Liquid Web vs WPX Hosting: guide for 2024

Liquid Web vs WPX Hosting: Final verdict

Looking over Liquid Web vs. WPX Hosting, both services offer unique advantages but cater to slightly different needs.

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  Liquid Web (Overall grade: 8.7)
  
  provides a comprehensive range of managed hosting services, including cloud, WordPress, ecommerce, VPS, and dedicated hosting. Its robust security features, compliance options, and high-reliability network make it ideal for high-traffic websites and businesses with stringent security requirements. Managed WooCommerce plans and advanced configurations, like VMware private cloud and custom multi-server solutions, further enhance its appeal for enterprises. The variety of control panels and customizable user roles give users flexibility and ease of management, while their 24/7/365 “Heroic Support®” ensures quick and knowledgeable assistance.
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  WPX Hosting (Overall grade: 8.3)
  
  excels in high-speed WordPress and WooCommerce hosting with its proprietary CDN and rapid site speed optimization services. Though it lacks VPS and dedicated hosting options, it stands out for agencies and small businesses due to its multi-site management, quick support response times, and user-friendly control panel. The platform also includes daily malware scans, free SSL certificates, and free site migrations, making it a good value for users who need straightforward, efficient hosting solutions without the complexity. While its user management features are less granular than Liquid Web’s, its customer service is often praised for resolving issues quickly, making it a solid choice for those prioritizing speed and responsiveness.

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 WPX Hosting: Experience superior uptime and availability with WPX Hosting, ensuring your website stays online and performs optimally.

Both Liquid Web and WPX Hosting offer excellent uptime and availability features. Liquid Web provides 100% network and power uptime guarantees, managed high availability options, proactive monitoring, and swift hardware replacements. They also ensure redundancy and replication to eliminate single points of failure. On the other hand, WPX Hosting offers a strong 99.95% uptime guarantee, daily backups, free fixes for downtime, and 24/7 support with impressively quick response times.

WPX Hosting stands out with its impressive track record in handling high traffic volumes and minimal downtime. Their quick support response time and free site fixes further ensure reliability. Additionally, WPX Hosting offers various security and performance enhancements, including daily malware scans, free SSL certificates, and high-speed CDN with 37 endpoints, making it the preferred choice for maintaining consistent website performance and availability.

🏆 Winner: WPX Hosting: Fastest WordPress and WooCommerce hosting with robust support.

When comparing general performance, WPX Hosting and Liquid Web offer strong features but cater to different needs. WPX Hosting shines with its high-speed custom CDN and efficient site speed optimization plugins, providing fast load times. Liquid Web offers advanced VPS hosting with AMD EPYC processors, ensuring powerful performance. Both have robust offerings in CPU/RAM capacities; however, WPX includes free malware removal and site speed optimization, boosting its performance. WPX’s CDN has 37 endpoints worldwide, enhancing global speed, while Liquid Web focuses more on private cloud and high-availability setups. Both have solid data center networks, but specific numbers and locations aren’t mentioned.

Website Speed

WPX Hosting offers quicker sites due to their custom XDN technology, optimizing content delivery across 37 global endpoints. Their free site speed optimization service ensures fast load times even during traffic spikes. Liquid Web’s managed WordPress hosting includes features like object caching and global CDN, but WPX’s average response time of 30 seconds provides near-instant support and quick site fixes, often within 15 minutes.

Scalability

WPX Hosting scales through plan upgrades, offering various plans like Business, Professional, and Elite to accommodate growing needs. Liquid Web offers more sophisticated scalability with features like VMware private cloud and custom multi-server solutions, but specifics on cost and process for scaling are not detailed. Liquid Web’s dedicated server options feature Intel Xeon processors and up to 128GB RAM, making them suitable for high-demand applications.

🏆 Winner Liquid Web: Offers extensive security and compliance features ideal for businesses with strict regulatory requirements.

Technical security measures:

Liquid Web and WPX Hosting both provide robust security solutions. Liquid Web includes firewalls, DDoS protection, web application firewall, and an intrusion detection system with real-time monitoring. WPX Hosting features free malware removal, hybrid DDoS protection, and daily malware scans to ensure site integrity. Both hosts offer SSL certificates, but Liquid Web augments this with additional higher-end security tools like the F5 AIP Intrusion Detection System. WPX Hosting provides a custom CDN for enhanced load speeds and hybrid DDoS protection, while Liquid Web focuses on advanced configurations for server protection and high availability.

