How to get a free domain and secure web hosting + Get SSL certificate

THE BOTTOM LINE

HostGator is an excellent web hosting service that’s simple to use and offers an array of useful plans for consumers and small businesses. It’s our top pick for shared web hosting and for novice webmasters in general.

Want to skip the details? To summarize, we found HostGator to be a reliable and customer friendly hosting service. Their 24/7 customer support is among the best.

That’s why we’ve added HostGator as one of the best WordPress hosting companies.

Let’s jump to the more detail-oriented parts of our HostGator review. This will help you figure out if HostGator is right for your website.

About HostGator

HostGator was founded in 2002 and grew quickly to become one of the biggest hosting companies in the world. You can credit the monstrous growth to their great shared hosting plans, reliable web hosting, and quality customer service.

Today it is headquartered in Houston, Texas, and hosts over 10 million domains. They have 850+ employees that offer around the clock support and serve businesses of all sizes.

Web hosting that scales from easy

A ton of website hosting options, 99.9% uptime guarantee, free SSL certificate, easy WordPress installs, and a free domain for a year.

Yeah, that’s how we roll.

Pick your perfect web hosting plan. We got ’em all.

Hosting for every website.

Unlimited storage, unmetered bandwidth, unbeatable hosting. This gator’s got ya covered.

And we’ll throw in a free domain for a year, too.

Hatchling Plan Now 60% off!

• Single website
• One-click WordPress installs
• Free WordPress/cPanel website transfer
• Unmetered bandwidth
• Free SSL certificate
• Free domain included

Introductory offer

We Recommend

Baby Plan Now 65% off!

• Unlimited websites
• One-click WordPress installs
• Free WordPress/cPanel website transfer
• Unmetered bandwidth
• Free SSL certificate
• Free domain included

Introductory offer

Business Plan Now 65% off!

• Unlimited websites
• One-click WordPress installs
• Free WordPress/cPanel website transfer
• Unmetered bandwidth
• Free SSL certificate
• Free upgrade to Positive SSL
• Free dedicated IP
• Free SEO tools
• Free domain included

Hosting is even better with all these FREE features.

Unlimited storage

Room for all the files. Go ahead and fill ‘er up.

Unmetered bandwidth

Bring in all the traffic you want, we got ya.

Domain registration

Claim your name and get yourself online.

SSL certificate

Show your visitors you take security seriously.

One-click installs

Integrating your apps couldn’t be any easier.

Built by web pros. For, well, everyone.

This gator scales.

About 1/3 of our customers are web pros, so they know where the gettin’ is good. After all, we’ve been doing this since the Jurassic (aka since 2002) and hosted over 2 million sites.

We also know that pros and newbies alike all want a hosting provider that’s easy and that works. So our robust web hosting tools get the job done right, and are designed so that when you grow, your site can grow with you too. A scalable solution, indeed.

30%

of customers are web pros.

2 million +

websites currently hosted.

Guaranteed

If you’re not happy, we’ll refund your hosting fees in the first 45 days.

24/7/365 support

We work when you work. Whenever that happens to be.

99% uptime guarantee

The best ability is availability — so we make sure your site stays up.

eCommerce Tools

Create an online store so you can sell your goods and services.

$150 Google Ads

Good credit to a great product that brings in more visitors.

cPanel access

Know what you’re doing? Have at it, codemaster.

Level up your web hosting with these must-haves.

Data Safety

Added security

Professional email & more

Automated backups

SEO Tools

Protect your website traffic with an SSL certificate.

For your customers’ safety, and your reputation, protect your website with an SSL certificate.

Get Started!

Not only does an SSL certificate encrypt data transmission to and from your website, but as of July 2018, many web browsers will flag a website as “not secure” unless it detects that it has a valid SSL certificate.

Unsecured

Information and data are able to be intercepted or stolen during transmission to or from the site.

Secured

Your website is flagged “secure” by web browsers, traffic is safe, and your site is trusted.

Find out more about Google’s Not‑Secure initiative and why it matters to you.

What does an SSL provide?

Security and Trust

An SSL certificate ensures your website traffic is secure and that HTTPS displays in the browser. We provide a FREE SSL certificate with all hosting accounts.

Prevent Data Attacks

Your customers’ data will not be at risk to “man-in-the-middle” style attacks when it is transmitted to or from your website.

Increased SEO

HTTPS pages are more likely to receive higher search engine results than the identical page without SSL protection.

Compliancy

Your SSL is compliant with information privacy acts, including PCI DSS and HIPPA; your site is able to handle sensitive data.

Money-Back Guarantee

Any Comodo SSL you purchase is risk-free and can be refunded if you are in any way not completely satisfied.

Hassle-Free Issuance

Most SSLs are applied for, validated, and issued easily online. Some SSLs do require additional steps.

TrustLogo® Site Seal and warranty

Upgrade to a paid Comodo SSL certificate which is backed by a warranty ranging from $10k to $1.75M. Additionally, a Trustlogo® Site Seal is included to display on your website letting customers know, at a glance, that the data transmissions from your site are secure.

Which SSL is right for you?

The SSL included FREE with your account provides industry-standard encryption, is issued online within minutes, and is recognized by major web browsers and devices. For additional features, please select from the SSL certificates offered below.

Positive SSL

Warranty-backed up to $10k

• Domain validated SSL
• Included Trustlogo® Site Seal
• Quickest and most cost-effective eCommerce SSL

First year for only
$19.99/yr*

Renews at $39.99/yr*

Learn More

Multi-Domain SSL

Secure domains and subdomains

• Secures up to 210 domains
• Included Trustlogo® Site Seal
• 2048 bit signatures and 256 bit encryption

Available at only
$79.99/yr

Extended Validation (EV) SSL

The highest available level of trust

• Displays green address bar
• $1.75M warranty
• Highest level of protection and trust assurance

Available at only
$269.99/yr

Need a Wildcard?

