10 MySQL Database Hosting Options

Database driven websites or “dynamic websites” rely on a database to run. MySQL is an extremely popular database, especially for PHP websites and websites that run on a content management system, for example, WordPress or Joomla. Databases make it easier to organize the content of your website.

When you use a database for content you can store large amounts of information, making dynamic websites great for blogs or eCommerce sites, and everything in between. The alternative is a static website, where the data is pasted directly onto the website and the data remains the same. You then have to go into each page to change the content.  Databases are also used for systems like business management systems where you have a lot of information to store and you want to be able to retrieve it easily. 

Databases also have the added benefit of not only being able to handle and retrieve large quantities of information, but you can also have multiple people working on a database at one time. MySQL is an open-source database management system and as such is free to use. However, you’ll normally use it via a website host – some of which offer MySQL hosting for free.

In this article we’ll explore the top 10 MySQL hosting options, these are hosts that offer MySQL database hosting and relevant tools to go in and manage your database.

Before I get into the best MySQL hosts, let’s first understand why it’s a great idea to use MySQL in the first place.

Why Should I Use MySQL?

MySQL is the most versatile database, as it can run on just about any platform – Microsoft, Linux, MySQL, FreeBSD, macOS, and Solaris. MySQL is also feature-rich. Ideal for working on massive datasets, often used by large websites (as well as small ones) to manage all of their data. Although MySQL is great for large companies, it is easy to use, making it a great choice for a beginner. 

When it comes to performance – MySQL is fast, even on shared hosting packages. You can use Apache, PHP, and other programming languages with MySQL, again adding to the flexibility of the database.

What Different Database Hosting Is Available?

Understandably you might want to know what other options are available to you. There are currently six main types of hosting MySQL is one. Then there are five others as follows:

• MSSQL (Microsoft SQL) – Used to store and retrieve data, compatible with Linux and Windows
• MS Access – MS Access used to be a big thing, but it’s not used by professionals anymore. It is a Windows-based database that has a graphical UI, it’s bundled with the Microsoft Office suite. 
• Oracle – Used by banks, hence it is super secure. Can run on both Windows and Linux Oracle Corporation actually also own MySQL
• PostgreSQL – Open-source and object-relational database available for Linux and Windows
• MongoDB – Cross-platform database, classified as a NoSQL database, MongoDB uses JSON with schema. 

What to Look For in Your MySQL Hosting Provider

MySQL database hosting is offered by most reputable hosting providers. So what should you look for when choosing a MySQL database host? 

Firstly, check out how many databases you get with your plan. While most small projects require just one database, larger projects can require a few databases. Some hosts even offer unlimited databases, so that way you know you will have all of the databases you need. 

You’ll need a host that supports PHP in addition to MySQL hosting. That aspect is normally a given. You’ll also want to look for cPanel or Plesk to manage your database/s. cPanel is great for spawning and managing databases. 

Alright, now we’ve covered the basics, let’s dive into the Top 10 MySQL database hosting options of 2019.

1. Hostinger (£0.99 per month)

BEST FOR – Small to medium businesses

The super cheap £0.99 per month plan from Hostinger will get you just one MySQL database. This also doesn’t include a domain name. For just £2.59 you can get their Premium plan with unlimited MySQL databases and a free domain name. All of their shared hosting plans come with one business email account for free. Hostinger is great for customer support, you can contact them any time as they are available 24/7/365. Hostinger has their own custom developed control panel for you to manage your account. 

Oto.ne thing that is great about Hostinger is the fact that they d weekly backups for free. That’s great news for security, in case your website gets hacked, you’ll always have a backup to revert to . 

Click Here To Visit Hostinger

Pros

• cPanel
• SSD Drives
• 99.999% uptime guarantee
• Unlimited bandwidth
• Unlimited disk space
• One-click app installer
• Free website transfer
• Unlimited emails
• Free SSL certificates
• Free domain
• Unlimited subdomains
• Instant setup

Cons

• Just 1 MySQL database on the basic plan

3. HostGator (£2.18 / month)

BEST FOR – Beginner hosting with unlimited MySQL databases

No matter what kind of hosting you require, HostGator has you covered. You can bundle your database hosting with shared hosting, dedicated hosting or VPS. Hostgator also offers decent reseller hosting, if you’re thinking about setting up your own hosting company, then they are a great choice. They also offer a 45-day money-back guarantee. 

HostGator is home to some 8 million domain names. They offer a massive 4000 website designs to choose from for the front end of your website. Alongside a website builder, you’ll get a free domain name with your hosting and unlimited MySQL databases.  You’ll also get phpMyAdmin to administer your databases. 

Click Here To Visit hostgator

Pros

• 45-day money-back guarantee
• Unlimited MySQL databases
• phpMyAdmin
• Free domain name
• Website builder
• 4000 designs
• Cost-effective
• Feature-rich

Cons

• Lots of upsells

PRO TIP: Remember to sign the BAA to activate your HIPAA compliant email hosting. 

4. A2 Hosting (£2.42 per month)

Best for – Cheap feature-rich shared hosting packages

Founded way back in 1999, A2 Hosting was originally called Iniquinet before renaming in 2003. A2 Hosting is now one of the fastest-growing and leading web hosts. A2 Hosting is best known for its 20x Turbo hosting, but they also offer just about every type of hosting package you’d ever need. Including great reseller hosting, with all of the software you need to start your hosting empire. The only downside to A2 Hosting is that they only operate out of 3 locations, Singapore, the US, and Europe. 

