Hostmonster vs Green Geeks: guide for 2024

Final verdict

Looking over HostMonster vs. GreenGeeks, 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.

• 
  GreenGeeks (Overall grade: 8.4)
  
  
  offers several impressive features, but also has some limitations, such as web space and email accounts restrictions in the Lite Plan, and the pricing which increases after the initial term. Additionally, there is a substantial price increase from one service level to the next. Despite these drawbacks, the platform’s excellent performance and reliability, including exceptional uptime, quick server response times, and global data centers make it highly reliable. The use of LiteSpeed WebServer and LS Cache Plugin ensures fast load times, and it comes with eco-friendly benefits aimed at sustainability by matching energy usage with 300% renewable energy.
  
• 
  HostMonster (Overall grade: 7.4)
  
  
  offers many of the same features that GreenGeeks does, plus many more. HostMonster stands out for high-traffic and multimedia websites, offering unlimited disk storage, domain hosting, and email support. The inclusion of free site builders and 24/7 customer support adds value for users who need extensive features and reliability. The user feedback highlights reliable uptime and affordability, but also points out challenges with the user interface, fluctuating technical support quality, and hidden costs.
  

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
GreenGeeks: It’s superior uptime and significantly faster response times make GreenGeeks a better choice for users who require high performance and stability from their hosting provider.

GreenGeeks shows a slightly superior performance in terms of reliability and speed. Both hosting services have impressive uptimes, with GreenGeeks slightly edging out HostMonster with a perfect uptime over a 14-day period. This difference in uptime is reflected in the number and duration of outages, where GreenGeeks demonstrates impeccable performance with 0 outages and consistently impressive response times.

GreenGeeks’ advantage is more pronounced in terms of server response time. It boasted an average response time of 0.302 seconds, which is significantly lower than the shared hosting industry standard and faster than HostMonster. This suggests that GreenGeeks is not only more reliable in maintaining uptime but also in delivering faster website loading speeds, making it a preferable option for users prioritizing performance.

GreenGeeks operates data centers across numerous locations, enhancing its global presence and catering to diverse user bases effectively, ensuring an efficient hosting service for a wide range of users.

HostMonster also displays strong uptime and availability with minimal downtime over an extended test period. The site’s speed is notable, and it features back-end protections to boost reliability. HostMonster’s 24/7 customer support and 30-day money-back guarantee present users with added convenience and reassurance in their hosting service.

🏆 Winner: GreenGeeks: An eco-friendly hosting provider with a focus on performance and affordability.

GreenGeeks offers superior hosting speed and performance features. Their servers utilize LiteSpeed WebServer and LS Cache Plugin, SSDs, and the latest PHP versions for quick load times. They provide a free CDN to enhance content delivery. The data centers are strategically located across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, ensuring faster page loads. In comparison, HostMonster offers standard speed across most plans and uses dual quad processor performance servers. While GreenGeeks includes built-in caching and more advanced speed optimization tools, HostMonster offers streaming support and a range of software scripts.

Website Speed

GreenGeeks shines with its use of LiteSpeed WebServer and LS Cache Plugin, ensuring blazing-fast speeds. Their infrastructure includes SSDs, HTTP/3, and optimized software stacks, making it ideal for websites requiring rapid load times. HostMonster, on the other hand, provides standard performance for most plans, only offering higher performance in their Pro tier. Though HostMonster does include streaming support and custom MIME types, it lacks the advanced caching and server technologies that GreenGeeks has integrated.

Scalability

GreenGeeks offers a flexible scalability model, allowing users to easily upgrade their plans without significant hassle. They do not specify if elastic scaling occurs automatically or if they offer dedicated servers. HostMonster’s plans are straightforward; users must manually upgrade to access higher resources. Scaling costs are clear with GreenGeeks offering budget-friendly options as low as $2.95/month, while HostMonster can be pricier with their Pro plan starting at $29.99/month for a 36-month term.

🏆 Winner GreenGeeks: Offers strong security features with an added focus on green energy.

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

Technical security measures:

HostMonster and GreenGeeks have robust technical security features. HostMonster offers SSL secure servers and premium SSL certificates starting at $80.04 per year, while GreenGeeks includes free Let’s Encrypt SSL certificates and premium Wildcard SSL certificates with its hosting plans. Both hosting providers support multiple PHP versions; HostMonster supports PHP 5 and allows custom PHP.INI settings, whereas GreenGeeks provides a wider range, including PHP 8.2, 8.0, 7.4, and 5.6. Additionally, GreenGeeks includes advanced AI-powered WAF and DDoS protection with proactive 24/7 monitoring.

