Namecheap vs Hostinger: guide for 2024

Final verdict

Comparing Namecheap and Hostinger, Hostinger stands out with its superior performance, advanced features, and exceptional customer support.

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  Hostinger (Overall grade: 8.7)
  
  
  offers a versatile hosting experience marked by outstanding uptime and response times. With reliable performance, enhanced security features, and a commitment to constant uptime, it demonstrates a strong hosting infrastructure suited for high-traffic and ecommerce websites. The inclusion of advanced speed technologies like LiteSpeed Web Servers and a comprehensive CDN increases website speeds significantly. Users commend its user-friendly custom control panel (hPanel), seamless website migration services, and 24/7 multilingual support. These features, coupled with competitive pricing and a wide array of hosting options, make Hostinger a valuable choice for diverse hosting needs, especially for those requiring robust capabilities and high scalability.
  
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  Namecheap (Overall grade: 7.2)
  
  
  excels with its affordability, solid uptime, and reliable customer service, making it ideal for beginners, agencies, and multimedia websites. The platform ensures reliable performance with free SSL certificates, straightforward cPanel, and a range of hosting plans, including dedicated servers for high-performance needs. Despite minor challenges such as occasional downtimes and slower response times, Namecheap provides valuable features like substantial email hosting, user-friendly website builder, and extensive security measures. Its dedication to offering cost-effective solutions with considerable benefits keeps it a strong contender, particularly for small to medium businesses looking for reliable and budget-friendly hosting services.
  

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
Hostinger: Leading in uptime, response time, and customer support, Hostinger proves to be the top choice.

Hostinger guarantees an impressive 99.9% uptime, reinforced by an actual average uptime of 99.97% over the last 6 months. In specific tests, Hostinger maintained a perfect 100% uptime for ten weeks. This hosting provider also offers a strong response time, averaging between 450ms and 625ms, with a standout performance of 382ms over seven days.

Namecheap shines with a 100% uptime guarantee for shared, business, and dedicated server accounts, and 99.9% for other account types. However, recent tests show slight downtimes, with an average uptime of 99.96%. Response times for Namecheap are below the market average, and it uses extensive monitoring tools such as StatusCake and Uptime.com to ensure performance. Namecheap’s compensation policy allows for up to one month of free hosting if downtime is confirmed.

🏆 Winner: Hostinger: Exceptional customer support and reliable performance.

General performance of both Namecheap and Hostinger is strong, but Hostinger pulls ahead with its advanced speed and resource allocation. Hostinger offers high-speed CPUs and NVMe storage, enhancing website load times significantly. They also utilize LiteSpeed Web Servers and the LSCWP Cache Plugin for better performance, alongside a robust CDN available for free. Hostinger’s global data centers in Europe, Asia, North America, and South America further enhance speed and reliability. In contrast, Namecheap uses SSD storage across its plans and offers a 99.9% uptime guarantee. Namecheap’s CDN is available but not as prominently featured as Hostinger’s.

Website speed

Hostinger excels in website speed with its 4X faster performance aided by HTTP/3 and IPv6 support. Their use of LiteSpeed Web Servers, object caching, and Hostinger CDN further boosts speeds. For WordPress, Hostinger includes Smart WP Auto Updates and a WordPress Acceleration feature. Namecheap’s WordPress Hosting (EasyWP) is no slouch either, boasting fully loaded times of 0.7 seconds and a Time to First Byte of 192 milliseconds. Namecheap also provides a 3x speed boost compared to traditional hosting, with free SSL and CDN included.

Scalability

Both providers offer scalable solutions, but Hostinger presents a more elastic scaling environment with its advanced cloud hosting plans, allowing seamless transitions between tiers. Namecheap requires upgrades to higher plans as the need arises, but it offers a broad range from shared to VPS hosting. Hostinger’s cloud plans start at $9.99/month, scaling efficiently to meet growing demands with up to 300 websites and expansive NVMe storage. However, detailed pricing for dedicated servers and auto-scaling features within Namecheap’s plans are not provided.

🏆 Winner
Namecheap: Namecheap offers a more comprehensive array of security features than its competitor.
Both Namecheap and Hostinger, have notable differences in their approaches to technical and operational
security, as well as in their compliance with regulations.

