Contabo vs Green Geeks: guide for 2024

Final verdict

Looking over Contabo vs. GreenGeeks, both offer unique strengths across different hosting needs.

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  GreenGeeks (Overall grade: 8.4)
  
  
  excels particularly in areas of eco-friendly hosting, WordPress performance, and customer support. The provider offers specialized plans for WordPress and eCommerce sites, ensuring seamless integration, high security, and efficient cache management for optimal speed. GreenGeeks’ strong commitment to sustainability, with a 300% green energy match, appeals to environmentally-conscious users. Additionally, features like built-in LS Cache Plugin, free CDN, and extensive email services make it a versatile option. Though slightly expensive after the initial term, the value-added features and consistent uptime make GreenGeeks a competitive and reliable option.
  
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  Contabo(Overall grade: 7.6)
  
  
  stands out for its flexibility and performance geared towards resource-intensive and high-traffic scenarios. With options for VPS and dedicated hosting, powered by advanced AMD EPYC processors and high-speed NVMe SSD storage, Contabo suits users needing robust server capabilities. The efficient DDoS protection, extensive security measures, and high uptime guarantee add to its reliability. However, limitations such as the lack of shared and eCommerce hosting, infrequent customer support availability, and a somewhat dated control panel can be drawbacks for some users. Despite these, the affordability and performance aspects make Contabo a solid choice for technically proficient users requiring powerful hosting solutions.
  

Hosting types offered

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

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
Contabo: High performance, excellent security, and unbeatable uptime guarantee.

Contabo offers a compelling 99.996% uptime guarantee, which is exceptional in the hosting industry. The combination of advanced AMD EPYC processors, speedy NVMe SSD storage, and global data centers ensures fast and reliable hosting services. Additionally, Contabo’s comprehensive security features, including DDoS protection and two-factor authentication, make it a trustworthy choice for businesses and developers alike.

GreenGeeks, with its 99.9% uptime goal, performs impressively in real-world tests, often achieving 100% uptime over monitored periods. The hosting provider offers data centers in diverse locations, quick response times, and efficient server performance, making it a strong competitor. Although there’s no guaranteed compensation for downtime, GreenGeeks remains a reliable option for those seeking consistent service and eco-friendly practices.

🏆 Winner
GreenGeeks: Efficient and eco-friendly hosting with competitive plans.

Contabo and GreenGeeks both offer solid hosting solutions but cater to different audiences based on performance and additional features. Contabo stands out with its high-speed AMD EPYC processors, SSD and NVMe storage, free DDoS protection, and scalability options, which appeal to resource-intensive applications. It also has multiple data centers in key strategic locations worldwide. GreenGeeks, on the other hand, offers SSD storage, free CDN, LiteSpeed WebServer, and enhanced security, making it suitable for WordPress users and those looking for greener hosting options. GreenGeeks also has data centers in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.

Website Speed

GreenGeeks uses a LiteSpeed WebServer and built-in LS Cache Plugin for improved load times, whereas Contabo employs fast AMD EPYC processors and high-speed NVMe SSDs. GreenGeeks offers free CDN, which helps optimize website speed globally, leading to superior PageSpeed scores. Although Contabo has competitive connection speeds up to 10Gbit/s, GreenGeeks’ combination of technology and CDN inherently boosts website speed, contributing to an even faster user experience.

Scalability

Contabo offers elastic scaling where upgrading VPS packages is straightforward without impacting uptime, making it ideal for growing businesses. Its pricing plans are affordable, further facilitating easy upgrades. Meanwhile, GreenGeeks doesn’t explicitly mention elastic scaling capabilities but provides several tiers of shared hosting plans, which require upgrading. GreenGeeks also doesn’t discuss dedicated server options or costs explicitly, making it less clear on high-end scalability.

🏆 Winner: Contabo: Offers extensive security and robust compliance features.

