Hostmonster vs Netfirms: guide for 2024

Final verdict

Looking over HostMonster vs. Netfirms, both platforms offer substantial features catering to different user needs, but HostMonster edges out slightly in overall value.

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  HostMonster (Overall grade: 7.4)
  
  
  excels in its extensive range of hosting types, including specialized WordPress and VPS options, making it a versatile choice for various website requirements. Its impressive uptime performance, quick load times, and robust security measures ensure a stable and secure hosting environment. Users benefit from features like unlimited domain hosting, drag-and-drop site builders, and comprehensive email hosting support. However, HostMonster’s pricing can be on the higher side, especially for advanced plans, and some users may find its interface slightly more complex to navigate.
  
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  Netfirms(Overall grade: 7.3)
  
  
  presents a cost-efficient alternative with competitive starting prices and scalable bandwidth across all plans. The inclusion of a free SSL certificate and unlimited storage in lower-tier plans adds to its value for budget-conscious users. Netfirms’ integration with Google Workspace, detailed user roles in WordPress, and comprehensive customer support make it a solid choice for businesses needing straightforward management and support. However, the lack of VPS hosting, fewer advanced hosting options, and occasional billing issues may limit its appeal for users seeking more robust hosting solutions.
  

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 HostMonster: Leading in uptime performance with reliable support.

HostMonster offers outstanding uptime performance, with tests showing minimal downtime and rapid recovery from issues. The speed test results are impressive, with a load time significantly faster than the average. Back-end protections further enhance its reliability, ensuring your site remains stable and secure.

Netfirms also promises excellent uptime and demonstrated strong performance during testing. Operating data centers in both the USA and Canada offers flexibility, and its 24/7 customer support is continuously available. However, the absence of an explicit uptime guarantee on its official site may cause some uncertainty.

🏆 Winner Netfirms: offers tailored solutions and better overall performance efficiencies for diverse business needs.

Comparing general performance, Netfirms offers a competitive edge with their shared and dedicated hosting plans. While HostMonster provides diverse multi-tiered plans, Netfirms focuses on customizable solutions effectively suited for small to large businesses. HostMonster’s unmetered bandwidth and high max file count in higher-tier plans are commendable, however, Netfirms offers scalable bandwidth across all plans. Both hosts include free SSL certificates and varying levels of email storage and website space. HostMonster supports up to 500 concurrent MySQL connections, whereas Netfirms doesn’t specify this metric.

Website Speed

Netfirms claims a higher uptime at 99.9% compared to unspecified metrics from HostMonster. HostMonster includes features like SSD storage and CDN integration in higher-tier plans, while Netfirms provides scalable bandwidth across the board. Although HostMonster offers multiple server locations contributing to better performance globally, Netfirms’ consistent bandwidth and scalable resources provide stable speeds even as traffic grows.

Scalability

Netfirms offers seamless scalability across its shared and dedicated plans, allowing businesses to scale their resources automatically without the hassle of manual upgrades. HostMonster requires users to upgrade their plans to access better performance features, whereas Netfirms maintains scalability automatically. Both services provide dedicated server options but exact costs for scaling on Netfirms are not detailed, while HostMonster’s higher-tier plans (Pro) come at a notable premium.

🏆 Winner HostMonster: HostMonster provides a comprehensive suite of security features to ensure the safety and compliance of its hosting services.

Both HostMonster and Netfirms, have notable differences in their approaches to technical and operational
security, as well as in their compliance with regulations.

Technical security measures:

HostMonster offers SSL secure servers and premium SSL certificates starting at $80.04 per year, with free certificates included in some plans. Netfirms includes free SSL certificates with every plan and provides specialized SSL options like e-commerce and wildcard SSL with higher warranties. HostMonster supports multiple PHP versions and allows custom PHP.INI file configurations, while the specific PHP versions supported by Netfirms are not specified. Both providers offer SiteLock Security, but HostMonster’s features include dynamic verifiable security badges and proactive security vulnerability scanning.

