Green Geeks vs Name.com: guide for 2024

Final verdict

Looking over GreenGeeks vs. Name.com, each hosting provider offers distinct advantages catering to various user needs and priorities.

• 
  GreenGeeks (Overall grade: 8.4)
  
  
  emerges as a compelling choice for those emphasizing performance and eco-friendliness. With a strong emphasis on speed and security, GreenGeeks offers features like SSD storage, LiteSpeed WebServer, and advanced DDoS protection, ensuring quick and safe website operations. Their eco-friendly initiatives, such as planting a tree for each account and using renewable energy credits, appeal to environmentally conscious users. Strengths include impressive uptime, comprehensive customer support available 24/7, and valuable tools for developers and businesses, including free WordPress migration services. However, potential downsides include relatively higher renewal prices and strict resource usage policies.
  
• 
  Name.com (Overall grade: 7.3)
  
  
  is ideal for users seeking straightforward and scalable hosting solutions, especially beneficial for agencies handling multiple projects. Name.com offers a variety of cloud hosting plans powered by DigitalOcean, providing flexibility and scalability as web traffic grows. Key highlights include a strong uptime guarantee, secure access options like SSH/SFTP, and affordable basic to premium plans. While Name.com excels in simplicity and cost-effectiveness, it falls short in areas like customer support availability and advanced caching features. Additionally, users have reported mixed experiences with their technical support and account management services, which might be a drawback for those seeking comprehensive assistance.
  

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 Name.com: Demonstrates higher reliability with a strong uptime guarantee and efficient response times.

GreenGeeks offers reliable hosting with a 99.9% uptime target and impressive performance metrics. Tests conducted by Uptime.com show a perfect 100% uptime over 14 days and a quick server response time of 0.302 seconds. GreenGeeks operates data centers across multiple locations, providing users with the flexibility to choose the best location for their needs.

Name.com stands out with a 99.99% uptime guarantee and consistent average response times of 220ms. Over a monitored period, it recorded only a single minute of downtime, reflecting its near-perfect uptime. With data centers available in multiple global locations and features like free automated backups and secure web hosting, Name.com proves to be a dependable choice for hosting services.

🏆 Winner
GreenGeeks: Eco-friendly performance and comprehensive features.

Comparing the general performance of GreenGeeks and Name.com, GreenGeeks uses SSD storage with LiteSpeed WebServer, LS Cache Plugin, and the latest PHP version, contributing to faster website loading times. It offers free CDN and has global data centers in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. Name.com, while offering 99.9% uptime and cloud hosting powered by DigitalOcean, also boasts data centers globally but lacks built-in caching plugins like GreenGeeks.

Website Speed

GreenGeeks provides blazing-fast speeds with features such as LiteSpeed WebServer, LS Cache Plugin, and SSD storage. Its focus on optimal performance through advanced caching and the latest PHP versions ensures swift load times. Name.com, with cloud hosting powered by 2nd gen Intel Xeon Scalable processors, delivers commendable speed but does not match the built-in performance enhancements of GreenGeeks.

Scalability

GreenGeeks offers easy plan upgrades without automated elastic scaling. Their Premium Plan includes dedicated IPs and additional resources at a higher cost. Name.com presents excellent scalability options, allowing for seamless upgrades in memory and disk space as your website grows. Specific costs for scaling on Name.com are not provided, and the automatic scaling information remains unknown.

🏆 Winner
GreenGeeks: Strong security features and robust eco-friendly practices make GreenGeeks a solid hosting choice.

Both GreenGeeks and Name.com, have notable differences in their approaches to technical and operational
security, as well as in their compliance with regulations.

Technical security measures:

Both GreenGeeks and Name.com offer extensive technical security measures. GreenGeeks provides multiple PHP versions ranging from 5.6 to 8.2, while Name.com supports PHP versions from 7.0 to 8.0+. GreenGeeks outshines with advanced firewall and DDoS protection powered by AI, along with container-based technology for enhanced security and isolation. Name.com, on the other hand, provides secure access through SSH and SFTP/FTP, and regularly monitors servers and network components. Both hosts offer daily backups, but GreenGeeks includes on-demand backups for its higher-tier plans, providing more flexibility.

