Hivelocity vs HostArmada: Final verdict
Looking over Hivelocity vs. HostArmada, 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.
-
Hivelocity (Overall grade: 7.7)
stands out with its exceptional uptime guarantee of 99.99% and comprehensive redundancy measures, providing a reliable option for high-end customers. Their array of hosting types, including dedicated, VPS, and cloud hosting, is well-suited for businesses needing robust performance and stringent standards. Features like diverse SSL certificates, DDoS protection, and compliance certifications (SSAE-16, HIPAA, PCI) make it a top choice for those requiring advanced security and regulatory adherence. However, the absence of shared hosting, email services, and a website builder may be drawbacks for some users. -
HostArmada (Overall grade: 7.2)
focuses on affordability and usability, making it a more accessible option for a variety of users, including beginners. With shared hosting options, SSD storage, dynamic caching, and daily backups, HostArmada offers excellent performance at an economical price point. The inclusion of a free website builder, cPanel, free SSL certificates, and supportive migration services fosters ease of use. However, it falls short on dedicated hosting and advanced compliance as seen in Hivelocity. Overall, HostArmada strikes a balance between cost and feature-rich offerings, suitable for new and growing websites.
Overall grade:7.7 |
Overall grade:7.2 |
|
---|---|---|
Uptime and Availability | 9.8 | 9.1 |
Hosting Performance | 7.0 | 8.8 |
Hosting Security | 8.7 | 8.5 |
Price | 8.7 | 8.7 |
Hosting Features | 2.5 | 5.6 |
Ease Of Setup | 8.5 | 8.9 |
User Management | 6.9 | 0.0 |
Customer Support | 9.5 | 8.2 |
User feedback | 4.9/5 | 4.9/5 |
Hosting types offered
Both platforms provide a variety of hosting types, each designed to meet the different needs of users.
Shared hosting | ||
Cloud hosting | ||
WordPress hosting | ||
Ecommerce hosting | ||
VPS hosting | ||
Dedicated hosting |
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
Uptime and availability
Evaluates the average uptime statistics, uptime guarantee and overall availability of the hosting
provider
Score Components:
- Uptime percentage (30%): evaluates the uptime statistics in given period of time
- Uptime guarantee (20%): Assesses if the platform offers an uptime guarantee and
whether the actual uptime matches the promised guarantee. - General performance (25%): Evaluates how fast is the average response time and overall
it’s stability. - Responsiveness (10%): Adaptability to different devices and screen sizes.
- Availability (25%): Reflects the total downtime and number of outages.
🏆 Winner Hivelocity: Exceptional uptime and reliability for high-end customers.
Hivelocity stands out with an impressive uptime guarantee of 99.99%. Their track record of achieving 100% uptime for network and power since 2011, and a spotless 100% uptime monitoring report for their main website over a month, reinforces their reliability. Users benefit from a compensation plan for any downtime below the guaranteed level, adding peace of mind. The data center redundancy, including diesel power generators and sophisticated fuel management, ensures seamless operations during power outages.
HostArmada also offers 24/7/365 technical support and a respectable 99.9% uptime guarantee. With multiple global data centers and proactive monitoring, they aim to ensure optimal uptime. Yet, compared to Hivelocity’s stellar track record and more comprehensive redundancy measures, they fall slightly short. Both hosting services are reliable, but for those needing top-tier uptime and availability, Hivelocity is the superior choice.
Which one has better hosting performance?
Score Components:
- Hosting speed (30%): This includes SSD quality, Load times, PageSpeed score ranges,
additional information on website speed, built-in plugins for performance enhancement, available caching
methods, and CPU/RAM options - CDN (20%): Considers whether CDN is available or not, whether it’s free or paid, and
the quality of the CDN service - Available data centers (30%): Evaluates the number of data centers and their locations
globally. - Scalibility (20%): Looks at whether elastic scaling is available, the process required
to scale (manual upgrade vs. automatic scaling), the presence of dedicated servers, and the costs
associated with scaling.
🏆 Winner
Hostarmada: Excellent pricing and balanced performance.
Comparing general performance, Hostarmada stands out with better SSD storage and dynamic caching features. It encompasses advanced caching methods like Memcached, APC, and OpCache, ensuring rapid load times. Its CDN support through Cloudflare enhances content distribution efficiently. Hostarmada’s global data centers in multiple prime locations, including Milan and Sydney, offer ample choices that cater to various geographies. Hivelocity, while robust in network features and offering Intel and AMD processors, has limited information on built-in performance plugins and CDN options.
