HostGator Review 2023: Why To Choose This As Your Web Hosting Service Provider?

Nicholas Amundson

July 16, 2022
16 min read

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Are you looking for a web hosting service? Confused, which option to choose among the many different options available in the market? If your answer to these questions is yes, then you are surely at the right place!

In this detailed guide, we will mainly focus on talking about HostGator which is a popular hosting service that a lot of people consider choosing these days.

Reading this guide from the start to the end will surely help you to know about this in detail.

And the best part is that we will provide you with an honest HostGator review and so, you do not have to be concerned about anything. Now, without wasting any further time, let’s get started with our today’s point of discussion:

Introductory Lines

HostGator has turned out to be one of the most well-known and largest hosting companies globally. They are involved in offering VPS hosting, HostGator shared hosting, dedicated servers along with managed WordPress hosting plans.

This blog post is going to be informative as here, we will uncover many important details about this web hosting platform. If you are thinking about whether it is the right choice for your requirements or not, then keep reading this guide to gain better clarity on this:

What Is HostGator?

HostGator was established in the year 2002. And in a very short period, this platform has grown up to become one of the leading hosting companies across the globe.

The rapid and significant amount of growth of this platform is because of the best quality of HostGator customer service, reliable web hosting, and amazing shared hosting plans.

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, currently, HostGator is known for hosting more than 10 million domains.

They have an employee base of above 850 who are dedicated to offering 24/7 HostGator services and support. Finally, they are involved in serving all sizes of businesses.

Being a subsidiary of Endurance International Group, they provide a diverse range of web hosting solutions to a substantial customer base present across the world.

The best part about using this robust and best web hosting service is that you will get a lot of hosting choices that cater to anyone from an absolute beginner to an expert professional.

Although the services they offer are much like the other hosting services available such as Bluehost, their USP lies in getting specific with their host offerings. Not only that, but they also allow you to do customization of what you want especially in your hosting package.

So, it can be called the most important reason, why it is trusted by millions of people.

HostGator Overview Details

HostGator Review

Types of Hosting (5/5)

Reliability and Security (4.8/5)

Hosting Features (4.8/5)

Uptime and Overall Performance (4.8/5)

Customer Support (4.5/5)

Pricing (5/5)

HostGator, being one of the oldest and biggest website hosting providers in the world, successfully manages more than 2.5 million sites globally. They are inclined towards offering many useful features.

Among these, the most notable ones are all-around-the-clock customer support, a 99.9% uptime guarantee, 1-click installs, etc. Due to all of these reasons, it would not be wrong to call it a smart choice for every site owner.

So, let’s move further in our discussion by talking about the key features of HostGator:

Key Features Of HostGator

Before you give it a try, you should first know about its key features as enlisted below so that you can know what you are getting:

1. Storage And Bandwidth

Every hosting plan of HostGator tends to provide unmetered bandwidth along with storage. It means that, by choosing this platform, you would be able to effectively utilize the storage space and bandwidth without any limitations.

However, it must be with the extent to which the hosting service provider can acquire. To get a clear idea about this, it is a good idea to have a look at the usage policy of HostGator. By doing so, you would be able to know about the limitations.

2. Security

HostGator is involved in offering a free SSL certificate which again protects your website domains. It also encrypts communications between the servers as well as visitors to your site.

They are again known for offering some additional security features such as the capability to add SiteLock monitoring to your HostGator website. The best part is that this particular service will run daily.

And so, you do not have to be concerned about any potential website hacks or breaches. It will offer the utmost protection to your website.

HostGator will immediately notify you if they find any security risk. The only disadvantage is that you will have to pay a little more i.e., $5.99/month for accessing SiteLock.

Not only that but they are also known for offering Spam Assassin on your email plans which aid in preventing spam from reaching your inbox. From this, you can get an idea about the robustness of the security features, offered by this platform.

3. Website Migration

In case, it is not your first website, and you are focusing to migrate from your existing website to a new one, then don’t worry! HostGator has got you covered as well.

Once you HostGator login or sign up, you will get 30 days to contact and have them help move any website scripts, databases, files, and even a HostGator domain name. It also incorporates a comprehensive HostGator cPanel transfer.

They will assist you in all these aspects. So, in case, you are looking forward to having multiple site installs such as subdomains for a large website, then also HostGator has a solution for you.

Each of the shared HostGator web hosting plans comes with the inclusion of a sole site or cPanel migration. You with find the availability of various plans. If you choose the resellers plan, then you will get access to more i.e., up to 30.

The best part about choosing this particular hosting service provider is that it offers you a single free website migration. So, it means, you can easily migrate your site to your new hosting account, without any hassles.

4. Ease Of Use

If you are a novice blogger or webmaster, then HostGator can prove to be a tailor-made platform for your requirements. Their website is full of walkthroughs, HostGator tutorials, etc. which helps you so that you can easily navigate the murky world of data centers and DNS.

HostGator also offers some exclusive features for the absolute beginners who are considering setting up a website on their own.

