Known for its affordable plans and user-friendly hosting solutions, HostGator remains a popular choice for beginners and small businesses.
In this review, I tested, reviewed, and evaluated key aspects of HostGator, such as pricing, performance, ease of use, plans offered, and customer support . Below, you can find a detailed review with valuable insights to help you decide if HostGator is the right web host for you.
HostGator Hosting Plans and Pricing
HostGator is one of the cheapest hosting providers with prices starting from $2.29 per month. It also offers other types of hosting plans, such as fully optimized WordPress hosting , VPS hosting for large websites, and dedicated hosting for large online projects and customizations:
| Hosting Type | Best for | price |
|---|---|---|
| Shared Hosting | Very easy to use for small and medium-sized websites. | From $2.29 per month |
| WordPress Hosting | Easy to use and optimized for better performance, best suited for small to medium-sized websites. | From $11.70 per month |
| VPS Hosting | Best for online stores and high-traffic sites looking for better performance. Some technical skills required. | From $34.99 per month |
| Reseller Hosting | Best suited for website designers who wish to run their own web hosting business or who wish to sell their services. | From $34.99 per month |
| Dedicated Hosting | Provides complete freedom of customization but requires clear technical skills. It is best suited for enterprises. | From $141.19 per month |
| Ecommerce Hosting | Provides complete freedom of customization but requires clear technical skills. It is best suited for enterprises. | Starting from $9.95 per month |
Even if you choose the most basic plan, there won’t be any additional costs for the first year since you already get a domain name. However, keep in mind that when you renew your plan, the price will increase. I recommend choosing a long-term plan with an introductory discount since the longer you subscribe, the better the offer. You can also get discounted hosting plans during seasonal discount events such as Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Christmas sales or by checking out HostGator coupons.
HostGator offers a standard 30-day money-back guarantee . The only downside is that if your plan includes a free domain and you cancel within a year, the domain fee will be deducted from your refund. If you already own a domain, a domain transfer will cost you $7.95.
Popular Plan Specs – What to Expect?
HostGator offers plans for nearly every type of web hosting: shared, WordPress, VPS, dedicated, reseller, and eCommerce. Below you'll find a brief overview of what HostGator offers for each hosting type, including features, resources, and limitations.
Shared Hosting
HostGator's shared hosting plans are perfect for hosting newbies and even some businesses that don't need a lot of resources. All plans come with a free SSL certificate and a free domain name for one year. There is also unlimited storage, unlimited bandwidth, and email accounts. The main difference between the plans is the number of websites and some additional resources. With the entry-level shared hosting plan Hatchling, you can host up to 10 websites. The Baby plan includes up to 20 websites as well as Cloudflare CDN, and the Enterprise shared hosting offers hosting for up to 50 websites and free daily website backups for the first year.
WordPress Hosting
Hostgator offers managed WordPress hosting plans that include one-click WordPress installation and all the features offered by shared hosting plans. Using HostGator for managed WordPress means that all security, updates, and backups are taken care of , and the host will also help you migrate your existing WordPress site using Softaculous. Additionally, for more advanced management, you can use cPanel.
VPS Hosting
HostGator's VPS plans differ primarily in the amount of resources included. You can choose from three plans, with resources ranging from 2 to 8 vCPU cores, 4 to 16 DDR5 RAM, and 100 to 450GB of storage . All VPS plans also include a dedicated IP and unlimited bandwidth. VPS hosting is best suited for medium to large websites that receive a lot of daily traffic or that host a lot of content, such as high-resolution images or video material.
Dedicated Hosting
HostGator is one of the cheapest dedicated hosting providers. It includes server management and the cPanel control panel, so it's a good choice if you've never managed a dedicated server before. All dedicated hosting plans come with unlimited bandwidth, Linux or Windows operating systems, DDoS protection, firewalls, and full root access. Be careful about bandwidth—there's no unlimited bandwidth. Still, other server resources range from 4CPU, 8GB RAM, and 1TB HDD to 8 CPU, 30GB RAM, and 1TB SSD.
Reseller Hosting
HostGator reseller hosting is a hosting solution if you want to a) start your own hosting company, and b) host your clients' websites as a developer/agent . All plans include the basics: unlimited domain hosting, cPanel, Web Host Manager (WHM), and WHMCS client management and billing software. In short, HostGator offers one of the best reseller hosting options you can get. Server resources can be increased from 60GB disk space and 600GB bandwidth to 140GB disk space and 1400GB bandwidth.