All SSL plans include full PCI Compliance, mobile device compatibility, a 45‑Day Money Back Guarantee, 24/7/365 support.

Compare types of SSL Certificates

FAQs

Please read our frequently asked questions about SSl certificates.

Is the free SSL certificate really free?

Yes; it is included at no extra charge with your hosting account. As HTTPS becomes more and more pertinent to search engine results, web browser behavior, and overall web security, it is our responsibility to do everything we can to keep our customers informed and protected. In this spirit, we are providing this SSL certificate free of charge. Of course, for additional features you may certainly purchase an upgraded SSL for your account.

How does an SSL certificate actually work?

This is a very involved, and highly-technical process with the end result being encrypted communication between your website and the web browser of anyone visiting your site. Initially, what is termed a “handshake” takes place between the hosting server and visiting web browser, this initiates the secure connection. A “session key” is then employed to encrypt all data transmitted between server and browser. This prevents any data passed between both sides from being decipherable by any third party. Intercepting data in this manner is often known as a “man-in-the-middle attack.”

Where can I learn more about what an SSL certificate is?

Our Knowledge-Base contains many articles that fully explain the intricacies of SSL certificates, what they are, how they work and the various differences. The best place to begin would be this article.

Industry-leading support & assistance

As a valued SSL customer, you receive first-class technical support for any issues or questions you may have during any part of the application, installation, or life-cycle of your SSL certificate.

Be A Security Superhero

SiteLock Website Security Scan Defends Against Bad Guys With:

• Automated malware removal
• Brand reputation protection
• Defense against malicious attacks

Secure Your Site Today! Additional Terms Apply

Starting At Only $1.99/mo*

HostGator SiteLock Is Your Cyber Sentry

Block The Bad Guys With Hacker Security

Did you know 15% or more of sites have malware in the course of a year?1 SiteLock security scans your site, looking for anything that shouldn’t be there (malware, harmful code, etc.).

When the scan finds something that doesn’t look right, you are alerted via email and your control panel.

Our website security services help keep your site safe from harmful malware or hackers. From small businesses, to online businesses, to even massive enterprises, HostGator can help keep any site protected and under control.

Remove Malware Automatically

Our SMART (Secure Malware Alert & Removal Tool) is an automatic malware removal for website security that keeps your site safe.

Make WordPress More Secure

SiteLock’s firewall and vulnerability scans help prevent hacks and automated attacks. Our malware protection service helps protect your WordPress website.

Protect Your Search Engine Rankings

Don’t Be Blacklisted!

A typical website can have thousands of potential vulnerabilities for malware injection. If search engines (like Google) detect malware on your website, they may blacklist you, damaging your reputation as well as your search engine rank. Website security programs like SiteLock help prevent upset customers and potential revenue loss.

Boost Customer Trust

Rock A SiteLock Badge

Did you know that displaying the SiteLock trust seal can increase conversions by approximately 15%?2 It’s a recognized symbol of protection and a “green light” for e-commerce customers.

Choose Your Plan

Essentials

Minimum recommended protection

Starting at $1.99/mo*

• Daily malware scan
• Automatic malware removal
• Scans unlimited web pages
• Basic CDN
• Weekly scan report
• Google Blacklist monitoring
• SiteLock seal
• Block automated bot attacks
• 12 hour response time

RECOMMENDED

Prevent

Full protection against malware

Starting at $14.99/mo*

• Daily malware scan
• Automatic malware removal
• Scans unlimited web pages
• Advanced CDN
• Web Application Firewall
• DDoS protection
• Weekly scan report
• Google Blacklist monitoring
• SiteLock seal
• Block automated bot attacks
• 6 hour response time
• Database scanning

NEW

Prevent Plus

Continuous scanning & fastest response time

Starting at $24.99/mo*

• Continuous malware scan
• Automatic malware removal
• Scans unlimited web pages
• Advanced CDN
• Web Application Firewall
• DDoS protection
• Weekly scan report
• Google Blacklist monitoring
• SiteLock seal
• Block automated bot attacks
• 4 hour response time
• Database scanning
• PCI compliance reporting
• Application patching

Get Gmail for your business.

Add G Suite by Google Cloud to your hosting plan for business email, video conferencing, cloud storage, file sharing and more.

Add G Suite for $6/mo

Hosting plan required, starting at $2.75/mo*

Find out why G Suite is right for your business

Communication

IM, email, and video chat keep you in contact with your team.

Gmail

Calendar

Chat

Meet

Collaboration

Work together, from literally anywhere in the globe.

Docs

Sheets

Forms

Slides

Sites

Cloud Storage

Total freedom to create, edit, and update files from anywhere.

Drive

Cloud

Management

Complete control over your data, devices, and users.

Admin

Vault

Mobile

G Suite is designed for your workplace.

Professional email

You’ll be able to create custom email addresses under your own domain, as well as group mailing lists, and more.

All the cloud storage you need

Starting with 30GB of online storage per user, you can always upgrade to unlimited storage as your needs grow.

24/7 live support

Our support team, and robust online knowledgebase, are always available to assist you with any need.

Advanced admin controls

Adding and removing users, creating groups, and even configuring security options is all done quickly and easily.

Mobile device management

Features to help keep your data safe, including device location, passwords, and even mobile data deletion.

