Best Hosts for Bootstrap Projects

Bootstrap is one of the simplest and most effective ways to build a mobile first project on the web, but it works better with some hosting programs than with others. Luckily there are many Bootstrap-friendly hosting companies out there, including some with services specifically designed for Bootstrap projects.

Today we’re going to take a look at the best hosting providers for Bootstrap, including one completely free option you can use to test your software.

What makes a good Bootstrap host?

Most of the things a Bootstrap host should have are also essential for other types of web hosting: fast servers, knowledgeable 24/7 customer support, and a variety of plans so you can migrate to different levels as your website grows. You also shouldn’t be spending more than $10/month unless you’re hosting a massive project visited by millions of people.

Some hosting providers also offer services specific to Bootstrap, such as one-click installation for both the initial software and any updates. These are great if you’re completely new to web hosting and you want something as simple as humanly possible.

The final thing you want to pay attention to is how many extras you get with the hosting plans in your budget. They’re too varied to explore fully in this article, but many hosts offer perks like free advertising credits, free domains. Most also offer a variety of paid add-ons to make your site more secure or easier to manage. If you have extra room in your budget these are generally worth checking out.

1. Bluehost

Bluehost is one of the most popular web hosts around, no matter what type of website you’re creating. They offer VPS hosting, cloud-based hosting, and dedicated hosting; cloud hosting is generally best for Bootstrap projects. They also offer several tiers of hosting plans with heavy discounts if you purchase hosting for more than one year.

The lowest level plan is available for as little as $3.95 per month, but we typically remember the Plus plan, which is $6.95/month and includes a free domain and unlimited emails.

No matter which hosting tier you choose, Bluehost will set you up with a user-friendly control panel, and access to 24/7 customer service. They also offer an extensive knowledge base containing both general web hosting information and information specific to Bluehost.

Another great thing about Bluehost is that they offer a free domain with most of their hosting plans. Many services also sell domains, but a free domain is always better—and keeping them in the same place means you don’t have to worry about DNS settings. This makes it even easier to set up your Bootstrap project.

2. Linode

If you’re already quite comfortable with web hosting servers or you want a challenge, Linode is a great option. They offer several tiered cloud-based hosting plans, with rates starting at $5/month. Most users suggest the $10/month plan, which offers 2GB of RAM and 2TB of transfers.

When you purchase Linode you get an empty server, allowing you to install anything you want. They also offer several installation scripts to kickstart this process, so you don’t need to be intimately familiar with every detail of server set up, but you do need some knowledge of how servers work.

Linode also offers 24/7 support and an extensive collection of how-to guides. These are detailed enough that you can learn how to use Linode even if you’ve never done server work before, but it will take a significant amount of time to sift through them.

3. A2Hosting

A2Hosting offers a tiered set of Bootstrap-specific web hosting plans, starting at $5.35/month. Like Bluehost, they offer a user-friendly control panel that doesn’t require any previous knowledge of web hosting systems. Their customer service agents are available 24/7 and there’s also an extensive knowledge base filled with information specific to A2Hosting’s services.

They also offer a specialized one click installation program for Bootstrap software, Softaculous. This program even alerts you about Bootstrap updates as soon as they happen and allows you to update your software with a single click.

Another great perk of A2Hosting is that if you want to move an existing site, they’ll actually help you do it—completely free of charge. They also offer quick migration to higher tier plans, and most of these plans include unlimited site creation. This can be a huge benefit if you’ve never migrated a site before.

Last but certainly not least, A2Hosting has a great reputation, and they are one of the most recommended sites for WordPress hosting as well.

4. Squidix

Squidix is another highly recommended web host with a Bootstrap-specific hosting program. They offer similar services to A2Hosting, including a user-friendly control panel and one click installation of Bootstrap software and updates.

The Squidix Bootstrap plan features two tiers, one at $4.95 per month and one at $9.95 per month. Both plans offer free domains, migration services, and advertising credits.

Squidix customer service is available 24/7 and their blog serves as an educational resource for new website builders.

5. Google Drive

Google Drive isn’t a great long-term solution, but it is a good way to test whether or not your Bootstrap software functions without spending any money. You can do this by creating a new Google Drive folder and giving it “Public to the Web” permissions; then all you have to do is upload your files, click on a .html file, and go to View -> Preview.

When you use Google Drive you’ll end up with an ugly Google URL, so as soon as you’ve finished testing you’ll want to spring for one of the other hosts on this list.