Netfirms vs Interserver: guide for 2024

Final verdict

Looking over Example hosting one vs. Example hosting two, 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.

• 
  InterServer (Overall grade: 8.1)
  
  
  excels with its wide range of hosting types, including WordPress and VPS hosting, and advanced site performance features like SSD caching, RAID-10 storage, and Cloudflare CDN. InterServer’s strong commitment to uptime, security measures, and resource scalability ensures that it can handle growing businesses and high-traffic demands effectively. The free migration service and user-friendly cPanel control make it accessible for both beginners and experienced users. Despite some minor gaps in specific information on email hosting and GDPR compliance, InterServer’s comprehensive offerings make it a robust solution for varied hosting needs.
  
• 
  Netfirms (Overall grade: 7.3)
  
  
  provides reliable hosting services with a focus on simplicity and essential features like a free domain name for the first year, scalable bandwidth, and easy-to-use control panels. It’s particularly suited for those seeking cost-effective solutions for eCommerce and dedicated hosting. Though it doesn’t offer as many advanced hosting options or speed optimizations as InterServer, Netfirms delivers dependable uptime and 24/7 customer support. The lack of explicit technical features such as SFTP and SSH may deter developers looking for more secure file transfer options. Overall, Netfirms is best for budget-conscious users who require solid basic hosting without extensive advanced features.
  

Hosting types offered

Both platforms provide a variety of hosting types, each designed to meet the different needs of users.

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

🏆 Winner
InterServer: Seamless hosting with superior uptime and security features.

Netfirms offers reliable hosting with a stable uptime record. Testing showed it went down only once briefly over two weeks. Additionally, it promises 99.9% uptime across plans, although it doesn’t explicitly state this on the official site. The uptime and availability are supported by data centers in New York and Toronto, with 24/7 customer support available via phone, live chat, and ticketing system. Netfirms provides a 30-day money-back guarantee, but only for credit card payments.

InterServer guarantees 99.9% uptime and backs it up with a money-back guarantee if they fall short. Long-term performance monitoring indicates an impressive 99.99% uptime. Although their average server response time is 662ms, they mitigate this with route optimization and Cloudflare’s global network for good loading speeds. InterServer’s proprietary caching mechanisms and InterShield Security further enhance performance and security, while the guaranteed email delivery ensures reliability. With only 50% of server resources in use, they support growth without performance issues.

🏆 Winner InterServer: Superior performance and greater flexibility.

When comparing Netfirms and InterServer, InterServer stands out with its remarkable hosting speed and advanced features. InterServer utilizes ultra-fast web servers, SSD caching, and RAID-10 storage to ensure quick load times and high PageSpeed scores. Additionally, InterServer offers a free Cloudflare CDN, enhancing performance and global reach. With several data centers strategically located, InterServer provides high reliability and optimal speed. Netfirms, while cost-effective, delivers solid performance with scalable bandwidth and free SSL certificates but falls short in speed optimization and advanced caching techniques.

Website Speed

InterServer leads in website speed with its focus on SSD caching servers, RAID-10 storage, and a 10GB Cisco network. This ensures rapid load times and exceptional website performance. With a built-in free Cloudflare CDN, websites hosted on InterServer benefit from distributed content delivery, reducing latency. Netfirms, though capable of achieving a 99.9% uptime and free SSL certificates, does not match the speed optimization offered by InterServer’s route optimization and advanced server technologies.

Scalability

InterServer excels in scalability, providing easy upgrades to VPS or dedicated servers without downtime, allowing for seamless growth. The process is highly flexible, matching the needs of expanding projects. While Netfirms offers scalable hosting plans to accommodate increasing website demands, they do not specify the ease of upgrading to dedicated servers or the associated costs. InterServer makes scalability straightforward and ensures websites can grow effortlessly without compromising performance.

🏆 Winner
InterServer: A hosting provider with advanced security features and robust protection.
Both Netfirms and InterServer, have notable differences in their approaches to technical and operational
security, as well as in their compliance with regulations.

