It can be tricky for users to choose a reliable host because it is difficult to tell from the homepage how reliable a host is. But there are a few ways that users can find out more about a web host's reliability before signing up for the services and forking over the cash.

Some important features users can look for when attempting to determine a host's reliability are discussed below:

Uptime- Server downtime can completely ruin a web site. If a web host cannot keep the websites hosted on their servers live and visible no other features the host possesses really matter. No host can offer 100% uptime to their users with the viruses and natural disasters that could affect data centers, but some hosts guarantee 99% uptime which is much more feasible. A reliable web host would offer and perform at a 99% uptime rate or above. Just a note- what comes after the decimal point can make a big difference if you do the math, for example a 99.5% uptime guarantee= 216 minutes of downtime in a month, whereas a 99.9% uptime guarantee= 43.2 minutes of downtime.

User Testimonials- No one knows better than an actual user how a web host is performing. User testimonials can provide potential users with important information regarding a free web host's reliability. Look for testimonials that talk about up/downtime and honoring of guarantees and advertised claims. Use common sense and good judgment to weed through testimonials for valuable information.

Host History- Whether a host is new or old can affect its reliability. An old host has proven it has the stability to weather tough technology crashes. A web host that just surfaced yesterday may not be around tomorrow and may not have worked out the bugs in their servers yet. Look for a host with at least one year under their belt to be on the safe side.

Data Center- The data center is the web host's facility that houses all the servers that contain your uploaded site files. Is your web hosts data center in the middle of a natural disaster laden island or on the terrorist hit list? More importantly than where your web hosts business offices are located is where the data center is and how they monitor the facility for safety. This is one area where web hosts do the talking themselves. If they have a good data center, they'll tell you all about it. Choose web hosts with data centers in safe locations that use up to date and appropriate hardware.

Guarantee Reliable web hosts guarantee their services. If there is no satisfaction or money back guarantee don't even bother with them. Do read the small print of any guarantees. Guarantee terms differ by amount of days guarantee is good for, how much is refundable, if set-up fees or unused months of service are refundable, etc. Protect your purchase with a guaranteed host, but always read the fine print before signing up.

Reputation- A web hosts reputation is often hard to determine. Many hosts are so widely marketed by affiliate programs that sites may recommend a poor host, just for the kickback. Trust only website ranking and web hosting review sites that you know are legit. (Like 100best-free-web-space.com) Visit hosting forums and read what other users have experienced with specific hosts. Read user reviews, but remember happy users don't usually post reviews so the story can be one sided.

By looking into these key factors potential web host users can get a better idea of how reliable their future host will be. Users don't have to sign-up for hosting blindly. Take the time to research the reputation, guarantee terms, uptime, history, and hardware of your future web host. Doing so can help you choose the best web host.