Hetzner vs StableHost: guide for 2024

Hetzner vs StableHost: Final verdict

Looking over Hetzner vs. StableHost, 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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  Hetzner (Overall grade: 7.9)
  
  excels with its powerful cloud and VPS hosting options, making it highly suitable for handling high-traffic and multimedia websites. Offering impressive 99.9% uptime with globally spread data centers and complimentary DDoS protection, Hetzner emphasizes reliability and security. The use of high-end hardware like NVMe SSDs and advanced processors ensures superior website speed. Hetzner’s in-depth control over user roles, advanced PHP support, and free SSL certificates bolster its flexibility and performance. The primary drawback lies in its slightly higher complexity and learning curve, potentially deterring less technically-oriented users.
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  StableHost(Overall grade: 6.9)
  
  provides various hosting types, including WordPress, Ecommerce, and Dedicated hosting, positioning it as a versatile option for different user groups. Its strong points lie in comprehensive clustered hosting solutions that enhance website availability and reliability, along with SSD drives and LiteSpeed server options for improved site performance. While StableHost’s pricing is more accessible, especially for beginners, and offers a user-friendly control panel with site building tools, its lack of cloud hosting options and advanced scalability features may limit its appeal for high-traffic and resource-intensive websites.

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 StableHost: StableHost boasts a comprehensive clustered hosting solution that enhances website availability and reliability.

Hetzner Online guarantees an impressive 99.9% uptime with data centers spread across Germany, Finland, and the USA. Their redundant network, using Juniper backbone technology, and 24/7 monitoring ensure high reliability. Additionally, Hetzner provides free DDoS protection, safeguarding your website from potential threats. With consistent performance, Hetzner remains a reliable choice for many businesses.

StableHost offers a similar 99.9% uptime guarantee, enhanced by clustered hosting that prevents single points of failure. Their 24/7 technician availability and quick response time, generally under 20 minutes, add to their reliability. With data centers in various global locations, including both LiteSpeed and Apache server options, StableHost provides flexibility and robust performance for diverse needs.

🏆 Winner: Hetzner: Reliable hosting service with top-notch data centers and extensive security measures.

When comparing Hetzner and StableHost in terms of general performance, Hetzner stands out due to its ISO 27001 certified data centers located in Germany, Finland, and the USA, providing a 99.9% minimum network availability with 24/7 monitoring. Hetzner uses NVMe SSD disk space for higher read and write speeds and offers unlimited traffic for web hosting packages. Meanwhile, StableHost offers SSD drives with data centers in Phoenix, Chicago, and Amsterdam, and an average response time of under 20 minutes. Both offer 24/7 support. However, Hetzner’s inclusion of free phone and email support and higher bandwidth capacity provide an edge.

Website Speed

Hetzner’s use of NVMe SSDs, coupled with Intel Xeon Gold and AMD EPYC processors, ensures fast website load times and efficient performance. They provide multiple programming languages and CMS support along with automatic backups and snapshots for smoother operations. StableHost’s SSD drives and LiteSpeed web server also enhance load times, but Hetzner’s advanced hardware and comprehensive support for web technologies make a noticeable difference in website speed.

Scalability

For scalability, Hetzner offers both shared and dedicated vCPU options with high-performance hardware, which allows for better resource management. Their flexible invoicing for additional disk space and traffic is a plus. They offer managed servers with no minimum contract period, providing daily backups and security checks. StableHost provides automatic node failover and IO re-allocation features, but specifics on their scalability costs and automatic plan upgrades were not disclosed. Hetzner appears to be more transparent and flexible with their scalability options.

🏆 Winner
Hetzner: Hetzner Online offers a more comprehensive suite of security features compared to StableHost.

Technical security measures:

Hetzner offers free SSL certificates via Symantec Basic and Let’s Encrypt, while StableHost provides various Comodo SSL certificates (Standard, Wildcard, EV, Multi-Domain). Regarding PHP support, both hosts support advanced versions; Hetzner supports PHP5, PHP7, and PHP8, and StableHost supports PHP 7.x and 8.x. Hetzner includes advanced PHP extensions like APCu, ImageMagick, and XDebug, making it more versatile. Both providers enforce encrypted connections for web and mail services. Additionally, Hetzner provides secure data transfer through FTPS/SFTP and encrypted SSH access.