Ecommerce Hosting
HostGator offers two plans for hosting online stores , equipped with the YITH WooComerce plugin. Both plans include tools for managing your online store: **SEO **features, analytics, website , free SSL certificate, and other useful features like secure online payments, unlimited products , bookings and reservations, etc. However, if you want to sell on other online marketplaces like Etsy or Amazon, the more expensive plans are more suitable.
Hosting Management – Is cPanel easy to use?
HostGator uses the now standard custom dashboard and cPanel combination , which I find very convenient. The dashboard allows you to use the most basic functions, while more advanced configurations can be found in cPanel.
HostGator Dashboard
The native dashboard includes SSL management, WordPress installations, email accounts, databases, file managers, and a handy button to launch cPanel.
HostGator uses a traditional cPanel. Everything is clearly categorized and easy to find .
HostGator cPanel
cPanel has always been one of the favorite tools for its ease of use. You can easily set up your website using the HostGator native hosting admin dashboard, but cPanel offers more options for setting up email accounts or managing domains and subdomains. It is also very useful if you choose to install any other content management system besides WordPress. Simply scroll down to the Softaculous Installer App section and select it.
Is HostGator good for WordPress?
**HostGator takes simplicity in and around WordPress very seriously. Hence, installing WordPress with HostGator is very easy. All you have to do is follow the **“Install WordPress” link on your dashboard and fill in the required information. Every HostGator for WordPress package includes Cloudflare CDN to optimize outbound content and auto-renewing SSL certification for additional security. You can also install WordPress from cPanel. To do this, you have to click on the WordPress icon located in the Software section.
WordPress Installation on HostGator
It will redirect you to the Softaculous one-click installation option. It also has other applications like Joomla and Drupal if you are interested. When you install WordPress, you should see the following on your screen.
Installing WordPress via Softaculous from HostGator
Simply click Install Now and fill in the required information. That is, your domain name, username, password, and any other required information.
Installing WordPress via Softaculous from HostGator
Now, Softaculous will do the rest for you. In just a few minutes, your WordPress website will be ready.
What is the difference between HostGator shared hosting and WordPress hosting?
HostGator offers shared hosting plans that include one-click WordPress installation, so if you're looking to host a simple website using WordPress, a simple shared hosting plan will suffice. However, HostGator's WordPress hosting plans are designed for sites that rely heavily on WordPress functionality. If you choose the HostGator WordPress plan (Professional shared hosting plan), you can expect more resources, such as up to 100 websites for free for the first year, 100GB of storage, and increased daily backups and domain privacy.
Can I set up professional email with HostGator?
Regardless of which shared hosting plan you choose, HostGator gives you one month of free unlimited email accounts. However, the setup of the email client is up to you. The setup process is very simple, even for beginners, and can be completed in just a few minutes .
To set up an email client with HostGator, all you have to do is click on the Email Accounts button on the HostGator dashboard. Alternatively, you can access the button from cPanel by clicking on the Email Accounts icon in the Email section.
Setting up HostGator Email using cPanel
In any case, it will take you directly to the email account management area. Just click on Create and you will see the following form on the screen:
Create one
**Fill in the required information like mailbox name and new password. You can also set a storage limit or keep it unlimited. Then, click **Webmail on the main dashboard to use your email.
However, HostGator uses Horde and RoundCube email clients. They are very basic and hosted on the same server as your website. This means they are good for sending casual mail, but not for sending large volumes of outgoing mail. If you want to use email for large marketing campaigns, I recommend choosing a paid email client that will not be hosted on your server.
**Setting up an email client **with HostGator is very simple. It only takes a few minutes, without any hassle, and you can start using your addresses right away.
Performance – Is HostGator fast?
To get an idea of what kind of performance I could expect, I ran some speed and stability-related tests on HostGator. Throughout the testing period, the provider was very stable, uptime was much better than guaranteed, and sites loaded very quickly. For more details, let’s look at each of these tests individually.
HostGator Uptime and Response Time
I monitored HostGator for about a month for this review. During this time, there were no errors or downtimes, uptime was 100%, and availability was 99.99%. The average response time was 161.93 milliseconds , which is below the market average and therefore considered very good.
HostGator Uptime and Response Time
All in all, HostGator performed very well. It proved to be very reliable in terms of uptime, and the response time was also very good.
