Final verdict
Comparing InterServer and Hivelocity showcases distinct offerings aimed at different user needs.
-
Hivelocity (Overall grade: 7.7)
excels in uptime and reliability, boasting an impressive 99.99% uptime guarantee and multiple data centers globally. This is a critical strength for businesses dependent on continuous availability. Hivelocity also shines with its rigorous security measures and compliance with industry standards like SSAE-16, HIPAA, and PCI, making it a favorite among enterprises that require stringent security. However, Hivelocity’s complexity and higher pricing may deter smaller businesses or less tech-savvy users looking for more straightforward solutions.
InterServer (Overall grade: 8.1)
stands out with its strong performance, extensive feature set, and competitive pricing. It offers an ultra-fast web server, SSD caching, and free Cloudflare CDN, which contribute to excellent website speed and reliability. InterServer’s user-friendly control panels and free migration service make it approachable for a broad range of users, from individuals to growing businesses. However, users might miss detailed documentation on SSH access and explicit compliance certifications. Despite this, InterServer provides exceptional value with flexible and scalable hosting plans suitable for various needs.
 Overall grade:8.1 |
 Overall grade:7.7 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Uptime and Availability | 8.7 | 9.8 |
| Hosting Performance | 8.2 | 7.0 |
| Hosting Security | 8.3 | 8.7 |
| Price | 8.1 | 8.7 |
| Hosting Features | 6.2 | 2.5 |
| Ease Of Setup | 8.7 | 8.5 |
| User Management | 7.4 | 6.9 |
| Customer Support | 9.0 | 9.5 |
| User feedback | 4/5 | 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.
8.7
9.8
🏆 Winner
Hivelocity: Winner Hivelocity: Leading in uptime and reliability for hosting services.
InterServer offers a 99.9% uptime guarantee and partners with Cloudflare for high reliability. Performance monitoring shows an impressive 99.99% uptime, translating to minimal downtime annually. The server response time of 662ms and global loading speeds around 1.2 seconds depict a balanced performance, further enhanced by route optimization and proprietary caching mechanisms. Additionally, security measures through InterShield Security and cleanup services maintain availability.
Hivelocity, on the other hand, provides an exceptional uptime guarantee of 99.99% and has maintained 100% uptime since 2011. Their network intelligently routes data around congestion, offering high performance and reliability globally. With multiple data centers, including locations in the USA, and stringent certifications like SSAE-16 SOC1 and SOC2, Hivelocity caters to high-end customers needing consistent and stable hosting services. Diesel power generators and fuel reserves ensure uninterrupted power, solidifying their position in uptime and availability.
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.
8.2
7.0
🏆 Winner InterServer: InterServer excels in performance, reliability, security, and support.
When it comes to hosting speed, InterServer stands out with its Ultra-Fast Web Server, SSD Caching Servers, and a robust 10GB Cisco Network. These features ensure fast load times and high PageSpeed scores. Additionally, it offers a free Cloudflare CDN for global content delivery. InterServer operates data centers strategically located to maximize performance across different regions. In comparison, Hivelocity utilizes high-end hardware and a self-healing network with a 2+ Tbps data transfer capacity but focuses more on a premium blend of tier-1 carriers for connectivity. Hivelocity offers its network features but lacks a built-in CDN like Cloudflare.
Website Speed
InterServer prioritizes speed with its latest server optimization and security technologies, along with SSD caching and an inter-proxy caching system for handling heavy request loads. The free Cloudflare CDN further boosts speed by caching content and reducing latency. On the other hand, Hivelocity leverages a high-end hardware setup, including Intel and AMD processors coupled with SSD storage, promising rapid server deployment within 5 to 7 minutes. Both hostings aim to deliver swift performance, but InterServer’s additional caching methods give it an edge.
Scalability
InterServer offers easy scalability to VPS or dedicated servers with no downtime during the migration process, providing a flexible hosting platform for growing online projects. It allows seamless upgrades without the hassle of migrating to a new plan. Hivelocity provides custom solutions like private clouds and server clusters, but the details about elasticity or automatic upgrades during scaling are not specified. InterServer’s straightforward and elastic scaling solutions make it a reliable choice for businesses anticipating growth.
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.
