Best anonymous hosting of 2024
Protect your digital footprint with one of the top anonymous hosting solutions
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The best anonymousweb hostingproviders go the extra mile to prioritize your privacy by minimizing the personal information they collect and doing their very best to protect whistleblowers, activists, and anyone else who wants to keep their online activities away from prying eyes.
1.Best overall2.Best for WordPress3.Best for accessibility4.Best offshore host5.Best affordable6.Best for features7.Best for reliability8.FAQs9.How we test
Unsure if that covers you? Think again. Register a new domain and by default your contact details become publicly available, which means you’ll start getting ‘can I design a website for you?’ spam within days. Even if you don’t think you care about website anonymity at all, there are real benefits here for everyone.
To help you make the right choice, we’ve signed up for each anonymous hosting plan here, evaluate the amount of personal information we had to share, and inspected the privacy policy to see what a provider might do with it. And of course, we’ve looked at the core hosting features, what each provider offers and how easy it is to use. Now, let’s find out which are the best anonymous hosting services out there.
We’ve also featured thebest privacy tools and anonymous browsers.
Top three anonymous hosting providers out there
Why you can trust TechRadarWe spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best.Find out more about how we test.
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Hostinger - the best anonymous hosting overallHostingergives TechRadar readers an additional discount on Premium shared hosting, at just$2.59per month for a 12-month subscription, and accepts crypto payments such as Bitcoin, Ripple, Ethereum, and Litecoin.
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AccuWeb - anonymous hosting for WordPress sitesAccuWeb’s anonymous hosting comes with multi-layer DDoS protection and mitigation, Git-based version control, WP-CLI, and SSH access for an effective, secure hosting.
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HostGator - affordable anonymous hostingGet an exclusive offer withHostGatorthat delivers some of the best shared hosting features we’ve seen for a very long time, with a slew of freebies like domain names, an SSL certificate and marketing money from only$2.64per month.
The best anonymous hosting services of 2024 in full:
Best overall
1. Hostinger
Our expert review:
In addition to providing web hosting services for individuals, small businesses, and large enterprises, Hostinger has a trick up its sleeve when it comes to payments. They accept cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin included), allowing you to make payments under the radar. Plus, they don’t insist on revealing all your personal details.
Hostinger has data centers in seven countries, including the US, UK, Brazil, and Indonesia, so you’ll get outstanding performance no matter where you’re located. You can also be confident that you can host your site in a country that will safeguard your information.
Elsewhere, Hostinger doesn’t demand an identity verification process, and you can pay for additional domain privacy and protection options – although that’s not cheap. It doesn’t always have daily backups, either.
Nevertheless, Hostinger does provide superb anonymity features. If you need robust hosting, put Hostinger at the top of your list.
Read ourHostinger review
Best for WordPress
2. AccuWeb Hosting
Our expert review:
AccuWeb is the cream of the crop when it comes to anonymous hosting for WordPress sites. They’ve got your back with fully-managed WordPress hosting, and their generous data allowances mean you can have tons of space without breaking the bank.
AccuWeb has multiple data centers around the world, and even the cheapest plans typically allow you to choose where your site is hosted. If you’re uncomfortable hosting your site in the US, for instance, you can choose a data center in Germany, UK, South Africa, Singapore and more.
You may need to supply an ID when you do sign up - and, unfortunately, Bitcoin is no longer supported - but AccuWeb guarantees that it’ll never share any of your information.
Read ourAccuWeb Hosting review.
Best for accessibility
3. HostGator
Our expert review:
HostGator comes with a set of superb features that can safeguard your privacy. While you’ll need to provide some details during sign-up, HostGator’s domain privacy feature hides this from prying eyes, ensuring nobody can unmask the mastermind behind your website.
Elsewhere, HostGator includes weekly cloud backups, twenty-four-hour support, and some of its plans also provide unlimited bandwidth and database space. It also supports all the usual web hosting features, from a drag-and-drop website builder and WordPress hosting to VPS options with full root access.
