A majority of hosting companies offer best Linux shared hosting these days. Most website owners use Linux-based web hosting services to host their sites. As a website or blog owner, you aren’t particularly interested in which operating system is the best for your site because you are only concerned about the speed, the loading time, the availability of the site, and the dependability of the hosting service. Your website will be too large and will be getting a lot of traffic after it grows hugely, which means you will have to be very careful about choosing your hosting solution for your growing site as a normal hosting package will not be enough.
The same goes for those who are skilled web developers/webmasters or design experts who are knowledgeable about Linux OS and know the types of hosting platforms they need for their websites.
Operating systems powered by Linux are widely used around the world as web hosting operating systems. It is open-source, thus being free, highly secure, and unbelievably flexible for all sorts of website owners, which is likely to be the reason for its popularity.
Table of Contents
Linux Hosting: What Is It?
A Linux hosting service is a shared hosting service and one of the most popular in the hosting business. The service is highly preferred by most customers due to its reasonable and flexible price. WordPress, Zen Cart, and phpBB scripts can be run on Linux hosting thanks to PHP and MySQL compatibility.
Generally, multiple clients are hosted on the same server which means the server’s resources are shared between the clients. Having all clients/packages hosted on the server helps to reduce costs since the server’s resources and costs are distributed among them. Consider shared hosting like a complex of apartments. There is one big building (a server) where hundreds of websites live, and that’s what shared hosting is. Due to the fact that you share resources with several residents, you pay less for all the resources you need.
Why should you choose Linux as your hosting platform?
We have explained some features about why you should choose Linux as your hosting platform:
Features of Linux
It is common for people to buy hosting services without being very concerned about the technical details.
In the case of shared hosting plans with a low price, chances are they run on Linux servers. It’s great for you because:
- Providing it is kept up to date, it is fairly secure, so you have fewer worries about hacking
- With host switching being less disruptive with industry-standard web hosting software, such as cPanel, you have easy access to industry-standard software
- The host can pass on the savings as a result, while maintaining lower costs for themselves
- It’s pretty standard from one host to another how things work
- The vast range of Linux distributions available on the market means that you can pick the operating system that best matches your needs (rather than the other way around)
LAMP(Linux, Apache, MySql & PHP)
Today, Linux is typical web hosting configuration according to LAMP standards. The acronym LAMP stands for the following:
- Linux is an operating system
- Apache, the program used to serve web pages
- MySQL, the database application based on Structured Query Language
- The PHP programming language allows dynamic web content to be developed (the P may stand for Perl, Python, or something else).
What Makes Hosts Choose Linux?
- Linux is liked by hosts for the following reasons:
- Like it because it’s powerful
- Suitable for most applications
- It is generally free
- There’s a lot of support for it from users
- Can be run on older servers
- The host can customize it
- By hiding the OS from the customer, control panels like cPanel are less likely to cause problems.
Web hosting services with the best Linux compatibility
- Bluehost
The company, Bluehost, is a best Linux shared hosting provider has earned a name among the most reputable and leading names in the hosting industry. In addition, it is a member of the EIG (Endurance International Group). Based in Provo, USA, Bluehost was founded in 2003. It offers hosting to 2 million websites at present.
Compatibility with Linux
With an emphasis on Linux hosting, Bluehost is certainly an excellent pick. The company is also offering LAMP hosting services, like most of its competitors. The company uses CentOS 6. Despite the fact that the OS has not been updated, it still features industry-standard features.
Linux-compatible features make it an excellent pick for servers. CentOS is Bluehost’s preferred operating system since it is cost-effective and stable.
Linux users cannot use anything other than CentOS 6.0 on shared hosting. Those who use a VPS hosting account can choose to root the OS and choose an alternative to CentOS. These alternatives include:
- Arch
- Ubuntu
- Debian
- Red Hat Linux
This top-notch hosting company is excellent for all website hosting needs, and is particularly terrific for hosting WordPress websites. The following are the strengths and weaknesses of Bluehost according to our research:
The things we like about Bluehost
Bluehost is an excellent choice because of the following factors:
- Uptime guarantee of 99.9%
- Easy-to-use cPanel: Bluehost’s cPanel is very straightforward with all the icons clearly visible and you can manage everyone from your domain to your subdomains and your accounts. It also lets you see the statistics.
- Bluehost servers and data centers are monitored round the clock by certified professionals. Furthermore, the directories on your site are password-protected. Bluehost’s Hotlink Protection prevents other websites from directly linking to pictures and files on your site. Additionally, IP blocking at Bluehost allows you to block specific IP addresses.
- Servers powered by dual quad-core Xeon-based servers provide the Bluehost servers with redundancy. The Bluehost hardware is highly scalable and is fully optimized.
