Hostinger vs Interserver: guide for 2024

Hostinger vs Interserver: Final verdict

Comparing Hostinger and InterServer, both offer solid web hosting options with distinct strengths and weaknesses.

• 
  Hostinger (Overall grade: 8.7)
  
  
  excels in providing exceptional uptime, user-friendly tools, and solid performance, making it a strong choice for a wide array of hosting needs. With a guaranteed uptime of 99.9% and historically surpassing this guarantee, Hostinger’s extensive global data centers ensure minimal latency and fast loading times. Its custom hPanel and AI-powered website builder cater to beginners and experienced users alike. Key strengths include diverse hosting options like shared, cloud, and VPS hosting, along with comprehensive security measures, including enhanced DDoS protection and malware scanners. However, some users have noted issues with higher renewal rates and the absence of phone support.
  
• 
  InterServer (Overall grade: 8.1)
  
  
  offers reliable hosting with standout features like unlimited storage and data transfer and robust customer support, including 24/7 phone support. It guarantees 99.9% uptime and provides good global loading speeds using Cloudflare CDN despite its USA-based data centers. InterServer’s inclusion of SSD enhanced servers and a versatile range of control panels make it a viable option for agencies and multimedia websites. Nevertheless, it lacks certain advanced features like cloud hosting and ecommerce-specific services. Some users have experienced inconsistent server speeds and occasional downtime, and its email hosting capabilities are less detailed compared to Hostinger.
  

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

Section 1: Winner Hostinger: A reliable hosting provider with outstanding uptime and performance metrics.

Hostinger guarantees 99.9% uptime and delivers an impressive average uptime of 99.97% over the last six months. It maintained a perfect 100% uptime during a 10-week test. The average response time varies between 450ms and 625ms, with some tests showing an even faster 382ms. Hostinger offers a network of global data centers, boosting performance and minimizing latency.

InterServer also offers a 99.9% uptime guarantee, partnering with Cloudflare for improved service. Long-term performance monitoring shows a reliable 99.99% uptime. However, the average server response time is 662ms, which is higher than Hostinger’s. With data centers located only in the USA, InterServer still manages to maintain good global loading speeds, thanks to route optimization and CDN services.

🏆 Winner Hostinger: Superior performance and resource allocation.

When comparing Hostinger and InterServer on general performance, Hostinger excels with its 4X speed improvements via high-speed CPUs and extensive RAM. It ensures 99.9% uptime and integrates HTTP/3 and IPv6 for low latency, making web pages load faster. LiteSpeed Web Servers with LSCWP Cache Plugin enhance site performance, supported by a global network of data centers across Europe, Asia, North America, and South America. Hostinger also offers a built-in CDN, boosting site speed by up to 40%. InterServer also claims a 99.9% uptime and features SSD caching with a 10GB Cisco Network, but lacks detailed acceleration tools like Hostinger’s. Its free Cloudflare CDN and route-optimized network do improve speed, yet Hostinger’s array of tools place it ahead in performance.

Website Speed

Hostinger provides exceptional website speed through NVMe storage—ensuring fast data access—and Object Cache, which reduces response time by up to three times. The LiteSpeed Web Servers along with the LSCWP Cache Plugin further enhance loading speeds. Additionally, the Hostinger CDN boosts speed via code minification and automatic image optimization. InterServer, meanwhile, employs ultra-fast web servers and SSD caching which improve performance, yet it doesn’t match Hostinger’s specialized caching features and extensive global server locations.

Scalability

Hostinger offers a range of cloud plans—from Cloud Startup to Cloud Enterprise—featuring easy upgrades to handle growing needs. This doesn’t happen automatically and upgrading plans costs between $9.99 to $29.99 per month initially. There are no indications about automatic elastic scaling. InterServer features easy scalability options without downtime, moving easily to VPS or Dedicated Servers, but detailed cost information for scaling wasn’t provided. Both providers offer flexible scaling, but Hostinger’s tiered plan discounts make it slightly more economical initially.

🏆 Winner Hostinger: Demonstrating superior technical and operational security features across the board.

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

Technical security measures:

Hostinger offers an extensive range of technical security measures including 24/7 server monitoring, firewall protection, and advanced security modules like mod_security and PHP hardening. Additionally, it provides anti-malware protection and enhanced DDoS protection. InterServer, while robust, focuses on SSL certificates, multiple PHP versions, and in-house developed InterShield Security, including virus scanning and web attack blocking. Both offer PHP version control, but Hostinger’s coverage with additional security features like Cloudflare protected nameservers and malware scanners places it slightly ahead.

