Network Solutions vs Hetzner: guide for 2024

Final verdict

Looking over Network Solutions vs. Hetzner, both hosting providers offer distinct advantages and cater to different user needs, but Hetzner stands out slightly with better performance and flexibility.

Network Solutions (Overall grade: 7.4)

delivers a solid hosting experience with multiple hosting types, including shared and WordPress-specific packages. It guarantees a reliable uptime of 99.9% and offers extensive support features such as 24/7 technical assistance and a proprietary control panel tailored to non-technical users. Its offerings are particularly beneficial for users looking for comprehensive WordPress hosting and strong email functionalities. However, Network Solutions falls short in scalability and performance compared to its competition, primarily due to more traditional storage solutions and lack of cloud hosting.
Hetzner (Overall grade: 7.9)

excels with a broad array of hosting options that include cloud hosting, VPS, and dedicated servers, making it ideal for agencies and multimedia websites. It boasts exceptional uptime, often reaching the 100% mark, and includes advanced features like NVMe SSDs, DDoS protection, and comprehensive security measures. Hetzner’s flexibility in scaling via REST API and CLI, along with its transparent pricing and lack of minimum contract periods, make it a preferred choice for businesses with growing needs. Although Hetzner’s support may not match the instantaneous response of Network Solutions, its detailed documentation and proactive monitoring system offer a robust hosting environment for both novice users and advanced developers.

	Overall grade:7.4	*Overall grade:7.9***
Uptime and Availability	8.6	9.0
Hosting Performance	4.8	8.3
Hosting Security	7.7	8.8
Price	8.0	7.9
Hosting Features	6.5	7.5
Ease Of Setup	8.0	8.0
User Management	7.0	7.8
Customer Support	8.5	6.3
User feedback	1.9/5	4.6/5

Hosting types offered

Both platforms provide a variety of hosting types, each designed to meet the different needs of users.


Shared hosting
Cloud hosting
WordPress hosting
Ecommerce hosting
VPS hosting
Dedicated hosting

Although both offer a variety of hosting plans tailored to different needs, in certain cases, one platform may prove to be more suitable.

WordPress

Network Solutions: Offers comprehensive WordPress-specific packages, including features like multisite management and on-demand cloud backups.

Ecommerce

Tie: Both offer general hosting features, but neither platform specifically targets ecommerce hosting needs.

Agencies

Hetzner: Offers flexible and scalable VPS and cloud solutions, which can be beneficial for agencies handling multiple projects.

High-traffic websites

Tie: Both offer scalable solutions with unlimited traffic; Hetzner’s cloud servers and Network Solutions’ premium packages are suitable for high-traffic sites.

Multimedia websites

Hetzner: With robust cloud and dedicated server options, providing ample storage and high-performance metrics suitable for multimedia content.

Detailed comparison

8.6

9.0

🏆 Winner: Hetzner Online: Achieves optimal uptime with superior reliability and DDoS protection.

Network Solutions guarantees a 99.9% uptime and has shown a consistent performance of 99.917% over a month based on UptimeRobot testing. The recorded total downtime was 42 minutes with the longest period lasting 19 minutes. Network Solutions provides 24/7 technical support via different channels and uses a proprietary but functional control panel. The Unix server infrastructure boasts a higher uptime guarantee of 99.99%, showcasing overall reliable performance.

Hetzner Online, with its 99.9% uptime guarantee, frequently hits the 100% mark in testing, ensuring excellent stability. The hosting provider operates data centers in multiple locations, including Germany, Finland, and the USA, offering a vast network backed by Juniper technology for redundancy. Hetzner’s 24/7 monitoring system with SMS alerts to technicians ensures immediate response to any issues, and the inclusion of DDoS protection adds a significant layer of security.

Both providers offer reliable hosting services, but Hetzner Online edges out with its superior reliability, extensive data center locations, and proactive monitoring system. The additional advantage of DDoS protection makes it a more comprehensive choice for users seeking high availability and secure hosting solutions.

4.8

8.3

🏆 Winner Hetzner: Offering extensive features and high-performance technology.

Comparing general performance reveals that Hetzner stands out with NVMe SSDs, enhancing read and write speeds significantly. Meanwhile, Network Solutions uses more traditional storage solutions. Hetzner’s CDN includes global locations, whereas Network Solutions does not specify CDN availability. Hetzner’s multiple data centers in Germany, Finland, and the USA lead to better global performance, compared to the more limited unspecified locations for Network Solutions.

