Ecommerce hosting refers to the cloud services provided to businesses that run online stores. Specialized hosting types such as cloud VPS offer scalable, reliable virtual private server solutions tailored for ecommerce sites, providing increased resources, security, and performance compared to shared hosting.

Ecommerce hosting is a specialized hosting type designed for online stores, featuring preinstalled store software, integrated payment and shipping tools, and advanced security protocols to optimize online retail operations. The type of web hosting necessary to support an ecommerce website is different from the services offered to other kinds of companies. An ecommerce platform is more sensitive to latency, site speed, and performance disruptions than businesses that do not need to maintain continuous availability.

There are various hosting types available for ecommerce, including shared, VPS, dedicated, and cloud hosting. Choosing the right cloud hosting plan requires evaluating your specific needs and budget.

This article highlights the features that ecommerce businesses need to be successful. We also identify some of the best ecommerce hosting services to help you find one that addresses your business requirements and objectives

What Ecommerce Hosting Features Are Essential for Your Business?

Companies running an online business require key features from their ecommerce hosting solution. There are a variety of hosting options available for ecommerce businesses, including shared hosting, VPS, dedicated hosting, and specialized e-commerce hosting, each catering to different business sizes and needs. The following are the necessary features that support ecommerce success.

High performance with low latency

Ecommerce businesses require superior performance combined with low latency and fast page load to meet and maintain customer satisfaction. Visitors to an ecommerce website do not want to wait around for the site to respond. Businesses that cannot deliver acceptable site speed risk losing current and prospective customers to competitors offering better site performance.

Hosting clients must ensure their vendor provides the server resources needed to achieve optimal performance. Ecommerce sites are sensitive to the speed and responsiveness of the underlying infrastructure. Latency can adversely affect conversion rates, customer satisfaction, and revenue.

Essential features contributing to high performance include:

  • Fast I/O throughput with SSDs or NVMe for data storage;
  • High-performing CPUs coupled with adequate memory and caching for fast page loads;
  • High levels of unlimited bandwidth to address fluctuating access demands;
  • Support for HTTP/2 and HTTP/3;
  • Content Delivery Network (CDN) integration to improve site navigation.

Cloud hosting typically delivers page load times under 2 seconds for optimized eCommerce sites.

Outstanding availability

Ecommerce stores require high availability to maintain customer satisfaction. Downtime directly affects the revenue of companies running online stores. Customers will often find an alternative if an online store is unavailable. The hosting provider should offer the following features to ensure uptime and high availability.

  • Redundant infrastructure is necessary to avoid downtime caused by component failures.
  • Failover clustering eliminates downtime by immediately switching away from failed components.
  • Geographic redundancy ensures continued ecommerce functionality in the event of major operational disruptions.
  • Providers should offer service level agreements (SLAs) of at least 99.9% to guarantee uptime.

Robust security with free SSL/TLS certificate

Security is vital for all web hosting clients, including those supporting ecommerce sites. Ecommerce platforms process payment data and store sensitive customer information, which must be protected against threat actors and security breaches. Essential security features for ecommerce hosting include:

  • TLS certificates (TLS 1.2 or 1.3) to support secure HTTPS connections;
  • Complimentary TLS to improve website security and simplify management;
  • A web application firewall (WAF) to block malicious traffic;
  • An intrusion detection and prevention solution;
  • Vulnerability management and patching;
  • Isolation from other tenants.

Many ecommerce hosting services include free certificates for security.

After discussing firewalls or intrusion prevention, it’s important to note that DDoS protection shields your store from malicious attacks that attempt to overwhelm servers.

Scalability

Ecommerce businesses must address unpredictable fluctuations in monthly visitor numbers due to seasonal traffic or marketing promotions. Hosting customers require sufficient resources to provide reliable performance regardless of visitor volume. Essential capabilities to support an ecommerce platform include:

  • Vertical and horizontal on-demand scaling;
  • Load balancing, maintaining performance across multiple websites;
  • Seamless system and resource upgrades with no performance disruptions or downtime;
  • Auto scaling.

Auto scaling automatically adjusts server resources based on real-time demand, ensuring your site remains responsive during traffic spikes. Cloud hosting for eCommerce uses multiple connected servers to power online stores, enhancing scalability and reliability.

