People keep asking: what are the best affordable hosting platforms in Nigeria?
What are the best affordable places to buy domain name and hosting packages out there?
So today I bring you the “best affordable hosting platforms that I’ve personally tested”. You can use them whether you’re an American, a Mexican, or a Nigerian.
There are places like Bluehost and GoDaddy, but they’re not for everyone, especially not when you’re seeking “affordability”. Why? Because the price tag on a one month hosting plan at Bluehost or GoDaddy will be enough to cover an entire year’s worth of effective package from any of these platforms on this list today. And the best part? You get to use your website with peace of mind and can easily transfer out your domain and hosting in case you change your mind in the future without hassle and headache.
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I’ve used GoDaddy, and some of my complaints are poor customer care response, difficulty in renewals before the due date (they want to wait till exact day and automatically charge your card, you’ll lose your site of course if they’re unable to charge your card for any reason within the period), and lots more. After your domain expires, they’ll put it up for auction and of course, if it’s a high-value name, it ain’t coming back to you. That’s how I lost one of my favourite domains. My domain has expired with another registrar before, I waited for it to be released back into the market and bought it back, it was very easy to retrieve because it wasn’t auctioned, if it were, I’d never have owned it again.
Bluehost has poor customer care response (at least for me) and I had to run from the get-go, never used them. I hate being stressed by things I buy with my own money, they must be seamless and worth every penny.
These are the top six (6) on my list that are quite affordable and worth the price.
To make this list, the following was considered:
1) Affordability. Of course, that’s the main point of this list, you shouldn’t break the bank before you can afford their services. The cost of hosting in one year is my serious priority.
2) Customer care response. In case you’re caught up, they need to have your back quickly and solve minor issues such as SSL configuration directly (by themselves).
3) Efficiency. Must be worth every dime you’re spending.
4) Transfer ease. Should easily transfer out your domain in case you’re tired of using them.
5) Ability to use from different locations in the world, shouldn’t be region-specific or have poor performance when you move locations.
However, it is important to note that no hosting platform is perfect, there’ll always be cons despite many pros, and of course, personal experiences may differ.
This is the best you can find no matter how little money you have. If you have more money, it is advisable to invest in the high-end products you’ll find when you visit these same websites that’ll be listed below.
Apart from all of them being affordable and reliable, you can pay monthly without fearing the usual unnecessary price hike on monthly-paid packages experienced from most hosting platforms.
Before buying a name on any platform, first check the renewal price and honestly decide if you can afford it next year to avoid losing your domain name, the same applies to hosting plans. This is because it could be cheap this year because the company is running a promo, or maybe because it’s the first year. For example, platforms like Namecheap and GoDaddy are always running first year discounts on most extensions, that’s why you must check the real price which starts from the second year. On somewhere like Namecheap, the price on (for example) the dot com (.com) extension will rise to about $13 from the second year, meanwhile, you’ll buy it for about $9 the first year or even as low as somewhere around $5 if you’re a first-time customer. Despite the second year’s price difference on Namecheap, it’s still affordable. But I can’t say the same for GoDaddy. As a new customer on GoDaddy, you may sometimes buy dot com for about $4 to $5, but it’s about $19 upon renewal. The first year is often cheaper on many platforms even if you’re not a first-time customer.
So, let’s see who eventually made our list…
1) Truehost cloud
I’ve been using Truehost Cloud since 2020, it was one of the first hosting platforms I tested out when I was planning to get serious with blogging. I must say that I was thoroughly impressed with their services from the start, they were way more affordable those days, but still very affordable at the moment. Truehost Cloud is definitely a top contender when it comes to cloud hosting providers.
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First and foremost, the platform’s user interface is both intuitive and user-friendly. Navigating through the different sections and accessing various features is a breeze, even for someone who is not particularly tech-savvy. The dashboard is well-organized, providing clear visibility into all aspects of your cloud hosting environment.
One aspect that sets Truehost Cloud apart from its competitors is the incredible speed and reliability of its servers. During my testing period, I experienced minimal downtime, and the loading speed of my website was exceptional.
For example, my website is still using one of the cheapest plans they have (silver hosting), yet it’s able to carry a blog and e-commerce platform comfortably. I hope to switch to a higher package after this current plan expires, I can’t wait to see how better and faster my website will be!
Truehost Cloud truly lives up to its promise of offering a highly optimized and efficient cloud hosting environment.
Another standout feature of Truehost Cloud is their exceptional customer support. The support team is not only knowledgeable but also highly responsive. Any questions or issues I encountered were promptly addressed, and the team went above and beyond to ensure my satisfaction. It’s reassuring to know that there is a reliable support system in place, especially when dealing with the complexities of cloud hosting.
