In a Nutshell
pros
- Unmetered bandwidth
- One-click WordPress hosting
- Multi-site hosting
cons
- Only higher tier plans give you unlimited email accounts
- Initial low pricing goes up after the first year of service
123 Reg at a Glance
Ideal For
- WordPress businesses
- Ecommerce shops
- Businesses that want an easy and effective hosting solution
Hosting Types
123 Reg has 4 basic web hosting plans to choose from, and it also has WordPress managed hosting. We’ll cover the details of each plan in more depth below, but big picture, you’ll get free domains, web space, bandwidth, MYSQL databases, website stats, emails, programming features, Linux apps, JavaScript generator, and other useful features to help your site run optimally.
In addition to the standard hosting packages, 123 Reg offers 2 WordPress managed hosting plans, a Premium one, and a basic Business plan. The basic plan costs £5.49 while the Premium plan runs you £14.99. The basic Business WordPress plans come with 2 free domains hosting, 5 websites, 100GB web space, 5 MYSQL, and 1GB of data. Also included in this package is your own free web address and email account unique to your brand. The Premium plan offers unlimited website hosting, 100GB of web space, unlimited MYSQL tools, 1GB of database storage, 2GB of dedicated RAM, and a free SSL certificate.
The great thing about 123 Reg hosting your WordPress site is that it gives you one-click WordPress installation. So, it really is a cinch for anyone to get their WordPress site hosted in an instant.
Uptime and Performance
123 Reg offers users a 99.9% uptime guarantee. What's more, 123 Reg uses load balancing. In simple terms, this means that your site gets hosted on multiple servers simultaneously, so if one server ever goes down for any reason, your site automatically gets switched to the other server, and your customers never experience a moment of lag or downtime. This is a valuable feature for a hosting service.
In terms of speed of service, 123 Reg does very well. The majority of 123 Reg’s packages are up and running instantly, so you can have your site fully functioning immediately. Some plans will require a few days for the domain name to fully register, however. What’s more, 123 Reg uses secure UK-based data centres, so your customers get the fastest page loading times and optimal performance every time they visit your site.
Website Builder Features
123 Reg has 3 website builder plans. You can choose Business, Business+, or Online Shop Plans. The most basic Business plan comes with free domain and email, the ability to convert with personalization, and basic analytics. You can also edit, save, and publish your site, of course. The Business+ Plan adds a few more features, including more advanced analytics, the ability to create a separate mobile site, previous site version restoration, advanced design features, and it allows you to hide 123 Reg branding, so the site really looks like your own.
Finally, the Online Shop Plan offers you everything from the Business+ Plan and also provides you with an eShop with 10, 100, or unlimited product offerings. The plans run at £2.49, £4.98, and £10.04 respectively. At the time of this writing, you can get the first 2 months free as well.
If you are looking to give your business a more professional image, custom email addresses definitely send that message. 123 Reg email hosting works with existing or new domain names, and all packages come with storage space, mobile syncing, and built-in protection features. And right now, 123 Reg is running a special 50% off deal. There are 2 email hosting plans: Personal and Professional. Here’s a look at what you get from each one:
There is no limit to the number of email addresses you can host with 123 Reg email hosting, and the price goes down as the email addresses go up. Plus, 123 Reg emails are compatible with all email clients. So, if you’d like to keep your Outlook, MacMail, Thunderbird, or any other mailbox, that’ll work just fine.
Control Panel
123 Reg has an easy-to-use control panel that is packed with useful features for managing your website better. This includes but is not limited to:
- Domain management
- Ecommerce tools
- Marketing tools
- Security features
- File manager
- Website templates
The file manager is a nifty tool that lets you manually edit your HTML files. The higher up the plan tier you go, the more useful features you’ll get from the 123 Reg control panel.
Pricing and Packages
A quick glance at 123 Reg’s pricing plans will reveal that this company is not in it for the money. The plans are all competitively priced, so it’s rare to find a business that cannot afford even the most basic level of these services.
Here’s a snapshot of the 123 Reg pricing structure along with what you’ll get from each plan:
All 123 Reg plans also come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can test out the service, and if you don’t like it, receive your deposit back in full.
Help and Support
123 Reg offers customers live chat, ticket, and phone support. Live chat is only available 9am to 7pm, but those are much more extended hours than most places that limit their live chat to normal business hours (9am – 5pm). Regardless, you can submit a ticket to the support centre and get an answer at any time of day or night. Phone support is also available around the clock, so there is never a moment when you are left without somewhere to turn. Additionally, the site is brimming over with useful information, including step-by-step tutorials, videos, and a comprehensive support centre to answer any questions you might have.
Bottom Line
123 Reg currently hosts more than 1.7 million websites and 3+ million domain names registered. Those numbers speak volumes about the popularity, integrity, and quality of service you can expect from 123 Reg. Using advanced technology that’s somehow straightforward and easy enough for anyone to use, 123 Reg can get anyone online in a jiffy. The combination of affordable pricing plans, powerful servers, and useful applications makes 123 Reg a top choice for anyone looking for a reliable and solid web hosting brand.