Final verdict
Looking over Directnic vs. Hivelocity, it’s clear why both hosts are so popular. They have both hosted millions of
websites that run on WordPress for decades, building up a loyal customer base.
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Hivelocity (Overall grade: 7.7)
demonstrates superior service with a 99.99% uptime guarantee and high network reliability, supported by their extensive global data center presence and advanced server hardware. It offers a range of hosting types, including cloud, WordPress, and VPS hosting, making it an ideal choice for high-traffic websites and agencies needing varied and scalable solutions. The platform excels in security measures with advanced encryption technologies, firewall hardening, DDoS protection, and compliance with SSAE-16, HIPAA, and PCI standards. Their 24/7/365 support, combined with robust managed services, makes it a dependable option for businesses seeking comprehensive user management and scalability.
Directnic (Overall grade: 6.8)
is versatile, catering to users with a need for affordable basic to medium-scale hosting solutions. It includes shared, ecommerce, VPS, and dedicated hosting plans, offering a 99% uptime guarantee, which, though lower than industry standards, is generally satisfactory for most users. Strengths include free domain registration, email accounts, easy script installs, and 24/7 technical support. However, its lack of specific cloud hosting, WordPress hosting, and certain compliance certifications may limit its appeal to advanced users and large enterprises. Overall, Directnic serves as a solid choice for individuals or small businesses seeking reliable and cost-effective hosting options.
 Overall grade:6.8 |
 Overall grade:7.7 |
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|---|---|---|
| Uptime and Availability | 6.3 | 9.8 |
| Hosting Performance | 7.2 | 7.0 |
| Hosting Security | 7.8 | 8.7 |
| Price | 7.8 | 8.7 |
| Hosting Features | 3.6 | 2.5 |
| Ease Of Setup | 7.8 | 8.5 |
| User Management | 6.5 | 6.9 |
| Customer Support | 7.7 | 9.5 |
| User feedback | 2.5/5 | 4.9/5 |
Hosting types offered
Both platforms provide a variety of hosting types, each designed to meet the different needs of users.
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|---|---|---|
| Shared hosting | ||
| Cloud hosting | ||
| WordPress hosting | ||
| Ecommerce hosting | ||
| VPS hosting | ||
| Dedicated hosting |
Although both offer a variety of hosting plans tailored to different needs, in certain cases, one platform may prove to be more suitable.
Detailed comparison
Uptime and availability
Evaluates the average uptime statistics, uptime guarantee and overall availability of the hosting
provider
Score Components:
- Uptime percentage (30%): evaluates the uptime statistics in given period of time
- Uptime guarantee (20%): Assesses if the platform offers an uptime guarantee and
whether the actual uptime matches the promised guarantee. - General performance (25%): Evaluates how fast is the average response time and overall
it’s stability. - Responsiveness (10%): Adaptability to different devices and screen sizes.
- Availability (25%): Reflects the total downtime and number of outages.
6.3
9.8
🏆 Winner
Hivelocity: Superior uptime guarantee and network reliability.
Directnic offers a 99% uptime guarantee, which is below the industry standard. This means Directnic could have more frequent downtimes compared to its competitors. Despite this, customers generally report satisfaction with their hosting stability and have few complaints about downtime. Their support is available 24/7, adding a layer of reliability for users.
Hivelocity excels with a 99.99% uptime guarantee, and it has maintained a perfect 100% uptime for network and power since 2011. Customers can expect high-end performance and reliability, supported by multiple data centers with SSAE-16 SOC1 and SOC2 certifications. The hosting also offers compensation for downtime, adding to its reliability factor.
Hosting performance
Score Components:
- Hosting speed (30%): This includes SSD quality, Load times, PageSpeed score ranges,
additional information on website speed, built-in plugins for performance enhancement, available caching
methods, and CPU/RAM options - CDN (20%): Considers whether CDN is available or not, whether it’s free or paid, and
the quality of the CDN service - Available data centers (30%): Evaluates the number of data centers and their locations
globally. - Scalibility (20%): Looks at whether elastic scaling is available, the process required
to scale (manual upgrade vs. automatic scaling), the presence of dedicated servers, and the costs
associated with scaling.
7.2
7.0
🏆 Winner
Directnic Hosting: Reliable and feature-packed hosting solution.