Operational security measures:

Liquid Web emphasizes 24/7/365 on-site support, secure server cabinets, and constant physical monitoring with CCTV cameras. They also offer data encryption at rest and high-availability networks. WPX Hosting, in contrast, provides daily backups stored for 28 days with one-click restores, WHOIS privacy, and two-factor authentication. Both hosts actively monitor threats and patch vulnerabilities, but Liquid Web’s managed services and manned facilities give it an edge in operational security.

Compliance and certifications:

Liquid Web excels with PCI, GDPR, and HIPAA compliances, holding certifications such as SSAE-22 and HITECH for HIPAA. They offer a Data Processing Addendum (DPA) for GDPR and managed services to handle PCI vulnerabilities. WPX Hosting complies with GDPR and offers guidance to avoid PCI compliance issues by using external credit card processing systems. WPX does not provide HIPAA compliance, making Liquid Web the more versatile option for regulatory adherence.

🏆 Winner
Liquid Web: Liquid Web offers a comprehensive range of managed hosting services tailored for users who demand high reliability and robust security. WPX Hosting also provides excellent performance, especially for WordPress users, but Liquid Web’s broader set of managed services and powerful managed hosting environments make it the standout choice for many.

Both Liquid Web and WPX Hosting come equipped with features designed to meet diverse user needs, but they cater to different priorities. Liquid Web provides fully managed hosting with proactive management of the network, security, and availability. Their VMware Private Cloud and compliant solutions for HIPAA or PCI stand out for businesses requiring strict compliance. Liquid Web also ensures high-speed hosting optimized for various platforms, including WordPress and WooCommerce, with notable features like CloudFlare CDN, integrated firewall, and 100% network and power uptime guarantees. On the other hand, WPX Hosting excels with its own high-speed custom CDN, Redis cache, and a superfast SSD storage that promise an exceptional speed and performance. WPX Hosting also offers perks like free SSL certificates, daily malware scans, and free site migrations, plus a quick turnaround time for support issues, which could be particularly advantageous for small to medium businesses looking for a user-friendly, no-fuss hosting service.

In terms of website builders, Liquid Web doesn’t explicitly mention the feature; however, its flexible control panels like Plesk and cPanel suggest integration capabilities for various website builders. This allows for complex customizations suited for demanding projects. WPX Hosting shines with its custom-built hosting panel and straightforward tools like a staging area and one-click WordPress installation, which simplify site management for users. Liquid Web’s fully managed VPS hosting and compliant solutions may have additional fees based on resource usage, while WPX boasts clear pricing with no hidden upsells, which can be an attractive option for budget-conscious 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 Liquid Web and WPX Hosting 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:

Liquid Web includes email hosting with all plans, allowing users to set up and manage email campaigns. WPX Hosting provides unlimited email boxes with any hosting plan, making it easy for users to manage their communication needs. However, WPX Hosting doesn’t appear to offer additional transactional email capabilities or email reselling services like Google Workspace or Outlook, focusing instead on robust, built-in email hosting options.

🏆 Winner WPX Hosting:Superior technical support response times and optimized site performance.

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.

Liquid Web offers a broad range of hosting options with distinct price plans tailored to various needs including Managed WooCommerce, Managed WordPress, and Managed VPS hosting. Their prices vary significantly, starting from $20/month for their Essential VPS plan and reaching $492.75/month for their top-tier Enterprise plans, which provide extensive storage, bandwidth, and support features. On the other hand, WPX Hosting provides simplified yet robust WordPress and WooCommerce hosting plans with clear monthly, yearly, and biennial pricing. Their plans boast unique features such as 30-second support response times and free site speed optimization.

Enterprise plans

Liquid Web’s Enterprise plans are designed with high performance and customization in mind, supporting configurations like multi-server setups and dedicated resources. They offer comprehensive managed services, ideal for businesses requiring robust security, disaster recovery, and high availability. WPX Hosting, while not offering as extensive enterprise-specific plans as Liquid Web, provides top-tier WooCommerce and WordPress plans with remarkable response times and site optimization features, which may suffice for smaller-scale enterprise needs.

🏆 Winner Liquid Web: Superior ease of setup and comprehensive support resources.

Liquid Web utilizes a variety of control panels including InterWorx, Plesk, and WHM/cPanel. These options provide both technical and non-technical users with intuitive, user-friendly interfaces for server and website management. The inclusion of different control panel choices ensures flexibility and ease of use, allowing users to select a platform that best meets their comfort level and technical proficiency. Additionally, Liquid Web’s managed hosting services take care of server optimization, software updates, and security patches, making the setup process even more straightforward.

WPX Hosting offers a custom control panel designed to be fast and responsive. This panel provides an easy-to-use environment for managing websites, domains, and hosting services. While streamlined and accessible for non-technical users, the control panel may not offer the depth of customization available in more standard options like cPanel. This makes it a suitable choice for users who prefer simplicity and speed over extensive configuration capabilities.

