There are many hosting companies to choose from, and finding the right one can be challenging between Hostgator Vs DreamHost. It is beneficial to choose a different company for different reasons, but the problem is, they aren’t all the same.
Your website can be easy to run and stress-free when you have an excellent hosting provider on your side, so you can spend more time working on other areas of your business. In spite of the fact that both HostGator and DreamHost are excellent hosts, there are a few differences between them which may allow you to choose one over the other.
To make an overall assessment of HostGator and DreamHost, we are comparing the two services side by side. In this review, we will be examining their features, customer service, reviews, usability, security, and plans and pricing.
Table of Contents
An analysis of HostGator vs DreamHost
DreamHost was established in 1996 as opposed to HostGator, which was established in 2002, and thus has more experience. While hosting is the main focus at Endurance International Group (EIG), DreamHost also provides cloud computing and cloud storage, along with many other services.
BBB (Better Business Bureau) accreditation is held by HostGator. As a result, the company is fully committed to resolving consumer issues and complaints in a systematic way. The company was even given the highest possible rating by the Better Business Bureau of A+. DreamHost, on the other hand, is not accredited by the BBB.
Furthermore, it has shown itself to be a responsible company by purchasing Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) that can be used as a source of green energy. In a similar vein, DreamHost is also a responsible green host.
A rare web hosting company that offers both Windows and Linux hosting services is HostGator.
When choosing a web host, look for the following:
When it comes to building your website, one of the most important steps is selecting the right host. It is important to make sure your business website is in good hands because it is a key part of marketing your business online.
Choose a web host that offers these features to help you make the right decision.
- Easy to Use – Can any user easily manage the user interface?
- Uptime – Check out their uptime records for the past 12 months. Check to see if their system has ever experienced downtime, and whether they provide availability guarantees.
- Speed – Your conversion rate and bottom line are affected by the speed at which your page loads.
- The scalability of your plan – Is your business able to expand when your plans increase in bandwidth?
- Customer support – How do you contact customer service if you have a problem?
- Security & Backups – Are backups provided for free and automated? How long does it take them to respond?
- Price – Are they affordable? What is the value for money?
For the following, HostGator is best:
- For users who prefer minimal downtime
- Many support options are available for those who need them
- People who are looking for the best features on the cheapest plans
For the following, Dreamhost is best:
- Budget-conscious users
- Those using WordPress and seeking excellent hosting for their platform
- The users who wish to test a service provider over a prolonged period of time
Hostgator Overview
Since the company was founded in 2002 in a Florida dorm room, it has evolved into a global provider of managed hosting and domain registration services based in Utah and Texas. They serve the WordPress community with affordable and reliable hosting. HostGator has offices all around the world.
A wide array of hosting plans can be found at HostGator, including domain registration. Also available is a website builder that can be used by anyone who doesn’t want to learn WordPress and needs to create a great-looking website efficiently.
HostGator’s Main Products and Services
Hosting by HostGator includes the following services:
- Website Builder
- Dedicated Hosting
- VPS Hosting
- Domain Registration
- WordPress Hosting
- Shared Hosting
A web hosting company owned by Endurance International Group (EIG), HostGator provides mainly web hosting services.
Let’s get to know DreamHost a bit better…
Dreamhost Overview
DreamHost offers reliable, affordable web hosting to help individuals and businesses establish an Internet presence. They offer expert support to WordPress users along with active contributions to the community and support of open source code.
As of today, they serve over 400,000 customers in more than 100 countries. The company was founded in a college dorm room in 1997.
DreamHost Provides the Following Services:
- Hosting for WordPress
- Web hosting that is standard
- Private virtual server hosting
- build websites in WordPress
- Dedicated server
- Cloud Hosting
- Registration of domains
- Hosting of email
- Provider of a wide range of professional services (marketing, design, web development, SEO, etc.)
- Training
DreamHost and HostGator offer fairly similar services, as you can see in the table above. In terms of services, DreamHost is one of the most different, offering a variety of professional services along with its domain registration and hosting services.
Benefits and Disadvantages Hostgator Vs DreamHost
To get familiar with the services of Hostgator and DreamHost first learn the drawbacks and benefits of each.
Advantages and disadvantages of hosting with HostGator
Hostgator is one of the best web hosting service providers. But, nothing is perfect in this world. The company has many advantages but disadvantages too. So let’s go through with them for better knowledge.
Advantages
- Convenience of Use – There is no one type of user that HostGator caters to; it offers a well-rounded hosting service.
- A guarantee of uptime – Because it is guaranteed to be up 99.99% of the time, you can rest assured that your visitors won’t have trouble accessing your website.
- Characteristics – With HostGator, even the cheapest plans come with unlimited storage. Constant Contact Email Marketing is offered for free as well.
- Support to Customers – The LiveChat service and phone line are available 24/7, and its Knowledge Base is great for quick and easy answers.
Disadvantages
- Domains are not free – Domains aren’t offered free with every plan, so only some packages come with one.
- Costly – Compared to DreamHost, this host offers more expensive plans.