Technical security measures:

Contabo provides an array of technical security measures, such as always-on DDoS protection and Imunify AV for malware scanning. GreenGeeks also includes advanced DDoS protection and uses Immunify360 for enhanced security. Both platforms offer multiple PHP versions to ensure environments are both flexible and secure, with Contabo customizing PHP versions and GreenGeeks using a selection tool. While Contabo includes regular monitoring tools, GreenGeeks provides free malware cleanups to support compromised accounts. Both platforms equip users with SSL Certificates, though Contabo features customizable SSL and IP management, while GreenGeeks offers Wildcard SSL included in WooCommerce plans.

Operational security measures:

Contabo ensures 24/7 surveillance via CCTV and secure facility access with magnetic cards, alongside enforced Two-Factor Authentication for all accounts. GreenGeeks offers proactive 24/7 network security monitoring with AI-powered advanced WAF and custom rules for zero-day vulnerabilities. Contabo offers FTP backup and Object Storage options, whereas GreenGeeks complements with daily backups and on-demand backup services in higher plans. Both hosts utilize container-based technology to ensure scalability and maximum security, yet GreenGeeks uniquely integrates a free CDN for better speeds and enhanced security.

Compliance and certifications:

Contabo is fully GDPR compliant and follows extensive security procedures to ensure client data protection. GreenGeeks also emphasizes GDPR and PCI compliance but lacks explicit details on their adherence, recommending direct contact for specifics. Neither platform provides information on HIPAA compliance, leaving uncertainty for those requiring healthcare-related data compliance.

🏆 Winner GreenGeeks: An eco-friendly hosting solution with robust performance and a wide array of features.

Contabo and GreenGeeks both offer impressive hosting solutions, each catering to different user needs. Contabo stands out with its powerful performance, employing AMD EPYC 7282 16-core processors and offering high-traffic capacities with speeds between 200Mbit/s and 1Gbit/s. With a vast array of data centers worldwide and a 99.996% uptime guarantee, Contabo ensures reliable service. The varied OS options and the inclusion of managed server support make it highly flexible, especially for users needing VPS, dedicated, or VDS control. However, Contabo lacks some everyday conveniences like a website builder and requires additional managed services for extensive support.

GreenGeeks, in contrast, not only provides commendable performance but also emphasizes sustainability by offering a 300% Green Energy Match. Users gain from features such as built-in caching, free WordPress migration, auto-updates, and a free domain for the first year. The user-friendly control panel includes WP-CLI for command-line management, making it accessible for both beginners and advanced users. GreenGeeks also offers a website builder, on-demand backups, and a WordPress repair tool on higher-tier plans, making it a comprehensive option for those who prioritize ease of use and environmental impact.

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 GreenGeeks 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:

Contabo offers standard email hosting but does not specify advanced transactional email capabilities. Meanwhile, GreenGeeks provides extensive email features, including unlimited email accounts on higher-tier plans, and integrates well with third-party services like WP-CLI for managing email-related tasks via SSH. Both platforms support basic and advanced email hosting needs, but GreenGeeks offers more flexibility with unlimited email accounts on their Pro and Premium plans.

🏆 Winner GreenGeeks: Exceptional plans with outstanding sustainability features tailored for WordPress, WooCommerce, and cPanel hosting.

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.

Comparing Contabo and GreenGeeks, Contabo offers a broad spectrum of hosting types including VPS, VDS, and dedicated servers, with appealing self-managed and managed options. GreenGeeks, on the other hand, shines with economical WordPress and WooCommerce specific plans, stressing sustainability through a 300% green energy match and tree planting for each plan sold. Contabo’s plans cater more towards flexible cloud hosting, with variations including up to 32 vCPU cores, substantial RAM, and extensive storage options. GreenGeeks features rich WordPress, cPanel, and WooCommerce plans with special introductory prices, free migrations, and backup options.

Enterprise plans

For enterprise solutions, Contabo provides various high-performance dedicated servers with substantial RAM capacities and advanced processing capabilities, like the Intel Dual 10-Core and AMD EPYC 32 Cores. GreenGeeks focuses on environmentally-friendly reseller hosting, offering plans like the RH-80, with generous SSD storage and the advantage of managed support, providing a sustainable approach for enterprises.

🏆 Winner
GreenGeeks: A streamlined and efficient hosting provider with strong support and easy setup options.