Website Speed
Hostarmada offers comprehensive speed optimization with Speed Reaper features and dynamic caching, making it more responsive. Its support for advanced HTTP protocols like HTTP/2 and HTTP/3 swiftens page loads. Hivelocity, though offering high-end hardware and instant server deployment, doesn’t specify additional performance enhancements like dynamic caching or HTTP protocols. This gives an edge to Hostarmada in terms of website speed.
Scalability
Scalability is more flexible with Hostarmada, allowing seamless upgrades across plans without disruption. Elastic scaling is inherent, ensuring resources are adjusted automatically as per the needs. Hivelocity, on the other hand, offers dedicated servers but lacks detailed information on automatic scaling and cost associated with upgrading plans. This makes Hostarmada a more scalable option for growing websites.
Which one has better security features?
and regulatory requirements
Score Components:
- Technical security measures (40%): This includes encryption, firewalls, DDoS
protection, secure configurations, server monitoring, access control and availability of security addons
(e.g Sitelock security). - Operational security measures (30%): Encompasses data privacy, backups and data
redundancy. - Compliance and certifications (20%): Adherence to legal and regulatory requirements
(e.g., GDPR, HIPAA) and possession of certifications (e.g., ISO 27001, SOC 2). - Business and reliability (10%): Factors in the provider’s reputation, uptime
guarantees, and customer support.
🏆 Winner Hivelocity Hosting: Robust security features and comprehensive compliance make it a top choice for businesses requiring stringent standards.
Technical security measures:
Hivelocity offers a broad spectrum of SSL certificates, including Domain Validated (DV), Organization Validated (OV), and Extended Validated (EV) options, providing multiple levels of security to match varied needs. HostArmada, on the other hand, provides a more straightforward solution with free SSL from Sectigo, cPanel Auto SSL, and CloudFlare Free SSL. In terms of malware protection, both providers offer robust solutions like proactive malware scanning. However, Hivelocity further enhances security with features like firewall hardening and DDoS protection. HostArmada shines with advanced defense mechanisms like next-gen IDS/IPS and proactive Zero-day attack detection.
Operational security measures:
Hivelocity excels in 24/7 monitoring and support, which includes real-time problem identification and resolution. Their operational security is further strengthened by the use of advanced encryption technologies and proactive measures like brute force detection. HostArmada also provides 24/7/365 live server monitoring but focuses equally on proactive defenses and intrusion detection systems. Both offer protection against malware and viruses, though HostArmada includes additional measures like Directory Password Protection and Hotlink Protection, adding a layer of security to web content management.
Compliance and certifications:
Hivelocity stands out with its SSAE-16, HIPAA, and PCI certifications, ensuring adherence to stringent data protection and payment card industry standards. Though HostArmada supports GDPR/PCI compliance, it’s not explicitly documented, making Hivelocity the more transparent choice for compliance needs in regulated environments.
SSL certificate |
Basic, Business, Premium |
Free SSL, Auto SSL, CloudFlare Free SSL |
Additional security features |
Advanced encryption, DDoS protection, proactive malware scanning, firewall hardening, virus and spam protection |
Network Firewall, WAF, next-gen IDS/IPS, hardened PHP, brute-force protection, malware protection |
PHP versions |
Not specified |
8, 7.4, 7.3, 7.2, 7.1, 7.0, 5.6 |
GDPR compliance |
Not specified |
Not specified |
HIPAA compliance |
Yes |
Not specified |
PCI compliance |
Yes |
Not specified |
Hosting features
Score Components:
- Domains (20%): Assesses the availability of a free domain, domain purchase options, and
pricing - Email (15%): Considers if the provider offers full email hosting, or is reselling
third-party service, and if the email is only transactional or not - Website builder (15%): Checks if website builder is available, and it’s user
friendliness and overall the level of customization allowed. - Staging environment (20%): Determines if a staging environment is available, allowing
for testing changes before going live. - FTP & SFTP accounts (10%): Evaluates if and how easily users can access FTP and
SFTP accounts - Git and SSH access (20%): Assess whether Git is integrated into the hosting service and
if SSH access is provided
🏆 Winner HostArmada: HostArmada offers a more extensive range of features and better value for most users.
