Unlimited bandwidth
Almost always bounded by a fair-use policy. Heavy use can lead to throttling or a request to move to a larger plan. Look in the terms for the actual thresholds, and for CPU and process limits, which matter more than bandwidth for most sites.
Unlimited storage
Often limited indirectly, through inode counts, restrictions on storing backups or media, or acceptable-use rules. If you plan to store a lot of files, ask what the practical ceiling is.
99.9% uptime
Roughly 8.8 hours of allowed downtime a year. Check what is excluded (maintenance, DDoS, force majeure) and what you receive if the host misses the target. Usually a service credit.
Free domain
Commonly free for the first year only and tied to an annual or multi-year plan. The renewal is at the standard price and transferring it away may be restricted for a time.
Free SSL
Usually an automatic domain-validated certificate. Perfectly good for most sites. Check that it renews itself and supports wildcard or multiple names if you need them.
Free migration
Often limited to a certain number of sites, and sometimes only from certain panels. Ask what is moved (files, databases, mail), how long it takes, and what the host does if it goes wrong.
Daily backups
Find out how long copies are kept, whether you can restore them yourself, whether databases are included, and where the copies are stored. A single copy on the same server is not a safety net.
Money-back guarantee
Typically covers the hosting fee only, not domains or add-ons, and applies for a limited period. Read the exceptions, since some exclude certain plans or require a reason.
Optimised for WordPress
Sometimes means real server-level tuning with caching, current PHP and staging tools. Sometimes means a one-click installer. Look for specifics.
24/7 support
Check the channel and the response time. Ticket-only support at 3 a.m. may mean a reply by morning. Chat or phone is different. Also check whether support will help with your application or only the server.
Green hosting
Can mean actual renewable power purchases, or can mean offsets. Look for details such as the percentage covered and whether it is verified by a third party.
Powered by SSD or NVMe
Good, but it is one factor. CPU limits, memory limits, I/O limits and the quality of the network all affect how fast your site feels.
Unlimited email accounts
Mail has its own limits: storage per mailbox, hourly send caps and attachment size. If you send newsletters, check the outgoing limits specifically.
DDoS protection
Basic filtering of large floods is common. Ask what size of attack is covered and whether it protects the whole server or only certain services.
Questions worth asking any host
- What exactly happens if my site reaches its CPU or memory limit?
- How long do you keep backups, and can I restore them without opening a ticket?
- What PHP versions do you support, and how quickly do you retire old ones?
- Where are the servers located and can I choose?
- How do I leave? Can I download a full copy of everything at any time?
- What is the renewal price, and does it differ from the sign-up price?