Contabo vs Directnic: Final verdict
Looking over Contabo vs. Directnic, 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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Contabo (Overall grade: 7.6)
excels with dedicated resources and high traffic allowances, making it ideal for high-traffic, multimedia-intensive websites. The use of AMD EPYC processors, SSD/NVMe storage, and multiple global data centers enhances speed and uptime, bolstered by robust security measures like DDoS protection. However, its user interface might be complex for non-technical users, and the lack of an automated migration tool may require additional support. While customer support is generally well-received, the absence of live chat and limited payment options are notable drawbacks. -
Directnic (Overall grade: 6.8)
is user-friendly, particularly for small businesses or individuals seeking budget-friendly shared hosting with comprehensive site builder plans. The 24/7 support, including live chat and phone options, enhances accessibility, while plans come with essential speed-enhancing tools like cPanel. However, it lacks VPS and dedicated server options, limiting scalability for growing needs. Users have reported server slowdowns and inconsistent customer service, and the lower uptime guarantee raises reliability concerns. The absence of advanced customization and SSH access also restricts the options for power users.
 Overall grade:7.6 |
 Overall grade:6.8 |
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|---|---|---|
| Uptime and Availability | 9.4 | 6.3 |
| Hosting Performance | 8.2 | 7.2 |
| Hosting Security | 8.7 | 7.8 |
| Price | 8.3 | 7.8 |
| Hosting Features | 6.6 | 3.6 |
| Ease Of Setup | 7.4 | 7.8 |
| User Management | 5.0 | 6.5 |
| Customer Support | 7.1 | 7.7 |
| User feedback | 3.3/5 | 2.5/5 |
Hosting types offered
Both platforms provide a variety of hosting types, each designed to meet the different needs of users.
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| Shared hosting | ||
| Cloud hosting | ||
| WordPress hosting | ||
| Ecommerce hosting | ||
| VPS hosting | ||
| Dedicated hosting |
Although both offer a variety of hosting plans tailored to different needs, in
certain cases, one platform may prove to be more suitable.
features, making it a better choice for businesses prioritizing long-term growth and stability in their ecommerce endeavors.
Detailed comparison
Uptime and availability
Evaluates the average uptime statistics, uptime guarantee and overall availability of the hosting
provider
Score Components:
- Uptime percentage (30%): evaluates the uptime statistics in given period of time
- Uptime guarantee (20%): Assesses if the platform offers an uptime guarantee and
whether the actual uptime matches the promised guarantee. - General performance (25%): Evaluates how fast is the average response time and overall
it’s stability. - Responsiveness (10%): Adaptability to different devices and screen sizes.
- Availability (25%): Reflects the total downtime and number of outages.
9.4
6.3
🏆 Winner
Contabo: It’s superior uptime and significantly faster response times make Contabo a better choice for users who require high performance and stability from their hosting provider.
Contabo shows a slightly superior performance in terms of reliability and speed. Both hosting services have impressive uptimes, with Contabo slightly edging out others with a 99.996% uptime over a 3-month period compared to Directnic’s 99%. This difference in uptime is reflected in the number and duration of outages, where Contabo experienced minimal outages, while Directnic had a lower guarantee of uptime.
Contabo’s advantage is more pronounced in terms of server response time. It boasted an advanced maintenance system, which is significantly faster than the industry standard and ensures high availability. Independent performance testing shows no downtime and excellent speed grades. This suggests that Contabo 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.
Which one has better hosting performance?
Score Components:
- Hosting speed (30%): This includes SSD quality, Load times, PageSpeed score ranges,
additional information on website speed, built-in plugins for performance enhancement, available caching
methods, and CPU/RAM options - CDN (20%): Considers whether CDN is available or not, whether it’s free or paid, and
the quality of the CDN service - Available data centers (30%): Evaluates the number of data centers and their locations
globally. - Scalibility (20%): Looks at whether elastic scaling is available, the process required
to scale (manual upgrade vs. automatic scaling), the presence of dedicated servers, and the costs
associated with scaling.
8.2
7.2
🏆 Winner Contabo: Offering superior performance, features, and reliability.
