Netfirms vs Hostpro: guide for 2024

Netfirms vs Hostpro: Final verdict

Looking over Netfirms vs. HostPro, 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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  HostPro (Overall grade: 6.9)
  
  stands out for its high-performance NVMe SSD servers and flexible hosting plans, including cloud and VPS options. Its use of Intel® Xeon® processors and additional optimization tools like the LiteSpeed Web Server ensure fast loading speeds. While HostPro’s uptime fell slightly below its 99.9% guarantee, it still provides solid performance with a global reach through diverse data center locations. However, the absence of phone and live chat support may be a disadvantage, and the service is better suited to users needing advanced tools and customization options.
• 
  Netfirms (Overall grade: 7.3)
  
  has shown impressive uptime, ensuring consistent performance for users. With data centers in both New York and Toronto, it guarantees efficient service delivery. Its 24/7 customer support via phone, live chat, and ticketing system has been praised for responsiveness. However, Netfirms lacks advanced hosting options like cloud and VPS hosting, instead offering shared and dedicated hosting. Despite having a straightforward approach suitable for small businesses, its limited advanced features might not meet the needs of more technical users.

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 Netfirms: Proven stable performance with strong uptime and reliable customer support.

Netfirms has demonstrated a remarkable 100% uptime during a two-week testing period, living up to its promise of 99.9% uptime. With data centers in New York and Toronto, Netfirms ensures that they can serve users efficiently. Their 24/7 customer support, offered through phone, live chat, and a ticketing system, provides immediate assistance whenever needed. Netfirms also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for credit card payments, adding a layer of security for their users.

HostPro also offers a 99.9% uptime guarantee, but during a one-month test, it achieved 99.43% uptime due to two notable downtimes. Despite utilizing NVMe SSDs and RAID10 arrays for efficient data transfer, HostPro falls short in comparison to Netfirms. They do, however, provide support through 24/7 technical assistance and maintain a diverse range of data centers across Ukraine, Poland, the Netherlands, and the USA. Their use of platforms like DigitalOcean and Vultr adds a layer of service flexibility.

🏆 Winner: HostPro: Offers high-performance features for demanding hosting needs.

When comparing the general performance of Netfirms and HostPro, key differences emerge. HostPro employs NVMe SSDs that are 10x faster than traditional SSDs and over 100x faster than HDDs, resulting in page load times of less than a second. HostPro also leverages Intel® Xeon® processors for handling heavier workloads. In contrast, Netfirms offers solid, yet more traditional SSD hosting. HostPro provides a LiteSpeed Web Server with a built-in plugin to further optimize website performance, while Netfirms includes scalable resources and good support options but lacks the advanced caching of HostPro. Both providers include CDNs, but HostPro integrates Cloudflare for enhanced global reach. HostPro offers multiple server locations in the Netherlands and the USA for better geographic coverage compared to Netfirms.

Website Speed

HostPro outperforms Netfirms in terms of website speed. The combination of NVMe SSDs and Intel® Xeon® processors ensures ultra-fast page load times and higher PageSpeed scores. The LiteSpeed Web Server enhances this by providing multiple optimization tools such as PageSpeed optimization and CSS/JavaScript/HTML minification. Netfirms, on the other hand, focuses on offering customizable hosting plans and efficient resource management, though their infrastructure doesn’t support the rapid speeds achievable by HostPro.

Scalability

Scalability differs between the two providers. HostPro offers flexible options with both cloud hosting and VPS plans starting at $10/month, utilizing NVMe drives to handle increased workloads effectively. Their scaling is highly elastic, allowing businesses to upgrade quickly without service interruptions. Netfirms offers scalable bandwidth across its plans but requires manual upgrades for higher resource needs. Their dedicated hosting is the priciest option, ideal for only very large enterprises. Both offer dedicated server options, with Netfirms focusing on security and customization.

🏆 Winner HostPro: HostPro offers robust PHP version support and comprehensive security measures, making it ideal for various web hosting needs.

