What is HostMonster?
HostMonster is an American web hosting and domain registration company founded in 2005. It is considered the “younger sibling” of Bluehost, as both companies were founded by the same person, Matt Heaton.
Currently, HostMonster is owned by the same parent company, Endurance International Group (EIG), one of the largest web hosting companies in the world. EIG has acquired over 70 major hosting companies such as HostGator, Bluehost, HostMonster, and JustHost.
The headquarters of HostMonster is located in Utah, USA, the same location as the EIG headquarters, which also houses the Bluehost data center.
HostMonster Services
HostMonster offers a variety of hosting services, including:
- Shared Hosting: An unlimited hosting solution that is highly flexible and suitable for various types of websites.
- VPS Hosting: Provides a virtual private server hosting environment.
- Dedicated Servers: For those seeking higher performance and full customization in website hosting.
Advantages of HostMonster Hosting
In this section, we will explore the key features of HostMonster hosting, highlighting the strengths that distinguish it from other hosting companies.
Excellent Technical Support
Technical support is one of the most important factors that determine the quality of a hosting service. However, as with most hosting companies, the level of service may vary depending on the team you interact with. Sometimes, users might experience slow or unsatisfactory responses, while others may receive quick and effective support.
Although there are companies that offer better support, such as InMotion Hosting, HostMonster’s support is still very good. It is characterized by quick and polite responses, ensuring that your technical issues are resolved promptly and efficiently.
cPanel Control Panel with Arabic Support
HostMonster uses the globally popular cPanel control panel, which supports almost all languages, including Arabic. This makes it easy to use for users who are not proficient in English.
What sets this control panel apart is its absence of annoying ads, which you might find in the control panels of other companies like iPage. Additionally, HostMonster integrates the account control panel with the billing system, making it easier to manage both hosting and account details in one place.
Easy WordPress Installation
HostMonster offers an easy WordPress installation process through the MOJO Marketplace, owned by Endurance International. This feature allows you to install WordPress quickly without needing to upload files or create databases manually.
Free Website Builder Tool
HostMonster provides a free website builder tool for its users. This tool allows you to create a professional website easily, without the need for coding skills. You can simply use the ready-made templates and the simple interface to customize the site according to your needs.
Free Domain
HostMonster offers a free domain service with its hosting plans, meaning you won’t need to pay additional fees for your domain name. This feature saves you about $10 that you would otherwise have to pay if you purchased the domain separately.
30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
HostMonster offers a 30-day money-back guarantee from the date of purchase. If you decide to cancel the service within this period, you can receive a full refund, except for the domain and any additional services. The domain remains yours for one full year, and you can transfer it to any other hosting provider if you wish.
Disadvantages of HostMonster Hosting
While HostMonster offers many great features, there are some drawbacks you should be aware of before making your decision. In this section, we will outline the main disadvantages of this hosting service.
Less-than-Ideal Uptime
Uptime is the period during which your website operates smoothly without any downtime. In the web hosting industry, the ideal uptime rate is 99.9%, but HostMonster registers a rate of 99.91%, which is slightly lower than some of its competitors who offer more stable hosting.
While this rate is still good, it doesn’t quite reach the ideal performance level required for websites that rely entirely on uptime and stability.
Average Hosting Speed
Hosting speed is a critical factor that affects the user experience on your website. For HostMonster, the hosting speed is considered average, making it less suitable for larger websites or those with significant traffic.
One of the indicators of hosting speed is the “Time to First Byte” (TTFB), which reflects how fast the server responds to requests. HostMonster takes longer than expected to send data, which can negatively impact the visitor experience.
Limited Resources
HostMonster used to offer unlimited hosting in terms of storage and data transfer, but this has changed. Currently, HostMonster provides limited resources, which means storage capacity is lower compared to competitors that offer plans with larger storage space.
If you plan to build a website with a lot of content or need large storage, HostMonster may not be the ideal choice for you.
No Monthly Plans
If you are looking to try hosting for a short period (one or three months), HostMonster does not offer monthly plans. The shortest term is a full year. This could be an obstacle if you want to test the hosting service before committing to a long-term contract.
However, you can take advantage of the 30-day money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied with the service.
Paid Backup Services
One of the basic services provided by many hosting companies is free website backups. However, HostMonster does not offer this service for free. If you want backup services, you will need to pay extra for them.
Limited Plans
HostMonster offers three shared hosting plans:
- Basic: With 10GB of storage and unlimited data transfer.
- Plus: With 20GB of storage.
- Choice Plus: With 40GB of storage.
The prices range from $11.99 per month for the basic plan to $18.99 per month for the largest plan. These prices are a bit higher compared to some other companies in the same price range.
Is HostMonster Hosting Good?
HostMonster is suitable for small websites or personal blogs. If you run a small or beginner website, it offers a good hosting plan with many useful tools. However, if you are planning to build a large website or need high performance and fast loading speeds, HostMonster may not be the best option for you.
Ultimately, your choice depends on your specific needs and the size of the website you plan to launch. If the hosting is for small projects, it is a good option. However, if you’re thinking about scaling or running sites with high traffic, you should consider stronger hosting options.
