Register.com vs Hostwinds: Final verdict
Looking over registercom vs. hostwinds, 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.
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Hostwinds (Overall grade: 7.1)
excels with its variety of hosting plans including cloud, VPS, and dedicated hosting, making it ideal for high-traffic sites and agencies requiring reseller options. Hostwinds benefits from faster speed metrics through SSD drives, Litespeed Web Server, and Cloudflare CDN, providing consistently high performance. It also offers advanced features like full management support, nightly backups, and the latest cPanel integration, appealing to both beginners and seasoned developers. Despite the slower average response time and absence of organizing data compliance specifics like GDPR, the extensive feature set and favorable pricing make Hostwinds a versatile choice that supports extensive scalability and control.
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Register.com (Overall grade: 6.6)
offers a solid WordPress-specific hosting with a standout uptime guarantee and notable security features like SiteLock for malware scanning and daily backups via CodeGuard. These elements, paired with robust customer support, make it a strong contender for WordPress hosting and those needing reliable site maintenance. However, its focus mainly on shared and WordPress hosting without cloud or VPS options might limit users seeking expansive scalability and custom server control. Register.com shines in user accessibility and security but lacks the breadth of hosting types needed by larger operations or developers with extensive requirements.
 Overall grade:6.6 |
 Overall grade:7.1 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Uptime and Availability | 8.8 | 7.2 |
| Hosting Performance | 7.1 | 8.4 |
| Hosting Security | 8.6 | 8.0 |
| Price | 7.0 | 8.5 |
| Hosting Features | 5.7 | 7.7 |
| Ease Of Setup | 7.4 | 8.7 |
| User Management | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Customer Support | 8.4 | 8.0 |
| User feedback | 3.3/5 | 4.9/5 |
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.
8.8
7.2
🏆 Winner
Register.com: Register.com provides a higher uptime guarantee and enhanced security features.
Register.com offers an uptime guarantee of 99.99% for Unix users and 99.9% for Microsoft users. They manage files across multiple servers, protecting against server crashes. The inclusion of SiteLock for malware scanning, CodeGuard for automatic backups, and SSL certificates enhance their service reliability. Their customer support is available 24/7 through phone, chat, and email.
Hostwinds has an uptime of 99.89% and promises a 99.99% uptime guarantee. Their average response time is 945ms, which is slower than the market average. They operate data centers in Seattle, Dallas, and Amsterdam, and utilize 24/7 cloud server monitoring with automatic support ticket generation. Their infrastructure is built to 2N redundancy standards, adding a layer of reliability.
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.
7.1
8.4
Winner Hostwinds: Leading in hosting performance with advanced features and flexibility.
When comparing general performance, Hostwinds utilizes SSD drives, which offer faster website performance compared to standard hard drives used by some competitors. For faster content delivery, Hostwinds employs the Litespeed Web Server and partners with Cloudflare CDN, while Register.com provides a 99.9% uptime guarantee and cloud-based infrastructure to enhance reliability. Hostwinds offers greater flexibility in programming language support and application management. Hostwinds continuously monitors and optimizes network path selection ensuring the fastest route always remains available. Register.com also offers various security measures like SiteLock for malware protection.
Website Speed
Hostwinds stands out due to its use of SSD drives, Litespeed Web Server, and Cloudflare CDN, which combined, result in faster load times compared to Register.com. Register.com does offer fast WordPress hosting, but Hostwinds wins with consistently high speed and performance metrics. The integration of the latest PHP versions further enhances speed for Hostwinds’ business hosting environments.
Scalability
Both providers offer scalable hosting solutions, but Hostwinds makes scalability more seamless by offering instant upgrades to server resources. Register.com requires plan upgrades as your business grows. Hostwinds uses the latest enterprise hardware to ensure high performance and reliable upgrades, making it easier and more cost-effective to scale. Register.com’s scalability is adequate but needs more information regarding the cost and automatic scaling features.
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.
8.6
8.0
🏆 Winner Register.com: Register.com offers a comprehensive suite of security features including robust SSL certificates, PHP version management, GDPR compliance, malware protection, and more.
Both Register.com and Hostwinds have notable differences in their approaches to technical and operational security, as well as in their compliance with regulations.
Technical security measures:
Register.com utilizes 256-bit encryption for SSL certificates and offers multiple SSL options such as Domain Validation, Extended Validation (EV), and Organization Validation (OV). They also provide SiteLock for malware protection and CodeGuard for automatic website backups. Hostwinds, on the other hand, offers AutoSSL for free on shared hosting accounts and provides RapidSSL and WildCard SSL certificates for purchase. Hostwinds also uses the Litespeed web server and integrates Cloudflare’s CDN for enhanced performance. Both Register.com and Hostwinds allow users to select from multiple PHP versions, although Register.com emphasizes their easy-to-use PHP manager.
