OVH Cloud vs WestHost: guide for 2024

OVH Cloud vs WestHost: Final verdict

Comparing OVHcloud and Westhost, both platforms cater to various hosting needs but excel in different areas.

• 
  OVHcloud (Overall grade: 8.2)
  
  offers a highly reliable and globally distributed service, boasting 43 data centers across four continents which ensure superior high-performance hosting and availability. Its strengths include impressive uptime, advanced security features, and a comprehensive range of compliance certifications. However, OVHcloud’s customer support quality is frequently criticized, with users reporting slow response times and service disruptions. Despite this, its sophisticated control panel and multiple hosting options make it a solid choice for high-traffic and multimedia websites.
• 
  Westhost(Overall grade: 7.8)
  
  appeals with excellent uptime, user-friendly tools, and competitive pricing. It provides a broader range of hosting types including dedicated WordPress and eCommerce hosting, which are optimized for performance and security. Westhost’s customer service is accessible 24/7, offering live chat and phone support, which is beneficial for newcomers and small businesses. However, the provider’s performance metrics are not as strong as OVHcloud’s, with slower loading times and a less advanced global network. Nonetheless, Westhost is a dependable choice for those seeking straightforward support and ease of use.

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 OVHcloud: OVHcloud offers a highly reliable and globally distributed hosting service with impressive performance metrics.

OVHcloud stands out for its advanced global infrastructure, featuring 43 data centers across four continents and 44 Points of Presence worldwide. This expansive network ensures high availability and improved performance with an uptime improvement to 99.962%. The company also offers automatic backups and Anti-DDoS protection, enhancing the reliability and security of your data. Notably, their page loading speeds are well within acceptable limits, averaging 0.9 seconds.

WestHost is a reliable hosting provider, boasting a perfect uptime record for a monitored one-month period and a solid 99.995% SLA. However, its performance metrics, including loading times averaging 5.2 seconds, lag behind. While they emphasize redundancy and security with features like RAID-10 and SAS II, their overall service doesn’t match the excellence seen in OVHcloud’s offerings. Their globally distributed data centers do contribute to service reliability but fall short compared to OVHcloud’s more advanced network.

🏆 Winner Westhost: Effective uptime and solid support structure.

When comparing the general performance of OVHcloud and Westhost, several aspects come into play. Hosting speed is critical, and both providers offer SSD storage, ensuring fast website load times. However, Westhost’s infrastructure includes lightning-fast SSDs with global data centers that enhance performance while OVHcloud has a more limited CDN option. For CDN coverage, Westhost includes it in higher-tier plans while OVHcloud provides a basic CDN for all plans. Both providers boast multiple data centers, but Westhost details its global network which ensures redundancy and security.

Website Speed

Both hosting services provide impressive website speeds. OVHcloud offers high-performance resources and unlimited SSH access, which enhances website speed, particularly for e-commerce sites. Westhost promises quick load times due to its SSD storage and gigabit port, coupled with its intelligent control panel for better monitoring. With built-in proactive protection, Westhost ensures that site performance doesn’t falter.

Scalability

When it comes to scalability, OVHcloud provides various vCore and RAM options right off the bat, allowing users to handle increased traffic with the Boost Option at $0.65/day. However, it’s unclear if this happens automatically. Westhost offers scalable VPS hosting packages, but like OVHcloud, it doesn’t specify if scaling occurs automatically. Pricing for Westhost’s VPS packages starts at $8.00/month, providing flexible options for different needs. Dedicated servers aren’t mentioned for either service.

🏆 Winner
OVHcloud: Providing robust security features and comprehensive compliance with numerous international standards.

Technical security measures:

OVHcloud provides advanced SSL certificates including Let’s Encrypt, Sectigo DV, and Sectigo EV, whereas Westhost offers unlimited free SSL certificates and a free DV SSL certificate for the first year. Westhost supports a broader range of PHP versions (5.3 to 8.2) compared to OVHcloud, where versions are not specified. Both providers offer anti-DDoS protection and secure FTP access, with OVHcloud further including automated task scheduling and detailed traffic statistics. OVHcloud’s built-in firewall on all plans enhances its security measures, contrasting with Westhost’s additional SiteLock security service for the first year.

