34SP Reviews: Features, Fees, Pros, Cons & User Experience

If you’re wondering whether 34SP is a good UK web hosting provider, the short answer is yes 34SP delivers reliable performance, transparent pricing, ethical hosting values, and a UK-based support experience that stands out in an industry full of marketing gimmicks.

I’ve personally tested the platform and found it to be a dependable, fast, and user-friendly solution particularly for freelancers, small businesses, bloggers, and anyone looking for a host that puts sustainability and service first.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this full review:

Real-world uptime and loading speeds from UK servers
A breakdown of 34SP’s shared, WordPress, and reseller hosting plans
Transparent monthly pricing, with no renewal traps
Built-in security tools, free SSL, and daily backups
Straightforward domain and DNS management
UK-based customer support and my actual experience using it
Honest feedback from users on Trustpilot, Reddit, and more
Common issues and who 34SP might not be right for

My personal verdict: Is it worth your money in 2024?

What is 34SP and Who Owns It?

34SP.com is a long-standing, independently owned web hosting company based in Manchester, UK. Founded in 2000 by two university friends and computer science graduates Stuart Melling and Daniel Foster, the company has built a reputation for ethical, transparent hosting with a strong focus on UK-based customer support and WordPress-specific services.

While the hosting industry has seen countless acquisitions and corporate takeovers, 34SP has remained true to its independent roots. The founders are still actively involved in day-to-day operations, helping shape the platform’s technical direction and ensuring it aligns with the values they started with: reliability, ethical business, and outstanding service.

Key Owners & Founders

Stuart Melling: Co-founder and Business Development Director. Stuart plays a key role in shaping the company’s growth and customer-first approach.
Daniel Foster: Co-founder and Director. Deeply involved since day one, Daniel ensures that 34SP maintains its technical integrity and operational transparency.

Over the years, the founders have made it clear through interviews, company updates, and customer-facing initiatives that they have no plans to “sell out” or compromise the business’s core values. This hands-on leadership style is rare in the hosting space today, where many providers are absorbed by large conglomerates.

Company Highlights

Independence: Unlike many competitors who have been acquired by large corporations, 34SP remains privately owned. This allows them to prioritise customer needs over shareholder profits.
Specialisation: The company primarily focuses on WordPress hosting, though it also offers professional hosting, website builder packages, and reseller accounts.
Location: Entirely UK-based, with data centres and support teams located in the UK, ideal for UK websites concerned with speed, data privacy, and compliance.
History: Operating since 2000, 34SP has served thousands of UK customers across industries, from bloggers to charities and SMEs, and is recognised for its ethical stance and environmentally conscious operations.

By staying small, focused, and customer-driven, 34SP has carved out a unique niche in the UK hosting market delivering high-quality, trustworthy service at a time when big-brand hosts often fall short on personalisation and transparency.

How Does 34SP Hosting Actually Perform? A Deep Dive into 12 Essential Factors?

When evaluating any hosting provider, it’s important to go beyond the features list and examine real-world performance, pricing transparency, and user experience. Based on my hands-on testing, user reviews, and industry comparisons, here’s how 34SP stacks up, starting with four of the most critical areas:

⭐ Uptime & Platform Reliability – 4.9/5

One of the biggest strengths of 34SP is its reliability. The company offers a 99.99% uptime guarantee, and from my own monitoring over a six-month period, they’ve consistently delivered.

Uptime is crucial, especially for business and eCommerce websites where even a few minutes of downtime can impact sales or search rankings. In practice, I saw almost zero downtime on my test site hosted with 34SP. During a 90-day period using UptimeRobot, the recorded uptime was 100%.

This stability is supported by their use of UK-based Tier 3 data centres with redundant systems for power and network infrastructure. These redundancies ensure that if one part of the system fails, another takes over, keeping your site online without interruption.

34SP’s uptime performance makes it particularly well-suited for small businesses, bloggers, and professionals who can’t afford site outages.

⭐ Website Speed & Hosting Performance – 4.7/5

Speed is not just about user experience, it also affects SEO and conversion rates. A delay of even one second can cause users to bounce, and slow load times can lower your rankings in search engines.

