123 Reg vs Database Mart: Which Is Better?

About 123 Reg

123 Reg is one of the UK's leading domain registrars and web hosting providers, offering domains, website hosting, WordPress hosting, VPS, dedicated servers, professional email, website building tools, SSL certificates, and other services designed to help businesses establish and grow their online presence.

Founded in 2000, 123 Reg has more than 25 years of experience in the internet services industry. The company has registered more than 3.5 million domain names and currently hosts more than 1.7 million websites. 123 Reg is particularly well known in the UK market for its focus on .uk and .co.uk domains and straightforward hosting services.

Company Overview

123 Reg was launched in 2000 with a focus on making domain registration accessible to businesses and individuals in the United Kingdom.

The company grew rapidly during its first decade. By 2004, 123 Reg had become the UK's leading domain registrar, followed by major milestones of 2 million registered domains in 2009 and 3 million domains in 2012.

In 2017, 123 Reg's parent company, Host Europe Group (HEG), was acquired by GoDaddy. 123 Reg subsequently continued operating as a UK-focused hosting and domain brand within the broader GoDaddy ecosystem.

The company celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2025.

Today, 123 Reg focuses primarily on helping small businesses, entrepreneurs, freelancers, and organizations establish an online presence without requiring extensive technical knowledge.

Domains

Domain registration is at the core of the 123 Reg business.

The company offers more than 400 domain extensions, including popular international domains as well as a broad selection of country-code and industry-specific TLDs.

Its strongest position is in the UK domain market, particularly:

.co.uk
.uk
.org.uk
.me.uk

123 Reg has been serving UK domain customers since 2000 and has registered more than 3.5 million domains.

Customers can register new domains, transfer existing domains, manage DNS settings, and combine domains with hosting, email, SSL, and website services.

UK Domain Expertise

One of 123 Reg's biggest competitive advantages is its specialization in the UK domain market.

The company has been offering .co.uk and other UK domains for more than 25 years and has built its brand around helping British businesses establish a recognizable online identity.

123 Reg offers:

.uk
.co.uk
.org.uk
.me.uk
.com
.net
.org
New generic TLDs
Industry-specific domains

The company also provides domain privacy services designed to hide eligible personal information from public WHOIS records.

Web Hosting

Web hosting is another major part of the 123 Reg platform.

The company provides shared web hosting designed primarily for small businesses, personal websites, blogs, and growing online businesses.

Current hosting plans use NVMe SSD storage and are designed to provide faster website loading while remaining relatively affordable. Hosting packages can include domain registration, professional email, SSL certificates, and website tools.

123 Reg's web hosting is particularly aimed at customers who want an easy-to-manage hosting environment rather than a highly technical cloud platform.

Typical uses include:

Business websites
Small e-commerce websites
Blogs
Corporate websites
Landing pages
Portfolio websites
WordPress websites
Small online stores

WordPress Hosting

123 Reg offers managed WordPress hosting for customers who want to use WordPress without managing the entire server environment themselves.

The service is designed to simplify WordPress deployment, updates, security, and day-to-day management.

WordPress hosting can be used for:

Business websites
Blogs
E-commerce
Professional portfolios
News websites
Content websites
Small SaaS landing pages

Managed WordPress is positioned as a more convenient alternative to traditional self-managed VPS hosting for customers who prioritize simplicity.

VPS Hosting

123 Reg also provides Virtual Private Servers for customers who require more control and resources than shared hosting provides.

Current VPS plans are available for both Linux and Windows and include features such as NVMe SSD storage, root access, additional IP addresses, unlimited traffic, DDoS protection, monitoring, and automated backups.

Entry-level VPS configurations currently start at approximately 1 vCPU, 2 GB RAM and 40 GB NVMe SSD storage, while larger configurations provide additional CPU, memory, and storage resources.

VPS customers can choose monthly or annual billing depending on the product.

Linux VPS

Linux VPS hosting provides customers with root-level access and the ability to configure their own operating environment.

