Pros of HostGator Hosting
HostGator currently hosts over 9,000,000 domains and has a large infrastructure to support website owners in 2019. HostGator is a web hosting company that was established in 2002 and has rapidly grown to become one of the largest in the world.
HostGator's headquarters are now in Houston, Texas. They hire over 850 people in offices around the globe, including Austin, Texas, Brazil, India, and Singapore, and provide round-the-clock service. In more than 200 countries, HostGator represents customers ranging from independent freelancers to Fortune 500 firms.
In this HostGator Review, I've evaluated the key services and features that may be useful to you while hosting your business website.
Speed and Performance
Any company with a website should be concerned about pace. If your site takes longer than 3 seconds to load, 40% of users will abandon it. The average load time for HostGator over the last ten months is 421ms. As a result, you can relax at the pace.
HostGator WordPress Hosting
If you use WordPress as your content management system, HostGator will help you host your WordPress account. WordPress hosting is more costly than standard shared hosting. It's worth it, though, because you'll get a 2.5-times-faster website with extra security features.
As a WordPress hosting solution, HostGator stands out with 15 times the storage of WP Engine – 150GB instead of 10 GB – and unrestricted email addresses. WP Engine does not provide an email address, while Media Temple only offers one. It also saves time because you don't have to look at additional email hosting providers and spend time deciding on the right one.
HostGator Pingdom Test
The Pingdom website speed test resulted in a load time of 562 milliseconds and an 82 Performance Grade. As you can see, it's quicker than 96% of the places we reviewed. It's an excellent product for the price.
HostGator Load Impact Test
During the Load Impact stress test, HostGator performed exceptionally well. Throughout the 5-minute test, they were able to maintain a response time of less than 1 second. HostGator maintains a lightning-fast, stable response even when 100 virtual users access the server.
Data Center Location
HostGator is totally open on where its data centers are located. It uses world-class data centers in Houston, Texas, and Provo, Utah. The power infrastructure is cutting-edge, with additional security and fire safety. Device administrators manage all servers 24 hours a day, seven days a week to ensure reliability.
Uptime and Monitoring
You get an Uptime Guarantee as a HostGator client. The Terms of Service section 15 provides correct and up-to-date details about HostGator's Uptime Guarantee. If a shared or reseller server fails to meet the 99.9% uptime guarantee, you might be eligible for a one-month credit on your account for that package. HostGator, on the other hand, has absolute discretion in granting approval. It is contingent on the reason provided. Expected server maintenance, for example, does not count as downtime.
Why is it possible that Your server is unavailable? It occurs when a single user in a shared or reseller account causes uncontrolled processes to overwhelm the entire server. Then HostGator must suspend the user and get the server back up to speed. To put it another way, shared resources carry a risk.
WordPress Installation and Onboarding
The amount of time it takes to install WordPress is determined by your hosting plan. There are two possibilities. If you want a shared web hosting account, you can either use QuickInstall powered by MOJO Marketplace or manually install WordPress. QuickInstall is a script auto-installer that is both versatile and efficient. It's included in every Shared and Reseller plan.
WordPress websites are much simpler to install and maintain if you choose an Optimized WordPress hosting package. A WordPress blog can be installed, modified, or deleted directly from portal.hostgator.com. In your portal, you'll find tabs for managing WordPress installations and email accounts. There are just four steps remaining.
Go to your Billing Portal's site manager first.
Second, select Create Blog from the drop-down menu.
Third, type in your blog's name and domain name, then press Add Blog:
Fourth, your latest blog's status will change to Installation Pending. Wait a few minutes, then refresh the tab. After that, it will claim WordPress Installed:
Additional Features
HostGator hosting has a number of additional features that make it one of the best WordPress hosting solutions.
45-Day Money Back Guarantee
The majority of web hosts have a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you are dissatisfied with the service and use HostGator's Managed Shared VPS or Reseller Services, you might be eligible for the 45-day money back guarantee.
You should be mindful that refunds are subject to such conditions. Refunds are only available to first-time customers. You would not be eligible for a refund if you already had an account with HostGator, canceled it, and then signed up again, or if you have opened a second account. You would not be liable for a refund if you pay with a check, money order, or bank wire transfer.
Free SSL from Let’s Encrypt
SSL and Secure Certificates ensure the security of your website by encrypting communications between the server and the user. Furthermore, the days of it being optional are long gone. In 2019, Google will show a ‘Not Safe' in the URL bar if your website does not have SSL certificates. That's why I think HostGator's free SSL is such a great feature.
