123 Reg Review 2024

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Overview

123 Reg at a Glance

What is 123 Reg?

123 Reg, established in 2000, grew to become one of the UK's leading hosting providers, offering a range of services, including domain registration, web hosting, and virtual private server (VPS) solutions. Targeted primarily at small to medium-sized businesses and individual users in the UK, 123 Reg simplifies the process of getting a website online with its user-friendly interface and varied hosting options.

123 Reg stands out for its competitively priced packages, especially appealing to those just starting their online journey. With the inclusion of a free domain name in most plans, it presents a cost-effective entry point for many users.

However, 123 Reg is not without its drawbacks. The company faced significant criticism for a data loss incident in 2016, raising concerns about its reliability and data security measures. Additionally, while it offers basic hosting necessities, users looking for more advanced features or robust security may find 123 Reg's offerings somewhat lacking. 

Despite these concerns, for many UK users seeking a straightforward, budget-friendly hosting solution, 123 Reg remains a contender worth considering.

123 Reg features

Types of Hosting Available

123 Reg offers shared, WordPress, and VPS hosting. This diversity means that whether you're starting a personal blog or business website, or need more robust solutions for larger sites, 123 Reg has options to consider.

Server Location

123 Reg’s servers are in the UK, which can benefit UK-based companies in terms of speed and data regulation compliance.

Speed and Performance

123 Reg hosting performs decently well, with an average page load speed of around 1.2 seconds when tested on a standard one-page website. This places it about average in the industry for load time.

Bandwidth and Storage

123 Reg offers plans with unmetered bandwidth, meaning your site can handle many visitors without extra charges. Storage options start at 25GB and vary across plans, with higher tiers offering more space, essential for larger websites or online stores.

Control Panel

Ease of use is key, and 123 Reg uses cPanel, one of the most user-friendly and powerful hosting control panels. This makes managing your website, databases, and email accounts quite straightforward, especially for beginners.

Backup and Recovery

All plans include daily backups, a critical feature to protect your data against loss.

Is 123 Reg Safe and Reliable?

One of the vital aspects of a hosting service is its reliability. 123 Reg claims high uptime, crucial for maintaining your website's accessibility. However, only its Premium web hosting plans (starting at £19.99 a month) have a 99.9% uptime guarantee. This is disappointing, as most hosts include a comparable guarantee on even their basic hosting plans.

Security is another top priority in web hosting, and 123 Reg implements measures like web application and database firewalls. However, comprehensive malware protection comes at a significant additional cost of up to £29.99 per month. This is a significant downside when considering many of 123 Reg’s competitors offer this service for free.

SSL certificates encrypt data between the user and the server, an essential feature for e-commerce sites or websites handling sensitive user data. 123 Reg provides a free SSL certificate with some of its plans, but this is limited to the first year and only on certain packages. 

Regarding firewall protection, 123 Reg implements web application firewalls (WAF) and database firewalls, offering a solid defence against common web threats. 

Regular security updates are essential to protect against newly discovered vulnerabilities. 123 Reg appears to manage this well, especially with its managed WordPress hosting that includes automatic updates.

How 123 Reg Works

123 Reg is a one-stop shop for web hosting needs, particularly for UK-based users. Once you sign up, you can choose from various hosting plans ranging from basic shared hosting to more advanced VPS options. With features like domain registration, email hosting, and WordPress support, 123 Reg aims to provide an all-encompassing solution for launching and managing websites.

How to Get Started With 123 Reg

Getting started with 123 Reg is straightforward. First, sign up on the website and select the hosting plan that best fits your needs. Once registered, you’ll be guided to set up your profile, including choosing your domain name if you don’t already have one. 

Next, you can upload your website data or use 123 Reg’s tools and templates to build your site from scratch. The intuitive cPanel dashboard makes managing your website, email, and databases easy. You’ll find that 123 Reg emphasizes ease of use, aiming to streamline your website setup and management process.

123 Reg Customer Service

123 Reg offers various contact methods, including phone support, online live chat, ticket submission, and social media engagement through platforms like Twitter. Its support system is structured to cater to different user needs, with phone and live chat being the most direct forms of contact. 

The phone support is available on weekdays between 8 am and 10 pm, and while the waiting time to get through can vary, users generally find it reasonable. 

The live chat operates from 9 am to 7 pm every day. Although live chat responses are prompt during operating hours, they aren’t available round the clock. Email responses and ticket submissions may take longer, with some users reporting delays of a few days for the resolution of simple issues. 