Technical security measures:

Namecheap offers a wide variety of SSL certificates including Domain Validation, Organization Validation, and Extended Validation. Hostinger provides free SSL certificates, but it does not match the depth of Namecheap’s options. Both companies support multiple PHP versions up to PHP 8.X, ensuring compatibility with various applications. Hostinger’s firewalls and advanced security modules compare well with Namecheap’s features like 2FA, domain privacy, and virus scanning. However, Namecheap has additional tools such as Hotlink Protection and IP Deny Manager, offering broader security measures.

Operational security measures:

Both Namecheap and Hostinger have 24/7 monitoring and support. Namecheap provides extensive spam protection tools like Jellyfish and BoxTrapper, plus PremiumDNS and FastVPN. Hostinger employs continuous vulnerability scans and has a dedicated internal security team, although it lacks specific spam protection measures. While Hostinger stresses continuous static code analysis and consistent security configurations, Namecheap’s BoxTrapper and PGP/GPG encryption offer a practical edge in day-to-day operational security.

Compliance and certifications:

Namecheap and Hostinger both comply with GDPR regulations, granting users rights like data access, rectification, and the right to be forgotten. Hostinger is more transparent about non-compliance with PCI and HIPAA. Namecheap provides a range of features that help meet PCI compliance, although it is not explicitly stated. Hostinger is not ISO 27001 or SOC certified, indicating potential gaps in compliance for those needing stringent certifications.

🏆 Winner
Hostinger: Hostinger: A versatile hosting provider known for its robust performance and comprehensive feature set.

Both Namecheap and Hostinger offer user-friendly website builders that cater to various levels of technical expertise. Namecheap provides a drag-and-drop website builder included with all of its shared hosting plans, making it an attractive option for beginners who want to set up a basic website quickly. They also offer substantial freebies, including free SSL certificates for the first year and domain registration bonuses, which add value to their plans. On the other hand, Hostinger’s website builder is noted for its advanced features and AI integrations, which allow for more complex customization. This builder is intuitive yet provides the flexibility to adapt to more specialized website needs.

In terms of additional services and fees, Namecheap impresses with features like free website migration and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee for all hosting plans. The inclusion of 50 free PositiveSSL certificates for one year and cloud storage for Stellar Business plans set them apart as budget-friendly yet feature-rich. Hostinger, however, provides superior performance and security with their LiteSpeed servers, enhanced caching mechanisms, and daily automatic backups. These features cater well to users who prioritize speed and data safety, especially when scaling up to cloud or VPS hosting.

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 Hostinger 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:

Namecheap offers extensive email hosting services with up to 30 mailboxes on the Stellar plan and unlimited mailboxes on the Stellar Plus and Stellar Business plans. They also include tools like SpamAssassin and Jellyfish Spam Protection for enhanced email security. Hostinger provides similar capabilities but with additional integration options for services like Google Workspace, allowing users to leverage advanced collaboration tools. Both providers support essential email protocols (SMTP, POP3, IMAP), but Namecheap’s inclusion of various webmail clients (Horde, Squirrelmail, RoundCube) offers more flexibility for managing emails directly from the web interface.

🏆 Winner Hostinger: Hostinger: Offers comprehensive features and excellent value in various hosting categories.

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.

Namecheap and Hostinger both present a wide range of hosting plans that cater to various needs. Hostinger has competitive pricing across its plans, notably in cloud hosting and web hosting, offering substantial storage and bandwidth. Namecheap stands out with specific features like free migration and automatic SSL, especially in shared hosting. Their differentiated packages include managed WordPress hosting options and robust reseller hosting. In terms of value for price, Hostinger edges out with slightly more comprehensive offers, especially when factoring in the number of websites allowed and the advanced support features.

Enterprise plans

For enterprises, Hostinger’s Cloud Enterprise plan offers 300 websites, 300 GB NVMe storage, 12 GB RAM, comprehensive backups, and managed WordPress services at competitive rates. Namecheap’s solutions vary based on configuration, providing flexibility in customization, high-traffic support, and advanced backups. Hostinger’s offerings stand out for providing greater storage, RAM, and dedicated resources, making it a compelling choice for businesses seeking extensive website hosting capabilities.