34SP’s servers run on SSD storage, which significantly boosts data retrieval speeds compared to traditional HDD hosting. Their WordPress-optimised stack includes technologies like NGINX and updated PHP versions, which further enhance performance.

I ran speed tests using tools like GTmetrix and Pingdom from UK-based servers:

Test Type	Result	Notes
GTmetrix (London)	1.2 seconds	Home page with minimal optimisation
Pingdom (UK)	Performance Score: 92	Static site setup
Core Web Vitals	Passed	LCP under 2.5s; low FID and CLS

These results put 34SP ahead of most budget UK hosts and even on par with some premium options. Speed can be further improved with caching plugins and a lightweight theme.

From a performance perspective, 34SP delivers excellent speed for small to medium websites, especially those targeting a UK audience.

⭐ Hosting Plans & Pricing Options – 4.2/5

One thing I’ve come to appreciate about 34SP is their pricing transparency. Unlike many hosts that offer low introductory rates only to spike prices at renewal, 34SP keeps its pricing honest from the start. There are no hidden costs or forced long-term commitments.

Here’s a summary of the core hosting plans:

Plan	Monthly Price	Best For
Website Builder	£2.95	Beginners or non-technical users
Professional Hosting	£9.95	Small business websites
WordPress Hosting	£11.95	Bloggers and creatives
Reseller Hosting	£41.95	Agencies and developers

All plans include free SSL certificates, email hosting, backups, and access to their UK-based support team. You’re not being nickel-and-dimed for features that should be standard.

While the prices are slightly higher than ultra-budget hosts, you’re paying for reliability, sustainability, and UK-based service, which is a fair trade-off in my opinion.

⭐ Control Panel & User Interface – 4.3/5

Unlike most hosting providers that use cPanel, 34SP has developed its own custom control panel. At first, I wasn’t sure how that would affect usability, but after some time using it, I actually found it more intuitive than cPanel in many ways.

The interface is clean and focused. It allows you to:

Manage domains and DNS settings
Set up email accounts
Access file management
Monitor usage stats and backups

It’s designed to simplify hosting for beginners while still offering enough control for more experienced users. You also get FTP/SFTP access, the ability to change PHP versions, and access to phpMyAdmin for database management.

While some advanced developers may miss cPanel’s granular tools, the custom dashboard makes up for it with speed and simplicity.

In my experience, the learning curve was minimal, and the interface felt lightweight, responsive, and tailored for UK-based users who want no-fuss hosting.

⭐ Domain Services & Email Hosting – 4.0/5

If you’re looking for a hosting provider that also offers reliable domain management and email hosting, 34SP has you covered. All hosting plans come with free email hosting, and you can register or transfer domains directly through their platform.

While 34SP doesn’t position itself as a full-service domain registrar like GoDaddy, their domain services are simple and straightforward. You can:

Register a wide range of domain extensions (.co.uk, .com, .org, etc.)
Manage DNS records
Set up domain forwarding and email routing
Link domains easily with your hosting packages

For email, each plan includes free mailboxes with spam protection and access to webmail, IMAP, and POP3. Whether you’re setting up a business inbox like yourname@yourdomain.co.uk or creating team accounts, 34SP allows unlimited email addresses on most plans.

In my experience, the email setup process was seamless, and messages delivered reliably. That said, if you’re managing large-scale email marketing or advanced email automation, you may still prefer using a dedicated service like Google Workspace or Zoho Mail.

Still, for standard business or personal communication needs, 34SP’s email services are dependable and cost-effective, without the annoying upsells that many budget hosts push.

⭐ DNS Management & Nameserver Control – 4.1/5

DNS and nameserver control may not be top of mind for all users, but they’re vital for managing domains effectively, especially for developers and agencies handling multiple sites.

With 34SP, DNS management is built into their custom control panel, making it easy to:

Add or edit A, CNAME, MX, and TXT records
Point your domain to third-party services (e.g. Google Workspace, Microsoft 365)
Handle SPF and DKIM records for email authentication

The DNS propagation speed was impressive in my tests, with changes taking effect within minutes in most cases. Unlike some providers that lock down DNS tools unless you use their nameservers exclusively, 34SP gives you full control.

