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Finding the right web hosting company can be a bit of an annoyance, especially when there are so many hosting companies and services to choose from. Choosing the web hosting company and plan that is right for you can save you from the many troubles later. At all costs you should ensure that your website is online and active 24 hours. HostGator and BlueHost are two well-known names in the world of web hosting service providers. Our detailed discussion about the feature and comparison shown in this article will let you decide for yourself which service you should opt for.
Web Hosting with HostGator
HostGator was founded in 2002 by a student of Florida Atlantic University named Brent Oxley. It is one of the most popular web hosting brands in the world. It has been providing hosting services with a promise of 99.99% uptime guarantee. Last year HostGator was acquired for $225 million by Endurance International Group (EIG) which is a reliable host also owning two other big web hosting brands BlueHost and Host Monster. HostGator is an award winning host with more than 5000 servers around the world hosting more than 400,000 websites on the internet.
The details below will highlight some of the best things about HostGator that users absolutely love. In the later part we will compare these features and techno goodies with its counterpart BlueHost.
Web Hosting with BlueHost
BlueHost is another web hosting company that is equally applauded by many. It was founded in 1996 and since then it has developed a portfolio of highly satisfied customers. As I mentioned earlier both companies, BlueHost and HostGator, are under the same operation. However, the services and price offered vary.
Like HostGator, BlueHost also provides dedicated data centers which differentiate them from the reseller web hosting providers. This provides the customers the advantage of direct support and they’ll not have to be bounced back and forth between different companies.
Comparison of Features – HostGator vs. BlueHost
Great features at a low cost : [Winner – HostGator]
The primary reason behind the HostGator’s success is, what we believe, the fast and reliable servers with virtually zero down time and unlimited disk space and bandwidth. Therefore designing a full-fledged limitless website and that too at a highly affordable price is no more a dream, it’s a reality!
On the other hand, BlueHost Does not promise 99.99% uptime guarantee. Obviously their servers aren’t as efficient as that of HostGator, but the overall service of BlueHost is quite convincing as well, even though HostGator has a position of advantage here.
Web hosting at HostGator starts at $3.96/month after 20% discount, whereas the same plan at BlueHost starts at $4.95/month. Hence HostGator is victorious here as well.
Green and Environment Friendly Web Hosting : [Winner – HostGator]
That’s right! HostGator is one of those companies that realize the importance of going green. Running massive 5000 web servers results in huge amounts of carbon which can adversely affects our environment. HostGator has turned totally green by meeting all its energy requirements for powering and cooling down the servers through wind power. Isn’t that amazing?
Comparatively our other web hosting company BlueHost does not utilize wind power to keep its servers running and therefore is less eco-friendly. Considering you are a responsible citizen and would prefer to invest in an eco-friendly company, you would definitely opt for HostGator.
Hosting as you Need it : [It’s a tie]
HostGator gives you the freedom to install over 75 extremely effective and functional open-source scripts. These add power to your website and make it more user-friendly. If you are looking to host your WordPress blog, Joomla or Magento hosting, or any other professional CMS solution you can do it quite easily with HostGator with just a few steps. You can even start your own Wiki website with MediaWiki.
BlueHost also does an equally well job when it comes to installing website scripts. There are scripts for client and content management, blog, forums, guest book, help center, RSS and a lot more that provides endless possibilities for your website. BlueHost also provides excellent integration with WordPress. So if you are looking for these features, both these hosts certainly is the best option there is.
Latest cPanel : [It’s a tie]
With both HostGator and BlueHost, your website will come with the latest version of cPanel which is quite convincing and easy to use. This means you get free web statistics and analytics, web based file manager, password protection of directories, custom error messages, shopping carts and other tools.
Another reason why you should always opt for a cPanel based web host is that when you transfer your website from one host or server to another it will not cost you a penny b. HostGator will also be able to your website transfer to or from another host for free provided the other host also uses cPanel.
Great Customer Support : [Winner – HostGator]
HostGator’s support staff is there to help you 24/7 through phone, live chat, email, and via their forum. There forums are regularly updated and most of the queries posted by the users are keenly observed and answered. BlueHost also does a good job with customer support. All their support staff is from within the country so you wouldn’t have to deal with non-native speakers.
HostGator also have an online support portal with lots of video tutorials and help article (more than 500!). BlueHost also provides video tutorials and guides but we found them to be less convincing than that of HostGator. This gives an edge to HostGator over other web hosts. With free access to all the support centers you can rest assured that you will not ever be disappointed with HostGator’s customer support.
E-Commerce : [It’s a tie]
Both web hosts provides numerous opportunities of promoting e-commerce. With all the online tools and shopping carts, Magento, osCommerce, ZenCart and others you can really make it easier for your customers to make online purchases from your website and both webhosts have done and equally fair job in this regard. BlueHost’s affiliate program also provides you opportunities for making money online through advertising affiliates.
- Free Domain : [Winner: BlueHost] – No HostGator plan comes with a free domain name. Therefore you’ll have to purchase one of your own. However, BlueHost does provide a free domain name with all of its web hosting packages. So BlueHost is a winner here. It must however be kept in mind that if you are using HostGator, getting a new domain won’t be much of a trouble either. You can get it for as low as $10. So not really that big an issue.
- Price : [Winner: HostGator] – Yes, HostGator is a little less costlier than its competitors. As we mentioned earlier, signing up with HostGator will save you a few bucks as it is cheaper than BlueHost.
Price Comparison of Different HostGator Plans
Here’s the price comparison of all 3 web hosting plans of HostGator.
Click Here to get your own HostGator plan at cheaper price.
Comparison of Plans – HostGator vs. BlueHost
From the above comparison of features and basic web hosting plans, it is quite clear that HostGator is a better option in several ways. There really isn’t much bad about HostGator. I have been personally using it for my blog for the last 3 years and I feel very much satisfied with it. However, there could be a few improvements.
Final Verdict
I would definitely recommend anyone reading this blog to go for the HostGator web hosting. Even the most basic plan comes up with so many great features it is sufficient for an ordinary webmaster. There are options for upgrading to premium features as well like having a dedicated server, IP and SSL for your website, toll-free number for your business; but all three plans: Hatchling, Baby, and Business come with all necessary features.
The cost of obtaining web hosting services with HostGator is also cheaper compared to its major competitor BlueHost. This gives extra advantage to HostGator. You may also find the webhosting companies ready to host your website at much cheaper rates, but there are a lots of hidden charges they’re not telling you about. So don’t fall for the cheaper plans offered by unfamiliar companies and service providers. HostGator is a trusted name in web hosting and with an addition of few extra bucks you get really exciting and exclusive features you don’t get elsewhere, such as: 99.99% uptime guarantee, SSL certificates, scripts installation, unlimited space and bandwidth and a lot more. Well worth the penny, eh?
Last but not the least, by subscribing to HostGator you will get the best customer care and support 24/7. So that’s another cherry on top a sundae. So don’t waste time looking for a reliable and efficient web host. HostGator certainly is the answer to all your needs at a very attractive price. You can visit their website at www.hostgator.com for more information. If you still feel confused, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Check out HostGator Sales page || Check out BlueHost Sales page
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