Hostgator is one of the best hosting solutions of the site WordPress. It is affordable and reliable as well to the people, yet there are certain circumstances where people might look for a new solution. This is quite common as not every hosting provider is perfect and there could be some better alternatives to look at.
Hostgator, being one of the most popular and unbeatable providers of hosting services in the field right now, finding a replacement for it could be difficult. Shockingly, there are plenty as to which the users can choose an alternative. This article here would provide the best 10 alternatives that are available in the market. There definitely could be plenty of them which are available, but not all of them are as promising as these and are fruitful to the needs of the users.
These which are described below have been chosen after careful market research on them. The reviews which have been given to each of the products by its users were commendable which led to its popularity. This article here consolidates all the Hostgator alternatives for the betterment of its readers who are in dire need of an alternative and are looking for something new.
Why are these alternatives for HostGator needed:
There are some issues with respect to the customer service of this hosting website. It is very obvious that users can face some issues with technicalities and they would need some assistance. The assistance that they would look for is someone with a quick response which sometimes this provider fails to deliver.
Ignoring the fact that even if the individual is a professional or even a beginner to this, some help or assistance is always looked for. This would lead the user seeking help to the customer service or even for its help from live chat. It has been noted by many of the users of Hostgator, that their response to calls by the customers and even the live chat takes a long time to respond whereas this is not exactly how customer support works. This is one of the prime reasons to look for its alternatives.
One of the other reasons which have led the users to search for an alternative is the lack of backups in this. The hosting provider, although has a criterion of free back up, if it fails in any circumstance, then they would require to back up again restoring and replacing the old one. This will happen to the extent until the user reaches the stage of purchasing extra storage for the backup.
This is a very unprofessional behavior on their part towards their customers. This has led to several complaints from the users of the Company. HostGator should rather look at instances where they can help their customers to solve this issue, but instead, they look at a situation where they are indirectly forcing their customers to purchase the 3rd party backup service such as CodeGuard. One of the other unusual factors of this service provider is the installer that it uses.
It has not updated its installer for ages and still uses the old type. Recent hosting services, to increase its speed has installed SSD drives hosting and Speed Zones. But, it is seen that HostGator still seems to use the old one and hasn’t made any update to improve the Company or their customer’s experience.
This article here will list out some of the best alternatives to HostGator which are Bluehost, SiteGround, Dream Host, A2 Hosting, GreenGeeks, WP Engine, InMotion Hosting, Cloudways, Kinsta, and WPX Hosting. These were the alternatives that have been chosen so as to give the readers a good awareness of the best and the most reliable alternatives to the people who are in dire need of a hosting service provider.
The following article will consist of details attached to the pros and cons of each of them. This will definitely help the individuals make a better choice for themselves. It would also help them to make a much more economical and smarter choice for themselves.
Top 10 Best Hostgator Alternatives:
1. Bluehost:
This is one of the oldest and the most reliable ones in the market available to the users. Bluehost is quite respected in the market as well due to its huge display of characteristics such as features and plans that it offers. It also includes some basic plans of WordPress such as the WordPress hosting option, WordPress Pro. This Company, even though being one of the best and the oldest in the market offers its plans at a very affordable rate to all its customers. Coming to its customer service, it is commendable since it is available through calls, emails, and live chat. They respond very quickly, very swiftly, and promptly to resolve the queries of the customer. The staff of the Company is fast, helpful, and very reliable.
Bluehost’s basic WordPress plans are available for $3.95 a month, $5.95 a month, or $6.95 which later on can be seen to rise up after three months. Prices then are seen to rise up to $7.99 a month, $10.99 a month, or $14.99 a month for the next term of three-year. The other plan of this Company which is WordPress Pro starts at $19.95 a month. This web host service is great for people who are business owners and look for both affordability and reliability in the plan. This is definitely worth the purchase because of its great customer service.
There are some other features as well which makes this a great and reliable source. They are as follows:
- It has a free domain and a free SSL certification.
- It has proper Account security features that involve two-step authentication.
- There is a proper and safe three layers of spam protection.
- It has the ability to enable SFTP and SSH protocols.
- It is properly streamlined and has a visual control panel
- The site has a storage of 50 GB
- There is pre-installed WordPress already
- Lastly, it has the feature which enables a One-click integration with Cloudflare’s for additional security and it includes DDOS prevention.
