Flywheel vs Hostpapa: guide for 2024

Final verdict

Comparing Flywheel vs. HostPapa sheds light on what each hosting provider excels at and where they fall short, ultimately helping you decide which one better suits your needs.

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  HostPapa (Overall grade: 8.6)
  
  
  caters to a diverse range of users with its inclusive hosting packages, offering shared hosting, VPS, and dedicated hosting options. Its strengths lie in affordable pricing, extensive email hosting, and a free domain registration, which make it an attractive choice for various purposes, from small businesses to advanced users. The platform leverages NVMe storage and Cloudflare Enterprise CDN to enhance performance, although average response times can lag. Its extensive security features, customer support, and cPanel interface provide additional appeal, despite some concerns about upselling tactics and occasional customer service delays.
  
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  Flywheel (Overall grade: 8.4)
  
  
  stands out with its focus on WordPress-centric hosting, providing superior uptime, speed, and a rich feature set designed for developers and agencies. Its user-friendly workflows, FlyCache, Genesis Framework, and CDN support offer a seamless experience for managing high-traffic WordPress sites. However, the lack of email hosting and higher upfront costs due to annual billing can be drawbacks. Flywheel’s highly secure environment, compliance capabilities, and comprehensive backups make it a reliable choice, especially for those needing advanced WordPress management. Despite recent pricing changes, its robust support and specialized features help maintain its high standing in the hosting domain.
  

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

Section 1:

🏆 Winner
Flywheel: Exceptional uptime and superior response times.

Flywheel offers a higher than standard 99.9% uptime guarantee, backed by an SLA. During a two-week test, it achieved 100% uptime with no recorded outages. The average response time was 371ms, significantly below the market average of 600ms, ensuring smooth and reliable performance for users. Flywheel’s support is available 24/7/365 through various channels, adding another layer of reliability.

HostPapa delivers reliable uptime performance with a 99.9% guarantee and transparent communication about maintenance. It maintained 100% uptime over a two-week test, although its average response time was 1.19 seconds, above the market average. HostPapa’s load times are quicker than most Canadian providers, although not as fast as Flywheel’s. Both providers ensure minimal downtime but Flywheel stands out for its exceptional response times and more comprehensive support.

🏆 Winner
HostPapa: Offers a balanced mix of speed, security, and reliability that caters well to small businesses and WordPress websites.

When comparing the general performance of Flywheel and HostPapa, each has its strengths. Flywheel leverages its Flywheel Cloud Platform, managed caching, and compute-optimized servers to deliver top-tier speeds, especially for WordPress and WooCommerce sites. HostPapa uses NVMe storage, which is three times faster than traditional HDDs, and also has a Cloudflare Enterprise CDN with over 250 locations globally. Both services include a CDN, but HostPapa offers global edge hosting locations, which enhance content delivery further. Flywheel’s dedicated resources and auto-healing technology bolster performance, while HostPapa’s use of CloudLinux ensures stable shared hosting.

Website speed

Flywheel is crafted specifically for WordPress with a focus on individual site optimization and offers managed caching and dedicated servers to enhance website speed. Its CDN powered by Fastly further boosts page load times. HostPapa, using NVMe storage, provides notably quick load times and PageSpeed improvements. Their CDN places website copies globally, ensuring fast content delivery. Both providers offer tools designed to optimize and maintain quick loading speeds, but Flywheel’s focus on WordPress-specific performance can be particularly beneficial for WordPress users.

Scalability

Flywheel offers custom-built plans to meet special requirements, which implies some level of elastic scaling, though specifics on automatic upgrades are not mentioned. Dedicated servers are available, particularly for WooCommerce sites, optimizing further for speed. HostPapa supports scaling through plan upgrades, automatic resource adjustments are not detailed. They provide dedicated server options but again, precise auto-scaling details are absent. Costs for scaling depend on the chosen plan and specific needs for both providers, with overages clearly outlined by Flywheel.

🏆 Winner Flywheel: Flywheel provides a highly secure and compliant hosting environment with extensive security features and support.

Both Flywheel and HostPapa, have notable differences in their approaches to technical and operational security, as well as in their compliance with regulations.

Technical security measures:

Flywheel offers a free SSL certificate for every site and supports third-party SSL certificates, while HostPapa uses GlobalSign and provides single and wildcard SSL certificates with up to 256-bit encryption. Flywheel supports PHP 8.1, ensuring the latest security updates, whereas HostPapa allows users to select their preferred PHP version. Flywheel provides Fastly WAF, plugin security alerts, free malware removal, auto-healing technology, and nightly backups, whereas HostPapa relies on Protection Power for daily malware scanning, a WAF, DDoS protection, and automated backups.