Operational security measures:

Hetzner monitors their services 24/7, backed by automated defense mechanisms against brute force attacks and daily backups managed centrally. Their mail security is extensive, covering DKIM, SPF, and various spam filters. StableHost also offers 24/7 monitoring and daily backups. They include virus/spam filtering in email accounts, security audits, and VPN services with robust features like zero data logging and AES-256 encryption. However, Hetzner’s comprehensive security concept with system integrity checks and sophisticated DDoS protection puts it ahead.

Compliance and certifications:

Hetzner complies with GDPR and operates data centers certified under ISO 27001 standards. They offer DPAs aligned with Article 28 of the GDPR. PCI compliance information is not specified. StableHost complies with GDPR, serving as both Data Controller and Processor, offering Personal Data Assistance Agreements for further compliance. HIPAA compliance is not specified for either provider.

🏆 Winner: Hetzner Online GmbH: An all-encompassing hosting solution with a diverse range of features aimed at satisfying varied customer requirements.

Hetzner and StableHost both present robust hosting services, yet they cater to distinct user preferences. Hetzner stands out with its inclusion of a domain as part of its packages, offering flexibility in domain choices and ensuring an unlimited traffic allowance. Notably, Hetzner provides a comprehensive list of PHP extensions, such as APCu and ImageMagick, along with a feature-rich email hosting service, complete with ample mailboxes and forwarding capabilities. Users seeking control over their web hosting environment will appreciate Hetzner’s availability of Cron Jobs, WSGI support for Python applications, and a variety of PHP versions. However, Hetzner has a specific price structure for exceeding disk space limits and optional dedicated IPv4 addresses.

StableHost, on the other hand, provides unlimited MySQL databases and FTP accounts through its user-friendly control panel with Softaculous and Site.Pro Web Builder for rapid site setup. This makes it a tempting choice for beginners or those wanting quick and straightforward website management. StableHost’s daily backups powered by R1Soft and the Litespeed Web Server enhance its appeal for those prioritizing speed and reliability. Although SSH access incurs an additional cost, the clustered DNS service and multiple global data center options add a layer of convenience and flexibility for users with varied geographic needs. StableHost’s all-inclusive nature concerning email accounts, forwards, responders, and spam/virus filtering further simplifies email management.

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 Hetzner and StableHost 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:

Email services at Hetzner 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, StableHost provides unlimited free professional email accounts, which is particularly beneficial for users requiring multiple email accounts without incurring additional costs.

🏆 Winner StableHost:StableHost offers exceptional pricing and features for both personal and enterprise hosting needs.

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.

Comparing Hetzner and StableHost, Hetzner’s shared hosting plans offer solid performance and scalability starting at just €2.09 per month, with features like unlimited traffic and advanced options across different levels. For cloud hosting, Hetzner provides versatile and cost-effective solutions, starting at €4.51 per month, featuring a variety of configurations to match specific needs. StableHost, with slightly better ratings, provides extremely affordable web hosting options suited for beginners, starting at just $0.90 per month. They also offer comprehensive higher-tier plans such as the Pro and Platinum that include unlimited features and additional support, making them highly attractive for small to medium businesses.

Enterprise plans

For enterprises, Hetzner provides highly scalable cloud and managed server options, starting at €40.46 per month, with comprehensive support and high-performance specifications including up to 192 GB RAM for cloud solutions. StableHost, on the other hand, offers more user-friendly and affordable packages that could appeal to smaller enterprises and startups, starting at $0.90 per month for shared hosting with solid performance and unlimited features at higher tiers. Both providers offer robust DDoS protection and high-availability networks, but StableHost takes the edge with a focus on customer support and more flexible hosting packages.

🏆 Winner: StableHost: Highly accessible with quick website setup options.

Hetzner uses the konsoleH administration interface for managing accounts. It’s a custom solution that allows users to set up domains, emails, and websites efficiently. It offers a degree of control that might appeal to users comfortable with server management. The konsoleH interface is reasonably user-friendly but might require a learning curve for those not frequently dealing with server management tasks. Hetzner provides comprehensive documentation, which can help users get acquainted with their systems.

