Namecheap vs Green Geeks: guide for 2024

Final verdict

Looking over Namecheap 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 a strong blend of speed, reliability, and robust performance. Known for its eco-conscious approach, GreenGeeks matches 300% of its energy usage with renewable energy credits, which is a big plus for environmentally aware users. The hosting platform provides impressive speed utilizing LiteSpeed WebServer, LS Cache Plugin, and SSDs, ensuring superior load times. Additionally, it boasts excellent uptime guarantees, reliable customer support including phone support, and features tailored for resellers and agencies. The integration of Immunify360 for security, daily backups, and free SSL certificates across all plans bolster its reputation as a secure and reliable hosting provider. However, the pricing can be steeper compared to adversaries, especially after the initial promotional period.
• 
  Namecheap
  (Overall grade: 7.2)
  
  shines with affordability, extensive features, and flexibility in its hosting plans. It provides various types of hosting, including shared, WordPress, VPS, and dedicated hosting, making it suitable for a wide range of users, from beginners to enterprises. The inclusion of a website builder, free domain for the first year, and free PositiveSSL certificates are added value that makes Namecheap appealing. Their service promises decent speed and uptime, though not as consistently high as GreenGeeks. The customer support is accessible and friendly, although the absence of phone support and the occasional slow response may affect some users. Despite certain limitations in scalability and speed performance under heavy load, Namecheap remains a favored choice for budget-conscious users looking for feature-rich hosting 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
GreenGeeks: Known for reliable performance and consistency with perfect uptime in multiple tests.

GreenGeeks offers a ‘99.9% uptime guarantee,’ and in practice, their performance often exceeds this claim. Uptime.com reported a perfect 100% uptime over a 14-day test period, demonstrating its reliability. The server response times are impressively consistent, varying only slightly across thousands of tests. Users can expect swift and dependable service from GreenGeeks.

Namecheap provides a strong uptime guarantee as well, with a 100% promise for certain accounts. However, its actual recorded uptime averaged 99.96%, and response times were slower than GreenGeeks. While Namecheap compensates users with up to a month of free hosting if downtime occurs, their slightly inconsistent performance does put them behind GreenGeeks in terms of reliability.

🏆 Winner GreenGeeks: Eco-friendly hosting with strong performance and excellent features.

When comparing the general performance of Namecheap and GreenGeeks, several key factors come into play. Namecheap provides varied and flexible plans with unmetered bandwidth and SSD storage. They have multiple data centers across the US, UK, and EU, with their EU datacenter being powered by renewable energy. Their hosting speed benefits from SSD quality and built-in caching, enhancing overall website performance. GreenGeeks, on the other hand, boasts blazing fast speeds utilizing LiteSpeed WebServer, LS Cache Plugin, and SSDs, promising superior performance. They also offer free CDN, unlimited web space with the Pro and Premium plans, and multiple global data centers across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.

Website Speed

In terms of website speed, both Namecheap and GreenGeeks deliver impressive results but in slightly different ways. Namecheap’s WordPress hosting (EasyWP) boasts a fully loaded time of 0.7 seconds and includes free CDN and SSL. Their shared hosting and VPS plans also offer respectable performance with unmetered bandwidth. GreenGeeks provides exceptional speed through the LiteSpeed WebServer and advanced caching mechanisms like LS Cache Plugin. Their utilization of SSDs and the latest PHP version further boosts website load times.

Scalability

When it comes to scalability, Namecheap offers a variety of plans from shared hosting to VPS and reseller hosting, with the ability to upgrade as needs grow. However, the process requires manual plan upgrades. GreenGeeks offers a more elastic approach with their higher-tier plans supporting unlimited websites and unmetered resources. They don’t explicitly mention dedicated servers or automatic scaling, leaving some ambiguity in their scaling capabilities. Pricing for upgrading most likely involves moving to higher-tier plans, but specific details are not provided.

🏆 Winner
GreenGeeks: Offers robust security features and eco-friendly hosting.