Easy data migration

Our migration tools and services can help move your organization’s data onto your new G Suite storage space.

Get G Suite for your business.

Join more than 5 million other business users of Gmail, Docs, Drive, and Calendar by adding G Suite to your hosting plan. Your G Suite account with HostGator will work seamlessly on any device: computer, tablet, or phone.

Add G Suite for $6/mo

Hosting plan required, starting at $2.75/mo*

Work smarter by adding G Suite to your hosting plan.

Get a Time Machine For Your Website! CodeGuard Protects Your Website With A Daily, Automatic Backup

CodeGuard Basic — Website Time Machine
Daily automatic backups that give you a plan against viruses, hackers, and even your own code accidentally breaking your site. Our automatic website backup service offers full protection and daily monitoring so your data is safe.

• Daily Automatic Backups†
• 1GB Of Storage
• Up To 5 Websites
• Unlimited Databases
• Unlimited Files
• 3 Restores Per Month

CodeGuard Features

Daily Automatic Website Backups

Let CodeGuard worry about backing up your site while you focus on your business. Our website monitoring service offers the best cloud website backup services to keep your site and your business safe.

Website Time Machine

Easily restore your entire site, or just a file to an earlier version, with the click of a button. Our website monitoring tools continuously scan for any changes in your WordPress site.

File Change Monitoring

View changes, schedule monitoring, and manage email alerts from an easy-to-use dashboard with our website protection plan. CodeGuard monitors your online database so you can easily check for changes.

Notification Of Changes

Receive email notifications for any unauthorized changes. Our website change protection allows you to be notified as soon as an issue arises.

Backup Your Site On The Cloud! Starting At Only $2.00/mo*

Professional SEO Services

SEO Is Vital To Online Success!

• Increase Search Engine Visibility With SEO Services
• Attract More Potential Customers to Your Website
• Work with Experienced Professionals

Make Your Website Stand Out Online

With thousands of websites being created every day, how can you make yours stand out from the crowd? With an SEO strategy to increase your keyword rankings and visibility in search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo, of course!

SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is a collection of strategies and keyword research services designed to help people find your website when they’re searching online for the goods or services that you offer. The higher you appear in search results, the more likely it is that customers will find and visit your site instead of your competitor. Virtually any website will benefit from search engine optimization services.

What’s Included In Our SEO Marketing Services?

Keyword Research & Reporting

• Expert keyword research designed to help your site move up in the rankings
• Target the terms your customers are searching for so they choose you instead of your competition
• Monitor your site’s progress through your personal SEO portal

Content Creation

• Our SEO content services naturally build your rankings and visibility in search engine results
• Utilization of our strategies and network will drive traffic organically and grow your audience
• Our content creation services distributes original content to drive traffic to your site

On-page Optimization

• Research-backed optimization of your site content, page titles, meta descriptions, and header tags
• Our technical SEO services help you match your site content to best Google keywords
• Enjoy higher conversion rates on your website thanks to our affordable SEO services

Why Use HostGator SEO Services?

Many companies offer SEO services packages and it can sometimes be difficult to differentiate the reputable businesses from the fly-by-night operations. For over 15 years, HostGator has provided industry-standard web hosting and related services to hundreds of thousands of customers across the globe. Your website deserves the quality and care that we can provide, using cutting-edge tactics and strategies through our SEO strategy services.

How To Get Started

Step 1: Contact Us

Call us today to set up your free consultation and SEO review. Tell us about your business goals and your website.

Step 2: Meet Your Team

Your digital Marketing Project Coordinator will launch your campaign. The team will begin keyword research site auditing.

Step 3: Grow Your Traffic

As we optimize your website and build links, you’ll see an improvement in your keyword rankings and overall traffic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I need SEO?

SEO helps your website gain more visibility in search engines like Google by improving the rankings for your site relative to keywords for which your customers are searching. Essentially, when people search for your services in Google, search engine marketing helps influence Google to show your site above your competitors. SEO packages can potentially also increase organic traffic to your site allowing for even more revenue.

Do You Offer Any Guarantees?

Google’s algorithm consists of over 200 ranking factors, the vast majority of which they do not disclose. With that being said we cannot make any guarantees but we will utilize industry best practices to influence your website’s visibility. Our team is backed by SEO experts who stay up-to-date on Google’s algorithm changes.

How Long Does It Take To See Results?

There are many factors to take into account when answering this. It can take anywhere from weeks to months, or sometimes years. The time it takes to see an increase in visibility can be determined by anything from the competitiveness of your industry to the quality of links that are built to your site. SEO is an ongoing process, and you are never really “done.”

What Are Backlinks?

Backlinks are links to your website from other sites. These are important for SEO purposes as they help Google assess the authority and relevance of your website.

Elevate Your Website With SEO!

An effective online presence will boost your traffic, your revenue, and your success. Improve your rankings and help potential customers find your business or company! We also offer web design, PPC advertising, content creation, and other digital marketing services for a holistic marketing plan.

Experience The Benefits Of SEO Today!

Contact An Expert!

Serious web pros, we got you

Advanced features for the advanced user:

• Unlimited MySQL Databases
• Subversion Repository (SVN)
• Server Side Includes (SSI)
• Support for PHP 7.1, 7.2 and 7.3
• HostGator Portal Control Panel
• Full Unix Shell
• Access to Raw Log Files
• Crontab Access
• Full CGI Access
• Canned CGI Scripts
• Reseller & Sub Accounts
• Secure Shell (SSH) Access
• IPv6 Support
• Rails, Python, Perl Support
• Unlimited SFTP Users

Get more info:

Check out the full feature list

So what’s in Shared Hosting? A whole lot.

