor out of New York and California that allegedly shipped over 10,000 packages containing cocaine, ketamine, MDMA and other drugs between 2019 and 2022, according to court records.

The indictment claims Montgomery was a repeat FireBunny customer and in July 2022 offered Nan Wu and his accomplices advice on how to import MDMA and ketamine into the United States – and checked the status of incoming packages to see if they had been flagged by the postal service.

“NY and cali are really hard with going through but Chicago and Puerto Rico are easier,” read one message authorities found on Wu’s phone from an account called “jherigarcya” that was linked to Montgomery’s name and address, according to court records. “I’ll ask around and find out what’s working now.”

Court records do not explain how Montgomery may have initially come into contact with Wu.

Montgomery pleaded not guilty on Feb. 17 in Manhattan Supreme Court before being released from custody without bail. Neither Montgomery nor her attorney, Peter Frankel, responded to several attempts to discuss the case and Montgomery’s relationship with FireBunny. Advertisement

A postal service spokesperson would not confirm Montgomery’s employment status and referred a reporter to the USPS Office of the Inspector General. A spokesperson said that the agency doesn’t “have information regarding a USPS employee’s current employment status.”

But according to her union representative, Montgomery is still working her normal mail route.

Mark Seitz, president of the National Association of Letter Carriers Local 92, said he has spoken with Montgomery since the charges were filed, and she seemed confident she had done nothing wrong and that the case against her would soon be dropped.

“To me, a lot of it doesn’t make sense,” Seitz said, noting letter carriers don’t use the computer systems capable of checking a package’s status. “We can’t even do half the stuff that they’re saying that she was doing because we don’t have access to that stuff.”

The USPS Office of Inspector General investigations closed 524 narcotics investigations between Oct. 1, 2021, and Sept. 30, 2022, up from 223 two years prior, according to the department’s semiannual reports to Congress. As of January 2021, all packages shipped to the U.S. must have advanced electronic data intended to help customs agents identify illicit goods, including drugs.

Wu and three other operators of FireBunny sold more than $7 million worth of drugs from their bases in Flushing, New York, and Upland, California, between 2019 and 2022, relying on the anonymity of the dark web and the cryptocurrency Monero. Much of the laundered money was converted to Bitcoin and then exchanged for U.S. dollars and Chinese yuan, according to court records.

FireBunny’s operations shut down after searches of the New York and California locations in July and August 2022 turned up drugs, packing and shipping supplies and communications with FireBunny customers including Montgomery, court records show.

Montgomery’s next appearance in Manhattan Supreme Court is set for March 30.

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