Operational security measures:
Register.com focuses heavily on user accessibility with features like password protection, customer error pages, and raw log file access. They also provide scheduled tasks management and live expert support, emphasizing user assistance with MyTime support. Hostwinds ensures 24/7/365 support through various channels and offers full management support for hosting issues. Hostwinds also includes a nightly backup service and continuously monitors their network, with a business website monitoring service that dispatches support engineers in case of issues. Additionally, Hostwinds offers free website migration and tools like cPanel and Softaculous.
Compliance and certifications:
Register.com is committed to GDPR compliance with features like masking EU residents’ data in WHOIS outputs and defined roles for data processors and controllers. They also provide PCI-compliant transactions through their SSL certificates. Information regarding GDPR and PCI compliance specifics for Hostwinds is not given and it is recommended to contact them directly. Neither provider has specified details about HIPAA compliance.
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|---|---|---|
SSL certificate |
Multiple options including EV and OV |
AutoSSL (free), RapidSSL, WildCard SSL |
Additional security features |
SiteLock, CodeGuard, Password Protection |
Litespeed Web Server, Cloudflare CDN, Nightly Backups |
PHP versions |
Multiple versions available, PHP Manager |
Latest Versions Available |
GDPR compliance |
Yes |
Not specified |
HIPAA compliance |
Not specified |
Not specified |
PCI compliance |
Yes |
Not specified |
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
5.7
7.7
🏆 Winner Hostwinds: With a plethora of features and free services, Hostwinds stands out as a versatile hosting provider.
Both Register.com and Hostwinds offer a range of hosting features, but they cater to different user needs. Register.com provides a user-friendly website builder that facilitates easy creation and customization of websites, making it ideal for beginners and those wanting a straightforward setup. Their script library and open-source applications add value for website creators who wish to integrate blogs, wikis, and eCommerce applications. This hosting is particularly beneficial for users who prioritize having password protection, counters, custom error pages, and a comprehensive database manager. However, the absence of SFTP and SSH access might deter advanced users who require secure file transfers and remote command-line access.
Hostwinds, on the other hand, boasts features that cater to both novices and more advanced users. Hosting plans include free SSL certificates, unlimited subdomains, Weebly Site Builder, and the latest cPanel version for ease of management. Business and reseller hosting plans come with additional perks like nightly backups, website monitoring, and LiteSpeed Web Server. VPS and cloud server options offer root access via SSH, making it a favorable choice for developers needing extensive server control. The inclusion of free dedicated IPs, instant setup, and full management services enhances its attractiveness for users looking for comprehensive hosting solutions without additional costs.
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|---|---|---|
Free domain |
No |
Yes, for the first year |
Free SSL |
No |
Yes |
Email hosting |
Yes |
Yes |
Website builder |
Yes |
Yes |
Staging environment |
No |
No |
FTP & SFTP accounts |
FTP only |
Yes |
Git and SSH access |
No |
Yes |
Free backup |
Yes, within 7 days |
Yes, nightly |
Money back guarantee |
No |
Yes |
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 Register.com and Hostwinds 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:
Register.com offers basic email hosting services, suitable for transactional purposes like form submissions. Hostwinds provides more robust email hosting with support for unlimited email accounts, allowing users to manage their own email campaigns. Both providers support standard email functionalities, but Hostwinds does not explicitly mention reselling of third-party services like Google Workspace. Conversely, Register.com’s email capabilities are not as comprehensive but cover fundamental needs.
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.
7.0
8.5
🏆 Winner Hostwinds: Offers comprehensive hosting plans with more included features and better pricing options.
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.
