Hivelocity vs Knownhost: guide for 2024

Final verdict

Looking over Hivelocity vs. KnownHost, it’s clear that each excels in different areas and caters to varied hosting needs.

• 
  KnownHost (Overall grade: 8.6)
  
  
  stands out for its comprehensive managed hosting services and user-friendly features. It offers a wide range of hosting types, including shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting, with shared and WordPress plans being especially budget-friendly. KnownHost provides excellent security, incorporating Imunify360 and DDoS protection up to 500 Gbit/s at no extra cost. Its automated backup services, free SSL certificates, and top-notch customer support add significant value for users. KnownHost’s commitment to performance is evident with its use of LiteSpeed and LSCache for faster load times and NVMe storage for improved reliability. Although there are mixed reviews regarding server speeds and user interface complexity, the overall user experience is enhanced by their 24/7/365 support and structured user roles management.
  
• 
  Hivelocity (Overall grade: 7.7)
  
  
  shines with its exceptional uptime and reliability, achieving 100% network and power uptime since 2011, and guaranteeing 99.99% uptime overall. Its high-end infrastructure, including diesel power generators and a dozen tier-1 carriers, supports its outstanding network performance across six continents. Hivelocity offers a range of hosting types but focuses more on managed services and dedicated hosting solutions, which are great for high-traffic and enterprise-level applications. Security features include advanced encryption, proactive malware scanning, and robust firewall and networking tools. Despite lacking integrated email hosting and budget-friendly entry-level plans, Hivelocity’s strong emphasis on server customization, rapid deployment, and versatile control panel options makes it ideal for technically proficient users and businesses with demanding hosting requirements.
  

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 Hivelocity: Hivelocity’s exceptional uptime and reliability make it the top choice for demanding hosting needs.

Hivelocity offers a remarkable uptime guarantee of 99.99%, and actually achieves 100% uptime for network and power since 2011. Their data centers are equipped with high-end diesel power generators, ensuring continuous power. Additionally, the network infrastructure leverages over a dozen independent tier-1 carriers, providing consistent reliability across six continents. Customers also benefit from compensation in the rare event of downtime.

KnownHost promises a 99.9% uptime guarantee but has a historical uptime of 99.996%. KnownHost includes automated backup services and robust DDoS protection up to 500 Gbit/s. Their fast website loading times and comprehensive security features like Imunify360 and free SSL certificates enhance user experience. KnownHost excels in customer support with 24/7/365 on-shore assistance.

🏆 Winner
KnownHost: For users who prioritize speed and advanced technological infrastructure, KnownHost is more suitable for high-demand websites that require reliable and fast global access.

KnownHost and Hivelocity both offer SSD storage and free CDN integration to enhance hosting performance and speed. KnownHost, however, showcases faster load times with a heavyweight theme clocked at 1.69 seconds, compared to Hivelocity’s 4.85 seconds. KnownHost operates 11 global data centers, which surpasses Hivelocity’s six, potentially offering better local loading speeds and content delivery. Moreover, KnownHost’s technology is more up-to-date, which may contribute to its superior performance.

Website Speed

KnownHost excels in website speed with an LCP time of 872ms, significantly outperforming Hivelocity’s 1.8 seconds. Although both fall within the acceptable range of LCP (up to 2.5 seconds is considered good), KnownHost’s website speed is notably better, indicating a more efficient user experience.

Scalability

Both hosting providers offer scalability options tailored to varying needs; however, KnownHost provides a more customized approach with its custom cloud plans where resources can be configured to user requirements. Hivelocity also offers a variety of hosting types, including shared and dedicated servers, with tiered pricing to accommodate different user levels.

🏆 Winner
KnownHost: An extensive array of advanced security features ensures maximum website protection.

Both Hivelocity and KnownHost, have notable differences in their approaches to technical and operational
security, as well as in their compliance with regulations.

