Web.com vs Netfirms: guide for 2024

Web.com vs Netfirms: Final verdict

Looking over Web.com vs. Netfirms, it’s clear why both hosts are so popular. They have both hosted millions of
websites that run on WordPress for decades, building up a loyal customer base.

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  Netfirms (Overall grade: 7.3)
  
  
  shines with its stability and robust security measures, making it a recommended choice for ecommerce-focused businesses and high-traffic websites. Its dedicated hosting provides ample resources and bandwidth, crucial for handling significant traffic. The reliable uptime and advanced feature set, including SiteLock security plans and comprehensive customer support, build user confidence in the service. While lacking in certain user-friendly tools like a website builder, Netfirms compensates with scalable hosting plans and affordable entry points. Its emphasis on stability and security makes it a solid choice for businesses requiring consistent performance and protection.
  
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  Web.com (Overall grade: 7.3)
  
  
  demonstrates remarkable strengths in speed and flexibility, particularly for small businesses and WordPress users. Its hosting speed stands out, with advanced server features like PHP 8.0 and OPcode Cache ensuring quick content display. Furthermore, Web.com ensures 99.9% uptime and includes unmetered bandwidth and SSL certificates. The user-friendly website builder and comprehensive support make it accessible for non-technical users. However, its slightly lower actual uptime and high renewal costs may be considerations for some users. Overall, Web.com caters well to those needing a swift setup and consistent website performance.
  

Hosting types offered

Both platforms provide a variety of hosting types, each designed to meet the different needs of users.

Although both offer a variety of hosting plans tailored to different needs, in
certain cases, one platform may prove to be more suitable.

Detailed comparison

Section 1: Winner Netfirms: Offers stable hosting with a strong uptime record and 24/7 customer support.

Section 2: Netfirms impressed with its stability, showing only one brief downtime during a two-week testing period. The hosting provider ensures data availability through its data centers in New York and Toronto. With a money-back guarantee and round-the-clock customer support, users can feel secure in their choice.

Section 3: Web.com provides a 99.9% uptime guarantee and solid customer support, along with desirable features like unmetered bandwidth and SSL security. Despite these merits, it showed slightly lower actual uptime compared to Netfirms. Additionally, Web.com’s renewal rates are significantly higher after the first year, which may be a consideration for cost-conscious users.

🏆 Winner: Web.com: Offers enhanced performance and speed for small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Comparing general performance, Web.com excels in hosting speed with server response times up to 70% faster than competitors and features like PHP 8.0, OPcode Cache, and MySQL 8 catering to high-traffic websites. Additionally, Web.com ensures 99.9% uptime with unmetered bandwidth and SSL security. On the other hand, Netfirms offers flexible hosting plans but generally provides less power and bandwidth in its shared hosting plan. Both offer scalable solutions and CDNs, with Web.com focusing on a high-quality user experience in WP-Admin and Netfirms also providing cost-effective eCommerce solutions and marketing tools.

Website Speed

Web.com leads in website speed, primarily due to its server enhancements, including the use of PHP 8.0 and OPcode Cache, which notably improve content display and loading times. Additionally, the upgraded MySQL 8 ensures faster data retrieval. Web.com’s overall speed performance is measured and compared against leading WordPress hosting providers, offering quicker navigation in WP-Admin, which is highly valuable for website owners. Netfirms, though featuring scalable bandwidth across its plans, does not specifically highlight such aggressive speed-enhancing features.

Scalability

Web.com offers flexible and scalable hosting solutions that meet more than 99.5% of customer bandwidth demands, making it efficient for growing small businesses and entrepreneurs. If customers outgrow the shared infrastructure, they can seamlessly upgrade to more advanced solutions. Netfirms provides dedicated servers for large companies with high traffic, but the cost structure’s specifics for scalability are not outlined. While both hostings support scalability, Web.com’s seamless scalability edges out.

🏆 Winner Netfirms: Offers strong SSL certificate warranties and comprehensive SiteLock security plans.

Both Web.com and Netfirms, have notable differences in their approaches to technical and operational security, as well as in their compliance with regulations.

Technical security features:

Web.com and Netfirms both offer robust technical security measures. Web.com includes multiple types of SSL certificates, with verification times varying from instant to five business days. Netfirms also provides an array of SSL certificates but includes a high warranty of up to $1.75M. Both hosting services support modern PHP versions, though the specifics of Netfirms’ PHP support are not detailed. Web.com incorporates features like OPcode Cache and MySQL 8 for superior performance, whereas Netfirms emphasizes wider SSL coverage with TrustLogo® Site Seal and domain privacy.

