Ever come across a website and wonder, "How do they get it to run so smoothly?" or "What hosting platform are they using to make it look this fantastic?" Today, I'll demystify that process for you. Whether you're in the business of scouting competitors, gathering inspiration, or simply feeding your curiosity, this guide will equip you with the necessary tools to become a digital detective. Plus, don’t miss out on the video demonstration I’ve included for a visual walkthrough!

This tool offers a comprehensive overview of a website's technology stack. From hosting providers to the CRM systems they use, BuiltWith provides a detailed breakdown.

How to use it: Simply enter the website's URL into the search bar, and voilà! You'll get a comprehensive list of all the tools the website is built with.

Wappalyzer is great for a quick overview. It instantly identifies web technologies, including hosting platforms.

How to use it: Input the website URL, and in seconds, you'll see the technologies the site employs.

As the name suggests, this tool primarily identifies the hosting service of a domain.

How to use it: Again, just input the domain name, and it'll tell you where the website is hosted.

This nifty browser extension goes beyond just identifying hosting platforms. It can detect content management systems, plugins, analytics tools, and even some design frameworks.

How to use: Once installed, click on the WhatRuns icon when you're on a website. A dropdown will showcase the technologies powering that website.

For those who want to put on their detective hats, you can directly dive into a website's source code.

How to do it: Right-click on a webpage and select “Inspect” or “View Page Source”. Look for clues like CDN names, or certain JS files that are unique to specific hosting platforms. For instance, if you spot "wp-content" in the source code, it's a giveaway that the website uses WordPress.

👉 Click here to watch Malia's step-by-step video walkthrough! 👈

In this video, I'll personally guide you through each of these methods. We'll explore a few websites together, decode their digital footprints, and reveal their hosting platforms.

So, there you have it! Three robust methods to uncover the hosting secrets behind any website. While online tools and extensions offer convenience, don't be shy to dive deep with manual inspection. Sometimes, the thrill lies in the hunt. And who knows, you might stumble upon some design or functionality inspiration along the way!


If you found this guide helpful, don’t forget to share it with your friends or colleagues. After all, there’s a digital detective in all of us waiting to be unleashed!