Dreamhost vs WPX Hosting: guide for 2024

Dreamhost vs WPX Hosting: Final verdict

Looking over DreamHost vs. WPX Hosting, 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.

• 
  WPX Hosting (Overall grade: 8.3)
  
  promises superb availability with a 99.95% uptime guarantee and 24/7 support, alongside top-notch customer service with a 30-second average response time. Its infrastructure is designed for high performance, particularly benefiting WordPress and ecommerce sites with fast loading speeds and global CDN. Additional features like daily backups, malware removal, and high-speed CDN add value, making it a strong choice for performance-focused users. However, it lacks a built-in website builder, potentially requiring users to seek third-party options.
• 
  DreamHost(Overall grade: 8.2)
  
  guarantees a notable 100% uptime, quick server response times, and stable operations. Its variety of hosting options ensures flexibility for different needs, from personal blogs to high-traffic websites. A user-friendly control panel, comprehensive support, and included features like a free domain, SSL security, and professional email hosting provide added value. Although its support response times can be slower, the overall robust infrastructure and extensive hosting types make DreamHost a reliable and versatile option for a broad audience.

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 WPX Hosting: WPX Hosting offers exceptional uptime and rapid response times, making it a strong contender in hosting reliability.

DreamHost delivers a notable 100% uptime guarantee, ensuring customers receive compensation during rare downtimes. Performance tests reflect its reliability with quick server response times and stable operations. Stress testing further demonstrates DreamHost’s robust infrastructure, maintaining solid performance even under heavy loads. Both businesses and personal users can benefit from DreamHost’s fast loading speeds and reliability.

WPX Hosting promises superb availability, with a 99.95% uptime guarantee and 24/7 support. Its capacity to handle high traffic volumes with minimal performance dip, coupled with rapid response times, sets it apart. Additional features like daily backups, malware removal, and high-speed CDN further enhance its appeal. WPX Hosting’s swift and supportive customer service ensures reliability and quick issue resolution.

🏆 Winner
WPX Hosting: Extremely fast WordPress hosting with numerous advanced features.

Comparing general performance between DreamHost and WPX Hosting, WPX leverages custom XDN technology and a custom CDN with 37 global endpoints for speed optimization. DreamHost provides high-performance cloud hosting with SSD storage and server-level caching but lacks a dedicated CDN. WPX’s CPU and RAM capabilities handle traffic spikes efficiently, whereas DreamHost offers scalable RAM and uncapped bandwidth. Both providers offer multiple data centers, but WPX specifies high-speed site delivery through its CDN, which DreamHost does not mention as a feature.

Website Speed

WPX Hosting boasts remarkable performance features, including a custom CDN and a superior infrastructure designed for speed, backed by independent testing indicating it as the fastest WordPress hosting. DreamHost also promises fast load times using SSD storage, NGINX hosting, and server-level caching. However, WPX’s technology for efficient CPU use and available RAM make it a more compelling choice for high-speed requirements, ensuring website responsiveness during high-stress situations.

Scalability

DreamHost and WPX Hosting offer robust scalability. DreamHost provides expandable RAM and storage, with easy upgrades as needed, but does not mention automatic scaling. Their dedicated hosting begins at $199.00 per month. WPX also provides scalable options but emphasizes different plans for various growth stages. There is no mention of automatic scaling, and their top-tier WooCommerce plans scale significantly but at higher costs ranging from $34.99 to $149.99 per month. Neither provider specifies automatic scaling without plan upgrades.

🏆 Winner WPX Hosting: WPX Hosting offers a robust and automated security suite suitable for WordPress sites.

Both DreamHost and WPX Hosting, have notable differences in their approaches to technical and operational
security, as well as in their compliance with regulations.

Technical security measures:

Both DreamHost and WPX Hosting provide free SSL certificates through Let’s Encrypt, but DreamHost goes further by allowing the installation of third-party and professionally-signed SSL certificates. DreamHost supports PHP 8 with OPcache, enhancing PHP performance, while WPX Hosting offers automated PHP updates. On the other hand, DreamHost includes additional security features such as MFA, SSH access, SFTP, and DDoS protection. WPX Hosting employs brute-force defense and a custom-to-each-origin DDoS mitigation service.

Operational security measures:

WPX Hosting conducts daily malware scans and includes a constantly updated Web Application Firewall (WAF). WPX also provides daily backups stored for 28 days with one-click restores and free malware removal services. DreamHost’s operational measures include DreamShield malware scanning, mod_security for extra security, and local MySQL servers with full root access. WPX offers WHOIS privacy protection for domain registrants, whereas DreamHost provides a unique IPv4 and unlimited free IPv6 addresses.