Operational security measures:

Flywheel impressively detects intruders and blocks them server-wide within seconds and offers intelligent IP blocking, a federated identity service, and 24/7/365 expert support. HostPapa provides features such as automated threat discovery and incident management, SiteLock for extensive scanning and malware removal, and domain privacy protection. Both providers have robust Web Application Firewalls and comprehensive security suites, but Flywheel includes real-time plugin security alerts and free migration services, adding layers of operational protection.

Compliance and certifications:

Flywheel meets HIPAA, GDPR, 21 CFR Part 11, GCP, and SOC 2 audit requirements, catering to rigorous data protection standards. HostPapa supports GDPR and PIPEDA compliance and is certified as a PCI compliant merchant. While both are GDPR compliant, Flywheel extends its compliance capabilities across several additional regulations, highlighting its dedication to secure data management.

🏆 Winner
HostPapa: Known for its robust feature set, HostPapa stands out with versatile tools and services.

Flywheel and HostPapa both bring distinct advantages to the table, appealing to different user needs. Flywheel focuses on offering a highly specialized managed WordPress hosting environment. Its user-friendly workflows, including blueprints and site cloning, make it ideal for developers working on multiple projects. Free migrations, expert WordPress support, and managed plugin updates contribute to a seamless experience. However, Flywheel does not provide email hosting services, which might deter users looking for an all-in-one solution. Conversely, its performance features like FlyCache and CDN support make it a great choice for performance-centric WordPress sites.

On the other hand, HostPapa caters to users seeking a comprehensive hosting package. It includes unlimited email addresses, SSD storage, and a free domain registration that stands out from Flywheel’s offerings. HostPapa offers a versatile website builder, making it accessible for those needing a straightforward solution with extensive customization options. Users benefit from substantial security features like brute force detection and DDoS protection. While HostPapa’s access to a free 30-minute training session might attract beginners, its advanced capabilities, including root access via SSH, persuade advanced users. Different plans and comprehensive features make HostPapa a more flexible choice for various hosting needs.

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 Flywheel and HostPapa 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:

Flywheel and HostPapa differ significantly in email services. Flywheel lacks email hosting, recommending third-party services for this function. Conversely, HostPapa offers unlimited email addresses, making it easier for users to set up emails linked to their domain. This integrated approach is beneficial for users seeking a unified platform for both web hosting and email solutions. HostPapa’s broad email capabilities and hosting features cater to a wider range of needs, contrasted with Flywheel’s more focused but email-limited environment.

🏆 Winner
HostPapa: Offering a wider range of affordable plans with extensive features for both WordPress and shared 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.

When comparing the pricing plans of Flywheel and HostPapa, Flywheel offers WordPress-specific plans with higher prices but includes advanced features like CDN and nightly backups. Their plans are billed annually, which could be a factor in higher upfront costs. On the other hand, HostPapa provides more affordable entry-level and mid-tier plans across both shared and WordPress hosting. They also include free domain registration, SSL certificates, and various storage options. HostPapa’s pricing strategies, which often include discounts, make them a more economical choice, especially for users requiring multiple websites and extensive storage.

Enterprise plans

For enterprises, Flywheel’s Custom Plan offers bespoke features tailored to high-demand users with custom storage and bandwidth requirements. This plan is ideal for agencies needing extensive technical support and resources for numerous websites. HostPapa’s higher-tier plans like Mercury and Venus in VPS hosting include robust resources with high storage capacity and transfer rates, providing great value for extensive business projects. Both providers cater well to large-scale needs, but Flywheel’s customization might benefit organizations with specific needs.

🏆 Winner Flywheel: Flywheel offers a rich set of features designed to ease website setup and management, particularly for WordPress users.

Flywheel utilizes a custom admin panel tailored specifically for WordPress, optimizing both user experience and site management. This platform places emphasis on ease of use, featuring an intuitive interface that caters to both technical experts and beginners. Developers will appreciate the local development environment and blueprints, which simplify site customization and duplication. The admin panel’s staging areas allow users to test changes without disrupting the live site, making it a user-friendly solution for trial and error.