Technical security measures:

Netfirms and HostPro both provide free SSL certificates with their hosting plans. Netfirms offers several types of SSL certificates with varying levels of protection and warranties, whereas HostPro includes automatic SSL installation and renewal. In addition, Netfirms includes domain privacy with malware scans and blacklist monitoring, while HostPro uses Imunify AV+ for malware protection and provides DDoS protection. HostPro supports multiple PHP versions from 4.4 to 8.0, offering more flexibility than Netfirms, whose specific PHP support is not detailed.

Operational security measures:

Both Netfirms and HostPro offer robust operational security measures. Netfirms utilizes SiteLock Security to provide malware scanning and removal, blacklist monitoring, and domain security alerts. HostPro employs Imunify AV+ for malware protection and includes firewall management and secure SSH access. Additionally, HostPro performs daily backups stored for 30 days, which is not specified for Netfirms. Custom firewalls and event log management are also part of HostPro’s offerings, enhancing its operational security.

Compliance and certifications:

Both Netfirms and HostPro comply with GDPR regulations, ensuring EU residents’ data privacy and security. Netfirms has specific rights provided to EU residents such as the right to be forgotten and data handling mechanisms. HostPro also meets PCI compliance standards and follows GDPR guidelines but provides no specific certifications for HIPAA compliance. Netfirms offers PCI compliance verification through its partner SiteLock.

🏆 Winner HostPro: HostPro offers a diverse suite of advanced features suitable for a range of user needs.

When examining Netfirms and HostPro, both offer robust hosting solutions but cater to different user demands. Netfirms stands out with its straightforward approach, offering essential services like a free domain for the first year, unlimited disk space, and scalable bandwidth. This can be particularly appealing to small businesses or individuals seeking simplicity and reliability. Netfirms’ inclusion of eCommerce solutions and marketing tools is also a significant advantage for users looking to establish or grow an online store. Despite this, the lack of clear information about SSH availability may deter more technically inclined users.

HostPro, on the other hand, targets users who need more advanced features and flexibility. The availability of NVMe SSD-based hosting, staging areas, and advanced database servers (MariaDB and PostgreSQL) makes HostPro a compelling option for developers or businesses requiring high performance. Furthermore, HostPro’s access to various programming languages and frameworks, along with SSH availability upon request, provides technical users with the tools needed for extensive customization and server management. This level of control, along with daily backups and LiteSpeed Web Server, makes HostPro particularly suited for larger businesses or developers.

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 Netfirms and HostPro 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:

Email services at Netfirms do not offer specific email hosting or transactional email capabilities in their plans. Conversely, HostPro provides unlimited email accounts along with comprehensive mail management services including POP3, IMAP, and SMTP protocols, making it ideal for users requiring robust email functionality. HostPro’s secure webmail interface and features like mail lists, forwarders, and autoresponders further enhance its attractiveness for business users managing extensive email campaigns or multiple mailboxes.

🏆 Winner HostPro:Provides comprehensive features with flexible pricing options suitable for a broader range of users.

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.

When comparing Netfirms and HostPro, it’s clear that both providers offer a range of hosting plans designed to meet various needs. Netfirms provides a straightforward pricing scheme with added features like unlimited storage and scalable bandwidth across their plans. HostPro, on the other hand, offers more variety with options for managed web hosting, WordPress hosting, cloud hosting, and VPS hosting. HostPro’s plans include higher resource limits and NVMe SSD storage, which can be crucial for performance-centric applications. Netfirms’ advantage lies in unlimited offerings, but HostPro’s detailed configurations offer more flexibility, especially with their cloud and VPS plans.

Enterprise plans

For enterprises, Netfirms provides substantial plans with unlimited storage, scalability, and added security features like SSL certificates, which can be appealing for comprehensive eCommerce solutions. HostPro’s enterprise-suited offerings include a range of high-performing Cloud and VPS hosting plans, providing advanced NVMe SSD storage and scalable resources. These high-tier plans ensure considerable bandwidth and RAM, making HostPro a suitable choice for businesses requiring robust performance and enhanced scalability.

🏆 Winner
HostPro LLC: Offers extensive support options and a user-friendly control panel.

Netfirms provides a streamlined setup with an integrated control panel that combines domain and hosting management. This approach simplifies access and ensures that users do not have to switch between multiple platforms. Netfirms also includes onboarding assistance and 24/7 technical support, making it accessible for non-technical users. Its integration with Google Workspace further eases domain verification and enables smooth transitions between email and website management. This makes it an attractive option for those seeking an all-in-one solution.