Technical security measures:

Hivelocity offers a range of SSL certificates, from Basic to Premium, ensuring varying levels of encryption and validation suited for different needs. KnownHost provides free SSL certificates by default and offers premium options from reputable brands like Comodo and RapidSSL. Both providers have DDoS protection, but KnownHost includes up to 500 Gbps at no extra cost. Hivelocity employs advanced encryption technologies and proactive malware scanning, whereas KnownHost integrates Imunify360 for automated security and LiteSpeed + LSCache for enhanced performance. KnownHost supports multiple PHP versions (5.6 to 8.2), but Hivelocity does not specify the versions they support.

Operational security measures:

Hivelocity enhances security with robust firewall, network monitoring, and malware scanning tools like Maldet and cpHulk. They also provide 24/7 monitoring and support, alongside load balancing and hardware diagnostics. KnownHost includes firewall setup and rDNS, along with automated backups stored off-server for rapid recovery. KnownHost’s Imunify360 adds another layer of automated protection. Hivelocity offers DDoS protection, proactive malware scanning, and virus and spam protection, whereas KnownHost promises 99.9% effectiveness with its free DDoS protection.

Compliance and certifications:

Hivelocity meets SSAE-16, HIPAA, and PCI compliance audits, ensuring high standards for various regulatory requirements. KnownHost complies with PCI requirements through SSL certificates and suggests GDPR compliance by offering robust security features, even though explicit GDPR compliance is not detailed. Hivelocity’s comprehensive compliance credentials make it suitable for industries with stringent regulations.

🏆 Winner
KnownHost: A hosting provider that blends high performance with exceptional support and features.

Both Hivelocity and KnownHost offer robust hosting solutions tailored to different needs, but there are notable differences in focus and available features. KnownHost stands out with its high-performance hardware, implementing LiteSpeed + LSCache and NVMe storage for fast and reliable service, which is paired with AMD EPYC processors. These performance-driven benefits make KnownHost ideal for users looking for speed and reliability. KnownHost also provides automated daily backups, free SSL certificates, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. They include cPanel for ease of use and offer automated app installations through Softaculous, making it user-friendly for beginners while remaining powerful for advanced users.

Hivelocity, on the other hand, excels in managed services and security options. They provide 24/7 support, proactive malware scanning, and RAID monitoring. For security-minded users, Hivelocity’s offering of KernelCare for automated security patches and Maldet for proactive malware scanning are significant advantages. Their multiple control panel options including cPanel, Plesk, and DirectAdmin, along with support for a wide range of operating systems, make them versatile. One unique selling point is their specific enhancements such as Juniper hardware firewalls and proactive OS security updates. Although not offering a built-in website builder, their setup caters to users who prefer manual server management and high customization possibilities.

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 KnownHost 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 KnownHost provide comprehensive email hosting capabilities, allowing users to manage their email campaigns effortlessly and supporting transactional emails without notable restrictions. This service is bolstered by their excellent support, making it a suitable choice for businesses of all sizes. Hivelocity, however, does not offer email hosting directly but focuses more on server management and security. Therefore, users seeking extensive email services with robust hosting performance may find KnownHost to be the more suitable option.

🏆 Winner
KnownHost: KnownHost: Streamlined pricing with a notable emphasis on feature-rich managed services and flexibility for varying 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.

When comparing Hivelocity and KnownHost, KnownHost offers more affordable entry-level options for WordPress and shared hosting, with features such as unlimited email accounts and premium bandwidth. Hivelocity provides a diverse range of specialized hosting types, including game server solutions and custom-built bare metal dedicated servers. While Hivelocity stands out with discounted prices on higher-end configurations, KnownHost’s managed services provide comprehensive support, making it a strong contender in the hosting arena.

Enterprise plans

Hivelocity’s custom-built bare metal dedicated servers and 16-core solutions offer extensive memory and storage configurations, making them suitable for high-demand applications. KnownHost’s Premium Semi-Dedicated Hosting and VPS plans are tailored for businesses seeking managed services with scalability.

🏆 Winner KnownHost: KnownHost excels in providing user-friendly hosting solutions with exceptional support.