Technical security measures:

Netfirms offers various SSL certificates, including free Let’s Encrypt SSL, and plans that span from basic to advanced eCommerce protection. It also ensures domain privacy and security alerts. InterServer provides free SSL certificates and exceptional email security with automatic end-to-end encryption. Additionally, InterServer offers brute-force attack protection and InterShield Security, featuring automatic virus scanning and a machine learning firewall. InterServer’s caching mechanisms like LSCache and Inter-Proxy Caching enhance site performance, further bolstering security.

Operational security measures:

Netfirms has SiteLock security plans offering daily malware scans, automated malware removal, and DDoS protection depending on the chosen plan. It also features domain privacy protection, blacklist monitoring, and domain security alerts. InterServer emphasizes email security with spam and virus protection, anonymous email account options, and guaranteed email delivery. The provider’s Inter-Insurance service cleans up compromised accounts and their physical data center security measures, such as CCTV and redundant power systems, ensure operational reliability.

Compliance and certifications:

Netfirms has been GDPR compliant since May 2018, providing EU residents various rights such as the right to be forgotten and data portability. It also ensures PCI compliance for secure credit card processing. InterServer suggests adherence to GDPR standards through a focus on privacy and security but lacks detailed information. There’s no specified PCI compliance for InterServer.

🏆 Winner InterServer: Robust and highly optimized hosting solution focused on speed and scalability.

When comparing Netfirms and InterServer, a few distinct features and capabilities emerge. Netfirms provides a free domain name for the first year, which can be quite beneficial for businesses just starting. Its eCommerce solutions, marketing tools, and scalable bandwidth are geared towards those looking to establish an entrepreneurial or commercial presence online. Netfirms also includes a free SSL certificate and 24/7 customer support across all plans. However, it doesn’t explicitly mention the availability of SFTP and SSH, which might be crucial for developers seeking secure file transfer and remote server access.

On the other hand, InterServer offers a broader scope of advanced features more suited to users with technical expertise. With unlimited FTP accounts, weekly backups, SSD caching servers, and high-speed optimization technology, InterServer aims to deliver an enhanced performance experience. Their use of Raid-10 Storage and Cloud Linux OS further ensures stability and efficiency. They also offer a free Cloudflare CDN for better content delivery speed. While their domain services and Cloud apps are attractive, the lack of detailed information on email hosting specifics and the presence of SSH might be points where prospective customers need to research more.

Email services:

Netfirms does not explicitly mention email hosting or related features, which could be a limitation for businesses expecting integrated communication solutions. InterServer offers basic email hosting services, allowing users to manage emails and possibly set up their own campaigns. However, there’s no detailed information on transactional email capabilities or reselling of third-party services like Google Workspace or Outlook. Users seeking comprehensive email functionalities may need to explore additional plugins or third-party integrations.

🏆 Winner
InterServer: InterServer scores highly overall, mainly due to the robust features included in their plans and the transparency of what’s included.

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. Additionally, although some providers offer identical plans for WordPress and shared hosting, we have created separate tables for each to enhance clarity.

Netfirms and InterServer offer different pricing plans and features. Netfirms provides three shared hosting plans starting from $3.95/month, with scalable bandwidth and additional features like free SSL certificates and eCommerce solutions, whereas InterServer’s standard web hosting starts at just $2.50/month, offering unlimited storage, websites, and free website migration. InterServer also features high-performance WordPress and VPS hosting plans at various price points compared to Netfirms’ simpler shared and dedicated hosting structures. InterServer stands out for its more affordable pricing and comprehensive feature sets, making it an attractive option for both individuals and businesses.

Enterprise plans

Netfirms doesn’t have enterprise plans, but their VPS and dedicated hosting plans may be suitable the needs of larger businesses or enterprises. InterServer does not have dedicated hosting options, however the platform offers Reseller Hosting and plans for specifically for agencies, which can be suitable for enterprises.

🏆 Winner
InterServer: Streamlined site migration and user-friendly control panels make web hosting straightforward.

Netfirms uses a custom control panel integrated with Google Workspace, simplifying setup and domain verification. This is beneficial for non-technical users who want a unified experience without switching between multiple platforms. The control panel’s accessibility caters to a broad audience, making it easy for beginners while still being functional for more experienced users. With 24/7 technical support, users can quickly resolve any issues that arise.