Contabo offers a proprietary Control Panel for managing its hosting services, enabling users to handle server management tasks such as reviewing services, upgrading VPS, and managing server status. This Control Panel is accessible and user-friendly, even for non-technical users, thanks to its comprehensive set of features. However, its interface may seem slightly overwhelming due to the multitude of options available directly from the start. In contrast, GreenGeeks employs the industry-standard cPanel, renowned for its simplicity and ease of use. The familiarity and straightforwardness of cPanel make it particularly advantageous for beginners and experienced users alike, as its layout is intuitive and consistent across hosting providers.

GreenGeeks provides a customized and simplified onboarding process for setting up WordPress, reducing the complexity to just a few questions and clicks. This ease of use is further supported by 24/7 customer support to assist with any setup issues. Conversely, Contabo also enables an easy setup process via its Control Panel and includes features like setting OS, location, and Control Panel during the order process. Nonetheless, the custom nature of Contabo’s Control Panel might present a slight learning curve for users accustomed to cPanel or other standard control panels.

Contabo does not offer explicit details on free automated migration tools, placing the onus on users to handle migration manually. This could be a deterrent for users seeking simplicity. GreenGeeks, on the other hand, shines with its free WordPress migration service. Users can request migration via their Support section, making the process seamless and eliminating the hassle typically associated with site migration. This free service is attractive for those looking to switch hosting providers without incurring extra costs.

The platforms provide extensive knowledge bases filled with guides, how-to articles, and instructional content. Contabo offers a variety of tutorials and has a robust ticket and phone support system. GreenGeeks provides numerous WordPress and cPanel tutorials alongside its 24/7 support via live chat, phone, or ticket. The accessibility and seasoned support staff of GreenGeeks give it a slight edge in user assistance.

🏆 Winner GreenGeeks:GreenGeeks provides a more flexible and accessible user management system for its customers.

GreenGeeks and Contabo offer distinct approaches to user roles and permissions management. GreenGeeks excels in providing multi-user access by allowing users to invite new users and assign them specific roles such as Collaborator or Client. This flexibility ensures that the right individual has the appropriate level of access to different services. Contabo, on the other hand, allows users to authorize other people for certain permissions but lacks the granular role assignment capabilities seen in GreenGeeks. Thus, GreenGeeks offers more tailored and precise role management options.

GreenGeeks uses a straightforward interface through its Account Manager, which simplifies the process of managing user access. Users can invite others by email and set access levels via a few clicks. The Contabo Control Panel, although user-friendly, focuses more on server management and less on detailed user role administration. GreenGeeks also offers cPanel access for website development, providing an added benefit for developers needing to make site-specific changes. In contrast, Contabo’s panel is more generalized towards overall account and server management.

When it comes to access control measures, Contabo mandates Two-Factor Authentication for all users to ensure high security. It also includes free DDoS protection, which is automatically activated for all servers. GreenGeeks, while offering multi-user access and cPanel credentials, relies on the user to manage their own security settings. Both platforms are capable of handling increased user numbers, but GreenGeeks’s multi-user access system and role-specific assignments offer more efficiency in managing an expanding user base.

GreenGeeks user roles table:

🏆 Winner
GreenGeeks: A hosting provider known for its 24/7 availability and high-quality customer support.

Contabo offers various support options such as phone, email, and support tickets, with response times varying and no 24-hour support. Their support ticket system is monitored extensively within the available hours, ensuring generally quick responses. Customers benefit from free DDoS protection and a 99.996% uptime guarantee, although they lack a live chat option and have limited payment methods.

GreenGeeks stands out with 24/7 expert support available through live chat, email, and phone. Customers frequently praise their rapid resolution times and free migration services, including both cPanel and WordPress migrations. While having slightly fewer complaints, they provide extensive self-help resources and a quick launch wizard to facilitate onboarding.

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.

Users generally appreciate the hosting provider for its excellent customer support, fast and reliable performance, and user-friendly dashboard. The eco-friendly aspect of the service is also a significant plus for many users. However, there are recurring concerns regarding the pricing, which tends to increase after the initial years, and the performance during high-demand scenarios. Additionally, some users have experienced issues with strict resource usage policies and limited plans for specific hosting needs.

FAQ