Additionally, Truehost Cloud provides a wide range of tools and features to enhance your hosting experience. From automated backups to comprehensive security measures, they have you covered. Their advanced control panel offers plenty of customization options, allowing you to tailor your hosting environment to meet your specific needs.
Furthermore, Truehost Cloud’s pricing plans are competitive and flexible, making it accessible for businesses of all sizes. Whether you are a small startup or a large enterprise, you can find a plan that suits your requirements without breaking the bank. Plus, the transparency in pricing ensures that there are no hidden costs or surprises.
Truehost has local presence in Nigeria and many other countries across the world.
If you have extra cash, I advise you purchase their cloud services or Truehost Unlimited Hosting.
But if you’re on a very tight budget, silver hosting is great too, I’ve been using it since 2020.
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The downside of Truehost is that they keep growing too fast and as their success soars higher, they drag their prices along too. You could wake up to extra $3 hike in price. Nevertheless, I just adore their services because of the peace of mind their uptime, customer care and all gives.
Click here to buy domain name and hosting from Truehost Cloud.
2) Namecheap
Namecheap is a highly reliable and reputable domain registrar and web hosting provider. With over two decades of experience in the industry, they have established a strong presence as a trusted service provider.
Namecheap is arguably the cheapest US-based host I’ll use. The rest are overpriced and forget to take care of their customers. However, like the rest of the names on this list, they operate in many countries, it’s easy to use them.
One of the key highlights of Namecheap is their easy-to-use platform. Their website is intuitive and user-friendly, making it simple for even beginners to navigate and manage their domains and hosting services. The domain search feature is efficient, allowing users to quickly find and register their desired domain names.
Transferring domains to Namecheap is a breeze, thanks to their seamless and straightforward transfer process. They provide clear guidelines and excellent customer support to ensure a smooth transition of domains from other registrars.
Namecheap offers a wide range of domain extensions at competitive prices. This allows users to find the perfect extension for their website without breaking the bank. Additionally, they frequently provide discounts and promotions, making it even more cost-effective for individuals and businesses on a budget.
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Their customer support is top-notch and available 24/7. Namecheap offers multiple channels for support, including live chat and ticket-based systems. The support team is highly responsive, knowledgeable, and always willing to assist customers with any domain or hosting-related queries or issues.
When it comes to security, Namecheap takes it seriously. They offer free WhoisGuard protection for the first year, helping to safeguard personal information and prevent spam or phishing attacks. SSL certificates are also available to ensure a secure connection for websites and to boost customer trust.
Namecheap also provides reliable web hosting services. Their hosting packages are feature-rich, offering sufficient disk space, bandwidth, and excellent uptime. They have a range of plans suitable for personal websites, small businesses, and even larger organizations.
I personally tried Namecheap out from 2020 to early 2023. My reason for discontinuance was that I wanted to manage only one website which turned out to be already hosted on Truehost. I merged all my topics (grief, business, writing, relationship, and discarded cooking and reviews). This merger led to me redesigning and restarting my website in December 2022 before the previous plans completely expired in early 2023. At the moment, having only one personal website helps me stay focused and cut down cost of maintenance.
Click here to buy domain name and hosting from Namecheap.
3) Smartweb
After conducting a thorough assessment of Smartweb, I can confidently say that it is a reliable web hosting provider in Nigeria.
Smartweb is also a good fit for non-Nigerian users. Smartweb offers a wide range of services such as domain registration, shared hosting, VPS hosting, and dedicated server hosting.
One aspect that sets Smartweb apart from other providers is its commitment to customer satisfaction. The company offers 24/7 customer support through various channels including phone, email, and live chat. Their support team is prompt, knowledgeable, and efficient in addressing any concerns or issues that users may encounter.
Smartweb also boasts an impressive uptime guarantee of 99.9%. Throughout my testing period, I experienced minimal downtime, which is crucial for maintaining a reliable online presence. The company’s state-of-the-art data centers equipped with redundant power supplies and advanced security measures contribute to the overall stability and reliability of their hosting services.
Furthermore, Smartweb provides a user-friendly control panel that simplifies website management. Even those with limited technical expertise can easily navigate and utilize the control panel to manage their domains, databases, and email accounts effortlessly. The hosting packages offered by Smartweb are reasonably priced and cater to different budgets and requirements.
Another noteworthy feature of Smartweb is its commitment to website security. The company offers free SSL certificates, daily backups, and advanced security measures, ensuring the protection of user data and guarding against cyber threats.
It is important to mention that Smartweb has a well-designed and informative website, providing comprehensive information about their services, pricing, and customer testimonials. This instills confidence in potential customers and indicates the company’s commitment to transparency.