Advantages and disadvantages of hosting with DreamHost
Just like Hostgator, Dreamhost also has two faces. It is known for its amazing features but it also has few drawbacks.
Advantages
- Compatibility with WordPress – Besides offering free domain transfers and pre-installation, DreamHost has excellent features for users of WordPress.
- Hosting at an affordable price – With an introductory price of $2.59, this company offers a good entry-level shared hosting plan.
- Guaranteed money-back – Because the platform comes with a generous 97-day money-back guarantee, you can make sure it works for you before deciding to buy.
Disadvantages
- Support Options Limited – The telephone number for support isn’t available – you’ll need to schedule a return call instead.
- A guarantee of average uptime – HostGator’s 99.99% uptime guarantee doesn’t compare to that of DreamHost
Easy to use
A Process for Onboarding
The onboarding process for both HostGator and DreamHost is in fact quite straightforward. On all of its annual packages, HostGator does not include domain names as a perk, but you can pair an existing domain name with it or purchase a new domain when you register. In other words, you’ll be able to set up without having to navigate between different websites.
DreamHost offers the same features as its competitor, but if you choose an annual subscription (instead of a monthly one) you’ll get a free domain name as an added bonus. There’s only one year of validity on this offer, but it is a good option if you plan to get a few bucks saved, and if you don’t mind the long-term commitment.
Your Website: Setting it up (and Keeping it Running)
The setup and management of a website can be done using either of these services. Hosting provider HostGator offers a marketplace where you can install applications like WordPress, Weebly, and G Suite with just a single click, so you’re up and running in minutes. A veritable goldmine of tips, hints, and tutorials can also be found in its Knowledge Base. There’s no need to worry about getting stuck, as there’s a resource to help you out.
DreamHost concentrates its efforts on WordPress as its choice of partner rather than HostGator, which caters to the needs of all users. Using it saves you from having to install WordPress manually. In the same way as HostGator, you will still need to complete the same steps to set up your website, but the setup time will decrease.
A cPanel dashboard is available with HostGator, just like those offered by the majority of hosts. In case you’ve managed a site before, you’ll know how to use this, so you can jump right back in without having to learn everything. Despite its modern design, it is easy to navigate even if you are not used to this type of interface.
A DreamHost dashboard is entirely different, and it is made to your specifications. While it is still very easy to use, it may take some time to become familiar with it if you have used a cPanel before. You should be able to enjoy the experience once you get comfortable with the layout.
Feature comparison between HostGator Vs DreamHost
The following is a breakdown of HostGator and DreamHost’s respective web hosting programs:
| Hostgator | DreamHost |
| Cloud Hosting | Cloud Hosting |
| WordPress Hosting | WordPress Hosting |
| Reseller Hosting | – |
| Windows Hosting | – |
| VPS Hosting | VPS Hosting |
| Dedicated Server Hosting | Dedicated Server Hosting |
| Shared Hosting | Shared Hosting |
Registration Of Domain Names
Hosting company HostGator and DreamHost both offer free domain registrations when you sign up for their services. These benefits are available with certain annual hosting plans, however. Some of these plans include:
- Dreamhost: Shared and DreamPress hosting plans (managed WordPress hosting) at DreamHost include this feature. Within the first three months, you must make use of the free domain registration.
- Hostgator: When you order an annual Shared, WordPress, or Cloud hosting plan with HostGator, you get a free domain name registration.
Services for migration
For help transferring your website(s) from your previous host to HostGator, HostGator offers both free and paid migration services. After 30 days, you will be charged for transfers. Depending on what hosting account you sign up for, the company will perform free website transfers for you. You can transfer one website free of charge if you sign up for a shared hosting account or a HostGator Cloud hosting account, while site transfers can be done for free with the company’s VPS and dedicated hosting accounts. After 30 days, you will be charged for transfers. Free transfers must be used within 30 days of signing up.
Additionally, DreamHost offers a wide range of migration options. Any DreamHost DreamPress plan can be migrated free of charge if your website is built with WordPress. Alternatively, you can choose the USD99 migration service if you wish to migrate your non-WordPress site.
Protection
If you choose any of the basic hosting packages from HostGator or DreamHost, you’ll receive a free SSL certificate.
As an additional MFA option, DreamHost also offers the Google Authenticator app and Yubikey.
Additionally, a variety of security features are available depending on the hosting plan you select – shared, VPS, dedicated, and cloud- and the hosting account you choose – standard or superior.
Dedicated hosting, for example, comes with DDoS protection, IP-based firewalls, and the ability to perform manual or scheduled backups. As far as DreamHost’s dedicated plans go, they usually offer 24/7 DDoS Protection and shell access (SSH).
Additional security may be obtained by purchasing add-on services and products. Some of these include:
HostGator
- New SSL certificates for USD19.9/year – USD269.99/year
- Backup powered by CodeGuard – 32.95 USD/year – 239.95 USD/year
- A SiteLock subscription costs between USD1.99 per month and USD24.99 per month
DreamHost
- SSL verified by Sectigo – USD15/year
- Malware Remover – DreamShield – USD29.99/year
Builder of websites– Hostgator Vs dreamHost
HostGator
HostGator has various tools for creating websites, including a free website builder called HostGator Website Builder and a paid site builder called Gator. You can create a website with industry-specific design in minutes with Gator builder, which automates the website design process.
