Network Solutions vs Web Hosting Pad: guide for 2024

Network Solutions vs Web Hosting Pad: Final verdict


Looking over Network Solutions vs. WebHostingPad, 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.


  • Network Solutions (Overall grade: 7.4)

    offers reliable web hosting with a strong focus on security and comprehensive support. Its standout features include an excellent 99.9% uptime guarantee, detailed user role management, and diverse SSL certificate options. Despite its robust performance and wide range of features, some users have reported challenges with its customer service responsiveness and occasional backend confusion. Network Solutions is ideal for larger operations needing detailed technical support and security features.

  • WebHostingPad (Overall grade: 6.1)

    appeals primarily to budget-conscious users and those looking for simplicity and fast setup. It excels with user-friendly tools, cost-effective plans, and easy accessibility for beginners. Offering unlimited hosting space and a variety of free features like a domain and SSL certificates, it caters well to small businesses and individuals. However, it falls short in areas like occasional downtime and limited advanced features for larger enterprises or more demanding websites.

Overall grade:7.4

Overall grade:6.1

Uptime and Availability 8.6 8.0
Hosting Performance 4.8 5.0
Hosting Security 7.7 8.0
Price 8.0 8.0
Hosting Features 6.5 5.2
Ease Of Setup 8.0 7.2
User Management 7.0 0.0
Customer Support 8.5 7.2
User feedback 1.9/5 4.7/5

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
Tie: Both offer optimized WordPress hosting with easy 1-click installation and comprehensive features.
Ecommerce
WebHostingPad: offers superior support, reliability, and advanced features for ecommerce sites.
Agencies
Network Solutions: offers multiple website capabilities and extensive email support, making it versatile.
High-traffic websites
Tie: Both providers offer high-power servers and performance features suitable for high traffic.
Multimedia websites
WebHostingPad: offers better storage options and scalability, ideal for multimedia rich websites.

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
8.0

🏆 Winner Network Solutions: Network Solutions offers reliable web hosting with exceptional uptime and dedicated support.

Network Solutions outshines the competition with its 99.9% uptime guarantee, achieving a noteworthy 99.917% uptime performance in recent tests. With only 42 minutes of total downtime over a month and the longest interruption lasting just 19 minutes, it provides a dependable service. The speed performance is impressive as well, with a GTmetrix rating of B (85%), ensuring quick loading times.

On the other hand, WebHostingPad also guarantees 99.9% uptime but includes many exclusions and only compensates for prolonged outages. Its uptime isn’t independently verified, making its reliability harder to judge. While their uptime guarantee sounds similar, Network Solutions showcases clearer performance metrics and user-friendly support options, making it the preferable choice.

Which one has better hosting performance?

Evaluates the platforms hosting speed and performance tools
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
5.0

🏆 Winner
WebHostingPad:
For users who prioritize speed and advanced technological infrastructure, WebHostingPad is more suitable for high-demand websites that require reliable and fast global access.

WebHostingPad and Example hosting one both offer SSD storage and free CDN integration to enhance hosting performance and speed. WebHostingPad, however, showcases faster load times with a heavyweight theme clocked at 1.69 seconds, compared to Example hosting one’s 4.85 seconds. WebHostingPad operates 11 global data centers, which surpasses Example hosting one’s six, potentially offering better local loading speeds and content delivery. Moreover, WebHostingPad’s technology is more up-to-date, which may contribute to its superior performance.

Website Speed

WebHostingPad excels in website speed with an LCP time of 872ms, significantly outperforming Example hosting one’s 1.8 seconds. Although both fall within the acceptable range of LCP (up to 2.5 seconds is considered good), WebHostingPad’s website speed is notably better, indicating a more efficient user experience.

Scalability

Both hosting providers offer scalability options tailored to varying needs; however, WebHostingPad provides a more customized approach with its custom cloud plans where resources can be configured to user requirements. Example hosting one also offers a variety of hosting types, including shared and dedicated servers, with tiered pricing to accommodate different user levels.

Which one has better security features?

Reflects the platforms security measures, data privacy, backups and adherence to legal
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
8.0

🏆 Winner
WebHostingPad:
Provides comprehensive security features including free SSL Certificates and complimentary malware scans.

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

Technical security measures:

Network Solutions offers a range of SSL Certificates like Xpress, Basic, Advanced, Wildcard, UCC, and Extended SSL with up to $1 million guarantees. They provide daily malware scans and use SiteLock and CodeGuard for malware protection and backup services. There is no specific mention of the PHP versions they support. WebHostingPad, on the other hand, includes free SSL Certificates with all plans and offers commercial SSL Certificates at a low cost. They also support PHP, though specific versions are not detailed in the provided context. They offer malware protection with yearly scans and software security on their servers. Both provide strong encryption, but Network Solutions has the upper hand with various SSL options and higher coverage guarantees.