Linux VPS servers can be used for:

Websites
APIs
SaaS applications
Databases
Development
Docker
VPN servers
Monitoring
Self-hosted applications
Testing environments

The combination of root access, NVMe storage, and scalable resources provides considerably more control than standard shared hosting.

Windows VPS

123 Reg also provides Windows VPS hosting.

Windows-based VPS environments are particularly useful for applications and workloads that require the Microsoft Windows ecosystem.

Typical use cases include:

Windows applications
ASP.NET applications
Remote desktop
Microsoft software
Business applications
Development environments
Database applications

123 Reg specifically notes that Windows VPS can be suitable for websites and applications built using the ASP.NET framework.

Dedicated Servers

For customers requiring physical hardware and dedicated resources, 123 Reg provides dedicated server hosting.

Dedicated servers provide customers with the full resources of a physical machine rather than sharing hardware with other VPS customers.

They are suitable for:

High-traffic websites
Large databases
E-commerce
Business applications
Game servers
High-performance applications
Resource-intensive workloads
Customers requiring greater hardware control

Dedicated servers are available alongside VPS and shared hosting, allowing businesses to move to more powerful infrastructure as their requirements grow. 123 Reg's current terms specifically include dedicated-server services as part of its hosting portfolio.

Global Data Centers

Although 123 Reg is strongly focused on the UK market, its VPS infrastructure is supported by data center locations across Europe, North America, and Asia.

The company promotes its global network as a way for customers to select infrastructure closer to their target audience and improve website and application performance.

This gives 123 Reg a broader geographic footprint than a purely UK-based hosting company while maintaining its strong UK market orientation.

Performance and Uptime

123 Reg currently advertises a 99.9% uptime guarantee for its VPS hosting.

Its VPS infrastructure includes 24/7 network monitoring, DDoS protection, performance monitoring, and automated backups. Customers can also receive email alerts when performance or availability issues are detected.

For web hosting, the company uses NVMe SSD-based infrastructure designed to improve website loading performance.

Security

Security features vary depending on the product, but 123 Reg provides several security technologies across its hosting platform.

These include:

SSL certificates
DDoS protection
24/7 monitoring
Firewall protection
Domain privacy
Domain ownership protection
Automated backups
Secure server access
Malware and website security products

VPS customers receive DDoS protection and dedicated IP functionality as part of the current VPS offering.

Domain Privacy is also available for eligible domains to reduce exposure of personal information in WHOIS records.

Professional Email

123 Reg provides professional email services for businesses that want email addresses using their own domain.

The portfolio includes:

Professional Email
Microsoft 365
Business email accounts
Email storage
Spam protection
Calendar and productivity features

Microsoft 365 services are also available through the platform, allowing businesses to combine their domain with Microsoft's productivity applications. 123 Reg's current promotional bundles include Microsoft 365 email together with .co.uk, .uk, or .com domains.

Website Builder

For customers who do not want to use WordPress or build a website manually, 123 Reg provides a Website Builder.

The service is designed for non-technical users and allows businesses to create and publish websites without coding.

Typical features include:

Drag-and-drop website creation
Mobile-friendly websites
Business templates
Domain integration
SSL
Basic SEO functionality
Online store functionality on supported plans

123 Reg currently offers a 30-day Website Builder trial for selected customers.

E-Commerce

123 Reg provides website and hosting solutions for businesses that want to sell products online.

E-commerce functionality can be used to create:

Online stores
Product catalogs
Small business shops
Service-based websites
Payment-enabled websites

The company's e-commerce offerings are designed primarily for small and medium-sized businesses rather than large enterprise marketplaces.

DNS and Domain Management

Because 123 Reg is primarily a domain registrar, domain and DNS management are important components of its platform.

Customers can manage:

Nameservers
DNS records
A records
MX records
CNAME records
Domain forwarding
Domain transfers
Domain renewals

Domains registered with 123 Reg can be connected directly to the company's hosting services, while domains registered elsewhere can also be pointed to 123 Reg hosting using DNS configuration.

Support

Customer support is one of 123 Reg's major selling points.