8.3
8.7
🏆 Winner Hivelocity Hosting: A comprehensive solution with a wide range of security features tailored to diverse business needs.
Both InterServer and Hivelocity, have notable differences in their approaches to technical and operational
security, as well as in their compliance with regulations.
Technical security measures:
InterServer features InterShield, which uses machine learning and an in-house malware database to proactively prevent attacks. It also offers end-to-end email encryption and self-healing hardware that ensures continuous performance. Hivelocity provides robust firewall and network security, proactive malware scanning with Maldet, and brute force detection with cpHulk. While both hosts offer SSL certificates, Hivelocity extends its SSL options to include Basic, Business, and Premium SSL, catering to various security needs.
Operational security measures:
InterServer emphasizes extensive spam and virus protection, including premium filtering that leverages artificial intelligence to guarantee email delivery. It also provides Inter-Proxy Caching, which uses various caching mechanisms for optimal site performance. Additionally, InterServer includes a data center with fully redundant components and 24/7 physical security. Hivelocity’s operational measures include 24/7 monitoring and support, advanced encryption technologies, and robust firewall hardening. Hivelocity also ensures uptime and security by offering load balancing and active antivirus monitoring with ESET.
Compliance and certifications:
InterServer indicates a general adherence to GDPR, emphasizing privacy and security but without explicit certification details. On the other hand, Hivelocity has completed SSAE-16, HIPAA, and PCI audits, ensuring compliance with financial, healthcare, and payment card industry standards. This makes Hivelocity a strong choice for businesses requiring stringent compliance measures.
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|---|---|---|
SSL certificate |
Free SSL certificates |
Basic, Business, Premium SSL |
Additional security features |
InterShield Security, Inter-Proxy Caching, Inter-Insurance |
Robust firewall & network security, DDoS Protection, Proactive malware scanning |
PHP versions |
Up to PHP 8.3 |
Not specified |
GDPR compliance |
General adherence |
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
6.2
2.5
🏆 Winner
InterServer: A versatile and feature-rich hosting provider best suited for a broad range of user needs.
InterServer and Hivelocity both bring unique strengths to the table, each catering to different types of users. InterServer boasts an array of features aimed at high performance and flexibility, including unlimited storage space, unlimited data transfer, and ultra-fast web servers. Their weekly backups and unlimited FTP accounts ensure that users have comprehensive control over their data. Furthermore, InterServer offers a free Cloudflare CDN and SSD caching servers, enhancing speed and reliability. One noticeable absence is an explicitly stated SSH access, which may be vital for users requiring secure shell operations.
Conversely, Hivelocity emphasizes managed services and security. With 24/7 support, proactive malware scanning, and network intrusion monitoring, they offer a robust infrastructure suited for those who prioritize security and seamless support. The inclusion of various control panels like cPanel and Plesk helps users manage their websites with ease, while the availability of SSH access further enhances server manipulation capabilities. Hivelocity also supports a range of operating systems, from CentOS and Ubuntu to Windows Server, providing versatile options for different project requirements. Despite their strong service offerings, Hivelocity’s overall score indicates areas that might need improvement, perhaps reflecting their higher complexity or other user preferences.
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|---|---|---|
Free domain |
Yes, for the first year |
No |
Free SSL |
No |
No |
Email hosting |
Yes |
Yes |
Website builder |
No |
No |
Staging environment |
No |
No |
FTP & SFTP account |
Yes |
Yes |
Git and SSH access |
SSH not mentioned |
Yes |
Free backup |
Yes |
No |
Money back guarantee |
No |
No |
a location.
As a result in rare cases the features mentioned here can differ from the ones you see on their websites.
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 [InterServer] 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:
Both InterServer and Hivelocity offer email hosting services, allowing users to manage their own email campaigns. Neither provides transactional email services, focusing more on comprehensive email hosting capabilities. Neither provider includes resale partnerships with third-party services like Google Workspace or Outlook. Users focused on integrated email hosting within their hosting package would find both options suitable.
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.
8.1
8.7
🏆 Winner
Hivelocity: Hivelocity offers extensive global data center locations and varied software options for tailored 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. Additionally, although some providers offer identical plans for WordPress and shared hosting, we have created separate tables for each to enhance clarity.