Control Panels and User Experience

Hivelocity offers a wide range of control panels including cPanel, DirectAdmin, Plesk, and Webmin, making it adaptable for different needs and expertise levels. Their diverse options give both technical and non-technical users flexibility, but it may be overwhelming for those not familiar with various control panels. The accessibility is high, but the user-friendliness depends on the user’s familiarity with server management and control panel intricacies.

KnownHost utilizes Softaculous, providing a straightforward, one-click installation process for many applications. This significantly lowers the technical barrier for users, allowing even those without technical expertise to manage their websites effortlessly. KnownHost’s approach to control panels is clearly designed with user-friendliness in mind, ensuring that even the least tech-savvy individuals can navigate and set up their websites quickly.

Migration Services

KnownHost offers free migration services, often with zero downtime, handled by their shared hosting support staff. This is a substantial benefit for users looking to move their websites without incurring additional costs or needing technical know-how. Hivelocity also provides migration support but does not emphasize free services or minimal downtime as a feature, potentially resulting in additional costs and complications for users unfamiliar with migrations.

Help Centers

Hivelocity has an extensive knowledge base covering various topics like Backup, Database, Email, and Security. The articles are regularly updated, making it a valuable resource for users. KnownHost also boasts a comprehensive knowledge base with guides, articles, and how-tos, backed by 24/7 support. The feedback from users highlights KnownHost’s excellent support and quick responses. Both providers have strong help centers, but KnownHost’s content appears more geared to ensuring a smooth user experience.

🏆 Winner KnownHost: KnownHost offers more comprehensive user management capabilities.

When comparing the user management features of Hivelocity and KnownHost, Hivelocity lacks detailed information on managing user roles and permissions, making it challenging to evaluate its flexibility. KnownHost, on the other hand, provides clear steps for managing users via their Knowledge Base, showing a structured approach to user roles and permissions. KnownHost allows for a better-defined scheme to assign different user roles, thus providing more flexibility in tailoring user permissions.

KnownHost offers a dedicated interface called the My KnownHost Panel for managing users, domains, and updating WHOIS contact information, while there is no available data on a specific user management interface for Hivelocity. KnownHost’s interface appears user-friendly and includes various tools that simplify user management tasks. The clear labeling and accessible navigation options contribute positively to the overall user experience.

KnownHost has dedicated guides on managing users, indicating a focus on effective access control. This is supported by their 24/7/365 support team, ensuring all issues are addressed swiftly and proficiently. The platform’s ability to manage a growing number of users efficiently is buttressed by its comprehensive guides and managed services. Hivelocity’s user management efficacy remains indeterminate due to insufficient information.

KnownHost user roles table:

🏆 Winner Hivelocity: Offers impeccable uptime and reliability with 100% network and power uptime since 2011.

Hivelocity and KnownHost both provide extensive customer support options. Hivelocity has 24/7/365 technical support available through live chat, phone, and a ticketing system. Hivelocity also offers a variety of self-help resources such as walk-through articles and videos, which can be highly beneficial for users preferring to solve issues independently. Their toll-free phone support is a notable advantage for users looking for immediate assistance.

KnownHost’s support structure includes a comprehensive phone, email, and live chat system, much like Hivelocity. Their technical support is also available around the clock, with additional resources such as a knowledge base and support forums where customers can seek advice from the community. KnownHost has received positive feedback for its polite and patient support team, especially useful for beginners. Both providers demonstrate a solid commitment to customer service, though Hivelocity’s round-the-clock availability and self-help resources provide slight additional benefits.

User feedback

Hivelocity is highly praised for its exceptional customer service, reliable server performance, and knowledgeable technical support. Long-term users, some with over a decade of experience, commend the company for its personalized support and rapid response times, often highlighting near-instant ticket resolutions and a proactive approach to addressing issues. Additionally, the infrastructure and network reliability receive strong accolades, with many users experiencing minimal to no downtime. While a few noted the increasing prices and occasional variability in support quality, the consensus is that Hivelocity offers an outstanding hosting service marked by dependability and top-tier customer support.

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.

FAQ