Both HostGator and Hostinger offer a wide range of hosting solutions including shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting. However, when you look closer, you’ll notice that they are targeting slightly different market segments.
Understanding their unique selling propositions and limitations will help you choose the right provider based on your specific needs.
Overall Ratings
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Key Differences Between the Two
Hostinger: Affordable and User-Friendly for Beginners
Key Differentiators When Comparing with Hostgator
- Significant Cheaper: Hostinger is known for its highly competitive pricing, making it an ideal choice for those looking to establish a cost-effective online presence.
- User-Friendly Approach: The custom-designed hPanel offers a straightforward and intuitive user interface, perfect for those who are less familiar with the technical aspects of web hosting.
- Global Service Reach: With multiple data centers across four continents, Hostinger ensures better regional performance and a wide array of payment options to accommodate users worldwide.
- Continuous Innovation: As a company that’s aggressively expanding, Hostinger frequently updates its hosting offerings, integrating new technologies and features to enhance user experience.
Drawbacks
- Renewal Price Spike: Users need to be aware of the significant price increase upon renewal, which can impact the long-term affordability of their hosting plans.
- No Windows Hosting: The absence of Windows hosting might not meet the needs of all users, particularly those with specific requirements in ASP.Net or Windows Hosting.
HostGator: Long-Standing Hosting Brands
Key Differentiators
- Long Business Track Record: The brand “Hostgator” has been around for more than 20 years, though its ownership has changed hands a few times (from founder Brent Oxley to Endurance International Group to New Fold Digital).
- 45-day Money Back Guarantee: HostGator offers a 45-day money-back guarantee (vs Hostinger’s 30 days), catering to users who need a bit more from their hosting plan.
Drawbacks:
- Price Surge Post-Introductory Period: The introductory pricing is attractive, but there is a notable increase after this period, similar to Hostinger but with less overall value due to other service concerns.
- Limited Choice in Server Locations: Hostgator only has servers in the United States, primarily in Provo, Utah, and Atlanta, Georgia. While they claim that users can route their content through Cloudflare’s 23 data center locations, this isn’t unique to Hostgator, as any hosting service can utilize Cloudflare. In comparison, Hostinger covers a wide range of server locations including France, Lithuania, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, India, Singapore, USA, and Brazil.
- Customer Satisfaction: TThere are complaints about Hostgator’s support system, with a general consensus that its quality has deteriorated after being sold to EIG.
Service Offering
| Feature | Hostgator | Hostinger |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting Services | Shared, VPS, Dedicated, and Reseller Hosting | Shared, VPS, and Cloud Hosting |
| Specialized Services | Managed WordPress, Adult Websites, Email, and Game Server Hosting | Managed WordPress, Adult Websites, Email, and Game Server Hosting |
| Server Locations | USA, Europe, Asia, Australia | France, Lithuania, Netherlands, United Kingdom, India, Indonesia, Singapore, USA, Brazil |
| Control Panel | cPanel | In-House |
| Uptime Guarantee | 99.9% | 99.9% |
| Money Back (Days) | 45 | 30 |
| Free Migration | Yes | Yes |
| Support Channels | Phone, live chat, and email | Live chat and email |
Key Takeaways
- Both Hostgator and Hostinger offer a comprehensive range of hosting services, including shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting options and cater to specialized services like managed WordPress hosting.
Plans & Pricing
| Hosting Type | Hostgator | Hostinger |
|---|---|---|
| Shared Hosting | $3.75 - 6.25/mo | $2.99 - 9.99/mo |
| VPS Hosting | $34.99 - 93.99/mo | $4.49 - 19.99/mo |
| Dedicated Hosting | $89.98 - 139.99/mo | $ - /mo |
| Cloud Hosting | $4.50 - 13.95/mo | $9.99 - 29.99/mo |
| Managed WP Hosting | $4.50 - 13.95/mo | $2.49 - 8.99/mo |
| Windows Hosting | $4.76 - 14.36/mo | $ - /mo |
| Coupon | - | HOSTSCORE |
| Coupon Details | - | Additional 10% discount |
Key Takeaways
- Overall Hostinger is significantly cheaper than Hostgator- especially when you consider adding our exclusive “HOSTSCORE” coupon to get an extra 7% discount.
