Hostgator vs Hostwinds: guide for 2024

Final verdict

Looking over HostGator vs. Hostwinds, 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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  HostGator (Overall grade: 8.0)
  
  
  offers a variety of hosting types, including WordPress and Ecommerce options. It guarantees a 99.9% uptime, offers robust customer support via multiple channels, and includes free SSL certificates and a free domain for the first year. Its use of Cloudflare CDN enhances page speed and data transfer. However, some users report slower server performance, aggressive upselling, higher renewal prices, and limited advanced features.
  
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  Hostwinds (Overall grade: 7.1)
  
  
  is commended for its exceptional customer service, SSD-driven performance, and reliable uptime, albeit slightly lower than guaranteed. They offer features like a Weebly site builder, enhanced support options, and extensive tutorials, making it user-friendly. However, it may be more expensive than competitors, and some users highlight issues with site migration and technical support, particularly for WordPress users. Despite these concerns, its broad set of features and pricing cater to a wide range of users, making it a strong contender in web 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
HostGator: Consistent uptime and quicker support response.

HostGator guarantees 99.9% uptime, translating to around 8.76 hours of downtime per year. They offer 24/7/365 support via telephone or live chat, which ensures timely assistance. While some competitors offer a slightly higher uptime guarantee, HostGator’s consistent performance and support availability are commendable factors.

Hostwinds guarantees 99.99% uptime but only achieved 99.89% uptime over nearly two weeks of monitoring, with a significant 19-minute outage. Response times are slower, averaging 945ms, which is below the market average. Despite 24/7 cloud server monitoring and redundancy measures, their international loading times show inconsistency, which impacts overall reliability.

🏆 Winner
Hostwinds: Offers a diverse set of features with a focus on performance and reliability.

HostGator and Hostwinds bring different strengths to the table when it comes to hosting. HostGator provides Cloudflare CDN and unmetered bandwidth, ensuring good page speed and data transfer. Their vCPU allocations can further boost performance. Hostwinds, on the other hand, uses SSD drives and Litespeed web servers to deliver quicker load times and better content delivery. Hostwinds also partners with Cloudflare CDN and employs route optimization to keep speeds high and performance consistent. While HostGator provides 99.9% uptime, Hostwinds boasts a superior 99.9999% uptime due to its redundant network.

Website Speed

Website speed is a crucial factor for both HostGator and Hostwinds. HostGator benefits from Cloudflare CDN and multiple vCPU allocations for certain plans which enhance the overall user experience. Hostwinds edges out with the use of Litespeed web servers and SSD drives, adding to faster response times and better PageSpeed scores. The integration of route optimization further ensures quick load times, making Hostwinds a slightly better option for speed-centric requirements.

Scalability

Both hosting providers offer scalable solutions, but they implement them differently. HostGator allows you to scale by upgrading your plan, ensuring you can add resources as needed. The specifics on elastic scaling or dedicated servers are not clear. Hostwinds, however, offers more instant scalability and infrastructure upgrades can happen seamlessly as demands increase. They also support dedicated servers, though the costs for scaling are not specified. Hostwinds provides advanced cloud server features like snapshots and load balancers, which helps in managing growth effectively.

🏆 Winner HostGator: HostGator provides a secure and robust hosting environment with extensive security features and comprehensive compliance measures.

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

Technical security measures:

HostGator offers multiple SSL certificate options, including free and advanced plans like Positive SSL, Single Domain SSL, Wildcard SSL, and EV SSL. These options provide varying levels of encryption and warranties, up to $1.75M. Hostwinds provides AutoSSL as a free option for shared and business hosting and additional paid SSL certificates like RapidSSL and WildCard SSL. HostGator supports the latest PHP versions, including PHP 8.2, ensuring robust performance and security. Hostwinds also keeps PHP updated across its business hosting environments. Both providers offer integration with Cloudflare CDN; HostGator’s SiteLock adds malware protection, while Hostwinds utilizes Litespeed Web Server for faster content delivery.