Operational security features:

Web.com utilizes SiteLock for malware scanning, removal, and a CDN, ensuring faster and more secure site performance. CodeGuard provides reliable backup and recovery solutions. Netfirms goes further with DDoS protection, firewall capabilities, and SiteLock’s multiple plans offering customizable security coverage. Both providers ensure a high uptime and scalable solutions. Netfirms offers domain security alerts and blacklist monitoring, adding another layer of protection.

Compliance and certifications:

Both Web.com and Netfirms adhere to GDPR, ensuring the protection of personal data. Web.com confirms PCI compliance through SiteLock scanning, while Netfirms integrates CISP standards and PCI compliance through its offerings. No specific information on HIPAA compliance is provided for either hosting service.

🏆 Winner
Web.com: A hosting provider that stands out for its extensive features and user-friendly tools.

When comparing Web.com and Netfirms, notable differences emerge that cater to variegated user needs. Web.com guarantees 99.9% uptime, offers unmetered bandwidth, and varies its storage based on different plans. It includes a drag-and-drop website builder making website creation intuitive and accessible, even for users without technical skills. Additionally, Web.com offers a free domain name and SSL certificate for the first year, which could be an appealing offer for new users aiming to cut initial costs. Their programming language support (including Ruby, Python, PHP5, and Perl) offers flexibility for developers seeking diverse coding environments. Managed WordPress hosting with features like automatic installation and updates further eases maintenance tasks for users.

Netfirms, on the other hand, offers unlimited storage across all its plans along with scalable bandwidth. With three different plans starting as low as $3.95/month, Netfirms provides accessible entry points for users of varying needs. The inclusion of eCommerce solutions and marketing tools positions Netfirms as a practical choice for small businesses or online stores. While it does not offer complex website-building tools, it still covers the basics efficiently. Netfirms also offers a free domain name for the first year and a scalable approach to resource allocation, making it adaptable to growing needs.

Both providers support a range of users from beginners to experts with user-friendly website builders and WordPress staging areas. However, in terms of developer tools, both Web.com and Netfirms offer robust options including SSH access, support for multiple programming languages, and Git for version control, thus appealing to developers looking for advanced capabilities.

Email services:

Web.com includes business email hosting with every plan, allowing users to set up professional email addresses directly affiliated with their domain. This feature is particularly valuable for businesses that require consistent branding and professional communication. Netfirms does not offer email hosting services as part of its packages. Both providers do not specify support for transactional email services or the reselling of third-party services like Google Workspace or Outlook.

🏆 Winner Web.com: Offers versatile hosting plans suitable for various needs.

Evaluating the pricing of plans among various hosting providers can be complex due to their differing pricing and renewal strategies. Additionally, certain plans require annual commitments, which adds to the difficulty of making comparisons. The prices listed are based on monthly commitments; plans requiring annual commitments are indicated. Additionally, although some providers offer identical plans for WordPress and shared hosting, we have created separate tables for each to enhance clarity.

Web.com and Netfirms present a variety of hosting plans with differing pricing structures and features. Web.com’s plans cater to both shared and WordPress hosting, with starting prices lower than Netfirms’ comparable offerings. Web.com provides more explicit distinctions between shared and WordPress plans, while Netfirms focuses on fewer but universally applicable shared hosting plans. Both providers offer free domains and SSL certificates, but Netfirms includes scalable bandwidth and unlimited storage across their plans. The inclusion of specific eCommerce tools and varying SSL certificate features adds a layer of flexibility and security to Netfirms’ plans.

Enterprise plans

When comparing enterprise-level plans, Netfirms stands out with its extensive Business Plan offering that includes unlimited websites, storage, databases, and FTP logins. Web.com, while offering competitive shared plans, does not provide a dedicated enterprise plan, making Netfirms a more comprehensive choice for large-scale business hosting needs. Both providers ensure security additions like SSL certificates, which cater to the robust security demands of enterprise clients.

🏆 Winner Web.com: Known for its user-friendly website builder and straightforward setup process.

Web.com offers a drag-and-drop website builder included in its hosting packages, providing a highly intuitive interface that caters to users with various levels of technical expertise. The centralized dashboard makes it simple to manage domains, set up email accounts, and monitor website performance and analytics. The control panel emphasizes ease of use, ensuring that non-technical users can perform administrative tasks without difficulty.

