Green Geeks vs Hostens: guide for 2024

Green Geeks vs Hostens: Final verdict

Looking over GreenGeeks vs. Hostens, 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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  GreenGeeks (Overall grade: 8.4)
  
  offers a strong hosting performance with cutting-edge technology like LiteSpeed WebServer, SSD storage, and HTTP/3 protocol, ensuring blazing fast load times. Their global network of data centers enhances website performance making it a solid choice for websites targeting a broad audience. Furthermore, GreenGeeks excels in security, providing advanced features like Wildcard SSL, DDoS protection, and Immunify360. The eco-friendly approach, by matching their energy usage 300% with renewable energy, adds a significant advantage for environmentally conscious users. However, despite its robust offerings, some users find the costs higher after promotional periods and notice occasional strict firewall rules.
• 
  Hostens (Overall grade: 7.9)
  
  provides dependable hosting with impressive uptime and strong customer support. Its data centers, built to TIER III standards, ensure high availability and operational security. Hostens is highly adaptable with a variety of hosting types, including unmanaged VPS which is ideal for developers seeking more control. However, Hostens lacks some advanced performance technologies and global data center presence found in GreenGeeks, potentially impacting global load times. With responsive support and affordable pricing, Hostens is a viable option, though it might be less appealing for users requiring advanced features and better global performance.

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: Hostens: Hostens stands out with its impressive uptime guarantee and thoroughly reliable performance metrics.

GreenGeeks offers a strong uptime performance with 100% uptime in several tests and consistent server response times of just 0.302 seconds. Their 99.9% uptime guarantee, while not backed by compensation unless downtime reaches 1%, demonstrates that they aim for high reliability. Their global data centers add to user flexibility and performance enhancements, allowing a range of choices for serving targeted audiences.

Hostens, with a 99.95% uptime guarantee and no recorded downtime over two weeks, assures consistent availability. Its data centers built to TIER III standards, located in Lithuania, USA, and Asia, offer extensive infrastructure redundancy. With rapid response times and strong customer support highlighted by positive reviews, Hostens provides a dependable and user-friendly hosting service.

🏆 Winner GreenGeeks: Excellent performance rates and eco-friendly initiatives.

When comparing GreenGeeks and Hostens, GreenGeeks provides faster hosting due to its LiteSpeed WebServer and LS Cache Plugin, SSD storage, and HTTP/3 protocol, all contributing to blazing fast speeds. GreenGeeks offers a global network of data centers across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, ensuring quicker load times for a broader audience. With free CDN and built-in caching features, GreenGeeks focuses on enhancing website performance without extra costs. Hostens, on the other hand, while efficient, has a single data center located in Vilnius, Lithuania, which could be a constraint for global load times. Hostens relies on standard Apache servers and provides essential caching and CDN services through a third-party provider.

Website Speed

GreenGeeks edges out with its cutting-edge technology aimed at minimizing load times. Thanks to LiteSpeed WebServer, SSD storage, and advancements in HTTP/3, websites hosted on GreenGeeks can expect remarkable page speed improvements. Hostens also provides SSD storage but utilizes Apache servers, which might not be as fast as GreenGeeks’ more advanced technologies. Additionally, GreenGeeks offers built-in caching and global CDN features that significantly boost speed, while Hostens lacks some of these enhancements.

Scalability

GreenGeeks supports scaling through its multiple hosting plans, from the basic Lite Plan to the more advanced Premium Plan. Upgrading between plans is straightforward, but they do not automatically scale resources. Dedicated servers or automatic scaling features are not mentioned. Hostens offers VPS hosting as a scalable option with clear costs for additional resources, like $1/month for backups, but lacks dedicated servers or automatic scaling capabilities. Pricing details for scaling may vary, but both providers enable manual upgrades based on the user’s growing needs.

🏆 Winner GreenGeeks: GreenGeeks excels in offering a comprehensive suite of security and green energy commitments.

Technical security measures:

GreenGeeks provides robust security features, including Wildcard SSL Certificates, multiple PHP versions (8.2, 8.0, 7.4, 5.6, and more), advanced WAF powered by AI, and DDoS protection. They also offer custom security rules, zero-day vulnerability fixes, and Immunify360 for malware protection. Hostens offers 256-bit encryption strength SSL certificates, multiple PHP versions (ranging from PHP 5.6 to PHP 8.1), and available PHP functions such as symlink, exec, and shell_exec. Hostens uses cookies and third-party tools like Google Analytics while maintaining GDPR compliance.

