Namecheap vs Hawk Host: guide for 2024

Namecheap vs Hawk Host: Final verdict

Looking over Namecheap vs. Hawk Host, both are strong contenders for different user needs.

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  Hawk Host (Overall grade: 8.4)
  
  
  excels in performance, featuring six global data centers, enterprise-grade servers, and a 99.9% uptime guarantee. The platform’s integration with Cloudflare, proactive malware scanning, and utilization of LiteSpeed Web Server result in superior speed and reliability. Customers appreciate its robust support system, versatile customer service options, and flexible cloud hosting plans. However, the lack of dedicated hosting may limit certain high-demand applications.
  
• 
  Namecheap (Overall grade: 7.2)
  
  
  offers competitive plans with a broad range of features like free SSL certificates for the first year and unmetered bandwidth. It boasts a 100% uptime guarantee for shared, business, and dedicated accounts, though actual performance has shown minor uptime shortcomings. It is particularly strong in providing comprehensive SSL options and various additional security features, and its user-friendly site migration tools make it favorable for beginners and startups. Nevertheless, Namecheap falls behind Hawk Host in overall speed and scalability, putting it at a slight disadvantage for high-performance needs.
  

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

🏆 Winner
Hawk Host: It’s superior uptime and significantly faster response times make Hawk Host a better choice for users who require high performance and stability from their hosting provider.

Hawk Host shows a slightly superior performance in terms of reliability and speed. Both hosting services have impressive uptimes, with Hawk Host slightly edging out Namecheap with a 99.99% uptime over a 3-month period compared to Namecheap’s 99.89%. This difference in uptime is reflected in the number and duration of outages, where Hawk Host experienced 3 outages totaling 12 minutes, while Namecheap had 5 outages totaling 2h 12 minutes.

Hawk Host’s advantage is more pronounced in terms of server response time. It boasted an average response time of 389ms, which is significantly lower than the shared hosting industry standard and faster than Namecheap’s average response time of 670ms, which can peak up to 1152ms. This suggests that Hawk Host is not only more reliable in maintaining uptime but also in delivering faster website loading speeds, making it a preferable option for users prioritizing performance.

🏆 Winner
Hawk Host: Offers advanced performance with top-tier hardware and comprehensive security features.

When comparing the general performance of Namecheap and Hawk Host, both providers offer SSD storage for faster website loading times, but Hawk Host edges out with high-performance NVMe storage for reduced latency. Namecheap’s WordPress hosting shows notable speed with a fully loaded time of 0.7 seconds, whereas Hawk Host utilizes LiteSpeed Web Server for speed boosts and optimization. Hawk Host leverages CloudFlare for free CDN integration, enhancing load times and security, whereas Namecheap includes a free CDN with WordPress plans. Namecheap has data centers in the US, UK, and EU, with the EU center powered by renewable sources, while Hawk Host covers more global locations including the US, Netherlands, Hong Kong, and more.

Website Speed

Namecheap’s WordPress hosting boasts excellent speed with a fully loaded time of 0.7 seconds and a 192ms time to first byte. It offers a 3x speed increase compared to traditional hosting. Hawk Host, benefiting from LiteSpeed Web Server, ensures rapid page loading and better resource handling. The 40Gbps server connectivity also contributes to Hawk Host’s quick data transfer, leading to snappier website experiences.

Scalability

Namecheap and Hawk Host both offer scalable hosting solutions, but the specific approaches are different. Namecheap provides straightforward plan upgrades across different hosting types, with clear tiers for shared, WordPress, and VPS hosting. However, the exact mechanism of elastic scaling isn’t outlined. Hawk Host offers Cloud Compute starting at $5.00/mo, with a system that appears to allow for flexible upgrades, but it’s unclear if scaling is automatic or manual. Dedicated servers were not mentioned for either service.

🏆 Winner Namecheap: Offers a broad range of SSL certificates and extensive security measures.

Both Namecheap and Hawk Host, have notable differences in their approaches to technical and operational
security, as well as in their compliance with regulations.

Technical security measures:

Namecheap provides various SSL certificates catering to different needs, including Domain Validation (DV), Organization Validation (OV), and Extended Validation (EV), whereas Hawk Host’s options are AlphaSSL, DomainSSL, Organization SSL, and ExtendedSSL. Namecheap supports PHP versions from 5.x to 8.x, giving flexibility in script compatibility. Both providers offer essential security add-ons like SSH access, but Namecheap includes advanced features such as IP Deny Manager, Leech Protect, and Virus Scanner. Hawk Host focuses on proactive malware scanning and DDoS protection, ensuring server-level security.

