ESC
GeckoBot
GeckoBot
Last updated: March 2026
If you're in a hurry: Cloud86 is our top pick. It had the fastest load times in our tests, offers personal support (including phone), and keeps your data in the EU. All starting at €1.95/month.
For absolute beginners, Hostinger is hard to beat — the AI builder lets you create a full website in minutes, no technical knowledge needed. It's the most popular budget host in the world for a reason.
Cloud86 is an EU-based hosting provider that focuses on one thing: speed. In our tests, they consistently delivered the fastest load times across all categories. Their support is personal — you get real people via chat, email, and phone — and their servers are in the Netherlands, so you're GDPR-compliant out of the box. Trustpilot: 4.8/5 with 2,000+ reviews.
Cloud86 is ideal if you're building a website for a European audience and care about speed, privacy, and real human support. Their servers are in the Netherlands, so your data stays in the EU by default. LiteSpeed servers deliver consistently fast load times, and their support team is reachable by phone — something most budget hosts don't offer.
Cloud86's pricing is straightforward. Unlike many competitors, the renewal price is close to the intro price. You won't get a nasty surprise after your first term ends. The starting plan at €1.95/mo includes 25 GB SSD storage, free SSL, and daily backups.
If you need a built-in website builder (drag-and-drop), Cloud86 doesn't have one. They're a hosting provider, not a website builder. You'll need WordPress or another CMS. If you want an AI-powered builder, look at Hostinger instead.
Hostinger is the world's most popular budget host for a reason. The dashboard is clean and simple, the AI website builder actually works (we tested it), and the pricing is hard to beat. If you've never hosted a website before, Hostinger makes it feel almost effortless.
Hostinger is perfect if you've never built a website before and want the easiest possible experience. The AI website builder generates a full site from a few prompts — you just edit from there. The dashboard is cleaner and simpler than almost any competitor.
This is Hostinger's biggest weakness. The intro price (€2.99/mo) requires a 4-year commitment. When it renews, the price roughly doubles. If you only commit for 1 year, the monthly price is higher. Always check the renewal rate before signing up.
If GDPR compliance is critical for your business, be aware that Hostinger is a Lithuanian company with servers around the world. You can select a European server location, but it requires extra attention during setup. If you want guaranteed EU-only data, Cloud86 is the safer bet.
| Cloud86 | Hostinger | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 4.8/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Starting price | €1.95/mo | €2.99/mo |
| Trustpilot | 4.8/5 (2K reviews) | 4.7/5 (63K reviews) |
| Free domain | No | Yes (1 year) |
| Free SSL | Yes | Yes |
| Storage | 25 GB SSD | 50 GB SSD |
| EU servers | Yes (Netherlands) | Available |
| Phone support | Yes | No |
| WordPress 1-click | Yes | Yes |
| AI builder | No | Yes |
| Daily backups | Yes | Yes (premium) |
| Money-back | 14 days | 30 days |
| Best for | Speed & EU privacy | Complete beginners |
Speed matters for SEO and user experience. Cloud86's LiteSpeed servers were consistently the fastest in our tests.
Our pick: Cloud86 →Never built a website? Hostinger's AI builder creates one for you in minutes. No technical knowledge needed.
Our pick: Hostinger →For GDPR compliance, you want a host with EU servers by default and a European company behind it.
Our pick: Cloud86 →Both are affordable, but Cloud86 starts lower (€1.95/mo) and has more predictable renewal prices.
Our pick: Cloud86 →We buy real hosting accounts, install identical test websites, and monitor them for at least 30 days. No sponsored reviews, no paid placements — just data.
Automated PageSpeed tests, multiple times daily, over 30+ days.
1-minute interval monitoring, 24/7. We track every second of downtime.
12+ real support contacts per provider. We test chat, email, and phone.
Server locations, GDPR compliance, data processing agreements reviewed.
Take our quick quiz — 6 questions, and you'll know exactly which hosting fits your project.
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