Looking for a good Web hosting provider? Tell other nonprofits about it here.
Or, if you've tried any of the services listed in
How to Find a Good Web Hosting Provider, share your experience with other nonprofits here.
Joined on 06-26-2006
TechSoup Member
For most organizations, I recommend hosting with GoDaddy--specifically with their base plan. It's cheap at $3.95 a month (most companies, including GoDaddy, offer a discount for a one or two-year contract, but don't require it), and the features are more than enough for a small-to-medium sized organization.
For those that need a more storage, more bandwidth, more databases, etc., try a base plan with Dreamhost. They are even easier to use, are still inexpensive ($9.95 a month, $7.95 with a contract), and offer more features than anyone can actually use.
I rarely recommend going with a local provider, because most of them just outsource to companies like Dreamhost, marking up your expenses, and many aren't sustainable businesses, meaning they have the propensity to die off or sell out.
I don't have a problem with the hosting recommendations posted above -- in fact, I've used Dreamhost myself and would also recommend them.
However, what I strongly recommend is that you keep your domain registration separate from your Web hosting -- each service should be handled by a different company. Here's why:
If the same company handles both services, should you ever decide to move to a better host, you run the risk of getting "locked out" of your domain name, and not being able to move it to the new host.
So keep your Web hosting company separate from your domain registration company, and you'll always be in control.
Yann
In selecting a Web hosting provider for your organization, you should always remember to ask if they offer a nonprofit discount. Such discounts are not always advertised on their Web site, so you need to ask about it.
For example, CrystalTech, which is discussed in the article above, actually offers a
50% discount to qualifying nonprofits.
Yann
I use a site called
PowWeb for both my personal websites, plus for our non-profit agency.
It cost $7.77 a month, but cheaper if you pay by the year (or 2 years) - you get 20Gig of webspace, 400Gig on bandwidth a month, unlimited e-mail addresses, and even a free domain name for the first year if you don't already have one. (AND after the free year, transfer the domain to godaddy to save extra money - keeping the hosting at powweb.) It includes all kinds of good things for a pretty good price.
When I first started working at my non-profit, we had an internal e-mail system, and then users had their own yahoo or hotmail accounts to communicate with the outside world. We looked into the cost of getting our own mail server, and hosting the mail server elsewhere - but in the end we ended up using the mail on our PowWeb service - since it includes POP3/IMAP/SMTP & Webmail access - unlimited accounts, spam filters and such. The people in our office have outlook setup to retrieve it right away, while the users in the field can access it through webmail.
Of course I'm not getting off the topic of web hosting (but wanted to mention it in case others are looking for a "cheap" solution to e-mail).
But the biggest thing I like about Powweb is that they have a VERY active user forum where if you have a question about anything - from help loading software or scripts - you can usually get an answer in a very short amount of time.
Joined on 05-23-2003
TechSoup Member
Lunarpages was terrible! Their tech support staff try to get you off the phone as quickly as possible. What's worse, TWO organizations I work with had their email cut off without warning because they were accused (incorrectly) of being spammers.
Stay away from Lunarpages and don't believe their hype about being devoted to tech support.
We are using Speakeasy now. They are much more expensive but tech support -- while far from perfect -- is better, and we haven't suffered the outrageous treatment we got from Lunarpages.
Joined on 06-02-2003
TechSoup Member
I highly recommend http://www.livehost.net. Good and inexpensive without a contract.
I strongly suggest one avoid vituoso net solutions. I was with them (actually, just one really short-tempered guy) and everything was fine until there was an actually problem, then his patience ran out quick. Whoever I tried to contact at the company, I just kept getting him.
Joined on 01-06-2005
TechSoup Member
Anyone used Network Solutions for a Web hosting provider? Would you recommend them?
Joined on 02-07-2003
TechSoup Member
I can't recommend Laughing Squid (http://laughingsquid.net) highly enough as a web and email host. Their service is just great, and they respond INSTANTLY to any issues or questions. In over 3 years we only experienced one short instance of downtime.
Best of all it's really a good deal. Their clientele is strictly nonprofits and starving artists. Email is very easy to administer via a web browser interface, including groups lists, redirects, auto-responders for vacations, webmail and many other cool features.