Right now, HostGator doesn’t accept cryptocurrency payments, and that’s the only downside with this provider – and something we hope that the firm rectifies in the future.
Read ourHostGator review.
Best offshore host
4. Shinjiru
Our expert review:
In the game since 2000, Shinjiru is all about safeguarding your privacy. In addition to being one of the most experienced offshore hosts in the industry, they’ve established eight offshore locations to host websites. Not only that, but Shinjiru also boasts its own anti-DDoS attack network, along with a range of virtual private server (VPS) packages and dedicated server options.
This provider is a certified domain registrar, so Shinjiru can hide identifying information from prying eyes, and you can pay using anonymous and untraceable cryptocurrencies as well as more conventional methods.
The company also offers Strongbolt hosting packages, which provide extra website protection with multiple location hosting, automatic migration, and anti-hacking security tools alongside hidden DNS and IPS information. This is the ultimate choice if you need anonymity and don’t mind paying for it.
Read ourShinjiru review.
Best affordable
5. Namecheap
Our expert review:
True to its name, Namecheap is one of the more affordable hosting providers around. What’s even more impressive is that they throw in free domain privacy features with their hosting packages, ensuring your personal information remains hidden from busybodies. Plus, you don’t have to go through the hassle of identity verification when signing up.
Beyond this, Namecheap also accepts cryptocurrency payments, and you can deploy DNS, VPN, and two-factor authentication to improve security – all for free.
Namecheap deploys a superb set of features that can do an excellent job of maintaining your anonymity, and it does this at surprisingly low prices: its beginner hosting packages start at $1.88 per month, and its small business tiers can cost as little as $4.88 per month if you buy annually.
Read ourNamecheap review.
Best for features
6. Hostwinds
Our expert review:
When it comes to web hosting, Hostwinds has a bit of something for everyone. They offer a wide range of hosting packages that cater to different needs, and they don’t skimp on security features either. For just a few bucks a month, you can add domain privacy to your package, keeping your identity hidden from curious looks. And if you prefer to keep your payments hush-hush, Hostwinds even accepts cryptocurrency, allowing you to stay incognito.
Elsewhere, Hostwinds uses SSD-based storage for great speeds alongside free SSL certificates. It’s easy to build and maintain websites thanks to its straightforward builder and intuitive control panel software. Options for unlimited bandwidth, email accounts, and subdomains are available and affordable.
All plans offer a 99.9% uptime guarantee, and other features include spam filtering, free migration and both phone and live chat support. Hostwinds offers an impressive range of features and a broad range of packages and options, so it’s ideal if you need to balance anonymity with versatility.
Read ourHostwinds review.
Best for reliability
7. DreamHost
Our expert review:
DreamHost is one of the biggest hosting providers around, so you can be sure that you’re going to get solid value, a great range of packages, and an impressive array of features with this company.
You get domain privacy and protection included for free with DreamHost’s packages, and it has a three-month money-back guarantee. That’s a lengthier period than most other hosting providers and means you’ve got more time to make up your mind. DreamHost provides a rare 100% uptime guarantee, and the site doesn’t use advanced identity verification – so you can register for a site using DreamHost while providing less information than you may have to cough up elsewhere.
DreamHost’s size means that they offer every kind of mainstream hosting package, and the company’s custom control panel is superb – powerful and easy to use. Sadly, DreamHost doesn’t have data centers outside of the US, and they don’t currently accept cryptocurrency payments, but those are our only quibbles.
Read ourDreamHost review.
Anonymous hosting service FAQs
How to choose the best anonymous hosting service for you
When looking to purchase the best anonymous hosting service, there are a few factors you might want to take into consideration before choosing the right one for you:
- How much anonymity would you have?
A solid anonymous hosting solution usually comes with domain privacy that will keep your personal information hidden. Some anonymous hosting providers offer domain privacy for free, while others make you pay for it.
