Hostgator vs OVH Cloud: guide for 2024

Final verdict

Looking over OVHcloud vs. HostGator, both web hosting services offer strong features but cater to slightly different needs and priorities.

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  OVHcloud (Overall grade: 8.2)
  
  
  offers impressive infrastructure with significant performance improvements and reliable uptime. It provides high-performance dedicated servers, detailed user role management, and extensive compliance certifications, making it ideal for enterprises and high-traffic websites. OVHcloud’s affordable and transparent pricing, along with advanced customization options, add significant value for resource-intensive projects. However, its support system is not as accessible as some users might prefer, particularly those who need immediate assistance.
  
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  HostGator (Overall grade: 8.0)
  
  
  stands out with its user-friendly interface, flexible pricing, and excellent customer support, appealing particularly to beginners and small businesses. The service includes reliable uptime, SSD storage, Cloudflare CDN, and a range of hosting options. HostGator’s promotional rates and seamless site migration services are notable perks. However, it faces criticism for aggressive upselling, slower server performance at times, and rising renewal prices. While it offers a commendable feature set, its occasional performance and support issues may affect the overall user experience.
  

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 OVHcloud: OVHcloud delivers high availability through its extensive global infrastructure and impressive performance metrics.

While HostGator offers a reliable service with a 99.9% uptime guarantee and 24/7/365 support, it’s slightly overshadowed by its competitors who promise 99.99% uptime. HostGator’s 99.9% uptime equates to around 8.76 hours of downtime per year, which is still respectable but not the best on the market.

On the other hand, OVHcloud has made significant improvements in its uptime performance over recent years, now claiming a 99.99% uptime on its Public Cloud Instance. The company offers a robust global infrastructure, with automatic backups and Anti-DDoS protection included in all plans. Though there were past issues with uptime, recent improvements and strong performance metrics make it a dependable choice.

🏆 Winner HostGator: A well-rounded option for performance, support, and scalability.

When comparing general performance, HostGator and OVHcloud have their strengths and weaknesses. HostGator uses SSD storage with plans ranging from 10GB to 240GB and includes Cloudflare CDN for faster page loads, while OVHcloud offers a substantial 500GB of disk space and a basic CDN. Both providers include free SSL certificates. HostGator provides unmetered bandwidth and commits to a 99.9% uptime guarantee, while OVHcloud offers high vCPU and RAM resources, making it suitable for resource-intensive projects like e-commerce websites.

Website Speed

For website speed, HostGator’s SSD storage and Cloudflare CDN contribute to faster load times and better PageSpeed scores. HostGator’s plans also vary in vCPU allocations, helping to manage higher traffic efficiently. On the other hand, OVHcloud offers higher CPU and RAM allocations, as well as efficient caching methods, which are crucial for substantial website performance. The basic CDN included with OVHcloud helps in managing website speed effectively.

Scalability

HostGator offers a variety of plans designed to grow with your website, providing elastic scaling that allows you to upgrade resources as needed. They also offer free migration services. OVHcloud provides several high-performance resource options but does not specify automatic scaling, making it unclear if resources are scaled automatically or require manual upgrades. OVHcloud also offers a “Boost Option” for handling traffic spikes at an additional cost. Information on dedicated servers or specific costs to scale wasn’t provided for either.

Overall, HostGator stands out due to its flexible scalability, consistent performance, and excellent support structure.

🏆 Winner OVHcloud: OVHcloud offers a robust suite of compliance certifications and additional security measures that outshine HostGator.

Technical security measures:

HostGator and OVHcloud both provide SSL certificates, but the types and warranties differ. HostGator offers a free SSL certificate with 2048-bit encryption and various upgrade options like Wildcard SSL and EV SSL. OVHcloud includes a free Let’s Encrypt SSL and paid options like Sectigo DV and EV SSL. HostGator uses SiteLock for malware protection and CodeGuard for backups. OVHcloud offers anti-DDoS protection, firewalls, and automated backups. Both support PHP, with HostGator specifically supporting PHP 8.2, while OVHcloud does not specify versions.