• Top features
• cPanel
• Email
• Domain/FTP
• Support
• Programming/Databases
• Application

Our Plans Include

— — — — — — — — — — — Hatchling Plan— Baby Plan —Business Plan

24/7/365 support. We work when you work.

Got questions? Well, we’ve got answers.

• What is shared hosting?
• Shared hosting means you are using space on a server that is also utilized by other websites, with each user getting a shared amount of bandwidth.
• Read more about why shared hosting is so popular, and see the advantages and disadvantages of choosing it as your hosting solution.
• What’s the difference between cloud hosting and shared hosting?
• As opposed to shared, cloud hosting allows you to use the resources of multiple servers, instead of confined to one single location.
• Learn the benefits of each type of hosting so you can choose between cloud and shared hosting.
• What’s managed WordPress hosting?
• WordPress hosting is an environment specifically designed to cater to WordPress websites. Like a custom-tailored suit, designed to fit just right.
• See why going with managed WordPress hosting is likely the smart option for your site.
• How do I get started with shared hosting?
• Our Knowledge-based will walk you through how you can get started with shared hosting.
• Shared environment vs. dedicated environment?
• Looking for full control of a server? Then you are likely suited for a dedicated environment. See what it’s all about.
• With all these hosting plans, how do I choose the right one?
• We put them all together here, complete with a handy comparison chart, to let you decide for yourself.
• See our Knowledge-Base
• Sign up for our newsletter
• Visit our blog

*Prices reflect discount on first term

Sign up for web hosting today!

Introductory offer

$2.75/mo*

Gator Website Builder

Go from zero to website.

Our intuitive website builder is the fastest way to look amazing online. Watch this vid to see how it works.

Go on and take a free domain too. Just ‘cuz.

Express Start

Now 50% off!

• Intelligent site builder
• Free domain
• Free SSL certificate
• 3 email campaigns per month
• 3-product online store

Introductory offer $3.84/mo*

We Recommend

Express Site

Now 50% off!

• Intelligent site builder
• Free domain
• Free SSL certificate
• 5 email campaigns per month
• 10-product online store
• Appointment booking
• Priority support

Introductory offer $5.99/mo*

Express Store

Now 50% off!

• Intelligent site builder
• Free domain
• Free SSL certificate
• 10 email campaigns per month
• Unlimited product online store
• Appointment booking
• Priority support
• No transaction fees

Introductory offer

$9.22/mo*

Compare all plans

Build a site in minutes with our easy website builder

Answer a few questions

Give us some basic info about your site & our A.I. will POOF! convert it into a cool design.

Insert a logo

Upload your own or use LogoMaker to create one in a jiffy. Logos are optional, of course.

Add images

Browse through the image library and grab photos that bring your topic or category to life.

Make some tweaks

Customizing is a cinch. Update fonts, theme colours, images, navigation, & more.

Launch your site

Congratulate yourself for building an awesome site while hardly lifting a finger.

Why Gator Builder? ‘Cuz you get a good lookin’ site, fast.

Not your typical builder.

Most website builders make you drag and drop your way to a satisfying site — after sifting through hundreds of templates, that is. So we said buh bye to slow features and introduced smart technology instead.

Gator Builder automatically creates your site in an optimized layout and industry-specific design. On top of that, you’ll be up and running in a matter of minutes (yep, minutes) instead of hours. And your site will be backed by a team of HostGator geeks who are eager to help you out. Novice or pro, it’s pretty clear we got your back. Not a bad deal, right?

Easy website builder. Loads of features.

eCommerce

Setting up shop is easy. Our eCommerce website builder provides management tools for inventory, shipping, taxes, and more.

Email marketing

Appointment booking

Intelligent builder

Build smart, not hard. Give our builder the basics and it’ll do the rest.

Image library

Use Unsplash images at no cost & give your site an extra dose of awesome.

LogoMaker

Don’t have a logo yet? No prob. This tool helps you create one in no time.

Easy analytics

View metrics & understand your visitors’ behavior in a digestible way.

Mobile responsiveness

Our responsive designs will have you look in good on every single device.

Search optimized

We’ve thought through SEO best practices already, so you don’t have to.

Free stuff

You’ll get free hosting, a free domain & an SSL certificate because we like you.

45-day guarantee

If you’re not happy, we’ll refund your hosting fees in the first 45 days.

24/7/365 support

We work when you work. Whenever that happens to be.

Everything you need to get online ridiculously fast.

Got questions? Well, we’ve got answers.

• Why use Gator Builder over a regular hosting plan?
• Where Gator Builder shines is in getting people an awesome website super duper fast. It also requires no coding and less work overall, making it an extremely easy website builder and time saver. But there are limits to your design and content flexibility. If you’re someone looking to get more into the weeds, or to have more customization power over your website, you may want to give hosting a go instead. Take a look at our other hosting plans.
• Should I use Gator Builder or WordPress?
• Well ya know, it depends. With Gator Builder, you’ll get a website up mega fast. With WordPress, there’s a learning curve, but once you get past that you’re able to build whatever kind of site you’d like. The choice is completely up to you, but we’ll cheer you on & help you out either way. Read more about Gator Builder vs. WordPress.
• Okay so I know I want Gator Builder. How do I get started?
• Easy peasy. Once you hit one of the “Buy now” buttons on this page, we walk you through everything step by step. But if you want an even more in-depth walkthrough, we put together this nifty guide on how to launch your website using Gator Builder.
• Where are HostGator servers located?
• HostGator servers are primarily located in Provo, Utah, and Houston, Texas. However, they also use data centers in other locations.
• Does HostGator has cPanel dashboard?
• Yes, HostGator has cPanel dashboard integrated into their own custom dashboard. You will find the link to cPanel under your website hosting package.
• Is HostGator good for eCommerce?
• Yes, HostGator is good for running an online store using WooCommerce or other eCommerce platforms. However, as your business grows in terms of traffic then you may need to upgrade your hosting plan.
• Which HostGator plan do I need?
• If you only want to start a single website or blog, then you can start with their Hatchling plan. However, we recommend starting with the baby plan as it offers multiple install support. You can always upgrade your hosting plan later if needed. Click here to select your HostGator hosting plan.
• See our Knowledge-Base
• Sign up for our newsletter
• Visit our blog

WordPress Hosting

The easy way to WordPress

Got WordPress on your mind? Grab the solution that’s fast, more secure, & awesomely easy.

