Skip to main content
TrustRadius
HostGator

HostGator

Overview

What is HostGator?

HostGator, from Newfold Digital (formerly Endurance), is a web hosting service with WordPress hosting, VPS hosting, and dedicated hosting capabilities.

Read more
Recent Reviews

TrustRadius Insights

HostGator is a popular choice for users looking to host their websites and ensure automated backups. The service offers a variety of …
Continue reading

Jamie likes HostGator

7 out of 10
November 20, 2019
Incentivized
My client required a new website, domain, and Webhosting. The company wanted to keep the website operations within one company platform as …
Continue reading
Read all reviews
Return to navigation

Pricing

View all pricing

Hatchling

$2.75

Cloud
per month

Baby

$3.50

Cloud
per month

Business

$5.25

Cloud
per month

Entry-level set up fee?

  • No setup fee

Offerings

  • Free Trial
  • Free/Freemium Version
  • Premium Consulting/Integration Services
Return to navigation

Product Demos

Installing & Deleting Wordpress Using Cpanel in Hostgator - Live Demo

YouTube

HostGator Review 2021 ❇️ Speed Test, Live Demo & My Honest Recommendation

YouTube

HostGator Review 2022 - Is It Good for WordPress? Pros & Cons, Speed Test and Details of HostGator

YouTube

MightyHost Review ✅ Full Demo

YouTube

How To Install WordPress Using cPanel In HostGator !!! How To Learn !!! Live Demo !!! 2017

YouTube
Return to navigation

Product Details

HostGator Technical Details

Deployment TypesSoftware as a Service (SaaS), Cloud, or Web-Based
Operating SystemsUnspecified
Mobile ApplicationNo

Frequently Asked Questions

HostGator, from Newfold Digital (formerly Endurance), is a web hosting service with WordPress hosting, VPS hosting, and dedicated hosting capabilities.

Reviewers rate Support Rating highest, with a score of 7.8.

The most common users of HostGator are from Small Businesses (1-50 employees).
Return to navigation

Comparisons

View all alternatives
Return to navigation

Reviews and Ratings

(46)

Community Insights

TrustRadius Insights are summaries of user sentiment data from TrustRadius reviews and, when necessary, 3rd-party data sources. Have feedback on this content? Let us know!

HostGator is a popular choice for users looking to host their websites and ensure automated backups. The service offers a variety of features that enhance website security, such as SSL certificates and the SiteLock add-on. With the user-friendly cPanel interface, managing websites and email addresses becomes a breeze. Users can also leverage PHPMyAdmin for direct database manipulation and custom application development.

HostGator is widely used for hosting various platforms, including WordPress, Drupal, and static site installations. It is also a convenient option for hosting mailboxes and setting up multiple forwarders. Customers appreciate HostGator's solid and reliable service, finding it stable, efficient, and responsive. Apart from its affordability, HostGator provides a one-on-one environment with its smaller platform size. It proves to be a cost-effective alternative to VPS hosting while still offering good value for the money with decent uptime.

Businesses rely on HostGator to host their own websites as well as those of their clients. The intuitive cPanel access is packed with value-added features that cater to different needs. Customers enjoy the competitive product offerings and pricing provided by HostGator. The service ensures almost 100% uptime and simplifies the process of updating WordPress sites. Whether it's meeting the needs of low-traffic websites or serving entry-level web clients who require affordable hosting options, HostGator solves the hosting problem for clients by offering quality hosting and servers with PHP support and cPanel access.

Overall, HostGator meets diverse requirements with its range of services, helping users easily manage their websites while providing reliable hosting at an affordable price point.

Backup Feature: Some users have expressed appreciation for the inclusion of a backup feature at no additional cost. They find it to be a valuable addition, as it contributes to the overall reliability and stability of the hosting service.

cPanel Interface: Several reviewers have highlighted their satisfaction with the familiar and easy-to-use cPanel interface. They appreciate its user-friendly design, which enhances the overall user experience and makes managing their websites seamless and intuitive.

Flexibility and Control: Many users value the flexibility and control offered by the hosting service. They mention being able to perform various tasks independently, such as enabling SSH access and installing SSL certificates, for a nominal fee. This level of customization allows them to tailor their hosting environment according to their specific needs and preferences.

Long wait times for customer support: Many users have expressed frustration with the long wait times they have experienced when trying to connect with HostGator's customer support team. This issue has been mentioned by a significant number of reviewers.

Website slowdowns: Some users have reported occasional slowdowns on their websites while using HostGator's services. These slow speeds can negatively impact user experience and make it difficult to efficiently manage their online presence.

Slow response time from support team: The response time from HostGator's support team has been criticized by several users. They have mentioned experiencing delays in getting assistance, often having to endure long hold times before receiving any help.

Based on user reviews, here are the three most common recommendations for HostGator:

  1. HostGator is recommended for beginners and clients lacking technical expertise. Users find it to be a good option for domain registration and web hosting, particularly suitable for individuals new to web design or administration.

