Green Geeks vs Knownhost: guide for 2024

Green Geeks vs Knownhost: Final verdict

Looking over GreenGeeks vs. KnownHost, both web hosting providers offer robust features, excellent performance, and a variety of hosting options to suit different user needs, but they cater to slightly different audiences.

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  KnownHost (Overall grade: 8.6)
  
  
  excels in providing high uptime and fast website performance, thanks to their historical uptime of 99.996% and load times of 1.5 seconds. They offer advanced security features like DDoS protection up to 500 Gbit/s and automated snapshot backups. KnownHost’s hosting plans, which include cloud and dedicated hosting, cater to high-traffic and flexible needs, especially for agencies and high-demand websites. Key features such as SSD NVMe storage, LiteSpeed + LSCache, and a strong support system make KnownHost a reliable option for those prioritizing performance and security.
  
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  GreenGeeks (Overall grade: 8.4)
  
  
  stands out for its eco-friendly approach, offering 300% renewable energy matching and planting a tree for each hosting account. It provides various hosting types, including ecommerce and WordPress-specific plans, complete with free SSLs, CDN, and built-in caching. Though GreenGeeks does not offer cloud or dedicated hosting, it ensures solid performance across its data centers worldwide with a 99.9% uptime guarantee. Users benefit from a user-friendly cPanel, inclusive features, and competitive pricing, making GreenGeeks a versatile choice for businesses with environmental priorities and those looking for solid all-round hosting.
  

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 KnownHost: KnownHost offers higher uptime and faster performance for hosting needs.

KnownHost shows a slightly superior performance in terms of reliability and speed. Both hosting services have impressive uptimes, with KnownHost slightly edging out GreenGeeks with a 99.99% uptime over a 3-month period compared to GreenGeeks’s 99.89%. This difference in uptime is reflected in the number and duration of outages, where KnownHost experienced 3 outages totaling 12 minutes, while GreenGeeks had 5 outages totaling 2h 12 minutes.

GreenGeeks provides a solid uptime with their 99.9% uptime guarantee, although it does not offer compensation for falling below this threshold. They scored a perfect 100% uptime in Uptime.com tests and maintain consistent server response times. With multiple data centers globally, GreenGeeks ensures good performance and reliable service access to users.

KnownHost’s advantage is more pronounced in terms of server response time. It boasted an average response time of 389ms, which is significantly lower than the shared hosting industry standard and faster than GreenGeeks’s average response time of 670ms, which can peak up to 1152ms. This suggests that KnownHost 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.

KnownHost shines with a historical uptime of 99.996% and a recent monthly uptime of 99.99%+. Their main website’s load time is 1.5 seconds, much quicker than average. Up to 500 Gbit/s of DDoS protection and automated snapshot backups add to their service reliability. KnownHost’s excellent support and performance make them the stronger option.

🏆 Winner: GreenGeeks: Top hosting provider with a strong emphasis on eco-friendliness and all-round performance.

When comparing the general performance of GreenGeeks and KnownHost, both offer high-speed hosting with excellent hardware. GreenGeeks utilizes LiteSpeed WebServer, LS Cache Plugin, SSDs, and the latest PHP version for blazing-fast speeds, along with built-in caching methods. KnownHost also employs LiteSpeed and LSCache, backed by AMD EPYC hardware and enterprise NVMe storage to ensure quick load times and high request processing rates. GreenGeeks provides a free CDN, enhancing website speed globally, while KnownHost does not mention a specific CDN offering. GreenGeeks boasts multiple data centers in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, helping maintain fast page loads regardless of user location. KnownHost’s data center locations are not detailed.

Website Speed

Comparing website speed, GreenGeeks has an edge due to its integrated LiteSpeed WebServer and LS Cache Plugin, plus SSD storage and HTTP/3, ensuring optimum performance. KnownHost leverages similar technologies, like LiteSpeed and NVMe storage, to achieve comparable speeds, marked by over 99.99% uptime reliability. However, GreenGeeks’ free CDN further boosts its performance parameters, making it slightly more attractive for speed-critical applications.

Scalability

Scalability options for both providers are quite flexible. GreenGeeks offers three tiers – Lite, Pro, and Premium plans – allowing customers to upgrade based on their growing needs. KnownHost provides multiple hosting types, including VPS and dedicated hosting, though detailed pricing and specific scaling methods are not disclosed. Automated elastic scaling information for both hosts remains unclear; it appears that upgrading plans is the primary approach. GreenGeeks’ plans are competitively priced and include added perks like dedicated IPs and object caching in their higher-tier plans.