When comparing general performance, Contabo stands out with fast and responsive AMD EPYC 7282 16-core processors, SSD or Gen 4 PCIe NVMe SSD storage, and connection speeds between 200Mbit/s and 1Gbit/s, with upgrade options. Its spread of data centers globally (US, UK, Germany, Singapore) ensures low latency. In contrast, Directnic provides up to 200GB of disk space depending on the plan, with cPanel hosting and scalable data transfer. Contabo also includes CDNs within its plans and offers advanced security with 24/7 monitoring and comprehensive DDoS protection.
Website Speed
Contabo’s combination of high-performance AMD processors and top-notch SSD storage results in incredibly fast load times. The connection speed, which reaches up to 1Gbit/s, and the available CDN further enhance the website speed, ensuring minimal latency and downtime. Directnic’s plans, while reliable and featuring essential speed enhancing tools like cPanel and unlimited storage options, do not match the processing power and high-speed capabilities offered by Contabo.
Scalability
Contabo provides easy package upgrades without disrupting uptime, which is ideal for growing businesses requiring flexibility. They offer dedicated servers and various pricing plans to fit different budgets. Unfortunately, specific details about the cost and elastic scaling for Directnic were not provided, making it harder to directly compare. Nonetheless, Directnic’s multiple tiers of hosting plans ensure scalability, albeit potentially requiring manual plan upgrades.
Which one has better security features?
and regulatory requirements
Score Components:
- Technical security measures (40%): This includes encryption, firewalls, DDoS
protection, secure configurations, server monitoring, access control and availability of security addons
(e.g Sitelock security). - Operational security measures (30%): Encompasses data privacy, backups and data
redundancy. - Compliance and certifications (20%): Adherence to legal and regulatory requirements
(e.g., GDPR, HIPAA) and possession of certifications (e.g., ISO 27001, SOC 2). - Business and reliability (10%): Factors in the provider’s reputation, uptime
guarantees, and customer support.
8.7
7.8
🏆 Winner Contabo: A feature-rich hosting provider with an extensive suite of security measures.
Both Contabo and Directnic, have notable differences in their approaches to technical and operational
security, as well as in their compliance with regulations.
Technical security measures:
Contabo offers a comprehensive set of technical security features, including always-on DDoS protection, SSL certificates, customizable PHP versions, and Imunify AV for malware scanning. Directnic provides similar essential features like SSL certificates, PHP version selection, and malware protection, but they charge separately for SSL and their pricing tiers could be a drawback for some users. Contabo’s ability to seamlessly implement backup and recovery options as part of their comprehensive package gives it a slight edge in this domain.
Operational security measures:
Contabo’s operational security includes robust data center security with 24/7 CCTV surveillance, strict role-based access controls, and Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) to prevent unauthorized access. Directnic also ensures operational security through a 24/7 Cyber Security Operations Center (CSOC) and comprehensive DDoS protection. While Directnic offers extensive incident handling and response services, Contabo’s inclusion of advanced monitoring tools and Imunify AV gives it a more integrated approach to operational security.
Compliance and certifications:
Contabo emphasizes its GDPR compliance, suggesting adherence to high industry standards. Though there are no specific details on PCI compliance, their security measures imply it. Directnic does not specifically mention GDPR compliance or PCI compliance. This lack of detailed compliance information puts Contabo ahead in ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements.
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SSL certificate |
Free (included) |
Paid (Basic, Premium EV, Wildcard) |
Additional security features |
Imunify AV, DDoS Protection, Advanced Monitoring Tools |
Malware Detection & Removal, CSOC, SIEM, WAF, DDoS Protection |
PHP versions |
Customizable |
Customizable |
GDPR compliance |
Yes |
Not specified |
HIPAA compliance |
Not specified |
Not specified |
PCI compliance |
Implied, not specified |
Not specified |
Hosting features
Score Components:
- Domains (20%): Assesses the availability of a free domain, domain purchase options, and
pricing - Email (15%): Considers if the provider offers full email hosting, or is reselling
third-party service, and if the email is only transactional or not - Website builder (15%): Checks if website builder is available, and it’s user
friendliness and overall the level of customization allowed. - Staging environment (20%): Determines if a staging environment is available, allowing
for testing changes before going live. - FTP & SFTP accounts (10%): Evaluates if and how easily users can access FTP and
SFTP accounts - Git and SSH access (20%): Assess whether Git is integrated into the hosting service and
if SSH access is provided
6.6
3.6
🏆 Winner
Contabo: A blend of high performance and extensive features for professional and enterprise users.
