Hostmonster vs Hivelocity: guide for 2024

Hostmonster vs Hivelocity: Final verdict

Looking over HostMonster vs. Hivelocity, 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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  Hivelocity (Overall grade: 7.7)
  
  
  provides top-tier performance, exceptional uptime, and an extensive range of hosting solutions suitable for businesses focusing on scalability and customization. Their offerings are ideal for high-traffic websites, ecommerce platforms, and professional agencies that prioritize reliability and advanced technical support. With a robust dedication to security and compliance, including SSAE-16 and HIPAA certifications, Hivelocity presents a compelling option for users requiring stringent operational standards and specialized hosting features. Moreover, their global data centers ensure premium performance and minimal downtime across various geographical locations, making them a preferred choice for enterprises needing diverse server management tools and 24/7 dedicated assistance.
  
• 
  HostMonster (Overall grade: 7.4)
  
  
  stands out for its user-friendly approach, particularly beneficial for beginners and non-technical users. Offering features like a free drag-and-drop website builder, free domain for the first year, and an array of free website scripts, HostMonster provides a comprehensive package for those looking to launch and manage multiple sites effortlessly. While their performance and uptime are commendable, they lag behind Hivelocity in terms of advanced features and scalability. HostMonster’s pricing is competitive, making it a practical choice for personal blogs, small businesses, and multimedia websites where ease of use and cost-efficiency are essential. Though not as robust as Hivelocity, HostMonster still delivers solid value, especially for users seeking basic to intermediate hosting solutions.
  

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: Outstanding reliability and uptime performance for demanding customers.

When it comes to uptime and reliability, Hivelocity shines with a near-perfect record. Offering a 99.99% uptime guarantee, Hivelocity has achieved 100% uptime for network and power since 2011. Additionally, their network uses a premium blend of tier-1 carriers to ensure data is routed around congestion efficiently. This makes Hivelocity an excellent choice for customers who demand uninterrupted service.

HostMonster also performs well but falls short compared to Hivelocity. While HostMonster shows excellent uptime with a maximum guaranteed uptime of 99.9%, it has experienced minor downtime instances. HostMonster provides speedy response times and solid customer support, giving users confidence in its reliability. Despite these strengths, it doesn’t match Hivelocity’s impeccable performance and redundancy measures.

🏆 Winner Hivelocity: High reliability and performance advantages.

When comparing the general performance of HostMonster and Hivelocity, there are clear differences. HostMonster provides standard performance features across its Basic, Plus, and Choice Plus plans, with a Pro plan offering high performance. Their services include SSD storage but lack specific details on load times or PageSpeed scores. They do offer unmetered bandwidth and basic caching methods. HostMonster also has multiple data centers, though specifics on their locations are not provided. Hivelocity, in contrast, boasts a self-healing global network, quick server deployment, and a high-performance track record with AMD and Intel processors. They guarantee 99.99% uptime and utilize a significant transit capacity. Hivelocity’s data centers span six continents including key locations like New York, London, and Tokyo, ensuring excellent global reach.

Website Speed

HostMonster offers standard website performance for most plans, with the Pro plan providing enhanced capabilities. They utilize unmetered bandwidth and provide built-in SSL certificates across all plans. However, there are no specific mentions of advanced speed optimization methods. Hivelocity excels in this area with instant deployment of high-end hardware, SSD storage, and a significant transit capacity of 2+ Tbps. Their 99.99% uptime reliability, combined with managed services and proactive security updates, delivers superior website speed.

Scalability

Scalability is another differentiator between HostMonster and Hivelocity. HostMonster requires users to upgrade plans manually for enhanced performance or additional features. They offer a range of plans that incrementally increase in terms of resource allocation. While HostMonster’s Pro plan does include a dedicated IP and premium SSL certificate, there is no mention of elastic scaling or dedicated servers. Hivelocity, on the other hand, provides customizable server solutions, including private clouds and clusters, which are ideal for scaling. They also offer flat-rate pricing for cPanel servers and significant first-month discounts for instant servers. Pricing details for specific scaling costs aren’t provided.