HostPapa relies on the standard cPanel, a widely-recognized interface in the hosting industry. Known for its familiarity and functionality, cPanel offers a comfortable user experience for those who have previously managed websites. Its straightforward layout makes it easy for both novices and experienced users to navigate their hosting environment. The one-click publishing and auto-installed WordPress are particular highlights, ensuring that users can swiftly establish and manage their online presence.

Both Flywheel and HostPapa offer free migration tools, streamlining the process of transferring existing websites. Flywheel provides a migration dashboard that allows users to submit, prioritize, and monitor their site migrations easily. HostPapa, on the other hand, offers free and painless website transfers, guaranteeing no downtime. Both services focus on ensuring minimal disruption and ease during the migration process, which is particularly beneficial for users looking to switch their hosting provider.

Flywheel offers extensive support with 24/7/365 chat support and phone support available during business hours. Their comprehensive help documents and managed plugin updates ensure users find quick resolutions to issues. HostPapa features an in-depth knowledge base with hundreds of articles and video tutorials, available 24/7. They provide phone and chat support in multiple languages and offer one-on-one training sessions for premium plans. Both platforms aim to provide accessible and practical resources to aid users in managing their websites.

🏆 Winner HostPapa: Versatile user role and permission management suited for diverse needs.

Both Flywheel and HostPapa provide comprehensive user management features but with distinct approaches. Flywheel offers Collaborator Access with full site management capabilities except for billing, site deletion, site reset, and site name change. Collaborators can also access the SFTP server and manage databases directly from the Flywheel dashboard. HostPapa, using Plesk, allows for granular control over user roles through a detailed permission system. Users can define specific roles with permissions like managing users, creating and managing sites, and configuring antivirus settings, offering more flexibility in defining roles and permissions.

Flywheel’s interface allows collaborators to do everything except billing and certain administrative changes, accessible through a simple dashboard and SFTP. Collaborators can manage sites directly and add or remove other collaborators, with WP Admin Access facilitated via Seamless Login. HostPapa’s Plesk interface operates through a more traditional user management system. Users can create specific roles by navigating to the User Roles section and assigning permissions, making it adept for complex setups. The User and User Roles interface in Plesk is straightforward and allows for the activation or deactivation of users without removal.

Access control measures in Flywheel are effective but somewhat limited by the restrictions on billing and critical administrative functions. Flywheel’s system is efficient for a small to medium-sized team where the owner retains key controls. HostPapa, by contrast, provides extensive control with permissions tailored to various aspects of site and server management. HostPapa’s ability to manage roles with specific permissions offers scalability, catering to larger teams and more complex user needs. Both platforms manage collaboration well, but HostPapa’s flexibility in user roles sets it apart for larger and more dynamic teams.

Flywheel User Roles Table:

HostPapa User Roles Table:

🏆 Winner HostPapa: HostPapa excels in providing well-rounded customer support and global reach through numerous contact points.

When comparing the customer support options of Flywheel and HostPapa, both offer 24/7/365 live chat and email/ticket support. Flywheel includes phone support during business hours, while HostPapa provides a more extensive phone support network with multiple international contact points. Flywheel also goes a step further with their dedicated account managers for personalized support and quarterly reviews.

Moreover, Flywheel excels with its various add-ons such as managed plugin updates, performance insights, and custom-built control panels, offering a unique value for agencies and freelancers. On the contrary, HostPapa may appeal more to users needing broader phone support accessibility and additional training resources like one-on-one sessions and comprehensive video tutorials. Despite Flywheel’s strong service, HostPapa’s extensive reach and quick response times tipped the balance in its favor.

User feedback

Flywheel is highly regarded for its intuitive user interface, efficient WordPress management, and reliable speed and performance. Customers appreciate the ease of site migration, robust support, and included features like SSL and backups. However, some users highlight concerns over recent pricing changes, slower customer service response times, and issues with email limits and staging environments. Despite a few drawbacks, Flywheel is praised for its agency-oriented focus, making it a strong choice for professionals managing multiple client websites.

Overall, customers generally appreciate the ease of use, responsive customer support, and affordability of the hosting provider. Many users specifically highlight the excellent technical support and straightforward interface as significant advantages. However, some reviews mention downsides such as occasional transparency issues with billing, aggressive upselling tactics, and sporadic performance concerns like downtime or slow website speeds due to outdated technology. There are also mixed experiences regarding customer service efficiency, with some users facing frustrating delays while others commend the quick and knowledgeable support team.

FAQ