Enhanced Security and Free Migration
HostGator's hosting services also provide free migration and enhanced security. WordPress hosting comes with free enhanced security. However, keep in mind that you are also personally responsible for:
- Password security
- Your account settings
- Keeping all installed website applications up-to-date
- Ensuring your site is malware-free
- How your account is used
If you're thinking of moving your website from another hosting company to HostGator, free migration will help you out.
Within 30 days of signup, HostGator offers a limited number of free transfers from other hosting providers or inter-server transfers between HostGator servers. Make sure, though, that you don't miss the 30-day deadline. If you do, simply complete the transfer form, and an administrator will process the payment.
It also aids in comprehending the concept of free migration. Free migration services are only available for website content and data, not for site configuration changes. Copying an existing site to a new domain or modifying an existing site's URL, for example, will not be free. It will need to be reconfigured in order to function after the migration. The number of free transfers varies depending on the hosting contract.
User Friendly for Beginners
HostGator's support portal has an abundance of tutorials and a search feature that provided me with every response I needed during my extensive research into their service. You can get support from video guides, FAQ websites, and documents at any time. They all come with incredibly thorough descriptions and easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions. I never came across a page that didn't have a detailed enough description. A public website with peer support forum threads and thousands of posts is revamped and live.
WordPress Specific Features
Additional special features, such as Domain Privacy, are included with HostGator WordPress hosting plans.
HostGator CodeGuard
CodeGuard, a free feature included with all WordPress hosting plans, provides regular automated backups.
SiteLock 1GB Backups by HostGator
SiteLock searches for malware and vulnerabilities every day and protects against automated bot attacks.
Free SSL Certificate
As I stated in the HostGator additional features section, an SSL certificate is an essential part of your website's protection. It's also worth noting that it's a rating factor for your SEO. As a result, HostGator's decision to provide it for free is a thoughtful one.
👉 Also, you can read: HOSTGATOR REVIEW 2021 POWERFUL SERVERS AND GREAT UPTIME
Free Automatic Malware Removal
Both WordPress hosting plans include automatic malware removal. What is the purpose of the malware scanner on your website? It performs regular malware scans on the first five pages of your website. It will automatically give you an email notification if it detects something malicious or suspicious. This helps you to fix the problem and prevent the negative effects of a malware infection, such as data theft, search engine blacklisting, and website suspension.
Hosting Dashboard and Additional Features
In February of this year, HostGator announced the launch of a new Customer Portal. You can use the Customer Portal to pay your bills, update your contact information, sign up for new hosting plans, and track all of your billing information. You can also navigate cPanel via the Portal.
For those on-the-go business managers who need access to their hosting when traveling, the hosting dashboard is mobile-friendly. This dashboard will highlight the specifics of your hosting plan, display server stats, and provide site recommendations. It also provides access to a few cPanel shortcuts. All will make handling your domains and email a breeze.
The new user-friendly dashboard simply makes HostGator look good in the eyes of customers who are looking for a simple GUI.
With each shared hosting package, you'll also get the following features for free:
- HostGator offers a free website builder with over 100 mobile-friendly templates and an image library.
- Website transfer, domain transfer, MYSQL transfer, and script transfer are all available for free.
- With only a few taps, you can install 52 free scripts on your account.
- Offer from Google for $100 in Adwords. Don't get too worked up. This deal does not apply if you already have an AdWords account. This credit is only valid for new Google AdWords accounts.
- Bing Ads Credit of $100 (This offer is only valid for new Bing Ads accounts created by HostGator customers.)
- Both plans require a monthly fee for global CDN, which is $19.95 for WP Engine.
Finally, all Optimized WordPress installations include the Google Analytics Dashboard for WordPress plugin. Why is this useful? You'll never have to leave your WordPress dashboard to check on your site's traffic again.
Customer Service and Support
HostGator promises to provide support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. So I contacted them and asked a series of questions to assess their level of support. This is what transpired. After a two-minute wait, Mark graciously answered my query. So far, all has gone well.
HostGator Video Tutorials
The extremely comprehensive video tutorials resource page impressed me. Almost every question can be answered with a comprehensive video tutorial on hosting features and functions, allowing you to fully use the service.
Installing WordPress Using QuickInstall, for example, is a 4-minute 32-second video that shows beginners how to quickly and easily install WordPress on their website.