Compliance and certifications:

DreamHost is fully GDPR compliant across its user base and provides a Privacy Center for managing personal information. While DreamHost supports PCI requirements on its servers, customers must obtain their own PCI certification. WPX Hosting complies with GDPR standards and allows users to revoke their data processing consent. Neither DreamHost nor WPX Hosting is HIPAA compliant.

🏆 Winner DreamHost: A versatile and user-friendly hosting provider with robust features and excellent value for money.

Both DreamHost and WPX Hosting offer a variety of hosting plans designed to meet the needs of different user groups, from individuals to small businesses and larger enterprises. DreamHost’s standout feature is its inclusion of a website builder with its hosting plans, which is highly user-friendly and allows for significant customization, appealing to both beginners and advanced developers. DreamHost also includes a free domain, SSL security, and professional email addresses, adding value to its already competitive pricing. On the other hand, WPX Hosting focuses heavily on speed and performance with its high-speed custom CDN and dedicated cache mechanisms. However, it lacks a built-in website builder, potentially requiring users to look for third-party options.

WPX Hosting distinguishes itself with its exceptional customer support, boasting a 30-second average response time and quick resolution of issues, ensuring users have minimal downtime. In contrast, DreamHost offers comprehensive support 24/7 via live chat, email, and phone callbacks, but its average issue resolution times are not prominently advertised. While WPX Hosting does not provide free domain registration, it compensates with significant security features, including malware scans and removal, and a managed firewall. Overall, DreamHost’s free services, like domain registration and WHOIS privacy, alongside an integrated website builder and competitive pricing, present a more well-rounded hosting solution.

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 DreamHost and WPX Hosting 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:

DreamHost offers comprehensive email hosting services with professional email addresses included in all plans, providing users with the ability to run email campaigns and manage their communications seamlessly. WPX Hosting also includes unlimited email boxes with their plans, but primarily focuses on transactional email capabilities, ensuring basic communication needs are covered without additional charges for more extensive email services. Both providers do not resell third-party email services.

🏆 Winner WPX Hosting: Offering unmatched performance and features tailored for WordPress 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 DreamHost and WPX Hosting, their pricing structures reflect different focuses and specializations. DreamHost provides a broad range of hosting options, including shared, managed WordPress, VPS, and dedicated hosting, catering to diverse needs with competitive pricing. WPX Hosting, though a bit more expensive, offers superior WordPress-specific features, including faster response times and enhanced optimization services. DreamHost’s shared and VPS plans are quite affordable, but WPX Hosting’s focus on performance with free malware removal, speed optimization, and robust support are significant highlights.

WordPress hosting plans

Shared hosting plans

Cloud hosting plans

Enterprise plans

DreamHost offers powerful dedicated hosting solutions, starting with the Standard 16 plan equipped with a 6-core CPU and 16GB RAM for $199.00/month. Their top-tier, Enhanced 32 plan, offers a 12-core CPU and 32GB RAM for $299.00/month. WPX Hosting, specializing in WordPress and WooCommerce, extends its enterprise solutions with the Hyperstore Plan at $149.99/month, providing up to 5 websites, 100GB storage, and unlimited bandwidth. For businesses prioritizing specific WordPress optimizations and extensive support features, WPX Hosting stands out. However, for diverse hosting needs including VPS and dedicated servers, DreamHost offers a wider range of options.

🏆 Winner DreamHost: DreamHost offers a streamlined and user-friendly setup process along with exceptional support resources.

DreamHost provides a custom-built control panel that emphasizes accessibility and ease of use. This interface caters well to both technical and non-technical users, offering advanced features like SFTP, Shell Access, and WP-CLI. The panel is intuitively designed, allowing users to manage their accounts with minimal hassle. For those opting for Managed WordPress Hosting under DreamPress, WordPress comes pre-installed, simplifying the setup process. For Shared Hosting users, there’s an option to pre-install WordPress during signup or use a one-click installation feature later, ensuring flexibility based on user requirements.

WPX Hosting, on the other hand, features a fast and responsive control panel aimed at simplifying website and domain management. This panel is straightforward and user-friendly, making it easy for all users to manage services, account details, and support tickets. The control panel includes provisions for adding new websites with just a few clicks, providing a smooth experience for those new to website hosting. Both platforms invest heavily in making their control panels accessible, but DreamHost’s extensive feature set in the custom control panel gives it a slight edge in usability and functionality.

