Your website host is the company providing the service that keeps your existing website online. It may be the same company that manages your domain, but very often it is not.
Domain provider and website host are not always the same
Your domain provider manages the registration of your web address. Your website host stores or serves the website itself. A third company may also provide your business email.
Example: An electrician might renew
exampleelectrical.co.ukwith one company while paying a different hosting company or web agency to keep the website online.
Ways to identify your website host
- Check old invoices and bank records. Look for recurring payments described as web hosting, hosting, server, website plan or similar.
- Search old emails. Welcome emails, renewal notices and support messages often name the hosting company and include an account link.
- Check the control panel you already use. If you recognise a hosting dashboard, cPanel or another provider account, that is a strong clue.
- Ask the previous developer or agency. They may have arranged the hosting on your behalf and can tell you where it is held.
- Use technical lookup information only as a clue. Automated hosting lookups can sometimes identify a network, CDN or infrastructure company rather than the business you actually pay.
What if I still cannot identify the host?
Gather any website invoices, renewal emails and login details you can find, then contact Toolbelt Websites support. We can help you work out which account is likely to be relevant without encouraging you to make random DNS or hosting changes.
If you are actually trying to identify the company that manages the domain registration, use How do I find out who manages my domain? instead.
Last updated: 8 September 2026