Operational security measures:

GreenGeeks ensures operational security through 24/7 network security monitoring and advanced firewall protection. They also provide daily backups, container-based technology for isolation, and a Free Dedicated IP for Premium plans. Hostens monitors their network 24/7/365, operates its own data center built to TIER III standards, and includes daily and weekly backups in their hosting packages. Both ensure a high level of physical and network security, though GreenGeeks offers additional features like object caching (Memcached & Redis) and dedicated IP inclusion.

Compliance and certifications:

GreenGeeks’ compliance with GDPR and PCI standards is implied, but specifics aren’t provided. Hostens clearly outlines its GDPR compliance, including data protection principles and expanded liability. For more details about PCI and HIPAA compliance, users should contact the providers directly.

🏆 Winner GreenGeeks: Offering eco-friendly hosting solutions with a range of robust features.

GreenGeeks and Hostens provide different environments catered to specific user needs. GreenGeeks excels with its three-tiered hosting plans (Lite, Pro, and Premium) offering a comprehensive set of features, including a free domain for the first year, free WordPress migration, and built-in caching. GreenGeeks also stands out with its eco-friendly approach by matching its energy usage by 300% in renewable energy and planting a tree for every hosting account. These unique selling points may appeal to environmentally-conscious users. The Pro and Premium plans further enhance their appeal with on-demand backups and tools like the WordPress Repair Tool, making GreenGeeks an attractive option for users seeking easy management and robust support.

Hostens, on the other hand, offers a variety of hosting types such as unmanaged VPS, shared hosting, professional hosting, and reseller hosting. While it doesn’t explicitly mention a website builder, it does provide an Easy Installer (Installatron) for over 100 scripts and CMS applications, catering to different user preferences. Hostens also includes several essential features such as cPanel control, daily/weekly backups, and multiple support channels. The VPS hosting option with full root access is notable for developers who need more control over their hosting environment. Hostens’ requirement to pay for backups and its separate hosting plans, however, might be less convenient for some users compared to the all-inclusive packages of GreenGeeks.

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 GreenGeeks and Hostens 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:

GreenGeeks offers email hosting with its plans, including features like unlimited email accounts on higher-tier plans. This allows users to manage their email campaigns effectively. Hostens also supports email hosting across its plans, with transactional email capabilities and integrations with various applications like Python, Ruby, and Perl. Neither provider mentions reselling third-party services like Google Workspace, making them both self-contained options for email management.

🏆 Winner GreenGeeks: A comprehensive hosting provider with a strong focus on green energy and feature-rich plans.

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.

GreenGeeks and Hostens both offer various hosting plans with distinct features and prices. GreenGeeks provides detailed WordPress and WooCommerce hosting plans that emphasize ecological sustainability with their 300% Green Energy Match and additional tree planting for each plan. Hostens, on the other hand, offers a straightforward approach to pricing and higher bandwidth capacity even in their lower-tier plans. GreenGeeks stands out with unlimited web space, free backups, and additional security features like Free AlphaSSL and a dedicated IP in their premium plans. Hostens provides flexible options with their VPS hosting and professional plans tailored to various enterprise needs at different pricing points.

Enterprise plans

GreenGeeks offers a range of performance-driven plans with their Premium plan including additional security and performance features such as a Free Dedicated IP and Free AlphaSSL, making it ideal for larger, resource-intensive websites. Hostens provides its Maxi Plan with 6 vCPUs, 16 GB RAM, and unlimited bandwidth which cater well to enterprise-level needs, particularly for those requiring significant computational power and flexibility. This makes both hosting providers viable options for enterprises, with GreenGeeks excelling in its environmental commitment and included security features, while Hostens offers scalable performance options.

🏆 Winner GreenGeeks: An environmentally friendly hosting solution with user-friendly setup and support.

GreenGeeks utilizes the standard cPanel for its admin panel. The user interface is clean and intuitive, making it easily accessible for both tech-savvy users and beginners. Their cPanel is well-documented, offering extensive guides and 24/7 support, ensuring users can efficiently manage their websites. On the other hand, Hostens also employs a standard cPanel but complements it with the Installatron tool, which automates the installation and management of hundreds of scripts and CMS options. Hostens’ cPanel is similarly user-friendly, although GreenGeeks appears to provide a slightly more seamless experience due to their exceptional support and automatic WordPress setup features.