Operational security measures:

Hostinger maintains rigorous operational security measures with a dedicated internal security team and consistently applied security configurations. Regular data backups, continuous code analysis, and a bug reward program underline their proactive approach. InterServer emphasizes anonymous email services, end-to-end email encryption, and a brute-force protection system. Both provide 24/7 customer support, though Hostinger’s extra measures like two-factor authentication and strict internal security policies make it stronger.

Compliance and certifications:

Hostinger complies with GDPR regulations and offers free SSL certificates, though it is not designed to be PCI or HIPAA compliant. InterServer provides GDPR compliance through emphasis on privacy and security but lacks explicit PCI or HIPAA compliance. Hostinger’s partially available certifications and adherence to GDPR align it closely with regulatory requirements, giving it a slight edge in this area.

🏆 Winner: Hostinger: An all-in-one hosting solution with advanced features and top-notch performance.

Hostinger offers a custom-built hPanel control panel, which is known for its user-friendly interface and ease of use. This is paired with an intuitive drag-and-drop website builder that includes AI features, making it easy for users to create and customize their websites. This is particularly beneficial for beginners and those who prefer a simplified process. Hostinger also offers additional free services, such as a free domain and SSL certificates with most plans, which can be significant cost savings for users. The availability of daily and on-demand backups ensures data safety, and multiple PHP versions provide flexibility for different applications.

InterServer, on the other hand, provides unlimited storage space, unlimited data transfer, and unlimited FTP accounts, which can be appealing for users with large-scale needs or multiple websites. However, unlike Hostinger, it doesn’t explicitly mention SSH availability. InterServer also offers weekly backups and a variety of cloud apps. The inclusion of a cloud Linux OS and 10GB Cisco Network contribute to their speed optimization efforts. While they do provide access to a free Cloudflare CDN and a website builder, it isn’t as highlighted for user-friendliness as Hostinger’s offering. Free domain registration isn’t explicitly mentioned by InterServer, which could incur additional costs down the line.

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 Hostinger and InterServer 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:

Hostinger proves advantageous with its comprehensive email hosting services, allowing users to set up their own email campaigns, and comes with integrated tools for transactional emails. They also offer Google Workspace as an additional paid service for those who require corporate-level email solutions. InterServer’s email hosting capabilities aren’t explicitly detailed but likely support basic transactional email needs. The clarity on advanced services or reselling of third-party options like Google Workspace or Zoho isn’t distinctly provided in the given data. For users seeking a detailed breakout of email functionalities, checking provider specifics might be essential.

🏆 Winner
Hostinger: Offers a diverse range of affordable hosting plans with numerous features.

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.

Hostinger and InterServer each provide a variety of hosting plans, but they differ significantly in pricing and features. Hostinger offers a wide range of web, cloud, and VPS hosting with notable features like free domain names, SSL certificates, and weekly backups across different plans. Their plans start at competitive prices, but renewal rates are higher. InterServer, on the other hand, has a more straightforward pricing structure, particularly with its standard web hosting plan priced at $2.50 per month without drastic renewal price hikes. InterServer’s plans typically include unlimited storage, transfer, and websites. However, Hostinger’s Premium and Business plans offer more advanced features such as dedicated IP addresses, priority support, and advanced WordPress tools that may appeal to more demanding users.

Enterprise plans

For enterprise-level hosting, Hostinger’s Cloud Enterprise plan grants 300 websites, 300GB NVMe storage, 12GB RAM, and advanced WordPress features for $54.99 per month. InterServer’s reseller hosting plans cover a wide range of needs, with prices from $19.95 to $69.95 per month, offering up to 280GB of disk space and 2000GB bandwidth. Both providers ensure high performance, yet Hostinger provides a richer feature set tailored for larger scale operations.

🏆 Winner Hostinger: Offers a user-friendly, intuitive control panel with built-in AI tools and automated updates.

Hostinger provides hPanel, a custom-built control panel designed to be intuitive and accessible for beginners. This user-friendly interface enables users to perform multiple tasks easily without requiring prior technical knowledge, such as setting up professional email addresses, installing content management systems, and utilizing a website builder to speed up website creation. Built-in AI tools further enhance the user experience by assisting with content creation and various tasks. Automated updates for WordPress and other applications simplify maintenance, ensuring the website remains up-to-date and secure.

