HostGator Review 2021 The Good & Bad (Honest Thoughts)

 

Are you considering hosting your website with HostGator?

One of the most well-known hosting companies in the world is HostGator. HostGator's success stems in part from its low prices – everybody loves a good deal, and HostGator delivers with some of the best cloud hosting deals around.

Although the rates are attractive, there are some drawbacks to using HostGator, so it's necessary to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of using HostGator for your website.

That's what our impartial, hands-on HostGator analysis would do: we'll go over both the good and the bad of HostGator so you can determine whether it's the right host for you...or if another host would be a better fit (we'll even suggest some better choices if that's the case).

Here’s how we’ll divide our 2021 HostGator review:

• Key features
• Performance tests
• User experience
• Support
• Pricing
• Pros and cons
• FAQs
• Recommendations

How We Tested HostGator – We Bought Our Own Account

We'd like to start with a brief explanation of how we tested HostGator before we get into our full HostGator analysis.

We want all of our hosting feedback to be objective, addressing both the positive and negative aspects.

We purchased our own domain and hosting to make this possible, just as you would if you signed up for HostGator yourself. We're not getting special treatment, and HostGator has no idea who we are – we're just another customer.

We're using the Cloud Baby plan, which starts at $6.57 a month and is the middle-tier plan on HostGator's cloud hosting. This is the strategy we use when performing performance checks, displaying the dashboard, and so on. Let's get started with that in mind!

⚙️ HostGator Key Features

Since HostGator has so many different hosting plans, the features you get can vary depending on which one you choose. You can choose from low-cost shared hosting, low-cost cloud web hosting, dedicated WordPress hosting, and other options.

However, for our HostGator analysis, we'll be using their low-cost cloud web hosting plans, which provide better efficiency than shared plans at a lower cost. In reality, as we discussed in the introduction, these low-cost cloud plans are one of HostGator's most unique offerings, as cloud hosting at this price is uncommon (unless you use a completely unmanaged server, which requires lots of technical knowledge).

You'll also get all of the same features as shared hosting plans, plus a few extras to sweeten the deal. You get the following benefits with the cloud hosting plan:

• Websites are limitless (except the cheapest tier).
• Bandwidth and storage are unrestricted.
• Clear limits on CPU cores and memory (this is what differentiates it from shared hosting in that you can see precisely what resources your hosting has).
• To boost efficiency, there is built-in caching.
• Safe your website with a free SSL certificate.
• To control your hosting, use the cPanel dashboard.
• Email addresses and storage are unlimited.

If you use WordPress, you might want to consider one of the dedicated WordPress plans. These plans use cloud storage as well, but they provide WordPress-specific features like:

• WordPress is already built.
• Malware scans and security laws
• Backups are made automatically.
• A more reliable uptime guarantee (99.9 percent vs 99 percent on the shared plans).

🚀 HostGator Performance Tests

The speed at which your website loads is extremely significant. Although web hosting isn't the only factor that influences how quickly your site loads, it is one of the most significant, which is why we took the time to conduct our own tests with HostGator. We used WordPress and the famous Astra theme to create a realistic test site. Then we imported a complete Astra demo site, including all plugins. As a result, we're testing a "full" website, similar to what you would create.

We started by running WebPageTest on HostGator. We throttled WebPageTest's link to FIOS* and configured it to run nine separate tests and take the median value to simulate a real-world scenario.

*This results in "slower" load times than a method like Pingdom, but it's more true to what real human visitors can see.

Overall, the outcomes were positive:

• 0.126 seconds to the first byte (this is a general measure of server responsiveness).
• Largest Contentful Paint (part of Google Core Web Vitals and used as an SEO ranking factor in Google's Page Experience update) – 0.643 s
• Time to fully load – 2.496 seconds.

WebPageTest is useful for evaluating a single visitor's experience. On a busy website, however, many users would be searching at the same time, necessitating more server resources and potentially slowing load times. We used Load Focus to load test HostGator to see how it will do under heavy traffic. We set Load Focus to reach our test site with 20 visitors in a minute, which is a more difficult test than most websites would encounter. HostGator struggled here, with an average response time of 4.22 seconds and a few spikes into the 15-second range:

We weren't expecting HostGator to ace this test because it's a tough one for cheap hosting. However, this data indicates that HostGator can struggle in high-traffic situations, so you may want to consider a different host in those circumstances. Overall, the output data indicates that HostGator is a decent choice for low-traffic sites, but not for high-traffic sites (at least not with the Cloud Baby plan we're using).

🤗 HostGator User Experience

You'll handle your billing, email goods, and domains with HostGator's custom dashboard, while managing your actual websites, installing WordPress, and so on with cPanel. The main dashboard looks like this, with links to various hosting items on the left and a button to start cPanel:

When you open your hosting plan, you'll see some handy fast links to main cPanel areas (along with a slew of upsell offers!):

Basic statistics for your server's use are also available for cloud hosting, which will help you better understand your usage:

You'll use cPanel, the most common server management tool, for anything related to your actual websites. You've probably seen it before if you've used other shared hosting services:

If you want to install WordPress, for example, you can use the following simple WordPress installer tool:

You can also use cPanel File Manager to manage your server's files without having to connect via FTP:

Overall, it's a pretty standard hosting experience, but HostGator does a decent job of making managing your site easier with useful features like fast links and its custom design.

📞 HostGator Support Review

All of HostGator's plans include 24/7/365 assistance. You can contact customer service by phone, live chat, or even Twitter.

As long as you go in with realistic expectations, HostGator support is adequate. Since HostGator is a budget web host, it won't have the same level of support as premium hosts like Kinsta or WP Engine.

