Liquid Web vs Netfirms: guide for 2024

Final verdict

Looking over Liquid Web vs. Netfirms, each has its merits, depending on the needs of the user.

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  Liquid Web (Overall grade: 8.4)
  
  
  offers fully managed hosting solutions designed to meet the needs of high-traffic sites, agencies, and businesses requiring intense performance and robust security. They excel in uptime, reliability, and customer support, with impressive hardware specifications and advanced performance features, such as AMD EPYC processors and NVMe storage. Liquid Web’s security measures, including DDoS protection, intrusion detection systems, and comprehensive compliance support, cater to clients in regulated industries. Furthermore, their array of hosting options, including VPS, dedicated servers, and cloud hosting, provide scalability and flexibility for growing businesses. However, the higher costs associated with these premium features might be challenging for smaller enterprises or personal websites.
  
• 
  Netfirms (Overall grade: 7.3)
  
  
  is well-suited for smaller websites and businesses looking for affordable, straightforward hosting solutions. They provide essential services with user-friendly tools, such as free domains, SSL certificates, and website builder tools, which give startups or budget-conscious users a head start. Their uptime performance is reliable, and the customer support is dependable, making them an attractive option for simpler hosting needs. However, their lack of advanced optimization tools, like those offered by Liquid Web, means they may struggle with high-traffic or resource-intensive sites. Furthermore, the performance capabilities and the range of hosting options are limited, making Netfirms less suitable for users seeking advanced features and scalability.
  

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 Liquid Web: Providing exceptional uptime and industry-leading guarantees for seamless hosting.

Liquid Web excels in maintaining uptime and availability. It features multi-server environments with managed replication options and offers a 100% uptime SLA, ensuring network and power reliability. Their proactive Sonar™ Monitoring and 30-minute hardware SLA ensure minimal disruption. Liquid Web’s customer support is highly responsive, with quick initial response guarantees.

Netfirms delivers solid uptime performance and dependable customer support. Their hosting plans promise 99.9% uptime, and two-week tests showed near-perfect results. Operating data centers in New York and Toronto, Netfirms provides continuous availability. Their 30-day money-back guarantee adds assurance but lacks an explicit uptime guarantee on the official site.

Liquid Web excels in maintaining uptime and availability. It features multi-server environments with managed replication options and offers a 100% uptime SLA, ensuring network and power reliability. Their proactive Sonar™ Monitoring and 30-minute hardware SLA ensure minimal disruption. Liquid Web’s customer support is highly responsive, with quick initial response guarantees.

🏆 Winner Liquid Web: Exceptional performance, customer support, and scalability.

When it comes to general performance, Liquid Web outshines Netfirms. Liquid Web offers top-of-the-line components like AMD EPYC and Intel Xeon processors. They boast NVMe or SSD storage, an integral factor for lighting-fast load times. Conversely, Netfirms, while cost-effective, primarily targets smaller businesses with basic resource needs. Liquid Web also offers a 10 Gbps network and a gigabit uplink, compared to Netfirms’ more standard offerings. Liquid Web’s proactive monitoring and autoscaling options further exemplify superior network speed and reliability. Both providers offer 24/7 support, but Liquid Web’s 59-second response guarantee sets it apart.

Website Speed

Liquid Web’s use of AMD EPYC processors and NVMe storage ensures faster data access and improved load times. Their autoscaling feature adjusts resources to meet traffic demands automatically, maintaining optimal speed. On the other hand, Netfirms provides essential services suitable for smaller websites, but lacks advanced speed optimization tools like Liquid Web’s Object Cache Pro. Liquid Web’s network capabilities contribute significantly to faster page speeds, while Netfirms offers a simpler, more cost-effective solution for low-traffic sites.

Scalability

Liquid Web provides easy scalability with minimal downtime, perfect for businesses expecting growth. Their autoscaling adjusts resources without manual intervention or additional costs. They also offer dedicated servers with powerful specs tailored for high-traffic sites. Netfirms, while offering scalable plans, requires manual upgrades and caters mostly to smaller operations. Costs for scaling with Liquid Web might be higher initially but offer greater flexibility and simpler process. Netfirms remains a budget-friendly choice, but may involve more effort to adjust to growing needs.

🏆 Winner
Liquid Web: Superior security and compliance features tailored for high-demand environments.

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

Technical security measures:

Liquid Web integrates extensive security features such as firewalls, VPN, DDoS attack protection, server protection, and data encryption at rest. They provide customizable web application firewalls and an F5 AIP Intrusion Detection System for real-time monitoring and threat mitigation. By comparison, Netfirms focuses on SSL certificates, SiteLock security plans (Essentials, Prevent, Prevent Plus) that address malware, automated bot attacks, and a web application firewall. Both hostings offer SSL certificates and PHP support, but Liquid Web’s broader range of technical protections outshines Netfirms’.

