Frequently asked questions
The short answers. For the full picture, see our methodology and editorial principles.
How does trusthost.org make money?
Some outbound "Visit host" links are affiliate links, and we may earn a commission if you sign up through one, at no extra cost to you. This never affects a host's trust score, star rating, ranking position, or whether it's recommended, flagged, or blacklisted — any host card with an affiliate relationship is labeled "Affiliate link" directly on the page.
Can a hosting company pay for a better score or ranking?
No. Rankings are not for sale. Affiliate relationships are commercial arrangements for referral traffic only, and are kept entirely separate from a host's trust score, rating, or position in any ranking.
How are hosts scored?
Each host is scored across five dimensions: uptime & speed (real-world reliability and load times, not marketing claims), support quality (response time and whether the answer actually solves the problem), price honesty (how transparently renewal pricing and add-ons are disclosed), ease of use (how approachable the control panel and setup are), and features (whether the plan includes what a typical customer in that category needs).
How does trusthost.org test hosting providers?
We buy like a customer — using regular checkout flows and standard support channels, with no special treatment or advance notice to the provider. We test uptime, speed, dashboard usability, migration, backups, and support response quality over time, and we surface renewal-price jumps, refund exclusions, and resource limits rather than burying them.
Are the reviews on trusthost.org real?
Community reviews are written by account holders and held as pending until our team approves them. One review is allowed per account per host, and reviews under a minimum length are rejected, to keep ratings from being stuffed by a single voice.
How does a hosting company get listed on trusthost.org?
Hosting companies can't self-register. A provider creates an account and submits a listing request with their company name, website, plans, and region served. Our team reviews the request — checking pricing, website, and support channels — before approving it. Only approved companies get a public profile and dashboard.
What happens if a listed host is found doing something dishonest?
It gets marked as blacklisted with a stated reason, rather than quietly removed. Blacklisted hosts stay visible for transparency but are never ranked among recommended hosts, regardless of sort order.
Are all the scores and review counts on the site final?
trusthost.org is under active development, and some scores and review volumes are currently illustrative while the verified testing pipeline is built out — this is disclosed directly on every host page.