Operational security measures:

HostGator’s security measures include SiteLock Security for malware scanning, automatic removal, and brand reputation defense. Hostwinds provides similar monitoring services and nightly backups, ensuring continuous website protection and error resolution. HostGator users benefit from additional optional backups via CodeGuard. Both services offer 24/7/365 customer support through multiple channels. Hostwinds leverages route optimized networking and website monitoring to handle performance issues swiftly, while HostGator integrates with Cloudflare for faster page loads and DDoS protection.

Compliance and certifications:

HostGator is GDPR compliant since May 25th, 2018, ensuring that personal data handling adheres to EU regulations. HostGator also addresses PCI compliance by supporting server-related requirements, although it doesn’t ensure PCI compliance for software. Hostwinds’ compliance details for GDPR and PCI are not explicitly mentioned. For specific inquiries, contacting Hostwinds directly is recommended.

🏆 Winner Hostwinds: Offers robust hosting features with enhanced performance and additional free services.

HostGator and Hostwinds both present a variety of hosting solutions, but each has distinct advantages. HostGator includes essential features such as cPanel, email hosting, and FTP accounts. More advanced users appreciate its unlimited MySQL support, full Unix shell access, and NGINX caching. HostGator also promotes frequent discounts, although the true cost may rise due to additional fees like VAT. Hostwinds, on the other hand, features SSD drives across its services, free SSL certificates, and a built-in Weebly site builder, making it easier for beginners to set up and customize their websites. Hostwinds also bundles a lot of services, such as nightly backups and constant monitoring, which can be a great advantage for business users seeking reliable performance without hidden costs.

For those specifically looking for a user-friendly website builder, Hostwinds might have a slight edge with its Weebly Site Builder included in its hosting plans. On the contrary, HostGator does not inherently offer a simplified website builder, which might necessitate users to have some level of technical proficiency. However, HostGator’s offer of free domain registration in the first year and extensive support for programming languages like Rails, Python, and Perl can be attractive to those in need of a more customizable environment. Hostwinds further enhances its appeal with route optimized networking, Cloudflare CDN, and full management options, which might incur extra expenses with HostGator.

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 HostGator and Hostwinds 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:

Both HostGator and Hostwinds come with comprehensive email hosting options, allowing users to set up their own email domains without extra fees. HostGator offers unlimited email accounts across all plans but does not detail support for transactional email campaigns beyond basic email hosting. Hostwinds similarly offers unlimited email accounts and rounds this out with enhanced support options like nightly backups and full management. Both hosts do not promote reselling of third-party email services like Google Workspace, relying instead on in-house solutions to meet their users’ needs.

🏆 Winner
Hostwinds: Offers comprehensive features and pricing that cater to a broad range of users.

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 HostGator and Hostwinds, Hostwinds emerges as the more affordable option across multiple plan categories. Hostwinds’ Shared Web Hosting Basic plan starts at $5.24/mo, compared to HostGator’s $17.99/mo Hatchling Plan. Both providers offer unmetered bandwidth and SSL certificates, but Hostwinds provides substantial storage and a free dedicated IP. For VPS Hosting, Hostwinds’ plans begin at $4.99/mo for unmanaged and $8.24/mo for managed, whereas HostGator’s VPS plans start at $91.99/mo. Hostwinds also offers clear advantages with its dedicated hosting, starting at $122.00/mo with robust customization options. Conversely, HostGator offers grand features across shared, WordPress, and reseller hosting plans that might justify its higher price.

Enterprise plans

Hostwinds provides a range of enterprise-level hosting solutions with its Dedicated Server Hosting starting at $122.00/mo, offering customizable server configurations, nightly backups, server monitoring, and multiple data center locations. On the other hand, HostGator’s dedicated hosting starts at $91.98/mo with introductory offers and includes essential features like free migration, DDoS protection, and an IP-based firewall. For large-scale enterprises, Hostwinds offers more advanced customization and management features, whereas HostGator focuses on balanced performance and security.

🏆 Winner HostGator: Offers a user-friendly control panel and extensive support resources.

HostGator and Hostwinds both utilize cPanel, a popular choice for web hosting management. HostGator’s control panel is designed to be straightforward, enabling users to easily manage their online presence from a single dashboard. This makes it accessible for users with limited technical expertise. Hostwinds also leverages cPanel and offers additional tools like the Weebly Drag-and-Drop Website Builder, which is beneficial for non-technical users looking to build their websites without any coding knowledge. Both offer intuitive interfaces, but HostGator adds the convenience of one-click installs for over 75 open-source scripts, including WordPress pre-installation, making it slightly more versatile for users wanting to set up various applications quickly.

