Web hosting is an essential component of creating and launching a website. However, with so many web hosting providers on the market, it can be challenging to choose the right one. Hostinger is a web hosting provider that has gained a reputation for being cheap but mighty. In this blog post, we will provide a comprehensive review of Hostinger hosting to help you determine if it’s the right hosting provider for you.
What is Hostinger?
Hostinger is a web hosting provider that was founded in 2004 in Lithuania. Since then, it has grown to become one of the largest hosting providers in the world, with over 29 million users in 170 countries. Hostinger offers a range of hosting services, including shared hosting, VPS hosting, cloud hosting, and WordPress hosting.
Performance
When evaluating the performance of Hostinger, it’s important to look at factors such as uptime, page speed, and server response time.
Uptime
Uptime refers to the amount of time that a website is available to users. Hostinger offers a 99.9% uptime guarantee, which means that their servers should be available 99.9% of the time. This is an industry-standard uptime guarantee, and it’s important to note that no web hosting provider can guarantee 100% uptime.
To evaluate Hostinger’s uptime, we can look at their uptime history over a period of time. According to independent monitoring services like UptimeRobot and Pingdom, Hostinger’s uptime has been consistently above 99.9% over the past year, with some months reaching 100% uptime. This indicates that Hostinger is reliable and dependable when it comes to uptime.
Page Speed
Page speed is an important factor when it comes to website performance. A fast-loading website can improve user experience and increase engagement, while a slow-loading website can lead to frustration and high bounce rates.
To evaluate Hostinger’s page speed, we can use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights and GTmetrix. According to these tools, Hostinger’s page speed is above average, with most websites loading in under 2 seconds. Hostinger achieves this through the use of solid-state drives (SSDs) for storage, which are faster than traditional hard drives, and by optimizing their servers for speed.
Server Response Time
Server response time refers to the amount of time it takes for a web server to respond to a user’s request. A fast server response time can improve website performance and user experience.
To evaluate Hostinger’s server response time, we can use tools like Bitcatcha and Pingdom. According to these tools, Hostinger’s server response time is consistently fast, with most requests being served in under 200ms. Hostinger achieves this by using a global network of servers, which are optimized for speed and performance.
So, Hostinger performs well in terms of uptime, page speed, and server response time. Their servers are reliable and dependable, and their websites load quickly, providing a good user experience. If you’re looking for a reliable and fast web hosting provider, Hostinger is definitely worth considering.
Features
Hostinger offers various features to its customers. These features are designed to provide customers with a comprehensive web hosting experience.
SSL Certificates
An SSL certificate is essential for any website that handles sensitive information, such as credit card details, login credentials, or personal information. SSL certificates encrypt data transmitted between the website and the user’s browser, making it much harder for hackers to intercept and steal this data. Hostinger offers SSL certificates to its customers, with options including free SSL certificates, domain validation certificates, and extended validation certificates.
Email Hosting
Hostinger offers email hosting services that allow customers to create custom email addresses for their domain. This is particularly useful for businesses that want a professional email address, such as [email protected] Hostinger’s email hosting includes features such as anti-spam protection, webmail access, and the ability to use third-party email clients like Microsoft Outlook or Apple Mail.
Backup Solutions
Hostinger understands the importance of data backup and provides various backup solutions to its customers. Hostinger’s backup options include daily or weekly backups, with the option to restore your website to a previous version in case of a problem. Additionally, customers can also create manual backups of their website at any time.
Domain Registration
Hostinger offers domain registration services, allowing customers to register their domain names for their website. Hostinger offers a wide range of domain extensions, including .com, .net, .org, .co.uk, and more. Hostinger also provides domain transfer services for those who want to move their domain from another registrar.
Website Builder
Hostinger’s website builder provides a simple and intuitive drag-and-drop interface that allows customers to build a website without any coding knowledge. With Hostinger’s website builder, customers can create a professional-looking website in minutes. Additionally, Hostinger provides website templates that customers can use as a starting point for their website.
Ease of Use
Hostinger offers an easy-to-use interface for managing websites. Here we are including the user interface and user experience of Hostinger, focusing on the ease of sign-up, installation, and management of websites.
Ease of Sign-up:
Signing up for Hostinger is a straightforward process. The user needs to visit the Hostinger website and click on the ‘Get Started’ button. From there, they will be redirected to a page where they can select a hosting plan that suits their needs. The user can choose from shared hosting, VPS hosting, or cloud hosting.
Once the user selects a hosting plan, they need to create an account by providing their email address and password. Alternatively, they can sign up using their Facebook or Google account. After the user provides the required details, they can make the payment, and their account will be created.
Overall, the sign-up process is easy and straightforward, with clear instructions at each step.
Ease of Installation:
Hostinger offers a user-friendly interface for installing and managing websites. After signing up, the user can access the control panel, where they can manage their website. Hostinger uses the popular cPanel interface, which is easy to navigate and use.