Operational security measures:

HostMonster’s operational security includes SiteLock security features, such as daily vulnerability scans and automatic malware removal. Users are encouraged to follow a basic site security checklist, including updating scripts and configuring php.ini files for safety. GreenGeeks, on the other hand, performs daily malware cleanups for compromised sites and offers advanced security tailored for WooCommerce and container-based technology for enhanced isolation and performance. GreenGeeks also provides daily and on-demand backups for most plans, alongside SSH and secure FTP access.

Compliance and certifications:

HostMonster has been GDPR compliant since May 25, 2018, ensuring various rights to EU residents. The platform also supports PCI compliance for all accounts, addressing common security issues. Although GreenGeeks implies industry-standard compliance, explicit details about GDPR and PCI adherence are missing. Users should contact GreenGeeks for more specific compliance information.

🏆 Winner HostMonster: Best for versatile and feature-rich hosting.

Both HostMonster and GreenGeeks offer robust hosting solutions, but they cater to different needs. HostMonster’s standout feature is its unlimited offerings, from disk storage to domain hosting and email support, and its built-in website builder is a boon for those looking for a simple yet powerful way to design websites. While both providers offer a free domain name for the first year and a free SSL certificate, HostMonster’s inclusion of additional tools like customizable error pages, site statistics, and multiple webmail options make it more appealing for users who need extensive features without added costs.

GreenGeeks shines with its eco-friendly approach, matching the energy used by 300% in renewable energy and planting a tree for every hosting account. It offers a range of plans tailored to different requirements, including the Lite Plan that allows for one website with standard performance and the Pro and Premium plans with unlimited websites and additional features. The incorporation of built-in caching and WP-CLI & SSH access across all plans is particularly beneficial for WordPress users who need streamlined management. However, the limitations on web space and email accounts in the Lite Plan could be a downside for some users.

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 HostMonster and GreenGeeks 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 HostMonster provides robust email solutions with unlimited POP3, secure POP3, IMAP, and secure IMAP support, along with three different webmail interfaces, making it ideal for managing large volumes of email without additional costs. Conversely, GreenGeeks caps the number of email accounts depending on the plan (50 for Lite, unlimited for Pro and Premium). Both providers do not explicitly support reselling third-party services like Google Workspace, focusing instead on their integrated email hosting solutions.

🏆 Winner GreenGeeks: GreenGeeks offers comprehensive and green-conscious hosting plans that cater to a variety of 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.

Both HostMonster and GreenGeeks offer competitive plans with unique advantages. HostMonster’s shared hosting plans range from the Basic Plan at $12.99 per month to the Pro Plan at $33.99 per month, emphasizing features such as free SSL certificates and unmetered bandwidth. In comparison, GreenGeeks provides a range of WordPress, WooCommerce, and cPanel hosting plans with prices starting at $2.95 per month. Special features of GreenGeeks include a 300% Green Energy match and additional freebies like free domain names and SSL certificates. GreenGeeks plans are split across Lite, Pro, and Premium categories, aimed at different levels of performance and resource needs.

Enterprise plans

For enterprises, both HostMonster and GreenGeeks offer substantial plans. HostMonster’s Pro Plan at $33.99 per month includes automated backups, high performance, and a dedicated IP, catering to businesses seeking robust features. On the other hand, GreenGeeks’ Premium cPanel Hosting at $8.95 per month highlights better scalability with unlimited websites, best performance, free AlphaSSL, and object caching, making it attractive for enterprises focused on cost-effective, high-performance solutions.

🏆 Winner GreenGeeks: GreenGeeks is an eco-friendly hosting provider that facilitates seamless website setup and migration.

HostMonster leverages the popular cPanel, enhanced by their proprietary tools and instant setup options. Their 1-click WordPress install and free site builders make it accessible for beginners. HostMonster’s admin panel is user-friendly, with comprehensive guidance available in their onboarding process to walk users through each step efficiently. For those without extensive technical knowledge, the platform remains intuitive while offering advanced features for more experienced users.