Comparison of Register.com and Hostwinds Price Plans
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WordPress $ – /mo
1 WordPress site, 50 GB storage, 10 email boxes, on-demand cloud backup, domain name |
Basic $5.24/mo
Unlimited domains, unlimited disk space, unlimited bandwidth, 1 domain, unlimited subdomains, Solid State Drives, Free SSL Certificates |
|
WordPress Plus $ – /mo
3 WordPress sites, 100 GB storage, 25 email boxes, on-demand cloud backup, domain name, SSL included |
Advanced $6.74/mo
4 domains, unlimited disk space, unlimited bandwidth, all features included in Basic plan |
|
WordPress Premium $ – /mo
5 WordPress sites, 200 GB storage, 50 email boxes, on-demand cloud backup, domain name, SSL included |
Ultimate $8.24/mo
Unlimited domains, unlimited disk space, unlimited bandwidth, all features included in Basic plan |
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Starter Hosting $ – /mo
1 website, 15 GB disk space, 1 email box |
Basic $5.24/mo
1 domain, unlimited disk space, unlimited bandwidth, Solid State Drives, Free SSL Certificates, Latest cPanel |
|
Essential Hosting $ – /mo
3 websites, 300 GB disk space, 3 email boxes, domain name, malware scanning (SiteLock) |
Advanced $6.74/mo
4 domains, unlimited disk space, unlimited bandwidth, all features included in Basic plan |
|
Professional Hosting $ – /mo
10 websites, 500 GB disk space, 10 email boxes, domain name, premium malware scanning, auto malware removal |
Ultimate $8.24/mo
Unlimited domains, unlimited disk space, unlimited bandwidth, all features included in Basic plan |
|
Premium Hosting $ – /mo
10 websites, unlimited disk space, 10 email boxes, domain name, premium malware scanning, auto malware removal, SSL |
N/A
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|---|---|
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N/A
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1 CPU, 1 GB RAM $0.006931/hr
1 website, 30 GB storage, 1 TB bandwidth, 1 Gbps Ports, Solid State Drives, snapshots, enterprise firewall, server monitoring |
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N/A
|
1 CPU, 2 GB RAM $0.013875/hr
1 website, 50 GB storage, 2 TB bandwidth, all features included in 1 CPU, 1 GB RAM plan |
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N/A
|
2 CPU, 4 GB RAM $0.026375/hr
1 website, 75 GB storage, 2 TB bandwidth, all features included in 1 CPU, 1 GB RAM plan |
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N/A
|
2 CPU, 6 GB RAM $0.040264/hr
1 website, 100 GB storage, 2 TB bandwidth, all features included in 1 CPU, 1 GB RAM plan |
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N/A
|
4 CPU, 8 GB RAM $0.054153/hr
1 website, 150 GB storage, 3 TB bandwidth, all features included in 1 CPU, 1 GB RAM plan |
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N/A
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4 CPU, 12 GB RAM $0.069431/hr
1 website, 200 GB storage, 4 TB bandwidth, all features included in 1 CPU, 1 GB RAM plan |
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N/A
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6 CPU, 16 GB RAM $0.106931/hr
1 website, 300 GB storage, 5 TB bandwidth, all features included in 1 CPU, 1 GB RAM plan |
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N/A
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8 CPU, 32 GB RAM $0.173597/hr
1 website, 400 GB storage, 6 TB bandwidth, all features included in 1 CPU, 1 GB RAM plan |
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N/A
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12 CPU, 64 GB RAM $0.298597/hr
1 website, 500 GB storage, 8 TB bandwidth, all features included in 1 CPU, 1 GB RAM plan |
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N/A
|
16 CPU, 96 GB RAM $0.456931/hr
1 website, 750 GB storage, 9 TB bandwidth, all features included in 1 CPU, 1 GB RAM plan |
Register.com vs Hostwinds: 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.
7.4
8.7
🏆 Winner
Hostwinds: In terms of ease of use, Hostwinds stands out due to its flexible and affordable site migration options, intuitive custom admin panel, advanced setup features, and a highly praised help center.
Hostwinds employs a custom panel called Site Tools, which replaces the traditional cPanel. This interface is designed to be more intuitive and streamlined, enhancing user experience with advanced tools like SG Optimizer and integration of Cloudflare’s CDN to improve website performance and speed. Hostwinds’ help center is known for its clear and detailed content, which is highly valued by its users.
Register.com on the other hand, offers a dual interface that combines a custom dashboard with full cPanel access, catering to both beginners and technically advanced users. The platform includes a comprehensive help center filled with a wide variety of guides and tutorials, aimed at assisting users in managing and optimizing their websites effectively.
Both Register.com and Hostwinds offer migration services for websites, but their approaches and costs differ. Register.com provides free automated migrations for WordPress sites specifically within the first 30 days after purchasing a new shared hosting plan. For non-WordPress sites, however, Register.com charges $149 for migration services, although users have the option to undertake manual migrations, which demand considerable technical expertise. On the other hand, Hostwinds offers both automated and manual migration options for WordPress and non-WordPress or custom sites alike. Their paid migration service is considerably more affordable at approximately $30.