The company provides support through:

Telephone
Live chat
Support tickets
Online documentation
Help centre

123 Reg describes its support as UK-focused and emphasizes assistance from real people rather than relying exclusively on automated systems.

Support availability varies by product. General customer support is available through the main support channels, while dedicated server and VPS technical support currently has specific telephone hours. Live chat is also available during published hours.

Money-Back Guarantee

123 Reg provides a 14-day money-back guarantee on eligible web hosting and VPS products.

For VPS hosting, customers can request a refund within the first 14 days, although domain registration costs are excluded because registered domains cannot simply be unregistered.

This provides new customers with an opportunity to test the hosting service before making a longer-term commitment.

Pricing Strategy

123 Reg follows a value-oriented pricing model aimed primarily at small businesses and customers entering the online market.

The company frequently uses introductory promotional pricing for domains and hosting, with standard renewal prices applying after the promotional period.

Current examples include:

Web hosting from around £1.99/month on selected promotional terms
VPS from around £3.99/month on selected annual plans
.co.uk domains from around £3.99 for the first year
.com promotional offers
Website Builder from around £3.99/month

Prices can vary significantly according to promotional campaigns, billing terms, VAT, and renewal periods, so the renewal price should always be checked before purchasing.

Who Is 123 Reg Best For?

123 Reg is particularly suitable for UK-focused customers who want to manage their domain, website, hosting, and business email through a single provider.

Typical customers include:

UK small businesses
Startups
Freelancers
Entrepreneurs
Agencies
Local businesses
Bloggers
E-commerce businesses
Developers
Website owners
Small organizations

Typical use cases include:

Business websites
.co.uk and .uk domains
WordPress websites
E-commerce
Professional email
Landing pages
Small SaaS websites
VPS applications
Databases
Development environments
Remote applications

123 Reg's Main Competitive Advantages

123 Reg's biggest competitive advantage is its strong UK market presence and long history in domain registration.

Key advantages include:

Founded in 2000
More than 25 years of industry experience
More than 3.5 million domains registered
More than 1.7 million websites hosted
400+ domain extensions
Strong .uk and .co.uk expertise
Web hosting
Managed WordPress
Linux VPS
Windows VPS
Dedicated servers
Professional email
Microsoft 365
Website Builder
SSL certificates
Domain Privacy
DDoS protection
NVMe SSD hosting
99.9% VPS uptime guarantee
24/7 network monitoring
UK-focused customer support
14-day money-back guarantee on eligible products

Overall

123 Reg is a long-established UK domain registrar and web hosting provider that has been helping businesses establish an online presence since 2000.

Unlike infrastructure-first providers such as Contabo, Database Mart, or Kamatera, 123 Reg is primarily focused on the domain-to-website journey. Its ecosystem is designed to make it easy for a customer to register a domain, create a website, set up professional email, add SSL, and eventually move to VPS or dedicated infrastructure as the business grows.

Its strongest market position remains the United Kingdom, particularly around .co.uk and .uk domains. The company combines more than 25 years of domain expertise with web hosting, WordPress, VPS, dedicated servers, email, website building, and business services.

For UK small businesses and entrepreneurs looking for an all-in-one provider, 123 Reg can be a convenient option. For advanced developers and enterprises requiring highly customizable cloud infrastructure, however, providers such as IONOS Cloud, Kamatera, or other dedicated cloud platforms generally offer a broader infrastructure toolset.

Overall, 123 Reg is best described as a UK-focused domain registrar and full-service web hosting provider, with additional VPS and dedicated server capabilities for customers whose infrastructure needs grow beyond traditional shared hosting.

About Database Mart

Database Mart is a U.S.-based hosting and cloud infrastructure provider specializing in VPS, dedicated servers, GPU infrastructure, database hosting, and cloud solutions. Founded in 2005 in Texas, the company has grown from a small hosting operation into a global infrastructure provider serving customers across more than 160 countries and regions. Database Mart LLC is headquartered in League City, Texas, USA.

