Hostgator is one of the leading web hosting providers today. It is also one of the leading trusted hosting companies and currently powers millions of domains worldwide. It is a provider that provides services for hosting websites and online blogs. It is used to purchase domain names online.
To have an active website or blog, you need two things, web hosting and a domain name. HostGator is very popular because it offers shared hosting plans, a cPanel panel to manage your website and excellent customer service.
However, the most important question is whether it is the right hosting provider for your specific purposes. In this HostGator Review, we will give you the information you need to make that decision.
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Why should you choose Hostgator?
One of the reasons we recommend Hostgator is because of the cost; they are cost effective. Hostgator has budget-friendly pricing plans that start from $2.75 a month, depending on the hosting term you choose. They have everything, from monthly hosting up to 36 months in advance.
Hostgator offers a free domain name with annual hosting purchases. Also offers SSL certificates free for their customers. In short, an SSL certificate provides security for your site visitors. SSL certificates keep personal information, login credentials, and credit card payments safe.
Another reason why we recommend our readers to choose Hostgator is the ease of configurationSetting up a site with Hostgator is a quick and easy process. You can start a website or blog with Hostgator in a matter of minutes using a one-click install with WordPress. You can also create a site with their site builder, Drupal, Magento, and more.
On the other hand, Hostgator’s customer service is excellent. They have 24/7 technical support, which is amazing! You can rest assured that whenever you have a question, concern, or problem with your site, you’ll be able to reach them no matter what time it is. They are available by chat, email and phone..
One of the many other reasons we recommend Hostgator is that it gives a 45-day money-back guaranteeMost hosting companies offer a 30-day money back guarantee, but Hostgator offers a 45-day guarantee.
If for any reason you are not satisfied with the service or feel that it is not for you, you can easily cancel and get a refund within the first 45 days of your service. Awesome, right? Another powerful reason why we recommend Hostgator is that they are recommended by WordPress.
If you're not familiar, WordPress is one of the most popular website and blog building platforms today. All of the leading bloggers and Fortune 500 companies use it to build their sites. If you want to take your website or blog seriously, we highly recommend choosing Hostgator for your site's initial journey.
Disadvantages of Hostgator
As with any web hosting service, there are some drawbacks to Hostgator, and one of them is that the platform is in English. However, this does not prevent the site from being understandable for people who do not speak the language, as it has a very simple platform that is ideal for beginners.
Domain names
HostGator is a domain registrar, so if you're not ready to purchase a web hosting package but would like to reserve the domain name of your choice, you can do so.
Web hosting options
HostGator shared hosting can help you get started quickly with a website. There are two options: traditional shared hosting or cloud hosting. We'll explain in detail how these two types of plans compare in terms of features and costs.
Shared hosting
Shared hosting is probably what most people have in mind when they think of web hosting plans: different websites sharing the same server resources. HostGator has three shared hosting plans. Here's how they're different:
- Hatchling Plan: for $2,75 per month offers 1 website and shared SSL.
- Baby Plan: For a cost of 3.95 USD you will have unlimited hosting and a shared SSL certificate.
- BUSINESS: It costs 5.95 per month and offers unlimited websites and private SSL.
Hatchling Plan
The Hatchling plan is the entry-level option. It includes:
- Support for a single hosted website.
- Bandwidth and storage unmetered – You don’t have to worry about heavier traffic loads overwhelming the server where your site is hosted.
- A one-click installer that makes it easy to extend your website's functionality - for example, you can add an image gallery, an events calendar, or a contact form.
Baby Plan
The mid-range Baby plan is similar to the Hatchling plan, but instead of limiting you to using a single domain name, you can host an unlimited number of websites and subdomains.
Business plan
The high-end plan, called the Business Plan, is based on the mid-range option. It includes support for unlimited domains, access to the one-click installer, unmetered bandwidth, a private SSL certificate, and the option to get a dedicated IP address.
Features on all shared hosting plans
Regardless of which option you choose, all of HostGator’s shared hosting plans come with free access to their website builder. Their proprietary builder lets you drag and drop your way to a beautiful website in no time.
Shared plans also have a flexible and easy-to-use control panel to manage your website, FTP accounts, unlimited subdomains, and a 99,9% uptime. If you have an existing website, HostGator offers migration services. You'll also get credits to use with Google Adwords and Bing Ads.