Operational security measures:

Network Solutions incorporates nsProtect Assured Website Seal to add credibility and uses click-time anti-phishing and lazy expunge for additional safeguards. Their support includes live expert consultations. WebHostingPad complements its security measures with free spam filtering and regular server maintenance. It provides SiteLock Lite with hosting plans and secures communications via HTTPS/SSL. Additionally, they offer complete server monitoring and backup services with up to 3GB storage or more with specific plans. While both have robust operational measures, Network Solutions offers more advanced features such as anti-phishing and second-chance expunge.

Compliance and certifications:

Network Solutions emphasizes the importance of SSL Certificates for data encryption, which is critical for GDPR and PCI compliance, but does not provide extensive detail on compliance with these regulations. WebHostingPad is GDPR-compliant and offers guidelines for compliance. It ensures secure handling and encryption of financial data, supporting PCI compliance, though specific details are not provided.


SSL certificate

Multiple SSL options

Free SSL, Commercial SSL

Additional security features

Click-time anti-phishing, lazy expunge

SiteLock Lite, free spam filtering

PHP versions

No

No

GDPR compliance

Emphasized via SSL

GDPR-compliant, guidelines provided

HIPAA compliance

No

No

PCI compliance

Emphasized via SSL

Emphasized via SSL

Hosting features

Looks at the features offered by hosting platforms
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
5.2

🏆 Winner Network Solutions: Providing a robust and feature-rich hosting experience with all the essentials for a successful online presence.

Network Solutions and WebHostingPad both offer indispensable features but cater to different user needs. Network Solutions provides a structured range of packages starting from the Starter plan up to Premium Plus, offering varying levels of disk space, websites, and email boxes. Notably, all tiers include daily malware scans and automatic backups, enhancing website security. On top of this, the inclusion of a free domain for annual subscribers is a significant plus, although it’s important to note that this is only for the initial year. For those who prioritize security, the Premium Plus plan also includes an SSL certificate, an essential for secure transactions.

WebHostingPad focuses on delivering abundant resources at a lower price point with unlimited hosting space, bandwidth, and websites. Its one-click WordPress installation and free Weebly Site Builder simplify the creation and management of websites, making it user-friendly for beginners. One standout feature is unlimited MySQL databases, which is beneficial for complex sites with multiple databases. WebHostingPad also provides free SSL and SiteLock Lite, ensuring a basic level of security. However, SSH access isn’t detailed, which may be a drawback for users requiring secure remote access.

Free domain Yes, for the first year Yes, for the first year
Free SSL Yes, with Premium Plus Yes
Email hosting Yes Yes
Website builder Yes Yes
Staging environment No No
FTP & SFTP accounts Yes Yes
Git and SSH access Yes No
Free backup Yes No
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 WebHostingPad 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 robust email functionalities, providing up to unlimited email boxes with its premium plans, ensuring businesses can manage extensive email needs. Unlike WebHostingPad, which also offers unlimited email accounts and forwarders along with features like Webmail and WHP Mail App, Network Solutions seems more geared towards accommodating larger-scale operations with its broader offering of 1000 email boxes even at its mid-tier Essential plan. Both providers allow for setting up mailing lists and autoresponders, but specific capabilities for transactional emails or reselling third-party services are not as distinctly highlighted for Network Solutions, making WebHostingPad slightly more adaptable for smaller businesses or beginners.

Price

Looks at the cost-effectiveness and value for money of each platform.
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
8.0

🏆 Winner Network Solutions: Offers diverse hosting plans with comprehensive features 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. Although some providers offer identical plans for WordPress and shared hosting, we have created separate tables for each to enhance clarity.

When comparing the pricing plans of Network Solutions and webhostingpad, both providers offer a range of options tailored to different needs and budgets. Network Solutions provides Web Hosting in the Cloud, Secure & Reliable WordPress Hosting, and various other plans. Their premium Cloud Hosting plan costs $31.61 per month with unlimited disk space, 10 websites, and an SSL certificate. Webhostingpad offers competitive shared and WordPress hosting plans starting as low as $1.99 per month for unlimited websites and email, with their most advanced WordPress Premium plan costing $5.99 per month featuring unlimited email accounts and SSL certificates. Network Solutions caters more to users needing extensive features like SiteLock and domain names included in higher-tier plans, while Webhostingpad is ideal for those seeking budget-friendly options with solid essentials.

WordPress for Entrepreneurs$7.99

1 site, 50 GB storage, 10 email boxes, cloud backup, domain.

Value for price:7.5
WordPress Basic$2.99

1 site, 2× memory of Power Plan, Let’s Encrypt SSL, automated backups.

Value for price:8.5
WordPress for a Growing Business$13.98

3 sites, 100 GB storage, 25 email boxes, cloud backup, SSL, domain.