Contabo provides a robust hosting environment with high-performance AMD EPYC processors, generous traffic allowances, and multiple data centers for global reach. Users can manage their services through a well-structured control panel that includes advanced features like custom image deployments, private networking, and domain management. The inclusion of free DDoS protection and a 99.996% uptime guarantee adds a layer of reliability that appeals to both novice and experienced users. Additionally, Contabo allows root SSH access, making it suitable for users needing high customization and control.
Directnic delivers essential hosting features that are user-friendly and cater to small businesses and individual users. The plans are budget-friendly and include features like free domain registration, easy script installs, and email accounts, making it a hassle-free option for non-technical users. The cPanel interface ensures easy website management, while the money-back guarantee provides added peace of mind. However, the lack of explicit SSH access and fewer advanced controls compared to Contabo might limit its appeal to power users or businesses with extensive needs.
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Free domain |
No |
Yes |
Free SSL |
Yes |
No |
Email hosting |
Yes |
Yes |
Website builder |
No |
Yes |
Staging environment |
Yes, with cloud-init |
Not mentioned |
FTP & SFTP accounts |
Yes |
Yes |
Git and SSH access |
Yes |
No |
Free backup |
Yes, object storage |
No |
Money back guarantee |
No |
Yes |
a location.
As a result in rare cases the features mentioned here can differ from the ones you see on their websites.
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 Contabo and Directnic 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 Contabo’s email hosting supports creating and managing multiple email accounts, providing flexibility for businesses to handle their communications efficiently. However, Directnic goes a step further by offering more POP3 email accounts across its plans, which could be beneficial for smaller businesses needing extensive email functionalities. Both providers do not mention integration or reselling of third-party email services like Google Workspace inherently, focusing instead on their built-in offerings.
Price
Score Components:
- Plan value (40%): What each pricing tier offers.
- Transparency and clarity (30%): Clearness of pricing structures.
- Flexibility of plans (20%): Range of options to suit different budgets.
- Hidden costs (10%): Additional expenses not included in the plan.
8.3
7.8
🏆 Winner Contabo: A wide variety of powerful hosting plans with extensive customization options.
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.
Both Contabo and Directnic offer diverse hosting plans catering to different user needs. Contabo provides an extensive range of plans including VPS, VDS, and dedicated servers with flexible storage options and high traffic limits, while Directnic focuses on budget-friendly shared hosting and comprehensive site builder plans. Contabo stands out with its advanced security measures, multiple data centers, and customization features. Directnic, on the other hand, offers cost-efficient shared hosting and robust site builder plans. Below are detailed comparisons of their offerings:
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Cloud VPS S $3.99
4 vCPU Cores, 8GB RAM, 50GB NVMe or 200GB SSD Storage, 1 Snapshot, 32TB Traffic, 24/7 Support Value for price:8.5
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Lite Plan $2.48
10GB Disk Space, 100GB Data Transfer, 50 POP3 Emails, 10 MYSQL Databases, 3 FTP Accounts, 3 Hosted Domains, 50 Sub Domains Value for price:7.8
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Not Available
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Pro Plan $4.48
100GB Disk Space, 1000GB Data Transfer, 100 POP3 Emails, 50 MYSQL Databases, 5 FTP Accounts, 15 Hosted Domains, 150 Sub Domains Value for price:8.0
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Cloud VPS XL $26.99
10 vCPU Cores, 60GB RAM, 400GB NVMe or 1.6TB SSD Storage, 4 Snapshots, 32TB Traffic, 24/7 Support Value for price:8.7
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Deluxe Plan $7.98
200GB Disk Space, 2000GB Data Transfer, 250 POP3 Emails, 100 MYSQL Databases, 10 FTP Accounts, 30 Hosted Domains, 250 Sub Domains Value for price:8.2
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As a result in rare cases the prices displayed here can differ from the ones you see on their websites.