  2. Users suggest reading the fine print and contacting HostGator's sales and support team to discuss goals and product suitability. This ensures site safety and helps address any concerns before making a purchase.

  3. HostGator is praised for its easy management of cPanel and integration with apps like WordPress. It offers a user-friendly interface that simplifies website management for beginners.

Despite these positive aspects, there are certain cautions mentioned by users:

Users express dissatisfaction with HostGator's refund policy and warn against entering personal information on their site.

Some users mention that the quality of support may be lacking, questioning if the cost savings are worth it.

It is advised to confirm the fit and basics of HostGator's services before purchasing, including double-checking their refund policy and the version of PHP offered with their shared hosting.

Overall, users recommend HostGator for standard web services such as website hosting, domain registration, and email accounts. However, they suggest considering specialized hosting providers for more database-intensive needs.

Attribute Ratings

Reviews

(1-5 of 5)
Companies can't remove reviews or game the system. Here's why
Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We used HostGator to host our websites. We didn't have a lot of traffic going to the site so we needed a cheaper hosting option and went with HostGator. We reviewed a bunch of other web hosts and this fit what we needed the most for the price. We also got a really good sign-up promotion so it was a great deal.
  • They are a very cheap option to host websites.
  • They had a simple interface.
  • There were plenty of how-to articles and videos online.
  • Customer service was pretty good.
  • The interface was a bit dated and could have been refreshed.
  • There was occasional downtime that seemed like it lasted longer than it should have.
  • Renewal prices are higher.
HostGator is a great hosting option for small- to medium-sized websites. We had our websites hosted with HostGator and have had very few problems. HostGator was easy to navigate.
  • We hosted our websites pretty inexpensively with HostGator.
  • We set up our sites and didn't have many issues at all after that.
  • HostGator worked behind the scenes and we didn't have to worry about hosting.
  • For $5 a month it was a really great decision.
I have used Bluehost and Westhost before. All of these hosts were very similar--similar pricing, interface, uptime, and hosting options. We ended up moving to Bluehost as our sites grew. Overall, I like Bluehost better. They were more reliable and easier to use and I liked their customer service a little better.
Customer service was good. Plenty of information out there. They helped set up and any issues that came around.
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
I use HostGator's reseller shared hosting for client websites and a couple of my own sites. I use it for less-trafficked websites and lower budget clients. HostGator's shared hosting allows for a cheaper alternative to VPS hosting while sacrificing speed where it isn't needed. The service's uptime is very decent and a good value overall for the money.
  • Inexpensive
  • Reliable uptime
  • Wait times in support chat can belong.
  • First-tier support isn't always knowledgeable in technical details.
For shared hosting, HostGator is perfect for those with enough technical knowledge to work through simple problems. The problems aren't due to the host. It's just that you may end up waiting for support if it's needed. For small low-load websites, it works well, but shared hosting can be a little slow with larger sites on Wordpress, WooCommerce, and a few plugins. Again, it will all work; it just may lag slightly.
  • Reliable hosting to resell
  • Good shared hosting with well-rounded installers.
I've found HostGator shared hosting to be a faster alternative to InMotion Hosting. inMotion's i/o limitations keep it second to HostGator, in my opinion. When compared to Bluehost, I've found HostGator to be faster and easier to configure and manage. The support for inMotion is overall quicker to connect than HostGator's.
While you will get support from HostGator, it seems to be a different level from 8-10 years ago. It may take 15-20 minutes to get someone on chat, and unless you follow up, I've found followup email support to take a couple of days. If you stick with it, though, you will get support, and I've never had a problem they couldn't help with.
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
My company uses HostGator as our web host. Their services have been exemplary and they have almost 100% uptime. Part of our reason for choosing them was their cPanel access, which I find very intuitive and full of value added features. Our website is WordPress-based, and HostGator makes updating our site a very straightforward process.
  • CPanel access makes accessing my information easy.
  • Adding and deleting sub-sites is simple.
  • Their packages are geared more toward bigger companies.
  • Login process is a bit convoluted, and they bury too many important controls.
HostGator seems to be geared toward bigger companies. The smaller lighter web packages do not have a lot of value added features, and they do not allow you to add them À la carte. They pretty much force you to take a higher priced package in order to get some of the features that other web hosts we previously used offered free.
  • Allows us to host multiple subsites
  • File uploads take less time
HostGator is packed with much more features than our previous web hosts, and They had a lot of positive reviews. One of the reasons we selected them over some of the others was that even though they were WordPress-friendly, they still allowed us access to more complex features such as the ability to edit our own databases. Bluehost was much too simple.
They have an extensive knowledge base, and when I run into an issue that they have not posted about, it is easy to get in touch with somebody who can help me with my question. They offer multiple points of contact and are very responsive—which, in the rare event I have an issue with my service, is critical.
Doug Skinner | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
  • I have used HostGator in 2 capacities. First, in daily use, our district utilizes HostGator for our web hosting services. When our previous host became too expensive and unresponsive, we found HostGator did everything we needed better. It was cheaper and more efficient than our last host. Tech support was responsive at implementation, and there have been very few times we've needed to contact support since the product is stable and reliable.
  • I've also used HostGator in another organization through which email services are provided. In this capacity, I also find it stable, and it offers a variety of email clients to help fit our needs the best.
  • The Control Panel for web hosting is very user friendly.
  • Tech support is always responsive.
  • Tech support is responsive and helpful, but not without a special pin code. Since we need tech support infrequently when I do, I can never find that pin. It would be nice to have a quick client verification system.
  • Publishing updated pages are quick but could be faster by eliminating a couple of extraneous click.
HostGator is well suited for small businesses and personal use. We have a small public school district, so I can't speak to large applications, but it is perfectly priced and managed for our size.
  • The ROI was huge for us, the cost relatively minimal for what we needed in return.
  • In a small environment it's easily manageable by a single person.
Before moving to HostGator, we used a local hosting company that offered features and services it could not maintain. The cost escalated briefly while the product suffered, eventually killing the company altogether. Thankfully HostGator was available to provide everything we were looking for and half the price of the prior service. Since it wasn't just a local business, it offered stability we weren't getting anywhere else.
Support for us is rarely needed, which speaks to the stability and ease of use of the service. However, on rare occasion, we've needed support. It has been responsive and helpful. The online chat feature with a real support agent is a key reason for that.
November 20, 2019

