Inmotion Hosting vs Knownhost: guide for 2024

Inmotion Hosting vs Knownhost: Final verdict

Looking over InMotion vs. KnownHost, both provide a variety of hosting plans but excel in different areas of service and performance.

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  KnownHost (Overall grade: 8.6)
  
  
  stands out primarily for its top-tier performance, advanced security measures, and stellar customer service. KnownHost provides a guaranteed uptime of 99.9%, which historically hits around 99.996%, indicating a reliable and stable hosting environment. Users will benefit from cutting-edge performance, owing to AMD EPYC hardware, enterprise NVMe storage, and LiteSpeed technologies that ensure swift website load times. Well-suited for high-traffic websites, KnownHost impresses with robust DDoS protection and automated backups. Despite some complaints about slow server speeds and user interface complexity, KnownHost’s dedication to security and quick customer support makes it an attractive option for advanced users and businesses with high demands.
  
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  InMotion Hosting (Overall grade: 8.4)
  
  
  provides a strong alternative with a user-friendly interface and versatile hosting plans tailored for a range of users, from beginners to tech-savvy professionals. The platform’s UltraStack Technology enhances site speed by up to 20x, supported by NVMe SSD storage and advanced caching. InMotion excels at offering all-around protection, including malware detection, DDoS protection, and automatic backups. Its support services encompass a comprehensive knowledge base and 24/7 U.S.-based customer service. Although some users report slow performance on lower-tier plans and higher costs for premium features, InMotion remains a dependable choice for those seeking a feature-rich and scalable hosting provider with strong support options.
  

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
KnownHost: KnownHost delivers superior uptime guarantee and overall performance.

KnownHost stands out with a guaranteed minimum uptime of 99.9%, often achieving a historical uptime of 99.996%. Their real-world performance consistently hits 99.99%+ uptime, with negligible downtime in some months. In contrast, InMotion Hosting has various uptime claims across different hosting plans, but without explicit guarantees. While InMotion has shown strong performance in tests, their historical uptime has been less consistent compared to KnownHost’s stellar record.

InMotion Hosting offers diverse hosting plans with strong performance metrics, such as 100% uptime in 2022 for shared hosting and 99.99% uptime claims for VPS and managed WordPress plans. Despite this, the lack of explicit uptime guarantees makes them less reliable than KnownHost. KnownHost’s inclusion of advanced DDoS protection and automated backups further ensures minimal downtime, securing their top spot in reliability and service integrity.

Winner: KnownHost: Best for superior performance and support.

When comparing the general performance of InMotion Hosting and KnownHost, both providers demonstrate excellent speed and reliability. InMotion boasts its UltraStack Technology, delivering up to 20x faster speeds aided by NVMe SSD storage and advanced caching techniques. KnownHost, on the other hand, ensures high-performance with AMD EPYC hardware and enterprise NVMe storage, complemented by LiteSpeed and LSCache for swift web processing. While both promise over 99.99% uptime, only KnownHost’s boasts industry-best uptime. They each use multiple data centers, with InMotion having facilities in the USA and Europe, while KnownHost’s specific locations aren’t detailed.

Website Speed

In terms of website speed, InMotion’s UltraStack Technology and advanced caching provide notable benefits, including up to 20x faster speeds. KnownHost utilizes LiteSpeed and LSCache technology, replacing Apache for better performance. This setup allows KnownHost to handle more requests efficiently, which can translate to faster load times. Both options are excellent, but KnownHost’s combination of AMD EPYC hardware and LiteSpeed gives it a slight edge.

Scalability

Scalability is a strong suit for both providers. InMotion offers various plans from shared hosting to dedicated servers, allowing businesses to upgrade as they grow, but it’s not specified if scaling is automatic. KnownHost provides VPS and dedicated hosting options but also does not clarify automatic scaling. InMotion’s hosting plans range from $2.99/mo for shared hosting to $35.00/mo for dedicated servers, while KnownHost’s pricing requires contacting them for detailed costs. Both are flexible but InMotion offers more detail in plan structures.

🏆 Winner
KnownHost: Offers robust security features and excellent customer feedback.
Both InMotion Hosting and KnownHost, have notable differences in their approaches to technical and operational
security, as well as in their compliance with regulations.