HostGator Speed
My site is hosted on a data center located in the US, so I expected the fastest loading times in the US - the Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) was around 1.2 seconds , which is an average result compared to other providers like Hostinger (LCP of 0.8 seconds).
HostGator Website Loading Speed
LCP is one of the metrics that Google uses when ranking websites on search results pages . It states that if your page’s LCP is below 2.5 seconds, there is a high chance that your website will rank higher in the search results.
However, there is another very important metric. That is the time it takes for a visitor to interact with a fully loaded website, or Full Load Time (Speed Index). For the best site ranking results and visitor satisfaction, it is best to keep this time under 3 seconds. HostGator’s Full Load Time is 1.2 seconds.
HostGator Stress Test
To do this test, I sent 50 virtual visitors to my website. Remember, 50 visitors is a large number. These 50 users will be on the website for a long time at the same time. This puts a lot of pressure on the server because there are thousands of requests coming in. This can slow down the server or overwhelm it completely.
HostGator Stress Test Results
HostGator handled 50 virtual users without any glitches and kept the response time at 85 milliseconds, which is below the 2-second threshold. This means that HostGator's servers are able to handle sudden increases in traffic very well. This is a good result for a small to medium-sized website or a small online store.
HostGator’s performance is impressive. The site does not experience any downtime issues, and the fast loading speeds, while not promised, are very welcome. It is a good fit for small to medium-sized sites that experience occasional increases in traffic.
Security – Is HostGator safe?
When it comes to security, HostGator goes for the basics . You get ultimate essentials like SSL and a server-level firewall. However, if you want additional security protection, you’ll have to pay extra.
If you got a free domain from HostGator, your SSL certificate should be ready and active. You can check this in your site settings. Most of the time, the certificate will be activated automatically. However, if your domain is hosted at another registrar, the HostGator tool may not always be able to automatically activate the SSL. If this is the case, your certificate status will be Pending instead of Active. To fix this, you can contact HostGator's support team and they will do it manually for you.
You also get a server-level firewall that protects your website from unnecessary or even malicious traffic. HostGator has an extensive set of rules to protect its servers from a variety of cyberattacks. Additionally, their data centers have access restrictions, and network-level flood protection can be enabled if HostGator's servers experience severe flooding.
HostGator takes server security very seriously, but you can choose to enhance it. You can also get a variety of other security features for your website:
- For $39.96/year you can upgrade to SSL. In the checkout cart this may seem like a necessity, but if you read the fine print you’ll see that this is just an upgrade and free SSL is included. I skipped this because it’s only for sites that handle a lot of transactions or sensitive data. By the way, the Business plan will give you this upgrade for free.
- SiteLock Essentials costs $7.99 per month. It checks your website for malware and signs of hacking. Keep in mind that some providers offer the same security packages cheaper. For example, with Web.com, you can get the same SiteLock security service for $6.99 per month.
- Automatic backups cost $2.99 per month. Problems can arise at any time, and knowing that you can restore your site with just one click gives you peace of mind. So if you want peace of mind, you can add this feature to your site.
On top of that, HostGator does a pretty good job when it comes to security. However, if you want extra security, you’ll have to pay for it. Some security packages from other providers are a little less expensive, but HostGator’s prices aren’t outrageous compared to the quality of service they offer.
Customer Support – Any complaints?
| support | HostGator |
|---|---|
| 24/7 Live Chat | ✅ Yes |
| ❌ No | |
| Ticketing System | ❌ No |
| Telephone line | ✅ Yes |
| knowledge base | ✅ Yes |
In terms of support, HostGator offers 24/7 live chat, phone support, and **an extensive knowledge base with guides, video tutorials, and other detailed articles. **A ticketing system is not provided by default, but it is available in specific cases. For example, if the issue is too complex, you can open a ticket and have it resolved by a premium member. Also, entry-level plans such as Hatchling and Baby only offer chat support - which some users may find inconvenient.
However, my personal favorite way to contact the support team is through live chat. Every time you visit HostGator's website, you can see the button in the bottom right corner. The same goes for the dashboard. For this HostGator review, I contacted the support team a few times. Each time, I was very satisfied with the results. The wait times were short and the agents were helpful .
When I first tried chatting, I asked the agent to help me find the name servers. Usually, providers use the same name servers for all shared hosting accounts, but this is not the case with HostGator. Each account has its own name servers. It took the agent several minutes to find my name servers, and after a total of 9 minutes my problem was solved.