HostPro, on the other hand, utilizes cPanel for its control panel, a widely recognized and highly user-friendly interface. cPanel simplifies complex tasks such as database management, email account setups, and software installations. HostPro’s inclusion of 1-click Softaculous installations for over 300 applications boosts its user-friendliness, particularly for those without coding knowledge. This combination of features appeals to both technical and non-technical users, providing a versatile and accessible platform.

HostPro provides free manual site migrations, making it a convenient choice for users looking to transfer their existing websites without incurring additional costs. This is a significant advantage for those who might find migrating websites technically challenging. Netfirms does not explicitly offer free migration services, making HostPro a more appealing option in this regard.

Netfirms offers a comprehensive knowledge base covering a wide range of topics, from website backup and restore to GDPR compliance. Their 24/7 support via chat and phone is a reliable resource for users. HostPro also boasts a detailed knowledge base with extensive categories and 24/7 technical support available through email. For further exploration, you can access the respective help centers:
Netfirms help center: https://www.netfirms.com/help
HostPro help center: https://www.hostpro.com/knowledgebase

🏆 Winner Netfirms: Netfirms provides superior user management features for WordPress sites.

Netfirms offers a comprehensive system for managing various user roles with specific permissions and access levels. Administrators can manage all aspects of the site, including functions for other roles, making it highly flexible for site owners who need complete control. Editors focus on content management for the entire site, while Authors have control over their own posts. Contributors can create and edit their content, which must be reviewed by higher roles before publishing, making it suitable for new or guest bloggers. Subscribers have basic access, limited to reading content and managing their profiles. On the other hand, HostPro LLC lacks detailed information on user management, making it challenging to evaluate their capabilities in this area.

Netfirms provides a user-friendly interface for managing users within the WordPress Dashboard. The left navigation menu is intuitive, allowing site owners to quickly add, edit, or remove users. The straightforward steps to create new users, including the ability to send account information via email, make the process seamless. Role assignment from a drop-down menu simplifies the task of defining user access. The dashboard view of existing users further enhances the administration, offering a clear overview and easy management options.

Access control measures in Netfirms are effective, ensuring that each user has the appropriate level of permissions. Administrators can easily scale user management as the number of users grows, maintaining control over various roles and permissions without complexity. The ability to edit or remove users directly from the dashboard ensures that access can be efficiently managed. Although we don’t have specific details on HostPro’s approach to user management, it would need to offer comparable features to match Netfirms’ efficacy.

Netfirms user roles table:

🏆 Winner Netfirms: Superior customer service availability and response times.

Netfirms offers a highly accessible 24/7 customer service experience with phone support, live chat, and email options. Their response times are impressive, with phone inquiries typically answered in less than a minute and web chats rarely requiring more than a few minutes. The quality of support is commendable, as representatives are knowledgeable and provide direct answers. Additionally, premium customers receive prioritized support, ensuring faster resolutions.

HostPro also provides round-the-clock support, although their methods are limited to email and text-based communication. The range of technical and security services is extensive, which could benefit users with specific needs in these areas. Their free manual site migrations, daily backups, and SSL certificates add value. However, the lack of phone and live chat support might be a limitation for users who prefer more immediate interaction.

Netfirms vs Hostpro: User feedback

User feedback on this hosting provider is mixed, with significant criticism and some praise. Many users appreciate the good uptime, active customer support, and affordability of domain registration. However, frequent complaints include slow server speeds, poor usability, and unsatisfactory load times, which hinder site performance and development. Additionally, some users have faced issues with server reliability and confusing setup processes.

Users highly recommend HostPro for its excellent balance between performance and price, particularly praising its robust web hosting plans. The VPS service is highlighted for its impressive speed, thanks to blazing-fast SSD and NVMe storage, and powerful processors. The consistently responsive and customer-focused support team receives considerable commendation for their ability to resolve issues promptly. Overall, HostPro stands out for offering a combination of high-quality hardware, scalability, and exceptional customer service.

Netfirms vs Hostpro: FAQ