Pros:
- It is easy for beginners
- There is a free deal for domain
Cons:
- It has a higher average customer turnover
- The speed is comparatively low
2. SiteGround:
This has been in the market for about 16 years and has made a market of its own. It has helped people build several and different kinds of websites. The plans of this company with respect to WordPress are quite new in the market. Even though it is new, it has some excellent features which keep the users intact with this company. The customers of this company are also happy majorly due to the customer satisfaction rate. Every company and web hosting provider will have some limitations. Some of the limitations which are associated with this company are that it does not offer a free domain and storage to the WordPress plan. It is limited to 10 GB only. There could be another factor with respect to pricing.
The pricing of the plans are quite expensive and it could affect the traffic of the website. There was one unique problem which had been discovered on this website that even if the traffic would increase there would be no increase in the revenue. It is an excellent choice for websites that require minimal data storage. This web hosting provider has plans of $3.95 a month, $5.95 a month, and lastly a plan of $11.95 a month for the first initial term which extends up to 3 years. After this initial term, the renewal term for the following would cost $11.95 a month, $19.95 a month, and even $34.95 a month.
Some of the other additional features of the Company are as follows:
- There is free SSL certification and Email
- It has a daily backup plan and is supported by SFTP
- There is free CDN and an advanced toolkit attached
- It has great customer service for 24/7 through email, live chat, and calls as well
- It has a great security system to make sure that their customers feel safe if there is any unusual activity on their account
Pros:
- Free and daily automatic back-ups
- Faster responsive speed
Cons:
- Pricing plans are a little costly
3. DreamHost:
This web hosting company offers a variety of features that are helpful to both beginners and even professionals in this arena. The control panel of this company is not as intuitive or well experienced as the one in the Bluehost. But it offers great services and an impressive array of security. There is also a feature where the users can customize their options with the support of a variety of languages of different programs. In case an individual is in search of a more advanced feature, this web hosting provider will offer plans which are designed in a more advanced technique. It offers a variety of plans which are available at the cost of $2.59 per month or even $4.95 per month if the individual signs up for three years. The WordPress plan starts at $16.95 every month. This is an excellent web host provider for any individual whose main concern is security.
It will not be beneficial for those business people who are not interested in secure coding. This is also not the best alternative if an individual is leaving HostGator due to the complaint of poor customer service. It does not have great customer service like the other two alternatives which are mentioned above. The customer service of this application is only available to a certain arena that is through live chat and online ticket service only. There is no customer care number or email address for the company. So, the user would definitely have to wait for a while till their queries are being answered.
This web-host provider definitely does have a variety of services and features which are offered to its users, but some of them are quite unique which makes this company very popular in the market. Some of the key features are:
- There is unlimited traffic
- It has wide storage of about 50 GB
- It has a dream shield malware scanner
- The site has great security systems and has privacy concerns adjusted
- The control panel is quite easy to adjust
Pros:
- It is independently owned and operated
- Has the cheapest entry-level
Cons:
- It only offers shared hosting plans
- Has a limited time for customer service
4. A2 Hosting:
This company is widely known in the market because of the lowest price that it features. It launched its plan in August 2001 and in the year 2003, it got its name. This company right now is known as the leading industry in the latest infrastructure and swift services. The company here has an amazing speed of the website and hosts multiple services and servers on their website. The company does not use any particular tool which helps in the acceleration for its speed. It also helps in saving the data and winds of several problematic solutions which will help the user. It has several active plans and virus scanning systems as well. It has unlimited storage, data transfer, and a user-friendly Control Panel.A2 Hosting has a great customer service channel as well which has helped the users to increase their dependency on the site. Their customer service extends to not only calls but also emailing and live chat support. The company promises to respond to all their queries quickly and swiftly. They have a pricing plan of $2.99 per month for shared hosting, $13.19 per month for reseller hosting, $5.00 for VPS hosting, and $99.59 for their dedicated server hosting.
This Company provides its hosting for business owners who are a little aware as to how the whole process works. However, it can be a little complicated for the new and unprofessional ones. There are some other attractive features that keep the users attached and linked to this site. They are namely:
- Free domain and SSL Certification
- Unlimited storage and bandwidth
- There is a manual backup system
- It has a great firewall system for security and has authentication steps
- It has a great WordPress control panel which can be customized
- It is enabled with SFTP and SSH
Pros:
- Has a great refund policy
- Affordable and great entry service plans
Cons:
- It has a small user base
- Has a shorter trackpad
5. GreenGeeks:
This was found in the year 2008 by Trey Gardner. GreenGeeks has risen in the market in such a huge arena that it hosts about 300,000 websites with data centers all over the U.S., Canada, and the Netherlands. The web hosting company promises claims which are 99.9% uptime and hundred percent customer satisfaction. It has great speed and performance statistics. The customer service of this company is great and they can be reached through calls, emails, or even with the help of live chat. One of the few negative factors about this hosting website is its pricing plans. Most of its pricing plans are shared and some of them are quite costly. The company promises a free domain and also has a great refund policy which is very ironic.