I also had a problem with my control panel: for some reason I had two hosting plans, even though I only paid for one. I asked the agency to fix this, and they did. The agency even offered to activate the domain I got from HostGator, since I wasn't using it.
Overall, my experience with HostGator support has been very good. They answer questions quickly and resolve issues efficiently. In addition to live chat or phone support, you can also use the knowledge base. HostGator has a ton of articles and even videos covering every topic imaginable. Everything is well organized, so it's easy to find what you need. Or you can just use the search bar at the top.
HostGator Review – Final Verdict
Throughout all of the testing and analysis for this HostGator review, I was pleasantly surprised at how well this provider performed. Considering performance, ease of use, and customer support. It’s also one of the cheaper options. Sure, some downsides do exist, but nothing major to worry about.
So how does this guy perform in all aspects?
| feature | 4★★★★☆ | Cheap and fast hosting provider |
|---|---|---|
| price | ★★★★☆ | HostGator’s prices are relatively affordable, with shared hosting starting at $2.29 per month. Renewals are more expensive, but that’s not uncommon. The good news is that most of the basic features are included, so additional investment may not be required. |
| Easy to use | ★★★★★ | HostGator is very easy to use. You can build a professional website without even having to access cPanel. However, it also allows for more advanced customization. The only downside is that some of the tools can be a little glitchy, but customer support is always able to help you. |
| Performance | ★★★★★ | HostGator performed great. The site's uptime far exceeded the promised 99.9% to over 99.99%. The host has proven to be fast and reliable. Plus, it handles traffic surges well. |
| Safety | ★★★☆☆ | Unfortunately, security is a weak spot for HostGator. It includes a free SSL certificate and a server-level firewall integrated into all plans, but other tools cost extra. This puts it a step behind other providers. |
| support | ★★★★☆ | I was very impressed with HostGator's live chat support. They were very responsive and helpful. However, many HostGator reviews say the opposite, so it's a mixed bag. On top of that, they also offer 24/7 support via phone and have a great knowledge base. |
Who do I recommend HostGator to?
HostGator is a very good affordable option for beginners. It is very simple to use. The plans are powerful enough to meet the needs of almost all types of websites. Their speeds are also very fast. So, you can easily host anything, whether it is a blog and portfolio, or a business website or a small online store.
HostGator Alternatives
HostGator has some great results. But that doesn’t mean it’s what you’re looking for. Luckily, there are many great alternatives that offer different services.
Just look at Bluehost’s cheap prices and Hostinger’s security options.
Bluehost
Bluehost is much cheaper than HostGator, with prices starting at $1.99 per month .
It offers an extensive list of features that isn’t too different from HostGator. Bluehost’s performance is equally impressive. Plus, it includes free features even when purchasing its budget plans. Moreover, this web hosting service is very user-friendly, with many customization options and plans to suit almost anyone. Small businesses, large corporations, budget-conscious individuals, and popular bloggers can all find everything they need at Bluehost.
Hostinger
In terms of price, Hostinger is cheaper than HostGator, with Hostinger ’s cheapest plan starting at $2.78/mo .
Like HostGator, Hostinger also offers advanced website management features. If you need top-notch security, Hostinger also provides you with excellent features to keep your website running smoothly and securely. Overall, although Hostinger has a slightly complicated interface, it is still one of the best choices.
FAQ
Is HostGator Legit?
Yes, HostGator is a reliable web hosting company . When it comes to performance, HostGator has a server uptime of over 99.99%. Also, as a company, it has been in the web hosting industry for over a decade and is still thriving, which makes it a trustworthy provider.
Can I get a free domain from HostGator?
Yes , all shared hosting, WordPress, and cloud hosting plans include a free domain name. To do this, you must sign up for a 12, 24, or 36 month billing period. If you choose to cancel your plan at some point, a non-refundable fee of $17.99 will be charged for the domain name.
What is HostGator’s money-back guarantee?
HostGator offers a standard 30-day money-back guarantee for first-time users. Keep in mind that domain names are non-refundable - the fee will be deducted, but you get to keep the name of your website.
Is HostGator safe?
HostGator covers the security basics with a free SSL certificate and server-level firewall. Any additional security measures will cost extra.
Is HostGator good for beginners?
Yes, HostGator is very beginner-friendly . The hosting company offers comprehensive packages and an easy-to-manage control panel to attract first-time users.
Is HostGator's web page creation service still available?
No , HostGator no longer offers a website builder for new users.
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