Development Features & Others
| Feature | Hostgator | Hostinger |
|---|---|---|
| Language Support | PHP, Python, Django, Perl, Ruby on Rails, and ASP.NET | PHP, Java, Python, Node.js, Django, Perl, and Ruby on Rails |
| Dev Features | GIT access, cron jobs, Multiple PHP versions, and SSH access | GIT access, WP-CLI, cron jobs, Multiple PHP versions, and SSH access |
| Staging Tool | Softaculous | Built-in |
| Free SSL | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in Cache | Yes | Yes |
| Global CDN | Higher plans | Higher plans |
| Free Malware Scan | Yes | Yes |
| DDoS Protection | Yes | Higher plans |
| Web Application Firewall (WAF) | Yes | Yes |
Key Takeaways
- Both Hostgator and Hostinger are equipped with a suite of developer-friendly features, including support for multiple programming languages, GIT access, and staging tools.
- Hostinger has an edge with its in-house control panel and built-in caching across all plans.
- Both offer a 99.9% uptime guarantee and free SSL, making them reliable choices for developers.
Our Thoughts
While both Hostinger and HostGator are reliable hosting options, Hostinger is usually recommended for most users, especially those who value cost-efficiency, ease of use, and innovative features. Its user-friendly platform and competitive pricing make it especially attractive for beginners and small businesses.
About Hostgator
In October 2002, Brent Oxley, then a student at Florida Atlantic University, founded HostGator, a rising star in the web hosting industry. Starting in Boca Raton, Florida, the company relocated to Houston, Texas, in 2006 as it grew. HostGator expanded internationally with offices in Canada (2006) and India (2011).
A major milestone occurred in July 2012 when Endurance International Group acquired HostGator for $299.8 million, cementing its position as a leading web hosting provider in the global market.
The company offers a range of hosting services, including shared, VPS, dedicated, and reseller hosting. With shared hosting plans, you’ll snag a free domain and benefit from up to $200 in ad credits on mid- and higher-tier plans.
However, it’s not without limitations—server resources can be constrained, VPS options are limited, and the servers are exclusively US-based. Additionally, be prepared for a price increase at renewal, making it important to weigh the initial savings against the long-term costs.
Hostgator Pros
- Affordable pricing
- Free domain name with all shaerd hosting plans
- Free $100 Bing and $100 Google ad credits
- 45-day money-back guarantee
Hostgator Cons
- Resources limited by server constraints
- Not much variety in VPS plans
- Only US-based servers
- Price increase during the renewal
About Hostinger
Hostinger traces its origins back to 2004 when it began as Hosting Media, a brainchild of enterprising youth in Kaunas, Lithuania. Their journey of innovation commenced with the launch of 000webhost.com in 2007, followed by the establishment of the esteemed cPanel brand Hosting24.com in 2008.
The pivotal year of 2011 heralded the rise of Hostinger, accompanied by its bespoke hPanel interface. In 2016, Hostinger unveiled its cutting-edge cloud hosting service, marking another milestone in its remarkable evolution. In 2021, the company celebrated a significant milestone with the addition of its 1,000th employee, reinforcing its status as a premier provider of web hosting solutions.
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Hostinger Pros
- Very cost-effective - Lowest plan starts at $2.99/mo and support up to 100 websites
- Nine different data centers in four continents
- Good spread of hosting plans
- User-friendly control panel (hPanel)
- Wide range of payment options accepted
- Git environment available on shared hosting
- Additional 10% discount with coupon code "HOSTSCORE"
Hostinger Cons
- Price increase during the renewal
- Does not support Windows hosting
