Frequently asked questions
In short, how the catalogue works: where prices come from, how the rating is calculated and how to choose a plan.
Do you sell hosting?
No. Search Host is a comparison catalogue: we bring providers' plans together in one place and help you choose. You sign the contract with the provider directly and pay them.
Where do the prices come from, and how fresh are they?
Prices come from the providers' websites; the date of the last update is shown on each plan. Prices in dollars and euros are converted to roubles at the Central Bank of Russia rate. The final price at checkout is shown by the provider.
How are provider ratings calculated?
Only from user scores on five criteria: value for money, speed, reliability, support and ease of use. We use a Bayesian average: while there are few scores, the rating is pulled towards the catalogue average, so a couple of top marks cannot make a provider the best. More about the rating
Do affiliate links affect the order or the ratings?
No. We have affiliate agreements with some providers, and such links are labelled. The order of plans depends only on the sorting you choose, and ratings only on user scores. An affiliate link does not change the price for you. Advertising and affiliate links
How do I choose a VPS?
Start from your task or from the specifications: cores, memory, disk and the country where the server is located. Compare not only the price but also the price per gigabyte of memory — the catalogue highlights it as cheaper than, on par with or more expensive than average. You can put up to four plans side by side.
Can I leave a review of a provider?
Yes. Sign up, confirm your email and rate the provider on five criteria. You can leave a score once per calendar month, which makes the rating harder to manipulate.