Website Speed

When it comes to website speed, Hetzner’s NVMe SSDs contribute to faster load times than Network Solutions’ storage setup. Both provide 99.9% uptime guarantees, but Hetzner’s robust hardware options like Intel® Xeon® Gold and AMD EPYC™ processors further enhance website performance. Network Solutions offers developer tools and daily malware scans which help optimize performance, but they don’t match Hetzner’s capabilities in raw speed.

Scalability

Hetzner offers both shared and dedicated vCPU options and high-performance cloud solutions, with no minimum contract periods and flexible scaling via a REST API and CLI. Network Solutions has structured plans that require manual upgrades. Hetzner’s hardware exchange services for managed servers facilitate easy scaling, whereas Network Solutions’ information does not specify an equivalent seamless scaling option.

7.7

8.8

🏆 Winner
Hetzner Online: Offers an extensive range of security features and compliance certifications.

Both Network Solutions and Hetzner Online, have notable differences in their approaches to technical and operational
security, as well as in their compliance with regulations.

Technical security measures:

Network Solutions and Hetzner Online provide robust SSL certificate options. Network Solutions offers numerous SSL types, including Extended, Wildcard, and UCC, ensuring comprehensive coverage. In contrast, Hetzner Online provides Symantec Basic and Let’s Encrypt SSL certificates for free. Both providers implement daily malware scanning. Network Solutions uses SiteLock and CodeGuard, while Hetzner relies on DDoS protection and automated defense mechanisms. Network Solutions lacks specific PHP version details, but Hetzner supports PHP5, PHP7, and PHP8, with various PHP extensions available for customization through konsoleH.

Operational security measures:

Network Solutions offers daily malware scans, CodeGuard backups, and an nsProtect Assured Website Seal for increased credibility. Hetzner Online’s operational security measures include ISO 27001 certified data centers, secure connections via FTPS/SFTP and SSH, extensive mail security protocols like DKIM and SPF, anti-spam techniques, and ClamAV virus scanner. Hetzner’s 24/7 monitoring and daily automated backups further enhance its operational security compared to Network Solutions.

Compliance and certifications:

Network Solutions emphasizes its commitment to GDPR and PCI compliance through data encryption with SSL certificates, but lacks detailed PCI and GDPR documentation in the provided information. Hetzner offers a Data Processing Agreement for GDPR compliance and adheres to strict European data protection regulations. Despite no specific mention of PCI compliance, Hetzner’s ISO 27001 certification underscores its dedication to high standards in data protection and security.


SSL certificate	Multiple options, including Extended, Wildcard, and UCC	Symantec Basic and Let’s Encrypt
Additional security features	Daily malware scans, SiteLock, CodeGuard, nsProtect Assured Website Seal	DDoS protection, ISO 27001, secure connections, mail security
PHP versions	Not specified	PHP5, PHP7, PHP8
GDPR compliance	Emphasized but not detailed	Data Processing Agreement, strict European regulations
HIPAA compliance	Not specified	Not specified
PCI compliance	Emphasized but not detailed	Not specified

6.5

7.5

🏆 Winner Hetzner: Robust hosting features for various needs with greater flexibility.

Network Solutions and Hetzner offer diverse hosting options catering to a spectrum of user needs. Network Solutions stands out for its comprehensive set of features, including domain registration, SSL certificates, and reliable uptime guarantees across different pricing packages. Moreover, their MyTime Support provides expert setup and assistance, making it user-friendly for beginners. They also offer a free domain with their annual cloud packages, which could be a significant advantage for new website owners looking to minimize upfront costs. SiteLock and CodeGuard additional features ensure robust security and reliability, further enhancing the user experience.

Hetzner, on the other hand, excels in offering extensive customization options and flexibility, particularly beneficial for more advanced users. This German-based provider supports various domains, protocols, and programming languages while also facilitating managed servers for comprehensive control. SSH access, daily backups, and high network availability ensure reliability and security. Their transparent pricing policy, which includes flexible payment methods and no minimum contract period, provides an excellent option for users looking for long-term scalability and cost transparency. Their downside may come in additional fees for services beyond the basic hosting package, such as extra disk space or dedicated IPs, which might not suit all budgets.