- The flexible nature of Bluehost’s Linux hosting makes it ideal for all types of hosting, including shared, VPS, and reseller. A variety of hosting services are available for a variety of budgets and perform efficiently.
Where improvements can be made & What was the reason for Bluehost’s losing points?
- You must sign up for a minimum of one year. Considering that most providers offer rolling monthly contracts, this seems like quite a commitment, but you are still covered by a 30-day money back guarantee.
- Free SSL is only available for the Pro plan and above. Providers typically include this as part of the standard package.
- Add-ons at checkout that customers do not need. Don’t forget to uncheck any unnecessary extras when you sign up with Bluehost. Otherwise, you’ll automatically get opted into services that you don’t need.
- The company does not offer free site transfers. If you’d rather have Bluehost move it for you, you can pay $149.99 for them to do it. There’s a detailed guide in the Bluehost knowledge center if you’d like to do this yourself.
| Price per month at the beginning | $3.95 |
| These are the main features | Automated software updates and one-click WordPress installations |
| Are the domain names included? | yes |
| backups for free? | Some plans come with free backups, others are $2.99 per month |
| What about 24/ 7 customer service? | Definitely. Phone support and live chat are available. |
| Are there money-back guarantees? | 30-days return policy |
Linux Plans and Pricing of Bluehost
| Type of hosting | Range of promotional prices | Range of renewal prices |
| Shared | Monthly fees range from $2.95 to $5.45 | From $7.99 to $14.99 a month |
| VPS | Monthly fees range from $18.99 to $59.99 | From $29.99 to $119.99 a month |
| Dedicated | Monthly fees range from $79.99 to $119.99 | From $119.99 to $209.99 a month |
| Managed WordPress | Monthly fees range from $19.95 to $49.95 | From $29.99 to $59.99 a month |
2) Inmotion
One of the most recommended Linux hosting providers is Inmotion Hosting. Inmotion Hosting was founded in 2001 and hosts over 300,000 domain names. Thanks to its competitive pricing and data center, this company is an ideal Linux service provider.
Compatibility with Linux
On shared hosting servers and virtual private servers, it uses a version of Linux called Better Linux, while on dedicated servers it uses the Pure Linux version. Inmotion hosting also offers the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) distribution which is free of charge and the most stable.
Hosting provider HostGator won the award for best overall Linux hosting provider, but sharing and VPS Linux hosting plans from InMotion really impressed us. It’s an excellent choice for new websites or smaller sites:
The things we like about Inmotion
- Fast data center: There are data centers located on the east coast and west coast. SSD drives, which are 20 times faster than traditional HDDs, are installed on the servers. SSD drives are highly optimizable compared with traditional disk drives.
- Website Development: Inmotion offers quite a number of convenient web development services for small and medium sized businesses. In addition, you can select Intel Xeon E3 or E5 processors, or Dual processors as part of the server options.
- Security: Servers are monitored 24/7 and are scanned for DDoS attacks or vulnerabilities immediately reported. Every account has a private DNS, which ensures no data will be leaked. The advanced firewall systems such as ModSecurity continuously check for spam and viruses.
- Application Support: Over 400+ applications are supported by Inmotion. There are many web applications that can be integrated into your website, such as SEO tools, spam assassins, social media apps, and much more. This program supports both PHP and Python programming languages.
- The company offers a 90-day money-back guarantee: InMotion offers a decent demo period, which means you don’t have to worry about being locked into a contract with a provider who doesn’t suit your needs.
Where improvements can be made & What was the reason for Inmotion’s losing points?
- An average guarantee of uptime: Despite only being 99.97%, it’s still pretty good – just lower than other top providers.
- It’s quite expensive to get a dedicated plan: You won’t have this problem if you don’t need this kind of hosting now, but it is something to think about for the future.
- Renewal prices are higher
| Price per month at the beginning | $2.49 |
| These are the main features | Hosting plans and free SSL certificates for shared/VPS hosting |
| Are the domain names included? | yes |
| backups for free? | yes |
| What about 24/ 7 customer service? | Definitely. Phone support and live chat are available. |
| Are there money-back guarantees? | 90-days return policy |
Linux Plans and Pricing of Inmotion
| Type of hosting | Range of promotional prices | Range of renewal prices |
| Shared | Monthly fees range from $2.49 to $12.99 | From $7.99 to $15.99 a month |
| VPS | Monthly fees range from $22.99 to $54.99 | From $39.99 to $144.99 a month |
| Dedicated | Monthly fees range from $115.69 to $248.99 | From $189.99 to $589.99 a month |
| Managed WordPress | Monthly fees range from $4.99 to $10.99 | From $8.99 to $142.99 a month |
3) Siteground
In 2004, Siteground started operations in Bulgaria. This hosting provider currently hosts over 1,000,000 domains and offers the best CMS hosting and easy script installation. The customer support provided by Siteground is exceptional.
