Network Solutions vs Hostpro: Final verdict
Looking over Network Solutions vs. HostPro, 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.
HostPro (Overall grade: 6.9)
excels in providing advanced hosting features, especially for developers and agencies needing high-performance NVMe SSD storage and versatile programming language support. Notable for its fast page load speeds and scalability, HostPro’s pricing plans and real-time monitoring offer a great deal for performance-focused users. However, it lacks phone and live chat support and does not include free domain and SSL certificates, which can be a drawback for some. Overall, HostPro is ideal for those requiring top-notch performance and technical flexibility.
Network Solutions (Overall grade: 7.4)
delivers a comprehensive hosting service with multiple user management options, excellent uptime, and structured hosting packages catering especially well to high-traffic sites and general business users. Its robust email services, detailed security measures, and priority on SSL certificates offer added value. The downside includes a less flexible payment schedule and sometimes confusing backend UI. Nevertheless, Network Solutionsis solid for those prioritizing reliability and extensive support options.
 Overall grade:7.4 |
 Overall grade:6.9 |
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| Uptime and Availability | 8.6 | 6.8 |
| Hosting Performance | 4.8 | 8.5 |
| Hosting Security | 7.7 | 9.0 |
| Price | 8.0 | 8.8 |
| Hosting Features | 6.5 | 5.5 |
| Ease Of Setup | 8.0 | 8.8 |
| User Management | 7.0 | 0.0 |
| Customer Support | 8.5 | 7.9 |
| User feedback | 1.9/5 | 5/5 |
Hosting types offered
Both platforms provide a variety of hosting types, each designed to meet the different needs of users.
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| 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.
Detailed comparison
Uptime and availability
Evaluates the average uptime statistics, uptime guarantee and overall availability of the hosting
provider
Score Components:
- Uptime percentage (30%): evaluates the uptime statistics in given period of time
- Uptime guarantee (20%): Assesses if the platform offers an uptime guarantee and
whether the actual uptime matches the promised guarantee. - General performance (25%): Evaluates how fast is the average response time and overall
it’s stability. - Responsiveness (10%): Adaptability to different devices and screen sizes.
- Availability (25%): Reflects the total downtime and number of outages.
8.6
6.8
🏆 Winner Network Solutions: Reliable hosting with excellent uptime performance and superior support.
Network Solutions guarantees a 99.9% uptime but performs slightly better with a recorded uptime of 99.917%. The longest downtime was 19 minutes, adding up to a total of 42 minutes for the month. Speed tests rated Network Solutions at B (85%) on GTmetrix, showing good overall performance. The 24/7 technical support is reliable and accessible via phone, chat, and email.
HostPro claims the same 99.9% uptime but only achieved 99.43% in recent tests. Downtime included two significant outages, one lasting over three hours. Their GTmetrix score was D (58%), with loading times between 2.3 and 2.9 seconds. HostPro uses fast NVMe SSDs and supports platforms like DigitalOcean and Vultr. They offer data centers in multiple locations and provide 24/7 support along with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Which one has better hosting performance?
Score Components:
- Hosting speed (30%): This includes SSD quality, Load times, PageSpeed score ranges,
additional information on website speed, built-in plugins for performance enhancement, available caching
methods, and CPU/RAM options - CDN (20%): Considers whether CDN is available or not, whether it’s free or paid, and
the quality of the CDN service - Available data centers (30%): Evaluates the number of data centers and their locations
globally. - Scalibility (20%): Looks at whether elastic scaling is available, the process required
to scale (manual upgrade vs. automatic scaling), the presence of dedicated servers, and the costs
associated with scaling.
4.8
8.5
🏆 Winner HostPro: Offers superior hosting performance and advanced features.