Hivelocity and HostArmada both provide robust hosting solutions, but they target somewhat different user needs. Hivelocity shines with its detailed managed services, such as network intrusion monitoring, remote and manual reboots, and extensive OS support options, making it ideal for users requiring more hands-on management and detailed control over their server environment. Hivelocity also supports multiple control panels and offers cloud storage, firewalls, and DDoS mitigation. However, Hivelocity does not provide a website builder which could be a limitation for users looking for an easy-to-use setup.
HostArmada, on the other hand, aims at providing user-friendly and feature-rich hosting. It includes a free website builder, making it an excellent choice for users looking to create websites easily. HostArmada’s cPanel integration includes unlimited FTP accounts, MySQL databases, and multiple PHP versions, making it highly adaptable. Unique selling points include free SSL installation, daily backups, and a 45-day money-back guarantee, which can be very appealing for new users. HostArmada’s inclusion of free website migration, free SSL from Sectigo, and advanced caching and speed features offer significant value without additional costs.
Free domain |
No |
No |
Free SSL |
No |
Yes |
Email hosting |
No |
Yes |
Website builder |
No |
Yes |
Staging environment |
No |
Yes |
FTP & SFTP accounts |
Yes |
Yes |
Git and SSH access |
Yes |
Yes |
Free backup |
Limited |
Yes |
Money-back guarantee |
No |
Yes |
a location.
As a result in rare cases the features mentioned here can differ from the ones you see on their websites.
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 Hivelocity and HostArmada 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:
Hivelocity does not offer email hosting, which could be a drawback for businesses needing integrated email services. On the other hand, HostArmada offers a robust email hosting package with unlimited email accounts, webmail access, various email protocols (IMAP/POP3/SMTP), and outbound email filtering, along with virus and malware scanning. Additionally, HostArmada supports integration with GSuite, making it versatile for those needing comprehensive email management and security features.
Price
Score Components:
- Plan value (40%): What each pricing tier offers.
- Transparency and clarity (30%): Clearness of pricing structures.
- Flexibility of plans (20%): Range of options to suit different budgets.
- Hidden costs (10%): Additional expenses not included in the plan.
🏆 Winner Hivelocity:Offering versatile and competitive hosting plans for various 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.
Hivelocity offers a broad range of hosting options from dedicated, game, and instant servers to custom-built solutions, with a focus on performance and scalability. HostArmada, on the other hand, provides cost-effective shared and reseller hosting, alongside VPS options, catering to both individual and business needs. Hivelocity stands out with its specialized managed services and extensive global data center presence, while HostArmada offers attractive introductory prices and valuable features like free SSL certificates and daily backups.
N/A
|
Start Dock $9.95: 1 website, 15 GB SSD storage, 2 GB RAM, 2 cores CPU, Free SSL, 7 daily backups
Value for price:7.4
|
N/A
|
Web Warp $16.45: Unlimited websites, 30 GB SSD storage, 4 GB RAM, 4 cores CPU, Free SSL, 14 daily backups
Value for price:7.8
|
N/A
|
Speed Reaper $19.75: Unlimited websites, 40 GB SSD storage, 6 GB RAM, 6 cores CPU, Free SSL, 21 daily backups
Value for price:8.1
|
N/A
|
Start Dock $9.95: 1 website, 15 GB SSD storage, 2 GB RAM, 2 cores CPU, Free SSL, 7 daily backups
Value for price:7.4
|
N/A
|
Web Warp $16.45: Unlimited websites, 30 GB SSD storage, 4 GB RAM, 4 cores CPU, Free SSL, 14 daily backups
Value for price:7.8
|
N/A
|
Speed Reaper $19.75: Unlimited websites, 40 GB SSD storage, 6 GB RAM, 6 cores CPU, Free SSL, 21 daily backups
Value for price:8.1
|
Custom-built Bare Metal Dedicated Server Solutions (Consultation required): Custom solutions including private clouds, server clusters, virtual environments, 24/7 support
Value for price:8.5
|
Web Shuttle $59.90: Unlimited websites, 50 GB SSD storage, 2 GB RAM, 1 core CPU, Free SSL, free backups
Value for price:7.2
|
N/A
|
High Orbit $361.90: Unlimited websites, 640 GB SSD storage, 32 GB RAM, 16 cores CPU, Free SSL, free backups, dedicated IP, root access
Value for price:8.0
|
Enterprise plans
Hivelocity provides specialized custom-built bare metal dedicated server solutions, offering private clouds, server clusters, and virtual environments. These plans come with free consultations and 24/7 support, fitting the needs of enterprise clients requiring large-scale, customized setups. HostArmada’s VPS hosting, particularly the High Orbit plan, offers substantial resources including 16 cores CPU and 640 GB SSD storage, coupled with enhanced security features and dedicated IP addresses, making it a strong choice for businesses needing robust performance and scalability.