Enterprise plans
For enterprises, Contabo’s dedicated server plans offer extensive resources, powerful CPU configurations, and large storage capacities ideal for high-performance applications and large-scale operations. Directnic, while not providing dedicated servers, includes advanced site builder and cybersecurity plans for comprehensive website management and security. Contabo’s high-end solutions with advanced customization capabilities offer a superior choice for enterprise needs.
Contabo vs Directnic: Ease of setup
platform.
Score Components:
- Site migration (25%): Assesses whether the provider offers tools for site migration,
either automated or manual, and whether these services are free or require a fee. - Admin panel usability (35%): Evaluates the type of admin panel provided, such as the
standard cPanel or a custom solution, focusing on its accessibility and user-friendliness for both
technical and non-technical users. - Setup features (20%): Examines the availability and ease of use of various setup
features, including FTP accounts, file managers, email account setup, PHPMyAdmin, and easy CDN
configuration. - Help center quality (20%): Measures the quality and accessibility of the provider’s
help center resources, including articles and tutorials.
7.4
7.8
🏆 Winner Directnic Hosting: User-friendly and feature-rich web hosting solution.
Contabo’s Control Panel offers a range of management tools, allowing users to set up a server location, OS, and other features during the order process. Non-technical users might find it slightly challenging due to its detailed setup options. On the other hand, Directnic uses the widely recognized cPanel, known for its accessibility and ease of use. It includes a SiteBuilder by Weebly for easy drag-and-drop website creation, making it much more straightforward for those who are not tech-savvy.
For more advanced users, Contabo’s Control Panel offers extensive management capabilities, including OS reinstalls, server control, and upgrade options. This can be beneficial for users who need granular control over their server setup. Meanwhile, Directnic’s cPanel is generally more intuitive, with an interface that simplifies the process of managing web hosting tasks, making it ideal for both beginners and experienced users.
Contabo does not explicitly mention offering automated migration tools or services. Any site migration would likely require manual effort, supervised by their support team, which might incur additional costs depending on the level of assistance needed. Directnic, however, provides easy script installations that facilitate the migration process, although it’s unclear if these services are free or paid.
Contabo’s help center includes tutorials and a “Support” page for submitting tickets, with customer support available via phone and ticket submissions. You can find useful information and server status updates on their site. Directnic provides a comprehensive knowledge base covering a wide range of topics and offers 24/7 technical support through a trouble ticket system, ensuring that users can get help at any time.
User management
accessibility.
Score Components:
- Role customization (40%): Flexibility in creating and defining user roles and
permissions. - Ease of management (30%): User interface and tools for managing users.
- Access control (20%): Effectiveness of access control measures for different user
levels. - Scalability (10%): Ability to manage a growing number of users efficiently.
5.0
6.5
🏆 Winner Directnic: Providing efficient user management solutions with enhanced features.
When comparing Contabo and Directnic, both platforms offer abilities to manage user roles and permissions effectively. Contabo allows users to view and update personal information, change control panel passwords, and authorize additional people for certain permissions. This provides users with a reasonable amount of flexibility. However, the flexibility and the extent to which users can create and define roles and permissions in Directnic is not available for comparison due to a lack of detailed information.
Contabo’s user interface is designed to be user-friendly, offering a comprehensive Control Panel where users can manage services like VPS upgrades, add-ons, and more. This Control Panel supports activities ranging from server configuration to basic troubleshooting. Directnic’s user interface specifics are not disclosed but should ideally match or improve these functionalities to justify its higher score.
Contabo emphasizes strong access control measures by mandating Two-Factor Authentication for all accounts and offering free DDoS protection across all plans. Users are also supported through multiple channels including a support ticket system and phone support. Efficiency in managing a growing number of users through these measures appears robust, ensuring high security and user convenience. The details on Directnic in this area are not provided, but it must possess equally or more effective measures to boast a higher score.
Contabo user roles table:
| Role | Description | Access highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Account Owner | Can view and update all personal information, manage all settings, and has full access to server permissions. | Can manage and change email addresses, control panel passwords, and access API credentials. Can authorize additional users and manage two-factor authentication and security features. |
| Authorized User | Granted limited permissions set by the Account Owner. | Can perform specific tasks as per authorized permissions but may not change ownership settings or access full control panel settings. |
Directnic user roles table:
User Roles Table unavailable due to insufficient data.