Operational security measures:

Liquid Web’s operational security includes 24/7/365 on-site support in wholly-owned core data centers equipped with high availability network infrastructure. They also offer compliance assistance and hardened server configurations. Netfirms, on the other hand, offers comprehensive customer support through 24/7 phone or chat and includes features like SiteLock for malware scanning and PCI compliance scanning in their higher-tier security plans. While both have strong support, Liquid Web’s infrastructure and detailed compliance support provide higher operational security.

Compliance and certifications:

Liquid Web meets multiple compliance requirements, including GDPR, PCI, and HIPAA, with dedicated solutions to help customers manage these regulations. They are SSAE-22 and Safe Harbor-compliant, with on-demand PCI scans and GDPR data protection addendums. Netfirms complies with GDPR and PCI standards but lacks detailed HIPAA compliance information. Liquid Web’s broader certification coverage and specific compliance measures make it the better choice for regulated industries.

🏆 Winner Liquid Web: Liquid Web excels in providing a comprehensive suite of managed hosting solutions tailored to meet diverse client needs.

Liquid Web offers fully managed hosting services with an emphasis on robust security, high availability, and enterprise-level solutions. Their managed WooCommerce hosting, private VMware Cloud, and specialized VPS hosting cater to complex and data-intensive workloads with a focus on performance and security. Features like 24/7/365 customer support, proactive monitoring, and guaranteed network uptime make Liquid Web a reliable choice for businesses that require stringent hosting needs. Although they don’t explicitly mention a website builder, their management capabilities and inclusive tools like Plesk for Windows hosting significantly enhance user experience and allow for complex customization without direct mention.

Netfirms, on the other hand, provides more cost-effective hosting plans that include a free domain for the first year, unlimited disk space, ecommerce solutions, and marketing tools. Unlike Liquid Web, Netfirms explicitly lists website builder tools, which could appeal to users who want simplified website creation. The free domain registration for a year, scalable bandwidth, and free SSL certificates enhance the value provided by Netfirms, especially for startups or smaller businesses looking for affordable yet versatile hosting plans. Their straightforward approach and focus on usability might suit users who prioritize ease of access and initial cost-effectiveness over advanced management features.

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, Liquid Web and Netfirms 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:

Liquid Web offers comprehensive email hosting services, supporting the setup of professional email addresses tailored to a business’s domain. Their services usually include robust transactional email capabilities crucial for eCommerce operations. Netfirms also provides email hosting, suitable for standard business communications and marketing campaigns. Neither provider explicitly mentions reselling third-party email services like Google Workspace or Outlook, focusing instead on their internal solutions to support customer email needs.

🏆 Winner Liquid Web: Offering diversified hosting solutions with robust features for different business needs.

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.

Liquid Web offers a range of hosting options including Managed WooCommerce, Managed WordPress, and Managed VPS Hosting, each tailored for different user needs. In contrast, Netfirms focuses on simpler shared hosting plans with competitive pricing and additional services such as free domains and eCommerce tools. Liquid Web’s WordPress hosting starts at $21/mo with diverse features, while Netfirms’ shared hosting starts at $3.95/mo for an initial term with unlimited storage and scalable bandwidth. The advanced security and scalability features of Liquid Web, alongside their dedicated customer support, make it a solid choice for businesses requiring dependable and powerful hosting solutions. Netfirms’ lower entry costs and essential features provide excellent value for simpler hosting needs.

Enterprise plans

Liquid Web offers extensive enterprise plans for both WooCommerce and WordPress hosting. Their highest plan, Enterprise, features 800GB storage and 10TB bandwidth, supporting up to 250 sites for WordPress, with unmatched scalability and security features. Netfirms does not provide detailed dedicated hosting plans within the same data, leaving Liquid Web as a more comprehensive option for enterprises needing higher resources and robust support. For Managed VPS and Cloud Dedicated Servers, Liquid Web’s VPS plans start from $20/mo, offering customizable resources and superior performance for large-scale operations requiring dedicated servers.

🏆 Winner Liquid Web: A comprehensive hosting solution with strong customer support and management services.

Liquid Web offers a highly accessible and user-friendly admin panel, which caters to both technical and non-technical users. The interface is well-structured, allowing users to easily navigate and manage their hosting needs without getting overwhelmed. Liquid Web’s admin panel integrates various tools and services, providing a seamless experience for users who need a straightforward approach. On the other hand, Netfirms employs a more standard cPanel, which is widely recognized but might require a bit more familiarity for non-technical users. The cPanel is functional and reliable, but it may not offer the same level of customization and ease of use as Liquid Web’s tailored admin interface.

