Key facts
- One plan for most online shops: £1 a day + VAT, which is £365 a year + VAT
- PHP version set per shop, so older carts and current releases can each run on what they support
- Daily backups, free SSL, Cloudflare DNS and one domain registration or renewal a year included
- Shop migration included: files, database, config paths and checkout tested before DNS switches
- Large catalogues, heavy traffic and multi-store builds are quoted on a managed VPS
- UK company, DIJITUL LTD, trading since 2006, phone 01623 650333
Shop platforms we host
Every shopping cart has its own quirks. Each page below covers the real server requirements, upgrade traps and payment points for that platform:
- WooCommerce hosting: PHP 8.3, real server cron for Action Scheduler, HPOS
- PrestaShop hosting: versions 1.6 to 9.x, each on the PHP it supports
- CubeCart hosting: CubeCart 6 on PHP 8, plus old CubeCart 4 and 5 shops
- OpenCart hosting: OpenCart 2, 3 and 4, OCMOD and vQmod
- Magento hosting: Magento 2.4 with OpenSearch and cron, plus Magento 1 exits
- Zen Cart hosting: 2.x on PHP 8 and older 1.5 shops
- X-Cart hosting: X-Cart 5.5 and ionCube for X-Cart 4
- osCommerce hosting: old 2.2 and 2.3 shops, Phoenix and osCommerce 4
- Shopware hosting: Shopware 6 with proper queue workers
What every online shop needs from hosting
Whatever the platform, the same few things decide whether a shop is reliable:
- The right PHP version for your cart. Shops break when hosts upgrade PHP for everyone at once.
- SSL on every page, not just checkout. Browsers warn customers otherwise.
- Backups you can actually restore, taken daily, including the database.
- A real server cron for feeds, emails, stock syncs and abandoned basket reminders.
- Reliable email delivery so order confirmations don't land in spam. See email hosting.
- Someone to call when the checkout stops working on a Saturday morning.
Old and stuck shops
A lot of our shop customers come to us because their cart is too old for their current host. PrestaShop 1.6, CubeCart 4 and 5, osCommerce 2.x, OpenCart 1.5, Magento 1 and X-Cart 4 shops are all still trading in the UK. Where it can be done safely, we get them running on the PHP version they need, isolated from other sites, then help plan a sensible upgrade or move. See legacy PHP hosting and website rescue.
Payments and PCI DSS in plain English
If you take card payments, you need to comply with PCI DSS. For most small shops the simplest route is to make sure card details never reach your own server:
- Use a hosted payment page or embedded secure fields from Stripe, PayPal, Square or your bank's gateway
- Never store card numbers in your shop database or admin emails
- Make sure your payment module supports 3D Secure 2, which UK card payments need for Strong Customer Authentication
Done this way, most small merchants complete the shortest self-assessment questionnaire. Your payment provider can confirm which form applies to you.
When a shop needs more than £1 a day
Complete Hosting suits most small and medium UK shops. We quote separately for large Magento or Shopware builds, stores with big seasonal peaks, multi-store agency setups and shops with heavy ERP or marketplace integrations. Those usually go on a managed VPS or dedicated server. If your shop is a big part of your income, hosting for online shops explains how we look after trading sites.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best ecommerce hosting in the UK for a small business?
Look for managed hosting that supports your cart's PHP version, includes daily backups and SSL, runs a real server cron and gives you UK support. dijitul offers this for £1 a day + VAT, including moving your shop, for WooCommerce, PrestaShop, CubeCart, OpenCart, Zen Cart and other platforms.
Who can host an old online shop that my current host won't support?
dijitul, a UK company trading since 2006, hosts older shops such as PrestaShop 1.6, CubeCart 4 and 5, osCommerce 2.x and OpenCart 1.5. Where it is safe, we run them on the PHP version they need, isolated and firewalled, for £1 a day + VAT, and help plan an upgrade.
Does my web host need to be PCI compliant?
If card details never touch your server, because you use a hosted payment page or embedded secure fields, your PCI obligations are much smaller. Your host still needs to keep the server patched and secure. Ask your payment provider which PCI self-assessment form applies to your setup.
How much does ecommerce hosting cost in the UK?
Prices vary widely. dijitul charges £1 a day + VAT for managed shop hosting, which includes migration, daily backups, SSL, Cloudflare DNS and a domain renewal each year. Large or high-traffic stores that need their own server are quoted on a managed VPS or dedicated server.
Can you move my online shop without downtime?
We get very close. dijitul copies your shop to the new server, tests checkout on a temporary address, then switches DNS with low TTLs through Cloudflare. To avoid lost orders, we do a final database sync at a quiet time, usually overnight, just before the switch.
Which ecommerce platform is best for a small UK shop?
WooCommerce suits shops that want a WordPress site with a shop attached. PrestaShop and OpenCart suit dedicated shops with lots of products. CubeCart and Zen Cart are lighter and simpler. Magento and Shopware suit larger catalogues with developer support. dijitul hosts all of them.
Related
Set it up and forget about it
Managed hosting, Plesk, Cloudflare DNS, daily backups and your domain for £1 a day + VAT. We move your site for you.