We believe transparency about methodology is as important as the reviews themselves. Here is exactly how FastServers researches, sources, and scores hosting providers — and what we do not claim to do.
FastServers is an independent publication launched in 2026. Our current reviews are based on aggregated third-party research, published benchmarks, and community feedback — not exclusively on first-hand testing conducted by us. Where we have personally used a provider or conducted any first-hand testing, this is clearly noted in the review with a ✓ Hands-On Tested badge. We are actively expanding our first-hand testing programme as the site grows.
We believe this honest approach serves readers better than inflated claims of exhaustive testing that many review sites make — and don't always deliver on.
Speed and uptime figures cited in our reviews are sourced from credible independent testing tools and published benchmarks. Our primary sources are GTmetrix and Pingdom public test results, which anyone can run and verify independently. Where available, we also reference published benchmark studies from established review publications such as WebsitePlanet and TechRadar. All performance data includes a source citation and the date it was recorded. Performance data can change — we update figures when new reliable data becomes available.
Uptime figures are sourced from public uptime monitoring data, provider status page histories, and community-reported incident records on WebHostingTalk.com — the hosting industry's largest and longest-running professional forum. Where a provider has a publicly accessible status page or uptime history, we reference it directly.
Support assessments draw on aggregated user feedback from TrustPilot, G2, Capterra, and WebHostingTalk. We look for patterns across multiple independent sources rather than relying on any single review. Where we have personally contacted a provider's support team, this is noted and the interaction is described in the review.
All pricing figures are verified directly from the provider's website at the time of publication. We record both introductory and renewal rates. Introductory prices are always labelled as such, and renewal rates are disclosed wherever we can obtain them. Pricing changes frequently — each review displays a "Last Updated" date and we revise pricing on a regular basis.
Feature claims are verified against provider documentation and cross-referenced with established review publications. We note where we cannot independently verify a feature claim.
Beyond the raw data, every review includes our own editorial analysis — drawing on nearly three decades of combined experience working with web hosting as developers and site builders. We apply context that raw benchmark numbers cannot convey: which providers have improved or declined over time, which support promises are consistently met in practice, and which pricing structures have hidden costs. This editorial layer is clearly our opinion, and we distinguish it from sourced data.
Each review carries one of the following status labels so you always know the basis for our assessment:
Scores are weighted across six categories. Each category is assessed using the research sources described above, with editorial weighting applied based on our experience in the industry.
| Category | Weight | Primary Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Performance & Speed | 25% | GTmetrix, Pingdom, published benchmark studies |
| Uptime & Reliability | 25% | Public status histories, community incident reports |
| Support Quality | 20% | TrustPilot, G2, Capterra, WebHostingTalk |
| Features & Toolset | 15% | Provider documentation, third-party feature audits |
| Value for Money | 10% | Direct pricing verification, renewal rate research |
| Ease of Use | 5% | Published usability assessments, community feedback |
All reviews display a "Last Updated" date. We revise scores and data whenever a provider makes significant changes to their product, pricing, or support model — or when new credible benchmark data becomes available. If you spot an error or outdated figure, please contact us and we will address it promptly.
Affiliate relationships are disclosed on every page. They have no influence on scores. See our full Affiliate Disclosure for details.