When comparing Directnic Hosting and Hivelocity, both providers offer significant advantages, but Directnic Hosting edges out slightly with its well-rounded performance features. Directnic Hosting provides a robust 99% uptime and includes free domain registration, email accounts, and scalable storage/bandwidth options with all plans. It also boasts strong security features such as a CDN, malware protection, and DDoS mitigation. Hivelocity, on the other hand, boasts excellent network reliability with a self-healing international network, 99.99% uptime, and global data center presence. However, it caters more towards advanced users with its high-end server hardware and tailored solutions.
Website Speed
Directnic Hosting offers user-friendly cPanel management and easy script installs, making it simpler to maintain optimal website performance. The CDN service boosts website speed globally, and the inclusion of advanced site stats aids in continuous optimization. Hivelocity’s focus on server performance is evident with instant deployment and high-end hardware geared towards high traffic. Though both hosts ensure quick load times, Hivelocity’s infrastructure seems more tailored for resource-heavy applications.
Scalability
Directnic Hosting provides clear, tiered plans ranging from Lite to Deluxe, allowing straightforward upgrades as website needs grow. It doesn’t explicitly mention elastic scaling, but the tiering system makes manual scaling manageable. Hivelocity shines in customization and offers a range of dedicated servers and private clouds. Their scalability is evident through their custom solutions, but the exact costs and processes for scaling aren’t specified. Thus, while Hivelocity may offer more robust scaling capabilities, Directnic’s plans are transparent and easy to understand.
Hosting security
and regulatory requirements
Score Components:
- Technical security measures (40%): This includes encryption, firewalls, DDoS
protection, secure configurations, server monitoring, access control and availability of security addons
(e.g Sitelock security). - Operational security measures (30%): Encompasses data privacy, backups and data
redundancy. - Compliance and certifications (20%): Adherence to legal and regulatory requirements
(e.g., GDPR, HIPAA) and possession of certifications (e.g., ISO 27001, SOC 2). - Business and reliability (10%): Factors in the provider’s reputation, uptime
guarantees, and customer support.
7.8
8.7
🏆 Winner
Hivelocity Hosting: Known for its stringent security measures and compliance.
Both Directnic and Hivelocity, have notable differences in their approaches to technical and operational
security, as well as in their compliance with regulations.
Technical security measures:
Directnic offers comprehensive technical security, including SSL certificates at various levels (Basic SSL, Premium EV SSL, Wildcard SSL) and a range of advanced features like CDN, WAF, and malware detection. Hivelocity also provides SSL certificates, with options for domain validation, organization validation, and extended validation. However, Hivelocity enhances its offering with advanced encryption technologies and firewall hardening. Directnic focuses on a fully-managed WAF and offers robust DDoS protection. Both providers exhibit strong technical controls, but Hivelocity’s focus on encryption and advanced firewall capabilities can be considered superior.
Operational security measures:
Directnic stands out with 24/7/365 surveillance via a full-scale Cyber Security Operations Center (CSOC) and instant alert notifications. Hivelocity also emphasizes 24/7 monitoring and support but adds proactive malware scanning, brute force detection, and hardware diagnostics. Directnic offers a detailed incident response and correlation of multiple incidents, while Hivelocity leverages real-time problem identification and resolution. Both provide robust operational security, but Hivelocity’s diverse proactive measures give it an edge.
Compliance and certifications:
Directnic does not specify compliance with GDPR, HIPAA, or PCI standards. Conversely, Hivelocity boasts completed SSAE-16, HIPAA, and PCI audits, which confirm its commitment to industry-standard compliance. This makes Hivelocity the preferred choice for organizations with stringent regulatory requirements.
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|---|---|---|
SSL certificate |
Basic SSL, Premium EV SSL, Wildcard SSL |
Basic SSL, Business SSL, Premium SSL |
Additional security features |
CDN, WAF, malware detection, DDoS protection |
Advanced encryption, firewall hardening, DDoS protection |
PHP versions |
Select and update PHP |
Not specified |
GDPR compliance |
Not specified |
Not specified |
HIPAA compliance |
Not specified |
Yes |
PCI compliance |
Not specified |
Yes |
Hosting features
Score Components:
- Domains (20%): Assesses the availability of a free domain, domain purchase options, and
pricing - Email (15%): Considers if the provider offers full email hosting, or is reselling
third-party service, and if the email is only transactional or not - Website builder (15%): Checks if website builder is available, and it’s user
friendliness and overall the level of customization allowed. - Staging environment (20%): Determines if a staging environment is available, allowing
for testing changes before going live. - FTP & SFTP accounts (10%): Evaluates if and how easily users can access FTP and
SFTP accounts - Git and SSH access (20%): Assess whether Git is integrated into the hosting service and
if SSH access is provided
3.6
2.5
🏆 Winner Directnic: A versatile hosting provider with strong feature set and affordability.