You’ll get a free SSL certificate, unlimited bandwidth, and unlimited storage even with their lower plans. When it comes to database hosting, with their basic “Lite” plan you get 5 databases and for just £1 you can upgrade to their “Swift” plan to get unlimited websites and databases. What’s more, you can also get cPanel to manage your entire website. 

Click Here To A2hosting

5. BlueHost (£2.43 / month)

BEST FOR – Scalable, cost-effective web hosting with unlimited databases.

BlueHost is one of the leading web host providers. You’ll get every type of hosting from Bluehost. From beginner hosting with one-click app install, for WordPress and other apps. You can also get cloud hosting, shared hosting, dedicated hosting and VPS hosting. They offer 24/7 customer support via chat, phone, and email, which is great for those starting out. You get a free domain name and a free SSL certificate. 

Again Bluehost offers phpMyAdmin, the leading database admin tool so that you can create and change your databases. You get 20 MySQL databases with their basic shared hosting plan. For all other shared hosting plans you get unlimited MySQL databases. 

Click Here To Visit Bluehost

6.  InMotion Hosting (£5.06 / month)

BEST FOR – High spec, 90-day moneyback guarantee fully featured hosting

InMotion offers the full range of web hosting packages shared, dedicated and VPS. InMotion has created its signature web builder called Premium Web Builder – which is free to use for people who host with them. In all honesty, their website is a bit of a turn off as it is so old fashioned looking, but their features and packages are decent. 

When it comes to disk space, Inmotion doesn’t disappoint, they offer unlimited disk space on all plans, unlimited emails, and unlimited bandwidth. You’ll get a free domain name and if you want to transfer your hosting over to them from another host, you can do this for free and experience no downtime. This is ideal for SEO. Backup and restore is also available on all plans. 

Inmotion offers data backups and a massive 90-day money-back guarantee. This is the best in the industry. You’ll get a free domain name and they’ve also invested in the best top of the range SSD drives, that are used for all plans. The only downside is that you’ll get just 2 MySQL databases on their “Launch plan” and will need to upgrade to their top shared plan “Pro” to get unlimited databases, this will cost you £11.64 per month. 

Click Here To Visit InMotionhosting

7. SiteGround

BEST FOR – Unlimited MySQL databases with cPanel and phpMyAdmin

Let’s cut to the chase, SiteGround offers unlimited MySQL databases with cPanel and phpMyAdmin to manage them. They also offer a 100% uptime guarantee which is unheard of. Their databases are stored on separate hard drives to keep them performing efficiently. They also offer free SSL certificates and a 30-day money-back guarantee. 

The main downside to Siteground is that they only allow 10GB of webspace, while others on this list offer unlimited. also they only allow 10,000 website visits per month on their lower “Startup” package, even their “GoGeek” larger package curbs the visitors and storage space. 

Click Here To Siteground

8. iPage (£1.50 per month)

BEST FOR – Small businesses, blogs or new projects

When you sign up with iPage you benefit from a wide range of features, such as 1000s of templates, free SSL certificate, and a free domain. You also get £200 free ad credits, which is a bonus. What is great is that you get free unlimited disk space and unlimited MySQL databases. You can manage your databases with phpMyAdmin.  Additionally, they have a drag and drop web builder to make life easy. 

You can lock in the low introductory price for up to 36 months depending on what plan you go for. iPage is geared toward offering easy to set up hosting with everything you need to get your project or plan off the ground.  They don’t cater to larger resource-heavy websites or apps that would require a dedicated server. But they are perfect for smaller projects. 

Click Here To iPage

9. Web Hosting Hub

BEST FOR – Small businesses or blogs

Founded back in 2010, Web Hosting Hub isn’t just a website host, they also offer web design services. They have their own in-house web development team and offer free hosting for one year when you decide to hire them to create your website. They offer a free domain name, 24/7 US-based tech support, unlimited bandwidth, disk space, and email and free SSL certificate. For managing your databases, Web Hosting Hub offers cPanel and SSH access. 

Web Hosting Hub is only any good for small businesses or projects as they only offer shared hosting. With their lowest-priced offering they give you 10 MySQL and PostgreSQL databases. But if you pay just £1.60 more per month you’ll get unlimited databases. They also offer a decent 90 day, no-quibble money-back guarantee.

Click Here To Webhostinghub

10. GreenGeeks

BEST FOR –Small businesses or blogs

GreenGeeks is an eco-web hosting company. They offer a free domain name, free transfer, website builder, email accounts and a support team that you can contact 24/7. GreenGeeks offers a 99.9% uptime guarantee. Greengeeks have a 30-day money-back guarantee, great security features and a 30-day money-back guarantee. But what about the database side of things?

You get Unlimited MySQL databases from GreenGeeks. I love the fact you get cPanel with GreenGeeks as it’s great for database management. They also use the best SSD hard drives and offer a free drag and drop builder,

Click Here To Greengeeks

In Conclusion

There is no cookie-cutter approach to hosting. Everyone has different needs and will resonate with a particular host. When it comes to MySQL hosting, make sure you know what you need. If it’s unlimited hosting then go for Hostinger, Hostwinds or HostGator. Always check out the other features that you are getting with the package you choose. I hope that this guide has helped you to pick the best MySQL host for you.