Payment processing support

One of the significant differences between ecommerce businesses and other cloud hosting clients is the need for payment processing support. The hosting services must support secure payment gateways to protect sensitive financial transactions. These features are crucial for ecommerce hosting:

  • A PCI-compliant infrastructure to maintain regulatory compliance;
  • Tokenization support for secure transactions;
  • Network and resource segmentation for cardholder data;
  • Detailed and retained audit logs of all transactions.

Monitoring and reporting

Customers with an ecommerce website require comprehensive monitoring and reporting from their hosting platform. Monitoring, logging, and reporting provide ecommerce businesses with valuable information that includes:

  • Real-time and historical data to track search engine rankings and the number of monthly visitors, helping to assess bandwidth and storage needs based on traffic levels;
  • Error and downtime alerts to maintain performance standards;
  • Application and infrastructure logging to support performance and security investigations.

Backup and disaster recovery

Data protection is vital for ecommerce stores that need to safeguard customer, order, and inventory information. Companies with an online store also need disaster recovery capabilities to ensure business continuity and maintain customer service. The web hosting provider should offer the following services to protect an ecommerce business.

  • Data should be protected with regularly scheduled and automatic backups.
  • Automated backups must be stored on encrypted media to prevent unauthorized access.
  • Companies can achieve greater resilience by storing offsite backups in alternative geographic regions.
  • Point-in-time recovery must be capable of meeting customer-defined recovery point and time objectives (RPOs/RTOs).
  • Recovery must be tested by the customer or provider-led teams.

Application compatibility

Many ecommerce applications are widely used by companies with online stores. Web hosting providers should support a variety of standard ecommerce application stacks and solutions for an e commerce website, such as:

  • WooCommerce hosting;
  • BigCommerce;
  • Magento/Adobe Commerce;
  • Payment gateways like PayPal.

Businesses look for providers with application compatibility, as it provides flexibility and prevents vendor lock-in.

Operational support

Providers supporting ecommerce stores should offer their customers managed services and operational support. Businesses can achieve improved performance and a competitive advantage with operational efficiency.

The provider’s expert teams can ensure that customers’ ecommerce websites are secure and meet performance expectations. Managed services reduce IT overhead, which is especially important to small businesses with limited technical resources. Valuable services include:

  • Operating system maintenance and patching;
  • Security hardening to mitigate threats;
  • SLA-based incident response procedures;
  • 24/7 customer support and a responsive ticketing system;
  • Priority support.

Priority support provides immediate assistance when your store faces technical issues.

Ecommerce Platform Integration

Ecommerce platform integration is a cornerstone of any successful ecommerce hosting solution. The ability to connect your online store with leading ecommerce platforms ensures that your business can leverage the latest features, maintain reliable performance, and scale as needed.

A top-tier ecommerce hosting provider will offer robust compatibility with popular ecommerce platforms, making it easy for you to launch, manage, and grow your ecommerce website without technical headaches. This integration not only streamlines your operations but also allows you to take full advantage of the tools and features that drive ecommerce success.

WooCommerce, Magento, and Shopify compatibility

When selecting an ecommerce hosting provider, it’s essential to ensure compatibility with the most popular ecommerce platforms: WooCommerce, Magento, and Shopify. WooCommerce, as a flexible WordPress plugin, is ideal for businesses seeking customization and control over their ecommerce site.

Magento stands out for its advanced features and scalability, making it a favorite among larger enterprises and fast-growing online stores. Shopify, known for its user-friendly interface and extensive app ecosystem, is perfect for those who want a hassle-free, hosted solution.

By choosing an ecommerce hosting provider that supports these platforms, you guarantee that your ecommerce website can operate efficiently, adapt to your business needs, and integrate with the latest ecommerce solutions.

Seamless integration with ecommerce applications

For an online business to thrive, seamless integration with essential ecommerce applications is a must. The best ecommerce hosting providers offer built-in support for payment gateways, inventory management tools, and shipping solutions, allowing you to manage every aspect of your ecommerce store from a single platform. Features like automated backups, free certificates, and dedicated resources ensure your ecommerce site remains secure, reliable, and high-performing. With these integrations, you can streamline order processing, protect sensitive customer information, and provide a smooth shopping experience—all of which are critical for ecommerce success. By partnering with hosting providers that prioritize seamless integration, you set your online business up for sustainable growth and superior performance.