Technical security measures:

Both InMotion Hosting and KnownHost provide free SSL certificates to secure transactions and data. InMotion offers DDoS protection, malware detection, firewall software, and SSH access. KnownHost includes free DDoS protection up to 500 Gbps and incorporates Imunify360 for automated security. KnownHost also provides additional firewall and reverse DNS setups. Both support various PHP versions, but KnownHost covers a broader range from PHP 5.6 to PHP 8.2.

Operational security measures:

InMotion Hosting includes hack and malware protection, automatic backups, spam protection, and safe application roll-backs. KnownHost offers automated backup systems and rDNS setup for enhanced security. While KnownHost uses LiteSpeed + LSCache and offers CloudLinux for $12/month, InMotion provides comprehensive protections like Modsec firewall and SSH access. KnownHost’s features like firewall configurations and automated backups align well with operational security standards.

Compliance and certifications:

InMotion Hosting complies with GDPR, CCPA, and PCI standards, and addresses DMCA, trademark, and doxxing violations. KnownHost provides compliance with PCI by ensuring SSL certificate security, but GDPR compliance is implied rather than specified.

🏆 Winner: InMotion Hosting: A feature-rich hosting solution ideal for diverse needs.

Both InMotion Hosting and KnownHost offer a robust range of features to cater to various web hosting needs, but there’s a notable difference in their strengths. InMotion Hosting provides a user-friendly interface with cPanel, making it easier for users to manage their websites effortlessly. Including advanced developer tools like Python, Node.JS, and Ruby ensures InMotion is suitable for tech-savvy users requiring more customization. They also offer free domain registration and multiple data centers, enhancing performance and reliability. The availability of NVMe SSD storage and advanced caching ensures that websites hosted on InMotion enjoy faster load times.

KnownHost focuses on performance and security, featuring LiteSpeed with LSCache and NVMe storage, ensuring top-notch speed and reliability. Their AMD EPYC platform provides excellent hardware infrastructure. For users whose priority is security, KnownHost includes Imunify360 and free DDoS protection up to 500 gbit/s. Free domain privacy and automated daily backups stored off-server are compelling additional perks. The 30-day money-back guarantee and free migrations with minimal downtime make it an attractive option for those switching hosts. KnownHost’s multiple hosting plans, including managed and unmanaged options, cater to different levels of user expertise and needs.

Email services at InMotion are provided through a partnership with Microsoft 365, offering a professional email and access to Outlook on a trial basis before transitioning to a paid service. Conversely, KnownHost provides unlimited free professional email accounts, which is particularly beneficial for users requiring multiple email accounts without incurring additional costs.

🏆 Winner KnownHost: KnownHost offers a more comprehensive selection of hosting plans with competitive pricing and robust 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.

When comparing InMotion Hosting and KnownHost, several distinctions are apparent. InMotion Hosting offers a range of plans across web, WordPress, VPS, dedicated, and reseller hosting at varying price points, each loaded with features like free SSL, domain, and advanced security tools. KnownHost, however, tends to offer more value, particularly in their managed hosting and resources allocation, tailoring their plans with automatic backups, staging tools, and substantial storage space. Each provider caters to different needs: InMotion focuses on widespread usability, whereas KnownHost provides extensive support and high-tier performance for advanced users.

Enterprise plans

For enterprise-level plans, KnownHost provides powerful options with their Premium VPS servers and Premium Semi-Dedicated hosting featuring high memory limits, extensive storage, and robust CPU processors. InMotion offers competitive dedicated hosting plans with configurable servers and 99.99% uptime, catering to large-scale operations requiring reliable infrastructure. Both providers deliver quality services, but KnownHost’s extensive features and performance enhancements make it particularly attractive for enterprise users.

🏆 Winner
KnownHost: KnownHost stands out for its user-centric setup and exceptional support services.

InMotion Hosting and KnownHost both offer user-friendly admin panels but differ in their approach. InMotion utilizes the well-known cPanel which includes a demo version to help users get acquainted with the interface. The cPanel is recognized for its easy navigation and widespread usage, making it accessible even to those with minimal technical knowledge. It supports one-click installs for popular applications, streamlining the process of setting up and managing a website.

KnownHost, on the other hand, also offers cPanel but enhances its appeal with instant setup. They include Softaculous, a script library that allows users to install applications with a single click. This makes the platform accessible and user-friendly for both novices and experienced users. The emphasis on one-click installations helps reduce the technical barrier, making it easier for users to manage and deploy various web applications.

