Hostinger is a great choice for reliable and affordable web hosting. In this Hostinger review, I'll share my positive experience with their services. With various payment options, including cryptocurrencies, and a variety of hosting plans, Hostinger is an excellent option for those seeking a secure and customizable hosting solution.
In this article, I'll provide you with a comprehensive review of Hostinger, covering its pros and cons, hosting management, performance, security, pricing, customer support, and more. By the end of this review, you'll have a clear understanding of whether Hostinger is the right fit for you.
Key Takeaways for my Hostinger Review
- Hostinger offers affordable prices, good performance, and ease of use, making it an excellent solution for various users.
- Hostinger provides generous resources included in its web hosting plans, making it an attractive option for hosting beginners or users who want to migrate their site from an overpriced host.
- Hostinger offers shared, WordPress, VPS, cloud, and email hosting, with server locations in the US, the UK, Netherlands, France, Lithuania, Brazil, Singapore, and India.
Hostinger Pros and Cons
To begin with, let's talk about Hostinger's pros and cons. On the positive side, Hostinger offers the most affordable prices for shared hosting, starting at just $1.39/month. Additionally, it has servers in four continents, LiteSpeed Web Servers with built-in cache engine, free weekly or daily backups, free domain name registration, and an intuitive custom hPanel. However, there are also some drawbacks, such as the slow control panel and the lack of phone support.
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Hosting management – is it easy to use?
Managing your website hosting with Hostinger is a breeze, thanks to its intuitive and easy-to-use custom hPanel. The hosting setup process is straightforward, and you can easily create a new website using Hostinger's Website Builder, WordPress, or other website builders.
The hosting plans come with free weekly or daily backups, a free domain name registration, and a free SSL certificate, making it an attractive option for hosting beginners or those looking to migrate from an overpriced host.
Hosting setup process
The first step in managing your Hostinger hosting plan is to set it up. The good news is that the setup process is straightforward and doesn't require any technical expertise.
You can create a new website using Hostinger Website Builder, WordPress, and other website builders. You can also name your website by choosing a new domain name or using the one you already own. Once you have reviewed the summary of the setup process and made any necessary changes, you can finish up the setup and start managing your hosting plan.
Hostinger hPanel and features within
Hostinger uses a custom control panel called hPanel. While it may not be as well-known as cPanel or Plesk, hPanel is effortless to navigate and combines great simplicity and functionality.
It is well-organized, and everything is easy to find. The control panel has every functionality needed, and Hostinger is constantly updating hPanel to make it more intuitive and comfortable for users.
The main things that you can do in hPanel are:
Hostinger provides a variety of hosting options, including shared, WordPress, VPS, cloud, and email hosting, with server locations in the US, UK, Netherlands, France, Lithuania, Brazil, Singapore, and India.
Is it easy to install WordPress?
When you're getting started with Hostinger, one of the first things you might want to do is install WordPress. The great news is that Hostinger makes this process incredibly easy and user-friendly, even if you don't have any technical expertise.
Let's say you're setting up a new hosting account with Hostinger. During the initial account setup, you'll have the option to automatically install WordPress. This is a great way to get started quickly and easily.
But what if you skipped the first setup or need to install WordPress on a second website? No problem! Simply log in to your Hostinger account, navigate to your hosting plan, and select the option to install WordPress. From there, Hostinger will automatically select the newest version of WordPress and create a new database for you.
But what if you want to use a different version of WordPress or create your own database? Not a problem! Hostinger makes it easy to customize these settings, so you can get everything just the way you want it.
Once you're ready, simply click the “Install” button, and Hostinger will take care of the rest. In just a few minutes, your brand new WordPress website will be up and running, ready for you to start customizing and adding your own content. With Hostinger, getting started with WordPress has never been easier!
Free website migration
If you're looking to switch your website to Hostinger, but are worried about the hassle of transferring your site, don't fret! Hostinger offers a free website migration service to make the transition seamless. Here's how it works:
- Log in to your Hostinger account and look for the dashboard.
- Click on your name icon, and you'll see an option for “Website Migration.“
- Select this option, and you'll be directed to a form.
- Fill out the form with your website's details and the hosting account password.
- Hostinger handles the rest, including WordPress, cPanel, FTP, and even other control panel migrations.
With Hostinger's free website migration service, you don't have to worry about contacting support or going through a complicated process.
