Being a nonprofit organization is tough.
Tight budgets, hectic schedules, and finding donors can take up most of your time.
If you're searching for web hosting, you're probably aware of the benefits of creating a custom-made site to market your services online.
But you’re probably trying to find an easy and reliable option.
In this article, I'll go over the best web hosting for nonprofits and NGOs that'll give you great service at an attractive price point.
Hosting Provider | Best For | Price/Month | Uptime |
|---|---|---|---|
BlueHost | Overall | $2.75 | 99.93% (August 2023) |
DreamHost | Free Hosting | $0 | 99.98% (August 2023) |
GreenGeeks | Sustainable Hosting | $2.49 | 99.99% (August 2023) |
A2 Hosting | Cheap VPS | $4.25 | 100% (August 2023) |
SiteGround | Beginners | $6.99 | 100% (August 2023) |
Features To Look Out For
Before we get into detail about these web hosting providers, these are some features that any non-profit or NGO should look for:
- Reliability
- Security
- Affordability
Reliability
The worst thing that could happen to any website owner is if their website crashes and they lose all their unbacked data.
That's why you should look for web hosting providers that have a reputation for reliability, offer automatic backups, and other necessary features your organization needs.
Security
Hacking can be another cause of data loss that can put your nonprofit’s and donors' personal information at risk.
So a site needs to be secure to get visitors to trust you and your mission.
Affordability
Let's face it, nonprofits aren't exactly flush with cash.
So, affordability should be a priority when it comes to selecting any web hosting provider.
Best Web Hosting for Nonprofits and NGOs
The following options have been carefully selected to meet all your needs and requirements as an NGO/nonprofit:
Let’s take a closer look at these providers.
BlueHost - Best Overall
BlueHost has provided reliability to its customers since 1996, ranking #1 in web hosting for small organizations and businesses.
BlueHost keeps it simple. Their easy-to-use site design tools make site creation a cinch, even if you’re totally new to everything tech.
You won’t need to deal with the arduous task of designing your site from scratch. Simply choose from thousands of site templates (either from their site builder or WordPress) tailored to fit every type of business.
Even better is their cPanel support, which gives you all the features and downloadable software you need in one place.
And if you need more help, knowledgeable customer support is available to you 24/7.
BlueHost offers users free SSL certification in their most basic package to keep them and their clients safe.
On the other hand, if you’re a large organization with more technical needs, you can avail yourself of BlueHost’s VPS and dedicated server packages.
As a nonprofit, you may even qualify for a discount, so you’d better ask beforehand before selecting a package.
Extra Features:
- Free web domain for the one year
- Free CDN
- Money-back guarantee
How to Make a Nonprofit Website With BlueHost
DreamHost - Free Option
Free?
You bet!
Registered US-based nonprofits, such as charities, can get their basic web sharing plans completely free, with no hidden costs, and no credit card details required.
You also get a domain name completely free for a full year.
The only time you’ll have to shell out any money is if you’re looking to add and manage emails on your website. This will cost you around $2/month.
DreamHost has made a user-friendly experience with one-click WordPress installation right out of the box to get your site up and running in no time.
Already have a site with another provider?
Don't sweat it.
Free site migration ensures that you won’t have to start from scratch.
Just sit back and relax while DreamHost manages the whole process for you.
Extra Features:
- Free SSL certificate
- 24/7 customer support
- SSD storage
GreenGeeks - Eco-Friendly Option
If your founding ethos is based on sustainability, GreenGeeks has got you covered with their eco-friendly web hosting services.
Far from just sustainable, GreenGeeks provides users a plethora of different options even on their most basic plan.
With a full 50GB of storage space matched with unmetered data transfers, you’ll never be left wanting with this provider.
And to top that all off, they even provide cPanel and a no-nonsense drag and drop website builder, requiring no special tech skills to operate.
Their packages also come with standard email management support, so you’ll be able to manage all your communication through their easy-to-use platform, at no extra cost.
With 3 server locations in the US, Canada, and the Netherlands, you’ll be able to get the fastest loading speeds across North America and parts of Europe.
So if you’re looking for sustainability but don’t want to sacrifice functionality, GreenGeeks is the answer.
Extra Features:
- Free CDN
- Free daily backup
- Free SSL
A2 Hosting - Best Cheap VPS Option
With discounts for US accredited nonprofits, A2 Hosting provides the best bang for your buck hosting services that won’t compromise on functionality.
With a whole VPS for under 5 bucks, they sure pack a punch when it comes to affordability.
VPS hosting not only gives you superior security and reliability but also flexibility with complete root access. This allows you to modify your site to your heart’s content!
With one of the fastest load speeds in the industry, A2 Hosting promises lightning-quick speeds 20X than what you’ll get anywhere else.
But for that, you’ll have to pay for their higher-end packages that can cost upwards of $20 a month.
Plus, these prices are for their unmanaged VPS option which — while providing you with greater flexibility — requires a more hands-on approach in dealing with website design and set up.
Extra Features:
- Money-back guarantee
- SSD storage
- Guru crew support
SiteGround - Beginner Friendly
SiteGround is an option to consider if you’re a small-scale organization looking for ease of use.
Offering managed WordPress hosting, they’re well known for providing one of the easiest user experiences. This is partly thanks to their quick and proficient customer service available 24/7.
While they do provide all the tools you’ll need to set up your site, their basic package can be on the pricier side of things. And, you get less storage space compared to other cheaper options on this list.
They also aren’t the best if you are a medium to large-scale nonprofit, as their loading speeds can tank when faced with high traffic.
But if you’re a small-scale organization looking for a trouble-free experience, you may want to give SiteGround a go.
Extra Features:
- Money-back guarantee
- Free SSL certificate
- Free domain name
Best Web Hosting for Nonprofits and NGOs - FAQs
Why Do I Need Web Hosting?
Web hosting providers basically host all your information to make it visible on the web.
Without web hosting, your data wouldn’t be stored anywhere and wouldn't be accessible to users on the internet.
What’s the Difference Between Shared and VPS Hosting?
A shared web hosting plan is when your site is hosted alongside other sites on a single server.
This is the preferred option for small-scale organizations that don’t have immense data needs.
While reliable when bought from a well-known and trusted hosting provider, high traffic may cause your site to slow down.
A VPS (virtual private server), on the other hand, gives your site a separate space on the server with dedicated resources that guarantee your site won’t slow down, even if other sites are facing abnormally high traffic.
This is a great option for medium to high-scale nonprofits that face significant traffic, and have greater data needs — but it will cost a bit more.
Conclusion
Marketing your nonprofit online is essential to attract attention as the world further moves towards digitalization.
The list above includes great options for small and large organizations alike, from the easiest web provider, to more advance picks for technical users who value flexibility.
Make sure to select an option considering your data and the expected traffic needs.
Options such as BlueHost give you numerous packages that are easy to switch between whenever you feel the need to, which is why we highly recommend it to new users.
Take your nonprofit into the digital age today!