When comparing general performance between Network Solutions and HostPro, it becomes clear that HostPro leads with its advanced NVMe SSD-based hosting and high-performing Intel Xeon processors. Network Solutions provides reliable SSD storage but doesn’t match the exceptional speed of NVMe drives, which are 10x faster than traditional SSDs. HostPro’s LiteSpeed Web Server and LiteSpeed Cache plugin further enhance website performance, whereas Network Solutions includes malware scanning and backup solutions but lacks these performance-boosting plugins. HostPro also supports unlimited bandwidth and a wider range of server locations, including the Netherlands and USA, with the added advantage of Cloudflare integration.
Website Speed
HostPro offers unparalleled website speed thanks to its NVMe drives, which ensure lightning-fast page loads and handling of heavy workloads seamlessly. Additionally, the LiteSpeed Web Server combined with LiteSpeed Cache plugin provides built-in PageSpeed optimization tools. Network Solutions guarantees 99.9% uptime and includes CodeGuard for automatic backups, but its website speed doesn’t match the 5x faster load times of HostPro’s NVMe hosting.
Scalability
Scalability is more seamless with HostPro, which offers a wide range of contract terms and flexible plans that can be upgraded easily. HostPro offers VPS and cloud hosting with NVMe drives, making it suitable for both small and large-scale projects. Network Solutions has clear tiered plans but requires manual upgrades to scale, and it’s not specified if they offer dedicated servers. The cost of scaling with HostPro is clearer with fixed prices for additional disk space and dedicated IPs, making it easier to predict and manage expenses.
Which one has better security features?
and regulatory requirements
Score Components:
- Technical security measures (40%): This includes encryption, firewalls, DDoS
protection, secure configurations, server monitoring, access control and availability of security addons
(e.g Sitelock security). - Operational security measures (30%): Encompasses data privacy, backups and data
redundancy. - Compliance and certifications (20%): Adherence to legal and regulatory requirements
(e.g., GDPR, HIPAA) and possession of certifications (e.g., ISO 27001, SOC 2). - Business and reliability (10%): Factors in the provider’s reputation, uptime
guarantees, and customer support.
7.7
9.0
🏆 Winner: HostPro: Offers extensive support for various PHP versions and a rich suite of additional security features.
Technical security measures:
Network Solutions provides a thorough range of SSL certificates, from basic to advanced, ensuring robust encryption and validation. HostPro, on the other hand, includes free SSL certificates with all its packages, along with automatic renewal services. HostPro supports a wider array of PHP versions (4.4 to 8.0), allowing for greater flexibility. Network Solutions has a strong focus on SSL details, but does not specify the PHP versions it supports, possibly limiting technical flexibility.
Operational security measures:
Network Solutions implements daily malware scans, SiteLock, and CodeGuard for backup solutions. They also offer click-time anti-phishing and Lazy Expunge for email recoveries. HostPro excels in operational security with Imunify AV+ for malware protection, end-to-end DDoS protection, and custom firewalls. It also includes daily backups stored for 30 days, and anti-virus and anti-spam protection, ensuring a more comprehensive operational security plan.
Compliance and certifications:
Network Solutions emphasizes SSL Certificates’ role in meeting GDPR and PCI compliance, although detailed information on their GDPR/PCI specific solutions isn’t specified. HostPro provides explicit GDPR compliance, allowing users to manage their personal data. It also includes PCI compliance as part of its security measures. Network Solutions offers strong security measures, but the explicit compliance support provided by HostPro gives it an edge.
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| SSL certificate | Various paid options | Free with all packages |
| Additional security features | Malware scans, SiteLock, CodeGuard | Imunify AV+, custom firewalls, daily backups |
| PHP versions | No | 4.4, 5.1-5.6, 7.0-8.0 |
| GDPR compliance | SSL emphasis | Yes |
| HIPAA compliance | No | No |
| PCI compliance | SSL emphasis | Yes |
Hosting features
Score Components:
- Domains (20%): Assesses the availability of a free domain, domain purchase options, and
pricing - Email (15%): Considers if the provider offers full email hosting, or is reselling
third-party service, and if the email is only transactional or not - Website builder (15%): Checks if website builder is available, and it’s user
friendliness and overall the level of customization allowed. - Staging environment (20%): Determines if a staging environment is available, allowing
for testing changes before going live. - FTP & SFTP accounts (10%): Evaluates if and how easily users can access FTP and
SFTP accounts - Git and SSH access (20%): Assess whether Git is integrated into the hosting service and
if SSH access is provided
6.5
5.5
🏆 Winner Network Solutions: A robust hosting provider with a diverse range of affordable hosting plans.