Essential features: free domain and website builder
When it comes to choosing a web hosting provider, you want a service that offers the most bang for your buck. That's why Hostinger's shared hosting plans are a great option for those looking for value and functionality.
For instance, most of Hostinger's shared hosting plans (with the exception of the most basic plan) come with a free domain name registration. This means you can have a personalized web address for your website, like “www.mysite.com”, without having to pay extra. Plus, you get to choose from a variety of Top-Level Domains (TLDs), such as .com, .net, .xyz, .online, .website, .space, and many more.
In addition to these features, Hostinger also offers a free website builder called Hostinger Website Builder. This tool makes it easy and quick to launch a website, even if you don't have any technical expertise. It has over 150 modern templates, drag-and-drop editor functionality, and AI builder that generates unique websites with every request. Plus, it comes with AI generated website content, integrated Google Analytics, blogging, SEO, and email services tools.
Hostinger business email
But that's not all. With Hostinger's shared hosting plans, you also get 100 email accounts for your domain, so you can have professional-looking email addresses like “Jason_chevez@reviewments.com”. And, you'll also get an SSL certificate, which is essential for securing your website and building trust with your visitors.
Please Note: All plans, except the one called Single, can host up to 100 business mailboxes, with a 1GB storage limit per account. Whereas the Single plan users can create only one business email with Hostinger for free.
The business email setup process is very easy with Hostinger, and the provider offers detailed guides for this. The overall process takes up to 5-10 minutes.
Performance – is Hostinger fast?
In terms of performance, Hostinger delivers impressive speed and reliability, thanks to its SSD-powered servers and LiteSpeed Web Server technology. The company guarantees a 99.9% uptime, and during my testing, it maintained a perfect 100% uptime. The average response time is 511ms, which is better than the industry average of 600ms.
Speed
Hostinger allows you to choose from eight data center locations, including the US, UK, Netherlands, France, Lithuania, Singapore, India, and Brazil. The best performance can be seen when testing from the US, with just 479ms until Largest Contentful Paint (LCP). For visitors from Europe, this website would take around 1.3 seconds to load. With a fully built website, LCP increases to 849ms. Hostinger is an excellent choice for those looking for the fastest web hosting.
Stress testing
We conducted a stress test on Hostinger by sending 45 visitors to our test website. As the number of visitors increased, the response time remained the same, with only a couple of bumps later on. Hostinger did not slow down, and overall, it stayed as fast as with one visitor.
What makes Hostinger load time fast?
Hostinger's blazing-fast load times are no accident – they're the result of top-notch technology. For instance, the provider offers SSD and NVMe drives, which are like the sports cars of data storage – they're incredibly fast and reliable.
Have you ever noticed how some websites take forever to load? That's often because of outdated technology. But with Hostinger, you won't have to worry about that. They offer the latest PHP versions, which are like the newest engines in a car – they're built for speed and efficiency.
When it comes to web servers, Hostinger uses LiteSpeed, which is like a turbocharger for your website. It's designed to handle high traffic and deliver content quickly, even during peak usage times.
Another way Hostinger battles latency, or the time it takes for data to travel from the server to your device, is by offering eight server locations worldwide. Think of it like having a delivery service with warehouses all over the world – the closer the warehouse, the faster the delivery.
If you're using WordPress, Hostinger has got your back with optimized settings. They offer the latest PHP version, which is like having a high-performance engine in your car – it's designed for speed and efficiency.
Hostinger also enables both HTTP/2 and HTTP/3 (Quic), which are like the newest and fastest routes on a road trip. They help your website load faster and more efficiently.
Enabling IPv6 is like upgrading from a dirt road to a highway – it improves the overall experience and speed of your website. And with Hostinger, IPv6 is a standard feature.
Finally, Hostinger offers advanced caching, which is like having a co-pilot that anticipates your needs. It stores frequently used data in a cache, so your website can access it quickly and efficiently. This means your website will load faster and use less resources.
Hostinger Security
As a web hosting company, Hostinger takes security seriously. They offer several security features to ensure that your website and data are safe from cyber threats. Here are some of the security features that Hostinger provides:
Internal Server Security: Hostinger's servers are monitored 24/7 by security experts and equipped with essential security modules like mod_security and PHP open_basedir. The data center locations are Tier-3 level or higher, which ensures that the servers are secure.
