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r/webhosting rules, stats, and what to post

A source-backed Rankhog guide to r/webhosting: public rules, community context, posting fit, and startup-promotion risk before you publish.

By Anthony Riera, founder and operator of Rankhog.

Subreddit guides combine public Reddit source URLs, captured rules, visible verification dates, and Rankhog's account-safety workflow.

Current public stats

Members
128,656
Verified
September 23, 2026
Category
DevOps and infrastructure operators

Rules can change, so Rankhog keeps verification dates and the original public Reddit sources visible.

Rule summary

  • Be nice.: Be nice to each other.
  • Do not self promote your webhosting company.: Shameless self promotion is forbidden. Please buy an advertisement through the Reddit ad network.
  • You must use our hosting questionnaire when looking for hosting.: You must use our hosting questionnaire when looking for hosting. Please see here: https://www.reddit.com/r/webhosting/comments/b3srz9/looking_for_hosting_read_this_first/
  • Do not request or offer free hosting: Free hosting offers are almost always a scam or come with substantial strings. Please do not make them here.
  • Do not use affiliate/referral links in your posts: Affiliate links, tracking codes, coupon codes, referral links, etc are all forbidden. We are looking for unbiased recommendations.
  • No low quality or generic help posts that are better resolved through official channels: Posts should help drive discussion in general. Posting questions that are better directed toward your provider (e.g., "What is my renewal rate at Godaddy?") are questions that can truly only be answered by your provider and not anyone in our community.
  • No ChatGPT/LLM generated replies or posts: Copying and pasting a reply or post out of ChatGPT or another chat based LLM does not contribute anything to the subreddit.
  • No "DM me" Comments: If you have something to share, do so openly. "DM me" comments are no longer allowed.

Works well

  • An honest review of a host you currently use or used in the past, written from your own experience with no links and no pitch.
  • A specific question about your hosting needs that invites the community to share their experiences, as long as it is not something only a provider can answer.
  • A detailed public answer to another member's hosting question, showing you know the topic without ever steering toward your own product.
  • A discussion post comparing hosting approaches, like shared versus bare metal, based on what you have run yourself.

Avoid

  • Posting anything that reads as self promotion of your own webhosting company, since the rules forbid it outright and point you to paid ads instead.
  • Dropping affiliate links, tracking codes, coupon codes, or referral links in a post or comment.
  • Asking people to DM you instead of sharing your answer openly in the thread.
  • Pasting a reply or post written by ChatGPT or another chat based LLM.
  • Asking a question only your provider can answer, like a renewal rate, instead of posting something that drives general discussion.
  • Requesting or offering free hosting in any form, since the community treats those offers as scams or bait with strings attached.

What r/webhosting Is For

This is a community for discussing everything related to web and cloud hosting, from shared hosting up to bare metal servers. People come here to post reviews of their current and past hosts, to ask the community questions about their hosting needs, and to offer help to fellow redditors. The rules make it clear the room values unbiased recommendations and open discussion, and that hosting companies themselves are not welcome to promote their own services here.

Rules That Matter Before Posting

The rule that decides everything for a marketer is “Do not self promote your webhosting company.”, which forbids shameless self promotion and points you to the Reddit ad network instead. “Do not use affiliate/referral links in your posts” bans affiliate links, tracking codes, coupon codes, and referral links, because the community wants unbiased recommendations. “No ChatGPT/LLM generated replies or posts” bans pasted AI content. “No “DM me” Comments” means anything you have to share must be shared openly in the thread. “No low quality or generic help posts that are better resolved through official channels” pushes you to post things that drive real discussion rather than questions only a provider can answer. “Do not request or offer free hosting” kills any free hosting angle, and “You must use our hosting questionnaire when looking for hosting.” applies if your post is about finding a host.

What To Post

A good post here is an honest review of a host you have actually used, written with no links and no angle. It can also be a genuine question about your hosting needs that other members can weigh in on, or a helpful answer to someone else's question shared openly in the thread. If your post is about looking for a host, you must use the community's hosting questionnaire first. Keep everything public, keep it unbiased, and make sure it drives discussion rather than asking something only a provider could answer.

What To Avoid

Do not promote your own webhosting company in any form, because the rules call that out specifically and say to buy an advertisement through the Reddit ad network instead. Do not include affiliate links, tracking codes, coupon codes, or referral links in your posts. Do not paste in replies or posts generated by ChatGPT or another chat based LLM. Do not post low quality or generic help questions that only your provider can answer, like asking about your renewal rate. Do not request or offer free hosting, since the rules say those offers are almost always a scam or come with substantial strings. Do not write DM me comments, because if you have something to share you must do it openly. And if you are looking for hosting yourself, you must use the hosting questionnaire.

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Common questions about r/webhosting

Can I mention my own hosting company at all?

No. The rules forbid self promotion of your webhosting company, and the suggested route is buying an advertisement through the Reddit ad network instead.

Can I share a coupon code or referral link when recommending a host?

No. Affiliate links, tracking codes, coupon codes, and referral links are all forbidden because the community wants unbiased recommendations.

Can I ask people to DM me for details?

No. The rules say to share openly, and DM me comments are no longer allowed.

Can I use ChatGPT to draft my post?

No. ChatGPT and LLM generated posts and replies are banned because they add nothing to the discussion.

Can I post a review of a host I use?

Yes. The description invites you to post reviews of current and past hosts and to ask the community about your needs, as long as you keep it unbiased and follow the rules.

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