StableHost, on the other hand, offers the widely recognized cPanel for shared and reseller servers, and SolusVM for VPS hosting. These control panels are known for their intuitive user interface, making them accessible to both technical and non-technical users. Additionally, StableHost provides the Site.Pro Web Builder, which simplifies website creation using a drag-and-drop interface. The combination of cPanel’s popularity and Site.Pro’s ease of use gives StableHost the advantage in accessibility for a broader range of users.

Both Hetzner and StableHost offer tools for site migration. Hetzner’s documentation provides step-by-step guides on migrating domains, websites, mail, and databases. StableHost offers migration tools as well, including a one-click installer for popular scripts like WordPress and Joomla. Neither provider charges additional fees for these services, making it easier for users to move their sites without financial burdens. However, StableHost’s one-click installer simplifies the migration process, especially for non-technical users.

The help center resources of both providers are accessible and comprehensive. Hetzner offers extensive documentation along with 24/7 support via telephone and email. Their guides and tutorials cover a wide range of topics, making it easier for users to find solutions. StableHost’s Help Center is similarly detailed, with numerous articles and guides to assist users with technical and account support. The average response time of less than 20 minutes for support queries highlights their commitment to customer service.

The platforms provide extensive knowledge bases filled with guides, how-to articles, and instructional content. Hetzner offers a wide range of resources alongside 24/7 chat and phone support. StableHost 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 Hetzner: Offering detailed and versatile user management features.

When comparing Hetzner and StableHost in managing user roles, permissions, and accessibility, Hetzner clearly excels. Hetzner provides a structured and detailed approach to creating user groups, assigning roles, and defining permissions. It allows for precise control over user activities and storage quotas, which is crucial for efficient administration. Although no specific information about user management for StableHost is available, Hetzner’s detailed documentation indicates a high level of flexibility and control in managing user roles, which gives it a significant edge.

Hetzner’s user interface and tools for managing users are well-designed and comprehensive. Users can easily navigate to User Settings from the profile picture, where they can create groups and manage user accounts. The interface includes fields for basic user information, storage quotas, and additional settings for more detailed account management. Tools like the User Activity Overview provide real-time monitoring of user actions, making it easier for administrators to keep track of activities and manage resources effectively.

Access control measures on Hetzner are quite effective, supporting the creation and management of user groups and delegation of administrative roles. It offers facilities for password resets, user activity monitoring, and SSH access permission management, ensuring robust control over user access. The infrastructure for assigning storage quotas, including an option for unlimited storage within the purchased instance, adds to its capability to manage a growing number of users efficiently. Without comparable data from StableHost, Hetzner’s detailed provision for user role and access management underlines its effectiveness.

Hetzner user roles table:

🏆 Winner StableHost: StableHost offers a more inclusive range of customer service options, making it a more accessible choice for users.

Hetzner Online provides multiple support channels including email, ticketing, and phone support, supplemented by extensive documentation for users who prefer self-service. While the ticketing system is noted for its quick responses, the absence of live chat support and occasional issues with account management and billing disputes detract from its overall customer service experience. Hetzner also serves customers in multiple languages such as English, German, and Russian.

StableHost has a more comprehensive customer service offering with 24/7 technical support across multiple channels, including phone, email, and live chat. The availability of live chat is a significant advantage, making support more accessible and immediate. Additionally, StableHost provides dedicated teams for sales and billing inquiries, allowing for a more specialized and efficient resolution process.

Hetzner vs StableHost: User feedback

Overall, users find the hosting provider to be highly cost-effective, with robust performance and reliable server infrastructure. Many appreciate the competitive pricing, ease of use, and the ability to scale their projects effortlessly. While the customer support is praised for being helpful and responsive, some users feel it could benefit from slight improvements. Additionally, there are minor suggestions for feature enhancements and a more refined user interface, though these do not detract significantly from overall satisfaction.

StableHost receives high praise for its reliable performance and excellent customer support, often described as prompt and helpful. Users appreciate its ease of integration, comprehensive setup guides, and rich feature set, making it an ideal choice for both novice and advanced users. While some advanced users find certain functionalities lacking and note higher pricing compared to budget-friendly options, the overall consensus is positive due to its strong uptime and user-friendly interface. The plans are seen as reasonably priced, especially with available discounts, though some users miss the immediate tech support response times of the past.

Hetzner vs StableHost: FAQ