Jamie likes HostGator

Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
My client required a new website, domain, and Webhosting. The company wanted to keep the website operations within one company platform as much as possible and at a reasonable cost, and after some extensive research and advice from colleagues, she decided on HostGator for domain and Webhosting, and the HostGator website builder to create and maintain her new website.
  • cPanel is a wonderful one-stop-shop. Multiple web building support tools.
  • If my client hadn't chosen the HostGator website builder, we would have gone with WordPress Installer, included in the package. Additional HostGator website builders included.
  • Emails provided with the domain. Better than having to rely on 2nd party email servers.
  • Decent add ons, such as SEO Gears.
  • Too many supported website builders competing with one another (Gator, Weebly, goMobi, Joomla, HostGator website builder). One or two plus WordPress Installer would be sufficient and cut down on the confusion of choices. Why have Gator AND HostGator website builders?
  • Unnecessary to offer Constant Contact as a carrot. It's an expensive add-on.
  • Navigating around the cPanel is great if you know what you need to do, but not so intuitive for first-timers.
HostGator for email, domain and website hosting--delightful, 100% satisfied! Have always had ample capacity for company email needs, features work well. I have used it off and on for several organizations since 2011.

HostGator website building is fairly straightforward, although I wouldn't recommend it for first-time web designing. The pluses on the HostGator website builder: great-looking themes, adequate webpage capacity, really cool scrolling capabilities, which trends well now. Easier than building a WordPress website from scratch, which can also be done for free in HostGator. I'd say it's limited compared to feature-rich WP, but it designs as nicely as Wix.
  • For the current client using the HostGator domain and WebHost, and website builder, it's too early to tell, as the website is still being built out as an information gateway for colleagues. However, we feel the 2-year initial investment will be a very small expense if the website attracts a minimum of international clients in this first year. We designed the website to be beautiful, which we've found to be lacking in competitors (regulatory specialists).
  • For a current client who prevously used HostGator domain and WebHosting services: the cost of 6 years of HostGator service was negligible compared to $1 million+ in grant, donor, and fundraising income between 2008 and 2016.
This is for web design purposes. In versatility, not as good as WordPress, but pretty close to Squarespace and Wix. In ease of use, much easier than WordPress, about the same as Squarespace and Wix. In the choice of design templates, as good as all three.

The current client chose HostGator after we poured through hosting, email, and web design comparisons. She wanted all these services through the least number of vendors, and the price was right.
When setting up the account and getting started, we needed direct support on a number of occasions. It was pretty good. Phone and email support were generally better than online chat support but got needed help. But what's important is that direct support is always available to us. The only thing that keeps me from giving a higher rating is that a few times we were given a sales pitch to go with one of the other HostGator-supported web designing software as if there was an internal competitive sales challenge going on (and maybe there was). Felt like a diversion.
Apricot by Social Solutions, Microsoft Office 365, QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop Pro, Airtable, Citrix ShareFile, Wix, Squarespace, Mailchimp, ReachMail, Canva, Dropbox, Eventbrite, Zoom
No
  • Price
  • Product Features
  • Product Usability
  • Product Reputation
  • Prior Experience with the Product
  • Vendor Reputation
  • Third-party Reviews
Product features--very robust webhosting and email hosting; website design features were everything that my client needed, not a huge learning curve. I was familiar with the webhosting and email hosting, but this is the first time I've designed a HostGator website. Lots of fun!
HostGator promotes a number of web design platforms. I could be tempted to try one of their other softwares. As far as the basics, HostGator "Hatchling" level of domain and webhosting support has never let me down.
Return to navigation