Free Domain	Yes, for the first year	Yes, for the first year
Free SSL	Yes, in Premium Plus	Yes, Let’s Encrypt & Symantec Basic SSL
Email Hosting	Yes	Yes
Website Builder	Yes	No
Staging Environment	No	No
FTP & SFTP Accounts	Yes	Yes
Git and SSH Access	No	Yes
Free Backup	Yes, CodeGuard	Yes
Money Back Guarantee	No	No

In some cases hosting providers offer different features based on various components like
a location.
As a result in rare cases the features mentioned here can differ from the ones you see on their websites.

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 Network Solutions and Hetzner 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 Network Solutions 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, Hetzner provides unlimited free professional email accounts, which is particularly beneficial for users requiring multiple email accounts without incurring additional costs.

8.0

7.9

Winner networksolutions: Offering flexible and comprehensive hosting plans with a range of features to cater to various user needs.

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.

Comparing the pricing plans of networksolutions and Hetzner shows distinct differences in their offerings. Networksolutions provides robust options for Web Hosting in the Cloud, starting from $5.69/mo for basic needs to $31.61/mo for extensive features, including SSL certificates and malware scanning. Their Secure & Reliable WordPress Hosting plans range from $7.99/mo to $18.98/mo, suitable for different business sizes and needs. On the other hand, Hetzner’s Web Hosting plans are more cost-effective, starting as low as €2.09/mo and offering incremental features up to €21.90/mo. Their Truly thrifty cloud hosting options range from €4.51/mo to €343.30/mo, catering to both small users and larger enterprises needing more resources. Hetzner’s managed server plans provide scalable options with varying levels of CPU and RAM, suitable for different enterprise requirements.

WordPress hosting plan

Shared hosting plan

Cloud hosting plan


WordPress for Entrepreneurs $7.99 1 WordPress site, 50 GB storage, 10 email boxes, on-demand cloud backup, domain name included. Value for price:8.5	N/A
WordPress for a Growing Business $13.98 3 WordPress sites, 100 GB storage, 25 email boxes, multisite management, SSL included, on-demand cloud backup, domain name included. Value for price:8.5	N/A
WordPress for Professionals $18.98 5 WordPress sites, 200 GB storage, 50 email boxes, multisite management, SSL included, on-demand cloud backup, domain name included. Value for price:8.0	N/A


Starter $5.69 1 website, 15 GB disk space, 5 email boxes. Value for price:7.5	Level 1 €2.09 + €9.90 setup fee 1 website, 10 GB NVMe SSD, 50 sub-domains, 192 MB memory per script, unlimited traffic, free phone and email support, 1 database included, location Germany, DDoS protection. Value for price:8.0
Essential $9.96 3 websites, 300 GB disk space, 1000 email boxes, domain name included, SiteLock malware scanning. Value for price:8.0	Level 4 €5.39 + €4.90 setup fee 3 websites, 50 GB NVMe SSD, 400 sub-domains, 256 MB memory per script, unlimited traffic, free phone and email support, 10 databases included, location Germany, DDoS protection. Value for price:8.5
Premium $25.78 10 websites, unlimited disk space, unlimited email boxes, domain name included, SiteLock Premium (malware scanning, auto malware removal). Value for price:7.5	Level 9 €10.90 + €4.90 setup fee 10 websites, 100 GB NVMe SSD, 800 sub-domains, 384 MB memory per script, unlimited traffic, free phone and email support, 20 databases included, location Germany, DDoS protection. Value for price:8.0
Premium Plus $31.61 10 websites, unlimited disk space, unlimited email boxes, domain name included, SiteLock Premium (malware scanning, auto malware removal), SSL certificate. Value for price:7.0	Level 19 €21.90 + €4.90 setup fee 10 websites, 300 GB NVMe SSD, unlimited sub-domains, 512 MB memory per script, unlimited traffic, free phone and email support, unlimited databases included, location Germany, DDoS protection. Value for price:8.0

N/A

CX11 €4.51

1 vCPU (Intel), 2 GB RAM, 20 GB disk space, 20 TB traffic, 24/7 monitoring, DDoS protection.

Value for price:8.0

N/A

CPX11 €5.18

2 vCPU (AMD), 2 GB RAM, 40 GB disk space, 20 TB traffic, 24/7 monitoring, DDoS protection.

Value for price:8.5

N/A

CX21 €6.37

2 vCPU (Intel), 4 GB RAM, 40 GB disk space, 20 TB traffic, 24/7 monitoring, DDoS protection.

Value for price:8.5

N/A

CPX21 €8.98

3 vCPU (AMD), 4 GB RAM, 80 GB disk space, 20 TB traffic, 24/7 monitoring, DDoS protection.

