Web.com vs Hawk Host: guide for 2024

Web.com vs Hawk Host: Final verdict

Looking over Web.com vs. Hawk Host, Hawk Host emerges as the superior choice for comprehensive web hosting needs.

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  Hawk Host (Overall grade: 8.4)
  
  provides an excellent mix of performance, reliability, and customer support. Its high-performance hosting environment is backed by enterprise-level servers, SSD/NVMe storage, and strong security measures like Imunify360 WAF and daily backups. Their plans are reasonably priced, starting at $2.24 per month, with options for scaling up based on user needs. The use of CloudFlare, advanced caching options, and a well-organized cPanel further enhance site performance and management efficiency. Users also benefit from unlimited email accounts, free daily backups, and a 30-day money-back guarantee, making it a well-rounded hosting solution.
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  Web.com (Overall grade: 7.3)
  
  offers many appealing features, particularly for small to medium-sized businesses and beginners. It includes unmetered bandwidth, a user-friendly drag-and-drop website builder, and a free domain for the first year. The hosting plans are simple to understand, focusing on user experience within the WP-Admin and high scalability. However, the absence of SFTP and SSH access may deter more advanced users. While competitive in terms of speed and reliability, Web.com’s lack of certain advanced features and higher pricing compared to its counterparts slightly diminishes its overall value.

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: Hawk Host provides excellent reliability, affordability, and superior customer support.

When evaluating uptime and availability, Hawk Host and Web.com both provide competitive offerings. Web.com guarantees a 99.9% uptime, monitored 24/7, with actual uptime hitting 99.83%. Hawk Host also promises 99.9% uptime but stands out with an SLA compensation plan and multiple globally distributed data centers. Their data centers’ redundancy and backup measures further ensure reliable performance. Daily backups and proactive malware scanning are additional perks.

Web.com shines with its unmetered bandwidth, SSL security, and comprehensive support channels. However, Hawk Host edges out its competitor with faster disk read/write speeds and superior latency. Customers also appreciate Hawk Host’s comprehensive backup service and responsive support, often addressing tickets within an hour. Their enterprise-grade servers and CloudFlare optimization further enhance their offerings, making Hawk Host a top choice.

🏆 Winner
Hawk Host: For users who prioritize speed and advanced technological infrastructure, Hawk Host emerges as the superior hosting service with its impressive performance metrics and array of robust features.

When comparing general performance, Hawk Host stands out with its use of Enterprise Intel Xeon or AMD EPYC processors, coupled with high-performance SSD/NVMe storage, ensuring rapid page loads and reduced latency. Web.com also offers competitive speeds, citing a 70% faster server response time, upgraded PHP 8.0, and MySQL 8 for enhanced performance. Both hosts provide unmetered bandwidth, but Hawk Host’s use of LiteSpeed Web Server, KVM Virtualization for resource isolation, and 40Gbps server connectivity further enhances its edge. In contrast, Web.com focuses on user experience within the WP-Admin and high scalability. Hawk Host offers a superior CDN solution through CloudFlare optimized servers, while the CDN option in Web.com is not specified.

Website Speed

Hawk Host excels in website speed with data centers in multiple global locations, including New York, Amsterdam, Dallas, and more, ensuring local speeds and low latency worldwide. Its PageSpeed is further boosted by LiteSpeed web server and multiple caching options like LiteSpeed Cache (LSCache). Web.com also emphasizes quicker content display through PHP 8.0 and OPcode Cache, but it doesn’t offer the same level of built-in performance enhancements as Hawk Host.

Scalability

Both hosting providers offer scalability options tailored to varying needs; however, Hawk Host offers more transparent elastic scaling with different plans and resources. While Web.com can support up to 99.5% of customers’ bandwidth demands and provides scalable solutions for those who outgrow shared hosting, the specifics of this scaling process are not detailed. Hawk Host’s pricing structure starts at $2.24/mo for shared hosting, with options to scale up as needed.