Network Solutions and HostPro both offer unique features catering to different needs. Network Solutions stands out with its structured and detailed hosting packages, ranging from a budget-friendly Starter plan to the highly comprehensive Premium Plus plan. A highlight of Network Solutions is its integrated features such as free domain registration on selected plans, free SSL certificates, and SiteLock for malware protection. The provider also includes developer tools and CodeGuard for automatic backups, ensuring robust website security and management. SiteLock and SSL encryption, as well as unlimited email accounts and daily backups, add significant value, particularly for users requiring extensive security and email management. However, Network Solutions requires upfront annual payments and auto-renews, which might not appeal to users seeking flexible payment schedules.
On the other hand, HostPro focuses on performance enhancements with NVMe SSD-Based hosting, unlimited bandwidth, and advanced database and caching solutions like MariaDB, PostgreSQL, Varnish, Memcached, and Redis. The inclusion of a cPanel control panel and support for multiple programming languages like Perl, Python, Ruby, and NodeJS ensures versatile management suitable for developers. Notable features include unlimited subdomains, email accounts management, daily data backups, and SSH access upon request. HostPro excels in offering real-time monitoring and staging environments, providing a flexible and developer-friendly experience. Despite these advantages, HostPro doesn’t include a free domain or SSL certificate in its packages, which could be a deciding factor for users prioritizing these benefits.
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| Free domain | Yes, for the first year | No |
| Free SSL | Yes, Premium Plus | No |
| Email hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Website builder | No | Yes, via cPanel |
| Staging environment | No | Yes |
| FTP & SFTP accounts | Yes | Yes |
| Git and SSH access | Yes | Yes, SSH upon request |
| Free backup | Yes, CodeGuard | Yes |
| Money back guarantee | No | No |
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 HostPro 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:
Network Solutions offers a variety of email options, with the Starter plan providing five email boxes and higher plans offering up to unlimited email accounts. This makes it suitable for businesses of all sizes with varying email requirements. HostPro also provides unlimited email accounts, along with a secure webmail interface and advanced email management tools like mail lists, forwarders, and autoresponders. Both providers enable IMAP, POP3, and SMTP services, but only Network Solutions includes integration of transactional email capabilities connected with its email hosting services.
Price
Score Components:
- Plan value (40%): What each pricing tier offers.
- Transparency and clarity (30%): Clearness of pricing structures.
- Flexibility of plans (20%): Range of options to suit different budgets.
- Hidden costs (10%): Additional expenses not included in the plan.
8.0
8.8
🏆 Winner HostPro: Offers a broader range of hosting plans and better overall value for various 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.
Both Network Solutions and HostPro provide a variety of WordPress and shared hosting plans to cater to different customer needs. Network Solutions offers tiered pricing with additional features like SiteLock and SSL certificates starting from their Essential and Premium plans. On the other hand, HostPro offers a broader range of plans at lower starting prices, with significant flexibility in terms of contract duration, which could appeal to those looking for short-term commitments. HostPro’s Managed Web Hosting and WordPress Hosting plans are particularly diverse, offering varying degrees of RAM, SSD storage, and site management capabilities that can cater to both individual and business requirements.