Operational security measures:

HostGator and OVHcloud focus on operational security but employ different measures. HostGator provides daily malware scans, automatic backups, and Cloudflare CDN for faster load speeds and DDoS protection. OVHcloud includes anti-DDoS by default, a robust firewall, and task automation through its control panel. OVHcloud further enhances operational security with comprehensive logging, multi-site management, and the option to manage products via an API.

Compliance and certifications:

HostGator ensures GDPR compliance, protecting the data of EU residents, and supports server PCI compliance. OVHcloud boasts a wide range of certifications, including GDPR, PCI DSS, HIPAA, and various ISO standards. OVHcloud extends its compliance to industry-specific guidelines like EBA, ACPR, and healthcare data hosting (HDS).

Winner HostGator: A versatile hosting service with a broad range of advanced features.

HostGator and OVHcloud both offer extensive hosting capabilities, but there are notable differences to consider. HostGator provides a user-friendly cPanel interface across various hosting types, making it easy to manage websites even for beginners. It also includes free SSL, daily backups, and a convenient website builder in its plans. On the other hand, OVHcloud emphasizes managed hosting with a robust control panel and API access, catering to users who need more comprehensive infrastructure management. While both offer anti-DDoS protection, OVHcloud’s multiple website management and task automation features could attract users looking for seamless website monitoring and automated solutions.

HostGator stands out with its promotional rates, offering initial-term discounts that appeal to new customers. It also includes a free domain for the first year, which is a cost-effective perk. OVHcloud, though more affordable in the long run, has a more rigid structure for its hosting plans and focuses heavily on providing ample disk space and email hosting capacities. Each provider offers backups and restores, but HostGator’s comprehensive customer support and additional programming support (Rails, Python, Perl) provide an edge for those needing versatile development tools.

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 OVHcloud 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:

HostGator includes unlimited email accounts in its plans, allowing for extensive transactional email capabilities and campaign setups without reselling third-party services. Conversely, OVHcloud provides generous email hosting with specific limits on the number of email addresses based on the plan, supporting comprehensive email account configurations but does not specifically mention integration with third-party email service providers like Google Workspace or Zoho.

🏆 Winner
OVHcloud: A highly affordable hosting solution with extensive features and scalability.

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.

HostGator and OVHcloud offer diverse hosting plans with unique features. HostGator’s pricing is higher across all plans compared to OVHcloud, which starts as low as $1.04/month for shared hosting, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious users. For WordPress hosting, HostGator’s Baby Plan starts at $21.99/month, while OVHcloud’s comparable plan is not explicitly listed under WordPress hosting. Overall, OVHcloud provides significant value at lower prices, including notable benefits like high disk space and free domain names, making it a cost-effective choice for new websites.

Enterprise plans

HostGator offers dedicated servers with a starting price of $91.98/month, providing 4-core Intel Xeon-D CPUs, 8GB RAM, and 1TB HDD or 512GB SSD options. This plan includes free SSL, DDoS protection, and free migration. On the other hand, OVHcloud doesn’t have a specific high-end offering mentioned separately but provides affordable performance web hosting with extensive resources at $13.19/month, making it suitable for enterprise-level needs at a fraction of the cost.

🏆 Winner HostGator: Offers user-friendly control panel and comprehensive support.

HostGator uses a control panel that is designed for simplicity, making it user-friendly for both beginners and experienced users. This control panel provides a clean, intuitive interface where you can manage your website effortlessly. HostGator’s panel offers streamlined navigation, ensuring that even users with limited technical knowledge can easily understand and operate it. Additionally, HostGator includes one-click installs for more than 75 open-source scripts, simplifying the integration of various applications. For WordPress enthusiasts, HostGator’s dedicated WordPress hosting comes with WordPress pre-installed, making initial setup remarkably smooth.