The only drawback is that if the flash player is disabled, some of the videos would try to download instead of playing in the browser. Other videos open on the Youtube HostGator channel and play smoothly.
HostGator Pricing, Hosting Plans & Quick Facts
The price of HostGator is determined first and foremost by whether you prefer Web Hosting or WordPress Hosting. Then, depending on whether you want a monthly or 36-month contract, the price difference would be determined.
Cons of HostGator Hosting
There aren't many drawbacks to HostGator hosting because they strive to be user-friendly and have a simple onboarding process for new customers. However, as with any large organization that interacts with customers on a regular basis, HostGator has received some negative press for its customer support and difficult to obtain (but easy to promise) refunds.
Overall Pricing
Only if you decide to add more security features and add-ons to your hosting plans will the overall price of your plans rise. Renewal rates are also a little higher. As opposed to the competition, the promise of unlimited disk space, emails, and bandwidth on all plans are still very appealing.
Limitations of Hosting Plans and Features
Reseller and shared hosting plans were the only ones with restrictions. Even though HostGator's hosting plans do not have guest restrictions, you should still be aware of the recommendations. For example, the Optimized WordPress Starter Plan should not have more than 25,000 monthly visitors. If your website's traffic spikes for an extended period of time, you may surpass your resource limits, and your hosting account may be suspended.
Do We Recommend HostGator Hosting?
In this HostGator review, we covered a lot of ground, and after considering the performance and features of hosting that makes it simple to host WordPress sites, I see no reason not to recommend HostGator Hosting.
HostGator FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
Do I get a free domain with my HostGator Hosting Account?
No, you will not get a free domain with any of our hosting plans. However, each billing account will receive one (1) free domain transfer worth up to $7.95 against the transfer of any domain. It's possible to move it to HostGator using Launchpad.
Is the checkout process easy and straightforward?
Yes, the checkout procedure is straightforward. All you have to do is pick a schedule, enter your billing details, and you've got yourself a hosting account.
After I make a purchase with HostGator when do I get access to my server?
Shared, Reseller, Optimized WordPress, and Cloud Sites accounts, according to the HostGator support panel, take less than an hour to set up.
- VPS with cPanel or Plesk takes a few hours (about 3 to 4) to set up.
- VPS without cPanel or Plesk takes less than 1 hour to set up.
- The dedicated server takes 24 to 48 hours to set up.
What methods of payment does HostGator accept?
Credit cards, PayPal, receipts, money orders, and bank wires are all accepted by HostGator. To be more precise, the organization currently accepts any MasterCard, Visa, Discover Network, American Express, Diners Club International, or JCB credit or debit card with the MasterCard, Visa, Discover Network, American Express, Diners Club International, or JCB logo. Just be wary of cards labeled "domestic use only" that were issued outside of the United States. They won't operate since those cards aren't usually linked to the international payment network and can only be used locally.
Am I able to upgrade and downgrade my hosting account?
You have the option to upgrade or downgrade at any time. There is no obligation to stay with your plan if you do not sign a contract. During the downgrade, however, you will be required to transfer your own info.
Does HostGator put any advertising on my website with any of their hosting plans?
HostGator will not show advertisements on your website. One of the many benefits of getting a paid hosting account is this.
Does my account automatically renew?
Your hosting plan will automatically refresh according to the billing period you choose.
How do I get the lowest price available for each of the hosting accounts offered?
If you pay for three years in advance, you can get the best deal. The monthly price for the Optimized WordPress Hosting Starter plan for one site, for example, is $14.95. However, if you pay for 36 months in advance, the monthly fee is just $5.95. Isn't it incredible?
All of the goodness mentioned below is completely free.
Am I able to install database driven applications like WordPress, PrestaShop, phpBB, Joomla, Drupal osCommerce, etc...?
Yes, you can use the QuickInstall function to do so. Then you should set up WordPress, Drupal, Joomla, and Magento. With a single click, you can install over 75 open-source scripts.
What control panel is being used on the server?
When it comes to managing our websites, control panels make our lives simpler. As a result, when selecting a hosting package with HostGator, ensure that the plan contains the control panel you need.
Optimized WordPress hosting is what OWP stands for. As you can see, it excludes cPanel. On Linux networking, shared hosting requires cPanel.
Is that an issue? No, it's not true. You don't really need a cPanel. HostGator offers you a very useful Portal. It also has Webmail capabilities.
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