In conclusion, Hawk Host sets a high bar with its comprehensive features and performance, making it the clear winner in this comparison.

🏆 Winner
Hawk Host: Offers robust security measures and excellent support.

Both Web.com 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:

Web.com’s security portfolio includes various SSL certificates, PHP 8.0 support, GDPR and PCI compliance, SiteLock solutions, CodeGuard backups, and a 99.9% uptime guarantee. Hawk Host provides several types of SSL certificates with varying warranties, proactive malware scanning, DDoS protection, and daily backups. Both hosts support multiple PHP versions, but Hawk Host’s use of enterprise-grade servers and CloudFlare warrants special mention.

Operational security measures:

Web.com features SiteLock services including malware scanning and a CDN, complemented by CodeGuard for backups and automatic WordPress updates. Conversely, Hawk Host focuses on DDoS protection, daily backups, SSH access, and several additional security recommendations. Both ensure consistent uptime and data security, yet Hawk Host is praised for its 24/7 support and customer satisfaction.

Compliance and certifications:

Both Web.com and Hawk Host comply with GDPR, ensuring protection of personal data. Hawk Host’s documentation suggests efforts to align with broader compliance needs like general data security and third-party audits. Web.com, in addition to GDPR, offers PCI compliance scanning, indicating a broad approach to regulatory adherence.

🏆 Winner Hawk Host: Robust security features and comprehensive control.

Both Web.com and Hawk Host offer solid hosting features with specific focuses that could cater to different users. Web.com provides a user-friendly, drag-and-drop website builder, making it easier for beginners to set up a professional-looking website without much technical know-how. Along with unmetered bandwidth, a free domain for the first year, and an included SSL certificate, Web.com is attractive for small to medium-sized businesses looking for straightforward solutions. However, the lack of SFTP and SSH availability could be a limitation for more advanced users.

On the other hand, Hawk Host stands out with its high-performance hosting environment, featuring enterprise-level servers, SSD/NVMe storage, and proactive security measures like Imunify360 WAF and malware scanning. Hawk Host also includes SSH access by default, providing more flexibility for advanced users who require secure remote access. Other unique benefits are unlimited domains, free daily backups, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. The cPanel control panel and a wide range of one-click installation apps make it suitable for users needing more control and customization.

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 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:

Web.com includes business email with its hosting packages, enabling users to set up professional email accounts easily. In contrast, Hawk Host offers unlimited email accounts and enterprise-level spam filtering through SpamExperts. While Web.com provides adequate email hosting for small-scale needs, Hawk Host is more suited for users requiring extensive email capabilities and better spam protection.

🏆 Winner Hawk Host: Hawk Host offers versatile hosting options at competitive prices, providing comprehensive features 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.

Hawk Host provides more competitive pricing across its shared and WordPress hosting plans, with monthly rates starting at $3.74 and a lower cost per month for longer commitment periods. Their plans include unlimited bandwidth, free SSL certificates, and proactive malware scanning—all essential for businesses large and small. In contrast, Web.com offers shared and WordPress hosting at slightly higher initial prices, with renewal rates that are also higher. Web.com does offer unique features such as a drag-and-drop website builder and business email, alongside unmetered bandwidth and storage options tailored to various tiers.

Enterprise plans

For enterprises, both providers offer comprehensive plans, but Hawk Host leads with its versatility. Their cloud hosting and VPS plans offer extensive storage, significant bandwidth, and full root access at competitive prices, tailored for high-demand environments. Web.com’s offerings, while feature-rich, focus more on mid-tier and small businesses, lacking the flexibility and scalability found in Hawk Host’s enterprise-oriented plans.

🏆 Winner
Hawk Host:Hawk Host offers a seamless hosting experience with superior support and user-friendly tools.

Web.com provides a centralized hosting control panel designed for ease of use. It features a drag-and-drop website builder and dashboards for managing domains, setting up email accounts, and monitoring website performance. This makes it suitable for both technical and non-technical users. Web.com also offers a one-click WordPress install feature, making it very accessible for users who are new to WordPress. The inclusion of a variety of customizable design templates further enhances its user-friendliness.