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WordPress for Entrepreneurs$7.99
1 WordPress site, 50 GB storage, 10 email boxes, domain name, on-demand cloud backup. Value for price:8.0
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Start Plan$4.95
5 sites, 20 GB NVMe SSD, cPanel. Value for price:8.5
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WordPress for a Growing Business$13.98
3 WordPress sites, 100 GB storage, 25 email boxes, domain name, on-demand cloud backup, SSL. Value for price:8.3
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Pro Plan$6.95
15 sites, 30 GB NVMe SSD, cPanel. Value for price:8.8
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WordPress for Professionals$18.98
5 WordPress sites, 200 GB storage, 50 email boxes, domain name, on-demand cloud backup, SSL. Value for price:8.5
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Business Plan$7.95
30 sites, 60 GB NVMe SSD, cPanel. Value for price:9.0
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Starter$5.69
1 website, 15 GB disk space, 5 email boxes. Value for price:7.8
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Simple Plan$3.95
2 sites, 10 GB NVMe SSD, 512 MB RAM, DirectAdmin/cPanel. Value for price:8.0
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Essential$9.96
3 websites, 300 GB disk space, 1000 email boxes, domain name, SiteLock. Value for price:8.3
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Strong Plan$6.95
15 sites, 20 GB NVMe SSD, 1024 MB RAM, DirectAdmin/cPanel. Value for price:8.5
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Premium$25.78
10 websites, unlimited disk space, unlimited email boxes, domain name, SiteLock Premium, auto malware removal. Value for price:8.2
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Powerful Plan$7.95
25 sites, 30 GB NVMe SSD, 1536 MB RAM, DirectAdmin/cPanel. Value for price:8.7
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Premium Plus$31.61
10 websites, unlimited disk space, unlimited email boxes, domain name, SiteLock Premium, auto malware removal, SSL certificate. Value for price:8.4
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N/A
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Starter$5.69
1 website, 15 GB disk space, 5 email boxes. Value for price:7.8
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1 GB Plan$10.00
1 GB RAM, 1 CPU, 25 GB NVMe SSD, 1 TB bandwidth. Value for price:8.0
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Essential$9.96
3 websites, 300 GB disk space, 1000 email boxes, domain name, SiteLock. Value for price:8.3
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2 GB Plan$20.00
2 GB RAM, 1 CPU, 50 GB NVMe SSD, 2 TB bandwidth. Value for price:8.7
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Premium$25.78
10 websites, unlimited disk space, unlimited email boxes, domain name, SiteLock Premium, auto malware removal. Value for price:8.2
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4 GB Plan$40.00
4 GB RAM, 2 CPU, 80 GB NVMe SSD, 4 TB bandwidth. Value for price:8.5
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Premium$25.78
10 websites, unlimited disk space, unlimited email boxes, domain name, SiteLock Premium, auto malware removal. Value for price:8.2
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8 GB Plan$70.00
8 GB RAM, 4 CPU, 160 GB NVMe SSD, 5 TB bandwidth. Value for price:8.5
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Premium Plus$31.61
10 websites, unlimited disk space, unlimited email boxes, domain name, SiteLock Premium, auto malware removal, SSL certificate. Value for price:8.4
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16 GB Plan$125.00
16 GB RAM, 6 CPU, 320 GB storage, 6 TB bandwidth. Value for price:8.4
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32 GB Plan$220.00
32 GB RAM, 8 CPU, 640 GB storage, 7 TB bandwidth. Value for price:8.3
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64 GB Plan$395.00
64 GB RAM, 16 CPU, 1280 GB storage, 9 TB bandwidth. Value for price:8.2
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Enterprise plans
Network Solutions offers robust solutions through its Premium Plus plan, providing unlimited disk space, email boxes, and a suite of security features at $31.61 per month. HostPro, with its NVMe VPS-8 plan, delivers higher capability for enterprises needing substantial resources, including 48 GB RAM and 24 CPUs, priced at $144.00 per month. With HostPro’s broader array of VPS hosting options, it provides more scalable and powerful solutions for larger enterprises.
Network Solutions vs Hostpro: Ease of setup
platform.