When comparing InterServer and Hivelocity, InterServer offers broad ranges and affordable plans, such as Standard Web Hosting at just $2.50/month and scalable options for WordPress and Reseller Hosting. They excel in features like unlimited storage, free website migration, and enhanced security. Hivelocity, on the other hand, provides higher-level cPanel dedicated plans starting at $61.00, competitive game server solutions, and robust instant server offerings. Their global data center locations and custom-built server options cater particularly well to enterprises looking for extensive control and high performance.
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1 Core $6.00
1 website, 2048MB memory, 30GB SSD storage, 2TB transfer, 24/7 support, free migration, high-performance storage Value for price:8.0
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N/A
Value for price:N/A
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2 Cores $12.00
2 websites, 4096MB memory, 60GB SSD storage, 4TB transfer, 24/7 support, free migration, high-performance storage Value for price:8.5
|
N/A
Value for price:N/A
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3 Cores $18.00
3 websites, 6144MB memory, 90GB SSD storage, 6TB transfer, 24/7 support, free migration, high-performance storage Value for price:8.5
|
N/A
Value for price:N/A
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|---|---|
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Standard Web Hosting $2.50
Unlimited websites, unlimited storage, unlimited transfer, 24/7 support, free SSL, free migration Value for price:9.0
|
N/A
Value for price:N/A
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|---|---|
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VPS Special $6.00
Flexible OS, 2GB RAM, 30GB SSD storage, instant activation, 24/7 support Value for price:8.0
|
E3-1270 v5 3.6GHz Skylake $145.00, $75.00 w/discount
4 cores, 8 threads, 64GB memory, 960GB SSD storage, 20TB bandwidth, location-specific Value for price:8.5
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WordPress Hosting (Various) $6.00 to $90.00
Multiple cores, ranging flexible memory and storage, high performance, easy control panel Value for price:8.0 to 9.0
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Game Server Solutions (Various) $49.00 to $119.00
4-core to 16-core options, specific CPU configurations, up to 128GB memory, 960GB SSD, 1Gbps bandwidth Value for price:8.5 to 9.0
|
As a result in rare cases the prices displayed here can differ from the ones you see on their websites.
Enterprise plans
For enterprises, InterServer provides specialized Reseller Hosting plans with scalable storage and bandwidth options, catering to large-scale clients without setup fees. Hivelocity, however, stands out with custom-built dedicated servers and extensive managed services. Their offerings include global data center locations and robust security enhancements, making them well-suited for enterprises demanding high control and performance.
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.
8.7
8.5
🏆 Winner InterServer: Offers a user-friendly control panel and extensive one-click installation scripts for an easy setup.
InterServer provides control panels like cPanel and DirectAdmin, known for their simplicity and accessibility. These panels are designed for both technical and non-technical users, allowing them to manage their websites effortlessly through a web browser. The easy-to-use interface and range of tools, including one-click installs for 461 scripts, make website setup and management straightforward.
Hivelocity also offers various control panels, including cPanel, DirectAdmin, and Plesk, among others. These panels simplify server and website management, catering to users with different levels of technical expertise. The availability of custom solutions and managed services further enhances their appeal. However, the variety might present a steeper learning curve for those unfamiliar with multiple platforms.
InterServer provides a free migration service for standard shared hosting, requiring only a full cPanel backup ready for download. This makes it easy for users to transition without additional costs. Hivelocity offers managed services that can handle server migrations, but details on whether these are free or if a fee applies are not provided. The presence of managed services in both offers a seamless migration path, but the explicit free service from InterServer is a clear advantage.
The help center resources of both hosting providers are comprehensive and accessible. InterServer has a knowledge base with helpful articles and 24/7 support through various channels, enhancing the user support experience. Hivelocity’s extensive knowledge base covers a wide range of topics and their support is available 24/7, providing thorough assistance.
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.
7.4
6.9
🏆 Winner: InterServer: Efficient user management and versatile role assignment.
InterServer and Hivelocity present differing strengths in user management. InterServer leverages popular control panels like cPanel, Plesk, and DirectAdmin to provide comprehensive user management, including the creation and management of user accounts, setting permissions, and assigning roles. While Hivelocity’s specific user management features are not documented, its overall score is lower than InterServer, indicating less robust user role and permissions management. The flexibility in defining user roles and permissions on InterServer via cPanel and DirectAdmin offers users the ability to customize access based on specific needs, which is a valuable asset for complex user management scenarios.