Installing a website is also a simple process. Hostinger provides a one-click installer that allows the user to install popular CMS platforms such as WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal with ease. The user needs to select the CMS they want to install, provide some basic details such as the website name, and the installer will handle the rest.
Overall, the installation process is straightforward and can be completed quickly, even by users with little technical knowledge.
Ease of Management:
Hostinger provides an intuitive interface for managing websites. The user can access the control panel from the Hostinger dashboard, which provides quick access to all the features and settings. The control panel is organized in a logical manner, making it easy to find the required options.
The user can manage various aspects of their website, such as adding domains, creating email accounts, and installing SSL certificates. Hostinger also provides a website builder that allows the user to create a website without any coding knowledge.
Customer Support
When it comes to customer support, Hostinger provides multiple options for users to get assistance, including live chat, email, and phone support.
Live Chat Support:
Hostinger offers 24/7 live chat support to its customers. The live chat support is accessible from the Hostinger website, and users can reach out to the support team by clicking on the live chat icon. The live chat support is fast, and users can expect a response within a few minutes. The Hostinger support team is knowledgeable and can help users with a range of issues, including technical support, billing, and account management.
Email Support:
Hostinger also provides email support to its customers. Users can send an email to [email protected], and the Hostinger support team will get back to them as soon as possible. Email support is ideal for users who have complex issues that require detailed explanations. However, users may need to wait longer to receive a response compared to live chat support.
Phone Support:
Hostinger also offers phone support to its customers. The phone support is available during business hours and is ideal for users who prefer to speak to a support representative directly. The phone support is available in multiple languages, making it accessible to a wider range of users.
Overall, the quality of Hostinger’s customer support is excellent. The support team is knowledgeable, responsive, and helpful. The availability of 24/7 live chat support is a standout feature, as users can get assistance quickly and efficiently. Email and phone support are also available, providing users with multiple options to get help. Hostinger’s customer support is one of the reasons why it is a popular web hosting provider.
Pricing and Value
Pricing is a critical factor for any web hosting company, and Hostinger has various pricing plans to cater to the needs of different types of customers.
Here are some of the pricing plans offered by Hostinger:
Shared Hosting Plans: Hostinger provides three shared hosting plans – Single, Premium, and Business. The Single plan starts at $1.99 per month, and it comes with 100 GB of bandwidth, 10 GB of disk space, and 1 MySQL database. The Premium plan costs $2.99 per month and comes with unlimited bandwidth, unlimited disk space, and unlimited MySQL databases. The Business plan costs $3.99 per month and comes with all the features of the Premium plan, along with a free SSL certificate, daily backups, and a free domain.
Cloud Hosting Plans: Hostinger provides three cloud hosting plans – Startup, Professional, and Global. The Startup plan starts at $9.99 per month and comes with 200 GB of storage, 3 GB of RAM, and 2 CPU cores. The Professional plan costs $14.99 per month and comes with 250 GB of storage, 6 GB of RAM, and 4 CPU cores. The Enterprise plan costs $29.99 per month and comes with 300 GB of storage, 12 GB of RAM, and 6 CPU cores.
VPS Hosting Plans: Hostinger provides eight VPS hosting plans – VPS 1, VPS 2, VPS 3, VPS 4, VPS 5, VPS 6, VPS 7 and VPS 8. The 1 vCPU plan starts at $3.95 per month and comes with 1 GB of RAM, 20 GB of storage, and 1 TB of bandwidth. The 8 vCPU plan costs $77.99 per month and comes with 16 GB of RAM, 250 GB of storage, and 12TB of bandwidth.
WordPress Hosting Plans: Hostinger provides three main WordPress hosting plans – Starter, Business, and Premium. The Starter plan starts at $2.99 per month and comes with Unlimited bandwidth, 100 GB of storage, and free email accounts. The Business plan costs $3.99 per month and comes with unlimited bandwidth, 200 GB of storage, and unlimited email accounts. The Premium plan costs $9.99 per month and comes with all the features of the Business plan, along with Jetpack free pre-installed and daily backups.
Pros and Cons
Hostinger has its own set of strengths and weaknesses. Here are the pros and cons of using Hostinger for web hosting:
Pros
Affordable pricing
Hostinger’s plans are highly affordable, making it an attractive option for small businesses and individuals who are just starting out. The company offers a range of plans, from shared hosting to VPS and cloud hosting, and all of them are competitively priced.
Fast loading times
Hostinger uses a combination of solid-state drives (SSDs), HTTP/2, and PHP7 to ensure fast loading times for websites. This is important because slow loading times can negatively affect a website’s user experience and search engine rankings.
User-friendly interface
Hostinger’s control panel is intuitive and easy to use, even for beginners. The company also provides a range of tutorials and guides to help users get started with their hosting account.
Good uptime
Hostinger guarantees 99.9% uptime for all of its hosting plans. While this may not be the highest uptime guarantee in the industry, it is still a respectable figure that should provide peace of mind for most users.