Operational security measures:

GreenGeeks and Name.com have robust operational security measures. GreenGeeks offers 24/7 network security monitoring, free malware cleanups, and advanced security specifically for WooCommerce. For larger ecosystems, GreenGeeks also integrates Immunify360 for malware and threat detection. Name.com ensures automated backups, spam protection, and maintains 99.9% uptime, thereby guaranteeing high availability. Additionally, Name.com secures email through encryption and provides an enterprise-level webmail interface. Both companies offer tools like Git for secure code management, but GreenGeeks provides additional features like free CDN integration and dedicated IP addresses in its premium plans.

Compliance and certifications:

GreenGeeks emphasizes security and data protection, suggesting that it adheres to industry standards, though specific details on GDPR and PCI compliance are not provided. Name.com clearly states compliance with GDPR regulations and implies PCI standards adherence through its use of SSL certificates and secure data handling practices. Neither hosting provider mentions HIPAA compliance. For precise compliance details, contacting the providers directly would be beneficial.

🏆 Winner GreenGeeks: A sustainable hosting solution with comprehensive features.

GreenGeeks and Name.com both offer robust hosting solutions, but cater to different user segments. GreenGeeks features tiered plans with varying levels of performance and support, and emphasizes its eco-friendly initiatives, such as planting a tree for each account. GreenGeeks provides free domain registration for the first year, free SSL certificates, and daily backups. Their highest-tier plan also includes a free dedicated IP and advanced SSL. Name.com focuses on simplicity and ease of setup, offering automated backups, one-click WordPress installations, and strong security features. Name.com is appealing for users who need quick, uncomplicated setups with reliable performance, offering an impressive 99.9% uptime guarantee and enterprise-level email stats.

GreenGeeks stands out with its inclusion of WP-CLI & SSH access across all plans, ideal for developers who manage WordPress sites. Although Name.com offers unlimited FTP accounts and SSH access, GreenGeeks’ focus on developer tools like Git and Drush offers more customization for advanced users. Name.com provides a solid range of features but lacks the comprehensive environmental commitment of GreenGeeks. Both providers offer free tools like SSL certificates and automated backups but differ in domain policy: GreenGeeks offers a free domain for the first year, which could sway users looking to consolidate their services without additional fees. Ultimately, your choice depends on your priority for sustainability, developer tools, or seamless setup.

Email services:

Email services at GreenGeeks are provided through a partnership with Microsoft 365, offering a professional email and access to Outlook on a trial basis before transitioning to a paid service. Conversely, Name.com provides unlimited free professional email accounts, which is particularly beneficial for users requiring multiple email accounts without incurring additional costs.

Winner Name.com: Offering a versatile array of hosting solutions with competitive features and flexible 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.

In comparing GreenGeeks and Name.com, GreenGeeks offers a variety of specialized WordPress, WooCommerce, and cPanel hosting plans at competitive prices, with the added benefit of green energy matching and multiple free features like SSL and domain registration for the first year. Name.com, on the other hand, offers simpler web hosting plans with clear options for scaling up resources as needed, and straightforward, effective cloud hosting via Digital Ocean droplets. Name.com’s pricing for their basic web hosting and cloud plans tends to be higher, but numerous options ensure flexibility for different needs.

Enterprise plans

For enterprise users, GreenGeeks offers robust reseller hosting options with plans like the RH-80, priced at $69.95/month for 160GB SSD and 1600GB transfer with 80 cPanel accounts and comprehensive support. This plan includes top-notch security features and a substantial amount of resources. On the other hand, Name.com focuses on scalable cloud hosting, with their Digital Ocean 320GB Droplet plan at $96/month, providing 16GB of memory and 8 VCPUs, making it suitable for high-traffic applications. Each provider offers distinct advantages, with GreenGeeks excelling in managed support and sustainability, while Name.com offers scalability and flexibility through Digital Ocean.

🏆 Winner GreenGeeks: GreenGeeks offers an effortless and eco-friendly hosting experience with outstanding support and features.

GreenGeeks and Name.com both leverage the standard cPanel for managing their hosting services, which many users find intuitive and straightforward. GreenGeeks provides a seamless onboarding process supported by 24/7 expert assistance to guide users through account setup and usage. Their interface is tailored to ensure users, including those with limited technical knowledge, can navigate efficiently. Additionally, GreenGeeks’ WordPress setup is simplified to just a few clicks, making it highly accessible.