So, if you are someone who does not want to take the hassles of hiring other people to build, design, and manage everything, then HostGator has the best deals for you.

Gator, the HostGator website builder tool is incredibly easy to use. Not only that, but this platform also comes with free hosting as well as a domain name. So, it means you only need to buy a single account for all your requirements.

All the templates, you will find are customizable and modern, which makes it easy for one to get started. You just, need to drag and drop each feature, if you wish to make them look the way you wish to.

You will again get a free HostGator SSL certificate and site analytics by choosing this hosting service provider. It aids in safeguarding the personal data of your visitors such as their physical location.

HostGator again utilizes cPanel as its control panel. In case you are having any prior experience with hosting, then you will not face much difficulty as cPanel is regarded as one of the most utilized HostGator control panels in the hosting industry.

However, if you are completely a beginner, then you will find it much easy to navigate as the learning curve is not steep in this case.

5. Money-Back Guarantee

You will get a money-back guarantee by choosing HostGator as your hosting service provider. The company holds so much confidence in its service that they have extended its 30-day refund policy to an extra two weeks i.e., 45 days in total.

So, it means that you can use it for over a month and if any particular issue arises, then you would be able to get the purchase price back. So, isn’t it a great deal?

Also, note that the 45-day money-back guarantee applies to all reseller, shared, and VPS hosting packages.

But it does not apply to the HostGator’s dedicated servers, install fees or administrative fees for custom software. You are expected to see these limitations for whatever hosting service, you focus on choosing.

For instance, if a HostGator free domain name is included in your hosting plan, then they will deduct $15.00 from the refund amount for the domain which is the standard fee.

As per the Terms of HostGator, they will get up to 90 days to issue a refund. No refunds will be given on bank wire transfers, Western Union payments, money orders, or checks.

But refunds are only available for new accounts or plans. So, in case, you have already signed up for one and you are canceling a renewal, or it is your second attempt, then you are not expected to get anything in return.

Finally, note that the processing of foreign currency refunds is based on the U.S. Dollar exchange rates.

6. Customer Support

Similar to other well-known hosting service providers such as GreenGeeks, Bluehost, Dreamhost, and SiteGround, HostGator is also known for offering a knowledge base, email, phone, and live chat support.

You will find their live chat support to be amazing and incredibly fast. All in all, the HostGator support is good. So, whenever you choose HostGator, you are always assured to get best-in-class support and services.

HostGator Pros And Cons

Pros

Dependable hosting
Free Migration
Flexible billing periods
45-days moneyback guarantee
Free SSL and domain name
1-click WordPress install
Free business email address

Cons

Aggressive upselling
Higher monthly pricing

HostGator Pricing Plans

Regardless of what HostGator plans you pick, it provides you with the following options:

One-click installs
Limitless FTP users
All-round-the-clock server monitoring
A 99.9 percent uptime guarantee
Infinite MySQL databases
Free Migration
cPanel control panel
Unmetered bandwidth
24/7 customer support

Now that you know, you will get all these features on any plans you choose, let’s move further in our discussion by talking about the different types of hosting services offered by HostGator:

Below, we are going to discuss the pricing of each of the types of hosting services, that HostGator is involved in offering:

HostGator Web Hosting

Each of these plans is priced on a 36-month billing cycle. But you always get the option to adjust that pricing that shorter billing cycles. Note that this can change your monthly pricing.

You will get unlimited email and one-click installs with all these plans for web hosting. But, if you choose the business plan, then you will get many other things with it such as free VoIP phone service, dedicated IP, and private SSL.

Again, if you choose its most basic plan i.e., the Hatchling plan, then it lets you host one domain. The rest of the features remains the same for all three plans.

It contributes to making HostGator an outstanding entry-level hosting provider as you will get many of the features which will help you to get your one website up and running swiftly.

Cloud Hosting HostGator

HostGator is regarded as a trustworthy cloud hosting service provider which offers you three distinct alternatives to choose from. The first and most important thing is to decide how much RAM, you will require.

Their basic Hatchling plan can be an outstanding starter alternative for you as it provides you with 2 GB of RAM.

Again, if your RAM requirement is more, then you can choose their Business Cloud plan which offers you 6 GB of RAM. With this plan, you are also getting a dedicated VoIP and IP phone service.

HostGator WordPress Hosting

If you are hosting your website with WordPress, then all that you need is to choose the WordPress hosting solutions of HostGator.

Depending on the amount of traffic your website receives, you need to choose between these plans. Also, determine whether you are focusing to host one or multiple websites to come across an effective choice.

As the pricing of each tier is reasonable and so, HostGator is a highly recommended hosting service provider for starter websites.

HostGator VPS Hosting

The VPS hosting plan of HostGator comes with many additional features. But it tends to have fewer service limitations. With your growth, you can effortlessly add more CPU, RAM, or disc space for accommodating your website.

By choosing this, you are getting a virtual server that is dedicated to your website. It makes sure that you are having more control over the hosting environment of your website and that too in a cost-effective way.

