Comparisons
Comparison
Best web hosting UK for small businesses
Krystal, Hostinger and IONOS compared, including renewal prices.
Comparison
Best website builder for UK small businesses
Wix, Squarespace, Shopify and Hostinger Website Builder.
Comparison
Best website builder for tradespeople
What a trade website needs and which builders cover it.
Provider reviews
Guides and tools
Guide
How to set up a business website in the UK
Domain, hosting or builder, email, legal pages and Google, step by step.
Hosting or a website builder
A website builder (such as Wix, Squarespace or Shopify) bundles hosting, design tools and support in one subscription. It is the quickest route for most small businesses and needs no technical knowledge. Web hosting gives you server space to run software such as WordPress. It is usually cheaper, more flexible and easier to move, but you look after more yourself. If you are unsure, read how to set up a business website first.
What a small business website really costs
For a simple brochure site, expect to pay for three things: a domain name (usually around £10 to £20 a year for a .co.uk, depending on the registrar), hosting or a builder subscription, and your time. Many hosts and builders advertise a low first-year price and then renew at a higher rate, so always compare the renewal price and whether VAT is included. Our hosting cost calculator shows the real three-year cost.
Five things to check before you buy
- Renewal price: the price you pay from year two, not just the headline offer.
- Backups: how often they run, how long they are kept and whether restoring is free.
- Support: live chat, tickets or phone, and whether it is available when you work.
- Money-back period: typically 14 to 60 days, so you can try before you commit.
- Business email: whether email at your own domain is included or costs extra.
Once your site is live, protect the logins behind it. See our cyber security checklist.
Which guide should you read first
| Your situation | Start here |
|---|---|
| Starting from nothing and want the whole process | How to set up a business website |
| Want the easiest drag-and-drop option | Best website builder UK |
| Plumber, electrician, builder or other trade | Best website builder for tradespeople |
| Want WordPress and full control | Best WordPress hosting UK |
| Comparing hosting prices | Best web hosting UK and the cost calculator |
How we choose hosts and builders
We compare what providers publish: plan limits, introductory and renewal prices in pounds, whether VAT is included, backup and restore policies, support channels and refund terms. We check those details on the official sites and show the date we last checked. We do not claim hands-on speed tests we have not run. Read more in how we review.