Besides these direct support channels, 123 Reg offers a wealth of supporting documentation, including FAQs, blogs, and step-by-step guides, catering to users who prefer self-help options.

How to Cancel a 123 Reg Subscription

Cancelling your subscription with 123 Reg requires a bit more effort compared to other service providers. The process isn't facilitated through a simple button or link within the account dashboard. 

Instead, you must contact their customer support directly, preferably via live chat. Users have reported that the cancellation process via live chat is efficient, though, and takes less than ten minutes. 123 Reg offers no refund for the remaining time on your hosting plan.

Is There a 123 Reg App?

No, there is currently no 123 Reg app.

123 Reg Pricing

How Much Does 123 Reg Cost?

123 Reg offers a range of pricing plans tailored to different hosting needs, from personal blogs to full-scale business websites. Prices exclude VAT. You can purchase up to three years in advance, with discounts of up to 60%.

The Economy plan starts at just £2.99 per month, offering a basic set of features, including a free domain, 25GB storage, and unmetered bandwidth. The Deluxe plan, at £3.99 per month, caters to those needing more resources with 50GB storage and the ability to host up to 10 websites. The Ultimate plan, at £5.99 per month, and the Maximum plan, at £7.49 per month, offer even more resources and capabilities for growing businesses and demanding online stores, respectively.

The Economy plan is a cost-effective way to start for beginners, while businesses with multiple sites might prefer Deluxe or Ultimate. The Maximum plan offers substantial resources for high-demand websites. 123 Reg's pricing is competitive compared to industry averages, but the number of features you get is limited.

123 Reg offers several alternative products. The Website Builder (£5.99 - £13.99 per month) offers a straightforward way to build a website or online store using a drag-and-drop interface. 

You can also get Managed WordPress Hosting (£1.99 - £26.99 per month) or Premium Hosting (£19.99 - £47.99 per month). Premium hosting gets you dedicated RAM and CPUs, more storage capacity, and one-click installation for applications like WordPress and Joomla.

What can you do with 123 Reg for free?

123 Reg offers some incentives for new customers, including a free domain name with all their hosting plans for the first year. This offer applies to selected domain extensions such as .co.uk, .org.uk, .me.uk, .uk, and .com, making it a valuable deal for anyone starting a new website. 

Additionally, customers can explore the cPanel interface, a user-friendly control panel that requires no coding knowledge. This feature allows you to manage your settings and get a feel for the hosting environment, offering a glimpse into the ease and functionality 123 Reg provides.

Optional add-ons

123 Reg offers various add-ons to enhance its web hosting services, though these come with additional costs. One of the key add-ons is malware protection, which is essential for safeguarding your site and server. This protection starts at a minimum cost of £4.99 per month. 

Additionally, 123 Reg provides a website builder tool. The basic version of this tool is available for £2.50 per month, but it includes a 123 Reg-branded watermark. This service has higher tiers priced at £5.00 and £10.00 per month, which remove the watermark and offer extra features to enhance website building. 

123 Reg Alternatives

How Does 123 Reg Compare to Other Hosting Brands?

123 Reg vs Bluehost

123 Reg and Bluehost cater to different segments in the web hosting market. 123 Reg, with its UK-centric services, offers a range of plans suitable for small to medium UK businesses, emphasizing local domain extensions and UK-based support. 

Bluehost, on the other hand, is a go-to option for users seeking specialized WordPress hosting. The choice between these two largely depends on your hosting needs and geographical preferences.

123 Reg vs HostGator

HostGator and 123 Reg serve different geographical markets. 123 Reg, with its strong UK focus, is ideal for local businesses seeking UK-centric hosting solutions, including domain options like .co.uk. 

HostGator, on the other hand, caters to a global audience with various scalable services, making it a better fit for those seeking wider international exposure and diverse hosting options.

123 Reg vs IONOS

IONOS offers a more robust infrastructure than 123 Reg, with a wider range of hosting solutions. This makes it a better choice for larger businesses and those needing more comprehensive support and scalability. 

IONOS offers an introductory price on its mid-range Plus plan. This normally costs £9 per month, but you get it for £1 per month for the first six months.

Bottom Line (Is 123 Reg Worth It?)

In conclusion, 123 Reg presents a mixed bag. It's a viable option for UK-based small businesses or individuals starting their first website, especially with its straightforward cPanel and free domain offer. 

However, its lack of malware protection without additional fees and history of server mismanagement may deter more serious or larger-scale users. While 123 Reg can be a good starting point, those seeking more comprehensive solutions might look elsewhere.