This concise comparison demonstrates GreenGeeks as the more versatile and environmentally friendly option, while KnownHost also delivers solid performance and superior support.

🏆 Winner KnownHost: KnownHost offers robust security features and strong customer feedback.
Both GreenGeeks and KnownHost, have notable differences in their approaches to technical and operational
security, as well as in their compliance with regulations.

Technical security measures:

GreenGeeks and KnownHost both provide extensive technical security features. GreenGeeks offers Wildcard SSL Certificate and free SSL Certificates powered by Let’s Encrypt. KnownHost provides free SSL certificates as well and premium SSL options from Comodo, RapidSSL, and GeoTrust. Both hosting services support multiple PHP versions, with GreenGeeks supporting PHP 8.2, 8.0, 7.4, 5.6, among others and KnownHost supporting versions 5.6 through 8.2. GreenGeeks ensures 24/7 monitoring with Advanced WAF and DDoS protection, while KnownHost includes up to 500 Gbps DDoS protection for free. Additionally, GreenGeeks uses Immunify360 for malware detection, and KnownHost employs the same tool for automated security.

Operational security measures:

GreenGeeks and KnownHost both emphasize operational security measures. GreenGeeks provides daily backups with on-demand options for higher plans, SSH, and secure FTP access, and free CDN integration. In comparison, KnownHost offers automated backups that store data off-server and set up a firewall and rDNS for added security. Both services emphasize the importance of securing data, but GreenGeeks also features container-based technology for scalability and isolation, and KnownHost uses LiteSpeed with LSCache for performance and security.

Compliance and certifications:

Regarding regulatory compliance, GreenGeeks suggests adherence to GDPR and PCI compliance but doesn’t provide explicit details. KnownHost specifies that their inclusion of SSL certificates aids PCI compliance. Both providers focus on data protection, but specific details about HIPAA compliance are not mentioned. For strict compliance requirements, contacting both providers directly is recommended.

🏆 Winner: KnownHost: KnownHost offers robust performance and security features.

Both GreenGeeks and KnownHost provide a variety of features catering to different user needs. GreenGeeks stands out with its eco-friendly approach, matching its energy usage with 300% renewable energy and planting a tree for every hosting account. They offer three different plans: Lite, Pro, and Premium, with increasing levels of performance and additional features such as free backups, WP-CLI, SSH access, and built-in caching. They also provide a free domain name for the first year and free WordPress migration, which can be helpful for users shifting platforms. Notably, GreenGeeks provides a combination of standard and premium services like free SSL certificates, CDN, and developer tools in all of their tiers.

KnownHost, on the other hand, excels in performance with its LiteSpeed + LSCache and NVMe storage supported by the AMD EPYC platform. Security is a key focus; they provide free DDoS protection and automated security through Imunify360. KnownHost also offers free SSL certificates and ease of management with cPanel and one-click installations via Softaculous. Their migration service aims to minimize downtime, making transitions seamless. The inclusion of daily automated backups and a stellar uptime record ensures reliability. Principally, KnownHost offers multiple backup snapshots and free domain privacy for life, distinguishing it as a comprehensive solution for those prioritizing performance and security.

Email services:

GreenGeeks offers robust email hosting capabilities, including the provision for unlimited email accounts and transactional email functionalities. It does not provide reselling options for third-party email services. KnownHost does not offer specific email hosting services but focuses on transactional email capabilities with strong security measures and does not resell third-party services like Google Workspace or Outlook.

🏆 Winner KnownHost: A reliable hosting provider with competitive pricing and strong features.

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 offers a variety of hosting plans with environmental benefits and several included features at competitive discounted prices. KnownHost provides robust fully managed WordPress and shared hosting plans, which include higher performance NVMe storage and premium bandwidth, but at a higher regular price. In shared hosting categories, GreenGeeks delivers more basic planning with renewable energy benefits, while KnownHost provides enhanced performance and extensive storage in higher-tier plans.

Enterprise plans

GreenGeeks offers Premium WordPress and WooCommerce hosting plans at $26.95/month, featuring unlimited websites, performance optimization, and added security features. KnownHost’s Corporate WordPress plan, priced at $19.98/month, includes multiple sites, NVMe storage, and extensive visits per month. Similarly, for VPS and semi-dedicated plans, GreenGeeks’ offers more budget-friendly options though KnownHost provides higher capacity and performance specs.