There are several features of the Company which make it iconic and they are mentioned below:
- It has free domain and SSL certification
- Has a great loading time
- Has a great speed which is faster than HostGator
- Has great storage and bandwidth
- SFTP and SSH enabled
Pros:
- Has a great uptime and loading time
- Great customer service
- It is environment friendly and free CDN
Cons:
- There is pricing manipulation
- Refund policy even though mentioned it is questionable
- The pricing plan is not favorable
6. WP Engine:
This is one of the top providers of the managed WordPress hosting. It has a specific dashboard for WordPress, the control panel which is traditional in set up, the company also promises to give a great and seamless work experience for the users with numerous features that will enable them to keep their data safe from different hackers and will also make sure that it is accessible to the user in times of need. There are some limitations that this Company has. The customer service plan does come with a few limitations, that is there is only call support for higher Plan services and there is no email or domain hosting. It also has some limitations on the trafficking and viewers on each website. These limitations are to be considered by any individual if they are planning to purchase the website through this engine. It has a pricing plan of $25 a month, $95.83 a month, and $241.67 a month. This engine is ideal for users who have a large business with a higher budget and complex needs.
There are some other additional features that make this hosting provider quite popular. The features are as follows:
- Has an automated SSL certification and gateway
- Encrypted backup and good firewall system as well
- Has a great bandwidth and storage
- Global CDN
- Sites are transferable
- There is a laser provider on WordPress
- The tech support is very tactful and beautifully managed
- The control panel is interfaced properly and customized as per the user’s need
Pros:
- It has fully featured controls on the website
- It helps in increasing traffic
- Customizable control panel
Cons:
- It is quite expensive
- Pricing plans are not flexible
- It has tight security which could be sometimes very inconvenient for the plugins
7. InMotion Hosting:
This is also one of the best alternatives for HostGator. It is an independent company which has started working since the year 2001. It is now not only a hosting provider for WordPress but also the best provider for different hosting businesses. It has amazing features and has advanced its arena in the field of technology. It offers a refund policy of about 90 days. It has a much faster speed on the sites and can control the traffic as well. It has great customer service since the users can connect to the company through live chat, calls, Skype, and even email systems. The support staff is quite fast in responding, friendly, and has adequate knowledge about the company. There are some distinctive plans when it is compared to HostGator. InMotion provides unlimited storage and traffic, free domain, and advertising credit to all its users. It also allows 2 domains on a single account and has great speed as well.
There are some unique features about this web hosting provider. Some of the features are as follows:
- Free CDN, domain and SSL certification
- Great firewall system and security as well which will help the users be aware of any usual activities
- Has great storage and bandwidth
- Customizable Control Panel
- It has the ability to enable SFTP and SSH protocols
- Has good control over traffic
Pros:
- The pricing plans are much cheaper than HostGator
- It has a modern infrastructure and well built
- VPS and other dedicated servers are quite cheaper than HostGator
Cons:
- The speed test is not as fast as HostGator
- The sharing plans are not as successful as those of HostGator
- There is a limit to live chats
8. Cloudways:
Cloudways is not quite popular in the market, but it is definitely worth it for people trying it. It has some amazing technological features which make it commendable and different from the rest. The customer service of Cloudways is great and is available at all times to its users. It can be availed through calls, emails, live chat, and even through Skype. There are a great SSD storage quality and complimentary backup as well. It has some other extra features as well which makes it commendable and hence people should definitely think of giving this website a try. The awareness of Cloudways has to be spread through this article because people are still unaware of this alternative that is featured with such amazing features which makes it the best in the market.