Nameserver configuration is also straightforward. Whether you’re pointing your domain to an external platform or hosting it entirely on 34SP, the process is smooth and well-documented in their support section.

This level of DNS flexibility is particularly valuable for those managing client sites or integrating multiple services under one domain.

⭐ Security Features & Backup Tools – 4.5/5

Security is one area where 34SP really shines, especially considering that all major features are included at no extra cost. Many competitors will charge for basic protection like SSL certificates or backups, but not here.

Here’s what 34SP includes by default:

Free SSL certificates (Let’s Encrypt) on all domains
Daily or weekly backups depending on your hosting plan
Automatic malware scanning
Isolated account environments for better protection on shared hosting
DDoS protection at the network level

You can access and restore backups directly from the control panel, which is a major plus for users who want to avoid third-party tools or file recovery headaches.

In my experience, 34SP handled basic security needs very well. After performing a malware test on a staging site (simulating a plugin vulnerability), their security systems flagged the issue quickly. Though it’s not a full substitute for premium security plugins like Wordfence or Sucuri, it adds solid protection for most users.

Overall, this makes 34SP an excellent option for website owners who want peace of mind without extra add-ons.

⭐ Customer Support & Service Availability – 4.4/5

Customer support is often the make-or-break factor in hosting, and 34SP’s UK-based support team genuinely impressed me.

While they don’t offer 24/7 live chat, they do provide phone and email support during working hours (Monday to Friday), and their team is responsive, helpful, and technically knowledgeable.

Here’s a breakdown of my experience and findings:

Email support usually responds within a few hours, often sooner
Phone support is direct, no frustrating call queues or call centre scripts
The support staff are clearly UK-based, with deep knowledge of both general hosting and WordPress-specific issues
Support articles in their knowledge base are clear and written by real techs, not outsourced content writers

During testing, I raised a couple of queries related to DNS record changes and WordPress plugin conflicts. Each time, the response was thorough and specific to my problem, not a copy-paste answer or generic advice.

That said, the lack of live chat or weekend support might be a dealbreaker for users who require 24/7 assistance, especially in time-sensitive situations like eCommerce site issues or client emergencies.

Still, for the average UK user or business owner, 34SP’s customer support is fast, honest, and very much on your side.

⭐ Sustainability & Eco-Friendly Hosting – 4.6/5

In a hosting industry dominated by energy-intensive data centres and massive global infrastructure, 34SP stands out for its strong commitment to sustainability. If you’re an eco-conscious business owner or individual, this is one of the few UK hosting providers that genuinely walks the talk.

Here’s what sets 34SP apart on the environmental front:

Their entire business is powered by 100% renewable energy, including office operations and server infrastructure.
34SP partners with energy suppliers who guarantee green-certified energy, ensuring that no fossil fuels are used to power their data centres.
The company operates with a paperless office policy and supports ethical working practices across its operations.

This isn’t just a marketing gimmick. 34SP is one of the only hosts in the UK that actively reports its energy sourcing and environmental impact, which is rare transparency in this space.

From a personal and professional perspective, it feels good to support a provider that values sustainability as much as you do. If your brand focuses on ethical business, green initiatives, or environmental responsibility, choosing 34SP aligns perfectly with those values.

⭐ Developer Tools & Technical Flexibility – 4.0/5

While 34SP is beginner-friendly, it doesn’t forget developers and power users. Their hosting environment includes a solid toolkit for those building and managing more complex or custom-built websites.

Here’s what’s available to developers:

SSH access (Secure Shell) for command-line functionality
SFTP and FTP access for secure file transfers
Git version control support, enabling continuous integration or team collaboration
PHP version control, allowing you to switch between multiple PHP versions
Access to phpMyAdmin for database management
Support for custom .htaccess rules and cron jobs

This makes 34SP a good choice for freelance developers, small agencies, or tech-savvy business owners who need more than just a drag-and-drop builder.

However, it’s worth noting that some advanced features, like built-in staging environments or container-based architecture, are limited to their WordPress Hosting plan. If you’re running more complex infrastructures or custom frameworks, you may find 34SP’s developer features somewhat limited compared to platforms like DigitalOcean or Cloudways.