Liquid Web’s proactive management and an intuitive interface make it suitable for users who prefer a more hands-off approach with ample support readily available. Netfirms’ use of the standard cPanel brings a level of reliability and familiarity, which is beneficial for users already acquainted with this platform. However, new or less technical users might find it less intuitive compared to Liquid Web’s admin panel, which is specifically designed for ease of use and accessibility.

Both hosting providers present a distinct user experience in their admin panels. Liquid Web’s proactive management and an intuitive interface make it suitable for users who prefer a more hands-off approach with ample support readily available. Netfirms’ use of the standard cPanel brings a level of reliability and familiarity, which is beneficial for users already acquainted with this platform. However, new or less technical users might find it less intuitive compared to Liquid Web’s admin panel, which is specifically designed for ease of use and accessibility.

Evaluating the help center resources, Liquid Web takes the lead with an industry-leading knowledge base filled with articles, tutorials, and updated content. They cover a broad range of topics, from getting started to technical support, regularly providing new articles on hosting basics and fixes. Netfirms’ knowledge base is also comprehensive, focusing on essential topics such as website backup, domain privacy, and security compliance. However, Liquid Web’s extensive resources and proactive updates provide a more accessible and thorough support experience for users.

Liquid Web offers a robust site migration service that includes help in migrating your existing site, store, or application. They provide comprehensive migration assistance as part of their service without additional costs. Netfirms also offers help with setting up web hosting along with your domain, which can streamline the process of getting started. However, migration tools and services seem to be less highlighted or extensive compared to Liquid Web, which could imply additional steps or potential costs for users migrating complex sites.

🏆 Winner Liquid Web: Efficient and detailed user management using Plesk control panel.

Liquid Web and Netfirms offer comprehensive tools for managing user roles and permissions, but Liquid Web stands out for its flexibility. Plesk in Liquid Web provides four default roles: Administrator, Webmaster, Application User, and Accountant. These roles cover a range of permissions, allowing granular control over user activities. In contrast, Netfirms uses WordPress roles like Administrator, Editor, Author, Contributor, and Subscriber. While WordPress roles offer good scope for content management, Plesk’s offering allows for more nuanced user role customization, including creating new user roles and editing existing ones, making it more versatile for complex needs.

Liquid Web’s Plesk interface is straightforward, offering distinct views for service providers and power users. Creating and managing user accounts, roles, and subscriptions are consistently accessible via clear menus and options. Netfirms, using the WordPress Dashboard, provides ease of use especially for content-centric tasks, but it might not be as in-depth as Plesk for managing server settings and broader user roles. Users familiar with WordPress will find Netfirms intuitive, though Liquid Web’s Plesk caters better to different levels of technical expertise.

When it comes to access control measures, Liquid Web’s Plesk enables efficient management of a growing number of users through its comprehensive role customization and user account functions. Adding, editing, and removing user accounts, along with associating them with specific subscriptions or all subscriptions, is straightforward. Netfirms handles user growth effectively within the realm of WordPress site management but doesn’t offer the same level of server management flexibility. For extensive user and server management, Liquid Web’s detailed access roles and efficient control offer superior handling for scalability.

Liquid Web User Roles Table:

🏆 Winner
Liquid Web: Liquid Web offers 24/7/365 human support with a variety of contact methods and quick response time guarantees.

Liquid Web stands out with its 24/7/365 availability across multiple contact methods, including phone, chat, and helpdesk. They guarantee quick initial response times: 59 seconds for both phone and chat, and 59 minutes for the helpdesk. Additionally, they provide specialized teams for different platforms, proactive monitoring, and even migration assistance. Their exceptional customer loyalty is reflected in their high NPS score.

Netfirms also offers 24/7 support via phone, web chat, email, and a ticket system, with prompt responses reported for phone and chat. They provide a 30-day money-back guarantee on hosting plans and offer prioritized support for their highest tier of service. Some users have found their customer service generally positive but have mentioned issues related to billing and cancellation processes.

User feedback

Customer feedback for this hosting provider is mixed, with significant polarization in user experiences. While some have praised the company for its reliable uptime, exceptional support, and proactive monitoring, others have experienced severe dissatisfaction due to frequent downtimes, unresponsive customer service, and unethical billing practices. Long-term customers, in particular, have noted a sharp decline in service quality and support efficiency, attributing it to recent management changes. Despite positive reviews highlighting excellent technical support and overall reliability, a growing number of users advise against using this provider due to these negative aspects.

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