EIG, or Endurance International Group, was once a dominant force in the web hosting industry, known for acquiring multiple hosting brands. On February 10th, 2021, it was announced that Clearlake Capital Group has completed the acquisition of Endurance International Group at approximately $3.0 billion (source). The company EIG has now rebranded as Newfold Digital. This change marks a significant shift in strategy, aiming to improve the services and reputation that EIG had built over the years.
In this article we are going to take a closer look on the EIG / Newfold Digital story and, more importantly, what does this mean to you as a current or potential customer.
The Who, What, When of Endurance International Group (EIG)
EIG, formerly BizLand, was first founded as a web hosting company in Burlington, Massachusetts, year 1996.
Over the years, EIG grew rapidly through a series of acquisitions, bringing a wide array of hosting brands under its umbrella. Many of these hosting companies were well-known brands that you might have heard of, including: BlueHost, Hostgator, Web.com, and so on.
The company went public in 2013, raising capital to fuel further expansion.
In 2019, the company owns and manages over 70 web hosting and relevant web companies. Total subscribers on EIG platform at December 31, 2019 were approximately 4.766 million.
While this aggressive expansion made EIG a major player, it also led to criticisms. Many customers felt that the quality of service declined as the company grew.
The acquisition by Clearlake Capital Group in 2020 led to a significant restructuring and rebranding effort.
Clearlake completed the acquisition of Endurance International Group and simultaneously made strategic investment transactions with Web.com and affiliates of Siris Capital.
This led to the formation of Newfold Digital, a new entity that combined the strengths of these companies. The rebranding, as per the official announcement, was designed to unify these diverse brands under a more customer-centric approach, aiming to leverage synergies across the portfolio and enhance their position in the digital services market.
Web Hosting Companies and Brands under EIG / Newfold Digital Today
Newfold Digital now manages the extensive list of brands that once belonged to EIG. Here’s an up-to-date list of these brands:
- 2slick.com
- AccountSupport
- A Small Orange
- ApolloHosting
- Apthost
- Arvixe
- Berry Information Systems L.L.C.
- BigRock
- BizLand
- BlueDomino
- Bluehost
- Cloud by IX
- Crazy Domain
- Directi
- Dollar2Host
- Domain.com
- DomainHost
- Dot5Hosting
- Dotster
- Dreamscape Networks
- easyCGI
- eComdash
- EmailBrain
- eHost
- EntryHost
- Escalate Internet
- Freeparking
- FastDomain
- FatCow
- FreeYellow
- Globat
- Homestead
- HostCentric
- HostClear
- HostGator
- Hostnine
- HostMonster
- Host with Me Now
- HostYourSite.com
- Network Solutions
- HyperMart
- IMOutdoors
- Intuit Websites
- iPage
- IPOWER/iPowerWeb
- IX Web Hosting
- JustHost
- LogicBoxes
- MojoMarketplace
- MyDomain
- MyResellerHome
- NetFirms
- Network Solutions
- Networks Web Hosting
- Nexx
- PowWeb
- PureHost
- ReadyHosting.com
- Register.com
- ResellerClub
- Saba-Pro
- SEO Hosting
- SEO Web Hosting
- Site5
- Sitelio
- Sitebuilder
- Sitebeat
- Southeast Web
- SolidCactus
- Spry
- StartLogic
- SuperGreen Hosting
- Typepad
- USANetHosting
- vDeck
- Verio
- Vodian
- VirtualAvenue
- VPSLink
- WebHost4Life
- webhosting.info
- Website Builder
- Webstrike Solutions
- Webzai
- Xeran
- YourWebHosting
Is EIG’s Hosting Brands Any Good?
Well, the company has some definite pluses – take, for example, it’s A rating on BBB.
BBB’s reason of ratings
- Length of time business has been operating.
- Complaint volume filed with BBB for business of this size.
- Response to 365 complaint(s) filed against business.
- Resolution of complaint(s) filed against business.
- BBB has sufficient background information on this business.
However – given the fact that HostScore.net is affiliated to a number of hosting brands under its management – we will leave it to you to decide.
Not all EIG brands are the same
Like them or not – it’s important to understand that not all Endurance brands are the same.
Every acquisition comes with some risk and uncertainty – and, as some may expect, some of the EIG brands were “left for dead” while the conglomerate continued to grow and pour investments into other areas.
BlueHost, for example, has continued to thrive under its new management. The company has revamped their websites, added new hosting range in their services, and remained as one of the top names in hosting industry.
The same cannot be said for eHost, HostClear, and IX Web Hosting – these brands no longer exist today and their users were transferred to other platforms.
Why Should You Consider Non-EIG Hosting Brands?
Considering alternatives to Newfold Digital might be wise if you are concerned about potential lingering issues from the EIG era. While Newfold Digital aims to improve, some customers may prefer to explore other options.
When choosing an alternative, it’s essential to focus on features like uptime reliability, customer support quality, and the specific needs of your website.
What Are the Best Alternatives to Newfold Digital Brands?
If you’re thinking about switching providers, here are some top alternatives to consider:
Shared Hosting Alternatives
- Hostinger – Cheap shared hosting plans with AI-powered site builder; wide selections in server locations.
- TMDHosting – Affordable hosting with excellent support and strong features.
- InMotion Hosting – US hosting companies 20 years business track record.
WordPress Hosting Alternatives
- Kinsta – Provides managed WordPress hosting with top-notch performance.
- WP Engine – A specialized WordPress host with premium features and support.
- Cloudways Autonomous – Managed WordPress hosting with unlimited PHP workers auto-scaling.
VPS / Cloud Hosting Alternatives
- ScalaHosting – Wide range of hosting choices with in-house built control panel and cybersecurity protection (SPanel & SShield)
- Cloudways – Managed cloud hosting platform with great scalability and customer support; powered by Google Cloud, Digital Ocean, Amazon Web Services, and more.
- LiquidWeb – High-quality hosting with excellent uptime and enterprise-level support.
Share Your Experience with Us
Navigating the hosting landscape post-EIG can seem challenging, but understanding your needs and doing thorough research will help you make an informed decision. Whether you choose to stay with a Newfold Digital brand or explore other options, ensuring your hosting provider aligns with your website’s goals is key to long-term success.
Submit Review Here
What has your experience been like with Endurance’s web hosting services so far? Also, if you have reviews or experience with other web hosts, we welcome you to share your feedback with us.
