By: Johnathan BellWeb Hosting and Site Reliability Engineer
By: Johnathan BellWeb Hosting and Site Reliability Engineer
| Hosting service | Best for | Starting price | Best features |
|---|---|---|---|
| HostGator
| Best Overall MsSQL Hosting Why it’s best: Inexpensive but reliable, 24/7 support | $2.64 per month |
|
| Liquid Web
| Best Fully Managed MsSQL Hosting Why it’s best: Specializes in fully managed hosting plans, which takes some of the weight of website management off of your back | $25 per month |
|
| IONOS
| Best MsSQL Introductory Rate Why it’s best: IONOS offers the best deal around for your first year of hosting service | $1 per month |
|
| InMotion Hosting
| Best MsSQL Hosting Money Back Guarantee Why it’s best: Unlike most, InMotion offers a full 90 day money back guarantee, giving you almost three months to decide if it’s right for you | $2.99 per month |
|
| Bluehost
| Best MsSQL Host With Scalable Options Why it’s best: Bluehost offers a ton of hosting options to help you scale your website as needed | $2.95 per month |
|
We short-listed web hosts that offer Windows hosting, provide an ideal server environment, provide expert support, SSDs for speed, and daily backups. Then we cross-referenced these hosts with our database of thousands of expert and user reviews.
Microsoft SQL Server (or MsSQL) is Microsoft’s database management application. It is a relational database management system (RDBMS) built using structured query language (SQL). Applications using Windows technologies — such as .NET — are ideally suited for pairing with an MsSQL database. Only a minority of web hosts offer Windows hosting; not all are good choices.
Whether your hosting provider offers Linux or Windows servers, chances are you’re going to need access to a database of some sort if you’re building a website.
Creating and managing databases is an essential part of many Web applications, including e-commerce, interactive games, and content management systems (CMS) like WordPress.
You should ask several questions before you commit to an MsSQL host:
Microsoft points out that a virtual machine with MsSQL Server installed is a perfectly valid alternative to Azure SQL, particularly if you want a fast and easy move to the cloud without the worry of per-hour billing.
SQL Server on Azure is licensed rather than being charged as a service, but you have to pay for Azure storage costs.
HostGator wins this category because it lies on the inexpensive but reliable end. It offers incredible reliability, great customer support, and excellent features all at a great monthly rate. It’s hard to go wrong with HostGator.
Its Windows website hosting plans include the Plesk control panel, IIS, and ASP.NET. Plus, you get unlimited subdomains and email accounts. Support is available by phone, email, or chat 24 hours a day.
Liquid Web specializes in fully managed hosting plans, but the cost is substantial. The host makes the MsSQL database available as a separate service, so you can use it from either a Linux or a Windows platform. The service is designed for high availability, with multiple hardware nodes, and backup is included. Windows or Linux is available on dedicated, cloud VPS, and cloud dedicated host plans.
IONOS web hosting is a good choice for small- and medium-sized businesses, Windows developers, and WordPress professionals. And at an introductory rate of one $1 per month for the first year, you’re sure to get your money’s worth.
No matter which IONOS web hosting plan you choose, you’ll get great features, including a free SSL certificate and a free domain name for one year. If you’re just starting out, you can opt for one of the MyWebsite packages, which comes with free hosting, plenty of templates, and an intuitive editor that’s seamless to operate.
All hosting packages from InMotion Hosting come with a 90-day money-back guarantee, so you can be certain you love the services. If you’re unhappy with their service for any reason, InMotion Hosting will give you a full refund for up to 90 days. Most hosting companies offer a 30-day guarantee.
InMotion Hosting has designed its packages to more than meet the needs of its customers. You will find a fantastic lineup of features available, and some noteworthy extras you can add to your account when needed.
Bluehost is a great option for those who just want to dip their toes into the water of web hosting but keep their options open for a full dive later. There are ton of hosting options available at a wide range of prices which is perfect for those looking for a provider who can scale alongside them.
All Bluehost shared hosting plans offer a free domain for the first year, at least one year of free SSL, CDN (Content Delivery Network, speeds up your website), and 24/7 support.