Operational security measures:

OVHcloud features automatic backups with the option to restore data from various timeframes, while Westhost ensures regular backups but lacks the multifaceted restore options of OVHcloud. Westhost’s clean-up service for malware and virus removal incurs additional fees, unlike OVHcloud’s integrated protection services. Access control is further enhanced by OVHcloud’s multilingual support and API management capabilities. Both provide 24/7 support, but OVHcloud’s community space and partner programs extend operational benefits.

Compliance and certifications:

OVHcloud boasts an extensive array of compliance certifications, including GDPR, PCI DSS, HIPAA, and several ISO standards. It stands out with additional certifications such as CSA STAR, ANSSI SecNumCloud, G-Cloud UK, and others, ensuring a wide regulatory reach. Westhost is GDPR compliant under the Privacy Shield framework but lacks broader certifications like HIPAA and PCI DSS, which OVHcloud maintains.

🏆 Winner
OVHcloud: Delivers comprehensive managed hosting with robust security features and performance metrics.

OVHcloud offers a highly managed experience, making it ideal for users who prefer a hands-off approach. With unlimited monthly traffic, built-in anti-DDoS protection, and a detailed statistics dashboard, OVHcloud ensures uninterrupted and high-performance hosting. It supports complex customizations through its Crontab task scheduler and OVHcloud API, attracting advanced users looking for granular control. The 1-click CMS installation feature makes launching websites easy, but OVHcloud shines in providing automatic backups and restores that can go back up to 14 days. Personal Web Hosting and higher plans offer FTP/SFTP access, with SSH access available starting at Professional Web Hosting, making it flexible for developers.

Westhost appeals with user-friendly tools and competitive features at a low entry cost. Users benefit from unlimited FTP users, direct database access, and a control panel (StackCP) designed for ease of use. The provider includes ample free services like unlimited SSL certificates, a free domain with annual plans, and free migration services. Westhost’s ability to handle multiple domains and its 24/7 expert support can be incredibly advantageous for small business owners. It also provides a slightly more diverse scripting environment with support for PHP, Python, and Perl. However, the lack of detailed automatic backup options may not suit users requiring frequent data restoration.

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

🏆 Winner OVHcloud: OVHcloud offers highly competitive pricing with specialized plans for various hosting 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 OVHcloud and Westhost present distinct features in their pricing plans. OVHcloud offers affordable plans starting at $1.04 per month, extending to high-performance options at $13.19 per month, including special features like high-performance resources and CDN. Westhost, on the other hand, ranges from $3.75 to $22.00 per month, providing extensive features such as unmetered bandwidth across plans and a SiteLock security feature in higher tiers. OVHcloud’s plans come with a free domain for the first year and several custom add-ons such as SSL certificates and SQL databases. Conversely, Westhost includes unlimited Let’s Encrypt SSL certificates with all its plans. OVHcloud’s unique Boost Option for temporary performance upgrades makes it stand out for businesses with fluctuating demands.

Enterprise plans

OVHcloud’s Performance Web Hosting, at $13.19 per month, includes high-performance resources, up to 1000 email addresses, and a CDN Basic plan. Businesses can upgrade temporarily with the Boost Option for an additional $0.65/day. On the other hand, Westhost’s Premier plan costs $22.00 per month, offering unlimited websites, 150GB of storage, a free domain, and SiteLock security. Both plans offer expansive features, but OVHcloud offers more cost-effective options with flexible scalability.

🏆 Winner OVHcloud: A comprehensive hosting solution with managed services and an intuitive control panel.

OVHcloud provides a centralized control panel that simplifies the management of hosting services. Their OVHcloud Control Panel is designed to be accessible to both technical and non-technical users, offering streamlined configuration processes. For those setting up their websites, the 1-click CMS installation feature facilitates the hassle-free setup of popular tools such as WordPress and Joomla!. This straightforward interface, coupled with the managed hosting services, allows users to concentrate on developing their content rather than managing infrastructure.