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

Technical security measures:

Namecheap provides a wide range of SSL certificate options, from Domain Validation to Extended Validation, catering to different security needs. GreenGeeks includes Wildcard SSL certificates and free SSL certificates across all WooCommerce hosting plans, facilitating HTTPS compatibility. Both hosts offer support for multiple PHP versions; Namecheap supports PHP versions from 5.X to 8.X, while GreenGeeks offers versions 8.2, 8.0, 7.4, and 5.6. GreenGeeks also utilizes Immunify360 for malware and threat detection, adding an extra layer of security.

Operational security measures:

Namecheap includes several specific security tools like Two-Factor Authentication, Jellyfish Spam Protection, BoxTrapper, SPF, and Domain Keys for email authentication. They also offer ClamAV™ Virus Scanner and IP Deny Manager to mitigate various threats. GreenGeeks focuses on proactive measures, offering 24/7 network security with AI-powered WAF and DDoS protection. They provide daily backups, free malware cleanups, and custom security rules tailored for WooCommerce. Additionally, GreenGeeks offers SSH & Secure FTP access, along with free CDN integration.

Compliance and certifications:

Namecheap offers extensive GDPR rights to users, such as data access, rectification, and deletion. GDPR compliance specifics are not explicitly mentioned for GreenGeeks but are likely adhered to given their emphasis on security. Neither Namecheap nor GreenGeeks provide detailed PCI or HIPAA compliance guidelines. GreenGeeks focuses more on environmental sustainability with its 300% Green Energy Match.

🏆 Winner
Namecheap: Competitive, feature-rich hosting plans with extensive resources for various users.

Both Namecheap and GreenGeeks provide a robust set of features that cater to different user needs. Namecheap offers a built-in website builder across all shared hosting plans, making it user-friendly for beginners to create and customize their websites easily. This can be particularly appealing for those who need a straightforward way to establish an online presence. GreenGeeks, while not offering a specified website builder, stands out with its commitment to environmental sustainability, offering a 300% Green Energy match and planting a tree for every hosting account provisioned. Namecheap’s free one-year PositiveSSL certificates and free domain for the first year on most plans add extra value, while GreenGeeks’ free domain name and free SSL certificate for the first year provide comparable benefits.

When it comes to additional features, Namecheap includes a broad range of services like 50 free PositiveSSL certificates for one year and CodeGuard Backup, tailored for users who prioritize security and data protection. GreenGeeks shines with its built-in caching, multi-user access, and tools like Git and WP-CLI for advanced development. Both providers offer free CDN and automated backups, but GreenGeeks ups the ante with on-demand backups and a WordPress repair tool on higher-tier plans. These detailed considerations help users choose based on their specific needs such as environmental impact, ease of use, and technical 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 Namecheap 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 Namecheap offer robust email hosting with features such as unlimited email forwarders, autoresponders, and personalized domain-based email. Their Jellyfish Spam Protection enhances security against unwanted emails. GreenGeeks allows for unlimited email accounts and standard email hosting capabilities. Both support transactional email functionalities, but neither prominently resells third-party email services like Google Workspace or Zoho.

🏆 Winner Namecheap: Affordable and feature-rich hosting solutions.

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. Although some providers offer identical plans for WordPress and shared hosting, separate tables have been created for each to enhance clarity.

Namecheap offers a broader range of hosting plans compared to GreenGeeks, including shared hosting, managed WordPress hosting, and dedicated servers. Namecheap’s shared hosting plans start at a lower price and include additional features like free website migration and Supersonic CDN. GreenGeeks focuses on eco-friendly options with their hosting and offers free nightly backups and a pledge to plant a tree for each hosting plan sold. Both providers offer free domain names for the first year and 30-day money-back guarantees, but Namecheap’s pricing provides a slight edge in affordability and features included.

Enterprise plans

Namecheap’s advanced dedicated hosting plans are highly customizable to cater to various enterprise needs, ranging from high-traffic websites to infrastructure virtualization, and come with free SSL and extensive backup options. In contrast, GreenGeeks excels with its eco-friendly approach, offering unmatched green energy matches. However, Namecheap’s advanced features and flexibility make it the more suitable choice for most enterprise applications with its higher affordability and extensive support options.