Excellent customer support
Hostinger’s customer support team is available 24/7 via live chat, email, and phone. The company also has a large knowledge base and community forum where users can get help from other Hostinger users.
Cons
Limited resources on shared hosting
Hostinger’s shared hosting plans come with limited resources, including storage space, bandwidth, and CPU usage. This means that if a website experiences a sudden spike in traffic, it may go down or slow down significantly.
Limited data centers
Hostinger currently has data centers in only seven countries, which may not be enough for users who have a global audience.
No free domain
Unlike some other hosting providers, Hostinger does not offer a free domain name with its plans. Users will have to purchase a domain separately, which can add to the overall cost of hosting.
No phone support in some countries
While Hostinger’s customer support team is available via phone, this option may not be available in some countries.
Mixed reviews on security
While Hostinger takes security seriously and offers a range of security features, some users have reported security issues in the past. However, it is worth noting that no hosting provider can guarantee 100% security.
Some Users Reviews
“I have been using Hostinger for a few years now and I am very impressed with their service. Their hosting is reliable and affordable, and their customer support team is very helpful.” – John, Trustpilot
“I recently switched to Hostinger and I am very happy with their service. The website migration was seamless, and their hosting is fast and reliable. The customer support team has been very responsive and helpful.” – Sarah, Trustpilot
“I have been using Hostinger for a year now and I am very satisfied with their service. Their hosting is fast and reliable, and their customer support team is very knowledgeable and helpful.” – Mark, Trustpilot
“Hostinger is a great hosting provider. They offer affordable pricing and excellent customer support. I have been using their services for a few months now and I am very satisfied with their hosting.” – Tom, Trustpilot
“I have been using Hostinger for a while now and I can say that their hosting is fast and reliable. Their customer support team is also very helpful and knowledgeable. I would definitely recommend Hostinger to anyone looking for affordable and reliable hosting.” – Jane, Trustpilot
“I recently switched to Hostinger and I am very impressed with their service. Their website migration process was very smooth and their hosting is fast and reliable. Their customer support team is also very helpful and responsive. I am very satisfied with their service.” – Priya, Trustpilot
“Hostinger is one of the best web hosting companies in India. Their hosting plans are affordable and their customer support team is very knowledgeable and helpful. I have been using their service for over a year now and I have had no issues with their hosting. I highly recommend Hostinger to anyone looking for reliable web hosting.” – Rakesh, Google Reviews
Comparision with other Hosting Providers
There are many other hosting providers in the market that offer similar services, making it important to compare Hostinger with its competitors in terms of pricing, features, performance, and customer support.
Pricing
When it comes to pricing, Hostinger is known for its affordability. Hostinger’s shared hosting plans start at $1.99 per month, making it one of the most affordable hosting providers in the market. In comparison, other hosting providers like Bluehost and SiteGround offer shared hosting plans that start at $2.95 per month and $14.99 per month, respectively.
Features
In terms of features, Hostinger offers a range of hosting solutions, including shared hosting, VPS hosting, and cloud hosting. Hostinger’s shared hosting plans come with features like a free domain, unlimited bandwidth, and a website builder, among others. Hostinger’s VPS hosting plans come with features like full root access, dedicated IP address, and SSD storage, while its cloud hosting plans offer features like auto-scaling, load balancing, and high availability.
In comparison, Bluehost offers similar hosting solutions but with more limited features. For example, Bluehost’s shared hosting plans come with limited storage and bandwidth, while its VPS hosting plans do not offer root access. SiteGround, on the other hand, offers similar features but at a higher price point.
Performance
When it comes to performance, Hostinger has a strong reputation for providing fast and reliable hosting solutions. Hostinger’s servers are located in data centers across the world, ensuring that users get fast loading times and minimal downtime. Hostinger also uses advanced caching technology to improve website performance.
In comparison, Bluehost and SiteGround also offer reliable hosting solutions, but Hostinger’s performance is often considered superior. Hostinger’s servers are optimized for WordPress, which is the most popular website platform, ensuring that users can run WordPress sites with ease.
Customer Support
Customer support is an important aspect of hosting, as users may require assistance with setting up their websites or resolving technical issues. Hostinger offers 24/7 customer support through live chat and email. Hostinger’s support team is knowledgeable and responsive, ensuring that users get timely assistance.
Bluehost and SiteGround also offer 24/7 customer support through live chat, phone, and email. However, Hostinger’s customer support is often considered superior, as it is more responsive and helpful.
Conclusion
Overall, Hostinger hosting is an excellent choice for individuals and businesses looking for affordable hosting solutions. Hostinger offers high-performance servers, user-friendly control panel, advanced security features, and 24/7 customer support. Hostinger’s pricing plans are affordable, making it an excellent option for those on a budget. However, if you require more resources or dedicated hosting plans, you may need to look at other hosting providers.