Hostmonster vs Web.com: guide for 2024

Hostmonster vs Web.com: Final verdict

Comparing HostMonster and Web.com, HostMonster offers broad functionality and superior support, while Web.com excels with faster speeds and scalable solutions.

• 
  Web.com (Overall grade: 7.3)
  
  
  stands out with its swift server response times and better performance optimizations. Offering a variety of hosting types like eCommerce hosting and WordPress hosting, Web.com brings significant advantages in speed, ideal for users needing quick content delivery and enhanced performance. However, its slightly higher renewal rates and lower uptime in long-term tests could be a disadvantage for users seeking consistency. The inclusion of various SSL options, advanced PHP versions, and thorough security measures like CodeGuard for backups and SiteLock services provides solid safety and performance, making it a reliable choice for many businesses.
  
• 
  HostMonster (Overall grade: 7.4)
  
  
  is recognized for its exceptional uptime and comprehensive support, suitable for agencies and high-traffic websites. With unlimited disk storage, domain hosting, and extensive technical features like SSH access and support for multiple programming languages, it grants users a high degree of control. The presence of various scalable plans and robust email services ensures it covers a range of user needs efficiently. However, downsides include a somewhat cluttered user interface and occasional technical limitations. HostMonster’s all-in-one package is convenient for users managing multiple domains and websites, though it may come with additional costs for specific features.
  

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 HostMonster: Exceptional uptime and comprehensive customer support.

SECTION-2: HostMonster offers outstanding uptime, with a flawless 14-day test and minimal downtime over a longer period. Their fast response time and efficient customer support ensure reliable site performance. Back-end protections add to reliability, making it a strong choice for consistent hosting.

SECTION-3: Web.com provides solid uptime with a 99.9% guarantee but reported slightly lower actual uptime than HostMonster. Despite strong site performance and comprehensive tools, its higher renewal rates may be a drawback after the first year. Extensive support and security features make it a reliable option for new and experienced users.

🏆 Winner Web.com: Streamlined hosting with faster server response times and better performance optimizations.

HostMonster and Web.com both offer strong hosting solutions, but Web.com edges out due to its faster hosting speeds and upgraded features. HostMonster provides a range of plans with unmetered bandwidth and a variety of performance features. However, Web.com’s offerings include server response times that are up to 70% faster, PHP 8.0, OPcode Cache, MySQL 8, and improved storage systems for efficiency. HostMonster provides extensive features for email, SSL, and website scripts, but it requires manual upgrades for spam filtering and automated backups. Web.com focuses on optimized server response and better overall website performance, making it ideal for businesses concerned with speed and efficiency.

Website speed

Web.com offers significantly faster server response times compared to HostMonster, leveraging PHP 8.0 and OPcode Cache to enhance speed. Web.com has upgraded its servers to support quicker navigation and better performance metrics, leading to improved website load times and PageSpeed scores. HostMonster provides standard performance for most plans, only offering high performance on its Pro plan. Web.com’s focus on faster content display and enhanced performance, coupled with their improved storage system, makes it the superior choice for speed.

Scalability

Both hosting providers offer scalable solutions, but Web.com is designed to support over 99.5% of customers’ bandwidth demands directly, without requiring manual upgrades. HostMonster provides different plans with unlimited websites and databases but does not detail how scalability is managed within these tiers. While we don’t have specific information on the elastic scaling or dedicated servers for either service, Web.com’s scalable solutions cater to a broader range of customer needs, ensuring businesses can grow without significant interruptions.

🏆 Winner Web.com: Offers a vast range of SSL certificates and enhanced performance with PHP 8.0.

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

Technical security measures:

Regarding SSL certificates, HostMonster offers secure servers and premium options starting at $80.04 per year, alongside free certificates for select plans. Web.com provides a variety of SSL options, including Essential, Premium, Wildcard, Extended Validation, and Unified Communications Certificates, catering to diverse encryption needs. HostMonster supports PHP 5 and allows customization through custom PHP.INI files, while Web.com operates on PHP 8.0, optimizing performance and speed. Both HostMonster and Web.com offer SiteLock services, including malware scanning and removal, but Web.com’s inclusion of a CDN enhances website load times.