Score Components:
- Site migration (25%): Assesses whether the provider offers tools for site migration,
either automated or manual, and whether these services are free or require a fee. - Admin panel usability (35%): Evaluates the type of admin panel provided, such as the
standard cPanel or a custom solution, focusing on its accessibility and user-friendliness for both
technical and non-technical users. - Setup features (20%): Examines the availability and ease of use of various setup
features, including FTP accounts, file managers, email account setup, PHPMyAdmin, and easy CDN
configuration. - Help center quality (20%): Measures the quality and accessibility of the provider’s
help center resources, including articles and tutorials.
8.0
8.8
🏆 Winner
HostPro: A user-friendly hosting platform with a seamless setup process and detailed support resources.
Network Solutions uses a customized admin panel with features tailored to various user needs. It offers easy website builders and an Online Support Center to help users manage their domains, emails, and overall website functionalities effortlessly. Technical support is accessible via product support, either by phone or chat, 24/7. On the other hand, HostPro employs the cPanel with an intuitive graphical interface that aids in managing databases, email accounts, and domains easily. The Softaculous one-click installer simplifies installing popular web applications without requiring coding skills, making it suitable for both technical and non-technical users.
Network Solutions offers migration services to assist in transferring web hosting with minimal downtime. This service includes assistance with moving website security products such as SSL certificates. HostPro, meanwhile, provides free manual site migrations, ensuring a hassle-free transfer process. This allows users to switch to HostPro without incurring additional costs, which can be a significant advantage for budget-conscious users.
Network Solutions has a comprehensive Online Support Center that addresses a variety of topics, including domain setup, and website optimization. Additionally, their knowledgeable support team is available 24/7 by phone or chat to resolve technical issues and offer remote assistance if needed. HostPro also provides accessible support options through a well-organized knowledge base, which includes articles about cPanel, security, and various technical issues. Users can submit support tickets and access a range of tutorials.
The platforms provide extensive knowledge bases filled with guides, how-to articles, and instructional content. Network Solutions offers a wide range of resources alongside 24/7 chat and phone support. HostPro 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.
User management
accessibility.
Score Components:
- Role customization (40%): Flexibility in creating and defining user roles and
permissions. - Ease of management (30%): User interface and tools for managing users.
- Access control (20%): Effectiveness of access control measures for different user
levels. - Scalability (10%): Ability to manage a growing number of users efficiently.
7.0
0
🏆 Winner Network Solutions: A hosting provider with detailed user management features and multiple user roles.
Network Solutions offers comprehensive user management capabilities, allowing administrators to define and manage user roles with precision. It supports three roles—Primary Contact, Admin Contact, and Technical Contact—each with distinct permissions. By contrast, the user management features of HostPro are not specified, making a direct comparison impossible. The detailed control over user roles in Network Solutions enhances its flexibility, whereas the lack of information on HostPro suggests limited or undefined user management.
Managing users on Network Solutions is straightforward through its Account Manager interface. Users can log in and navigate to the “Accounts & Users” section to add, edit, and delete contacts with ease. Functions such as editing account holder information are streamlined through clear steps, ensuring administrators can efficiently manage user data. Without details on HostPro’s interface, it’s challenging to evaluate its user management tools, but Network Solutions shows a clear, accessible method for handling accounts.
Regarding access control and scalability, Network Solutions appears capable of managing increasing users efficiently. Its clearly defined roles and permissions ensure that as organizations grow, user responsibilities remain clear and manageable. The ability of Primary and Admin Contacts to modify and control user roles supports scalability. HostPro’s capabilities in this area remain uncertain due to the lack of provided specifics, though clarity on Network Solutions’ part suggests a stable and structured approach to user management.
Network Solutions user roles table:
| Role | Description | Access highlights |
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| Primary Contact | Oversees account management and user role assignment. | Can edit account holder information, payment details, and manage all user roles. |
| Admin Contact | Manages user roles and payment details. | Can add, edit, or delete user roles and payment information. |
| Technical Contact | Handles technical support without access to sensitive information. | Cannot edit account holder or payment details and cannot manage user roles. |
Customer support
hosting provider.