Value for price:8.0

N/A

CX31 €29.99

2 vCPU (Intel), 8 GB RAM, 240 GB disk space, 20 TB traffic, 24/7 monitoring, DDoS protection.

Value for price:7.5

N/A

CPX31 €16.18

4 vCPU (AMD), 8 GB RAM, 160 GB disk space, 20 TB traffic, 24/7 monitoring, DDoS protection.

Value for price:7.5

N/A

CX41 €20.71

4 vCPU (Intel), 16 GB RAM, 160 GB disk space, 20 TB traffic, 24/7 monitoring, DDoS protection.

Value for price:7.5

N/A

CPX41 €29.99

8 vCPU (AMD), 16 GB RAM, 240 GB disk space, 20 TB traffic, 24/7 monitoring, DDoS protection.

Value for price:7.5

N/A

CX51 €39.15

8 vCPU (Intel), 32 GB RAM, 240 GB disk space, 20 TB traffic, 24/7 monitoring, DDoS protection.

Value for price:7.5

N/A

CPX51 €65.33

16 vCPU (AMD), 32 GB RAM, 360 GB disk space, 20 TB traffic, 24/7 monitoring, DDoS protection.

Value for price:7.5

N/A

CAX11 €4.51

2 vCPU (Ampere), 4 GB RAM, 40 GB disk space

8.0

🏆 Winner
Hetzner: Offers intuitive server setup and detailed management features.

Network Solutions employs a custom solution tailored to non-technical users with its easy website builders and content management systems. FTP credentials are provided post-purchase, making file transfers straightforward. The admin panel is user-friendly, focusing on accessibility and ease of use, ensuring that even users without extensive technical expertise can manage their websites efficiently.

Hetzner utilizes the konsoleH administration interface, a robust tool for managing domains, email addresses, and websites. The interface is designed to be approachable for both technical and non-technical users, providing extensive options for customization and control. Creating accounts, managing domains, and handling other administrative tasks are streamlined, enhancing usability irrespective of one’s technical background.

Both Network Solutions and Hetzner offer migration tools to facilitate the transfer of websites. Network Solutions provides comprehensive migration services to ensure little to no downtime, with assistance available for transferring security products like SSL Certificates and SiteLock. Hetzner offers in-depth documentation and step-by-step guides for migrating domains, websites, and emails, ensuring users can handle migrations with detailed instructions provided in their resources.

Network Solutions help center

Hetzner help center

Network Solutions’ help center features an Online Support Center with user guides, tutorials, and 24/7 support via phone or chat. Hetzner’s help center is rich with comprehensive documentation, guides, and a community section where users can contribute tutorials for credit. Both providers offer extensive resources to assist with various technical issues.

7.0

7.8

🏆 Winner: Hetzner Online: Streamlined user management capabilities for enhanced administrative control.

When comparing the user management features of Network Solutions and Hetzner Online, Hetzner offers a more versatile approach to handling user roles and permissions. Network Solutions provides predefined roles such as Primary Contact, Admin Contact, and Technical Contact, each with specific access capabilities. In contrast, Hetzner allows for the creation of custom groups and designating administrators for these groups, offering higher flexibility in defining user roles and their permissions. Network Solutions keeps it simple but restrictive, limiting what certain roles can perform on the platform. Hetzner’s flexibility with group creation and customizable storage quotas stands out for complex user management needs.

The interface for user management in Network Solutions involves a traditional Account Manager page with straightforward options for editing and adding contacts. It’s functional but may feel limited to users needing more granular control. On the other hand, Hetzner’s user interface integrates user settings with customizable elements, such as creating groups and setting specific storage quotas. Features like a lightning icon for user activity overview and password reset options make Hetzner’s interface more intuitive and feature-rich, helping administrators manage users more efficiently.

In terms of access control measures and scalability, Hetzner offers more robust tools to manage user activities, check user logs, and set storage quotas, making it well-suited for businesses experiencing growth. Network Solutions provides basic management features, but the lack of detailed control levels may limit its effectiveness as the number of users increases. Hetzner’s inclusion of SSH access management, DNS control, and the ability to create custom login pages further bolster its capacity to handle a growing user base without compromising security or performance.