Operational security measures:

Both HostMonster and Netfirms have robust operational security measures. HostMonster stands out with two-factor authentication, hotlink protection, and SSH access. It also includes Spam Assassin for email protection. Netfirms offers comprehensive domain privacy and protection to prevent identity theft and unauthorized access, along with blacklist monitoring and domain security alerts. HostMonster requires users to follow a basic site security checklist to maintain website integrity. Netfirms provides a 24/7 support service to address any security concerns promptly.

Compliance and certifications:

HostMonster and Netfirms both comply with GDPR, providing all necessary rights to EU residents. They both have addressed the requirements since May 25, 2018. HostMonster offers PCI compliance support for A and B compliance, addressing common issues like weak SSL ciphers. Netfirms also ensures PCI compliance and has partnered with SiteLock to validate websites against PCI standards. HIPAA compliance is not specified for either provider.

🏆 Winner HostMonster: Versatile hosting with comprehensive features.

HostMonster and Netfirms each bring distinct advantages to the table. HostMonster, powered by Bluehost, stands out with a plethora of features such as unlimited disk storage, unlimited domain hosting, and a free drag-and-drop site builder, making it an ideal choice for versatile website needs. HostMonster also offers a free domain name for the first year, excellent for those starting fresh. This provider supports three different webmail solutions and unlimited email accounts, adding significant value for users focused on extensive email communication. Moreover, HostMonster includes advanced customization options with support for multiple scripting languages and one-click script installs through SimpleScripts. The inclusion of FTP/SFTP and SSH access ensures secure and flexible file management.

Netfirms, on the other hand, provides attractive hosting plans starting at $3.95 per month, catering to budget-conscious users. Its Plus Plan includes unlimited storage, a free domain name for a year, and scalable bandwidth, making it suitable for those looking to start small and scale as needed. Netfirms also offers a free SSL certificate by Let’s Encrypt across all plans, ensuring basic security measures at no extra cost. However, the limited number of FTP logins and databases in lower-tier plans might be a drawback for users requiring more extensive backend access. Netfirms doesn’t explicitly mention SFTP or SSH access, which could be a concern for users needing secure file transfer protocols.

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 Example hosting one and Example hosting two 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:

HostMonster offers comprehensive email hosting with unlimited POP3 and IMAP support, three different webmail solutions, and unlimited forwarding email accounts. This flexibility makes it suitable for both small and large-scale email campaigns. Netfirms doesn’t explicitly mention its email hosting capabilities, leaving some uncertainty. HostMonster appears to provide more robust support for email needs, ensuring users have the tools to manage their email communications effectively.

🏆 Winner Netfirms: Offering competitive pricing and a wide range of features that make it stand out in website hosting.

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.

When comparing the pricing plans of HostMonster and Netfirms, HostMonster offers a range of shared web hosting plans starting from the Basic Plan at $12.99 per month to the Pro Plan at $33.99 per month. Netfirms, on the other hand, has more competitive starting prices with their Plus Plan at $4.95 per month and their Business Plan at $14.95 per month. HostMonster provides essential features like free SSL certificates across all plans, while Netfirms offers free SSL by Let’s Encrypt. Notably, Netfirms offers unlimited storage and scalable bandwidth across all plans, making it a compelling option for various website needs.

Enterprise plans

Both HostMonster and Netfirms cater to enterprise needs, but their approaches differ. HostMonster’s Pro Plan at $33.99 per month offers high performance with a free dedicated IP and Positive SSL, making it apt for large businesses requiring robust security. Netfirms’ Business Plan at $14.95 per month, while more affordable, still provides unlimited features including storage, databases, scalable bandwidth, and the free SSL by Let’s Encrypt, making it a cost-efficient option for enterprises needing scalability without compromising on essentials.

🏆 Winner
HostMonster: A web hosting service powered by Bluehost, known for user-friendly features and strong support.

HostMonster uses a standard cPanel for their admin interface, which many users find familiar and easy to navigate. cPanel is widely regarded as intuitive, offering a clear and organized layout that suits both technical and non-technical users. With features like 1-click WordPress install and a straightforward getting started guide, setting up your website becomes a seamless process. The inclusion of free site builders provides additional ease-of-use for beginners who may not have extensive technical skills but wish to quickly bring their website online.