Operational security measures:

Both Namecheap and Hawk Host offer Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) and frequent backups. Namecheap adds value with features like domain privacy, PremiumDNS, FastVPN, and spam protection solutions like Jellyfish Spam Protection and BoxTrapper. Hawk Host, although providing comprehensive daily backups and DDoS protection by default, emphasizes enterprise-grade hardware and offers Cloudflare integration for enhanced DNS management. Both providers maintain 24/7 customer support, ensuring rapid response times to security issues.

Compliance and certifications:

Namecheap and Hawk Host have measures in place to comply with GDPR. Namecheap covers various GDPR rights, including data portability and the right to be forgotten. Hawk Host is updating its internal policies and software to align with GDPR requirements. Neither provider specifies HIPAA compliance. PCI compliance isn’t explicitly stated, but both offer SSL certificates, aiding in meeting some PCI security standards.

🏆 Winner
Namecheap: Reliable hosting service with extensive features and flexible plans.

When choosing between Namecheap and Hawk Host, both hosting providers offer a variety of benefits to different types of users. Namecheap provides a stellar website builder across all its shared hosting plans, which is user-friendly and allows for complex customizations. This advantage makes it an appealing choice for users looking to build and manage multiple websites seamlessly. Additionally, Namecheap includes free services like SSL Certificates for the first year, making it a cost-effective solution for startups. On the other hand, Hawk Host incorporates CloudFlare optimization and proactive malware scanning, enhancing website security and loading speeds. This level of security might attract users requiring robust website protection without additional fees.

In terms of email hosting, Namecheap offers a personalized domain-based email service with features like Jellyfish Spam Protection and unlimited email mailboxes in its higher-tier plans. Hawk Host matches well with unlimited email accounts and enterprise-level spam filtering via SpamExperts. Namecheap also stands out with its cloud storage feature and auto-backup options, particularly with the Stellar Business plan. Meanwhile, Hawk Host provides daily backups and extensive application support with one-click installations for over 380 apps, including WordPress, ensuring ease of setup and maintenance. Both providers offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing users to evaluate their services without significant upfront commitment.

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 Namecheap and Hawk Host 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:

Namecheap provides users with domain-based email accounts starting from 30 mailboxes and increasing to unlimited in higher plans. It also includes features like spam protection and email forwarding. Hawk Host offers unlimited email accounts across all plans with enterprise-level spam filtering. While Namecheap’s email hosting is comprehensive, Hawk Host’s offering is equally robust, with minimal additional management required. Both providers do not resell third-party services but focus on their in-house email capabilities.

🏆 Winner: Namecheap: Namecheap: Offering affordable plans and comprehensive features for various hosting 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.

Namecheap and Hawk Host offer competitive hosting plans for different needs. Namecheap’s shared hosting plans range from $1.98 to $4.98 per month annually, with features like free SSL, Supersonic CDN, and website migration. Hawk Host’s shared hosting starts at $2.24 per month with unlimited bandwidth and proactive malware scanning. Namecheap’s WordPress plans range from $2.91 for EasyWP Starter to $5.74 for EasyWP Supersonic, boasting features such as 50 GB SSD storage and faster speeds. Hawk Host’s WordPress plans start at $2.24 per month, including free Redis and Memcached servers. For cloud hosting, Hawk Host starts at $5 per month, while Namecheap’s dedicated servers kick off at $44.88. Each provider has unique offerings tailored for different user needs.

Enterprise plans

Namecheap’s advanced dedicated server options provide a variety of customizable configurations suitable for high-traffic websites and data-intensive applications, starting at $44.88 per month. These plans include 24/7 support and substantial backup storage. Hawk Host offers a range of VPS and Cloud Compute Hosting plans from $5 to $160 per month, with features like full root access and high SSD disk space, making it suitable for enterprise-level tasks and applications.

🏆 Winner
Hawk Host: Reliable and user-friendly, Hawk Host stands out with its superior setup and support features.

Namecheap and Hawk Host both provide notable solutions for admin panel management, but they take different approaches to ensure user accessibility. Namecheap offers the EasyWP dashboard for its EaseWP plans, a custom-built interface that simplifies website management without cPanel complexity. Users can manage domains, backups, and other aspects via this intuitive dashboard. For other plans, Namecheap uses cPanel, providing a traditional yet straightforward experience suitable for both beginners and seasoned webmasters.

