Short answer: The best host depends on what you are building. For a small business site that needs free SSL, daily backups, 24/7 support and naira pricing, shared hosting from a Nigerian provider is usually enough. Ruachost fits if you want those basics plus a free domain on higher tiers. Larger stores and apps should look at a VPS.
Disclosure: this post is published by Ruachost. Our details come from our own site. Other providers' details come from their public pages and are dated below. Check each provider's current terms before buying.
The nine things to check#
- Free SSL included
- Daily backups included
- 24/7 support, and how fast a person replies
- Uptime guarantee and service credits
- Server location (Nigeria, Europe or US) and the speed it gives you
- Pay in naira by card or bank transfer
- Renewal price against the first-year price
- Free domain
- Money-back guarantee
Comparison table#
The Ruachost column is verified from ruachost.com. Competitor cells marked [fill] must be completed from each provider's own page before you publish, with the date checked. Figures already shown come from a HostAfrica comparison.
Ruachost | Whogohost / GO54 | QServers | HostAfrica | DomainKing | Truehost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Entry shared plan | ₦3,499/mo | [fill] | From ₦1,850 | From ₦4,500 | [fill] | About ₦1,000 to ₦1,275 |
Free SSL | Yes | [fill] | [fill] | Yes (Starter) | [fill] | [fill] |
Daily backups | Yes, all plans | [fill] | [fill] | Yes (Starter) | [fill] | [fill] |
Free domain | Yes, Summit and above | [fill] | [fill] | .com.ng on Starter | [fill] | [fill] |
Pay in naira | Yes (card, bank transfer) | [fill] | [fill] | [fill] | [fill] | [fill] |
Uptime guarantee | 99.9% with service credits | [fill] | [fill] | [fill] | [fill] | [fill] |
Money-back | 7 days monthly, 30 days annual | [fill] | [fill] | [fill] | [fill] | [fill] |
Servers | Abuja, Lagos, EU, US | [fill] | [fill] | [fill] | [fill] | [fill] |
Which host for which job#
- Small business website: a shared plan with free SSL, daily backups and 24/7 support. Ruachost Summit (₦5,499/mo, 3 sites, free domain) is the middle pick.
- Online shop: prioritise backups, speed and support response. Choose a mid or upper shared tier, or a small VPS.
- Developer or app: a VPS with root access and naira billing. Ruachost VM plans start at ₦9,999. See VPS costs.
- Student project: Ruachost's free Sprout plan gives students at Nigerian institutions two years free. See free hosting options for students.
- Charity or NGO: eligible Nigerian charities can get free hosting. See charity hosting.
- Managed server, no sysadmin: compare managed VPS providers in telaHosting's guide. Not sure whether you need one? Read Managed VPS vs Unmanaged VPS.
How to test support before you buy#
Send a pre-sales question to each provider and time the reply. Check whether support is 24/7 and whether a person answers. Read reviews on independent sites. Ruachost's profiles are on Trustpilot and HostAdvice.
Why choose Ruachost#
- Free SSL and daily backups on every plan
- Prices in naira, euro or dollars
- Servers in Abuja and Lagos
- A tree planted in Nigeria for every hosting plan
- Free hosting for eligible Nigerian students and charities
See how much hosting costs in Nigeria for price detail, and the Ruachost plans. For a broader overview, read The Ultimate Guide to Web Hosting in Nigeria.
