FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers for hosting shoppers and hosting providers. For the full detail behind any answer, see About and Methodology.
For Hosting Shoppers
Finding and Choosing a Web Host
Is HostVeritas free to use, and how do you make money?
HostVeritas is completely free for hosting shoppers, and we never earn a commission when you choose a host — there are no affiliate links anywhere on the site. Revenue comes from optional subscriptions that hosting companies pay for profile tools such as review responses and uptime publishing. Payment never changes a rating, a review, or the default directory order.
How is HostVeritas different from other hosting review sites?
Most hosting review sites earn affiliate commissions from the hosts they recommend, which rewards recommending whoever pays the most. HostVeritas is a directory: more than 150 companies — global brands, regional providers, and specialists — presented through the same structured profile format, moderated customer reviews, and independently measured uptime, with no commission influencing what you see.
How do I find a host that fits my project?
Start from the hosting directory and filter by what actually matters to you: hosting type (shared, VPS, dedicated, cloud, managed WordPress, and more), server location, and specialized capabilities. Each profile then shows services, support channels, payment methods, pricing ranges, and customer reviews side by side so you can shortlist quickly.
Are the reviews real? How are they moderated?
Every review passes human moderation before publishing, checked against our review guidelines for spam, duplicates, competitor sabotage, and paid submissions. Reviewers can also submit proof of service (like a redacted invoice) to earn a "verified customer" label. Hosting companies cannot pay to remove or edit a review — they can only respond publicly.
What do the "Verified" and "Featured" labels mean?
"Verified" means an authorized company representative has claimed the profile and can maintain it — it is not an endorsement. "Featured" is a paid visibility placement that can appear above free listings; it is always labeled, and it is not a ranking, rating, or recommendation. Review scores and trust badges can never be bought.
How accurate are the pricing and company details on a profile?
Imported pricing is approximate — promotional signup prices and renewal prices change often, which is why every profile shows a "last checked" date. Claimed profiles are maintained by the company itself, with sensitive changes passing admin review. Always confirm the final price on the provider's own checkout page before buying, and see our Methodology for how data is collected.
For Hosting Providers
Claiming and Managing Your Listing
How do I claim my company's profile, and does it cost anything?
Claiming is free. Create an account, open your company's profile in the directory, and start the claim — we verify ownership through a company email address on your domain. Once approved, you can edit your introduction and selling points, upload a logo, and correct outdated details from your dashboard at no cost.
My company is not listed. How do I get added?
Use the company submission form — tell us your company name, website, and the services you provide, and our team reviews every submission by hand. Listing in the directory is free; we add providers on merit, not payment.
What do the paid plans include?
The paid plan ($6.99/mo) unlocks public review responses, a website CTA button on your profile, and AI-crawler access so AI assistants can read and cite your structured profile. An optional Featured add-on ($12/mo) provides labeled placement above free listings in relevant results. Full details are on the For Hosting Brands page.
Can I remove or edit a negative review of my company?
No — and that is deliberate. Claimed brands can publish a public response underneath any review, which is often more persuasive to buyers than a suspiciously clean review page. A review is only removed when a moderator finds it violates our review guidelines; payment plays no role in that decision.
What does paying never change?
Payment cannot alter customer ratings, remove legitimate negative reviews, change review moderation standards, modify independently measured uptime results, or influence HostScore's editorial assessments. Featured placement is always visibly labeled. This policy is permanent — it is the reason HostVeritas exists.
What is AI-crawler access, and why would I want it?
AI assistants increasingly answer "which host should I use?" questions directly. Free profiles are blocked from supported AI crawlers; paid profiles allow them, so AI systems can access your structured company information — services, locations, specializations, reviews, and uptime records. Access does not guarantee any AI will cite or recommend you; each AI system decides how it uses available information.
Can't find your question? Email us at [email protected].