Operational security measures:

HostMonster emphasizes basic site security tasks such as removing malicious files, changing passwords, and updating scripts. Web.com, on the other hand, features additional security layers like CodeGuard for backups, ensuring site data is recoverable and protected. While HostMonster uses Spam Assassin for email protection and offers two-factor authentication, Web.com ensures secure access with SSL certificates and directory pointers, supporting multisite control. Both services provide SSH access for secure server connections, but Web.com’s uptime guarantee of 99.9% highlights its reliability.

Compliance and certifications:

Both HostMonster and Web.com comply with GDPR regulations, ensuring data protection for EU residents. HostMonster assumes the role of a data controller, addressing access and data handling rights, whereas Web.com provides compliance services through SiteLock. HostMonster supports PCI compliance on all accounts for A and B levels, addressing common SSL and user directory issues. Web.com offers PCI compliance via SiteLock scanning solutions, but neither service specifies HIPAA compliance details.

🏆 Winner
HostMonster: A versatile hosting solution offering extensive features and user-friendly tools.

HostMonster and Web.com both offer a range of hosting features designed to cater to various user needs, yet significant differences set them apart. HostMonster, powered by Bluehost, delivers an extensive array of functionalities, providing unlimited disk storage, domain hosting, and site transfer. It also includes a free drag-and-drop site builder that’s straightforward for beginners but complex enough for advanced users. The inclusion of features like a cPanel Account Control Panel, FTP/SFTP, and SSH access, coupled with support for multiple programming languages, makes it an excellent choice for users seeking comprehensive control and advanced functionalities without additional fees.

Web.com also provides a user-friendly website builder with a drag-and-drop interface, but its storage, bandwidth, and the number of websites depend on the chosen plan. While it guarantees 99.9% uptime and offers a free domain and SSL certificate for the first year, some advanced features like SFTP/SSH access are not explicitly mentioned. Web.com’s scalable plans might appeal to users with simpler needs or those who anticipate growth, but limitations on features like FTP accounts and visitors could be a drawback for more robust requirements.

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 Example hosting one and Example hosting two 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:

HostMonster provides extensive email services with unlimited POP3/POP3 Secure and IMAP/Secure IMAP support, making it easy for users to manage their email campaigns and transactional emails. It offers three different webmail solutions, forwarding email accounts, and spam protection through SpamAssassin. Web.com also includes business email services; however, specific details like the number of account limitations or additional email features aren’t as evidently highlighted. Users seeking comprehensive email hosting capabilities would likely find HostMonster more appealing due to its unlimited email services and robust support features.

Winner Web.com: Web.com offers more cost-effective initial pricing while providing comprehensive features across their 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 Web.com, there are significant differences. HostMonster offers four shared hosting plans starting from $11.99/month for a 36-month term, while Web.com’s basic plan starts at $9.99/month upon renewal. HostMonster provides unmetered bandwidth and storage on most plans, but Web.com includes additional features such as a drag-and-drop website builder and business email across all plans. Web.com offers cost-effective introductory pricing, starting at $2.95/month for the first year on their basic shared plan. Both providers have a variety of features tailored towards different needs, but Web.com’s pricing strategy and included features make it the more economical choice, especially for new users.

Enterprise plans

For enterprises, HostMonster’s Pro Plan offers an excellent combination of high performance, unlimited websites, and robust security features such as a free dedicated IP, premium SSL certificate, and automated backups at $33.99/month. Web.com does not feature a dedicated enterprise-level hosting plan, but their Premium Plan at $16.99/month for up to 10 websites with substantial storage and included SSL certificate makes it a strong choice for small and medium enterprises looking for balance in cost and features.

🏆 Winner
HostMonster: Offers a variety of tools for easy website setup and extensive customer support options.