Oh, take a free domain for a year too (you’re welcome).

Starter Plan

Now 40% off!

• 1 site
• 100k visits per month
• 1 GB backups
• Free SSL certificate
• Free domain included

Introductory Offer

$5.95/mo*

We Recommend

Standard Plan

Now 50% off!

• 2 sites
• 200k visits per month
• 2 GB backups
• Free SSL certificate
• Free domain included

Introductory Offer

$7.95/mo*

Business Plan

Now 57% off!

• 3 sites
• 500k visits per month
• 3 GB backups
• Free SSL certificate
• Free domain included

Introductory Offer

$9.95/mo*

Managed WordPress Hosting’s got major perks.

Ready-to-go Wordpress

Hit the ground running with WordPress already installed on your hosting account.

Advanced Security

It’s security for control freaks. Enjoy malware protection, site backups, and more.

Simplified control panel

Scale resources, manage accounts, & more with our easy and dreamy control panel.

Free site migrations

Yep, you heard right. If you’ve already got a WordPress site, we’ll move it over for ya.

Free domain

As if things couldn’t get any better. Enjoy the perks of a free domain for 12 whole months.

So why WordPress Hosting with HostGator?

Two words: easy peasy.

‘Bout sums it up. Our ready-to-go solution makes setting up WordPress quicker and easier than doing it all on your own. Plus, our simplified control panel is hassle-free — so you can set up auto-backups, access 1-click restores, and do loads of other account management-y things without missing a beat.

As for the HostGator team? With over 2 million sites under our belt, it’s safe to say our pros (aka WordPress wizards) know all the ins and outs. So should a problem arise, you’re in pretty darn capable hands.

More security for less

Your purchase of hosting comes with daily backups, site security, & more.

Bang for your buck

Our WordPress hosting packages take the cake in features and value.

Lightning speed

We’ll keep your page load speed freakishly fast. Your SEO will thank us.

45-day guarantee

If you’re not happy, we’ll refund your hosting fees in the first 45 days.

99.9% uptime

The best ability is availability — so we make sure your site stays up.

24/7/365 support

We work when you work. Whenever that happens to be.

Level up your security with three, free solutions.

This gator doesn’t skimp on security. We know how important it is to protect your site. That’s why your purchase of WordPress web hosting comes with access to three top-notch security solutions, which is loads more than you’d get with regular hosting. Pretty nifty, right?

SiteLock Fix

Get protection from viruses & other bad guys with daily scans that download your site data, screen it, remove malware, & upload a clean version to your site.

CodeGuard

It’s like insurance for your website. Daily automatic backups keep your web files & databases secure. Plus, access a backup at any time with 1-click restore.

SSL certificate

Displays a padlock next to your URL so customers know your site is safe. SSL certificates also give you a little boosty-boost on Google. Learn More

VPS Hosting

More control + extra flex.

Dedicated resources, full root access, & easy scaling. It’s the virtual private server you’ve been cravin’.

Snappy 2000

Now 75% off!

• 2GB RAM
• 2 cores CPU
• 120 GB disc space
• Unmetered bandwidth

Introductory offer

$19.95/mo*

We Recommend

Snappy 4000

Now 75% off!

• 4 GB RAM
• 2 cores CPU
• 165 GB disc space
• Unmetered bandwidth

Introductory offer

$29.95/mo*

Snappy 8000

Now 75% off!

• 8 GB RAM
• 4 cores CPU
• 240 GB disc space
• Unmetered bandwidth

Introductory offer

$39.95/mo*

Fancy VPS features you get for totally free.

Flexible software

Full root access allows for your choice of CMS or custom code on your virtual private server.

Advanced functionality

Host unlimited domains, create unlimited email addresses, databases, FTP accounts, & more.

Powerful hardware

Industry leaders, like Intel & AMD, ensure our packages are among the fastest available.

Full suite of tools

Enjoy site templates, a powerful script installer, site development tools, & much more.

Weekly backups

We perform a courtesy off-site backup of your private server data each and every week.

Check out the full feature list

Why HostGator VPS? Oh, where to begin.

Created by pros, for all.

With our good name, you know you’re in good hands (or, ahem, claws). Our credibility spans almost 20 years and over 2 million websites.

When we built our Virtual Private Server platform, we knew we were building for people who value the same things we do: more control, less service limitations, and heaps of beefed up features. Our VPS lets you customize your hosting environment to the exact scale you need without paying a penny over. That’s the (totally awesome) HostGator way.

Complete customization

Enjoy total control (muah ha ha) with a virtual server fully allocated to your site.

Max reliability

We invest in state-of-the-art data center & multiple bandwidth providers.

Scale as you go

Adding more RAM, CPU, or disk space is a cinch. We’ve made it easy for ya.