Both Liquid Web and WPX Hosting provide complimentary migration services, ensuring a hassle-free transition from other hosting providers. Liquid Web offers migration support for control panels like InterWorx, Plesk, and cPanel, handling the process seamlessly within their managed services framework. Similarly, WPX Hosting offers free migration services, promising to complete the process within 24 hours. Users only need to provide the relevant details through a migration form, making the process straightforward.

Liquid Web boasts an extensive, industry-leading knowledge base that includes thorough articles, tutorials, and resources across various topics. The help center is meticulously organized, making it easy for users to find the information they need. Liquid Web also provides 24/7/365 support with rapid response times for phone, chat, and helpdesk tickets. WPX Hosting offers a comprehensive knowledge base through their control panel, along with 24/7 support via chat and tickets. While effective, their support resources are slightly less extensive than those of Liquid Web.

🏆 Winner Liquid Web: Superior user management and customizable roles make Liquid Web the standout choice.

When comparing Liquid Web and WPX Hosting, Liquid Web offers extensive options for managing user roles and permissions. With four predefined user roles—Administrator, Webmaster, Application User, and Accountant—Liquid Web provides a high degree of role specificity and flexibility in user management. The ability to create new user roles further enhances its flexibility, allowing administrators to define custom roles to meet specific needs. In contrast, WPX Hosting’s capabilities are more limited, focusing primarily on database users and FTP users without offering specific roles or tailored permissions. Liquid Web’s detailed role definitions and adjustable permissions provide a more comprehensive solution for diverse user management needs.

Liquid Web’s user interface in Plesk is designed for efficiency, making it easy to navigate through different views (Service Provider and Power User) to manage users effectively. It offers a clear and detailed structure for accessing user settings, creating new accounts, and managing roles. The intuitive design of the Plesk control panel ensures that users can perform administrative tasks with minimal friction. WPX Hosting, on the other hand, provides basic tools for managing database and FTP users through its control panel. While straightforward and functional, it lacks the advanced options and user role customization provided by Liquid Web.

In terms of access control measures and scalability, Liquid Web excels by offering precise control over permissions and the ability to add multiple administrator accounts. This flexibility is crucial for managing an expanding user base and adapting to the growing needs of an organization. Liquid Web’s Plesk integration supports efficient user role management and detailed access settings, ensuring a secure and scalable environment. WPX Hosting facilitates multi-user access but does not match the granular control and scalability options provided by Liquid Web, especially as the number of users increases.

Liquid Web User Roles Table:

🏆 Winner Liquid Web: Exceptional customer service with highly trained support technicians and quick response times.

Liquid Web offers impressive customer support with its 24/7/365 availability across multiple channels, including phone, chat, and helpdesk, with a guaranteed 59-second initial response time for phone and chat support. They take pride in their “Heroic Support®,” ensuring customers get knowledgeable and swift assistance. The hosting provider also offers additional resources such as a knowledge base, webinars, extensive documentation, and the assistance of dedicated Customer Success Managers and Strategic Account Executives, making it a top choice for those seeking comprehensive and reliable support.

WPX Hosting provides efficient customer service with 24/7 live chat, support tickets, and an easily navigable knowledge base. With a quick response time averaging 30 seconds and a 15-minute average case resolution time, WPX ensures that customer issues are addressed swiftly. Furthermore, WPX offers free migration services within 24 hours, free malware removal, and site speed optimization, making it a great option for users who need prompt assistance and extra services. Despite its strengths, Liquid Web’s extensive resources and guarantees place it a notch above.

Liquid Web vs WPX Hosting: User feedback

User feedback for the hosting provider is highly polarized. Many long-term customers highlight a significant decline in service quality, stating that the once-excellent customer support and reliability have deteriorated dramatically, causing frequent outages, slower load times, and unresponsive support. These users express frustration over questionable billing practices and ill-informed technical help, urging others to avoid the provider. On the other hand, some users praise the company for its proactive, knowledgeable, and prompt support, emphasizing excellent uptime and reliability. These contrasting reviews suggest a mixed experience, with some users experiencing severe service issues while others remain highly satisfied.

WPX Hosting consistently receives praise for its extremely fast and helpful customer support, often resolving issues within seconds via live chat. Users also appreciate the hosting speed, ease of use, and included features like their custom-built CDN. However, some users experienced limitations and performance issues with larger, high-traffic websites and have cited a lack of advanced features such as SSH access and more robust email security. On the whole, while the support and speed are lauded, a few users found the service lacking for more critical or large-scale requirements.

Liquid Web vs WPX Hosting: FAQ