Netfirms, on the other hand, offers a custom admin panel that is integrated with Google Workspace. This integration simplifies domain verification and email setup, making it a good choice for users who rely heavily on Google’s suite of applications. The custom panel is designed to be user-friendly, offering onboarding assistance and 24/7 technical support to resolve any issues. While it may lack the familiarity of cPanel, the custom solution is designed to be accessible for users across different skill levels and provides unique features like integrated Google Workspace.

When it comes to migration tools, HostMonster provides support for migrating websites but doesn’t offer clear information on whether these tools are automated or require a fee. Netfirms does not highlight specific migration tools in their provided details but offers robust onboarding assistance, which can help in manual migrations. Both companies provide 24/7 support, which can be crucial during the migration process, but neither seems to offer dedicated and automated migration tools as part of their packages.

The platforms provide extensive knowledge bases filled with guides, how-to articles, and instructional content. HostMonster’s help center is comprehensive, offering detailed articles, guides, video tutorials, and 24/7 support via phone and chat. The expansive knowledge base covers topics ranging from domain privacy to configuring emails, making it highly accessible for users seeking technical help. Netfirms also offers a specialized knowledge base with articles on backup and restore, GDPR compliance, and security, along with 24/7 customer service. Both platforms provide substantial resources, but HostMonster’s inclusion of video tutorials and an expansive range of articles gives it a slight edge in accessibility and thoroughness.

🏆 Winner
Netfirms: Netfirms offers a structured and detailed user management system in WordPress.

HostMonster allows site management through a modified version of cPanel, which implies some capacity for managing user accounts and permissions. However, specific details about user roles and management features are not readily available. Netfirms, on the other hand, provides clear and defined user roles within WordPress; roles such as Administrator, Editor, Author, Contributor, and Subscriber give a high degree of flexibility in managing access and capabilities for various users. This detailed structuring of roles makes Netfirms more advantageous for sites requiring nuanced user access.

In terms of user interfaces and tools, HostMonster relies on a modified version of cPanel, a familiar yet slightly altered layout that provides basic functionalities for user management. The cPanel suite generally includes account management, but its specifics remain unclear. Netfirms’ tools for managing users are more straightforward within the WordPress environment. The process for adding users is well-defined in Netfirms, ensuring ease of use for administrators who need to manage multiple user roles.

Assessing access control measures, HostMonster’s strength lies in its use of cPanel, a versatile tool often used for various server management tasks, which theoretically includes solid access control options. However, without specific details, its effectiveness in managing a growing number of users can’t be accurately gauged. Netfirms shows excellent capability in managing growing user bases, thanks to WordPress’s robust user role management system, which allows for scalable administration and well-defined permissions at various user levels.

Netfirms user roles table:

🏆 Winner
Netfirms: Netfirms provides extensive customer support with 24/7 availability and is praised for its quick response times and knowledgeable representatives.

Netfirms offers a higher level of customer support, boasting 24/7 availability across phone, web chat, and email. Response times are impressive, with phone support having less than a minute wait time and minimal delays in web chat. Users generally report positive experiences, though some issues have been noted with billing and cancellation processes. Netfirms also provides priority support for its top-tier customers, a feature not available with HostMonster.

HostMonster, while providing a variety of support channels including phone, live chat, ticket, and email, has some limitations. Though their technical support is available around the clock, sales support is limited to specific hours. They offer a knowledge base with articles and tutorials and include additional perks such as a free domain name for one year and SSL certificates with hosting plans. However, HostMonster does not offer prioritized support like Netfirms.

User feedback

HostMonster receives mixed reviews from users, with positive feedback highlighting its affordable pricing, reliable uptime, and quick website loading times. Users also appreciate the extensive range of features such as addons for security, easy integration with MySQL, and a generally good customer service experience. However, many users find the user interface to be difficult to navigate, particularly for non-technical individuals, and note that technical support can be inconsistent, often more focused on sales than solving issues. Additionally, unexpected costs and technical limitations like frequent PHP updates and challenges with deploying large applications have also been pointed out as significant drawbacks.

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.

FAQ