InterServer offers cPanel and DirectAdmin, both of which are industry-standard tools known for their ease of use. These control panels provide a wide range of features that allow complete control over web hosting and site management. One-click installations of popular scripts make it simple for users to deploy new website functionalities. Both tech-savvy individuals and novices can navigate the control panels effortlessly, thanks to their intuitive design and extensive online support.

Netfirms does not offer automated migration tools, but it compensates with 24/7 technical support to assist users through the process manually. Having someone to rely on can be useful, though the lack of automation could make transitions more time-consuming. InterServer, on the other hand, provides a free migration service for standard shared hosting accounts. Users just need a cPanel backup, and InterServer handles the rest, ensuring a smooth and straightforward migration process without incurring additional costs.

The platforms provide extensive knowledge bases filled with guides, how-to articles, and instructional content. Netfirms offers a wide range of resources alongside 24/7 chat and phone support. InterServer 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.

🏆 Winner Netfirms: Simplified and flexible user role management for WordPress.

Netfirms offers a clear and structured approach to user management in WordPress, providing specific roles with defined capabilities. Users can be assigned roles such as Administrator, Editor, Author, Contributor, and Subscriber, each with distinct permissions that cater to various needs from full site management to basic content creation. InterServer, while versatile with its use of control panels like cPanel, Plesk, and DirectAdmin, doesn’t provide detailed documentation on user roles specifically tailored to WordPress; it relies more on the inherent functionalities within these control panels. This makes Netfirms more straightforward for those specifically looking to manage user roles within WordPress.

Netfirms offers a user-friendly interface for managing WordPress users directly through the WordPress Dashboard. Users can easily add, edit, or delete users and assign roles from a drop-down menu. The process is intuitive, requiring basic information and a few clicks to complete. InterServer’s use of cPanel, Plesk, and DirectAdmin provides comprehensive tools for managing hosting accounts, but these interfaces can be more complex, especially for beginners. The variety in control panels means users might face a learning curve in locating and using the user management features efficiently.

In terms of access control and scalability, Netfirms ensures that user roles in WordPress are managed effectively with clear boundaries and permissions. This defined role structure allows site owners to maintain control over content and administrative tasks, even as the number of users grows. InterServer, leveraging control panels, offers robust access control features and scalability for general hosting management. Users can manage permissions across various tools like email and file management, but it may not be as streamlined specifically for WordPress role management compared to Netfirms.

Netfirms user roles table:

🏆 Winner
InterServer: Offers a variety of extensive customer support options and additional features.

When comparing the customer support options of Netfirms and InterServer, both offer 24/7 support via phone, email, and live chat. Netfirms boasts quick response times, with phone support answered in less than a minute and chat support wait times only a few minutes. Email support is available around the clock, with an option to print or email chat transcriptions for future reference. An advantage is the 30-day money-back guarantee that adds a layer of confidence for new users. However, some users have expressed concerns about their billing and cancellation processes.

InterServer, on the other hand, also provides 24/7 support via phone, live chat, and a ticket system, with response times typically under 30 minutes. The hosting provider integrates additional support features such as a self-help tips section on their website, free standard migration service, and proactive daily backups for enhanced data security. Furthermore, InterServer includes user-friendly control panels and a one-click installation tool for various apps, along with guaranteed email delivery with spam filtering. These extensive support options, combined with a high uptime guarantee, make InterServer a preferred choice for many users.

User feedback

Based on user reviews, the hosting provider appears to offer decent uptime and moderately reliable customer support. However, users frequently report slow server performance and connectivity issues that significantly hamper the experience. While some appreciate the low costs and basic domain registration services, others criticize the clunky system, confusing server setup, and unreliability, especially when working with CMS tools. Overall, the service seems better suited for those with low budgets and high patience.

User feedback on the hosting provider paints a mixed picture. Many users commend the provider for its affordable, straightforward pricing and extensive features like unlimited storage and bandwidth, free SSL certificates, and a user-friendly control panel. The customer support, while generally prompt and effective, has garnered both praise and criticism, especially due to the lack of a dedicated phone support line and sometimes long live chat wait times. However, performance issues such as inconsistent server speed, downtime, and occasional loss of data have been frequent points of frustration for users.

FAQ