Compatibility with Linux
Their hosting plans are all powered by CentOS Linux. Linux CentOS provides the most stable platform in unreliable environments. Also, in the knowledge base of Siteground you can find everything you need about cent OS. With an unmanaged server, you have the flexibility to choose any distribution, including Ubuntu, RHEL, Debian, Gentoo, Arch, and Fedora.
The things we like about Siteground
- Five data centers located all over the globe give you the flexibility to select the data center that’s right for you. There is no difference in performance between the data centers and all have access to free CDN for better local speeds.
- Completely managed servers: Siteground’s servers are fully managed. You do not need to worry about setting them up or monitoring them. All tasks you have to do in regard to setting up a server, updating and monitoring it, creating backups, or resolving issues will be handled by the company.
- Providing customer support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week is important, even if the servers are fully managed. It is undoubtedly one of the best hosting providers because of its responsive live chat, phone, and email support services. Moreover, you can request a server reboot or diagnose any issue you may have.
- Geeky Software: The geeky software is available for free use. This software can be integrated into any server. If you are installing software such as Cloudflare CDN, Joomla or WordPress, Joomla or WordPress staging environments, or multiple PHP versions, install any such software.
Where improvements can be made?
There are plenty of pros and cons to SiteGround, including the following:
- It is expensive to use SiteGround. You can see that while this plan’s starter package is only a slight increase over the cheapest ones, the prices will spiral quickly upward.
- The storage space is small
| Price per month at the beginning | $3.95 |
| These are the main features | Free Let’s Encrypt certificate and free SSL certificate to enhance security |
| Are the domain names included? | No |
| backups for free? | Yes |
| What about 24/ 7 customer service? | Definitely. Phone support and live chat are available. |
| Are there money-back guarantees? | 90-days return policy |
| A guarantee of uptime | It’s 99.97% |
Linux Plans and Pricing of Siteground
| Type of hosting | Range of promotional prices | Range of renewal prices |
| Shared | Monthly fees range from $6.99 to $14.99 | From $14.99 to $39.99 a month |
| Managed WordPress | Monthly fees range from $6.99 to $14.99 | From $14.99 to $39.99 a month |
| Cloud | – | From $80 to $240 a month |
4) Dreamhost
Over 1.5 million websites are hosted on the service, which was founded in 1997. Four of its corporate headquarters are located in the US, with data centers available on both the east and west coasts. Most recently, the company has introduced cloud computing services for users.
Compatibility with Linux
The Dreamhost environment is entirely based on Linux. This does not work on Windows. This operating system operates on UNIX. In other words, Dreamhost would be a great choice for running open-source scripts.
The things we like about Dreamhost
- It is recommended that DreamHost’s hosting is best suited for businesses that operate e-commerce websites or sites with high traffic levels. The hosting company offers a 100% Uptime guarantee. There is no need for you to worry about configurations or setup with our managed hosting services. A team of engineers monitors the servers 24/7 to ensure they are working properly. In the event of a downtime, it provides free credits as well.
- The servers have RAID 1 storage, which provides a greater storage capacity and ensures that no data is lost. There is free SSH access, SSL certificates, protection against DDoS attacks, plus regular backups and updates for all hosting plans.
- As part of its hosting plan, DreamHost offers free services and add-ons. As well as free domain registration, you will also receive free SSL and TLS certificates.
- The Easy Website Creator: If you’re a newbie, you’ll definitely need the Easy Website Creator. The DreamHost website builder is easy to use and comes with a wide range of features. You can create an unlimited number of websites from one package. You can customize your titles and meta descriptions to achieve greater search engine visibility. There is no limit to the number of pages you can add.
- Shared hosting renewal at the cheapest price – Once you’ve passed the promotion period, I noticed that some providers’ prices skyrocket, but DreamHost’s lowest shared plan continues at just $4.95/month – the lowest of all providers.
Where improvements can be made & What was the reason for Dreamhost’s losing points?
- Support and help are never available via live chat or by phone – The only support system available is a ticketing system, and you are left to fend for yourself – this is not something we recommend, especially to those new to hosting.