45-day guarantee

If you’re not happy, we’ll refund your hosting fees in the first 45 days.

Network guarantee

We make sure your site is always up and running so your business can be too.

24/7/365 support

We work when you work. Whenever that happens to be.

Top uses for VPS-level control.

Web hosting

If your current web host is a let down or simply not keeping up with your growing traffic, it might be time to consider getting a virtual private server.

eCommerce

Ensures eCommerce sites run fast enough to keep visitors around. Plus resources can easily be scaled up as the business grows.

Heavy app & email use

Allows multiple processes to take place without slowing down your site. Also enjoy no limits on outgoing emails per hour or per domain.

Test environment

Provides users root access to a blank testing and deployment environment without having to pay a ton of moolah.

Gaming

VPS’s processing power and RAM take the load off personal computers and ensure gaming runs smooth as butter.

Advanced features for the advanced user:

• Unlimited MySQL Databases
• Subversion Repository (SVN)
• Server Side Includes (SSI)
• Support for PHP 7.1, 7.2 and 7.3
• HostGator Portal Control Panel
• Full Unix Shell
• Access to Raw Log Files
• Crontab Access
• Full CGI Access
• Canned CGI Scripts
• Reseller & Sub Accounts
• Secure Shell (SSH) Access
• IPv6 Support
• Rails, Python, Perl Support
• Unlimited SFTP Users

Alright, alright… Let’s get to the juicy deets.

• Hardware
• VPS Features
• Email
• Security
• Network
• Support

The ultimate power hosting

Unmetered bandwidth, powerful hardware, & Linux or Windows. Go on. Grab a Dedicated server.

Value Server

Now 52% off!

• 4 core / 8 thread
• Intel Xeon-D CPU
• 8 GB RAM
• 1 TB HDD
• Unmetered bandwidth
• Linux or Windows OS

Introductory offer

$89.98/mo*

We Recommend

Power Server

Now 52% off!

• 8 core / 16 thread
• Intel Xeon-D CPU
• 16 GB RAM
• 2 TB HDD / 512 GB SSD
• Unmetered bandwidth
• Linux or Windows OS

Introductory offer

$119.89/mo*

Enterprise Server

Now 52% off!

• 8 core / 16 thread
• Intel Xeon-D CPU
• 30 GB RAM
• 1 TB SSD
• Unmetered bandwidth
• Linux or Windows OS

Introductory offer

$139.99/mo*

Loaded with features you’ll really dig.

100% server control

No limitations. You’ll have the full system resources at your disposal.

HDD or SDD hard drives

Choose a hard drive based on your site’s needs: space (HDD) or speed (SDD).

DDoS protection

Data-center-level protection keeps your resources safe in case of an attack.

IP-based firewall

Keep your server safe and performing optimally no matter who or what strikes.

Flexible controls

Get cPanel and WHM on Linux or Plesk and Webmatrix on Windows. Your choice.

Why HostGator Dedicated? Pack the ultimate punch.

Server power + pro help

Having a dedicated server to call your own is already pretty neat. But combine that with HostGator’s pro team and almost 20 years of experience? Then you’ve REALLY got a winning combo.

Yup. We know our web pros want it all. So go on and swim in maximum customization, configuration, installation, and flexibility while our best-of-the-best tech team supports you from the side. If we haven’t reached Dedicated perfection yet, we’re pretty dang close.

PROS

• A variety of feature-packed hosting plans
• Excellent shared hosting offering
• Good for novice webmasters
• Useful site-building software
• Good customer service
• Outstanding uptime
• Reliable hosting: HostGator guarantees an uptime of 99.99%. If you experience downtime below that, then you will get back one month credit on your account.
• Generous moneyback guarantee: HostGator offers 45 days moneyback guarantee. Normally, web hosting companies do not offer a moneyback guarantee beyond 30 days.
• Flexible billing periods: You can choose between monthly and yearly billing periods. Longer billing periods will get you the most discount.
• Free migration: HostGator offers free migration service with all new accounts. Their expert team will transfer your website from your previous host at no extra cost during the first 30 days of signing up.

CONS

• No Windows-based VPS hosting
• Higher monthly pricing Monthly pricing is quite higher than annual plans. You can remedy this by choosing the annual plans as they do offer a 45-day moneyback guarantee.
• Aggressive upselling: You need to review the additional services pre-selected during the sign up process. If you are unsure, then uncheck them anyways. You can always add them later when needed.

Every business needs a website, whether it’s a fully functioning e-commerce setup or a simple blog to post daily updates. Either way, you need a web hosting service. The feature-packed HostGator is a top choice, boasting quality cloud, reseller, virtual private server (VPS), and dedicated server packages, but it’s the company’s shared plans that really stand out from the very crowded web hosting pack. In fact, HostGator’s shared packages are so robust that the service wins our Editors’ Choice rating in that hosting subcategory.

Reseller Web Hosting

If you’re looking to get into the web hosting business, but you don’t want to deal with infrastructure matters, check out HostGator’s reseller hosting packages.

Excellent Uptime Results

Website uptime is one of the most important aspects of a hosting service. If your site is down, clients or customers will be unable to find you or access your products or services.

I used a website-monitoring tool to track our HostGator-hosted test site’s uptime over a 14-day period. Every 15 minutes, the tool pings my website and sends me an email if it is unable to contact the site for at least 1 minute. The testing data reveals that HostGator is remarkably stable; in fact, it didn’t go down once in the two-week testing period. You shouldn’t have to worry about your HostGator site going down for extended periods of time.

Quality Customer Service

HostGator offers both 24/7 telephone support and online web chat — I tested both help methods.

