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Best Web Hosting for Small Businesses – The Ethical Pick

  • Writer: Suvi
    Suvi
  • Jun 3
  • 8 min read

Choosing a web host is overwhelming. If you’re just starting out as a craft-based solopreneur, you’ve probably googled things like “cheap hosting for beginners”, "best web hosting for small businesses" or “best website builder in 2025.” 


First, you’ll have to deal with a wall of acronyms and weird tech jargon. SSL. DNS. Caching. CDN. PHP. It’s like stepping into a secret society where everyone assumes you already know what a nameserver is. Spoiler: you don’t, and that’s totally fine.


Secondly, your browser will explode with pop-up ads and possibly fake reviews pushing the same five companies (Note that affiliate marketers get good compensation, and for example Hostinger offers a referral program for those who don't have a big audience yet, so it's a low barrier option to make money online when you start out).


Third, and this is the sneakiest part, sustainability is so easy to forget among the variables. When you're just trying to get online, you're not exactly in the headspace to research carbon footprints or energy-efficient data centers. You're looking for something affordable and easy, and the internet is very good at showing you cheap. What it's not so good at? Transparency. Ethics. Long-term thinking.


That’s where this post comes in.


I’m not going to throw 20 affiliate links at you and yell "Best in class!" at every turn. Instead, I’ll walk you through the actual essentials you need to know as a conscious small-scale craft entrepreneur, and I’ll help you pick a hosting provider that works for your business and doesn’t screw over the planet & people in the process.


Wait, What Even Is Web Hosting, And What Do You Actually Need?


Let’s slow down. Before comparing providers or looking at price tags, let’s get one thing straight: web hosting is not the same thing as a website builder. And no, you’re not supposed to magically know what the difference is.


A website builder is a tool that lets you create a website visually, usually by dragging and dropping elements onto a page, without writing a single line of code. Platforms like Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify are classic website builders. They’re designed to be all-in-one: hosting, design, e-commerce, and marketing tools under one roof. Super convenient, especially for beginners.


Web hosting is basically where your website lives. Without hosting, there’s no place for your site to “exist.” Think of hosting as the land on which you build your site, a piece of Internet real estate.


But here’s where it gets tricky: what kind of business you run massively affects what you need from that real estate.


  • If you’re selling physical or digital products, you’ll probably want a webshop.

  • If you’re running online courses, you’ll need course platforms, maybe even gated content or subscriptions.

  • If you’re doing client work, you might want booking tools or a portfolio.

  • If you're a content creator, SEO tools, email signups, and fast loading times matter.

So you’re not just choosing where your site lives, you’re choosing how much it can actually do.


Option 1: The platforms that make getting started easy (Wix, Squarespace, Shopify, etc.)


These are like all-inclusive resorts: You pay one monthly fee, and boom — drag-and-drop pages, payment systems, email marketing, course modules, membership tools… it’s all baked in. This is easy mode, but also more expensive (note also transaction costs) and sometimes less flexible in the long run!


Option 2: Steeper learning curves and long-term flexibility (WordPress via Infomaniak, GreenGeeks, etc.)


WordPress is technically a content management system (CMS), not a website builder. WordPress is an open-source platform that lets you add exactly the tools you need. Want a webshop? Add WooCommerce. Selling courses? Install Tutor LMS or LearnDash. Need recurring subscriptions or private content? There’s a plugin for that too.


Yes, there’s a tiny learning curve. But it’s flexible and grows with your business. You can pick your host, your tools, and even swap things out later without redoing your entire website. Note that many web hosting providers, such as Infomaniak and GreenGeeks, also have a built-in Drag-and-Drop website builder and templates to use, so you don't have to code anything.


Now that we’ve got that clear, let’s talk about the actual question nobody seems to ask:


Is my website negatively impacting the planet while I’m just trying to launch a knitting course?


Short answer: Yeah, probably.


Longer answer: Not if you know what to look for.


See, websites don’t float in the cloud like happy little digital clouds. They live on physical servers, which live in data centers, which use energy, a lot of it. If that energy comes from coal or gas, your charming embroidery blog is casually contributing to climate change. Oops.



And those servers? They draw power from local grids; grids that, in many parts of the world, still run heavily on coal, gas, and other carbon-spewing sources. So unless your host is actively choosing clean energy and offsetting their impact, your feel-good slow-fashion business might be quietly fueling the opposite kind of future.


Data centers now generate roughly 2% of global carbon emissions — as much as the airline industry. And it’s only getting worse.


If you've never thought about this, don't worry, it's on most big name hosting companies, not you. The entire hosting industry is built on price over principle.


But guess what? You can choose a web host that gives a damn.


The Two Best Sustainable Web Hosting Options


After digging through countless hosting providers that either dodge environmental questions or greenwash their way into the “eco” category, I’ve narrowed it down to two I genuinely feel good recommending: Infomaniak and GreenGeeks.


Both are taking sustainability seriously and offering a feature set that works for solo business owners in the craft and creative space. Let’s break it down.


Infomaniak


Infomaniak is a Swiss company, independently owned (no Big Tech overlords), and they’ve made sustainability a core part of how they operate, not just a side note in a marketing PDF (like Hostinger).


