HostGator vs Hostwinds – Which Web Hosting is Better?

Can’t decide between HostGator and Hostwinds?

Which provider is more reliable?

Which one is more affordable?

What features will I get?

In this HostGator vs Hostwinds comparison review, we’ll answer all those questions and more. With this, you’ll be able to determine which is the better one for YOU.

Now, let’s get into the details. 

Uptime and Performance

Uptime and performance are probably the most important factors to consider. 

I mean, who wants a website that frequently goes offline and takes forever to load? No one! 

That said, you will want a  web host that can give you an uptime as close to 100% as possible. 

The great news is that both HostGator and Hostwinds offer reliable uptime, with 99.95% average and 99.99% average, respectively.

Even better news, both offer fast loading speeds, too. And fast speed always leads to fewer bounce rates. 

Now, HostGator is a tad bit faster, with loading times of 707ms, while Hostwinds takes around 800ms to load. 

So rest assured both providers are super reliable and speedy, which to some, is all they need. 

Website Building

Haven’t created a website yet?

Both HostGator and Hostwinds have their own site builders. 

HostGator uses a custom-built site builder. It has a drag-and-drop feature and an intuitive interface. 

On the other hand, Hostwinds uses Weebly, one of the most popular and user-friendly site builders out there. 

With both site builders, you don’t need to know anything about programming or coding. Even if you’re a newbie, you can take advantage of the easy-to-understand interfaces.

Migration Services

Need to transfer your site to a different host?

One of the best perks of Hostwinds is its free migration services. You don’t need to pay anything to have their team guide you through moving everything from your old server to their server. 

As for HostGator, you have to pay an additional fee to avail of migration services. 

Products and Features

While we always emphasize uptime and performance, features can definitely sweeten a web hosting plan. 

For this section, we’ll compare the most basic Shared Hosting plans of the two web hosts:

As you can see, the biggest difference is in the email addresses. 

While email accounts aren’t the most important feature of a hosting plan, having at least 1 free account is always a good thing. 

This is where Hostwinds becomes more preferable to site owners looking to communicate professionally with their audience. Not only does it give you unlimited email addresses, but it also doesn’t charge for the accounts you use. 

HostGator charges $6/mo for one email account on top of the hosting plan of your choice. 

Another difference you might have spotted is in the storage. 

HostGator gives unmetered storage. This means that while you’re not charged for the storage you use, you’re not allowed to use too much of it. 

Say, if you use 25% more of the average storage consumption, then your subscription can be revoked by HostGator. This makes unmetered storage a little tricky.

As for Hostwinds, you get to enjoy unlimited storage. Not only are you free to consume a lot of storage, but you’re also not paying for anything more than a certain amount of space. 

Security

Here’s another factor that’s super important. 

To keep your website and visitors safe, find a web host that offers security measures. 

Now, when it comes to security, Hostwinds is somewhat better. This is because they offer free 24/7 security monitoring, nightly backups, and an SSL certificate. 

HostGator only has free SSL certificates. For more security, you will have to buy the features separately as add ons. 

Pricing

What about affordability?

Here’s a comparison of the price ranges for each hosting type:

On all hosting types, HostGator generally has more affordable rates. The downside, as you’ve seen in the list of features, is that there are a lot of add-ons to make up for the affordable prices. 

Customer Support

Last but not least, both HostGator and Hostwinds have very impressive customer teams. 

Their teams are available 24/7 and can be reached in several channels. 

For HostGator, you also get a lot of tutorials and knowledge bases to help you navigate the platform and web hosting in general. 

HostGator vs Hostwinds - the Verdict

Which web hosting is better for you?

We can’t say. 

It will really depend on what you’re looking for. 

If it’s affordable prices and fast speeds, then HostGator might be a better choice. But if you prioritize uptime, complete features, and security, then Hostwinds is more your guy. 

We hope that this article has helped you make the right decision!