There is a deluge of companies from which you can purchase hosting services. The Internet is saturated with them. Many are actual hosting companies while some just are “resellers” of hosting services. Both offer a multitude of hosting packages with varying price ranges. So how can you tell when you are purchasing services from an actual hosting provider or from a reseller? Let’s start by looking at the differences between them.

An actual web host company provides services from servers that they own and maintain. Typically, they manage the machines, networks, DNS, and the actual uplinks to the Internet. Hosting companies provide support directly to their customers.

A reseller on the other hand, is a merchant who sells services provided by the actual web host company. They do not own their own servers, manage the network or provide technical support. Technical issues are referred to the actual web host company. However, the reseller may offer other services like web design, in addition to the hosting services. In essence, the reseller functions in a similar fashion as a retailer, reselling goods provided by someone else for a profit. So how does this affect you? In most cases it doesn’t matter. As long as you get the services that you need, at a price you can afford, it doesn’t matter. However, it isn’t always that simple.

Your decision of which to choose will be based solely on your needs. For instance, if you have a high traffic website, or need a dedicated or co-location account, it may be worth while to work with an actual web host provider. Your needs will receive the highest attention and response directly from the people who are responsible for the work, not by intermediaries who may not communicate your needs effectively. Even though some hosting resellers are well equipped to handle even the most demanding of needs, overall working directly with a hosting provider is your best course of action.

So how do you find out whether or not your prospective web host is a reseller or an actual web host provider? It’s not always easy to find out because most resellers don’t come right out and tell you that they resell someone else’s services. Let’s look at a few ways that may help you find the answer.

1) Check the WHOIS directory.

2) Visit a domain registrar, such as Network Solutions or Godaddy. Check to see if the host server domain name matches their domain name. If they don’t match, chances are they are a reseller.

3) Run a utility called Tracert. It’s a utility that shows a path of all computers that are hit in order to access a certain machine. This is not an easy answer as the data returned by this utility can be a little confusing.

4) Visit hosting resources on the Internet to gather information about host providers. You can find reviews and information on many hosts in these places. Visit sites that have open discussion forums where you can review information and even ask questions about specific hosts.

5) If all else fails, contact the host and ask them directly. If for some reason, you cannot get a direct answer to the question, it is safe to assume that they are probably a reseller.

We have provided a few methods that you can use to determine whether a web host is a reseller or an actual web host company. Both provide a multitude of services and are comparatively priced. You can get your needs met quite adequately by web host providers and resellers alike. The decision of choice simply comes down to your specific needs.

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