Score Components:
- Support communication channels (30%): Measures the variety of customer support types
provided (live chat, chatbot, email, phone, etc.) - Availability (20%): Assesses the availability hours for each channel, including 24/7
support options. - Technical support quality (30%): Assesses whether the provider offers comprehensive
technical support, including hardware upgrades (e.g., HDD to SSD), software installations, and web
server configuration changes. - Enterprise support (20%): Checks if there are dedicated or priority support services
for enterprise-level customers.
8.5
7.9
🏆 Winner
Network Solutions: A veteran provider with 25 years of expertise offers flexible web hosting plans trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
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Phone support |
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Live chat support |
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Chatbot |
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Email/ticket support |
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Enterprise support (dedicated agent, priority support) |
Network Solutions provides comprehensive customer service with multiple phone support lines, live chat, and email support. They offer extensive operational hours and have received accolades for their contact center. Network Solutions provides a wide array of support contacts, ensuring customers have access to help when they need it.
hostpro focuses on streamlined email and text support available 24/7. They offer robust technical support services, including system administration and security services. With free manual site migrations and daily backups, hostpro caters well to technical needs but lacks phone and live chat support options that some users may prefer for immediate assistance.
Network Solutions vs Hostpro: User feedback
Network Solutions offers a decent technical solution with a user-friendly interface and competitive pricing for basic domain registration and hosting needs. However, their customer service is frequently criticized for being unresponsive and unhelpful, with customers reporting long wait times and cookie-cutter responses that fail to resolve issues effectively. Many users find the backend UI confusing and the persistent upselling tactics off-putting. Additionally, the lack of timely notifications regarding server crashes and high, fluctuating costs further detract from the overall user experience.
Users highly recommend HostPro for its excellent balance between performance and price, particularly praising its robust web hosting plans. The VPS service is highlighted for its impressive speed, thanks to blazing-fast SSD and NVMe storage, and powerful processors. The consistently responsive and customer-focused support team receives considerable commendation for their ability to resolve issues promptly. Overall, HostPro stands out for offering a combination of high-quality hardware, scalability, and exceptional customer service.
Network Solutions vs Hostpro: FAQ
Which platform is better suited for hosting WordPress websites?
Both Network Solutions and HostPro are equally well-suited for hosting WordPress websites, providing essential features such as backups and SSL certificates. Each platform offers comprehensive WordPress hosting packages designed to meet various user needs.
Which hosting service offers better security features?
Network Solutions provides robust security features including SSL certificates, SiteLock, and CodeGuard for backups. HostPro excels with Imunify AV+, custom firewalls, and comprehensive DDoS protection, although it lacks free SSL certificates in its packages. Both platforms offer strong security, but HostPro provides more advanced security measures.
Which platform offers better customer support?
Network Solutions offers comprehensive customer support via phone, live chat, and email, making it very accessible. HostPro, on the other hand, provides 24/7 support through email and text but lacks phone and live chat options. Hence, Network Solutions stands out in terms of customer support offerings.
Which hosting service offers more scalability options for growing websites?
HostPro offers seamless scalability with flexible contract terms and various VPS and cloud hosting plans, making it ideal for both small and large-scale projects. Network Solutions provides tiered plans but requires manual upgrades to scale and lacks dedicated servers, making HostPro the better choice for scalability.
How do the providers handle email hosting and what features are included?
Network Solutions offers a variety of email options, from five email boxes in the Starter plan to unlimited accounts in higher plans, along with IMAP, POP3, and SMTP services. HostPro also provides unlimited email accounts, along with a secure webmail interface and advanced email management tools, though both providers enable comprehensive email hosting capabilities.
The making of this blog
We followed a clear, step-by-step process to write and research this article.