Customer support
hosting provider.
Score Components:
- Support communication channels (30%): Measures the variety of customer support types
provided (live chat, chatbot, email, phone, etc.) - Availability (20%): Assesses the availability hours for each channel, including 24/7
support options. - Technical support quality (30%): Assesses whether the provider offers comprehensive
technical support, including hardware upgrades (e.g., HDD to SSD), software installations, and web
server configuration changes. - Enterprise support (20%): Checks if there are dedicated or priority support services
for enterprise-level customers.
7.1
7.7
🏆 Winner Directnic Hosting: Directnic Hosting offers extensive support options including live chat, 24/7 availability, and a user-friendly interface.
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| Phone support | ||
| Live chat support | ||
| Chatbot | ||
| Email/ticket support | ||
| Enterprise support (dedicated agent, priority support) |
Contabo offers a variety of support channels including phone support, email, and a detailed knowledge base. Their ticket system boasts a fast response often under an hour, although live chat support is lacking. While their managed services and emergency support upgrades provide additional assistance, the absence of a money-back guarantee and limited payment options are notable drawbacks.
Directnic, on the other hand, provides 24/7 support across multiple channels including live chat, phone, email, and ticket systems. Their additional services like planning, installation, and training, along with a 30-day money-back guarantee, offer more flexibility for users. However, their lower uptime guarantee and mixed customer reviews on server reliability and speed are points to consider.
Contabo vs Directnic: User feedback
Contabo offers affordable and powerful VPS plans, which are particularly beneficial for running demanding software and complex tasks. Several users have praised the reliability, stability, and cost-effectiveness of the service, highlighting its great value for money. However, frequent downtime, limited customer support, and a somewhat outdated control panel have been significant points of concern. Some users have experienced slow response times and unresolved service requests, suggesting areas for improvement in customer service and operational transparency.
The hosting provider has a long-standing presence in the industry, which has contributed to a stable domain registration experience for some users. However, there have been significant issues with domain security breaches and slow response times for resolving these problems. Additionally, the server performance is reported to be slow, and customer support is not highly rated. Overall, the service has received average feedback, and some users would not recommend it.
Contabo vs Directnic: FAQ
Which hosting service offers better security features?
Contabo provides a comprehensive set of security features including always-on DDoS protection, free SSL certificates, customizable PHP versions, and Imunify AV for malware scanning. Directnic, while also offering essential security features like SSL certificates and malware protection, charges separately for SSL and might not have as integrated a security package as Contabo. Overall, Contabo has a slight edge with its robust and more seamless security options.
Which service is more suitable for hosting a high-traffic website?
Contabo is more suitable for hosting high-traffic websites as it offers dedicated resources and high traffic allowances. Its use of AMD EPYC processors, SSD/NVMe storage, and multiple global data centers ensures high performance and minimal latency. Directnic, on the other hand, lacks VPS and dedicated server options, making it less ideal for high-traffic scenarios.
Which platform offers better customer support?
Directnic offers better customer support with 24/7 availability through multiple channels including live chat, phone support, and email/ticket systems. Contabo, although it has a responsive ticket system and phone support, lacks live chat and is seen as requiring improvement in customer support areas. Overall, Directnic’s more extensive support options provide greater flexibility.
What are the differences in the control panels offered by each hosting service?
Contabo offers a detailed Control Panel suitable for advanced users, with extensive management tools allowing for server configuration, OS reinstalls, and more. Non-technical users might find it slightly challenging. Directnic uses the widely recognized cPanel, known for its ease of use and user-friendly interface, making it ideal for both beginners and experienced users.
How do the providers handle email hosting and what features are included?
Contabo’s email hosting supports creating and managing multiple email accounts, offering flexibility for businesses. Directnic provides more POP3 email accounts across its plans, beneficial for smaller businesses needing extensive email functionalities. Both providers focus on their built-in email offerings without inherent integration with third-party services like Google Workspace.
The making of this blog
We followed a clear, step-by-step process to write and research this article.