OVHcloud, on the other hand, offers its own streamlined control panel, which provides a centralized interface to manage products and services. This admin panel is accessible and straightforward, suitable for both technical and non-technical users. The platform allows you to move website files using FTP Explorer, FTP Client, or SSH, giving flexibility to users based on their comfort levels. OVHcloud also offers managed hosting where infrastructure, monitoring, and security patches are handled by the provider, letting users focus more on their website content and less on backend management.

HostGator excels in the area of site migration, offering complimentary migration services. This is particularly beneficial for users switching from another hosting provider, as it ensures a hassle-free transition without any hidden costs. OVHcloud does not offer free migration services, but does provide options to manually transfer your site via FTP or SSH. This could be more time-consuming and may require a bit more technical know-how, especially for users who are not familiar with these tools.

The platforms provide extensive knowledge bases filled with guides, how-to articles, and instructional content. HostGator offers a wide range of resources alongside 24/7 chat and phone support. OVHcloud 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 OVHcloud: OVHcloud stands out for its detailed role management and higher customizability.

OVHcloud and HostGator both offer comprehensive user management features, but they serve different needs. HostGator provides a straightforward approach by offering three distinct user roles—Primary Contact, Administrative Contact, and Technical Contact—each with specific permissions that cater to a range of account management tasks, making it a more user-friendly option for those seeking simplicity. OVHcloud, however, takes a more advanced approach by utilizing OpenStack users and its detailed role structures, including Administrator, Network Operator, and others. This allows greater flexibility and customization, enabling businesses to define and manage access of a higher complexity efficiently, which is particularly advantageous for more extensive and dynamic infrastructures.

Both HostGator and OVHcloud deliver user-friendly tools for managing users, though their interfaces reflect their differing focuses. HostGator’s Customer Portal is streamlined, guiding users through adding and managing roles with intuitive steps that are easy to follow. It supports role assignments, updates, and removals with clear navigation options. OVHcloud, on the other hand, offers a Control Panel with features tailored for more intricate actions, such as generating configuration files for various tools, which appeals to advanced users and IT departments seeking deeper control and integration capabilities. The ability to set multiple roles for a single user enhances OVHcloud’s toolset in managing complex user requirements.

In terms of access control, HostGator provides reliable, clear parameters for user roles, offering a basic but effective level of account security. The fixed roles ensure that there is no overlap in permissions, which reduces the chances of unauthorized changes. OVHcloud, with its unlimited number of permitted users and the capability to group multiple roles together, is more suitable for large-scale operations. Its approach to access management allows for specific tasks to be finely tuned to each user or automated tool, thereby ensuring that the scalability of user permissions does not compromise the overall security of the infrastructure.

HostGator user roles table:

OVHcloud user roles table:

🏆 Winner HostGator: Provides consistently excellent customer service with 24/7 availability and multiple contact methods to suit various needs.

HostGator stands out for its round-the-clock customer service availability, catering to users at any time via phone, live chat, and social media platforms. Their inclusive support is further enhanced by a rich knowledge base, YouTube tutorials, and webinars. Users have praised HostGator for its reliable service and user-friendly approach, making it an excellent choice for anyone from beginners to more experienced web managers.

OVHcloud offers a tiered customer service model ranging from standard support to high-level enterprise assistance, but their basic support is limited to working hours and provides slower response times. While premium and business support levels offer faster and more extensive assistance, they come with significant monthly costs. The lack of immediate live chat and limited phone support can be a drawback for users seeking faster, more accessible help without additional expenses.

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.

User feedback for this hosting provider reveals a stark contrast in experiences. On one hand, users appreciate the competitive pricing, diverse range of services, multiple datacenter locations, and solid server performance when issues do not arise, reflecting a favorable cost-benefit ratio. On the other hand, many users criticize the provider’s customer service, highlighting slow response times, inadequate technical support, and unresolved billing discrepancies, with some experiencing significant delays and lack of assistance in critical situations. Overall, while the hosting services can be robust and reliable, the customer support and service delivery times need considerable improvement.

FAQ