Company Overview

Database Mart LLC was established in 2005 by Morris, a computer science Ph.D. who initially provided website and server management services to local churches and nonprofit organizations. The company was built around the idea that powerful technology and infrastructure should remain accessible and affordable.

Over more than two decades, Database Mart has expanded from traditional database and web hosting into a broader infrastructure portfolio covering VPS, dedicated servers, GPU computing, cloud applications, AI infrastructure, and managed technology solutions.

The company currently reports more than 500,000 customers worldwide and a team of more than 80 professionals across areas including support, operations, sales, billing, marketing, and research and development.

Database Mart's official corporate name is Database Mart LLC. Its headquarters and office are located at 257 Westwood Dr., League City, Texas 77573, USA.

History and Development

Database Mart has continuously expanded its infrastructure and product portfolio since its foundation.

The company's development includes several important milestones:

2005 — Database Mart was founded in Texas, initially focusing on database and web hosting.
2010 — The company expanded into VPS and dedicated server hosting.
2014 — VPS Mart was introduced for Windows VPS services.
2016 — Linux VPS products were added and expanded for developers and startups.
2017 — Database Mart partnered with Cloud Clusters to expand its cloud application capabilities.
2018 — Public cloud applications became an important part of the company's product ecosystem.
2020 — Database Mart expanded into GPU dedicated servers for high-performance computing.
2021–2022 — The company continued expanding its GPU infrastructure and server portfolio.
2023 — New infrastructure management technology and additional brands, including RDP Servers and Server Mart, were introduced.
2024 — Database Mart reported more than 400,000 customers and significantly increased VPS resources.
2025 — The company expanded its AI infrastructure with NVIDIA H100 and RTX 5090 GPU servers.
2026 — Database Mart began expanding into NVIDIA Blackwell-generation GPU infrastructure and Windows cloud PC services.

Hosting and Infrastructure Services

Database Mart provides a broad range of infrastructure products designed for individuals, developers, startups, SMBs, enterprises, and AI-focused organizations.

Its primary services include:

Windows VPS
Linux VPS
Dedicated Servers
GPU Servers
GPU VPS
Database Hosting
Web Hosting
Domain Registration
SSL Certificates
Cloud Applications
AI Infrastructure
Kubernetes solutions
High-availability database solutions
Load balancing
RDP Hosting
VPN solutions
Backup solutions
LLM-as-a-Service API

The company also provides pre-installed applications and additional server services designed to simplify deployment and infrastructure management.

VPS and Dedicated Servers

VPS hosting is one of Database Mart's core product categories. The company offers both Windows and Linux VPS environments for websites, applications, development, remote desktops, databases, and business workloads.

For customers requiring greater control and predictable performance, Database Mart provides dedicated bare-metal servers with configurations designed for resource-intensive workloads.

The company emphasizes competitive pricing and high resource allocations, making its infrastructure particularly attractive to developers, small businesses, SaaS companies, agencies, and customers looking for alternatives to larger cloud providers.

Database Mart also offers customized server configurations. Customers can request specific CPU, memory, storage, bandwidth, and software requirements when standard configurations do not meet their needs.

GPU and AI Infrastructure

One of Database Mart's major areas of expansion is GPU infrastructure.

The company offers dedicated GPU servers and GPU VPS solutions designed for artificial intelligence, machine learning, deep learning, model training, inference, rendering, scientific computing, and other high-performance workloads.

Its GPU portfolio has included NVIDIA RTX 4090, RTX 5090, NVIDIA A100, H100, RTX Pro 6000, and newer Blackwell-generation solutions. Database Mart states that its GPU servers provide dedicated graphics resources rather than shared GPU access.

This makes the company relevant to AI startups, developers, research teams, data scientists, and organizations that require dedicated computing resources without building their own physical infrastructure.

Database Hosting

Despite its expansion into cloud and GPU infrastructure, database hosting remains an important part of Database Mart's identity.

The company provides infrastructure suitable for SQL Server, MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, and other database workloads. Its servers can be used for business applications, eCommerce platforms, enterprise databases, development environments, and data-intensive applications.