In terms of migration tools, GreenGeeks offers free WordPress migration, including the transfer of existing sites to their hosting environment. The migration service is straightforward and included in their hosting plans without additional costs. Hostens, while not explicitly mentioning free migration services, provides users with tools like the Installatron to facilitate easy script and CMS migrations. Still, the lack of specific mention of a free migration service indicates GreenGeeks has a slight edge in this category.

GreenGeeks and Hostens both have comprehensive help centers filled with tutorials and guides. GreenGeeks provides detailed tutorials tailored to WordPress and cPanel, making it an excellent resource for users at all levels. Hostens offers a broader range of articles covering multiple topics, including SEO tools, billing, and VPN services, which may appeal to users looking for diverse support content. Both knowledge bases are extensive, but GreenGeeks supports is slightly more specialized in web hosting management.

The platforms provide extensive knowledge bases filled with guides, how-to articles, and instructional content. GreenGeeks provides detailed tutorials tailored to WordPress and cPanel. Hostens offers a broader range of articles covering multiple topics. Both knowledge bases are extensive.

🏆 Winner Hostens: A versatile hosting provider with comprehensive user management capabilities.

GreenGeeks and Hostens offer different approaches to user roles and permissions, reflecting their target audiences and service models. GreenGeeks provides a straightforward method for adding and removing users, with roles such as Collaborator or Client, aimed at team collaboration and client engagement. Hostens, on the other hand, provides more granular control based on the type of hosting service. From cPanel Admin privileges in professional hosting to root access with unmanaged VPS, Hostens offers a broad spectrum of user roles geared towards different levels of technical expertise and administrative control.

Regarding user interfaces and tools, GreenGeeks offers a user-friendly account management system accessible through their Account Manager. The steps to add or remove users are clearly outlined and involve intuitive actions such as dropdown selections and email invitations. Hostens also utilizes cPanel for user management, but expands its toolset with server-side administrative capabilities, especially for unmanaged VPS and reseller hosting. This allows for more comprehensive website and server management under a unified interface, suitable for both novice and advanced users.

The effectiveness of access control measures varies between the two providers. GreenGeeks focuses on ease of use, allowing multi-user access and cPanel permissions to streamline workflows for teams and individual users. Hostens, however, excels in scalability, particularly for resellers who can create and manage multiple client accounts without limitations, and for VPS users who require extensive control over their server environments. This makes Hostens more adaptable to a growing number of users and complex administrative tasks, fitting a diverse range of business needs.

GreenGeeks User Roles Table:

Hostens User Roles Table:

🏆 Winner GreenGeeks: GreenGeeks provides extensive 24/7 customer support through multiple channels, including live chat, email, and phone, along with free migration services and a well-rated support team.

GreenGeeks and Hostens both offer 24/7 customer support, but they differ in terms of available support channels and additional services. GreenGeeks stands out with its phone support and a highly-rated customer care team known for quick resolutions. They also offer free migration services, both for cPanel and WordPress, which can be a significant advantage for users seeking to move their websites without hassle.

Conversely, Hostens provides 24/7 support via live chat and a ticket system, along with a comprehensive knowledge base for self-help. Although Hostens does not offer phone support like GreenGeeks, it has a quick response time via its contact form and email. Both providers have extensive online resources and a knowledge base to assist users independently, but GreenGeeks edges out with its additional migration services and phone support.

Green Geeks vs Hostens: User feedback

GreenGeeks is highly praised for its exceptional customer support and user-friendly interfaces, making it a popular choice for many. Users appreciate its reliable uptime, fast hosting speeds, and environmentally friendly initiatives, which appeal to those seeking sustainable hosting solutions. However, some reviewers mention higher costs after initial promotional periods and limited high-demand hosting plans, which may be a concern for scaling businesses. Additionally, there are occasional complaints about strict firewall rules and payment processing issues. Overall, GreenGeeks is seen as a solid option, especially for beginners and eco-conscious users.

Summary: Users generally appreciate the hosting provider for its reliable uptime and responsive customer support. Many reviewers highlight the ease of setup and user-friendly interface as significant positives. However, some users have expressed concerns over occasional slow server speeds and higher pricing compared to competitors. Overall, the hosting service receives favorable reviews, but there is room for improvement in performance consistency and cost efficiency.

Green Geeks vs Hostens: FAQ