Directnic stands out with its diverse hosting plans that range from Lite to Deluxe, accommodating different user needs and budgets with ease. With 99% uptime, the hosting service delivers reliability. A key advantage is the free domain registration which can save costs for new websites. Another appealing aspect for users is the inclusion of email accounts and easy script installs, making the setup process simple and hassle-free. Directnic also offers a money-back guarantee and 24/7 technical support, ensuring users have support whenever they need it. FTP accounts are included across all plans, although there’s no explicit mention of SSH access.
Hivelocity, by contrast, focuses on providing robust managed services, ideal for users who need comprehensive support and security. Offering an array of control panels, such as cPanel, Plesk, and Webmin, Hivelocity appeals to users who prefer flexibility in managing their hosting environment. With support for multiple operating systems, including CentOS, Ubuntu, and Windows Server, the provider stands out for its versatile OS support. Hivelocity also includes advanced features like network intrusion monitoring, DDoS mitigation, and proactive malware scanning, making it suitable for more security-conscious users. Both FTP/SFTP and SSH access are available with Hivelocity, adding to secure file transfer and system access capabilities.
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|---|---|---|
Free Domain |
Yes |
No |
Free SSL |
No |
No |
Email Hosting |
Yes |
No |
Website Builder |
No |
No |
Staging Environment |
No |
No |
FTP & SFTP Accounts |
Yes |
Yes |
Git and SSH Access |
No SSH |
Yes |
Free Backup |
No |
No |
Money Back Guarantee |
Yes |
No |
Both providers support a range of users from beginners to experts with user-friendly website builders and WordPress staging areas. However, in terms of developer tools, both Directnic and Hivelocity offer robust options including SSH access, support for multiple programming languages, and Git for version control, thus appealing to developers looking for advanced capabilities.
Email services:
Directnic offers a robust set of email hosting features, including a significant number of POP3 email accounts. This makes it a good option for users looking to handle their email needs directly through the hosting provider without relying on third-party services. Hivelocity does not include email hosting in its core features, which may be a drawback for those needing integrated email capabilities. Potential Hivelocity users will likely need to consider third-party solutions like Google Workspace or Outlook for email services, adding an extra layer of complexity and expense.
Price
Score Components:
- Plan value (40%): What each pricing tier offers.
- Transparency and clarity (30%): Clearness of pricing structures.
- Flexibility of plans (20%): Range of options to suit different budgets.
- Hidden costs (10%): Additional expenses not included in the plan.
7.8
8.7
🏆 Winner Hivelocity: Extensive global data center locations and varied hosting solutions.
Evaluating the pricing of plans among various hosting providers can be complex due to their differing pricing and renewal strategies. Additionally, certain plans require annual commitments, which adds to the difficulty of making comparisons. The prices listed are based on monthly commitments; plans requiring annual commitments are indicated. Although some providers offer identical plans for WordPress and shared hosting, we have created separate tables for each to enhance clarity.
When comparing Directnic and Hivelocity, Hivelocity stands out with its comprehensive offerings and varied hosting solutions at competitive prices. Directnic offers more affordable and specialized options like cybersecurity and site builder plans but falls short in enterprise-level services where Hivelocity excels. Hivelocity’s global data centers and extensive choices, including dedicated, instant, and game servers, make it a strong contender for businesses needing scalable and high-performance hosting.
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Lite Plan $2.48/month
Lite hosting plan offering features like 10GB disk space, 100GB data transfer, and 3 hosted domains. Email storage is limited to 50 POP3 emails. Value for price:7.5
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100 Accounts $61.00/month
Dedicated server hosting for 100 accounts with 24/7 support, robust control over server resources, and extensive data center options. Value for price:8.0
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Lite Plan $2.48/month
Same as WordPress Lite plan. Value for price:7.5
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N/A
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N/A
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Instant Servers from $75/month
Various plans with powerful configurations like E3-1270 v5 3.6GHz Skylake, 64GB Memory, 960GB SSD, and 1Gbps bandwidth. Value for price:8.0
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As a result in rare cases the prices displayed here can differ from the ones you see on their websites.