Cloud hosting
HostGator's cloud-based shared hosting option runs twice as fast as shared hosting because the site is hosted on a low density server that has hardware premium and multiple layers of caching.
Cloud hosting plans also offer four times more resources than shared plans. If you decide this option is right for you, there are three different plans you can choose from:
- Hatchling Cloud: you can host a domain, you have 2 GB of memory and 2 cores.
- Baby: offers unlimited domains, 4 GB of memory and 4 cores.
- Cloud service for companies: With this plan you can host unlimited domains, you have 6 GB of memory and 6 CPU cores.
No matter which plan you choose, you'll get unlimited storage and unmetered bandwidth. Sound good? Visit HostGator Now.
Rapid scalability
One of the biggest advantages of the cloud-based option is easy scalability. If you ever need more resources, you can easily scale up with just a couple of clicks in the dashboard. You no longer have to worry about traffic spikes causing problems with your website.
statistics dashboard
HostGator includes detailed usage statistics in its control panel for cloud-based customers. It allows you to see a high-level overview of:
- Download speed.
- Usage trends.
- Global reach.
- Uptime.
- Geographic data.
- Browser Trends.
WordPress hosting
If you want to use the WordPress content management system (CMS) to power your website, HostGator offers many hosting plans that are especially suited to such websites.
While WordPress plans are somewhat similar to shared plans, their resource allocations are different. WordPress-specific plans are faster and come with more resources to manage and update sites. These are:
- Start plan:$95 per month. Allows hosting of a single site, average traffic is 10,000 and you are entitled to free migration of 1 site.
- Standard service: For $7.95 per month, it allows you to host 2 sites and offers 2 GB for automatic backups. The traffic in this case is 20.000.
- Business plan: For $9.95 you can host 3 sites and get 3GB of automatic backups. You can also freely migrate 3 sites and there will be 50.000 traffic.
WordPress Plans Compared to Shared Hosting
If you're wondering whether HostGator WordPress hosting is worth it, here are some factors to consider:
- Automated backups are not offered on shared plans.
- If you have an existing site, you can migrate it to HostGator for free with a WordPress plan.
- If your site is resource intensive, it will load faster on a WordPress plan.
- You can start with a shared hosting plan and upgrade to a WordPress plan later.
High-end web hosting options
While you'll most likely opt for a shared hosting plan, especially if you're looking to get started on a budget, HostGator offers other types of plans.
VPS hosting
If you're hosting a resource-intensive website, a virtual private server (or VPS) plan may be right for you. There are three different plans to choose from, depending on how much RAM, disk space, and bandwidth you might need, as well as how many CPU cores are necessary to ensure optimal performance.
VPS plans come with access root complete, meaning you have full control over your hosting environment, including custom installation and configuration. VPS options are more reliable and fully scalable, but you must have the technical knowledge necessary to install, configure and manage them.
Dedicated Servers
For maximum performance, look no further than a dedicated server plan, where all resources are dedicated to serving your website on the Internet. As with all other types of hosting, HostGator offers three different tiers from which you can choose.
You can choose whether you want a server based on Windows or a server based on Linux, as well as if you prefer the option of HDD storage less expensive or the option SSD higher performance. Dedicated servers tend to be options aimed at those who are technically proficient, but HostGator does offer managed and semi-managed options.
Semi-Managed Dedicated Hosting
If you opt for a semi-managed environment, HostGator will help you monitor the overall health of your server and network and fix errors and security issues.
Managed Dedicated Hosting
With managed hosting, HostGator does all the heavy lifting to keep a server running. You can make changes yourself using the provided cPanel (Linux-based environment) or Plesk (Windows-based environment).
Reseller Hosting
Reseller hosting is For those who wish to sell hosting packages on behalf of HostGator, but under your own company name. Think of reselling as if you had your own web hosting company.
There are three different reseller plans, depending on storage space and bandwidth allocations. They all offer support for an unlimited number of domains, so there is no limit to the number of users you can host on your account.
Hosting Add-ons
Regardless of which hosting plan you choose, you can add features to your plan with HostGator add-ons. These extras will incur additional fees to your plan, except where noted below:
- CodeGuard Site Backup and Restore: adds daily automatic backups with 3 restores per month. All WordPress plans come with daily backups, and VPS plans come with weekly backups.
- SiteLock: Add daily scans of malware and vulnerabilities, and bot prevention.
- G Suite: get Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Docs and more.
