15 Best SSH Hosting Providers (Dec. 2023)

If you want secure remote access to your server, you’ll need the best SSH hosting provider. These web hosts enable remote access to your server so you can execute changes safely and securely.

Take a peek at our top recommended providers for shared, VPS, dedicated, and cloud hosting with secure shell access.

Shared hosting (as in, cheap hosting) typically doesn’t come with SSH access enabled because most shared hosting plan customers don’t require shell access to manage their websites. But we found a few hosts that allow shared customers to establish an SSH connection with their server.

To get started, your web host may require you to unlock SSH authentication from your web hosting control panel. If so, you can contact your provider’s customer service department to help you enable the SSH protocol.

These hosts offer a huge advantage for users who need shell access on a budget. But just because the prices are low doesn’t mean you’re sacrificing quality. The best shared hosting plans include a free domain name, a free SSL certificate, and 24/7 live chat support.

Take a look at these providers to see if you can find a hosting service right for you:

In contrast to a shared hosting plan, VPS hosting has root capabilities automatically, meaning you don’t need to configure any settings in cPanel to unlock an SSH session.

Users that require a VPS plan get all the benefits of a scalable virtual private server without the high costs of a dedicated server. A VPS plan from a reputable web host includes lightning-fast SSD storage, several operating system options, and a dedicated IP address.

Check out some of these top providers to find a suitable virtual private server:

A dedicated server is another type of hosting plan that comes with root SSH connection by default. As with VPS hosting, you don’t need to configure any special settings to unlock SSH session capabilities.

Dedicated servers give you enhanced performance and security compared to shared and VPS hosting. And since you have the machine all to yourself, you can customize your environment to your liking. Whether you have Windows or Linux web hosting, SSH is a valuable tool in a systems administrator’s toolkit.

Dedicated servers come in many sizes and flavors. A quality web host may offer a range of configurations, such as a choice of the operating system, a dedicated IP address, and ample SSD storage.

Check out some of our favorite dedicated hosting plans below:

Cloud hosting offers many advantages to users who need ultimate scalability and redundancy. The hosting services give customers the best cloud-based performance and customer service your money can buy.

Check out our full reviews to see why a hosting plan from these favorites is perfect for secure shell access:

15. Google Cloud Platform

The Google Cloud Platform comes with SSH authentication pre-enabled with Linux web hosting. But Windows server customers need to configure the settings, which is done with the Compute Engine.

Secure shell access, or SSH for short, enables systems administrators to get safe, remote server access to make changes. The SSH protocol encrypts communication between you and your remote server through a terminal or an SSH client, such as PuTTY.

SSH uses several types of encryption to secure your communication with the server: asymmetrical encryption, symmetrical encryption, and hashing.

Symmetrical encryption occurs when both the host (your server) and the client (you) use one secret key to establish an SSH connection. The secret key is never transmitted between the client and the host. Instead, it’s derived from a key exchange algorithm.

Asymmetrical encryption uses two keys instead of one. An individual can use a public key to encrypt a message, which is then decrypted by the recipient using a private key. This process happens automatically, and you don’t need to take any action to verify the key.

Hashing is the final type of SSH encryption. This encryption method uses a hashing algorithm to generate a string, which must be validated by the receiving machine.

Whether you use an SSH key or hashing to secure your access, you can be confident your connection is safe.

An SSH connection benefits site owners in several ways. Users get secure administrative access to their remote server without the need for usernames and passwords. Plus, its underlying encryption technology mitigates the security risks associated with password-related authentication.

Secure shell also covers a range of operating systems, meaning it works if you have a MacOS, Linux, or Windows server.

You can establish secure remote access to your server with SSH keys or hashing. But how do you initiate SSH authentication? The first way is to use your operating system’s terminal. In this method, you type text-based commands into the terminal screen to connect and execute changes on your server.

But the second method, using an SSH client, is more user-friendly. An SSH client, also called an SFTP client (secure file transfer protocol), is a software program that lets you establish a connection using a graphical user interface.

PuTTY is a popular SSH/SFTP client that helps users conduct secure file transfers to and from the SFTP server.

Once you confirm your hosting provider offers SSH, your choice boils down to the resources and level of control you need. Small businesses and individuals will be happy with a shared hosting plan.

But if you need bandwidth for more than 10,000 monthly visitors, a virtual private server is a safer bet to handle your website’s traffic.

Still, enterprises and larger businesses get the most out of dedicated hosting plans. These environments are best for customers who want full root access to configure their SSH server as they see fit.

Once you decide which server type is right for you, you’re well on your way to establishing a remote computer connection.

Whatever type of hosting plan you’re looking for, HostGator is a solid choice no matter the scale. Our reviewer Ryan Frankel recently took HostGator for a spin, and rated the popular host a 4.6 in the Cheap Hosting category out of a perfect score of 5.0. Here’s what Ryan had to say about HostGator:

Consistently innovating across multiple platforms, HostGator offers a modern hosting service for those looking for unmetered bandwidth and unlimited domain registrations. Whether you’re looking for a shared hosting plan, cloud services, or the HostGator website builder, the hosting company will have whatever you need. Read on for our detailed HostGator reviews to learn more.

Before signing up for HostGator, it’s a good idea to read through Ryan‘s full review to learn about all the features HostGator offers. You can also compare it to other web hosts to ensure you’re getting the best deal possible:

• HostGator’s Full Review
• HostGator: 4.6/5.0 vs. Others
• HostGator: $2.64/Mo. vs. Others

If you decide HostGator is the right choice, keep in mind that it takes just minutes to deploy your HostGator server space. And at $2.64 per month, it’s a bargain considering the many great features that come in any HostGator plan.