From this, you would be able to get a good idea about the flexibility of HostGator as a hosting service provider.

HostGator Dedicated Hosting

Finally, you will get a maximum number of features in the dedicated hosting category of HostGator. You need to choose a hard drive depending on the requirements of your website. Again, your RAM requirements will depend on your site.

The dedicated hosting plan also offers you IP-based firewall protection. Dedicated servers are well equipped for hosting websites that are in comprehensive growth mode.

These specific sites are typically in need of robust features which help them to grow while minimizing downtime, space constraints, and technical problems. All of these issues can arise with a less robust hosting plan.

If you have ultimately decided to choose the dedicated hosting of HostGator, then you can be assured to get all the hosting and website management tools that you are going to require.

Their capability to tailor offers as per your unique requirements sets them apart from the other alternatives available in the market.

HostGator Alternatives

Some of the top alternatives for HostGator in 2021 and 2022 include the following:

DreamHost or A2 Hosting is known for offering low-cost and reliable web hosting.
Some of the web hosting service providers who offer the best support include Bluehost, GreenGeeks, InMotion, SiteGround, and DreamHost.
SiteGround is again known to be a preferred shared hosting provider for WordPress. They tend to have several interesting features which help them to stand out.

It includes advanced speed optimization options, staging, a built-in caching system, and a lot more.

Our Final Verdict On HostGator

Now that you are done reading this comprehensive HostGator web hosting review post, you may be thinking about whether HostGator is the right choice for your requirements or not.

HostGator Reviews 2023

🥰 Types of Hosting Plans
🙂 Reliability and Security
❤️ Hosting Features
😇 Uptime and Overall Performance
👍 Customer Support
🙃 Value for Money

4.8

Final Verdict

Well, HostGator can be a good option for anyone who is in search of a hosting service provider that offers them a wide diversity of hosting plans. It has almost everything and so, it is assured to meet your unique requirements.

We highly recommend you try the HostGator web hosting service.

Again, the cost of the HostGator hosting plans is not that high. So, you can consider choosing a plan that suits your budget. They also focus on offering all the user-friendly tools which you will require for building a website. So, it makes the overall work incredibly easy for you.

Due to all these reasons, more than 2 million customers trust HostGator and have chosen them as their dependable hosting service provider.

Irrespective of whether you are just starting your first website or you are a seasoned internet pro, you will find the easy availability of all required tools in HostGator. These tools are again considered to be sufficient for taking your website to the next level.

Want to test the functionality of this hosting service provider? If yes, then consider giving it a try today. You can get started with its HostGator free trial and if you like this, then you can opt for its premium plan depending on your requirements.

Hopefully, you have found this HostGator hosting review post to be insightful.

HostGator Frequently Asked Questions

Users mostly and frequently focus on asking the below-mentioned questions about HostGator as enlisted below:

Is HostGator A Good Choice For WordPress?

Yes, absolutely! HostGator is an amazing choice for WordPress. Also, it is a highly recommended option for those who are looking forward to launching a WordPress website.

This platform again tends to provide you with a 1-click WordPress installation for making your work easy.

It again allows you to choose the required templates and plugins during the setup process. Additionally, you will get all-around-the-clock customer support whenever you choose HostGator as your hosting service partner.

So, it can be an amazing option for you to choose if you are an absolute beginner.

Which Is The Better Option To Choose In Between HostGator And Bluehost?

You need to make a choice, depending on your unique requirements. Both Bluehost and HostGator are known to be great hosting companies, which makes them highly recommended.

Again, both these platforms are considered to be much similar when seen in terms of pricing, MySQL databases, disk space, unmetered bandwidth, CPU resources, and a lot more.

The user experience of Bluehost is found to be somewhat better than HostGator. It is because they have heavily invested in their WordPress platform.

Bluehost also offers you advantages in terms of several aspects such as security, SSD storage, overall performance, and value for money.

However, HostGator continuously tries to beat that by providing you with the faster support, a 45-day money-back guarantee, and comparatively cheaper hosting plans.

Is HostGator Better Than GoDaddy And SiteGround?

HostGator is a better choice than GoDaddy when seen in terms of ease of use, support, and overall user experience. Again, the key difference between SiteGround and HostGator lies in terms of pricing.

The plan of SiteGround starts at $3.99/month. But this Startup plan does not include a free domain name. Due to this reason, HostGator can be called a much better option for those who are on a constrained budget.

However, if you are looking for faster performance, then you can consider choosing SiteGround. In terms of performance, SiteGround is way better than HostGator. It is especially because their servers are hosted on Google Cloud which contributes to their faster speed.

Finally, HostGator is of the same standard as other hosting service providers such as InMotion hosting, Dreamhost, and most other shared hosting providers.

Which HostGator Plan Should I Choose?

In case, you are looking forward to starting a single HostGator blog or website, then it is recommended to start with their Hatchling plan.

However, it is always a good idea, if you start your journey with the baby plan as it provides you with multiple install support. You always have the option to upgrade your hosting plan, whenever required.