GreenGeeks also uses cPanel, which is widely recognized for its simplicity and efficacy. The setup includes automatic configurations for WordPress, which makes it hassle-free and appealing to both novice and veteran webmasters. GreenGeeks’ admin panel ensures a straightforward experience, bolstered by detailed cPanel guides that remove the guesswork for beginners. Both panels are designed to cater to a range of skill levels, though GreenGeeks’ emphasis on a guided setup process may give it an edge for users looking for simplicity.

Both hosting providers offer free migration services, easing the transition for users moving from another host. HostMonster provides standard migration tools, but it may come with limitations based on the hosting plan. In contrast, GreenGeeks offers free WordPress migration and covers everything from start to finish without any additional cost.

The help centers of both HostMonster and GreenGeeks are extensive and accessible. HostMonster delivers a detailed help center with articles, video tutorials, and 24/7 live support via phone and chat, making it highly resourceful. GreenGeeks offers tailored WordPress tutorials and cPanel how-to guides, along with continuous expert support via chat, phone, and tickets. The user can find a wealth of information in both hosting providers’ knowledge bases to troubleshoot and enhance their website experience.

🏆 Winner
GreenGeeks: Efficient and structured user management for seamless multi-user access.

Comparing HostMonster and GreenGeeks in terms of managing user roles, permissions, and accessibility highlights notable differences. GreenGeeks offers a more refined approach with clearly defined steps for adding and removing users. Users can be assigned specific roles such as Collaborator or Client, which helps in distributing responsibilities effectively. HostMonster, on the other hand, uses a modified version of cPanel that generally includes basic features for managing user accounts and permissions, but lacks the detailed structure provided by GreenGeeks. This makes GreenGeeks more flexible in creating and defining user roles.

GreenGeeks provides an intuitive user interface within its Account Manager that simplifies the process of managing users. The platform guides you through each step, ensuring that even less tech-savvy users can easily navigate through user management tasks. HostMonster, using its modified version of cPanel, may offer a familiar environment for those accustomed to cPanel’s interface, but it does not provide detailed instructions within its user interface, making it less user-friendly compared to GreenGeeks.

In terms of access control measures and scalability, GreenGeeks stands out for its multi-user access feature, allowing for multiple individuals to manage various aspects of the site without needing to share credentials. This feature is particularly useful for businesses that may require developers, designers, and clients to collaborate on a single hosting account. HostMonster’s cPanel setup does allow for some user management but may not be as effective in handling a growing number of users due to the lack of specifically defined roles and multi-user capabilities. Overall, GreenGeeks offers a more structured and scalable solution for user management.

GreenGeeks user roles table:

🏆 Winner
GreenGeeks: Known for exceptional customer service and quick resolution times, GreenGeeks stands out with its comprehensive support options.

HostMonster offers a range of customer support options including 24/7 technical support via phone, an available live chat, email support, and a knowledgebase filled with articles and guides. They provide a free domain name for one year with their hosting plans and include SSL certificates. HostMonster also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, which covers basic hosting services but excludes domain registrations and other additional services.

GreenGeeks, on the other hand, provides 24/7 expert web hosting support through live chat, email ticket, and phone. They are known for their free migration services for cPanel and WordPress sites. GreenGeeks has a highly-rated customer care team, complemented by extensive resources for self-help, including video tutorials and a Quick Launch Wizard for easy onboarding. GreenGeeks, too, receives commendations for its prompt customer service and resolution times.

User feedback

HostMonster receives mixed reviews from users, with positive feedback highlighting its affordable pricing, reliable uptime, and quick website loading times. Users also appreciate the extensive range of features such as addons for security, easy integration with MySQL, and a generally good customer service experience. However, many users find the user interface to be difficult to navigate, particularly for non-technical individuals, and note that technical support can be inconsistent, often more focused on sales than solving issues. Additionally, unexpected costs and technical limitations like frequent PHP updates and challenges with deploying large applications have also been pointed out as significant drawbacks.

Users generally appreciate the hosting provider for its excellent customer support, fast and reliable performance, and user-friendly dashboard. The eco-friendly aspect of the service is also a significant plus for many users. However, there are recurring concerns regarding the pricing, which tends to increase after the initial years, and the performance during high-demand scenarios. Additionally, some users have experienced issues with strict resource usage policies and limited plans for specific hosting needs.

FAQ