I dialed up phone tech support on a weekday afternoon to ask how I could import my WordPress.com blog into my HostGator site. I received detailed instructions via email and was quite satisfied.

With HostGator’s online web chat, after typing my question into a form and starting the chat, I was shown my estimated wait time: two minutes. Less than a minute later, a customer service rep appeared and provided easy-to-understand instructions on how to import the blog.

HostGator also has a very deep knowledge base that contains answers to practically every possible question you could have, ranging from basic to very advanced. Overall, HostGator provides excellent customer support.

HostGator does better than most of its competitors here, offering a 45-day guarantee.

Dedicated to Hosting

HostGator is an excellent web host that has power and flexibility in multiple hosting categories. HostGator’s generous hosting offerings are enough. HostGator is specifically tops when it comes to web hosting for novices.

For more on getting started online, read our tips on how to create a website. You might also want to check out our story on how to register a domain name for your website.

HostGator Web Hosting

4.5

EDITORS’ CHOICE

Conversation3 Comments

Best

• Bannockburn
• 14 February, 2021
• I’ve been a Hostgator advocate for 12 years. I have only had to use their support service a few times, but it had always been very responsive, and I have promoted their service to others over the years. I have additional accounts that I service for other organizations as well on hostgator. 23 days ago, their security scan identified a malware script that had been dormant for about 5 years. I can tell since the time and date were intact, and it existed in my previous backups. The script had never been activated looking through the access logs. Great that their scanner caught this, although 4–5 years after the fact. They restricted access to my sites and notified me of the fact. I corrected the issue immediately, and per instructions, replied to their notice requesting an updated security review on the same day. That was 23 days ago. Three chats with their live support staff after day 8, 12 and day 23, and they just provide the same answer: I’m in the queue, and Admins have everything they need to reinstate my sites. Perhaps COVID has generated a surge up support requirements, and there simply are not enough Admins to work through all the request. The chat support staff seem to just provide triage management for their Admin(s). At the moment, I’m very disappointed in their support. My sites have been shutdown, and as far as I can tell, the sites have been stable for several years.
• Reply
• WebsterCaslon
• 13 February, 2021
• Hostgator — good price for hosting — constant trouble with email sending as spammers use this company — causing blacklisting for emails from my website on same server. Called Hostgator twice on this to no avail.
• Reply
• Jamshaid Tariq
• 8 February, 2021

WPBEGINNER» WORDPRESS HOSTING» HOSTGATOR

HostGator Reviews

HostGator hosts over 10 million domains and is one of the most popular web hosts in the industry. With 1-click WordPress installation, 99.9% up time guarantee, and 24/7 support, it’s a smart choice for every website owner. We consider them the best web hosting for businesses. They’re offering our readers an exclusive 62% off discount, a free domain name, and free SSL certificate.

Last seen 8 hours ago

Reviewed by: Syed Balkhi

Rating:

HostGator Review from Our Experts

HostGator is one of the largest and most popular hosting companies in the world. They offer shared hosting, VPS hosting, dedicated servers, and managed WordPress hosting plans.

Read our detailed HostGator review to find out if HostGator is the right choice for you.

In this detailed HostGator review, we will put their promises through our testing process. Following are the areas we will look into:

• Reliability: Will your website be available 24/7/365 without any downtime?
• Performance: How fast will your website load on HostGator? We will run our own performance tests to analyze this.
• Customer Support: Can you count on their customer support? Will you be able to easily get help when needed?
• Features: Do their features help you easily create and manage your website?
• Pricing: Do they offer the best pricing in industry? Are there any HostGator deals that can save you money?

If you don’t want to go through all the details, then the following is a quick summary of our HostGator review score with our conclusion below it.

HostGator Review Summary Performance grade A+ Average load time1.03 s Average response time143.4 ms Free domain Yes Free SSLYes1-click WordPress Yes Support Phone / Live Chat / Knowledge base Start with HostGator.

HostGator Performance

What would you do if you sign up for a host and find that your website is painfully slow and often disappears? You’d have to switch providers, and this will cost you more money and headache.

That’s why you want to choose a web hosting company that is reliably fast with stable performance record all around. But how would you get this information?

We decided to check HostGator’s performance by running our own tests. Let’s find out how well it performed.

HostGator Speed Test Results

The most important performance indicator is speed. A faster website is good for your users, and it also helps your SEO rankings.

In fact, studies suggest that 1 second delay in page load will cost you 7% fewer conversions, 11% less page views, and a 16% decrease in user satisfaction.

For our detailed HostGator review, we created a test site to find out how fast HostGator really is.

Our test site was powered by WordPress using the default theme. We also imported dummy content for theme development, including images.

After that we used Pingdom website speed testing tool to run the tests. Here are the results:

As you can see, our test site loaded in 1.03 seconds which is great.

However, this is a new website with no traffic at all so speed test alone is not the best way to judge its performance. We wanted to see how it would perform under peak traffic.

To test this we used a tool called K6 (formerly Load Impact). We used it to send virtual users to a website and gradually increased the number of users on the site up to 100 at once.

You can see the result in the chart below:

The blue line in the chart is page load time and the green line shows the number of users on the site. As you can see, our test site performed really well throughout the test with an average response time of 203 milliseconds.

These results are particularly good for a shared hosting account.

HostGator Uptime Test

Another remarkable thing to be noticed is that our test site didn’t go down during the test.

HostGator Server Response Time

The content of your website significantly affects the page load time. For example, if your website has many images, then it will increase the page load time.

This affects your server’s speed test results. We wanted to see how fast the HostGator server actually responds.

