When building or maintaining websites that rely on Windows-specific technologies, finding a reliable, low-cost shared hosting environment can be a challenge. I recently evaluated iPage’s basic Windows hosting plan to see how it stands up to the requirements of lightweight business sites.
iPage’s shared Windows infrastructure has a few notable advantages for specific projects. The plan includes 24/7 technical support via both email and phone, and they waive the initial setup fee even for monthly billing (which is uncommon among lower-cost hosts that usually lock you into annual billing).
Because the account is run on a Windows Server platform, it supports both PHP/MySQL and classic ASP/MS Access database configurations (supporting up to 5 concurrent data sources). CGI/Perl and the ASP.NET framework are also pre-configured on the platform.
The default disk space, bandwidth, and email allocations on the Basic Plan are more than sufficient for standard informational or portfolio sites. The minor shortcomings of the account are the lack of pre-installed e-commerce shopping carts or complex automated site-builders. However, the plan can be used for basic e-commerce setups with any shopping cart compatible with a Windows IIS environment. Shared SSL is included by default, and private SSL certificates can be installed.
Infrastructure and History
Data Center Operations
The server infrastructure is housed in a primary data center facility located in Nyack, NY, sharing the same physical building as their core operations team. This proximity allows their systems engineers to monitor the network locally and address hardware or routing issues directly. They back the Windows web hosting accounts with a standard 99.9% uptime guarantee.
Company Context
Founded in 1998, iPage has grown from a local service provider into a large hosting and infrastructure company. Their technical management team has roots in the independent ISP space dating back to 1994, which gives them a solid foundation in classic web hosting, email server operations, and small-business hosting support. For clients who specifically require a Windows IIS environment without the overhead of maintaining a virtual server, the Basic Plan is a stable, cost-effective option.