HostMonster uses a standard cPanel, which is well-known for being user-friendly and familiar to many users, both technical and non-technical alike. The cPanel interface provides easy access to essential hosting features such as file management, email setup, and domain management. With clear categorization and straightforward navigation, it makes hosting management simple for users at all skill levels. The inclusion of a Getting Started Guide ensures that even beginners can quickly acclimate to the hosting environment.

Web.com also focuses on a user-friendly experience with its custom control panel. The interface is intuitive and designed to streamline common tasks like website creation, domain management, and email account setup. It includes a drag-and-drop website builder, which is particularly useful for non-technical users who want to create a professional site without needing coding skills. Although it’s not a standard cPanel, the custom solution has been tailored to help users manage their hosting services efficiently.

HostMonster and Web.com offer different solutions when it comes to site migration tools. HostMonster’s setup process does not explicitly mention dedicated migration tools, potentially implying that users may need to handle site migration manually or seek assistance through their 24/7 support. Web.com also doesn’t specify automatic migration tools but provides detailed support resources to guide users through the migration process. It’s unclear whether either provider charges a fee for migration services.

Both hosting providers have extensive help centers to assist users. HostMonster’s help center is comprehensive with numerous articles and video tutorials, complemented by 24/7 support via phone, chat, and an expansive knowledge base. Web.com’s help center offers a similar array of support through a variety of channels including live chat, email, and phone support, with a large collection of online resources and detailed step-by-step guides.

🏆 Winner: Web.com: Comprehensive user management and flexible user roles.

When comparing the user management capabilities of HostMonster and Web.com, Web.com clearly stands out with explicit features and precise role definitions. HostMonster utilizes a modified version of cPanel for managing user accounts, which usually covers standard administrative tasks, but lacks detailed visibility on user role specification. On the other hand, Web.com provides a thorough breakdown of user roles and permissions, allowing for a more structured and defined approach to user account management. Web.com offers both Administrative and Technical roles, thus catering to both full and limited access needs, while HostMonster’s offerings in this domain remain ambiguous without direct documentation.

HostMonster’s user management interface benefits from the familiar environment of cPanel, simplifying tasks for those accustomed to such systems. However, Web.com’s interface offers a clear and intuitive Account Manager, easily accessible via a user icon. Web.com’s process to add or edit users and contacts appears more streamlined, with dedicated steps to invite users and assign roles. The efficiency of Web.com’s user management tools, especially the ability to select specific accounts and manage them within an organized framework, enhances its usability.

Web.com’s access control measures are explicitly articulated through distinct role-based permissions such as Administrative and Technical roles, ensuring consistency and security in account management. This structured approach proves essential for handling a growing number of users as it clearly defines the capacities and limits of each user. HostMonster, while functional via cPanel, does not offer the same level of transparency or control over user roles, which can lead to inefficiencies in managing larger teams or more complex configurations.

Web.com User Roles Table:

🏆 Winner Web.com: Web.com provides a more comprehensive customer support experience with several 24/7 services.

When comparing HostMonster and Web.com, both hosting providers offer strong customer support through various channels, including phone, email, and live chat. HostMonster offers 24/7 technical support and has dedicated sales support with extensive hours. Their knowledgebase is rich with articles, guides, and tutorials. Web.com also supports customers with 24/7 technical support and business consultants available during peak hours. Moreover, both services include a Help Center.

While HostMonster provides good customer support, Web.com stands out due to its availability of enterprise support and more extensive general support hours. Web.com’s customer support options include a dedicated number for cancellations and other general inquiries. Web.com also offers continuous email monitoring, which provides customers with an added layer of responsiveness. Overall, Web.com edges out HostMonster in providing a slightly more user-centric support experience.

Hostmonster vs Web.com: 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.

The hosting provider offers a comprehensive solution for purchasing domain names, hosting, and website building, making it highly convenient for users managing multiple domains and websites. Users appreciate the convenience of having all services bundled together, but some express concerns about the limitations on hosting unlimited domains and the cost associated with individual website software. Overall, the service is satisfactory and well-rated, though there is room for improvement in accommodating users with extensive hosting needs.

Hostmonster vs Web.com: FAQ