How We Compare & Methodology

Last updated: 2026-09-02

Every comparison on UK Host Compare is data-driven and reproducible. Here's exactly how we do it.

1. Data capture

For each provider we visit its official UK pricing page and record, per plan: entry (promotional) price, renewal price, term length, storage, number of sites, email allowances, and whether the provider operates UK data centres. We also record the provider's Trustpilot score as published on its own site or Trustpilot's public page.

2. Normalisation

Providers price in different ways — some monthly, some multi-year, some with VAT excluded. We normalise everything to a comparable monthly figure at the provider's stated term, and we always show the renewal price alongside the entry price so promotional offers can't hide the long-term cost. Where a price excludes VAT we note it.

3. Verdicts are computed, not written

On comparison pages, the winner is determined by a fixed scoring rule: UK data-centre presence first, then lower renewal price on the entry plan, then Trustpilot rating. The verdict text on each page is generated from the actual numbers, so it changes automatically when the data changes.

4. Freshness

Every page shows the date its data was captured. We re-capture the full dataset on an automated schedule and rebuild the site from the same data. If a provider changes a price between captures, the site reflects it on the next rebuild.

5. What we do NOT do

• We do not run hands-on performance tests or claim personal experience of every provider. We state facts from published specifications.
• We do not accept payment to rank a provider higher.
• We do not publish user-submitted reviews, because we cannot verify them.

6. Corrections

If you spot an error — a price, a plan, a feature that's changed — contact us. We verify against the provider's current page and correct the dataset, and the fix ships on the next rebuild.

Last updated: 2026-09-02