- Can you pay with cryptocurrency?
See if the hosting provider accepts cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin for payment. After all, using digital currencies can further strengthen your online anonymity. Meanwhile, if you use a credit or debit card, there’s always a chance that your personal details could be leaked or stolen. Therefore, choosing an anonymous hosting solution that accepts crypto as a form of payment would be your best bet.
- Are you required to surrender your real name or other personal information?
Check whether the anonymous hosting provider requires you to provide your real name or other personal details during the signup process. Pick out a host that prioritizes anonymity and minimizes the collection of personal information.
What is anonymous hosting?
Anonymous hosting is a specialized type of web hosting service that puts an emphasis on privacy and confidentiality. It allows individuals or businesses to set up and manage websites while keeping their true identity and personal information concealed. In a sense, it enables them to operate in stealth mode, ensuring that all their online activities remain private and secure.
Anonymous hosting providers often offer features such as encrypted communication, offshore servers, and the acceptance of cryptocurrency payments. Also, these providers should have strict policies in place to ensure the protection of their customers' identities.
However, we should note that anonymous hosting doesn’t work as a license for illegal activities. It’s intended to safeguard your privacy within the bounds of the law and promote freedom of speech and expression.
How different is anonymous hosting from private hosting?
Private hosting is where your web hosting provider essentially hides your identity by not publishing it in any type of list, except with their trade partners. But just as the Domain Name System (DNS) requires you to provide your name, address, email address, and phone number once you register your domain name, you are still as susceptible to getting your data unprotected.
You can choose a paid service called private hosting in this case, which hides your details within DNS listings. It’s a simple solution for keeping your information away from inquisitive eyes. However, in situations where this level of privacy is insufficient, anonymous hosting comes into play.
When you want absolute anonymity, hosting providers can only provide you as much privacy as they can, even when you pay a little extra for special privacy perks. Paying for these services will require credit cards or PayPal which can easily include your private details - full name and home and billing addresses. Even if you give them a pretend name, the hosting company will still be able to see your information on your payment information.
Anonymous hosting will allow you to create accounts using pseudonyms and not have to reveal personal information by using Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency, otherwise known as a decentralized currency, which doesn’t expose your personal information.
Who needs anonymous hosting?
Anonymous hosting provides individuals and organizations with the ability to keep their online activities private and protect their personal information from prying eyes.
This type of hosting is commonly used by activists, journalists, whistleblowers, and other individuals who need to shield their identities while sharing critical information or expressing their freedom of speech. It allows them to act without fear of retaliation or unauthorized access to their sensitive information.
Anonymous hosting can also be beneficial for businesses that handle sensitive customer data, as it ensures the confidentiality and security of customer data.
Moreover, everyday internet users who feel strongly about their online privacy can benefit from anonymous hosting as it provides an extra layer of protection against data brokers, advertisers, as well as cybercriminals. It reduces the risk of identity theft, hacking, and intrusive surveillance.
How we test each anonymous hosting service provider
Our reviewerstest each web hostingservice by signing up and purchasing an anonymous hosting plan to check out what each hosting provider offers new users, as well as how easy it is to navigate around each brand’s dashboard. For anonymous hosting, we pay a great deal of attention to the how much personal information we are required to share.
We weigh up the details of what you get, (as well as what you don’t) and rank each web hosting provider based on the quality of its features that many customers will use, and how clear the web hosting company is on what the customer is getting in their anonymous hosting package.
Because we know it’s important to pick an anonymous web hosting company you can trust, we focus on whether each hosting provider presents its products in an honest, clear and transparent way. In our tests, this is easy to pick up on as we compare the list of features each company claims it offers, to what we actually have access to once we begin using their service.
We’ve also highlighted the best EU web hosting.
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Mirza Bahic is a freelance tech journalist and blogger from Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. For the past four years, Mirza has been ghostwriting for a number of tech start-ups from various industries, including cloud, retail and B2B technology.
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