🏆 Winner Hostinger: Offers user-friendly and accessible hosting solutions with built-in AI tools and a custom control panel.

Comparing the admin panels of both hosting providers, Namecheap offers a straightforward interface through its EasyWP dashboard, bypassing traditional cPanel complexities. This makes it easier for those who are not technically inclined to manage their websites effortlessly. The dashboard includes all essential tools and functionalities at one’s fingertips, providing a simplified experience for domain management, backups, and more.

Hostinger, on the other hand, employs the intuitive hPanel, a custom-built control panel designed for ease of use. It caters well to beginners and non-technical users, ensuring that tasks like setting up email addresses, installing CMS, and utilizing the website builder are effortless. hPanel’s user-friendly design allows for easy navigation and task execution, even for those unfamiliar with web hosting intricacies.

Both Namecheap and Hostinger offer free website migration services, making the transition from another hosting provider seamless. Namecheap uses the All-in-One WP Migration plugin, facilitating the migration process. Hostinger provides automated website migration with no downtime, ensuring that websites remain operational during the transition. Users do not incur any additional costs for these migration services, making them attractive options for those looking to switch hosting providers without hassle.

Namecheap and Hostinger each provide extensive help center resources. Namecheap offers 24/7 live chat, a help desk, and an extensive Knowledgebase with setup guides and troubleshooting articles. Hostinger also ensures continuous support with multilingual assistance available around the clock via live chat and email. Their help center includes a rich database of tutorials, video tutorials through Hostinger Academy, and various guides on diverse topics. Both providers ensure that users have access to quality support and resources for any issues they may encounter.

🏆 Winner Hostinger: An efficient and centralized user management system with easy client onboarding.

When comparing Namecheap and Hostinger’s capabilities in managing user roles, permissions, and accessibility, Hostinger clearly stands out. Hostinger allows users to define multiple access levels, such as managing services and making purchases, providing flexibility and control over user actions. The quick and straightforward client onboarding process, combined with centralized service management, ensures efficiency in handling numerous clients. Unfortunately, there are no user management specifics available for Namecheap, making it hard to establish a comparative evaluation of its flexibility in creating and defining roles and permissions.

Hostinger’s user interface, hPanel, simplifies user management with easy-to-navigate options and clearly defined functionalities. It offers dedicated sections for managing websites and domains, with intuitive tools to add or migrate websites, monitor performance scores, and manage domain settings. The seamless integration of these tools supports efficient oversight and management of user accounts. While comparing tools provided by Namecheap isn’t feasible due to a lack of detail, Hostinger’s interface is designed to enhance user management efficiently.

Hostinger’s access control measures are robust, ensuring that users with granted access cannot perform critical tasks like managing payment methods, inviting others, or deleting accounts. These restrictions ensure that account security is maintained while allowing for efficient service management and growth in the number of users. Namecheap’s effectiveness in access control and scalability could not be assessed due to the absence of specific information, but Hostinger’s system demonstrates efficiency in managing large client bases securely.

Hostinger user roles table:

🏆 Winner Hostinger: Offers multilingual support and an extensive range of hosting plans with a quick response time.

Namecheap and Hostinger both offer 24/7 live chat support and extensive knowledge bases loaded with articles and guides. While Namecheap provides a range of support channels, including an in-depth help center with video tutorials and Guru Guides, it lacks phone support and enterprise-level dedicated agents. This can sometimes result in users being redirected to the ticketing system by live chat agents.

Hostinger, on the other hand, enhances its support by providing multilingual assistance in over 10 languages, boasting an impressive response time of under 3 minutes. Additionally, Hostinger delivers email support for various inquiries and grants priority support options with specific plans like Cloud Professional and Cloud Enterprise. This combination of features makes Hostinger a slightly more versatile option for customer support needs.

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.

Hostinger receives high praise for its user-friendly interface, competitive pricing, and robust performance. Customers appreciate the wide range of features, including seamless website migration, the intuitive hPanel, and excellent uptime. The standout feature, consistently mentioned across reviews, is the exceptional and responsive customer support available 24/7 via live chat, although some users express a desire for phone support. On the downside, a few customers report issues with renewal pricing, occasional slow support response times, and the limitations of the lower-tier plans.

FAQ