Here’s why I recommend them for creative entrepreneurs:

  • 100% renewable energy, self-operated data centers in Switzerland and France.

  • Invests in energy efficiency, heat recovery, and publishes detailed impact reports.

  • Commitment to offset 200% of CO₂ emissions

  • GDPR-compliant and strong on data privacy (seriously underrated)

  • See main features below (Comparison Chart)


Sustainability credibility: High.

Infomaniak goes beyond vague commitments, they track, report, and optimize. Their reports are structured, concrete, and third-party verified. Their sustainability strategy doesn’t feel like an afterthought; it’s part of their brand DNA.


Pricing starts around €6/month, and you can scale as your business grows.



That said, Infomaniak does come with one notable caveat: it’s a European-first provider. All their servers are located in Switzerland and France, which is great for privacy and sustainability, but less ideal if your audience is mostly overseas, say in the U.S. or Asia, where loading times might take a slight hit. (We’re talking milliseconds, but still.)


Still, for solopreneurs targeting a European market or anyone who values data protection and green energy over Big Tech flashiness, Infomaniak delivers where it counts.


Green Geeks


If you're planning to sell digital knitting patterns to California, run online pottery classes for Australians, or just want your site to load fast wherever your craft-loving audience may be, Green Geeks deserves a serious look.


This U.S.-based hosting provider positions itself as the green choice for a global clientele. Unlike many competitors who just toss around “eco” as a buzzword, Green Geeks backs it up with action:

  • They match 300% of the energy they consume with renewable energy credits.

  • Partners with certified organizations like BEF (Bonneville Environmental Foundation)

  • They invest in reforestation projects.

  • Their data centers are located in the U.S., Canada, and the Netherlands, giving you decent worldwide coverage.

  • See main features below (Comparison Chart)


Sustainability credibility: Moderate-to-high.


While GreenGeeks doesn’t seem to own their data centers (they say their servers are "housed", which suggests that they lease from providers), they compensate heavily through RECs, putting more clean energy into the grid than they use. Reporting is less detailed than Infomaniak’s but still verifiable through EPA recognition and BEF partnership.


Pricing starts around $3/month, and you can scale as your business grows.




Comparing the main features


Both Infomaniak and GreenGeeks offer the essential tools most creative entrepreneurs need. You’ll get secure web hosting, domain management, professional email addresses, WordPress support, and automatic backups. Both support e-commerce, memberships, online courses, and digital downloads via WordPress plugins, and both are flexible enough to grow with your business. They both also have a Website builder, and they offer 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee.



Infomaniak Free

Infomaniak Professional

GreenGeeks Lite

GreenGeeks Pro

First Year Price

Free

5,75 €/month

$2,95/month

$4,95/month

Web space

10 MB

250 GB

25 GB

50 GB

Websites

1

20

1

Unlimited

Website builder

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Managed Wordpress

-

Yes

Yes

Yes

Invoicing

-

Annual by default

Annual by default

Annual by default

E-mail address (@yoursite.com)

Not included

1 included

Not included-

Not included

SSL (security)

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Domain (yoursite.com)

Not included

Not included

1st Year Free

1st Year Free

Backup

-

Daily, 7 days of retention

Daily

On-demand


TL;DR – What should you actually choose?


In the end, your website builder should feel like a supportive partner in your business journey, not a controlling ex who limits where you can go next. And increasingly, that partner should share your values, including your commitment to our planet. That's why you should consider building your Internet space with either Infomaniak or GreenGeeks.


You can’t really go wrong with either.


  • If data privacy, in-house infrastructure, and rigorous sustainability metrics matter to you, go with Infomaniak.


  • If global reach, aggressive offsetting, and broad availability are your priorities, check out GreenGeeks.



Both offer a better path forward than 95% of the hosting industry. Neither asks you to sacrifice core features or performance to make a more ethical choice. And both beat the greenwashing nonsense of most major “budget” providers.


While both Infomaniak and GreenGeeks are serious about sustainability, their reporting practices differ. Infomaniak publishes detailed environmental reports, including actual energy consumption, CO₂ emissions, and third-party verified data through organizations like myclimate. It’s all traceable, documented, and baked into their governance. GreenGeeks, on the other hand, puts massive effort into offsetting (purchasing 300% renewable energy credits through BEF and being recognized by the EPA) but their reporting is less structured. The key info lives mostly in marketing copy, not in annual transparency reports.


When you sign up for GreenGeeks web hosting services, they will plant a tree for you!

By the way, if you didn't know, one of the easiest ways to help the environment online is to switch your browser to Ecosia! The company uses all its profits for climate initiatives, mainly tree planting projects around the world. It's also completely free to use, so if you haven't already switched your browser to Ecosia, do it now to take action ->






A Personal Note on Platform Ethics


While researching various website solutions for my craft business, I've had my own journey through different platforms. Currently, I use Wix for my website, which has served me well in terms of functionality. However, I plan to switch once my paid period ends, as I recently discovered it's an Israeli company, which has caused me significant moral concerns given current geopolitical events. In addition, I also forgot (!) to even consider environmental issues when choosing a website builder.


This personal insight highlights an important consideration beyond features and price: the values and ethics of the companies we choose to support through our business decisions. It also reminds us to slow down in order to make conscious choices.



 
 
 

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