Both hosting providers offer free migration tools, but their approaches vary slightly. InMotion Hosting provides free migration tools and supports cPanel backups for a smooth transfer process with no downtime. They also offer a Launch Assist service for more complex migrations, ensuring that all files and databases are securely transferred to the new hosting account. KnownHost, much like InMotion Hosting, offers free migration services with minimal downtime. Their shared hosting support handles the technical aspects, making the transition seamless for the user.

The platforms provide extensive knowledge bases filled with guides, how-to articles, and instructional content. InMotion Hosting offers 24/7 U.S.-based support through multiple channels along with an online support center filled with step-by-step guides and community forums. They provide extensive WordPress tutorials and premier support for advanced needs. KnownHost features a comprehensive knowledge base, 24/7/365 support, and customer feedback highlighting their fast and helpful service. Both provide valuable resources, but KnownHost’s quick response times and customer satisfaction set it apart.

🏆 Winner InMotion Hosting: A highly proficient hosting provider with excellent user management capabilities.

In terms of managing user roles, permissions, and accessibility, InMotion Hosting offers a more comprehensive solution compared to KnownHost. InMotion allows users to create and manage various WordPress user roles like administrators, editors, authors, contributors, and subscribers, providing flexibility in defining levels of engagement. The ability to customize user roles through the User Role Editor Plugin and manage roles using WP-CLI adds an additional layer of versatility. KnownHost, on the other hand, focuses primarily on domain and account management through the My KnownHost Panel. While KnownHost’s platform includes guides on managing organization and users on accounts, it lacks the advanced role customization features offered by InMotion.

The user interfaces and tools provided for managing users differ significantly between the two hosting providers. InMotion leverages the WordPress dashboard, which allows for intuitive management of user roles directly within the CMS. The User Role Editor Plugin simplifies role customization, making it accessible even for non-technical users. KnownHost relies on its My KnownHost Panel, which offers domain and account management functionalities. While the panel is straightforward, it does not offer the extensive user role management tools available through InMotion’s WordPress integration.

Access control measures and the ability to manage a growing number of users are more efficiently handled by InMotion Hosting. By utilizing WordPress’s built-in capabilities and additional plugins like the User Role Editor, InMotion allows administrators to fine-tune permissions and create custom roles tailored to their specific needs. This flexibility ensures that as the number of users grows, the management remains scalable and organized. KnownHost’s approach, although user-friendly, is more suited to smaller-scale operations and lacks the intricate control over individual user permissions that InMotion provides.

InMotion Hosting User Roles Table:

🏆 Winner
KnownHost: KnownHost provides exemplary customer service with fast response times and high performance.

KnownHost and InMotion Hosting both offer extensive customer support, but there are key differences. KnownHost provides 24/7/365 technical support through various channels, and their team is praised for being polite and patient, especially with beginners. Their managed hosting services come with free SSL certificates and provide an impressive 99.99% uptime guarantee, ensuring reliability and high performance. The knowledge base and support forums are extensive, catering to various user needs.

InMotion, on the other hand, offers 24/7 live chat and phone support with U.S.-based agents and a comprehensive knowledge base that’s regularly updated. They provide a 90-day money-back guarantee for specific packages, demonstrating confidence in their services. Customer feedback for InMotion highlights reliable service and helpful support articles, though some have noted issues with slow ticket response times and unprofessional behavior from sales representatives.

Inmotion Hosting vs Knownhost: User feedback

InMotion Hosting receives mixed reviews from users, highlighting several strengths and weaknesses. Customers appreciate the variety of hosting plans, transparent pricing, robust uptime, and exceptional customer support. On the downside, some users experience slow servers on lower-tier plans and encounter long waiting times for customer support. Additionally, the platform’s user interface has received criticism for being somewhat difficult to navigate, and there are concerns about service outages and higher prices for premium features.

KnownHost receives mixed feedback from its users. Many users praise its responsive and professional customer support, high uptime, and excellent technical infrastructure, particularly for managed WordPress and VPS hosting. However, there are significant complaints about slow server speeds, unhelpful support, and confusing user interfaces. Additionally, some users believe that the service is overpriced given the performance issues they have encountered. Overall, while KnownHost has loyal customers who appreciate its offerings, potential users should be aware of the varied experiences and evaluate if it meets their specific needs.

Inmotion Hosting vs Knownhost: FAQ