HostGator is a company that has been around since 2002 and belongs to Endurance International Group since 2012. This web host is known for being reliable and having many servers. The web hosting service is mainly a shared hosting provider, but also offers good VPS and dedicated options for larger websites. If needed, different types of hosting are made available, SSH, root access, other languages, plus support for Python, Perl, and Ruby. Their basic plans include useful features, free website templates, an easy-to-use control panel, and unlimited disk space. The service is a bit pricier than its competitors, yet in return offers great support to its customers. HostGator is mainly focused on the semi-technical user and requires more knowledge than web hosts geared at beginners.
First Impressions
HostGator is very user-friendly, which is made clear by using their simple interface. They provide FAQ pages, step-by-step tutorials, and plenty of documents with detailed information.
The provider offers 24/7 support via live chat, email, and phone. The waiting time is minimal and their team knowledgeable. Their money-back guarantee is quite impressive, lasting up to 45 days instead of the standard 30 days. This gives users up to two additional weeks for testing their services. Also, relocating an existing website that you own to HostGator is a free service that they provide.
Functionality
The web host has an impressive set of features, such as error pages and custom cron jobs. Advanced users receive more hand-on control of their websites, but these features are in no way essential to website hosts.
HostGator power their administration consoles using the newest cPanel software. It helps users get set up quickly in order to organize and launch eCommerce shopping carts, and do other tasks. Users can collect logs and stats through the backend panel with Webalizer, Error Logs, AWStats, and Raw Log Manager. Do you want your server to be free of any useless data, one of their web-based file manager is there to help you.
Features
Shared web hosting packages of HostGator are purchased on a monthly basis. This type of web hosting is Linux- or Windows-based that help grow small- and medium-sized online companies. Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting is Linux-based and helps for websites that experience more traffic and thus require more power. Dedicated web hosting packages come with a wide array of features, including Windows and Linux.
Issues with HostGator
The service does not have excellent uptime, and could improve in that area. It is rather slow, and does not deliver in terms of page loading times. This is especially an issue concerning SEO and search rankings, because delays can hurt your sales. Many less popular web hosts are able to have faster page loading times, so this is incredibly disappointing.
HostGator says they will do instant backups, but they are talking about manual ones which automatically come with using cPanel.
Also, their prices are not as great as they seem. HostGator offers the lowest prices for the longest terms. So, you will be obligated to sign up for three years if you want to pay a lower price. If you choose to pay for a year or on a monthly basis, they add 50-150% to the monthly rate. This low rate is only offered in your initial term, meaning that once your plan expires, the prices are not the same anymore.
Pricing
Cloud hosting includes a Hatchling plan for $4.95/month, a Baby plan for $7.95/month, and a Business plan for $9.95/month. Hatchling comes with a single domain, 2GB memory, and 2 core CPU. Baby comes with unlimited domains, 4GB memory, and 4 core CPU. Business comes with unlimited domains, 6GB memory, 6 core CPU, and free private SSL and IP.
VPS has Snappy 2000 for $19.95/month, Snappy 4000 for $29.95/month, and Snappy 8000 for $39.95/month. The first plan has 2GB RAM, 2 cores CPU, 120GB disk space, and 1.5 TB bandwidth. The second plan has 4GB RAM, 2 cores CPU, 165GB disk space, and 2 TB bandwidth. The last plan has 8GB RAM, 4 cores CPU, 240GB disk space, and 3 TB bandwidth.
Conclusion
HostGator is a big name in the industry. Unfortunately, it does not impress with its slow speed and unsatisfactory uptime. The pricing issues are very disappointing, coming from such a company. We suggest you try out the service, but there are better ones out there.