Daily or Weekly Website Backups: Hostinger provides weekly backups for all plans, while Business plan users get daily backups. This feature allows you to roll back to a previous version of your website in case of any errors or issues.
Free SSL Certificates: Each of Hostinger's plans comes with unlimited free SSL certificates. SSL encrypts all data that travels from and to your server, making it impossible for third parties to steal it. Activating SSL is also a Google ranking factor, so it is highly recommended.
DDoS Protection: Hostinger provides several layers of protection against DDoS attacks. Traffic is analyzed and blocked through Wanguard that generates firewall rules. Additionally, there are Bitninja or Imunify360 web application firewalls on each server.
2-Factor Authentication (2FA): Hostinger allows you to set up 2FA for additional security. Even if someone gets hold of your password, they won't be able to log in without the second layer of authentication.
Malware Scanner: Hostinger's malware scanner constantly monitors the hosting environment, including files, databases, and server configurations to detect any signs of malware.
Secure Access Manager: This feature helps to manage user access and permissions for those who need to collaborate on a website or project.
Domain Privacy: Hostinger provides domain privacy to protect personal information of domain owners and reduce spam and unsolicited contacts.
All of Hostinger's packages come with these security essentials, which is enough to protect your website from common vulnerabilities. Hostinger is one of the top 3 most secure web hosting companies on our list, thanks to its variety of security tools.
What hosting types does Hostinger offer?
As a versatile web hosting provider, Hostinger offers a range of hosting types that cater to different needs and budgets. Here are some of the hosting types that Hostinger offers:
| Managed WordPress hosting | Cloud hosting | VPS hosting | Minecraft hosting |
| Hostinger's Managed WordPress hosting plans offer a comprehensive set of features that are similar to shared hosting. | Hostinger's Cloud hosting plans are a highly scalable and powerful solution that acts as a gateway to VPS and a private server. | Hostinger's self-managed VPS hosting plans are suitable for advanced users. | Hostinger's Minecraft hosting plans are designed for Minecraft communities of different sizes. |
| Starting at $1.99/month, each plan comes | The packages start at $8.09/month and come | Start from $5.39/month. | The prices start from $6.99/month. |
| with free email accounts, SSL, WP-CLI integration, and WordPress-specific features such as WordPress dashboard with caching management. | with resources ranging from 3GB RAM, 2 CPU cores, and 200GB NVMe storage to 12GB RAM, 6 CPU cores, and 300GB storage. | The resources can range from 1 vCPU, 4GB RAM, and 50GB NVMe storage to 8 vCPUs, 32GB RAM, and 400GB storage. | The resources can range from 4GB RAM and 1 vCPU for smaller communities to 16GB RAM and 4 vCPUs for those looking to monetize their server. |
Hostinger Pricing and Hosting Plans
Hostinger offers a range of web hosting plans that cater to different types of users, from small personal sites and business landing pages to online stores, web-based apps, and similar projects. By far the most popular and affordable option offered by Hostinger is shared hosting, with a starting price of just $2.24 a month. Other options include cheap WordPress plans, Cloud hosting, and VPS.
Shared Hosting
Shared hosting is the most common and affordable type of web hosting offered by Hostinger. It is suitable for smaller personal sites and business landing pages. Hostinger offers two shared hosting plans: Shared Premium and Shared Business.
Both plans come with SSL and a free domain name registration for the first year. However, keep in mind that Hostinger's custom domain name renewals will eventually catch up to you, though they are pretty affordable at $10.99/year for .com domains.
Let's take a closer look at each shared hosting plan to see a full picture of what you can get:
| Details | Shared Premium | Shared Business |
| Price | $2.99/month | $3.99/month |
| Websites | 100 | 100 |
| Storage | 100GB | 200GB |
| Up to 100 accounts | Up to 100 accounts | |
| Free domain | With New Account | With New Account |
| Unlimited bandwidth | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Backups | Daily | Daily |
| Unlimited databases | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Website builder | Free | Free |
| DNS management | Allowed | Allowed |
| WordPress staging tool | Free | Free |
| Object caching | Free | Free |
So, which plan should you choose?
If you're building a simple website for your business or personal use and don't expect a lot of traffic, the Shared Premium plan should be more than enough for your needs. However, if you're planning on building a larger website, such as an e-commerce site or a blog with a lot of content, the Shared Business plan would be a better fit.