Value for price:8.0
WordPress Pro$3.99

1 site, 2× computing power, Trusted CA SSL, fast servers.

Value for price:8.0
WordPress for Professionals$18.98

5 sites, 200 GB storage, 50 email boxes, cloud backup, SSL, domain.

Value for price:8.5
WordPress Premium$5.99

1 site, 3× computing power, Trusted CA SSL, unlimited email accounts.

Value for price:8.5
Starter$5.69

1 website, 15 GB disk space, 5 email boxes.

Value for price:7.0
Power Plan$1.99

Unlimited websites, domains, email, Free domain, SSL & SiteLock Lite, Weebly builder, 1-click WordPress.

Value for price:8.0
Essential$9.96

3 websites, 300 GB disk space, 1000 email boxes, domain, SiteLock.

Value for price:8.5
Power Plan Plus$2.99

Unlimited websites, domains, email, Free domain, SSL & SiteLock Lite, WordPress, optimized high-power servers, backups.

Value for price:8.5
Premium$25.78

10 websites, unlimited disk space, unlimited email boxes, domain, SiteLock Premium.

Value for price:8.5
Power Plan Mini$3.00

2 websites or domains, 10 GB disk space, 100 GB bandwidth, unlimited email, SSL, Weebly builder.

Value for price:7.5
Premium Plus$31.61

10 websites, unlimited disk space, unlimited email boxes, domain, SiteLock Premium, SSL.

Value for price:8.5
N/A
Starter$5.69

1 website, 15 GB disk space, 5 email boxes.

Value for price:7.0
N/A
Essential$9.96

3 websites, 300 GB disk space, 1000 email boxes, domain, SiteLock.

Value for price:8.5
N/A
Premium$25.78

10 websites, unlimited disk space, unlimited email boxes, domain, SiteLock Premium.

Value for price:8.5
N/A
Premium Plus$31.61

10 websites, unlimited disk space, unlimited email boxes, domain, SiteLock Premium, SSL.

Value for price:8.5
N/A
In some cases companies have different prices based on various components like a location. As a result in rare cases the prices displayed here can differ from the ones you see on their websites.

Enterprise plans

For enterprises, Network Solutions’ Premium Plus plan at $31.61/mo offers unlimited disk space, 10 websites, unlimited email boxes, SiteLock Premium, and an SSL certificate, making it comprehensive for large-scale operations. Webhostingpad’s VPS Hosting at $19.95/mo provides dedicated IP addresses, private hosting resources, and 24/7 network monitoring, suitable for businesses that require dedicated server resources and full root access. Both providers offer varied features enabling organizations to choose based on their unique needs.

Network Solutions vs Web Hosting Pad: Ease of setup

Evaluates the ease of setting up and migrating websites on the hosting
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
7.2

🏆 Winner Network Solutions: offers user-friendly features and comprehensive support for smooth website setup and migration.

Network Solutions uses a straightforward control panel that is designed to accommodate both technical and non-technical users. It provides easy access to essential functions such as FTP credentials, SSL setup, and SiteLock management. The interface is clean and intuitive, ensuring that even those who are new to web hosting can navigate it without difficulty. The availability of 24/7 product support adds an extra layer of accessibility, making it easier for users to find help whenever they need it.

WebHostingPad, on the other hand, employs a control panel that integrates popular website builders like WordPress, Weebly, and RVSiteBuilder. This makes it versatile but can be overwhelming for those who are not familiar with multiple platforms. The inclusion of free domain registration, SSL encryption, and an easy 1-click WordPress install within the panel is a definite plus. Though it caters to different levels of expertise, the wealth of options might present a higher learning curve for beginners, compared to Network Solutions’ more streamlined approach.

Network Solutions offers comprehensive migration services that assist users in transferring their websites with minimal downtime. Their team manages the entire migration process, including the migration of SSL certificates and other security products, making it almost hassle-free for the user. This service is generally included as part of the hosting package, ensuring no extra cost for the customer. WebHostingPad does not explicitly mention dedicated migration tools but offers extensive support and guides, suggesting migration might require more user involvement.


Network Solutions excels in providing a well-organized Online Support Center with extensive articles, user guides, and remote troubleshooting support. The documentation is thorough, and users can track their issues with ticket numbers. WebHostingPad also has a rich knowledge base and 24/7 tech support, but its resources, although comprehensive, are primarily self-service-oriented with a stronger emphasis on tickets and support articles.

User management

Assesses the platforms’ capabilities in managing user roles, permissions, and
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
0.0

🏆 Winner Network Solutions: Comprehensive user management capabilities with detailed roles and permissions.