Both DreamHost and WPX Hosting offer straightforward and free site migration services. DreamHost provides a migration dashboard in the account panel that scans your site and offers guided migration options. Users can select their preference, and DreamHost handles the rest, ensuring minimal downtime. WPX Hosting offers a similarly effortless migration process, highlighted by a form that users fill out upon creating their WPX account. The WPX team takes care of the migration and typically completes it within 24 hours. Both services waive fees for these migrations, offering significant value.

DreamHost’s help center is extensive, featuring a mass of searchable articles, FAQs, and tutorials. Their U.S.-based expert support is available 24/7 via chat and email, ensuring assistance is always at hand. WPX also provides a comprehensive knowledge base, accessible from the control panel. Their customer support boasts a quick resolution time, with 24/7 chat and ticket availability. While both hosting providers offer robust support options, DreamHost’s extensive library of resources and continuously updated knowledge base provide superior navigational ease.

🏆 Winner DreamHost: DreamHost offers a wide range of user management features suitable for diverse user needs.

DreamHost provides extensive abilities in managing user roles, permissions, and accessibility. With its unlimited SFTP users, secure Shell (SSH) access, and custom control panel, DreamHost ensures flexible and secure user management. Users can also take advantage of the Subversion (SVN) repository and crontab access for more advanced operations. Meanwhile, WPX Hosting offers more basic features such as adding and managing database and FTP users, and providing multi-user access. WPX Hosting lacks the extensive configuration options and specialized tools that DreamHost provides, making DreamHost more versatile in user role management.

The user interfaces and tools provided for managing users vary greatly between the two platforms. DreamHost boasts a custom-built control panel designed to manage domains, email accounts, FTP & SSH access, and more. It’s known for its user-friendly and intuitive nature, making it easier for users to navigate and configure settings. On the other hand, WPX Hosting’s interface focuses primarily on basic user and FTP user management through its database menu. While functional, it does not offer the same depth of features or the intuitive design that DreamHost’s control panel does.

When it comes to access control measures and managing a growing number of users, DreamHost has a comprehensive suite of features that cater to both novice and advanced users. Password protection via .htaccess, access to raw log files, and professional email services add layers of security and convenience. With support for multiple programming languages and advanced tools like OPcache and Node.js, it’s well-equipped for handling a large user base efficiently. WPX Hosting offers basic access control through its FTP user management system and database user setup but lacks the advanced features and scalability offered by DreamHost.

DreamHost User Roles Table:

WPX Hosting User Roles Table:

🏆 Winner
WPX Hosting: DreamHost and WPX Hosting both offer extensive customer support but differ in their approaches and additional services. DreamHost provides 24/7/365 support through various channels such as live chat, email, and a ticket system. They also offer callback support for an additional fee, though direct phone support is not available. DreamHost caters to both English and Spanish speaking customers and has a comprehensive knowledge base. However, the lack of direct phone support may be a drawback for some users.

On the other hand, WPX Hosting excels with its impressive 30-second live chat response time and a 15-minute average case resolution time. Unlike DreamHost, WPX Hosting offers free migration services and additional features like free malware removal and site speed optimization. WPX Hosting also enjoys high customer satisfaction as reflected in its Trustpilot score of 4.9/5. While WPX’s offer of a full refund within 30 days is shorter than DreamHost’s 97-day money-back guarantee, the lower response times and additional features make WPX Hosting a strong choice for customers desiring swift and effective support.

Dreamhost vs WPX Hosting: User feedback

DreamHost receives praise for its proactive updates, reliable performance, and a range of hosting options at competitive prices. Users appreciate its intuitive web portal, comprehensive end-to-end domain management tools, and competent customer service, particularly in resolving issues. However, the platform’s technical support is often criticized for slow responses, particularly the lack of phone support, and occasional downtime issues. Despite these drawbacks, many users remain loyal due to the affordability, ease of use for beginners, and strong uptime guarantees, although some have experienced more significant challenges and dissatisfaction.

WPX Hosting consistently receives praise for its extremely fast and helpful customer support, often resolving issues within seconds via live chat. Users also appreciate the hosting speed, ease of use, and included features like their custom-built CDN. However, some users experienced limitations and performance issues with larger, high-traffic websites and have cited a lack of advanced features such as SSH access and more robust email security. On the whole, while the support and speed are lauded, a few users found the service lacking for more critical or large-scale requirements.

Dreamhost vs WPX Hosting: FAQ