The features that make Cloudways a great alternative to HostGator are as follows:
- Great pricing plans
- Free domain and CDN
- Great firewall system and security as well which will help the users to be aware of any unusual activities
- Has great storage and bandwidth
- SFTP and SSH enabled
- It has great control over traffic
Pros:
- It has great team collaboration working
- Best value for money
- Unlimited staging areas
Cons:
- Entry and initial plans are expensive
- The customer support though is great and reachable but it can cause a delay in responding to some problems
9. Kinsta:
This has a simple dashboard that is infused with powerful technologies for web design. Kinsta is great for experienced developers as well as beginners. It has a great and high advanced security protocol with full encryption. The Company will help the website from getting hacked or any unusual activities. It has great uptime and excellent speed. Kinsta is one of the most reliable WordPress hosting options. Every company comes with a drawback, and the drawback of this web host provider is that it lacks phone support. The customer service of this website is only through the messaging system which is built-in on the server. Ignoring these factors this is a completely fast and reliable system. The pricing plan starts at $30 per month for each WordPress site. It has about 20,000 visits per month. The second plan is for $60 per month and it can have 2 WordPress sites with about 40,000 visits. The third side is $400 per month and it can be installed to 5 WordPress sites which can have about one lakh visit.
There are some other additional features of this web host provider which make it commendable. Some of the features are as follows:
- Manual backup feature
- Great software for security and malware
- Has 10 GB limited storage and unlimited bandwidth
- SFTP and SSH enabled
- It has great control over traffic
- Has two-factor authentication
Pros:
- Responsive staff with great technological background
- Automatic and daily backups
- Good configuration skills
Cons:
- It has a more expensive web host than Hostgator
- It is only for WordPress
10. WPX Hosting:
This is a great alternative to HostGator. It is very fast, reliable and has a great support system. Not only do they have the most affordable plans, but they have excellent features and an automated backup. It has free CDN and excellent support staff. This is a premium managed WordPress hosting website which is very fast and can load websites quickly. They can load heavy image websites, heavy plug-ins, and a website with a high load as well. The support team is very responsive in solving the problems. The support staff can be contacted through emails, phones, live chat, or even Skype. The pricing plan of this website hosting service is quite affordable and it has three plans. Their first plan is called the business plan which costs about $24.99 per month, the professional is the second plan which costs about $49.99 per month, and the last plan is called elite which is about $99 per month.
Features:
- It has an outstanding team which controls traffic and customer support
- It has free SSL and Domain
- It has a built-in server
- Has 10 GB limited storage and unlimited bandwidth
- SFTP and SSH enabled
- Manual backup feature
Pros:
- Great pricing structure
- Free SSL certification and domain
- Great security feature and server caching
Cons:
- It is an expensive plan as compared to HostGator
- Some of the plugins do not work and not compatible
Important features to consider before purchasing:
- Free Domain:
This is an important criterion as this will help the user to be recognized on the website and on the internet. The website will be unable to function without it being in the public eye. This is an important criterion that should be included in the hosting package.
- SSL Certification:
This feature helps the website to create an encrypted connection on the visitor’s browser. It will help in keeping the data safe from third-party functions and will have the same feature of a sealed envelope. It will also help in prioritizing the sites with the help of this certification and hence it is an essential part.
- Security:
This is an important protocol so that the website remains safe. The file transfer protocol (FTP) will help the data from being uploaded from the computer to the server. It will also protect the website from hackers or any unusual activity from any different area.
- Speed:
The speed is an important criterion as no individual will want to work on a service provider that has a low speed. It will be with respect to the offload times and even uptimes as well.
- Ease of customer panel and transferring:
The transferring of the website to a new host would be easy if there was no disruption and no complex Control Panel. The process of transferring would be easy if there are proper clear instructions given by the site.
- Customer service:
This is one of the most important factors which will prove that a web host provider is great in its services or not. Any individual be it a beginner or a professional will need help at some point. If the customer service cannot provide its users with proper answers and help them then the web host provider loses its customers. It is important to look at the reviews of this sector before purchasing any web host service.
Frequently asked questions:
- Where are DreamHost servers located?
They are located in the United States but it can be a server to anybody across the globe.
- How Long Will It Take To Set Up an Inmotion Account?
Even though the account will be set up on the day of purchase, but it would take time to configure. For the basic plan, it takes for 1-2 hours, and for a business account, it would take about 2 days.
Conclusion:
This article here hopes to help all its readers in search of an alternative in place of HostGator. As per popular public opinion, Bluehost and SiteGround have been voted the best. But, if an individual has no budget constraint and if it’s for a business plan then SiteGround is a perfect choice. There are many such alternatives available on the internet but these names listed above have been carefully chosen for the benefit of the users. One must definitely give them a try and read about the alternatives carefully as to if it suits their needs. There has also been a guide attached to the article, which hopefully will help the users in gaining adequate knowledge as to what are the important factors that must be looked at for purchasing.