Methodology
We organize provider-published plan details, explain payment commitments, and add editorial guidance about who each plan may suit.
These comparisons use published provider information, not our own speed or uptime measurements.
We keep these layers separate so you can weigh facts, interpretation, and financial relationships on their own terms.
Exact plans, prices, limits, and included features drawn from what the merchant publishes, with source and check-date context on comparison pages. Provider-published information is not independently measured or guaranteed by West Hosted.
Reasons to compare, trade-offs, and fit for a stated need—expressed qualitatively (for example best-for / consider-if notes), not as a made-up numerical score.
Some links may earn West Hosted a commission. That relationship is disclosed here and on the affiliate disclosure page.
These labels explain what we could confirm about a plan.
| Label | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Verified | The cited evidence supports the specific claim and plan being shown. It is not a performance endorsement or a guarantee that checkout has not changed. |
| Not verified | Evidence or a required input is missing, conflicting, or does not match the reviewed configuration. It does not mean the feature is absent, free, or zero-cost. |
| Not included on this plan | Evidence supports absence on the specified tier; another tier may differ. |
| Not applicable | The concept does not apply to the confirmed billing model—for example a prepaid promotional renewal on the reviewed usage-based Cloudways configuration. It does not mean free. |
Some older tables still show a dash for unverified cells. Treat that the same as Not verified—not as “missing from the product.”
Prepaid promotions usually advertise a monthly equivalent while requiring payment for the full introductory term. After that term, the renewal rate and the applicable billing term matter. Cash required to cover a selected horizon can buy whole terms that last longer than the horizon—coverage matters because terms are not sold in partial months.
Usage-based plans show a published monthly or hourly rate and an operating-cost illustration. That is not the same as prepaid cash outlay or the first invoice. Unavailable first-invoice information does not mean zero is due.
Known setup fees are included once where we model them. Unknown setup fees and unmodeled taxes, domain renewal, and optional add-ons remain caveats. A lower modeled hosting payment is not a guaranteed checkout saving or a personalized migration saving.
A published renewal rate may be known while its billing term remains unverified. In that case a longer-horizon total may be unavailable even when the rate is visible.
Conditional recommendations describe fit for a stated need. The default card order is editorial. Choosing a numerical sort (for example lowest prepaid upfront or renewal) reorders by supported values; it does not crown a laboratory test winner. The first card is not automatically “best.”
Filters depend on supported values. Plans with unknown or inapplicable amounts do not satisfy ceilings that require those values (for example a maximum renewal filter does not treat usage-based “Not applicable” renewal as a qualifying low number).
West Hosted is a curated comparison of hosts we cover—not necessarily the whole market. More features, a lower introductory rate, or a longer list does not equal better suitability for every reader.
Shortlisting lets you compare a few plans side by side. It is a reading aid, not an endorsement or a purchase.
Pricing check dates and feature check dates can differ. A new page layout or code release is not a fresh verification of every provider claim. We do not promise daily checks, automatic alerts, expiry guarantees, or live provider synchronization.
Comparison pages link to sources where they appear. The pricing guide shows worked prepaid and usage-based examples.
Found an error? Use Contact (or email hello@westhosted.com). Include the page URL, plan name, the disputed detail, and a link to the provider source when you can.
West Hosted may earn a commission when you buy through certain links, at no additional cost to you. Affiliate relationships can influence which offers we feature; we aim to present material trade-offs—especially renewal pricing, usage commitments, and limits—rather than one-sided pitches.
Read the full affiliate disclosure and about pages. Always confirm current pricing and terms on the provider site before you buy.
Continue to hosting comparisons or the pricing guide.