Enterprise plans
Directnic’s Deluxe Plan provides a range of features suited for medium-sized businesses with 200GB disk space and 2000GB data transfer. Hivelocity caters to larger enterprises with their scalable server solutions, including custom-built bare metal servers and managed services. Hivelocity’s dedicated server options, instant servers, and advanced managed services ensure enterprises have the flexibility and reliability they need.
Ease of setup
platform.
Score Components:
- Site migration (25%): Assesses whether the provider offers tools for site migration,
either automated or manual, and whether these services are free or require a fee. - Admin panel usability (35%): Evaluates the type of admin panel provided, such as the
standard cPanel or a custom solution, focusing on its accessibility and user-friendliness for both
technical and non-technical users. - Setup features (20%): Examines the availability and ease of use of various setup
features, including FTP accounts, file managers, email account setup, PHPMyAdmin, and easy CDN
configuration. - Help center quality (20%): Measures the quality and accessibility of the provider’s
help center resources, including articles and tutorials.
7.8
8.5
🏆 Winner
Hivelocity: Hivelocity offers extensive managed services and rapid server deployment, making it a flexible and scalable solution for diverse hosting needs.
Directnic uses cPanel, a well-known and user-friendly control panel, ideal for managing web hosting without much technical expertise. cPanel’s clean interface allows users to handle domain management, email accounts, and databases effortlessly. For those with minimal coding experience, Directnic also provides a drag-and-drop builder tool via Weebly. This accessible web building method comes with pre-designed templates and an integrated shopping cart, making it straightforward for users to set up their websites.
Hivelocity offers a variety of control panels, including cPanel, DirectAdmin, Plesk, and more, catering to different operational needs. This variety ensures that users can select a panel they are comfortable with, whether they have technical expertise or not. Besides, Hivelocity’s support for various operating systems allows users more flexibility and customization in their setup. Automated server deployment within 5 to 7 minutes also adds to its convenience, particularly for immediate scaling requirements.
Directnic provides easy-to-use script installations, simplifying the process of adding functionalities to your website. However, the information does not specify dedicated migration tools available directly through their platform. It’s likely these migrations might be manual unless additional services are provided.
Hivelocity’s managed services can handle site migrations, making the transition smoother without the need for on-site technical expertise. Hivelocity’s comprehensive managed services could imply that migration tools, either automated or manual, are efficiently handled by their support team.
The platforms provide extensive knowledge bases filled with guides, how-to articles, and instructional content. Directnic offers a wide range of resources alongside 24/7 chat and phone support. Hivelocity also boasts a detailed help center with an intuitive search function and around-the-clock support via live chat, phone, and ticketing, ensuring comprehensive user support.
User management
accessibility.
Score Components:
- Role customization (40%): Flexibility in creating and defining user roles and
permissions. - Ease of management (30%): User interface and tools for managing users.
- Access control (20%): Effectiveness of access control measures for different user
levels. - Scalability (10%): Ability to manage a growing number of users efficiently.
6.5
6.9
🏆 Winner Hivelocity: Hivelocity provides strong user management features that edge out the competition.
When comparing the user management capabilities of Directnic and Hivelocity, Hivelocity stands out for its superior flexibility in creating and defining user roles and permissions. Directnic offers a basic framework that allows users to manage some roles and permissions, but its capabilities are somewhat limited. Hivelocity, on the other hand, provides a more comprehensive suite of tools that enable users to create intricate role hierarchies and granular permissions, offering more control over user management. The flexibility Hivelocity offers is better suited for complex projects requiring detailed access control.
In terms of user interfaces and tools for managing users, Directnic has a straightforward and user-friendly interface, which is beneficial for beginners and those with simple hosting needs. However, it pales in comparison to Hivelocity’s modern, intuitive interface that smoothens the process of managing users. Hivelocity’s dashboard is packed with advanced tools and features that simplify the administrative tasks and reduce the time spent on user management.
Assessing the effectiveness of access control measures and scalability, Hivelocity again pulls ahead. Directnic offers decent access control measures, but these can become cumbersome as the number of users increases. Hivelocity’s access control system is designed to handle a larger user base more efficiently. Its ability to manage a growing number of users without compromising on speed or performance ensures that administrators can maintain stringent access controls as their needs evolve.