Other Hosting Plans
In addition to shared hosting, Hostinger also offers other hosting plans, including:
- WordPress hosting: Improved WordPress website hosting.
- Cloud hosting: Suitable for small business owners selling online.
- VPS hosting: Suitable for online stores, web-based apps, and similar projects. A more advanced option.
Each hosting plan comes with its own set of pricing plans and features. Hostinger offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing users to test the service risk-free before fully committing. However, there are some factors to note before getting started:
- The host offers a 30-day money-back guarantee
- You get a Hostinger discount up to 81% for your first billing term
- If you paid with cryptocurrency, then your purchase is non-refundable
- Extra services like G Suite, domain privacy protection, and SEO toolkit are non-refundable
- Country code top-level domains (e.g. .in, .uk, .sg) are non-refundable
All in all, Hostinger offers a range of hosting plans that cater to different types of users at affordable prices. The performance of Hostinger's web hosting plans is impressive, making it a no-brainer for those looking for a simple yet good-value web hosting plan for less than $3 or the best value for their buck with the more advanced options.
Hostinger for Anonymous and Adult Hosting
If you're looking to host a website but want to keep your identity under wraps, Hostinger is a great option to consider. One of the standout features of Hostinger is their acceptance of cryptocurrencies as a payment method for their hosting plans. This means that you can pay for your plan without using traditional payment methods that require personal information, allowing you to remain anonymous.
Another perk of using Hostinger is that they don't require you to go through a lengthy account and identity verification process like many other providers. This is a major plus for those who value their privacy and want to avoid the hassle of providing unnecessary personal information.
Hostinger is also a solid choice for those looking to host adult content on their website. As long as the content is legal and not copyrighted, Hostinger has no issues with it. This includes content related to pornography, gambling, and even alcohol and tobacco.
Does Hostinger have a website builder?
Yes, Hostinger provides a website builder with all of its shared hosting plans. The Hostinger Website Builder is a drag-and-drop editor that comes with an AI builder feature, which generates a unique website in just a few clicks. With over 150 responsive templates, it is easy to kick-start the website-building process even faster.
The website builder also comes with AI-powered business tools, including an AI writer, editor, and heatmap that shows eye-catching places on your site. Additionally, Hostinger Website Builder offers some great marketing tools, including Google Analytics, eCommerce, Google Tag Manager, and Facebook Pixel.
Overall, Hostinger Website Builder is user-friendly and offers a lot of customization freedom, allowing you to edit various elements from single buttons to different styles.
Hostinger Customer Support
Hostinger offers a variety of customer support options, including a 24/7 live chat, a ticketing system, email, and an extensive knowledge base. While there is no phone support, the live chat is fast and efficient, with agents responding in less than a minute in some cases. All interactions are professional, and the agents are well-trained and knowledgeable.
During our testing, we found that Hostinger's live chat agents were incredibly helpful and professional. For example, when we asked about server location choice, the agent provided a full list of data centers and explained why we couldn't choose some of them. They even offered to make a transfer for us.
Hostinger's knowledge base is also a great resource for users. It is constantly updated and includes articles and tutorials on basic web hosting topics, as well as troubleshooting guides for common control panel or email problems.
Is Hostinger a good option for you?
If you're looking for a web hosting provider that is cheap, easy to use, and reliable, then Hostinger might be the best option for you. In this section, we will take a closer look at Hostinger and compare it to other web hosting services to help you determine if it's the right choice for your needs.
See how Hostinger compares to other services:
When it comes to web hosting providers, there are many options to choose from. Here's how Hostinger compares to some of the most popular services:
Hostinger vs SiteGround
SiteGround is a well-established web hosting provider that offers high-quality hosting services. However, Hostinger is a more affordable option that offers similar features. Hostinger also has better performance and faster loading times than SiteGround.
Hostinger vs Bluehost
Bluehost is a popular web hosting provider that is known for its reliability and ease of use. However, Hostinger is a cheaper option that offers similar features and better performance. Hostinger also has a more modern and functional control panel than Bluehost.
Hostinger vs HostGator
HostGator is a web hosting provider that offers a wide range of hosting plans for businesses of all sizes. However, Hostinger is a cheaper option that offers similar features and better performance. Hostinger also has a more user-friendly control panel than HostGator.
In summary, Hostinger is a great option for beginner users who are building their first websites. It's cheap, easy to use, and reliable. While more expensive options might be better for small businesses, Hostinger's performance competes with the top dogs of the industry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Hostinger cost money?