InterServer offers standard control panels such as cPanel and DirectAdmin. These control panels are equally feature-rich and provide a straightforward interface for managing websites through a web browser. With 461 one-click script installations, users of all skill levels can efficiently manage their websites. While cPanel and DirectAdmin are widely known and trusted in the web hosting industry, they may not be as tailored to complete beginners as Hostinger’s hPanel. However, they offer powerful functionality for more experienced users and administrators.

Both Hostinger and InterServer offer free website migration services. Hostinger provides automatic website migration with no downtime, making it seamless for users to switch hosting providers without technical hassles. InterServer also offers a migration service for standard shared hosting, but it requires the customer to have a full cPanel backup ready for download, and the current account should have no data in it, as the backup will overwrite any existing data.

The platforms provide extensive knowledge bases filled with guides, how-to articles, and instructional content. Hostinger provides a comprehensive help center, featuring 24/7 multilingual live chat and email support. Their resources include a rich database of tutorials, the Hostinger Academy with video tutorials, and detailed guides covering a wide range of topics. InterServer also offers 24/7 support through phone, live chat, and a ticket system. Their knowledge base includes practical articles and comprehensive tools designed to assist users in managing their web presence effectively. Both providers have well-documented resources, but Hostinger’s extensive tutorials and academy provide a broader range of learning materials.

🏆 Winner
Hostinger: A streamlined solution for comprehensive user management.

Hostinger and InterServer offer different approaches to managing user roles, permissions, and accessibility. Hostinger stands out by providing detailed, straightforward mechanisms for adding new clients and granting access through its hPanel interface. Users can be assigned specific access levels, enhancing control over what actions they can perform. On the other hand, InterServer relies on popular control panels like cPanel, Plesk, and DirectAdmin, which offer standard user management features. However, InterServer lacks the in-depth, predefined user roles and permissions that Hostinger makes readily available.

Hostinger’s hPanel interface simplifies user management with its centralized and user-friendly design. Adding new clients can be done effortlessly, and the access levels are clearly defined. The platform also allows easy navigation to website and domain management sections, enabling users to manage their clients’ services efficiently. InterServer’s use of cPanel, Plesk, and DirectAdmin provides a familiar environment for those accustomed to these control panels. Yet, without bespoke user management interfaces, users may find it less intuitive than Hostinger’s focused approach.

Both platforms offer efficient access control measures but with varying degrees of detail. Hostinger allows account owners to manage access rights meticulously, ensuring security and functionality. The restrictions set for users with granted access maintain a high standard of control and prevent unauthorized actions. InterServer, leveraging robust control panels, can manage a growing user base effectively but might not provide the same granular access control as Hostinger. The specific role-based permissions and accessibility in Hostinger’s hPanel demonstrate a clear advantage in managing a scaling user group.

Hostinger user roles table:

🏆 Winner
InterServer: Provides swift customer support with multiple contact options and fast issue resolution.

Hostinger and InterServer both offer valuable customer support services, but InterServer has a slight edge due to its additional contact methods, including phone support, and proactive backups. Hostinger provides 24/7 live chat, email, and an extensive knowledge base, along with multiple office locations and multilingual support. However, its critical support features require certain plans and are more account-specific.

InterServer stands out for its quicker response times, on-site support team, and diverse support channels, including phone support and live chat available at all times. Its proactive backup features and customer-friendly service options, like free website migration and guaranteed email delivery with spam filtering, offer a comprehensive solution for users seeking reliable and fast assistance.

Hostinger vs Interserver: User feedback

Hostinger receives high praise for its user-friendly interface, competitive pricing, and robust performance. Customers appreciate the wide range of features, including seamless website migration, the intuitive hPanel, and excellent uptime. The standout feature, consistently mentioned across reviews, is the exceptional and responsive customer support available 24/7 via live chat, although some users express a desire for phone support. On the downside, a few customers report issues with renewal pricing, occasional slow support response times, and the limitations of the lower-tier plans.

User feedback on the hosting provider paints a mixed picture. Many users commend the provider for its affordable, straightforward pricing and extensive features like unlimited storage and bandwidth, free SSL certificates, and a user-friendly control panel. The customer support, while generally prompt and effective, has garnered both praise and criticism, especially due to the lack of a dedicated phone support line and sometimes long live chat wait times. However, performance issues such as inconsistent server speed, downtime, and occasional loss of data have been frequent points of frustration for users.

Hostinger vs Interserver: FAQ