I’ve been a Host Gator customer for the last five years and stand by their service as a great hosting provider for beginner web masters. The #1 reason I support Host Gator after all these years is their myriad of customer service resources.
When you’re getting started blogging or building out websites you can run into a lot of technical difficulties and Host Gator has always helped me quickly find a solution.
First off, they have phone support that will stay on the line with you until your issue is resolved no matter how long it takes. If you don’t want to call in they also have an easy to use live chat system where you can talk with a representative online. Sometime the wait for this feature can be a bit long but again it’s very convenient and you can go about your business until they are ready to help you.
The third customer service feature I like is the knowledgebase which provides both written & video tutorials so you can figure out a lot of answers to questions you may have on your own.
HostGator Services
HostGator offers everything from a $3.96 a month hatchling plan for total beginners up to dedicated servers for big businesses & high traffic websites.
I’d personally recommend any new webmaster go with the baby plan as it allows you to add multiple domains to your account.
If you know your project is going to be serious or if you’re an already active business than the business plan is a good option to start with since you get your own IP address from the start.
They offer an outstanding level of customer service, a feature which is commended in almost all Hostgator reviews. They offer a beginner friendly service which can be consistently upgraded to cater for your business’ growing needs. We give HostGator a strong 4 out of 5, only losing out on top marks for some minor negative elements of the service. Here is our Hostgator review.
Hostgator is The Best Choice For….
Overall, this hosting provider is a great choice for pretty much any website operator, perhaps with the exception of those with advanced and highly demanding sites which need a high level of customisation. Even beginners can find Hostgator’s hosting service the best option as they offer a great level of customer service and user assistance.
They offer a green hosting service, whereby their services are powered by renewable energy sources. This allows Hostgator to offer a more environmentally friendly service in comparison to some competitors.
The Pro’s and Cons
Fortunately for Hostgator, the pro’s of their hosting service far away the con’s. One of their key benefits is, as we have mentioned before, their fantastic customer service. However, they also offer a very attractive feature in that they can install a WordPress blog or site with just one click. They offer the highest quality level of WordPress website hosting, and offer automatic updates.
As rates go, Hostgator offer some of the most competitive prices. They offer plans to suit the needs of every sized business. Hostgator offer a very fast website loading time, which is great considering that page speed is an algorithm used by Google to determine search engine rankings. One final feature that we really like is that they offer a shared hosting service with unlimited add-ons.
As we have said they offer great customer service, however, because they have such a giant customer base, getting through to them, both on online chat or phone, can take some time. If your website has a significant level of traffic and you are on a shared hosting plan with Hostgator, you may experience performance issues.
Packages Available
Hostgator offer three web hosting packages. Their starter package is the “Hatchling Plan”, which starts at $3.96 per month at present and is perfect for small or newly launched websites. The next plan is the “Baby Plan”, which starts at $6.36 per month and is perfect for websites with a medium level of traffic. Their premium package is the “Business Plan”, which currently starts at $9.36 per month.
About Hostgator
Hostgator was “born” in 2002, created by Brent Oxley, who was a student at the time. Within just four years of their launch, they were responsible for hosting over 200,000 domains. As of 2013, they host a whopping 9 million+ domains. They are based in Texas in the U.S., with their headquarters in Houston, and additional base in Austin. In 2012, the company was acquired by the Endurance International Group.
Some of the websites hosted by Hostgator include the Monster Energy website, Houston Zoo and Screen Insight. If you are looking for a hosting service which offers affordable pricing but yet doesn’t compromise on service, Hostgator is your best bet, especially if you intend on using a WordPress CMS.