The Best Ecommerce Hosting Providers for Your Business

You must find the right ecommerce hosting provider to meet your business needs. When choosing a provider, consider hosting costs as they can vary depending on the type of hosting, features, and support levels. The right plan balances performance, features, and cost for optimal return on investment. The following list of hosting providers offers web hosting plans that meet the requirements for running an online store.

Atlantic.Net

Atlantic.Net has over 30 years of experience in providing customers with dedicated and shared hosting solutions to address various business objectives. They offer a range of PCI-compliant managed hosting plans that leverage cloud and dedicated resources to meet the unique needs of your ecommerce store. Atlantic.Net also provides a cloud VPS solution with dedicated resources, improved speed, and enhanced security, making it an excellent choice for ecommerce sites seeking reliable performance and protection. The company operates regularly inspected SOC 2 TYPE II and SOC 3 TYPE II certified data centers, ensuring the security of your environment and customer data.

Atlantic.Net outstanding features include:

  • A managed firewall to keep threat actors out;
  • Fully encrypted backups to protect valuable and sensitive data;
  • 100% uptime SLA for cloud, managed, and dedicated hosting plans;
  • Priority support to ensure high performance;
  • Managed intrusion detection system for enhanced security.

Shopify

Shopify is a dedicated ecommerce platform that supports local and global e commerce stores. The company provides flexible ecommerce solutions designed to grow with your business. Businesses can support global CDN networks to publish across channels and expand their customer base. Shopify offers desktop and mobile solutions that enable your store to operate efficiently on any device.

Shopify features include:

  • Site builder tools to create online stores;
  • Customizable templates and themes for enhanced branding;
  • Pricing plans supporting clients ranging from entrepreneurs to enterprises;
  • Analytics and inventory management tools.

Hostinger

Hostinger is a popular ecommerce platform that offers users a streamlined path to creating an online store. Their multiple hosting plans are designed to address the needs of individuals, large companies, and e commerce sites. The company specializes in creating WordPress sites using AI and pre-built templates.

Hostinger inclusive feature set includes:

  • AI-website builder to create your store;
  • AI-powered email marketing;
  • 30-day money-back guarantee;
  • Introductory plans starting at $1.99 per month.

GoDaddy

GoDaddy is a well-recognized hosting provider that heavily advertises its ecommerce solutions. Its AI-powered tools enable novice users to create an original online store in minutes. An extensive library of templates allows users to tailor their websites to distinguish themselves from the competition.

GoDaddy’s features include:

  • GoDaddy Airo, an AI-powered assistant;
  • Managed TLS/SSL services;
  • Professionally branded invoices;
  • Domain-based emails for a more professional look.

AWS

AWS is an industry leader in public cloud hosting and services. They offer virtual private servers as part of their hosting solutions, providing top-rated and user-friendly options for ecommerce sites. AWS provides clients with modern, AI-powered ecommerce shopping experiences across digital channels to increase conversion and profitability. Customers can maintain high service levels while combating fraud with the latest technologies.

Features to expect from AWS include:

  • 3D product previews and virtual stores;
  • Generative AI to quickly create compelling product descriptions and images;
  • Digital shopping assistants and personalized recommendations;
  • Improved search engines help consumers rapidly discover products.

Host Gator

Host Gator provides ecommerce hosting solutions, along with web design and SEO tools, to help you get started quickly. They offer VPS hosting as an option for ecommerce businesses, providing dedicated resources, enhanced control, and improved security compared to shared hosting. Host Gator also offers economically priced 36-month plans that appeal to start-ups and small businesses. Security includes free malware scanning, a web application firewall, and DDoS protection.

The features Host Gator offers include:

  • Free domain for a year;
  • Free SSL certificates;
  • Unmetered bandwidth;
  • Automatic WordPress installation.

Conclusion

You must be sure that the hosting provider you select has the features you need to run your online store efficiently. We have examined the features to look for in a provider and identified some of the best options for creating an ecommerce website.

Partnering with a reliable and experienced company like Atlantic.Net will give you a competitive advantage and set your company up for long-term success. Additionally, some advanced hosting providers offer the ability to clone the entire server, making it easy to create staging environments for testing themes and plugins before deploying changes to your live site.