Hawk Host employs a cPanel control panel, known for its comprehensive functionality and intuitive interface. It includes features like one-click installers for popular applications, free SSL certificates, and daily backups, streamlining the setup process. cPanel is familiar to many users and is particularly advantageous for those with some technical background. For non-technical users, the interface remains accessible thanks to its organized layout and clear options. Additionally, Hawk Host’s support for CloudFlare, Memcached, and Redis servers enhances site performance and management efficiency.

Both hosting providers offer tools for site migration, although their approaches differ slightly. Web.com simplifies the process through its managed WordPress hosting with automatic WordPress installation. This can be particularly helpful for users migrating a WordPress site. Hawk Host, on the other hand, provides a user-friendly migration process aided by its cPanel and the Softaculous one-click installers, which can facilitate the transfer of various types of web applications. Hawk Host also includes additional security features like proactive malware scanning to ensure safe migrations without extra fees.

The platforms provide extensive knowledge bases filled with guides, how-to articles, and instructional content. Web.com 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: Seamless user management with flexible permissions and an intuitive interface.

Web.com and Hawk Host offer distinct approaches to managing user roles and permissions. Web.com provides two preset roles—Admin and Tech—each tailored to specific management needs such as billing information and managing services. On the other hand, Hawk Host allows for more granular control by offering the option to assign “All Permissions” or selectively choose specific permissions for each user. This flexibility gives Hawk Host an advantage in customizing user access according to the specific needs of the account holder.

Web.com offers a step-by-step user interface through its Account Manager, where modifications such as adding users and updating billing information are accessible via the user icon. Hawk Host employs a similarly user-friendly approach with a client area that centralizes user management. Both platforms streamline the process but Hawk Host’s interface arguably stands out due to its simplified navigation and straightforward email-based invitation system for new users.

When it comes to access control and managing a growing number of users, Web.com provides an intuitive separation of roles allowing for clear oversight of user access levels. However, with only two predefined roles, it may feel limited as user needs expand. Hawk Host’s customizable permissions model is more adaptable to a growing user base, allowing the primary account holder to efficiently manage access levels and permissions as the team size increases.

Web.com User Roles Table

Hawk Host User Roles Table

🏆 Winner Hawk Host: Superior customer support and free migration sets Hawk Host apart.

Both Web.com and Hawk Host offer comprehensive 24/7 support, including phone, live chat, and email/ticket systems. Web.com’s advantage lies in its availability of dedicated technical support agents and an extensive knowledge base, a feature early adopters and tech-challenged users might find particularly useful. Their business consultant service is available on weekdays, providing tailored advice through direct phone calls.

Hawk Host, on the other hand, provides an extensive array of support channels including Twitter, a community forum, and an active blog for news and updates. Additionally, they shine with their commitment to free migration services, a 30-day money-back guarantee, and valuable bonuses like free SSL certificates and a website builder. This all-inclusive support package, alongside positive customer feedback, makes Hawk Host the preferred choice for users seeking reliable and versatile support.

Web.com vs Hawk Host: User feedback

Overall, users appreciate the hosting provider for its comprehensive service that includes domain purchasing, website hosting, and development, making it a convenient one-stop solution. However, there are concerns about limitations on hosting unlimited domains, which can be a significant drawback for users managing numerous websites. Additionally, the cost of individual website software is considered prohibitive by some, especially for those who already have lifetime licenses for third-party software. Despite these issues, the service is generally seen as satisfactory.

Based on the reviews, customers find this hosting provider to be a highly reliable solution, particularly appreciating the smooth transition process from other hosts and the helpful, efficient support. While some note that the hosting packages are slightly more expensive, they believe the superior quality of support and services justifies the cost in the long run. Overall, users feel that the company offers a stress-free and worthwhile hosting experience.

Web.com vs Hawk Host: FAQ