Bluehost is our pick for Best Tomcat JSP hosting for its accessible site builders, an extensive list of site tool add-ons, and its free Cloudflare integration.
If you’re looking for an alternative to Bluehost, try HostGator or A2 Hosting for their Tomcat JSP hosting capabilities.
We’ve reviewed over 1,500 hosting plans with over 380 hosting companies and selected the ones which meet all the technical requirements for running a Tomcat JSP site. We then chose the hosts which have great reviews from Java developers, keep Java updated, use cPanel, and offer the mod_jk module.
Finally, we asked real users. Using our huge database of over one million words of genuine customer reviews, we’ve identified the top hosts for Tomcat JSP.
What Is Tomcat?
Apache Tomcat — informally referred to as Tomcat — is an open source web server and servlet container which implements multiple Java EE (Enterprise Edition) specifications, including JSP, which were developed and released by Sun Microsystems in 1999.
It is not really a framework or a programming language. It is more like facilitating technology to assist in the development of dynamic web pages on HTML (hypertext markup language), XML (extensible markup language), and other document systems.
Tomcat provides management and configuration tools for developers, and it uses its JSP engine to create a pure Java environment in which Java code can run.
Tomcat and JSP offer developers the ability to generate dynamic web content without having to install and use a full applet on the server.
This approach is geared to save time and money. Since Tomcat is developed and maintained by the Apache Software Foundation (makers of the popular web server), it is open source and you can use it free of charge under Apache License 2.0.
How to Choose a Tomcat JSP Web Host
The fact that many mainstream hosting companies don’t tend to be involved in the Tomcat niche does not mean there are no good alternatives. On the contrary, a number of small companies specialize in this space and get good user ratings, so there is nothing to worry about.
There are several questions you should ask yourself before you commit to a plan:
How much will the plan cost?
Do you need a VPS (virtual private server)?
Will the contract be yearly or month-by-month?
Are the staff knowledgeable about Tomcat?
What options do you have for support?
The fact that you are using Tomcat JSP and in need of Java web hosting narrows down your options considerably. However, there is still more than one option available.
So which Tomcat host is the one that’s best for you? Here are some great options to consider.
Bluehost is an incredibly reliable hosting provider that has strong customer service, offers uptime, and a great value for your money
Bluehost is a provider of cloud-based hosting for Java and PHP-based (hypertext preprocessor) websites. It offers industry-leading protection against cyber threats for all of its users, and it is one of the few providers that offer you several options when it comes to hosting for Tomcat web apps.
Pros and cons of Bluehost
Pros
Solid uptime
Generous storage
Includes several security features such as unique IPs (internet protocols), SSL, & SiteLock protection
Cons
No automated daily backup
Bluehost only offer servers in Linux; Windows hosting is not available
What customers are saying about Bluehost
Bluehost is a reputable provider offering shared and VPS hosting. The company is easy to use, affordable, and has great uptime. It is geared toward entrepreneurs and small online startups. Billing might be confusing, but they have solid customer service for any issues.
Flexible tools allow you to install and modify Tomcat by yourself at no additional charge
HostGator will install Tomcat free of charge on Linux-based VPS plans or a dedicated server. However, if your account includes a cPanel control panel, you can install Tomcat by yourself at no additional charge.
Regardless of which option you choose, Tomcat is an add-on to your server’s operating system. You will need to work with the HostGator support team to get everything up and running. HostGator is one of the better hosts for JVM (Java virtual machine).
Pros and cons of HostGator
Pros
Reliable uptime and fast response times
Affordable hosting plans
Generous 45-day money-back guarantee that gives customers peace of mind.
Cons
An advanced cPanel that requires some getting used to
Weekly backups, which may slow service
What customers are saying about HostGator
HostGator is a good fit for beginners seeking a web host with various features. The customer service and prices are favorable but avoid paying for unnecessary extras. Note there are limitations to the SEO capabilities.
Impressive uptime, 24/7 customer support, and a generous refund policy
Though A2 Hosting does not explicitly offer Java hosting, the company is nevertheless an all-around solid web hosting provider. Generally speaking, if you are looking for web hosting (especially shared hosting) that supports niche features, you can’t go wrong with A2.
The company strives to be as developer-friendly as possible, so if it does not currently support something you need, you are welcome to submit a feature request for inclusion in the company’s development queue (though we should note that the company already supports JVM).
Furthermore, the company is one of the few that offers managed virtual private servers and dedicated hosting options.
We also want to mention the availability of cloud-based, developer-oriented hosting from internet giants such as Google, Microsoft, and Amazon.
These options tend to be supremely scalable and infinitely flexible, and therefore make a good fit for niche hosting needs.
Pros and cons of A2 Hosting
Pros
24/7/365 support
International data centers
Cons
Windows options not yet implemented
What customers are saying about A2 Hosting
A2 is a reliable, affordable hosting company that has fast speeds. The customer service is generally responsive but could use more updated tutorials and documentation.
JSP stands for Jakarta service pages. It used to be the acronym for JavaServer pages.
What is a JSP?
JSP is a technology that allows developers to build dynamically generated HTML, XML, or other text-based file formats using the Java language.
How does a developer use JSP?
JSP files allow a developer to write static content (such as HTML) and then include dynamic content (variables, functions — Java code) into the file. JSP is very similar to the way PHP or ERB (embedded Ruby) allows dynamic code to be embedded into a text file.
What language is JSP code written in?
JSP code is written in the Java programming language. It can be embedded into any file format which is text-based, such as HTML, XML, or even CSS (cascading style sheets) and JavaScript.
Who developed JSP?
JSP was originally developed by Sun Microsystems and released in 1999. Oracle currently owns it.
What operating systems can JSP run on?
Because JSP is a Java technology, JSP can be run on any OS (operating system) that supports a Java virtual machine. JVMs exist for almost every operating system and platform available so that JSP can be used almost anywhere.
What is the benefit of JSP?
Any programming language can write output to an HTML document or other format for web consumption. Certainly, Java was capable of doing this long before JSP was developed. JSP, though, makes it easier to output templated documents that only need a fraction of their content to be dynamic.