Network Solutions user roles table:

Role	Description	Access highlights
Primary Contact	Manages account and primary contact information.	Can edit the Account Holder and Payment Information; add/edit/delete other roles.
Admin Contact	Manages account payment and user roles.	Can edit Account Payment Information; add/edit/delete other user roles.
Technical Contact	Handles technical aspects without administrative access.	Cannot edit Account Holder or Payment Information; cannot add/edit/delete roles.

Hetzner user roles table:

Role	Description	Access highlights
Administrator	Oversees all user and account settings.	Can create groups, set storage quotas, manage user activity, and have full administrative control.
Group Admin	Manages user roles and permissions within a specific group.	Can add users to their group, assign quotas, and manage group-specific settings.
Standard User	General user with limited access based on group settings.	Access defined by group membership, limited to storage quotas and basic user settings.
Custom Role	User roles customized per administrative needs.	Permissions and access levels as defined by the administrator at the time of role creation.

8.5

6.3

🏆 Winner: networksolutions: Excellent customer service and flexible web hosting plans.


Phone support
Live chat support
Chatbot
Email/ticket support
Enterprise support (dedicated agent, priority support)

Networksolutions and Hetzner both offer 24/7 customer support, but their services differ in several ways. Networksolutions provides chat and phone support for general inquiries, with designated hours for account verification, renewals, and cancellations. Technical assistance is available from 7 a.m. to midnight EST, via phone or a Help Ticket for email support. They have separate contact numbers for US and international customers. However, some users have reported issues such as slow response times and communication difficulties, often attributed to outsourcing.

When comparing customer support options, networksolutions offers a wide array of support channels, providing comprehensive phone support that is available 24/7 along with specific teams for domain and customer support. They also have live chat and multiple office locations ensuring availability and responsiveness. This contrasts with Hetzner, which provides multiple email and ticketing support options but lacks live chat support and has limited phone support hours, potentially causing delays in issue resolution.

Networksolutions stands out with its award-winning contact center and guaranteed 99.9% uptime. Hetzner has extensive documentation and multilingual support but falls short due to occasional slow responses and issues with account management. Despite Hetzner’s strengths in ticketing systems and documentation, the lack of live chat and full 24/7 phone support highlights networksolutions as the superior choice for customer support.

User feedback

Network Solutions

65 reviews

1.9 out of 5 stars

Hetzner

6 reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars

User feedback on this hosting provider highlights several key strengths and weaknesses. On the positive side, many users find the interface user-friendly and appreciate the ease of navigating through the platform, particularly when managing domains and webpages. However, there are significant concerns about the provider’s customer service, which many describe as unresponsive and ineffective at solving technical issues, often resulting in prolonged waits and unmet assurances. Additionally, users criticize the high costs, frequent upselling, and lack of timely communication during server outages, which collectively detract from the overall user experience.

Users generally find the hosting provider to be cost-effective with robust performance capabilities, able to handle demanding tasks reliably. Many reviewers appreciate the competitive pricing, ease of use, and the fast, reliable infrastructure. While customer support is often praised for its availability and helpfulness, some users believe it could still see improvements. The platform’s dashboard and additional features could benefit from enhancements, but overall, users are satisfied with the value and quality of service provided.

FAQ

Which platform is better suited for hosting WordPress websites?

Network Solutions offers comprehensive WordPress-specific packages, including features like multisite management and on-demand cloud backups, making it better suited for hosting WordPress websites. Hetzner does not provide dedicated WordPress hosting, focusing instead on VPS and cloud solutions.

Are both platforms suitable for beginners?

Network Solutions is particularly tailored for non-technical users with its proprietary control panel and easy website builders, making it suitable for beginners. Hetzner, although offering extensive documentation and a robust admin interface, may be more complex for those without technical skills.

Which hosting service offers better security features?

Network Solutions and Hetzner both offer robust security features like SSL certificates and daily malware scans. However, Hetzner stands out with additional measures such as DDoS protection, ISO 27001 certified data centers, and more flexible security protocols.

Which platform offers better customer support?

Network Solutions provides extensive customer support with 24/7 availability, live chat, and multiple office locations, making it a more robust option for customer support. On the other side, Hetzner offers multiple email and ticketing support options but lacks the live chat and full 24/7 phone support found with Network Solutions.

Which hosting service offers more scalability options for growing websites?

Hetzner offers more scalable options with cloud hosting and flexible VPS solutions, including high-performance hardware and no minimum contract periods. Network Solutions has structured plans which require manual upgrades, making it less flexible compared to Hetzner.

The making of this blog

We followed a clear, step-by-step process to write and research this article.

Our Ranking Criteria