On the other hand, Name.com also offers a user-friendly interface through cPanel, designed to manage domains and hosting services conveniently. They feature a one-click installation for WordPress and other CMSs, ensuring quick site setups. The interface is manageable for both technical and non-technical users, allowing easy management of themes, plugins, and other settings. Overall, both platforms provide accessible admin panels, but GreenGeeks’ robust 24/7 support adds a significant advantage.

GreenGeeks offers free WordPress migration services, which can be easily requested via their support section. This removes the hassle of manual transitions and ensures a smooth migration process managed by experts. Name.com also provides migration tools, allowing users to migrate their sites, although the full extent of these tools, such as whether they are automated or manual, isn’t specified as explicitly. Given that GreenGeeks includes a clearly defined free migration service, it stands out in this comparison.

Both GreenGeeks and Name.com maintain comprehensive help centers with extensive resources to aid their users. GreenGeeks features hundreds of WordPress-specific tutorials and detailed guides for cPanel, ensuring users can find assistance regardless of the issue. They also offer expert support around the clock, enhancing the quality of their help resources. Name.com has a detailed Knowledge Base categorized into various topics, providing step-by-step guides and articles to resolve common issues. They offer live support during extended hours and support tickets for more personalized help.

The platforms provide extensive knowledge bases filled with guides, how-to articles, and instructional content. GreenGeeks offers a wide range of resources alongside 24/7 chat and phone support. Name.com also boasts a detailed help center with an intuitive search function and around-the-clock support via live chat, phone, and ticketing, ensuring comprehensive user support.

Winner GreenGeeks: A competent hosting provider offering effective user management features for diverse needs.

When comparing the user management capabilities of GreenGeeks and Name.com, GreenGeeks clearly stands out with a detailed and structured approach to adding and managing users. GreenGeeks allows for the creation of user roles like Collaborator or Client, facilitating tailored access to account features. On the other hand, Name.com lacks specific information on how user roles and permissions are managed, making GreenGeeks the more flexible and transparent option for user role management.

GreenGeeks provides an intuitive interface for user management. The platform enables users to invite new participants by simply logging into their GreenGeeks account manager, accessing profile settings, and sending an email invitation. The process is clear-cut, ensuring ease of use. Name.com, however, doesn’t provide information on their user interface for user management, which leaves users with less clarity on how to manage roles effectively.

Regarding access control measures and scalability, GreenGeeks offers a robust multi-user access feature that makes it easy for web developers or other users to get support without sharing primary credentials. Users can also be granted cPanel access, allowing them to manage various aspects of website development efficiently. GreenGeeks’ system is well-suited for managing a growing number of users, although no specific procedures are detailed for user limits or scaling issues. For Name.com, without information on their access control capabilities, their effectiveness in managing user growth remains uncertain.

GreenGeeks User Roles Table:

🏆 Winner
GreenGeeks: Offers better customer support availability and a comprehensive suite of support resources.

GreenGeeks provides 24/7 customer support through live chat, email, and phone, ensuring assistance at any time. Their customer care team is highly-rated, known for quick resolution times. GreenGeeks also offers free migration services for cPanel and WordPress accounts. Exploring their knowledge base, blog, and video tutorials offers extensive self-help resources.

Name.com has a mixed approach to customer service, blending live chat support with virtual bot assistance during off-hours. Available daily at specific times, their support ticket system and phone support cater to various user needs. However, Name.com lacks 24/7 live support and has shorter phone support intervals compared to GreenGeeks. Despite this, they offer comprehensive self-help through a detailed knowledge base.

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.

User feedback for the hosting provider reveals a mixed bag of experiences. While many users appreciate the straightforward domain registration process, easy-to-use interface, and competitive pricing, there are significant concerns regarding customer service. Negative reviews often highlight slow response times, unhelpful support, and issues with account management. Users also express dissatisfaction with hosting services, citing technical difficulties and a lack of advanced features. However, some long-term users remain loyal, finding the platform reliable for domain-related solutions despite its shortcomings in customer support.

FAQ