To test this, we used a tool called Bitcatcha. It works differently than other website speed testing tools. Instead of loading the content, it only tests the response time of the server.

Here is how HostGator performed in these tests:

Our HostGator review site performed really well. The server response time remained less than a second. In the United States, it was merely 26 ms.

Overall, this result indicates that your site will load quickly around the world.

HostGator Coupon

WPBeginner users get an exclusive 60% OFF with our HostGator coupon code.

All you have to do is click on this link to purchase. The discount will be applied automatically.

Ryan Frankel,

Hosting Expert:

Consistently innovating across multiple platforms, HostGator offers a modern hosting service for those looking for unmetered bandwidth and unlimited domain registrations. Whether you’re looking for a shared hosting plan, cloud services, or the HostGator website builder, the hosting company will have whatever you need. Read on for our detailed HostGator reviews to learn more.

Feb 1, 2021

Category Ratings

• Overall
• Cheap
• Dedicated
• VPS
• WordPress
• Site Builders

Ryan Frankel (HostingAdvice.com):

“HostGator has been around for more than a decade and is well-respected for its large number of servers and consistent reliability. Known mostly as a shared hosting provider, HostGator still supplies decent dedicated and VPS options if you need your site to scale.

HostGator costs slightly more than some of the other budget-minded shared hosts, but that echoes the brand’s reputation for strong infrastructure and helpful support. HostGator offers decent features in its basic shared hosting offerings, such as unlimited disk space, a nice control panel, and free website templates. Plus, you get the flexibility to add numerous add-ons for privacy, security, and productivity as you see fit.

Aimed primarily at the semi-technical user, HostGator’s flexibility is its strong suit. Dedicated, VPS, and Windows hosting is available if that fits your needs, as well. Root access, SSH, and support for Ruby, Perl, Python, and other languages is available on all plans.

HostGator has nearly limitless options and control available for their servers, with the support and beginner-friendly tools that will appeal to the full range of customers.”

• Familiar and easy-to-use cPanel control panel
• FREE drag-and-drop custom website builder
• Unlimited disk space, email, and bandwidth
• Flexible term lengths with no contract required
• 62% off your first three years
• Get started on HostGator now.

Features

(4.6 / 5.0)

A Wide Array of Hosting Options

• HostGator offers shared, dedicated, cloud, and VPS hosting, as well as domain registrations, a website builder, and reselling options.
• The crux of HostGator’s services is its shared server hosting; this is what the company is known for and excels at. While focusing on the shared server segment of the market, HostGator has mastered what it takes to create a great customer experience, knowing the needs of the shared server client very well.
• HostGator’s understanding of the shared hosting user makes the team the ideal guide to lead customers into the virtual and dedicated server world as they outgrow the shared space over time.

Lots of Freebies

• There are a lot of freebies that HostGator throws in with each hosting plan, including: unlimited disk and bandwidth, a free website builder and website building tools, several hundred website templates, free domain transfers, and unlimited MySQL databases.
• Additionally, new site owners can call attention to their web property utilizing the $100 worth of Google AdWords credits, courtesy of the HostGator team.
• Enjoy access to hundreds of one-click installs available for all of the major open-source projects, such as WordPress, Joomla, and Magento.

Control Panels Galore

• HostGator uses the latest cPanel software to power customers’ administration consoles. You can get rolling quickly, including tasks like organizing and launching eCommerce shopping carts.
• Using HostGator’s backend account management panel, you can gather stats and logs using AWStats, Webalizer, Raw Log Manager, and Error Logs.
• Windows hosting customers can oversee their environments using Plesk for website management, email account creation, and software installations.

Ease of Use

(4.4 / 5.0)

Gator™ Website Builder

Strightforward Control Panel

Metrics, Security, and Software

From a modern drag-and-drop website builder to the familiar cPanel interface, HostGator excels in providing a simple, yet powerful, user experience. The setup process is easy to get going with HostGator, given the company’s quick provisioning system and clear icons. We found the experience to be straightforward, and when we had questions, we could easily start a live chat to get them answered quickly.

Pricing

(4.3 / 5.0)

“Hatchling” Plan

$2.64/month »

“Baby” Plan

$3.78/month »

“Business” Plan

$5.68/month »

HostGator’s pricing is in the middle of the road when it comes to shared and VPS hosting. Good customer service and live chats cost money, and most good beginner web hosts fall in this range.

• See our HostGator deals (78% off!)

Reliability & Support

(5.0 / 5.0)

With a 99.9% uptime guarantee, HostGator performs admirably when it comes to reliability. This level of service is the industry standard and while there are hosts with a higher uptime rate, they also have a much higher cost. HostGator has been in the industry for a long time, so you can feel safely assured that they are not a scam and will be around for the long term.

HostGator Includes

Extensive Online Knowledge Base for Common Hosting Issues and 24/7/365 Live Support via Email, Phone, and Chat

OVERALL RATING

★★★★★ 4.9/5.0

HostGator is the winner
4 out of 26 times.

The Rundown

Ryan Frankel

Hosting Expert:

To recap, here’s a rundown of what HostGator has to offer

HostGator is targeted toward beginners or those that are looking to host simple websites. The company offers nice VPS and dedicated options to folks whose websites grow outgrow shared servers. Plus, HostGator’s been around for more than a decade and they have solid customer support available.

Sign Up Now!

Note: This post includes an affiliate link. I will receive the following commission after each sign up.

Signups per month:
1–5 ……………..$65 /signup
6–10 …………..$75 /signup
11–20 ………….$100 /signup
21+ …………….$125 /signup
If you send us 21 signups in any month, you will get $125 x 21 = $2,625