- Domain Privacy: Mask your public domain registration to protect against identity theft.
Is HostGator safe?
There are two aspects of security: (1) safeguarding transactions on the frontend of your site and (2) protecting the backend of your website.
Transaction security
Your visitors will appreciate that HostGator includes a shared SSL certificate with all plans and a private certificate with the more expensive plans. HostGator also supports PCI compliance, but you'll need to enable it yourself.
Website protection
In HostGator’s documentation, it says that they protect your servers in a variety of ways, including firewalls, DDoS protection, and secure data centers. However, they don’t offer many details to back up these claims. If you want to ensure more security for your website, you can purchase the SiteLock security suite add-on.
Customer service
HostGator's technical support team can be reached 24/7 via their support portal, live chat, phone, fax, and mail. All plans receive premium support. Customer support is provided in English only. The only localized support they offer is for Chinese and Russian customers. If you're looking for self-help resources, HostGator offers the following options:
- Video tutorials.
- Peer support forum.
- Broad knowledge base.
Money back guarantee
For all plans except dedicated servers, HostGator offers a 45-day money-back guarantee in the event of a service failure, which is one of the longest guarantee periods found. The refund will not include your domain name registration or fees for any administrative services you purchased. Dedicated servers are non-refundable.
Prices and billing
The price you pay monthly varies depending on the type of hosting you choose, as well as the specific plan you purchase. You can prepay for an extended contract and receive a discount on your monthly hosting fees.
Extended contracts are available in 3, 6, 12, 24, 36 month terms, with the discount you receive based on the length of your contract. The more months you pay in advance, the greater your discount. Month-to-month plans are the most expensive.
You may want to know: Banahosting: Features, Advantages, Disadvantages, Plans, Prices, Alternatives
Alternatives to Hostgator
It is no secret that HostGator is one of the best hosting services. However, it is always a good idea to know about other services in order to make an informed decision. For this reason, we have prepared a list of similar services:
1. Banahostig
The first option to consider to replace Hostgator is Banahosting. The reason for this statement is that it is a 100% reliable service (according to customer reviews). It is also an attractive and easy-to-use hosting for people who are just starting out in the business.
The fact that the platform is available in English and Spanish makes it accessible to a larger number of users. But this is not the only reason why most people prefer it; its unlimited hosting and affordable prices have also been a reason for this. Administration is carried out through cPanel.
Advantages
- Unlimited storage.
- Unlimited traffic.
- Free SSL.
- Free migration.
- Automated backups.
- Free domains.
Disadvantages
- Poor support options.
Plans and prices
With Banahosting you can enjoy:
- Starter Plan: $53,46 per year.
- Professional Service: $75,06 per year.
- Corporate plan: 107,46 per year.
Nota: With all plans you can have unlimited space and transfer.
2. Webempresa
This hosting has gained a very good reputation for its performance and speed, which is why we recommend it as a very good alternative to Hostgator. The only drawback of this web hosting provider is that with the basic plan you can only have 20 GB of storage, space that is insufficient when working on large projects.
If you purchase one of the advanced plans, you can increase the storage space up to 100 GB. However, it is not recommended for very large projects. But for small projects it is ideal, since the speeds will make the work satisfactory.
Advantages
- Safe and reliable site.
- Good support.
- Fast service.
- Anti-hacking
- You can ask for a refund.
Disadvantages
- Limited space.
Plans and prices
These are the 4 plans offered by Webempresa:
- Home: 79,00 euros a year.
- Standard: 99,00 euros a year.
- Professional: 139,30 euros a year.
- Advanced: 174,30 euros a year.
3.Raiola Networks
Another of the best alternatives to Hostgator is Raiola Networks. It uses cPanel and has a platform that is made easy for professionals and experts. number of email accounts It will depend on the plan you choose, that is, if you choose the starter plan you will have 10, but if you choose the basic plan you will have 50. This also happens with domain registrations. On the other hand, with the annual plans you will be entitled to free domains.
Advantages
- Fast answer.
- Excellent performance.
- Good prices.
- A quality service.
Disadvantages
- Domain shortage with basic plans.
Plans and prices
Raiola Networks offers the following plans and services:
- Start Plan: 5,95 euros per month.
- Basic plan: 7,95 euros per month.
- Medium: 9,95 euros per month.