They have several offers, but I totally recommend the particular package. The Linux category is likely the cheapest products’ series on their platform, you can check out other categories though, like the WordPress Hosting, Windows, etc.
However, I don’t recommend conducting domain availability search on Smartweb, first search in GoDaddy or Namecheap (my favourite for searching), then come buy back to Smartweb and buy.
Click here to buy domain name and hosting from Smartweb.
4) Qservers
Qservers is a Nigerian web hosting and domain registration company that has been operating since 2004. With a variety of hosting options and a local presence in Nigeria, Qservers aims to cater to the needs of individuals and small businesses within and outside Nigeria.
One of the significant advantages of Qservers is its local presence in Nigeria (this is very important for Nigerians since there seems to be limited options tailored directly to Nigerians). This can be beneficial for customers who prefer to deal with a local company for their web hosting and domain-related needs. It is also a great deal for non-Nigerian users. Additionally, Qservers offers a range of hosting services, including shared hosting, reseller hosting, VPS hosting, and dedicated servers, catering to a wide range of customer requirements. The company’s pricing plans are also affordable, making their services accessible to those with limited budgets.
Furthermore, Qservers provides 24/7 customer support through various channels such as phone, email, and live chat. This availability indicates a commitment to assisting customers promptly and efficiently.
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I must not forget to tell you though that Qservers can get a little annoying once in a while in uptime and customer care. Regardless, they’re very great compared with most big names who totally forget to care.
Click here to buy domain name and hosting from Qservers.
5) Whogohost
Whogohost is a reputable web hosting company that offers reliable hosting services to individuals and businesses alike. I found several key features that make them stand out:
— Excellent Uptime: One of the most crucial aspects of web hosting is uptime, and Whogohost delivers exceptional uptime performance. Their servers are reliable and stable, ensuring that your website remains accessible to visitors without any major disruptions.
— Responsive Customer Support: Whogohost offers top-notch customer support. The support team is highly responsive and knowledgeable, always ready to assist with any issues or concerns. Whether it’s through live chat, email, or phone, their support representatives are friendly, patient, and committed to resolving problems promptly.
— User-Friendly Control Panel: The control panel provided by Whogohost is intuitive and easy to navigate. It allows users to manage their websites, domains, emails, and databases efficiently. Even for beginners, the control panel makes it simple to set up websites, install scripts, and manage various aspects of their hosting account.
— Competitive Pricing: Whogohost offers hosting plans at competitive prices. They provide a range of packages tailored to different needs and budgets, ensuring that customers have options to choose from. Additionally, they often run promotions and discounts, making their services even more affordable.
— Value-Added Features: Whogohost includes many value-added features in their hosting packages. These features may include free SSL certificates, website builders, domain registration, and ample storage and bandwidth allowances. These extras enhance the overall user experience and provide added value to their customers.
— Scalability and Flexibility: As your website grows, you may need to scale up your hosting resources. Whogohost offers scalability and flexibility, allowing users to upgrade their plans or customize their hosting resources as their needs evolve. This scalability ensures that your website can handle increased traffic without experiencing performance issues.
Click here to buy domain name and hosting from Whogohost.
6) Domainking
One of the biggest strengths of DomainKing is its user-friendly interface and hassle-free navigation. From registering a new domain name to managing existing domains, the platform offers a seamless, intuitive experience. The website’s layout is simple and logical, making it effortless for both beginners and experienced users to find the necessary features and tools without any confusion.
DomainKing excels in offering their services at affordable rates, ensuring that businesses and individuals on a budget can establish a strong online presence without breaking the bank. What impressed me the most was the transparency in pricing. There were no hidden fees or unexpected costs. Each service package clearly stated what was included.
Another outstanding aspect of DomainKing is their exceptional customer support team. Whenever you encounter an issue or have a query, their support staff promptly responds with helpful solutions. Whether through live chat, email, or phone, DomainKing’s support is readily available, ensuring that no problem remained unresolved for long. Their support agents are knowledgeable and friendly, you’ll feel valued as a customer.
Reliability is crucial when it comes to web hosting, and DomainKing delivers on that front. DomainKing’s dependable performance will help you maintain a consistent online presence, enhancing your visitors’ browsing experience.
DomainKing offers a range of innovative features that magnify the value of their services. From integrated security features to easily integrable CMS platforms, such as WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal, the company ensures a smooth and enhanced website management experience. Furthermore, they provide additional services such as website design and development, email hosting, and SSL certificate, catering to various online needs under one roof.
Click here to buy domain name and hosting from Domainking.
I’ll try updating this list from time to time in case I discover a new great but affordable hosting platform. For now, enjoy these six.
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