web hosting ratings decoded: how to read them like a pro

What ratings really measure

Most web hosting ratings boil down to a blend of uptime, speed, support quality, and price stability. The challenge is that methods vary: some tests track months of data, others sample a single day. To read scores wisely, look for disclosed methodologies, repeatable measurements, and context about plan tiers and data center locations.

Key factors to weigh

• Uptime: Look for 99.9%+ verified by third-party monitors, not promises.
• Performance: Median TTFB and consistent throughput beat flashy burst benchmarks.
• Support: 24/7 chat is meaningless without resolution times and escalation paths.
• Pricing: Check renewal rates, add-on fees, bandwidth policies, and trial terms.
• Transparency: Ratings should cite test windows, locations, tools, and data retention.

Pro tip: treat aggregated stars as a starting point, then validate with a quick pilot site. Deploy your stack, enable logging, and watch uptime and response variance for a week. If a host scores high but hides renewal hikes or backup limits, adjust the rating to fit your workload.