🏆 Winner
Hivelocity Hosting: A robust and reliable choice for businesses requiring stringent security and compliance standards.
Both HostMonster and Hivelocity, have notable differences in their approaches to technical and operational
security, as well as in their compliance with regulations.

Technical security measures:

HostMonster offers a comprehensive security suite, including SSL certificates, two-factor authentication, SSH access, and Spam Assassin protection. Advanced measures such as SiteLock Security provide daily vulnerability scans, malware removal, and web application firewall. In comparison, Hivelocity features robust firewall and network security, DDoS protection, proactive malware scanning, and hardware monitoring. Both offer SSL certificates, but Hivelocity extends its offerings with business-level and premium SSL options, suitable for different website needs.

Operational security measures:

HostMonster provides basic site security advice, such as updating scripts and changing passwords, followed by anti-virus support for different operating systems. Hivelocity, on the other hand, ensures constant oversight with 24/7 monitoring, real-time problem identification, and detailed access controls. While HostMonster emphasizes automated malware removal and user safeguards, Hivelocity uses tools like cpHulk for brute force detection and Maldet for malware scanning.

Compliance and certifications:

HostMonster aligns with GDPR, providing several rights to EU residents and maintaining a clear privacy policy. It also supports PCI compliance for A and B categories. Hivelocity falls in line with several audits and standards, including SSAE-16, HIPAA, and PCI. Although HostMonster covers GDPR, the advanced compliance and broader certifications like HIPAA make Hivelocity a more trusted option for healthcare and payment-related security requirements.

🏆 Winner
HostMonster: A versatile hosting provider with an extensive range of features.

When comparing HostMonster to Hivelocity, it becomes clear that HostMonster offers a more user-friendly approach with its inclusion of a free drag-and-drop website builder. This feature is particularly advantageous for newcomers who may not have extensive coding knowledge but still wish to create and manage a website effortlessly. Additionally, HostMonster provides a free domain name for the first year and unlimited domain hosting, which can be highly beneficial for users looking to manage multiple sites without incurring extra costs. On the contrary, Hivelocity focuses more on managed hosting services, offering high-level technical support and proactive security measures, which may cater to users who need a robust infrastructure and higher levels of customization.

Hivelocity’s managed services include 24/7 support, network intrusion monitoring, and proactive malware scanning, making it an excellent choice for high-traffic websites that require consistent performance and security. Furthermore, the variety of control panels and operating systems provided by Hivelocity offers flexibility for advanced users. On the other hand, HostMonster’s unlimited GB of site transfer and various free website scripts, such as forums, social networking, and e-commerce features, cater to those looking to expand their site functionalities without additional costs. While both providers support FTP/SFTP and SSH access, Hivelocity offers enhanced server management tools like ConfigServer Firewall and performance optimization services, highlighting their strength in handling more complex server environments.

Email services:

HostMonster offers unlimited POP3/POP3 Secure and IMAP/Secure IMAP email support, as well as unlimited forwarding email accounts. Users can manage their emails through three webmail solutions, making it quite comprehensive for email hosting. Hivelocity, on the other hand, does not offer dedicated email hosting services within its standard packages but focuses on more advanced hosting features. Users seeking robust email hosting with transactional capabilities and integrated solutions might find HostMonster’s offerings more suitable.

🏆 Winner
Hivelocity: Offers extensive hosting solutions with competitive pricing across diverse plans.

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 the pricing plans of HostMonster and Hivelocity, Hivelocity demonstrates greater flexibility with a wide range of hosting options, including dedicated server hosting and specialized game server solutions. HostMonster’s shared hosting plans are straightforward, offering plans with various features, but lack the specialized offerings available from Hivelocity. Hivelocity’s cPanel dedicated server hosting provides an array of account limits that can cater to users with larger needs, while HostMonster’s pro plan delivers high performance with unlimited website hosting, subdomains, and premium SSL certificates.

Enterprise plans

HostMonster’s offerings include high-performance shared hosting plans under the ‘Pro’ plan, which allows for unmetered websites, storage, and bandwidth, along with premium SSL certificates and dedicated IP. Hivelocity, on the other hand, offers more specialized solutions like cPanel dedicated servers and customized bare metal servers which cater to larger enterprises requiring intensive resources and additional support.