🏆 Winner KnownHost: Offers fast setup, comprehensive support, and high-performance features, making it a leading choice for website hosting.

GreenGeeks users benefit from cPanel, a familiar and widely-used control panel for web hosting. Its interface is accessible, making it suitable for both technical and non-technical users, simplifying website management through an intuitive design. The onboarding process at GreenGeeks includes 24/7 support to assist with the setup, adding an extra layer of ease for newcomers. WordPress setup is particularly straightforward, requiring just a few clicks without needing to address backend details like databases or file uploads.

KnownHost, on the other hand, provides an admin panel experience enhanced by Softaculous, a platform that facilitates the one-click installation of numerous applications. This solution streamlines the setup process even further, appealing mainly to users who prefer hassle-free deployment without deep technical know-how. Additionally, KnownHost’s support team is recognized for their rapid and helpful assistance, ensuring any issues with the control panel are resolved quickly.

Both GreenGeeks and KnownHost offer free migration services, easing the transition process for users moving from other hosting providers. GreenGeeks provides specific site migration instructions through their support dashboard, guiding users step-by-step. KnownHost takes charge of the technical details during migration, often resulting in zero downtime, which is a significant advantage for maintaining website availability.

The help centers of both providers are resource-rich, featuring extensive tutorials and guides. GreenGeeks offers hundreds of WordPress tutorials, cPanel how-to guides, and other useful resources. KnownHost’s knowledge base covers a broad spectrum of topics and includes many highly-praised articles. The quality and accessibility of these resources ensure users can effectively troubleshoot and enhance their website functionality.

🏆 Winner KnownHost: KnownHost provides meticulous user management with extensive support.

GreenGeeks and KnownHost both offer effective user management features, but they cater to different needs. GreenGeeks emphasizes a detailed process for adding and removing users, requiring navigation through various profile settings. Users can be assigned roles such as Collaborator or Client, with multi-user access allowing seamless interactions with support without credential sharing. On the other hand, KnownHost offers a streamlined approach to user management with accessible guides in its Knowledge Base. KnownHost’s support infrastructure is robust, featuring fully managed services and 24/7 on-shore support, ensuring users have the help they need when managing accounts and domains.

The user interfaces for managing users on both platforms are distinct. GreenGeeks involves multiple steps, from accessing your account to inviting users via an email-based system, focusing on clarity and delineation of user permissions. Conversely, KnownHost simplifies the interface with direct management options on the “My KnownHost” panel. The operational guides provided enhance usability, enabling users to efficiently control domain settings and user roles without cumbersome navigation.

Regarding access control, GreenGeeks supports multi-user access, allowing different roles to perform specific tasks without compromising security. Its method for removal of users ensures a systematized approach to managing user access. KnownHost, however, centralizes its user and domain management within an intuitive panel and provides thorough documentation. This allows for streamlined user addition and removal, catering to growing user bases with minimal effort required from the administrator.

GreenGeeks user roles table:

KnownHost user roles table:

🏆 Winner KnownHost: KnownHost excels in customer service and performance.

GreenGeeks offers comprehensive customer support available 24/7 via live chat, email, and phone. They provide free migration services and extensive resources, such as a knowledge base and tutorials, to help customers resolve issues on their own. Their customer care team is known for quick resolution times and has garnered positive feedback, despite some complaints about issues like auto-renewal.

KnownHost, on the other hand, also provides 24/7 customer support through phone, live chat, and email. Their fast technical support response, along with helpful and patient customer service, has received high praise. KnownHost features managed hosting services, including free SSL certificates and automated updates, appealing to users seeking reliable and high-performing hosting solutions.

Green Geeks vs Knownhost: User feedback

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.

KnownHost receives mixed feedback from its users. Many users praise its responsive and professional customer support, high uptime, and excellent technical infrastructure, particularly for managed WordPress and VPS hosting. However, there are significant complaints about slow server speeds, unhelpful support, and confusing user interfaces. Additionally, some users believe that the service is overpriced given the performance issues they have encountered. Overall, while KnownHost has loyal customers who appreciate its offerings, potential users should be aware of the varied experiences and evaluate if it meets their specific needs.

Green Geeks vs Knownhost: FAQ