Hawk Host, on the other hand, sticks with the classic cPanel control panel for ease of use. cPanel’s widespread familiarity ensures that even those switching from other cPanel-based providers will find it straightforward. It integrates advanced features such as one-click installers and daily backups, making it user-friendly for both technical and non-technical users. Hawk Host also offers additional integrated services like CloudFlare optimization and free SSL certificates, enhancing overall ease of setup and management.

Regarding site migration, both Namecheap and Hawk Host provide comprehensive migration tools. Namecheap offers free migration services using the All-in-One WP Migration plugin, allowing seamless transfers from other providers such as GoDaddy and Bluehost. This service is available for a range of hosting plans, making it a convenient choice for many. Hawk Host similarly offers free migration services and can handle the transfer of accounts from other cPanel-based providers, ensuring minimal downtime and a hassle-free transition.

Both hosting providers excel in their support and resources, making help easily accessible. Namecheap offers 24/7 live chat and a support ticket system, backed by an extensive Knowledgebase covering various topics. Hawk Host also provides 24/7/365 support with multiple channels including live chat, email, and even Twitter. Their Knowledgebase is comprehensive, ensuring users can find solutions conveniently.

The platforms provide extensive knowledge bases filled with guides, how-to articles, and instructional content. Namecheap offers a wide range of resources alongside 24/7 chat and phone support. Hawk Host also boasts a detailed help center with an intuitive search function and around-the-clock support via live chat, phone, and ticketing, ensuring comprehensive user support.

Winner Hawk Host: Hawk Host offers a structured user management system that surpasses Namecheap’s capabilities.

Hawk Host excels in managing user roles and permissions through a dedicated “User Management” page, allowing the main account owner to invite new users and assign specific permissions easily. This flexibility is essential for accounts that require multiple levels of access and control. Conversely, Namecheap’s lack of user management details suggests limited capabilities in this area. While Hawk Host enables granular control by letting the primary user select “All Permissions” or choose specific permissions for new users, Namecheap’s absence of information hints at a one-size-fits-all approach, if any user management features exist at all.

Hawk Host’s user interface is straightforward, with clear navigational elements such as the option to access “User Management” from the top-right menu. The “Invite New User” form is direct and easy to use, allowing new users to join via a registration URL sent through email. This method streamlines the process of adding users and adjusting their permissions. Namecheap’s interface, due to the lack of provided information, remains unknown, leading to assumptions of inadequacy or complexities that could hinder user management tasks.

In terms of access control measures and scalability, Hawk Host offers efficient mechanisms for managing permissions and adding users to an account, making it a reliable choice for businesses anticipating growth. The “Choose Permissions” option enhances security by ensuring users have only the access they need. Without detailed information on Namecheap’s user management system, one can infer potential challenges or limitations in handling growing user bases effectively, thereby impacting its scalability and control measures.

Hawk Host User Roles Table:

🏆 Winner Hawk Host: Offering a broad range of support channels, including telephone support and an active community forum.

Namecheap and Hawk Host both provide strong customer support, but they cater to their users in slightly different ways. Namecheap offers 24/7 live chat and ticketing systems, detailed knowledge bases, and various educational resources like guru guides, blogs, and how-to videos. Additionally, Namecheap offers free website migration and instant setup, making it convenient for new users. However, Namecheap does not have phone support, which can be a drawback for those who prefer direct communication.

On the other hand, Hawk Host provides extensive support through multiple channels, including live chat, email, a ticket system, telephone, and even Twitter. They also offer a community forum for peer support, adding another layer of assistance. Their free migration support and 30-day money-back guarantee ensure users can easily switch and try their service without risk. Even though Hawk Host has fewer knowledge base articles compared to Namecheap, their multi-channel and community-centric approach makes them more versatile.

Namecheap vs Hawk Host: User feedback

Namecheap is widely appreciated for its affordability, reliability, and high-quality customer support. Users commend the availability of free SSL certificates, user-friendly cPanel, and outstanding hosting speed. However, shared hosting speed and the occasional slow response from support are noted concerns. Despite these minor drawbacks, Namecheap remains a popular choice for beginners and small to medium businesses due to its competitive pricing and satisfactory service quality.

Customers find the hosting provider highly reliable and stress-free to work with, especially when transferring domains and setting up hosting. The support team is consistently praised for being helpful and efficient. While the hosting packages may cost a bit more, users believe the quality of support and services justifies the investment in the long run.

Namecheap vs Hawk Host: FAQ