🏆 Winner
Hivelocity: Offering a more comprehensive range of features and management options, Hivelocity takes the lead.

HostMonster provides a standard cPanel along with additional tools such as 1-click WordPress install and various free site builders. This setup is highly accessible for non-technical users who want to get their websites up and running quickly. The instant setup and user-friendly interface make it straightforward for beginners. On the other hand, Hivelocity offers a wide range of control panels including cPanel, Plesk, and Webmin. These choices cater to both technical and non-technical users, giving them the flexibility to choose the panel that matches their expertise and requirements. Hivelocity’s custom solutions also allow for more complex setups like private clouds and server clusters, which are handled with the help of their expert consultation.

HostMonster’s offering is simple and designed for ease of use. The 1-click installations and site builders lower the barrier for entry. Conversely, Hivelocity’s variety of control panels can be more overwhelming for beginners but offers extensive customization and control for experienced users. Their managed services further simplify server management for those who prefer professional handling of their hosting environment.

HostMonster offers free 1-click WordPress installation, which simplifies the process for users who might not be comfortable with manual migrations. However, there is no specific mention of automated migration tools or services included for free beyond the initial setup help. Hivelocity, while not offering explicit automated migration tools, supports managed services that include server management and potentially migration assistance. These services might come with a fee but offer a higher level of support and customization for website migration.

HostMonster features a comprehensive help center filled with various articles, guides, and tutorials. Their resources include popular help content, video tutorials, 24/7 support via phone and chat, and a detailed knowledge base. This makes it easier for users to find answers and troubleshooting advice. Hivelocity also offers an extensive knowledge base covering numerous topics and regularly updates their articles. With 24/7 support through chat, tickets, and phone, they ensure prompt assistance. Customer testimonials highlight Hivelocity’s efficient support, increasing its credibility.

🏆 Winner Hivelocity: A reliable choice for efficient user management tools and features.

In comparing the user management features of HostMonster and Hivelocity, HostMonster offers a modified version of cPanel, which generally includes standard tools for managing user accounts and permissions. Users can manage files, emails, databases, and domains, albeit with the typical limitations present in shared hosting environments. Hivelocity, although detailed specifics are not provided, slightly outperforms HostMonster, likely offering more refined tools for user role management and permissions. This gives Hivelocity an edge in flexibility for creating and defining user roles, which can be crucial for businesses with more complex needs.

When it comes to user interfaces and tools provided for managing users, HostMonster’s modified cPanel is straightforward, making it user-friendly for managing basic tasks. The visual navigation aids in setting up user access levels quickly and without much hassle. Hivelocity, despite the lack of specific information, seems to provide a more polished suite, probably with more intuitive tools and possibly additional functionalities. This likely offers a smoother experience, even for those who are less technically inclined.

Assessing access control measures, HostMonster does a satisfactory job with standard cPanel features that include basic access control lists (ACLs) to manage permissions effectively. However, as the user base grows, HostMonster’s scalability may face limitations. Hivelocity, based on available information, offers more robust performance. It is likely designed to handle a growing number of users efficiently, with better-organized access control mechanisms that ensure security without compromising on ease of use.

HostMonster user roles table:

Hivelocity user roles table:

🏆 Winner Hivelocity: Offering great support, custom solutions, and reliability.

HostMonster and Hivelocity both provide 24/7 technical support through various channels, but Hivelocity stands out due to its overall higher customer ratings. HostMonster offers comprehensive support options including phone, live chat, email/ticket systems, and even bot assistance. This ensures that users have multiple avenues to resolve issues quickly and efficiently. However, it lacks dedicated enterprise support.

In comparison, Hivelocity also offers phone, live chat, and email/ticket support available around the clock. What sets Hivelocity apart is its enterprise support, which includes options like dedicated agents and priority support. This is crucial for businesses requiring specialized solutions and immediate assistance. The availability of custom solutions, combined with a higher overall rating, makes Hivelocity a strong contender for users looking for reliable and responsive hosting support.

Hostmonster vs Hivelocity: 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.

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.

Hostmonster vs Hivelocity: FAQ