Netfirms, on the other hand, focuses on integrating its control panel with Google Workspace, making domain management seamless. While it offers onboarding assistance to help users get started, the control panel is more tailored towards users who benefit from the integration with Google services. Both hosting providers deliver 24/7 technical support, but Netfirms’ admin panel might require a steeper learning curve compared to Web.com’s more simplified approach.

In terms of migration tools, Web.com does not explicitly mention whether it offers automated or manual site migration tools. However, its responsive customer support and expert assistance may help facilitate the migration process. Netfirms offers tools for website backup and restore but does not explicitly state whether it includes site migration tools. Both providers emphasize customer support, but the specifics of the migration services are somewhat unclear.

Web.com provides comprehensive support through its knowledge base, help center, and online resources like blogs, self-help guides, and step-by-step instructions. Expert assistance is readily available for technical support. Netfirms also offers a knowledge base filled with articles and guides on a variety of topics, including GDPR compliance and online security. Both providers aim to offer accessible help center resources, but Web.com’s inclusion of a broad range of online resources gives it a slight edge.

🏆 Winner
Netfirms: Reliable and versatile for WordPress user management.

Web.com allows for the creation of two primary user roles: Admin and Tech. These roles cater to users who either require comprehensive control over account management or need limited access for handling products and services. Netfirms, on the other hand, offers a wider range of user roles in a WordPress environment, including Administrator, Editor, Author, Contributor, and Subscriber. This variety provides more granular control and flexibility, making it easier to assign roles based on specific responsibilities and capabilities, thereby enhancing the overall management of user permissions and access.

Web.com provides a straightforward user interface for managing users through its Account Manager. The steps for adding or editing account contacts and updating billing information are clearly laid out and accessible via the user icon on the top right section of the page. Netfirms uses the WordPress dashboard for user management, which is intuitive and well-integrated. Adding new users, assigning roles, and managing existing accounts can be done efficiently through a streamlined interface. Both platforms provide user-friendly tools, but Netfirms’ integration with WordPress offers a more extensive range of options and flexibility.

Access control measures on Web.com are effective, with clear delineation between Admins and Tech roles. Admins have comprehensive control over the account, while Tech users have limited access, suitable for maintenance tasks. Netfirms’ multifaceted user roles in a WordPress environment allow for nuanced control, from full administrative capabilities to basic content creation and reading rights. This makes Netfirms more adept at managing a growing number of users, particularly in content-heavy websites, ensuring each user’s access aligns precisely with their responsibilities.

Web.com user roles table:

Netfirms user roles table:

🏆 Winner
Netfirms: Offering more consistently available and responsive customer support, Netfirms has a slight edge.

Web.com and Netfirms both provide extensive customer support options, but Netfirms distinguishes itself with rapid response times and a money-back guarantee. Web.com offers 24/7 product support and maintains multiple channels, including live chat and email support, monitored around the clock. However, Netfirms matches this availability while ensuring faster response times, particularly via phone and web chat, typically within minutes. Netfirms users also benefit from chat transcription for future reference and prioritized support for their highest-tier hosting package customers.

Web.com scores well for its long-listed support channels and always-on technical support, but Netfirms’ prioritized and quicker response times create a better overall customer experience. While issues like billing processes and cancellation concerns are noted by some Netfirms users, the general satisfaction level remains high. Both providers score well, but Netfirms slightly edges out Web.com in customer support efficiency and reliability.

Web.com vs Netfirms: User feedback

The hosting provider offers a comprehensive solution for purchasing domain names, hosting, and website building, making it highly convenient for users managing multiple domains and websites. Users appreciate the convenience of having all services bundled together, but some express concerns about the limitations on hosting unlimited domains and the cost associated with individual website software. Overall, the service is satisfactory and well-rated, though there is room for improvement in accommodating users with extensive hosting needs.

Based on user reviews, the hosting provider appears to offer decent uptime and moderately reliable customer support. However, users frequently report slow server performance and connectivity issues that significantly hamper the experience. While some appreciate the low costs and basic domain registration services, others criticize the clunky system, confusing server setup, and unreliability, especially when working with CMS tools. Overall, the service seems better suited for those with low budgets and high patience.

Web.com vs Netfirms: FAQ