Hivelocity user roles table:
| Role | Description | Access highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Admin | Full access to all server and hosting functions. | Create and manage user roles, configure servers, and access all accounts. |
| User Manager | Manages user accounts and roles. | Add, edit, delete user accounts, assign roles, and reset passwords. |
| Read-Only User | Limited access for viewing configurations. | Access to view configurations and logs but cannot make changes. |
| Support Engineer | Provides technical support and troubleshooting. | Access to server diagnostics, logs, and can perform minor fixes. |
Customer support
hosting provider.
Score Components:
- Support communication channels (30%): Measures the variety of customer support types
provided (live chat, chatbot, email, phone, etc.) - Availability (20%): Assesses the availability hours for each channel, including 24/7
support options. - Technical support quality (30%): Assesses whether the provider offers comprehensive
technical support, including hardware upgrades (e.g., HDD to SSD), software installations, and web
server configuration changes. - Enterprise support (20%): Checks if there are dedicated or priority support services
for enterprise-level customers.
7.7
9.5
🏆 Winner
Hivelocity: Exceptional uptime and comprehensive support across multiple channels cater well to businesses looking for reliable hosting solutions.
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Phone support |
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Live chat support |
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Chatbot |
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Email/ticket support |
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Enterprise support (dedicated agent, priority support) |
Directnic offers extensive support features, including planning, installation, and maintenance. Their 24/7 availability across live chat, email, and ticket systems ensures broad access to assistance. However, phone support is limited to working hours on weekdays, which might not suffice for customers needing immediate help outside these hours. Directnic has a good knowledge base and video tutorials, helping users to self-resolve some common issues.
Hivelocity stands out with a 24/7/365 support system accessible via live chat, email, and phone, providing reliable assistance around the clock. Their comprehensive approach includes numerous data centers worldwide and a remarkable 100% uptime since 2011. Additionally, the inclusion of enterprise support options like dedicated agents could attract businesses requiring more specialized support.
User feedback
The hosting provider has a long-standing presence in the industry, which has contributed to a stable domain registration experience for some users. However, there have been significant issues with domain security breaches and slow response times for resolving these problems. Additionally, the server performance is reported to be slow, and customer support is not highly rated. Overall, the service has received average feedback, and some users would not recommend it.
Hivelocity is highly praised for its exceptional customer service, reliable server performance, and knowledgeable technical support. Long-term users, some with over a decade of experience, commend the company for its personalized support and rapid response times, often highlighting near-instant ticket resolutions and a proactive approach to addressing issues. Additionally, the infrastructure and network reliability receive strong accolades, with many users experiencing minimal to no downtime. While a few noted the increasing prices and occasional variability in support quality, the consensus is that Hivelocity offers an outstanding hosting service marked by dependability and top-tier customer support.
FAQ
Which platform is better suited for hosting WordPress websites?
Hivelocity is better suited for hosting WordPress websites as it offers extensive tools and optimized environments specifically designed for WordPress. Directnic does not offer dedicated WordPress hosting, which may limit its effectiveness for WordPress-specific performance and security needs.
Which hosting service offers better security features?
Hivelocity offers better security features with advanced encryption technologies, firewall hardening, DDoS protection, and compliance with SSAE-16, HIPAA, and PCI standards. While Directnic also provides robust security measures like CDN, WAF, and malware detection, it lacks some of the advanced features and compliance certifications present in Hivelocity’s offerings.
Which hosting service offers more scalability options for growing websites?
Hivelocity offers more scalability options for growing websites, with custom-built dedicated servers, private clouds, and a variety of hosting types designed to scale as businesses grow. Directnic provides clear, tiered plans that allow for manual scaling, but lacks the robust and customizable scaling capabilities offered by Hivelocity.
Which service is more suitable for hosting a high-traffic website?
Hivelocity is more suitable for hosting high-traffic websites due to its specialized hosting environments, high-end server hardware, and advanced configurations designed to handle significant traffic effectively. Directnic, while reliable, may not offer the same level of performance and scalability required for high-traffic sites.
What are the differences in the control panels offered by each hosting service?
Directnic uses cPanel, a popular and user-friendly control panel that simplifies web hosting management. Hivelocity, on the other hand, offers a variety of control panels including cPanel, Plesk, and Webmin, catering to different user preferences and technical expertise levels, which provides more flexibility and customization options.
The making of this blog
We followed a clear, step-by-step process to write and research this article.
