Thank you all so much for your replies, sorry I wasn‘t able to return to the forum earlier, so forgive me if I reply in this one post to everyone.
I’m hoping some of this thread will also help others as a reference to what is out there at the moment.
I’m adding questions to most of the replies below, but anyone can feel free to answer them.
Ok, here we go…
@ Alien: Many thanks for your recommendation of web hosting.uk.com J
Their shared hosting (cPanel - which I believe suits Wordpress better than Windows hosting) has good prices and features, especially if I want to make small sites to start with.
One question though:
Their cPanel hosting says “Domains Allowed: Unlimited“, and also says “Sub-domains/Addon Domains: Unlimited”. I know what sub-domains and parked domains are, but what is the difference between “Add-on domains” and “Domains Allowed” as it says on their website - they appear to make out they are separate things ?
Many thanks.
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@ JMOT: Thank you so much - Heart Internet does seem like a good choice
Their regular web hosting isn’t for me, even though there is unlimited web space and unlimited monthly bandwidth, as I require the ability to add many domains.
So, looking at their reseller hosting - £29.99 per month (£1 for the 1st month) and it has everything I want (I.e. Wordpess, host many domains/websites, PHP5, MySQL5, Cancel Anytime, and more)
I’m guessing you’re recommending Heart’s reseller package ?
My only questions are:
Linux or Windows Hosting (they look the same when I compare them) ?
Their Wordpress uses ‘Jetpack’ Install - is it just the same as, say, Fantastico ?
If I use Jetpack Install, does this mean I am only limited to their Wordpress Plug-Ins ? Or can I still use other plug-ins out there ?
Whichever web host I use, is it just the case of changing the name servers of all the domains I want to develop to the web hosts’ name servers ? Does it matter who I registered my domains with (mostly ukreg and 123-reg) ?
Many thanks.
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@ newpbc: Thank for mentioning 123-reg - several of my domains are registered through them.
Yes, the EvoHosting offer was there a few weeks ago, I’m sure - I missed the boat on that one !
Regarding 123-reg’s hosting: their unlimited package at £6.99 per month (using Linux) does look very tempting if I don’t want the reseller option. Heart’s reseller option, with all its extras, is tempting though…
I did look at web fusion too (parent company of 123-reg, I believe) - their unlimited web hosting looks quite good, but their reseller hosting didn’t appear to be as good as Heart Internet.
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@mtalk: Thanks for your recommendation of web host.uk.net
Their website shows:
Shared Linux hosting: cPanel and Fantastico (which I understand makes easy to install wordpress), and allows unlimited add-on domains.
Shared Windows hosting: doesn’t offer add-on domains or parked domains.
I can’t see where It says ‘Ngnix’ web server, I’m afraid.
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@Joeyl: Thanks for your suggestion of Galaxywebsolutions, whose packages do look good, and I could always upgrade my way up their service plans as I add more domains.
Their Venus package shows 100 cPanel accounts and unlimited add-on domains.
Does this mean you could have website clients sign in themselves on one of my 100 cPanel accounts so they could manage their own website (FTP upload) by themselves ?
Also, am I able to put, say, 10 domains in one Cpanel account and 25 domains in another ?
Also, does cPanel automatically indicate Linux Hosting, and Plesk control Panel automatically indicate Windows hosting ?
I ask as I believe wordpress to run better on Linux/cPanel/Fantastico ? Am I right ?
(forgive any stupid questions here Joeyl)
Many thanks.
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@octopus: Thank you very much for your suggestions of dream host, media temple and slice host.
I’ve taken a look at them all, and they all are good when it comes to price, wordpress and features, but currently I am looking into UK-based options on this occasion.
Thanks very much indeed for your input though, as your suggestions may help others looking at this thread.
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@viceroy: Some of my domains are registered with fast hosts (ukreg). Some are with 123-reg too.
Fasthosts reseller hosting is only £19.99 per month for the 1st year, then £49.99 per month thereafter.
Again, it doesn’t seem as good as Heart Internet when I compare their prices/features, etc.
On checking reviews of Fasthosts, some say they’re ok, and some say “run a mile“.
I haven’t had any problems with them for my domains though (I.e. the ones registered with ukreg)
Many thanks viceroy.
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@Stephenspint: Hi there. I saw on evohosting’s website that they offer multi-website hosting (up to 30 websites). I want a package that allows more domains, which is why the reseller hosting seems more appropriate for my needs.
Unfortunately, evohosting’s recent reseller deal for new customers has now disappeared.
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@rob: thanks for your input - good advice for a newbie like me.
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@jordane: aha, VPS is another option (virtual private server, I believe).
Took a look at Fasthosts’ options on VPS - although their VPS offers control and power, etc., I don’t think I have the know-how to maintain it (configuring apps being an example), not at this stage at least.
Just looking at Fasthosts’ FAQ on VPS’ has confused me !
Maybe I could upgrade to a VPS in time, when I have more experience.
It’s inspiring to know that it works for you jordane - many thanks for your input and making me realise there are other options out there for me.
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@peacock: thanks for your reply - I agree that reseller is drawing me in.
CPanel is a term I have associated with Wordpress installation in the past when I’ve read about it, in so much that it make wordpress easy to install.
Thanks for mentioning that I can use a separate cPanel for my friends’ websites, as they can then update their sites themselves.
Krystal: look good, fantastico/wordpress, good price, and the Sapphire package give unlimited domains for £24.99 per month if paying monthly (note: this price does not include VAT)
Evo: mentioned evohosting further up this post.
Ezpzhosting: their ‘Master’ package allows unlimited domains, and is well-priced, and uses Fantastico and Installatron to allow Wordpress installation.
One very naïve question:
If I use a Linux OS to host wordpress websites I build, I can still build normal websites using html/css/xml as well, can’t I ?
(I don’t just want to be limited to building wordpress websites !)
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@Aiden Roberts: thanks for checking Aiden, your posts since you have joined have helped me greatly.
Cheers.
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@golddiggerguy: I am impressed with Heart’s website, transparency, I have to admit, and the reseller package is calling me…
Would you recommend Linux or Windows though ? Or doesn’t it matter these days ?
Heart’s comparison between Linux reseller and Windows reseller seem identical, and I want to do mainly wordpress websites (hence I believe I need PHP5 and MySQL5 and Apache ?), but also a couple of ones I built myself using HTML/CSS.
Many thanks.
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@wigwam: Aha, just like Alien, you mention web hosting.uk.com.
Took a look at eukhost.com - their standard reseller package looks pretty good - cheaper than HeartInternet, although less features, it appears.
Their cloud hosting looks a little complicated for me (maybe as I haven’t researched it yet), although it also gives you private name servers, amongst other things.
Thanks for this information wigwam, much appreciated.
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@gill barker: thanks for your reply.
Looked at fasthostingdirect.co.uk - their offer of £99 for 2 years sounds too good to be true !
The site isn’t attracting me at present - the comparison chart/table has made me feel dizzy.
Thanks for your recommendation though - I will certainly consider them.
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@bensd: interesting - my initial gut instinct made me think that.
Thanks very much bensd.
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Summary: My gut and head are swaying me to HeartInternet reseller, but whether Linux or Windows OS is better is something I need to clarify first (as I want to host wordpress AND regular HTML websites).
Again, many thanks for any further responses to the questions above.
Steve