🏆 Winner GreenGeeks: GreenGeeks offers an eco-friendly hosting solution with comprehensive features and excellent support.

Namecheap employs a customized EasyWP dashboard for its WordPress hosting solutions, streamlining site management for users without technical expertise. For users preferring cPanel, Namecheap provides instant setup and a simplified control panel. The EasyWP dashboard offers a clean, intuitive interface emphasizing ease of use, making it accessible for newcomers and experienced users alike.

In contrast, GreenGeeks utilizes the standard cPanel interface, familiar to many, and offers a straightforward onboarding process. Setting up WordPress through GreenGeeks requires minimal interaction, making it beginner-friendly. With an accessible cPanel interface, users have the advantage of various integrated tools that ease website administration, accommodating users with diverse technical backgrounds.

Both Namecheap and GreenGeeks provide free website migration services, facilitating smooth transitions. Namecheap uses the All-in-One WP Migration plugin, which allows seamless site migration from several hosts. GreenGeeks caters specifically to WordPress users, offering free and hassle-free migration services to new customers. For both, migration processes are free and don’t require complex technical knowledge.

Namecheap provides extensive resources through a well-organized Knowledgebase and 24/7 help desk support. Their support ticket system ensures secure communication, while 24/7 live chat allows immediate assistance. GreenGeeks matches with equal quality via hundreds of WordPress tutorials and dedicated articles. Both hosts make their resources accessible and valuable for every level of user.

The platforms provide extensive knowledge bases filled with guides, how-to articles, and instructional content. Namecheap offers a wide range of resources alongside 24/7 chat and phone support. GreenGeeks also boasts a detailed help center with an intuitive search function and around-the-clock support via live chat, phone, and ticketing, ensuring comprehensive user support.

🏆 Winner
GreenGeeks: An efficient user management system with multiple roles and seamless account access.

When comparing the user management capabilities of Namecheap and GreenGeeks, GreenGeeks clearly stands out. GreenGeeks allows users to create detailed user roles like Collaborator and Client, granting specific permissions based on the role. Users can invite others seamlessly by deciding the level of access and the specific services they can use, which adds a layer of flexibility. Namecheap, unfortunately, does not provide comparable options as details about their user management system are unavailable. This limitation can make user role management less versatile compared to GreenGeeks.

In terms of user interfaces and tools for managing users, GreenGeeks offers a highly navigable Account Manager. Users can access their profile settings, view current authorized users, and seamlessly invite or remove users. The interface is streamlined, allowing for straightforward management tasks through clearly marked options and drop-downs. The lack of information on Namecheap’s interface design makes it difficult to evaluate its user-friendliness, leaving GreenGeeks as the more user-guided option in this aspect.

Access control and scalability measures are where GreenGeeks further excels. They allow multiple users to access various parts of their hosting account, including technical aspects like cPanel. The ability to manage a growing number of users by assigning them specific roles and permissions ensures efficient administration as the user base expands. Without comparable information on Namecheap, it is challenging to affirm their ability to handle user-based scalability efficiently, positioning GreenGeeks ahead in this capability.

GreenGeeks user roles table:

🏆 Winner GreenGeeks: Provides multi-channel 24/7 customer support with strong resolution times and extensive migration services.

Namecheap offers a variety of support channels including 24/7 live chat and a comprehensive knowledge base. Their customer service is often praised for being friendly and professional, with resources like how-to videos and detailed articles to aid users. They also provide migration support with guarantees for minimal downtime during the transfer.

GreenGeeks stands out with its 24/7 multi-channel support, including phone support, which is not available with Namecheap. They are known for quick resolution times and offer extensive migration services, including free cPanel and WordPress migrations. Their highly-rated customer care team and detailed knowledge base make them a strong option for users needing frequent assistance.

User feedback

Namecheap is widely appreciated for its affordability, reliability, and high-quality customer support. Users commend the availability of free SSL certificates, user-friendly cPanel, and outstanding hosting speed. However, shared hosting speed and the occasional slow response from support are noted concerns. Despite these minor drawbacks, Namecheap remains a popular choice for beginners and small to medium businesses due to its competitive pricing and satisfactory service quality.

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