There are three plans available with Gator website builder:
- Monthly fee of USD 3.84 for Express Start
- Monthly fee of USD 5.99 for Express Site
- Monthly fee of USD 9.22 for Express Store
Gator Build offers an intelligent site builder, a free SSL certificate, a free domain name registration for a year, CDN, $200 in search engine marketing credits, LogoMaker, contact management, free Unsplash image libraries, automated email scheduling, and more.
DreamHost
Website builder by DreamHost called Remixer with click-to-edit features. The e-commerce platform is hosted on Remixer’s cloud network and requires no coding to create fully functioning, attractive websites quickly – all you have to do is point, click, drag, and drop the website elements you want.
Two standalone plans are available for Remixer- Remixer Standard and Remixer All Access. Shared hosting plans include the All-Access plan for free. The Standard plan or the All Access plan will be required if you wish to use Remixer with your VPS, DreamPress, or Dedicated server plan.
Control Panel– Hostgator Vs DreamHost
HostGator’s Linux-based hosting plans come with the popular cPanel control panel, while Windows-based hosting plans come with a Plesk control panel.
To manage hosting accounts, DreamHost utilizes a customized control panel. This panel runs on separate DreamHost servers and consists of a vertically aligned main menu on the left, a search box in the middle, and a support dropdown menu in the right corner.
Guarantee of money-back– Hostgator Vs DreamHost
Hosting options from HostGator include shared, VPS, and reseller hosting, all of which offer a 45-day money-back guarantee. The cancellation option is available within the first 45 days after signing up, and a prompt refund of your basic hosting fees is guaranteed if things don’t work out. Dedicated server hosting services do not provide such a guarantee.
In exchange for your payment using credit or debit card, DreamHost offers a 97-day money back guarantee. The company offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on VPS and DreamPress hosting.
Service to Customers
Both HostGator Vs DreamHost provide a variety of methods for contacting support.
HostGator
- Call
- Chat online
- Sending emails
- Videos, articles and tutorials are available throughout the resource library
DreamHost
- Sending emails
- Chat online
- Forums for community interaction
- Base of knowledge
In contrast to HostGator, DreamHost provides technical support via email, but users can request a phone callback from a support representative. If you do not use these superior plans, you will have to pay USD9.95 for one-time callbacks and USD14.95 for three callbacks each month if you do not want the callback feature. During the evening hour of 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. PST, callbacks are available.
Performing and Securing
Uptime
HostGator comes close to achieving 100% uptime, though it cannot be achieved. In comparison, DreamHost certainly can’t match its uptime guarantee of 99.99%, making it the best on the market.
Putting this guarantee into context, HostGator guarantees you won’t experience more than an hour of downtime per year. Business owners should take note of this, especially if they run an e-commerce store, where any downtime could result in significant losses.
Compared to DreamHost, the uptime average is only 99.5%. In comparison to real-life downtime, this might not seem like much of a difference, but in reality, it is. In other words, it’s 4.5 hours per year when your website is unavailable for visiting users.
Security
SSL certificates and distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) protection are included in the hosting plans from DreamHost and HostGator. It takes place when your server receives a large amount of fake traffic so your regular users are unable to access your website.
Aside from this, DreamHost offers free domain privacy so that your personal information is protected, and daily backups so that in case of a disaster your website data is safe.
Hosting provider HostGator offers backups, but these are only scheduled once a week, so if anything goes wrong in between, you’ll lose your most recent changes. It is always a good idea to perform manual backups every day to be safe.
Additional Extras
HostGator and DreamHost both provide advanced protection options, DreamShield and SiteLock Essentials for instance. In exchange for these privileges, you will have to pay when you register, adding them to your overall plan.
You should invest in these no matter what provider you choose, especially if you run an ecommerce site. Both options are excellent for working with card payments, and both provide an extra layer of security to your site. Pricing starts at $3 per month for DreamShield, and $1.49 for SiteLock.
HostingGator versus DreamHost: What’s the verdict?
When it comes to offering solid hosting at low prices, HostGator and DreamHost are pretty similar. Neither company offers a single hosting service. Both companies offer shared hosting, fully managed dedicated servers hosting, and more. Despite this, there are several differences between them.
Its customers have access to better customer support with HostGator. It might take a few moments for a customer service representative to reach you, but you can trust that your issue will be resolved quickly by someone from their support team. It is refreshing to find a hosting provider that offers phone support, as many do not have it.
Hope you have found this hosting comparison to be helpful in making an informed decision on which host is right for you.
Would you like to try HostGator? For more information on Hostgator’s hosting packages, visit their website.
Visit DreamHost.com to check out their hosting plans in greater detail if you believe that DreamHost is a better fit for you.
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