Database Mart also offers solutions such as high-availability databases, backup infrastructure, and load balancing for customers with more demanding application requirements.

Data Center Infrastructure

Database Mart emphasizes ownership and direct management of its infrastructure. The company states that it owns and operates its server hardware, racks, switches, routers, and network infrastructure rather than relying entirely on third-party hardware providers.

Its current infrastructure includes two U.S. data center locations, including facilities in **Dallas, Texas, and Kansas City, Missouri**. Database Mart describes these facilities as being supported by redundant power systems, enterprise-grade hardware, carrier-grade networking, and 24/7 on-site engineering operations.

The company reports a **99.9% uptime SLA** for its infrastructure.

Database Mart's Kansas City facility is positioned near the geographic center of the United States and is connected to major Internet exchange points including AMS-IX, DE-CIX, and SIX.

Network and Security

Database Mart operates its own network infrastructure and provides multiple layers of network and security controls.

The company's security architecture includes next-generation firewalls, intrusion prevention and detection systems, and DDoS mitigation mechanisms. Database Mart states that network communications are managed according to confidentiality, integrity, and availability principles.

For dedicated infrastructure, customers can also benefit from remote management capabilities such as KVM access, operating system reinstallation, and remote console recovery. These features can be particularly useful when a server becomes inaccessible through SSH or other remote management methods.

Customer Support

Customer support is one of Database Mart's notable differentiators.

The company provides **24/7 technical support** through online tickets, live chat, and email. Database Mart does not provide traditional telephone support, which it says helps keep its hosting prices competitive.

The support organization includes specialists working across technical support, operations, sales, billing, and research and development. The company emphasizes direct human assistance rather than relying exclusively on automated support systems.

Pricing Philosophy

Database Mart positions itself as a value-oriented infrastructure provider.

The company states that its pricing strategy is based on making high-performance infrastructure accessible to developers, startups, SMBs, and individual users. It attributes its competitive pricing partly to owning its infrastructure, optimizing procurement and operations, and maintaining an efficient organizational structure.

Rather than focusing exclusively on premium enterprise pricing, Database Mart aims to provide relatively large amounts of computing resources at predictable monthly costs.

Who Is Database Mart Best For?

Database Mart is particularly suitable for customers looking for cost-effective infrastructure with strong hardware resources and direct technical support.

Typical use cases include:

Business websites
SaaS applications
Database servers
eCommerce platforms
Development and testing environments
Windows applications
Linux applications
Remote desktops
Game servers
VPN infrastructure
Docker and container workloads
AI model training and inference
Machine learning
GPU computing
Rendering
Scientific computing
Backup and disaster recovery
Enterprise applications

The company specifically identifies AI teams, SMBs, developers, research organizations, enterprises, freelancers, and individual developers among its target customer groups.

Database Mart Ecosystem

Database Mart operates a broader family of infrastructure brands and services. These include VPS Mart, GPU Mart, RDP Servers, Server Mart, and WinPC Mart, each targeting a particular segment of the hosting and cloud infrastructure market.

This ecosystem allows Database Mart to cover a wide range of infrastructure requirements, from traditional VPS hosting and dedicated servers to GPU computing, remote Windows environments, and AI workloads.

Overall

Database Mart has evolved from a small Texas-based hosting company founded in 2005 into a diversified U.S. cloud and infrastructure provider.

Its key strengths are its broad server portfolio, self-managed infrastructure, competitive pricing, dedicated GPU offerings, database hosting expertise, and 24/7 technical support.

For developers, startups, SMBs, AI companies, and businesses looking for an alternative to larger cloud platforms, Database Mart offers a combination of VPS, dedicated servers, GPU infrastructure, database hosting, and cloud services under one provider.

With more than 20 years of operating experience, a growing AI infrastructure portfolio, U.S.-based data centers, and a focus on price-to-performance, Database Mart is positioned primarily as a value-focused infrastructure provider rather than a traditional mass-market shared hosting company.