HostGator web hosting

HostGator’s web hosting plans

The entry-level Hatchling plan is aimed at a smaller setup, while Baby increases the allowance for websites and storage. Business steps up again and is the tier HostGator’s guide points to for e-commerce; Pro is the largest option. Across the range, the published comparison scales from 10 to 100 websites and from 10 GB to 100 GB of SSD storage, with stated CPU-time allocation also increasing by tier.

Choose Hatchling for a modest site, and Baby if you want to host multiple sites without starting at a larger tier. Business is the more appropriate starting point for a growing shop, while Pro provides the greatest listed capacity. HostGator describes an upgrade path through the customer portal, although Pro is available during purchase rather than through that portal.

What stands out in HostGator shared hosting

All four plans in our comparison include cPanel, SSH access, a one-click WordPress installer, free SSL and a CDN option. The comparison also lists a free domain. HostGator manages the shared-server environment, but you manage your own site and applications. There is no root access, and the provider says customers have limited ability to change server settings or install custom software.

Backups need particular attention. HostGator’s documentation describes different backup schedules and limits shared-account backup eligibility to accounts below 20 GB and 100,000 inodes. Coverage should not be assumed for every plan or account. A restore request can incur a fee, and HostGator recommends keeping your own backups; CodeGuard is an additional option rather than a feature confirmed as included on every tier.

HostGator advertises around-the-clock chat support, with phone support listed for higher tiers in its plan guide. It says most HostGator.com servers are in Provo, Utah, and Atlanta, Georgia, with some elsewhere; customers cannot select a data centre. Its documentation is not fully consistent about named locations, so these cities are not a selectable-location guarantee.

Introductory prices, renewals and billing

HostGator separates introductory offers from regular renewal rates. Longer billing terms generally lower the monthly-equivalent cost of regular pricing, but require paying for the chosen term upfront. Plans renew automatically on the selected billing cycle unless you disable auto-renewal or cancel. HostGator lists monthly and longer prepaid cycles, and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for eligible shared-hosting purchases. Monthly-term services, domain registration and certain add-ons are excluded, subject to the provider’s terms.

When another web host may fit better

If choosing a hosting location matters, GreenGeeks lets customers choose among its listed data-centre locations. For provider-managed hosting with a choice of France, Switzerland or Canada, compare PlanetHoster, which describes its service as fully managed. See our comparison of all web hosting providers for more options.

Read our HostGator review for an overall assessment.

Visit the HostGator provider page to compare its other products.