This is simply the truth of the hosting industry, and you'll have to embrace it if you only want to pay a few dollars per month for hosting.

None of this is to suggest that HostGator's customer service is bad; they're eager to assist and would go out of their way to assist you. It's just that responses are often sluggish, and you can need to escalate problems beyond the front-line support staff to get them resolved.

If you appreciate the excellent support and want someone to really hold your hand while you create a website, you will want to pay a little more for a host with a stronger support reputation. Flywheel, Kinsta, and WP Engine are all fantastic choices if you're using WordPress (but they're all more expensive – that's the trade-off).

💰 HostGator Pricing Review

One of the most appealing features of HostGator is its extremely low prices. HostGator is inexpensive, which is one of the reasons for its popularity.

Again, this is a trade-off with HostGator – you give up a little in terms of support and efficiency at scale, but the upside is that you get a super-cheap hosting solution that works perfectly for low-traffic sites.

HostGator has a number of billing periods to choose from:

• Monthly
• Three months
• Six months
• One year
• Two years
• Three years

If you pay for three years in advance, you'll save the most money, while if you pay annually, you'll pay the most.

Let's take a look at the various forms of hosting. However, first...

Promotional vs Regular Prices

HostGator, like many other low-cost web hosts, provides discounted rates for the first billing period, which can last anywhere from one to three years.

These promotional rates are a great way to get started, but keep in mind that you'll have to pay full price when it's time to renew. Be sure to remember both the renewal and standard rates when determining whether the prices are right for you.

Cloud Web Hosting

Promotional prices:

Regular prices:

WordPress Hosting

Promotional prices:

Regular prices:

Shared Hosting

Promotional prices:

Regular prices:

👉 Also, you can read : HostGator Review 2021: Why People Love/Hate Let’s Find Out

👍👎 HostGator Pros and Cons

Let's summarize some of the benefits and drawbacks of using HostGator for your website as we near the end of our HostGator analysis...

Pros

• You'll be hard-pressed to find a more affordable host than HostGator.
• For the first year, you get a free domain name.
• Most policies have unrestricted services, such as unlimited websites, unmetered bandwidth, and unmetered storage.
• The hosting comes with a 45-day money-back guarantee, which is above average and gives you plenty of time to try it out.
• You'll still have access to cPanel, which is significant since many large hosts have abandoned cPanel.
• You can build as many email accounts as you want.
• You can pay on a monthly basis, which is something that most other low-cost hosts do not allow.
• For low-traffic sites, HostGator still performs admirably, particularly considering the price.

Cons

• The output of HostGator was hampered by its size. If you have a high-traffic location, you'll probably want to go with a faster host.
• HostGator's customer service is poor at best (like any ultra-budget web host). You can pay extra for a premium host if you want top-notch service.
• On the low-cost plans, they try to upsell you on a lot of extras, which can be irritating.

❓ HostGator Review 2021 FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions about HostGator...

Is HostGator fast?

In our tests, HostGator's output was about average. It performed well in one-off tests but failed in load tests. If speed is important to you, you should probably look for a different host (we share some recommendations below).

Is WordPress free with HostGator?

Yes, indeed! HostGator offers free WordPress installation tools, and you can build as many WordPress installations as you want.

Is HostGator good for eCommerce?

You can build an eCommerce store with HostGator, but it's probably not the best choice since eCommerce stores need high efficiency. If you're building an eCommerce store with WordPress, you can invest in it and pay extra for WP Engine or Kinsta.

Does HostGator offer free SSL?

Yes, indeed! All of HostGator's hosting plans, including the cheapest shared hosting, come with free SSL certificates.

Is HostGator better than Bluehost?

Since HostGator and Bluehost are both owned by the same company (EIG), they have a lot in common. In general, Bluehost is a better choice for beginners because it provides a more user-friendly environment. More information can be found in our Bluehost analysis.

🤔 Should You Use HostGator in 2021 and Beyond?

What you're looking for will determine if HostGator is the right host for you. So, let's discuss when you should use HostGator and when you should use another host (along with some recommendations).

Use HostGator If…

If you're looking for a low-cost hosting solution, HostGator is a good option. HostGator is unquestionably one of the cheapest web hosts available, based on its prices and the services it provides. This is particularly true of its cloud plans, which most hosts charge significantly more for. Overall, HostGator is a good value if you have many low-traffic sites because it offers unlimited websites and storage. Another advantage of HostGator's pricing is that you can pay monthly, which allows you to avoid large upfront costs (though you won't get the best deals this way).

Use Another Host If…

If performance and support are critical to you, HostGator is probably not the right choice. There are better hosts if you appreciate the above-and-beyond service and want your site to load quickly and handle heavy traffic (though they usually cost more). Here are some suggestions for improved results and/or assistance:

• InMotion Hosting (50 percent off coupon) – despite its low prices, InMotion Hosting performed admirably when we put it to the test (even in the load tests). It's an excellent choice for strong results on a tight budget.
• Kinsta (review) – a fantastic premium WordPress theme with excellent performance and support. However, it is more expensive than HostGator. You can read the rest of our Kinsta review here.
• WP Engine (review + coupon) has the same advantages and disadvantages as Kinsta.
• Cloudways is a fine, inexpensive alternative for advanced users, but beginners should avoid it.

If you're developing WordPress pages, check out our full roundup of the best WordPress hosting in 2021 for more options. In 2021, that concludes our HostGator analysis. Do you have any remaining doubts or questions about HostGator? Please leave a message!