Both providers offer free website migration services, which is a considerable advantage for users looking to switch hosts without dealing with the technical hassle themselves. HostGator includes free migration services as part of their package, as does Hostwinds. HostGator’s services are entirely automated, providing substantial ease for newcomers. Hostwinds also performs migrations at no additional cost and covers different types of hosting, such as shared, business, and cloud servers, ensuring smooth transitions with comprehensive support.

HostGator’s support is accessible through various channels, including 24/7/365 through phone, live chat, and Twitter, complemented by a comprehensive KnowledgeBase, YouTube tutorials, a Facebook community, and regular webinars. Hostwinds also offers 24/7/365 support through live chat, support tickets, and email, along with product documentation, step-by-step tutorials, and community access. HostGator’s broader range of support resources and community interaction options provides a slight edge.

🏆 Winner HostGator: HostGator provides comprehensive user management features, offering detailed user roles and permissions.

HostGator allows for multiple user roles within the Customer Portal, ensuring each user has permissions tailored to their responsibilities. These roles include the Primary Contact, Administrative Contact, and Technical Contact, each with distinct permissions. In contrast, Hostwinds does not provide specific details on its user role management, limiting direct comparisons. HostGator’s user management system is structured to offer flexibility in managing different permissions, allowing users to carry out tasks pertinent to their roles effectively.

Within HostGator’s interface, managing user roles is a straightforward process. The Customer Portal features a clear layout where users can add, edit, or delete roles with ease. Instructions for adding or updating users are simple to follow, ensuring users can set up and manage their accounts without complications. Hostwinds lacks elaborate user management tools, which ultimately limits its usability and control over user roles.

HostGator’s detailed access control measures enhance security and efficiency, managing user access to sensitive information and account changes. The platform supports multiple user roles, ensuring that responsibilities are appropriately distributed among users. Hostgator’s system effectively handles an increasing number of users by providing clear role distinctions and permissions, allowing the primary contact to manage the user roles seamlessly. Hostwinds does not showcase similar capabilities, thus falling short in managing user growth and access control.

HostGator user roles table:

🏆 Winner HostGator: Offers reliable servers, ease of use, and comprehensive 24/7/365 customer support.

HostGator and Hostwinds both offer 24/7/365 customer support through multiple channels, including phone and live chat. HostGator provides additional methods such as a comprehensive knowledge base, webinars, tutorials on YouTube, and a Facebook community, ensuring users have various resources at their disposal. They also offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, giving new users peace of mind. Hostwinds similarly offers phone, live chat, and email support with quick response times and free website migration services.

While HostGator scores higher and is praised for its reliable servers and ease of use, Hostwinds is not far behind. Hostwinds offers extensive tutorials, product documentation, and community support, although some reviews mention issues with their verification process and service speed. Both providers guarantee 24/7/365 support availability, ensuring users have help whenever needed. In terms of uptime guarantees and monitoring services, both companies are comparable, with Hostwinds providing nightly backups for added security.

User feedback

HostGator offers affordable, user-friendly web hosting services, which are appealing to both beginners and budget-conscious users. Key strengths include competitive pricing, reliable uptime, free SSL certificates, and efficient customer support. However, customers have reported issues such as slow server performance, aggressive upselling, rising renewal prices, and limited advanced features. While the overall experience can be positive, especially for small-scale or low-traffic sites, technical support responsiveness and server speed occasionally fall short, impacting the user experience.

Hostwinds hosting provider receives high praise for its exceptional customer service, prompt support, and reliable performance, with many users reporting significant improvements in site speed and uptime. Customers especially value the knowledgeable and responsive support team, finding them instrumental in resolving issues quickly. The user-friendly control panel and fair pricing further enhance their experience, though some note that the service can be pricier compared to competitors. However, a couple of reviews highlight issues with site migration and technical support, advising caution for WordPress users. Overall, the positive feedback significantly outweighs the negative, making Hostwinds a highly recommended choice for web hosting.

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