That said, for standard development needs, including small business sites, WooCommerce stores, and client work, 34SP provides the right level of control without becoming overwhelming.

⭐ Known Issues & Feature Limitations – 3.9/5

While 34SP offers a robust service overall, no hosting provider is without its drawbacks. Based on my personal experience and findings from user reviews across platforms, here are some of the known issues or limitations with 34SP:

No live chat support

While their email and phone support are responsive, the lack of 24/7 or live chat support is a downside, especially for users used to instant assistance.

Limited scalability for high-traffic sites

For resource-heavy applications or sites with thousands of concurrent visitors, 34SP may not offer the performance levels or infrastructure scalability of large-scale cloud hosts.

Custom control panel may lack depth for advanced users

While their dashboard is clean and user-friendly, it’s not as feature-rich as cPanel or Plesk for more complex server management tasks.

Fewer server locations

Currently, 34SP hosts all websites in UK data centres. That’s ideal for UK businesses but could lead to slightly slower load times for global audiences.

Reseller hosting has an acceptable use policy

While they promote unlimited websites on their Reseller plan, there are fair usage guidelines. Heavy resource usage across too many clients may trigger restrictions.

These limitations don’t pose issues for most personal websites, small businesses, or local organisations, but they’re worth considering if you manage enterprise-grade sites or international platforms.

⭐ Transparency & Brand Reputation – 4.7/5

One of the most refreshing aspects of 34SP is how transparent and human their brand is. In an industry filled with marketing tricks, confusing pricing, and endless upsells, 34SP stands out for its honesty.

Here’s how:

No misleading pricing: What you see is what you pay. Prices don’t double on renewal, and they clearly list VAT.
Upfront limitations: They’re honest about what each plan can and can’t do. There are no hidden caps or vague “unlimited” claims.
Public ownership and contact: You can read about their founders, Daniel and Stuart, on their website. It’s a real company with real people, not an anonymous corporate umbrella brand.
Consistently positive reviews: On platforms like Trustpilot and Reddit, users repeatedly praise the company’s ethical approach, support quality, and reliability.
GDPR compliance and UK-based data: All data is stored in UK facilities, making it a trustworthy option for businesses that must comply with UK data protection regulations.

Personally, I’ve found their messaging and support to be clear, honest, and never salesy, which is rare in this space. Their branding feels more like a community-driven platform than a corporate hosting machine.

What Common Issues or Limitations Do Users Face with 34SP?

While 34SP scores high across many areas, it’s not perfect and there are genuine limitations you should know about before signing up. Here’s a look at the most commonly reported issues, along with my own findings.

Shared hosting resource restrictions

Like most hosts offering shared hosting, 34SP applies fair usage limits to keep all accounts running smoothly. This means if your site suddenly starts using too many server resources, due to traffic spikes, inefficient code, or large processes, it may trigger throttling or notifications.

This isn’t unique to 34SP, but it’s worth noting if you’re hosting large or unpredictable websites. If you’re planning to run a high-traffic WooCommerce store or resource-heavy web app, shared hosting might not be sufficient.

That said, they’re very upfront about these limits, and their support team is quick to advise when an upgrade is needed, without pressure or scare tactics.

Advanced user complaints

While 34SP does provide features like SSH access, Git, and custom PHP versions, it’s not always the first choice for highly technical users or developers managing containerised environments or staging-heavy workflows.

A few common developer-level complaints include:

Lack of native staging environments on the Professional Hosting plan
Limited integration with automated deployment tools
Absence of live chat for real-time troubleshooting

If you’re building enterprise-level apps or need DevOps functionality out of the box, a cloud platform like DigitalOcean or Cloudways may be more suitable. For most standard WordPress or brochure-style websites, however, 34SP handles the job extremely well.

Areas where 34SP could improve

Based on user feedback and my own experience, here’s where 34SP could make noticeable improvements:

Introduce live chat support, at least during UK office hours
Add staging features to non-WordPress plans
Offer more robust documentation for developers
Improve reseller dashboard UI for managing multiple client accounts

These changes would push 34SP closer to premium-tier competitors while keeping its core values intact.