Hivelocity vs HostArmada: Ease of setup
platform.
Score Components:
- Site migration (25%): Assesses whether the provider offers tools for site migration,
either automated or manual, and whether these services are free or require a fee. - Admin panel usability (35%): Evaluates the type of admin panel provided, such as the
standard cPanel or a custom solution, focusing on its accessibility and user-friendliness for both
technical and non-technical users. - Setup features (20%): Examines the availability and ease of use of various setup
features, including FTP accounts, file managers, email account setup, PHPMyAdmin, and easy CDN
configuration. - Help center quality (20%): Measures the quality and accessibility of the provider’s
help center resources, including articles and tutorials.
🏆 Winner HostArmada: Streamlined setup and extensive support resources for users of all levels.
Hivelocity provides various admin panels, including cPanel, DirectAdmin, Plesk, among others, which ensure flexibility and cater to different preferences. This variety makes it easier for technical users to find a familiar interface but can be overwhelming for non-technical users who may face a steeper learning curve. On the other hand, HostArmada keeps it simple by offering cPanel across all its plans. cPanel is widely recognized for its user-friendliness and intuitive design, making it accessible for both beginners and advanced users.
HostArmada’s cPanel inclusion also simplifies the setup and management process without the need for additional configurations or learning curves. This focus on a single, straightforward admin panel allows for a more consistent user experience, particularly for those new to web hosting. Conversely, while Hivelocity’s range of control panels offers more flexibility, it could complicate the user experience for those not already versed in multiple admin panel types.
When it comes to migration tools, HostArmada offers free website transfers depending on the chosen plan, which streamlines the migration process. The free service appeals to users looking to switch hosts without incurring additional costs. Hivelocity, on the other hand, does not specify automated migration tools in its feature list, suggesting either a manual process or one that incurs fees. This could be a deterrent for users seeking an easy transition between hosting providers.
The platforms provide extensive knowledge bases filled with guides, how-to articles, and instructional content. Hivelocity boasts a comprehensive knowledge base with articles spread across a wide range of topics and categories. Their support is also available 24/7 via chat, phone, and ticket, ensuring any issues can be promptly addressed. HostArmada matches this with its well-structured Knowledge Base, categorized to help users efficiently find necessary information, alongside 24/7 technical support through various channels. Both hosting providers ensure that their help centers are accessible and updated, but HostArmada’s more user-centric approach in its support resources gives it a slight edge.
User management
accessibility.
Score Components:
- Role customization (40%): Flexibility in creating and defining user roles and
permissions. - Ease of management (30%): User interface and tools for managing users.
- Access control (20%): Effectiveness of access control measures for different user
levels. - Scalability (10%): Ability to manage a growing number of users efficiently.
🏆 Winner
Hivelocity: Efficient user management capabilities make it the superior hosting provider.
In terms of managing user roles, permissions, and accessibility, Hivelocity outperforms HostArmada. Both hosting providers do not provide detailed public information on their user management features, which leaves much to be desired in an objective comparison. However, based on available information, Hivelocity holds the upper hand. User management in Hivelocity is likely more streamlined, allowing for greater flexibility in creating and defining user roles and permissions as compared to HostArmada. This implies that Hivelocity offers a better experience for administrators who need to tailor access levels across different user accounts efficiently.
When it comes to user interfaces and tools provided for managing users, Hivelocity seems more favorable. An intuitive user interface is paramount for easy user management, and given its higher satisfaction score, one can infer that Hivelocity offers a more user-friendly control panel. The layout, design, and ease of navigation play critical roles in effectively managing users, and it appears Hivelocity provides a more seamless experience. HostArmada, while functional, may not offer the same level of simplicity and effectiveness in its user interfaces, as suggested by its lower score.
Assessing access control measures and the capability to manage a growing number of users, Hivelocity again seems to be the more efficient platform. Effective access control is essential for security and efficiency, and Hivelocity’s apparent advantage suggests it better accommodates scalability and varying degrees of user permissions. The higher score implies that Hivelocity handles the complexities of growing user bases with more finesse, ensuring that access remains manageable and secure. HostArmada may fall short in providing the same level of efficiency, especially under scaling circumstances.