When comparing the user management features of Network Solutions and WebHostingPad, Network Solutions clearly stands out. Network Solutions offers a structured framework for user roles and permissions, with three distinct roles: Primary Contact, Admin Contact, and Technical Contact. Each role comes with specific capabilities, such as editing payment information or adding/deleting other users, which provides flexibility in account management. In contrast, WebHostingPad does not provide any specific information about user roles or management capabilities, limiting users’ ability to delegate tasks or compartmentalize access levels effectively.

Network Solutions provides a user-friendly interface for managing users. The steps involved in adding or editing account contacts and details are straightforward, involving a series of clicks from the Account Manager page. This ensures that users can quickly and efficiently manage their roles and access permissions. The interface guides users through each step, minimizing the learning curve for new users. Conversely, WebHostingPad lacks documented tools for user management, which could complicate the process for users needing detailed administrative controls.

In terms of access control measures, Network Solutions demonstrates a clear and effective method. The provider allows multiple roles, each with defined permissions, ensuring secure and efficient management of tasks across different user levels. This structure supports the efficient scaling of user management as business needs grow. The absence of documented user management features in WebHostingPad lacks efficiency and scalability, making it difficult for users to manage a growing team or adjust roles without centralized tools.

Network Solutions user roles table:

Role Description Access highlights
Primary Contact Manages account and financial information. Can edit Account Holder info, payment data, and user roles.
Admin Contact Oversees financial and user management aspects. Can edit payment information and user roles.
Technical Contact Handles technical queries and issues. Cannot edit primary details or payment information.

Customer support

Evaluates the quality, availability, and scope of the customer support offered by the
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
7.2

🏆 Winner Network Solutions: Offering a wide range of hosting packages with excellent customer support availability.


Phone support







Live chat support







Chatbot







Email/ticket support







Enterprise support
(dedicated agent, priority support)






Network Solutions provides comprehensive customer support with phone support, live chat, and email/ticket options available 24/7. It excels in phone support availability, offering various contact numbers for different types of assistance. Additionally, their live chat and email/ticket support can be accessed around the clock, ensuring customers can always find help when they need it.

webhostingpad also offers substantial support with phone support, live chat, and email/ticket systems. However, their phone support is limited to working days from 8 AM to 10 PM CST. While providing similar options, the availability and range of specific contact points are less extensive than Network Solutions. Both providers lack dedicated enterprise support services.

Network Solutions vs Web Hosting Pad: User feedback

Network Solutions
65 reviews
1.9 out of 5 stars
Web Hosting Pad
10 reviews
4.7 out of 5 stars

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.

WebHostingPad receives high praise for its affordability, user-friendly interface, and comprehensive customer support. Users particularly appreciate the low costs, free domain, and SSL certificate offerings, making it a budget-friendly option with reliable uptime. However, some areas for improvement include occasional downtime, inconsistent billing practices, and a somewhat limited feature set for larger businesses. Overall, it is highly recommended for those starting out or looking for a cost-effective hosting solution with responsive support.

Network Solutions vs Web Hosting Pad: FAQ

Which platform is better suited for hosting WordPress websites?


Both Network Solutions and WebHostingPad offer optimized WordPress hosting with easy 1-click installation and comprehensive features. The choice would depend on specific needs like support and additional tools, although both platforms are effectively tied in this category. Each provides tailored WordPress solutions, making either a viable option.

Are both platforms suitable for beginners?


Yes, both Network Solutions and WebHostingPad are suitable for beginners. WebHostingPad particularly excels with user-friendly tools, cost-effective plans, and easy accessibility, while Network Solutions offers a straightforward control panel and comprehensive support. Both providers offer resources and guides to assist beginners in setting up their websites.

Which platform offers better customer support?


Network Solutions offers extensive customer support with phone, live chat, and email/ticket options available 24/7. WebHostingPad also provides substantial support, but its phone support is limited to specific hours. Overall, Network Solutions excels in the availability and range of specific contact points, making it the preferable choice for customer support.

Which hosting service offers more scalability options for growing websites?


WebHostingPad offers straightforward scalability with hosting plans designed to support various levels of traffic and complexity, although it lacks detailed cost information for upgrades. Network Solutions generally requires plan upgrades to access more features and resources. Both services support scaling, but WebHostingPad offers a simpler path for growth.

What are the differences in the control panels offered by each hosting service?


Network Solutions uses a straightforward control panel designed for both technical and non-technical users, offering easy access to essential functions. WebHostingPad’s control panel integrates popular website builders like WordPress and Weebly, making it versatile but potentially overwhelming for beginners. Network Solutions offers a more streamlined and user-friendly approach.

How do the providers handle email hosting and what features are included?


Network Solutions provides robust email functionalities, offering up to unlimited email boxes with premium plans, ideal for larger operations. WebHostingPad also offers unlimited email accounts, forwarders, and features like Webmail and WHP Mail App, making it more adaptable for smaller businesses or beginners. Both allow setting up mailing lists and autoresponders.

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