Westhost, meanwhile, offers a user-friendly website builder and relies on the standard cPanel for managing hosting services. cPanel is widely recognized and user-friendly, catering to users with varying levels of technical expertise. Westhost enhances usability with one-click installations for over 80 applications, making web setup and management straightforward. As cPanel is a standard platform, users may find abundant resources and community support to help them navigate any challenges. Both platforms have strengths in simplifying website management, but OVHcloud’s dedicated control panel and managed services set it apart.

When it comes to migration tools, OVHcloud offers multiple options such as FTP Explorer, FTP Client, or SSH for transferring your website files to their hosting plan. These methods are standard and do not incur additional charges. Westhost features a Migration Center as part of its extensive knowledge base, providing users with the requisite information to migrate their sites manually. Both providers facilitate site migration effectively, but users may prefer OVHcloud for its variety of preconfigured options.

The help centers of both hosting providers offer comprehensive resources. OVHcloud provides multilingual support, detailed guides on automation and product configuration, and a vibrant user community, making information readily accessible. Their dedicated Help Centre aids users in troubleshooting and general inquiries. Westhost’s help center covers domains, email hosting, web hosting, and more, offering in-depth articles and tutorials. They complement these resources with 24/7 technical support via live chat and a ticketing system.

🏆 Winner
OVHcloud: The user management system of OVHcloud allows for the creation of custom roles and specific permissions, providing greater flexibility and control tailored to the needs of developers and agencies.

When comparing user role management systems, OVHcloud and WestHost offer distinct approaches. OVHcloud employs a structured system with predefined roles such as Administrator, Network Operator, and Infrastructure Supervisor, providing a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate, though it offers limited flexibility in role customization. This contrasts with WestHost, which focuses primarily on e-mail and FTP user management, catering especially to users who require more tailored control.

In terms of interface and user management, both platforms are designed with ease of use in mind. OVHcloud features straightforward options for adding and managing users, while WestHost utilizes its Site Manager, a modern alternative to traditional cPanel setups, which simplifies the user management process.

Both OVHcloud and WestHost do not impose a strict limit on the number of users who can manage a website, offering potential scalability. However, the scalability in user management at OVHcloud is more advanced and customizable compared to the basic and less flexible system provided by WestHost.

OVHcloud user roles table:

WestHost user roles table:

🏆 Winner WestHost: A diverse range of customer support options with 24/7 availability and a straightforward refund policy.

OVHcloud and WestHost cater to different customer support needs. OVHcloud offers tiered customer service levels, with options ranging from standard to enterprise support, each with its own specific response times and pricing. This makes OVHcloud suitable for users who need highly-customized support solutions but are willing to pay a premium for rapid response and 24/7 availability.

In contrast, WestHost provides 24/7 live chat and free US phone support for immediate assistance. Their customer service team is known to be polite and resourceful, with a 30-day money-back guarantee for most services, which adds a layer of reliability. However, customer reviews are mixed, pointing to occasional delays in complex issues. Thus, WestHost combines accessible, round-the-clock support with a user-friendly approach, making it ideal for beginners and those seeking straightforward customer service options.

OVH Cloud vs WestHost: User feedback

User feedback for this hosting provider is highly mixed. Many users appreciate its competitive pricing, extensive range of services, and reliable data centers, noting the company’s strong network performance and eco-friendly initiatives. However, numerous reviews criticize the extremely poor customer support, slow response times, and frequent service disruptions. While some professionals find the platform efficient for their needs, others have experienced significant issues with billing discrepancies, delayed server provisioning, and unresolved technical problems. Overall, the provider receives praise for its value and scalability but falls short in customer support and reliability for many users.

Users find WestHost to be a reliable hosting provider with minimal downtime and high-quality support. The competitive pricing is appreciated, but many users express frustration with the outdated documentation and the need for customer support intervention for tasks like updating SSL certificates. While the service itself is smooth and hassle-free, the administrative interface and outdated guides significantly detract from the overall user experience.

OVH Cloud vs WestHost: FAQ