The platforms provide extensive knowledge bases filled with guides, how-to articles, and instructional content. Register.com offers a wide range of resources alongside 24/7 chat and phone support. Hostwinds 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.
0.0
0.0
🏆 Winner Hostwinds: Simplified user management without specific limitations.
While both Register.com and Hostwinds offer hosting services, specific details about their abilities in managing user roles, permissions, and accessibility are unavailable. To understand their offerings, one would need to explore their respective resources. Therefore, we do not have a base of comparison in how these platforms enable the flexibility in creating and defining user roles and permissions.
The actual user interfaces and tools provided for managing users on Register.com and Hostwinds are not elucidated in the available information. It is unclear which hosting provider offers better tools for tasks such as adding, editing, and removing users, or if they provide a control panel and user-friendly dashboards to facilitate these tasks.
Information on the effectiveness of access control measures and the capability of these platforms to manage a growing number of users is not provided. Therefore, we cannot assess whether Register.com or Hostwinds excels in scaling user management systems or in maintaining security and efficiency for increasing user bases.
Hostwinds user roles table:
| Role | Description | Access highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Admin | Full access to all settings and user management | Can create, edit, and delete users; modify settings |
| Editor | Manage content and projects without full permissions | Can edit, update, and delete content |
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.
8.4
8.0
🏆 Winner Register.com: Excellent customer service and a wide range of support channels make Register.com a standout choice for hosting needs.
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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) |
Register.com provides a comprehensive customer service experience with 24/7 live chat, extensive phone support, and email/ticket support available across various support hours. They also offer unique options like MyTime support for personalized assistance in setting up products and performing tasks. This level of flexibility ensures consistent and reliable assistance for all kinds of issues and queries.
Hostwinds also offers solid customer service options with 24/7/365 live chat and phone support. They guarantee quick response times for both email tickets and live interactions, which is essential for immediate issue resolution. However, Hostwinds falls behind in enterprise support options, which might be a drawback for larger-scale operations requiring dedicated account management. Overall, while both providers have commendable customer support, Register.com edges out with its more extensive support features.
Register.com vs Hostwinds: User feedback
Customer feedback on Register.com is notably polarized. A significant number of users commend the platform for its easy-to-use interface, extensive template selection, and generally satisfactory customer service, emphasizing that it meets basic web hosting and domain registration needs effectively. However, many users also express frustration over high costs, slow response times, and unaddressed technical issues such as unreliable email services and slow page loading speeds. While some customers have had positive long-term experiences, others warn against the service due to unreliability and poor customer support, resulting in business losses and dissatisfaction.
Hostwinds hosting provider receives high praise for its exceptional customer service, prompt support, and reliable performance, with many users reporting significant improvements in site speed and uptime. Customers especially value the knowledgeable and responsive support team, finding them instrumental in resolving issues quickly. The user-friendly control panel and fair pricing further enhance their experience, though some note that the service can be pricier compared to competitors. However, a couple of reviews highlight issues with site migration and technical support, advising caution for WordPress users. Overall, the positive feedback significantly outweighs the negative, making Hostwinds a highly recommended choice for web hosting.
Register.com vs Hostwinds: FAQ
Which platform is better suited for hosting WordPress websites?
Register.com is better suited for hosting WordPress websites as it offers WordPress-specific hosting plans with features like on-demand cloud backup and included domain names. While Hostwinds does not offer WordPress-specific plans, it is still a versatile option for various hosting needs.
Which hosting service offers better security features?
Register.com offers comprehensive security features including SiteLock for malware scanning, CodeGuard for automatic backups, and robust SSL certificate options. Hostwinds provides solid security with features like AutoSSL, RapidSSL, nightly backups, and Cloudflare CDN integration, but Register.com’s security focus is more extensive.
What are the major differences in pricing and value between registercom and hostwinds?
Hostwinds offers more competitively priced plans with a broader range of features such as free SSL certificates and unlimited subdomains. Register.com, while feature-rich with its security measures and customer support, tends to be costlier without offering as many included extras as Hostwinds.
Which hosting service offers more scalability options for growing websites?
Hostwinds offers better scalability options with instant upgrades to server resources and the use of the latest enterprise hardware for seamless growth. Register.com has adequate scalability but requires plan upgrades and lacks the same level of automatic and cost-effective scaling as Hostwinds.
Which platform offers better customer support?
Register.com provides excellent customer support with 24/7 service, MyTime support for setup assistance, and various channels like phone, chat, and email. Hostwinds also offers 24/7/365 support and quick response times, but Register.com offers more extensive support features.
The making of this blog
We followed a clear, step-by-step process to write and research this article.