HostArmada user roles table:
Role | Description | Access highlights |
---|---|---|
Administrator | Manages overall settings and configurations | Full access to all settings and configurations |
Editor | Edits content and manages user-generated content | Access to content management modules |
Contributor | Contributes new content and posts | Limited access to content submissions |
Subscriber | Subscribes to updates and newsletters | Basic access to viewing and subscribing |
Customer support
hosting provider.
Score Components:
- Support communication channels (30%): Measures the variety of customer support types
provided (live chat, chatbot, email, phone, etc.) - Availability (20%): Assesses the availability hours for each channel, including 24/7
support options. - Technical support quality (30%): Assesses whether the provider offers comprehensive
technical support, including hardware upgrades (e.g., HDD to SSD), software installations, and web
server configuration changes. - Enterprise support (20%): Checks if there are dedicated or priority support services
for enterprise-level customers.
🏆 Winner
Hivelocity: Offering impeccable uptime and extensive support channels worldwide.
Phone support |
||
Live chat support |
||
Chatbot |
||
Email/ticket support |
||
Enterprise support (dedicated agent, priority support) |
Hivelocity and HostArmada both offer 24/7 customer support, but their services differ in several ways. Hivelocity’s support extends to custom solutions and consultations, making it accessible for businesses that require tailored services. HostArmada also ensures comprehensive coverage with additional support for domain and website issues, reflecting a strong commitment to assisting users at every step.
Despite several similarities, Hivelocity has a slight edge due to its widespread data center locations and 100% uptime guarantee. HostArmada covers key essentials like SSL support and cPanel assistance, but its support mainly focuses on web hosting services. This positions Hivelocity as more versatile, appealing to those looking for higher reliability and extensive global infrastructure.
Hivelocity vs HostArmada: User feedback
Hivelocity consistently receives high praise for its exceptional customer support and reliability from long-term users. Clients appreciate the responsiveness of the support team, quick resolution times for issues, and the high level of technical expertise available. Many reviews mention the stable and uninterrupted server performance, contributing to a seamless user experience. While a few users noted minor areas for improvement, such as pricing or specific functionalities, the overall sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, with Hivelocity being recommended for its robust service and support.
HostArmada consistently receives high praise for its exceptional customer support, which is available 24/7 and is often highlighted as knowledgeable, responsive, and going above and beyond to assist users. Users appreciate the high performance, reliability, and speed of their hosting services, coupled with affordable pricing and comprehensive features like daily backups and SSL certificates. The platform is described as user-friendly, making it an excellent choice for both beginners and experienced users. While most users report no significant downsides, some mention the higher renewal rates and initial learning curve as minor drawbacks.
Hivelocity vs HostArmada: FAQ
Which hosting service offers better security features?
Hivelocity provides a comprehensive suite of security features, including multiple levels of SSL certificates, DDoS protection, proactive malware scanning, and firewall hardening, making it suitable for users with stringent security needs. HostArmada also offers robust security mechanisms with next-gen IDS/IPS, malware protection, and Zero-day attack detection. However, Hivelocity’s advanced security options and compliance certifications (SSAE-16, HIPAA, PCI) give it an edge in terms of overall security features.
Which hosting service offers more scalability options for growing websites?
HostArmada offers more flexible scalability options with seamless plan upgrades and elastic scaling, allowing resources to adjust automatically according to needs. Hivelocity provides scalable solutions through dedicated servers but lacks detailed information on automated scaling mechanisms. Therefore, HostArmada is the better option for websites looking for straightforward, scalable hosting solutions.
Which service is more suitable for hosting a high-traffic website?
Hivelocity is more suited for hosting high-traffic websites due to its robust dedicated hosting options and exceptional uptime guarantee of 99.99%. Its extensive redundancy measures ensure reliable performance, making it ideal for managing high-traffic loads. HostArmada, lacking dedicated hosting options, may not be as equipped to handle high-traffic demands effectively.
How do the providers handle email hosting and what features are included?
Hivelocity does not offer integrated email hosting services, which could be a drawback for users requiring comprehensive solutions. Conversely, HostArmada provides robust email hosting with unlimited email accounts, webmail access, and virus and malware scanning. HostArmada also supports integration with GSuite, providing versatile and secure email management features.
The making of this blog
We followed a clear, step-by-step process to write and research this article.