- There is no cPanel at DreamHost – With the cPanel hosting dashboard, you’ll get a better understanding of how the system operates. The DreamHost control panel is entirely unique, so should you join after previously hosting your site elsewhere there will be a slight learning curve.
| Price per month at the beginning | $2.59 |
| These are the main features | The prices are consistently low, and the storage space is plentiful |
| Are the domain names included? | Yes |
| backups for free? | Yes |
| What about 24/ 7 customer service? | No |
| Are there money-back guarantees? | 97-days return policy |
| A guarantee of uptime | It’s 99.95% |
Linux Plans and Pricing of Dreamhost
| Type of hosting | Range of prices for a one-year plan | Plans available on a monthly basis |
| Shared | Monthly fees range from $3.95 to $4.95 | From $4.95 to $10.95 a month |
| VPS | Monthly fees range from $13.75 to $110 | From $15 to $120 a month |
| Dedicated | Monthly fees range from $149 to $379 | From $169 to $299 a month |
| Managed WordPress | Monthly fees range from $10 to $71.95 | From $16.95 to $79.95 a month |
| Cloud | Monthly fees range from $4.50 to $96 | From $169 to $299 a month |
5) iPage
Founded in 1998 and one of the lowest cost web hosting companies for business, iPage offers quite a few features at an affordable price. Flexibility is achieved through the fact that it has Linux and Windows specific features.
Compatibility with Linux
With regard to Linux hosting services, iPage offers something different from its competitors. While other web hosting companies, such as Siteground and Bluehost, use LAMP configurations, iPage uses Debian Lenny 5.0 on the UNIX platform with its shared hosting plans. Virtual private servers and dedicated servers are running CentOS 6.5. In general, CentOS 6.0 is more stable than Debian, making it a better choice in the long run.
The things we like about iPage
- With the help of 2 US-based data centers, iPage ensures 99.99% Uptime and does not break the promise. All its servers are outfitted with Cisco routers for better performance and uptime. W3 cache and Jetpack are used by the VPS servers to accelerate page load times.
- Customer support: iPage has an excellent customer service team. A wide range of grids arranged in a sorted manner comprise their vast knowledge base. They have a live chat feature as well as a telephone support system. Their customer service is very helpful and responsive.
- In terms of marketing tools, iPage gives you a comprehensive guide to building a website as a newcomer. There are tools such as the web builder and a variety of templates that make it mobile-friendly, making it ideal for professional web designers. In addition, you need a website advertising to make your website visible. Consequently, it includes all of the tools and credits from PPC campaigns as well as SEO-friendly content and backlink creation.
- iPage discount coupons allow you to get hosted for just $1.95/month with the shared hosting from IPage. VPS and dedicated hosting plans are also available at low prices. You can host your WordPress website from just $3.75 per month.
Where improvements can be made & What was the reason for iPage losing points?
- Guaranteed uptime is low – Theoretically, any provider will experience the most downtime when hosting a site with iPage. The significance of this will depend on the type of site you have and whether this is a make-or-break issue for you.
- Backing up costs a lot of money – Each backup will cost you $100.
- The speeds are slow – Plans from IPage aren’t very powerful, resulting in slower page load speeds (and potentially a negative impact on rankings).
| Price per month at the beginning | $1.99 |
| These are the main features | An easy-to-understand pricing structure and good support |
| Are the domain names included? | Yes |
| backups for free? | Definitely not – $100 every time |
| What about 24/ 7 customer service? | Definitely. Phone support and live chat are available. |
| Are there money-back guarantees? | 30-days return policy |
| A guarantee of uptime | It’s 99.94% |
Linux Plans and Pricing of iPage
| Type of hosting | Range of promotional prices | Range of renewal prices |
| Shared | Monthly fees range from $1.99 to $2.99 | From $7.99 to $9.99 a month |
| VPS | Monthly fees range from $19.99 to $79.99 | From $24.99 to $99.99 a month |
| Dedicated | Monthly fees range from $119.99 to $199.99 | From $149.99 to $239.99 a month |
| Managed WordPress | Monthly fees range from $3.75 to $6.95 | From $7.49 to $10.49 a month |
Also Read- Cheap Windows Shared Hosting
Conclusion
When it comes to hosting providers, Bluehost is the best option for those who don’t want to be tied to one particular plan. A variety of options are available, starting with shared servers and going all the way up to VPSs, so you can find something that suits your needs exactly! Furthermore, their customer service and technical support are above and beyond – that’s a comfort to know when something goes wrong they will handle it for you.
While InMotion offers similar features, it differs from some key aspects, such as free website transfers and unlimited storage (but even gets close).
Let’s conclude by saying that the hosting platform you should choose is based primarily on the method of building your website and the type of technology that it needs.
As an example, if you are getting started with WordPress or setting up a discussion forum on the Web with PHP, Linux Web Hosting is the perfect solution for you. Similarily, you need Windows-based hosting for .NET and MS SQL websites. However, Linux is also making a name for itself as a favorite hosting platform.