All of the big companies and telecomm providers rip you off and give crappy service almost as a rule.
A great DSL provider is Sonic.net out of Santa Rosa, CA, but theY service a very wide area. And get this!...they ANSWER THE PHONE! No voicemail tree hell, and almost immediate polite and knowledgeable service.
Joined on 08-05-2002
TechSoup Member
ThinkHost (http://www.thinkhost.com/) has worked well for us for 2.5 years now. Their response time on "issues" has been top-notch and personal.
They offer several hosting options for non-profits, especially those geared towards environmental and social justice issues. Details on those plans can be had here.
here.
Joined on 10-30-2002
TechSoup Member
I recently switched our host to Dot5Hosting b/c they seemed to offer better control panel for site administration and faster download speeds for Flash video. They repeatedly stated that they ran the Flash Media Server and could stream Flash videos. Video did load quickly, but not any faster than my "old" host. Also, EVERY other provider for Flash Video Streaming Service was at least 6x-10x more $$/mo. That made me a little suspicious. Almost every support ticket was answered by the same individual. Command of the English language from all tech support was marginal. Written responses were full of spelling, verb and usage errors and telephone support (which was advertised as 24x7 but was NOT) was almost worthless from the combination of poor connection and poor English language skills from support tech.
Worst thing was the loss of days of emails during the transfer (they forgot to setup my accounts!) and when the site went down for more than a few hours (I really don't know how long...) during week #2 or 3, I pulled the plug and went back to my old host (IXWebhosting).
It may be prejudicial, but b/c it is so easy to create a company website from a closet 1/2-way around the world that makes the company "appear" to be big and shiny and succesful and established and "just down the street" my new rule of thumb is that if there are multiple errors on the site's web pages (especially spelling, tenses, use of plurals, etc.) I am VERY concerned that the "company" may actually be a "front" for a 13 year old running a barebones PC from his basement in Bulgaria (NOT that there's anything wrong with talented 13 year olds, basements OR Bulgaria- just trying to illustrate a point). The fact that almost all the large, commercial hosts offer "reseller" account makes this possibility even more likely (as mention before).
Joined on 05-16-2003
TechSoup Member
I use
LIBIHOST.COM as my provider for several non-profit websites I administer. Pricing for non-profits is $4.95 a month or $49.50 a year with free domain for the annual plan. Their website --
www.libihost.com -- only lists their business plans which start at $6.95, but you can email them at
libihost@gmail.com with your organization info and get the lower non-profit rate -- and they give you whatever business plan size you need for the non-profit rate. Good tech support 24/7, Unix and Windows plans are both available, great website builder software if you don't have a designer handy. I recommend them highly.
Joined on 10-23-2003
TechSoup Member
I generally recommend, and use,
Hostasaurus (www.hostasaurus.com). No doubt, there are thousands of hosting providers out there. I find Hostasaurus an ideal solution for most companies because they staff their support and engineer teams with long-term, knowledgable staff. They are willing to help and provide excellent support to even their lowest dollar accounts. I've seen their facilities and they do things right. They aren't a provider that cuts corners to increase their profits.
-Jeff Pochily
IT Manager
Camelot Community Care, Inc
Intervention Services, Inc
(501c3 Not for Profit Agencies in Florida)
Joined on 05-17-2006
TechSoup Member
I love our Web site host, www.redrivernet.com .
Lucky for me they are, literally, right up the street. They graciously and quickly restored my index page after I cleverly deleted it (D'OH!).
Red River works in parntership with us as a non-profit organization; isn't working together what it's all about?
Establishing and maintaining control of your domain name is Job # 1 - that's for sure!!! (Did you read my thread about Stolen Web Content?)
Joined on 08-07-2006
TechSoup Member
http://www.Homestead.com is the share hosting company that I use to design sites for my clients. They have options where you can design from scratch with a online web authorizing application by going to homestead.com. You may also can use more than 500 professionally designed templates to complete the web design. It has flash and video support. Software is web based and GUI and WYSIWYG design and can publish your site right away.