InterServer offers user-friendly interfaces through cPanel, Plesk, and DirectAdmin, providing intuitive tools for managing users. These control panels include features like dedicated File Managers, which streamline the process of assigning roles and permissions. The ability to create unlimited email accounts and manage these accounts also adds to its versatile user management capabilities. Hivelocity, lacking explicit documentation on its user interfaces, might offer a less intuitive experience compared to the well-established control panels used by InterServer.
InterServer effectively manages access control measures through the functionalities provided by cPanel, Plesk, and DirectAdmin. These panels support the efficient handling of user roles and permissions, ensuring a seamless experience even as the number of users grows. The private email hosting feature with unlimited aliases and group lists further enhances InterServer’s capability to manage a growing user base efficiently. Hivelocity, with less documented evidence of similar capabilities, might struggle to match this level of efficiency in access control and user management.
InterServer User Roles Table:
| Role | Description | Access highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Admin | Full control over hosting account and settings | Can manage all user accounts, permissions, and website settings |
| Reseller | Manage client accounts for reselling | Create, delete, and manage client hosting accounts |
| Email User | Access to specific email accounts | Send, receive, and manage emails |
| File Manager | Manage website files through cPanel | Upload, edit, and delete files within the website directory |
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.
9.0
9.5
🏆 Winner
Hivelocity: Hivelocity stands out with its excellent uptime and diverse data center locations globally.
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|---|---|---|
Phone support |
||
Live chat support |
||
Chatbot |
||
Email/ticket support |
||
Enterprise support (dedicated agent, priority support) |
InterServer offers various customer support channels including phone, live chat, email, and a ticket system. Their 24/7 support ensures quick response times, typically under 30 minutes, and issues are resolved within 48 hours. Additional support features, such as a tips section for self-help, free migration services, and dedicated support for managed services, underline their commitment to customer care. An impressive 99.9% uptime guarantee is backed by proactive backups and an on-site support team.
Hivelocity also provides extensive 24/7/365 support accessible through live chat, phone, and a ticketing system. Their customer satisfaction is reflected in a high overall rating of 4.9 from 59 reviews. Noteworthy features include 100% uptime since 2011, a wide range of global data center locations, and custom solutions. While their pricing may be high for some, the quality of support and range of services justify the cost, making Hivelocity an excellent choice for reliability and customer service.
User feedback
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.
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?
InterServer offers automatic updates, weekly backups, and a 1-click installer for a seamless WordPress experience, making it an excellent choice for WordPress hosting. Hivelocity also provides WordPress hosting but does not specify special features for WordPress, making InterServer the more tailored option.
Which platform offers better customer support?
Both InterServer and Hivelocity provide 24/7 support through various channels like phone, live chat, and tickets. However, Hivelocity receives higher praise for its exceptional customer service and rapid response times, often resolving issues almost instantly, making it a standout in customer support.
What are the major differences in pricing and value between InterServer and Hivelocity?
InterServer offers affordable plans such as Standard Web Hosting at $2.50/month with features like unlimited storage and free SSL. In contrast, Hivelocity has higher pricing with dedicated server plans starting at $61.00/month, but it provides more extensive managed services and global data centers. InterServer is better suited for cost-effective solutions, while Hivelocity caters to premium requirements.
Which hosting service offers better security features?
InterServer features InterShield Security, proactive malware prevention, and self-healing hardware to ensure continuous performance. Hivelocity provides robust firewall and network security, proactive malware scanning with Maldet, and offers various SSL options. Both offer strong security features, but Hivelocity’s comprehensive options cater to higher-end security needs.
Which hosting service offers more scalability options for growing websites?
InterServer offers easy scalability to VPS or dedicated servers without downtime, making it highly flexible for growing websites. Hivelocity provides custom solutions like private clouds and server clusters, but lacks specified details about automatic scaling. InterServer’s straightforward and elastic scaling solutions are more reliable for growing websites.
The making of this blog
We followed a clear, step-by-step process to write and research this article.