4. Interserve
In the search for alternatives to Hostgator we will also find Interserver, and it is an excellent provider that offers very good Shared, VPS and Dedicated Hosting Plans. Apart from this, it is an affordable service that is also of excellent quality. Customer support is also very good and the tools allow for both website management and design.
Advantages
- Unlimited SSD.
- Various plans.
- InterShield Security.
- Ensures price stability.
Disadvantages
- Expensive hosting.
Plans and prices
With Interserver you can count on the following services:
- Standard service: 5,00 dollars per month.
- Hosting Pro: 19,95 dollars per month.
- VPS Service: 6 dollars per month.
5. Hostpapa
This provider is well known as an eco-friendly company, and that is because it works with energy-saving systems. This draws the attention of many, however, it is not the only positive thing about this hosting; it offers very good speed, security and excellent customer service.
It also has numerous tools that make tasks easier. On the other hand, it offers WordPress, VPS and Reseller plans at affordable pricesThe services offer similar features, but if you want more robust security or additional services, you'll have to pay more.
Advantages
- Easy to handle.
- Standard cPanel.
- All plans offer free domain.
Disadvantages
- Late response.
Plans and prices
Hostpapa offers the following services:
- Shared Hosting: from $3 per month.
- VPS: from $19,99 per month.
- Reseller Plans: starting at $29,99 per month.
6.Hostinger
Hostinger has better plans and prices than Hostgator, which is why it is considered one of the most convenient services to replace it. It is ideal for those who work with WordPress, since it has very good installers. Hostinger does not use cPanel However, it is an excellent option for both beginners and professionals due to the availability of its tools. On the other hand, it works with cloud-based technology and provides statistics on what is happening with websites during the week.
Advantages
- Weekly statistics.
- Excellent performance.
- Good loading speed.
- Various plans.
- Easy to handle.
Disadvantages
- High prices.
Plans and prices
Hostinger offers the following services:
- Single Plan: 7,97 euros per month.
- Premium: 9.20 euros per month.
- Business plan: 13.44 euros per month.
7.SiteGround
It is one of the hosting with the best uptime on the market. It also has the fastest speed and provides stability and good technical support. In addition, it is easy to use and offers speed in solving the problems and concerns of its clients. On the other hand, all the services it offers offer SSD with advanced technologies. Other than that, it's a solid service and is backed by fully up-to-date hardware.
Advantages
- Backups.
- Restoration
- Developer tools.
- firewalls
- Fast charging time.
Disadvantages
- Dedicated hosting is very expensive.
Plans and prices
SiteGround offers the following in terms of its services:
- Shared Hosting: $3,95 per month.
- GrowBig: $5,95 per month.
- GoGeek: $ 11,95
- Cloud-based hosting: from $80 to $240 per month.
8. BlueHost
The last option on our list of Hostgator alternatives is Bluehost, but this does not mean that it has inferior features to the previous ones, on the contrary, it is a leader when we are talking about the running wordpress on shared hostingIn fact, many of the users who have used it have very good comments about it.
What has made it more popular is that there is a very good quality-price ratio and free domains for the annual plans. Another attractive factor is its storage space, because in the most basic plan it offers 50 GB. Apart from this, it works with Custom cPanel and has free WordPress tools and free SSL.
Advantages
- It has the official recommendation of WordPress.
- WordPress Installer.
- Free SSL.
- Custom CPanel.
- Tools specially designed for WordPress.
Disadvantages
- Higher customer turnover.
Plans and prices
Below we show you the services offered by Bluehost:
- Shared Hosting: starting at $2.75 per month.
- VPS: $19,99 per month.
- Dedicated service: $79,99 per month.
Take a look at: Hostpapa. What It Is, Plans, Prices, Support, Alternatives
Final thoughts
HostGator is a global provider of domain registration services and web hosting plans. Their fully-featured shared plans allow you to get your site online affordably. If you need to upgrade later, HostGator offers options that allow you to do so without having to change providers (unless, of course, you want to).
Not sure if HostGator is right for you? You can purchase a web hosting package and if within 45 days you decide you're not satisfied, you can get a full refund of all fees paid.
My name is Javier Chirinos and I am passionate about technology. Ever since I can remember, I have been interested in computers and video games, and that passion has turned into a job.
I have been publishing about technology and gadgets on the Internet for over 15 years, especially in mundobytes.com
I am also an expert in online marketing and communication and have knowledge in WordPress development.