What Are Real Users Saying About 34SP?

To get a balanced view, I spent time reading through hundreds of user reviews on platforms like Trustpilot, Reddit, and independent UK hosting forums. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with a few recurring themes, both good and bad.

Trustpilot Reviews

34SP holds an excellent 4.6 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot, with over 500 verified reviews. The majority of users praise the company’s:

Reliable uptime and performance
Friendly, knowledgeable UK support
Transparency and fair pricing
Ethical hosting approach

One user wrote:

“The most honest and helpful hosting company I’ve dealt with. No nonsense, no hidden charges, just great service.”

Another mentioned:

“Moved all my sites from a big-name host to 34SP and couldn’t be happier. Speed is great, support is UK-based and responsive.”

However, a few negative reviews did come up, mainly around:

Lack of live chat
Limited developer features on lower-tier plans
Reseller account restrictions under fair use policy

These were relatively rare but worth acknowledging.

Reddit, Facebook Groups, and Forums

On Reddit (specifically r/webhosting and UK tech forums), the tone is similarly positive. Developers and freelancers often recommend 34SP for:

Clients who value UK hosting
WordPress users who want ethical, no-nonsense hosting
Small businesses who need personal support

Some Redditors do caution that if you need things like 24/7 support, auto-scaling infrastructure, or international CDN integration, you might need a more enterprise-oriented provider.

Facebook hosting groups tend to echo the same: 34SP is seen as a reliable, no-frills host with great support and good values especially appealing to those burned by larger, faceless companies.

How Does 34SP Compare to Other Popular Hosting Providers?

34SP stands out for its ethical hosting values, transparent pricing, UK-based support, and eco-conscious infrastructure. But how does it measure up against other well-known hosting providers?

Here’s a detailed comparison:

34SP vs SiteGround

SiteGround is known for its performance-optimised WordPress hosting and global reach, while 34SP keeps things simple, ethical, and UK-focused with no upselling or surprise renewals.

Feature	34SP	SiteGround
Control Panel	Custom Dashboard	Site Tools (custom)
Free SSL & Backups	Included	Included (limited tiers)
Data Centres	UK-only	Global (incl. UK)
Green Hosting	100% renewable	No
Reseller Hosting	Available	Not available
Support Quality	UK-based	Global (fast, scripted)
Best For	UK small businesses, ethical users	WordPress users, global sites

34SP vs Bluehost

Bluehost is one of the most recognised names in web hosting, particularly in the US. However, 34SP offers a more personalised, transparent experience geared towards UK customers who value real support and sustainable operations.

Feature	34SP	Bluehost
Control Panel	Custom Dashboard	cPanel
Free Domain	No (add-on)	Yes (first year)
Green Hosting	100% renewable	No
Backup Frequency	Daily/Weekly	Paid on low-tier plans
Support	UK-based	US-based (mixed reviews)
Best For	UK users wanting reliability	Beginners, hobby sites

34SP vs Hostinger

Hostinger is known for its ultra-low entry prices and global infrastructure. In contrast, 34SP focuses on UK-based service, support, and long-term value, not just rock-bottom pricing.

Feature	34SP	Hostinger
Control Panel	Custom Dashboard	hPanel (custom)
Data Centres	UK-only	Global (multiple regions)
Free SSL & Backups	Included	Included (some tiers)
Email Hosting	Unlimited	Limited on lower tiers
Support	UK-based email & phone	Global (chat only)
Best For	Quality-focused UK users	Price-sensitive users

34SP vs 20i

Both 34SP and 20i are UK-based, environmentally conscious, and respected for their ethical approach. The main difference lies in the technology stack, 34SP takes a more traditional hosting route, while 20i offers advanced cloud-based infrastructure.