Yes, Hostinger offers affordable hosting plans that start from $2.24/month, which is a great deal considering the features you get. With this plan, you get a 100GB storage capacity and the ability to create up to 100 websites. Additionally, Hostinger offers a free hosting service called 000webhost, which is a great option for those who want to explore how hosting works without paying any fees.
Is Hostinger good for beginners?
Yes, Hostinger is an excellent choice for beginners. The host offers an automated WordPress migration and installation process, making it easier for users to set up their website. Additionally, Hostinger's drag-and-drop web builder is powered by AI tools, which makes content creation easier. All of Hostinger's shared plans include a free domain registration, professional email accounts, and automatic backups.
Is Hostinger safe?
Yes, Hostinger is a safe web hosting provider. It includes essential security features such as SSL, monitoring, and firewalls, as well as extra layers of protection via Cloudflare-protected nameservers and automatic backups.
Can I use Hostinger for Minecraft hosting?
Yes, Hostinger is a suitable host for Minecraft hosting, and even offers Minecraft hosting services specifically. With VPS hosting plans starting from $6.99/month, users can create their own customized Minecraft world.
Is Hostinger good for WordPress?
Yes, Hostinger is very well suited for WordPress. The host comes with LiteSpeed Cache for WordPress to maintain good performance and speedy site loading time. Additionally, Hostinger makes WordPress installation quick and simple with its WP Starter site-building wizard.
Is Hostinger a good domain registrar?
Yes, Hostinger is a good domain registrar. The provider offers a large variety of domain extensions at reasonable prices, with renewal rates that are not sky-high.
Which is better: Hostinger or GoDaddy?
When it comes to Hostinger vs GoDaddy, Hostinger wins in many areas. Hostinger allows building up to 100 websites even with the cheapest plan, while GoDaddy only allows one site. Additionally, while the price of the entry plans are similar, Hostinger offers 75GB more storage. Hostinger uses a custom and intuitive hPanel instead of GoDaddy’s traditional cPanel.
Is Hostinger good for web hosting?
Yes, Hostinger is a good and reliable web host. It offers affordable, high-quality hosting, user-friendly tools, and outstanding performance. Their security measures are solid, and their customer support is both responsive and helpful. Overall, it's our top choice for web hosting.
What are the primary advantages of using Hostinger for web hosting?
Hostinger offers a range of advantages for web hosting, including fast loading times, reliable uptime, and affordable pricing. They also provide a user-friendly interface and a variety of features such as website builder, domain registration, and SSL certificates. Additionally, Hostinger offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, making it a risk-free option for those who want to try their services.
How does Hostinger's performance compare to GoDaddy for hosting services?
Hostinger's performance is excellent compared to GoDaddy for hosting services. Hostinger's servers are optimized for speed and reliability, resulting in fast loading times and minimal downtime. They also offer a range of features such as website builder and domain registration, which are not available with GoDaddy's basic hosting plans. Hostinger's pricing is also more affordable than GoDaddy's, making it a great choice for those on a budget.
Are there any limitations to be aware of when using Hostinger for hosting?
While Hostinger provides a range of features and benefits, there are some limitations to be aware of. For example, their basic plans only allow for one website, and there are limits on storage and bandwidth. Additionally, Hostinger does not offer phone support, which may be a concern for some users.
What type of customer support can users expect from Hostinger?
Hostinger provides 24/7 customer support through live chat and email. They also have an extensive knowledge base and community forum where users can find answers to commonly asked questions. While they do not offer phone support, their live chat support is responsive and helpful.
How do Hostinger's hosting plans and pricing compare to competitors like Bluehost?
Hostinger's hosting plans and pricing are more affordable than competitors like Bluehost. They offer a range of plans to suit different needs, from basic shared hosting to more advanced VPS hosting. Their pricing is transparent, with no hidden fees or charges. Additionally, Hostinger offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, making it a risk-free option for those who want to try their services.
What is the general user sentiment based on Trustpilot and Google reviews for Hostinger?
Hostinger has received positive reviews on Trustpilot and Google. Users have praised their fast loading times, reliable uptime, and affordable pricing. Additionally, Hostinger's customer support has been praised for being responsive and helpful. While there are some negative reviews, they are in the minority, and overall, Hostinger has a good reputation among users.