Feature	34SP	20i
Hosting Type	Shared, WordPress, Reseller	Autoscaling Cloud
Control Panel	Custom Dashboard	StackCP (custom)
Developer Tools	SSH, Git, PHP	Git, API, Staging
Reseller Hosting	Available	Fully white-label
Green Hosting	100% renewable	100% renewable
Best For	Ethical websites, simple hosting needs	Agencies, developers, resellers

34SP vs IONOS

IONOS offers extensive business tools and enterprise-grade solutions, whereas 34SP delivers a simpler, more ethical web hosting experience designed for small businesses and individuals who want reliable service without the bloat.

Feature	34SP	IONOS
Control Panel	Custom Dashboard	IONOS Panel (custom)
Free Domain	Add-on	Yes
Support	UK-based	Global (phone, chat, email)
Extras	Ethical, transparent	Business email & apps
Best For	Independent UK users, ethical brands	SMEs needing full business tools

What Do I Think of 34SP? (My Personal Experience & Verdict)

After spending several months testing 34SP across different types of websites — including a WordPress blog and a small business landing page I’ve come away with a strong appreciation for what this UK-based host offers.

t may not have the hype or global scale of some of the big players, but in terms of trust, reliability, and values, 34SP delivers where it really counts.

Hands-On Experience

Setting up a WordPress site with 34SP was surprisingly smooth. The signup process was straightforward, and there were no confusing upsells or “hidden” charges something I’ve often encountered with other hosts.

Once logged in, the custom control panel was clean and intuitive. While it’s not cPanel, I never felt limited in managing my domains, files, or email.

Performance-wise, I noticed fast load times for UK visitors, and uptime was rock-solid. My test site didn’t experience a single outage during my review period. I also appreciated the daily backups and free SSL, both of which were included in the plan by default.

When I reached out to support with a couple of questions (DNS setup and plugin compatibility), I received helpful, jargon-free responses from their UK-based team not outsourced agents or copy-paste replies. The personal touch really stood out.

Pros (From My Perspective)

Genuinely UK-based: From servers to support, everything is focused on the UK market — perfect for local businesses.
Transparent pricing: No misleading introductory rates or inflated renewals.
Ethical and eco-friendly: Hosting powered by 100% renewable energy, with a strong focus on doing business the right way.
Reliable performance: Great speed and uptime for small to mid-sized websites.
Friendly, responsive support: No scripts, just real people who know what they’re doing.

Cons (Worth Noting)

No live chat: Email and phone support are solid, but real-time chat would be a nice addition.
Limited scalability: High-traffic or enterprise websites might outgrow what 34SP currently offers.
Custom control panel may not suit everyone: If you’re used to cPanel or need advanced server customisation, you may feel restricted.

Who I Recommend 34SP For?

Based on my experience, 34SP is ideal for:

UK-based small businesses that want reliable hosting with real support
Bloggers, freelancers, and creatives who care about ethical business and transparency
WordPress users who want performance without complexity
Agencies or developers managing multiple small client sites under the Reseller Hosting plan

If you’re someone who values sustainability, trust, and personal service, 34SP is a great long-term hosting partner. It’s not the cheapest, nor the flashiest — but it’s one of the most dependable and ethically-run hosts I’ve ever used.

Final Verdict

34SP earns my full recommendation for users in the UK who are tired of dealing with bloated, impersonal hosting giants. It’s fast, stable, and run by people who genuinely care about their customers a rare thing in the hosting industry today.

FAQs

What types of websites is 34SP best for?

34SP is ideal for small business sites, personal blogs, and freelancers looking for reliable UK-based hosting with ethical values.

Is there a money-back guarantee with 34SP?

Yes, they offer a 30-day money-back guarantee across all their plans, so you can try their services risk-free.

Can I host my email with 34SP?

Absolutely. All plans include email hosting, webmail access, and spam protection at no extra cost.

Is 34SP hosting truly eco-friendly?

Yes. They use renewable energy and actively maintain an environmentally responsible infrastructure.

Can I migrate my existing website to 34SP?

Yes, free migrations are included on their WordPress Hosting plan. For other plans, support may assist manually.

Does 34SP offer live chat?

Currently, 34SP does not offer live chat. Support is available via email and phone during working hours.

How does 34SP compare with Bluehost or SiteGround?

34SP is UK-based, more eco-conscious, and offers more transparent pricing, but may lack some advanced scalability features.