HostWinds Review (2024)
TL;DR: What We Think of HostWinds
HostWinds stands out as an underrated gem in the hosting industry. It offers exceptional speed, reliability, and customer support. However, there is an important caveat to consider: the company offers a limited 3-day money-back guarantee. Regardless of the hosting plan chosen, you cannot request a refund after 72 hours.
Suitable for:
Small Business, eCommerce, Enterprise, or Developers-friendly Hosting
Our Evaluation: HostWinds Pros and Cons
HostWinds Pros
- Fast and reliable services
- Sterling reputation and support
- Lots of automated services
- Weebly website builder included
HostWinds Cons
- Shortest money-back guarantee period in market (3 days)
- No extra business services
- Slightly higher than usual starting prices
Our Detail Findings & Experience with HostWinds
About HostWinds: Quick Introduction
Established in 2010 by Founder and CEO Peter Holden, Hostwinds has its roots in Seattle, Washington. Committed to delivering dependable and cost-effective web hosting solutions globally, Hostwinds offers an array of services, spanning shared hosting, VPS hosting, dedicated server hosting, and cloud hosting, tailored to accommodate the multifaceted requirements of its clientele.
| Performance |
Is HostWinds fast in terms of hosting speed and performance?HostWinds offers dependable hosting services, with a focus on steady website functionality. While their hosting performance is not exceptional, the web host incorporates essential technologies including , along with various server upgrades to enhance your website’s speed. |
| Security |
Are websites hosted on HostWinds secure with server-side security?Websites hosted at HostWinds are safe for basic security needs. HostWinds includes essential security tools such as advanced web application firewall (WAF), free SSL certificates, daily backup, However, for websites requiring advanced security, HostWinds may not provide the high-level protection needed. |
| Supports |
What types of customer support does HostWinds offer?HostWinds’ customer support is easy to access and efficient. Help is avaliable via phone, live chat, and email. |
| Value for Money |
Is HostWinds worth its pricing in term of value?HostWinds is reasonable priced when weighed against its feature offerings and long-term cost. At $5.24 per month (renews at $6.99/mo), basic shared hosting allows you to host 1 website with 24/7 customer support, a free domain name, daily backup. Strangely, however, the company only offers a 3-days money back guarantee (yes, you read it right) – which is one of the main reasons it scored so low in our rating system. Higher plans with better features like VPS starts at $8.24/mo, cloud hosting at $4.99/mo and dedicated hosting at $115/mo. |
| Overall Users Satisfaction |
What do users say about HostWinds?We seldom see web shots with as high customer satisfaction as Hostwinds. They tout themselves as a customer-centric service and deliver on this in spades. Almost everyone who’s commented about them thinks that they’re simply awesome when it comes to support. For additional insights, please refer to the user reviews section below. |
| Beginners Friendliness |
Is HostWinds suitable for beginners?Despite its many accolades, we can’t help but feel Hostwind’s newbie-level products have a bit of an issue. They’re pretty highly-priced, even considering introductory offers. The only thing that saves them is slight price hikes after the honeymoon period. Plus, you can use the Weebly site builder, which may be why prices are higher. |
| Small Business Friendliness |
Is HostWinds suitable for small businesses?Hostwinds is one service provider that draws clear lines between business customers and individuals. Business hosting is more expensive, but you get a correspondingly large allocation of resources. There is one issue, though. Hostwinds doesn’t offer any business add-ons. That means for Microsoft, Google, marketing, or other needs, you have to seek them elsewhere. |
| Web Developers Friendliness |
Is HostWinds suitable for web developers?Prices are high enough here that most devs will want to stay away. They seriously don’t advertise any dev-friendly features, so it’s also a big question mark. All in all, it’s a big chance you’ll be taking. |
| Host Own Email |
Can you host custom email accounts with HostWinds?Yes, you can host your own email accounts with HostWinds. This significantly reduces your costs by eliminating the need for expensive third-party email services. |
| Onboarding |
Is HostWinds easy for new customers to start with?Automation is the watchword at Hostwinds, so you can expect many things to be a relatively hands-off process. They also have a decent product documentation section to provide information. However, while it’s easy to use, don’t expect too much in this respect. Instead, rely on their legendary customer service folks. |
| Free Trial |
Is HostWinds available for a free trial?Yes, HostWinds offers a 3-day free trial period. If you are not satisfied with their services for any reason, you can cancel within this period and receive a full refund. |
HostWinds Plans & Pricing
HostWinds provides a range of web hosting solutions, including Shared, VPS, Dedicated, Cloud, and Reseller hosting plans. The company also offers specialty hosting services such as Adult Websites, Email, and Minecraft hosting.
Consider Renewal Prices When Choosing
When evaluating hosting options, it is important to note that many hosting companies offer substantial discounts during the initial signup period, but prices often increase significantly upon renewal. Be sure to research and compare the renewal prices and not just the introductory rates to understand the true cost of hosting over time.
To help you in making an informed decision, we have prepared two tables below that compare the initial signup costs and renewal costs of HostWinds services with several other providers we monitor.
Compare HostWinds’s Signup Cost Against Competitors
| Web Host | Shared | VPS | Dedicated | Cloud | Managed WP | Windows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HostWinds | $5.24 – 8.24/mo | $8.24 – 395.24/mo | $115 – 207/mo | $4.99 – 328/mo | $ – /mo | $12.74 – 431.24/mo |
| BlueHost | $2.95 – 13.95/mo | $29.99 – 69.99/mo | $89.98 – 139.99/mo | $ – /mo | $2.95 – 13.95/mo | $ – /mo |
| Hostens | $2.00 – 8.00/mo | $5.25 – 21.00/mo | $49.99 – 89.99/mo | $ – /mo | $ – /mo | $13.13 – 52.50/mo |
| Cloudways | $ – /mo | $ – /mo | $ – /mo | $11.00 – 1056.00/mo | $14.00 – 487.00/mo | $ – /mo |
| Webempresa | $2.97 – 8.97/mo | $ – /mo | $359.4 – 659.4/mo | $47.4 – 71.4/mo | $2.97 – 8.97/mo | $ – /mo |
| Hostgator | $3.75 – 6.25/mo | $34.99 – 93.99/mo | $89.98 – 139.99/mo | $4.50 – 13.95/mo | $4.50 – 13.95/mo | $4.76 – 14.36/mo |
Compare HostWinds’s Renewal Cost Against Competitors
| Web Host | Shared | VPS | Dedicated | Cloud | Managed WP | Windows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HostWinds | $6.99 – 10.99/mo | $10.99 – 526.99/mo | $115 – 207/mo | $4.99 – 328/mo | $ – /mo | $16.99 – 574.99/mo |
| BlueHost | $11.99 – 28.99/mo | $79.99 – 142.99/mo | $179.99 – 259.99/mo | $ – /mo | $11.99 – 28.99/mo | $ – /mo |
| Hostens | $4.00 – 16.00/mo | $7.50 – 30.00/mo | $49.99 – 89.99/mo | $ – /mo | $ – /mo | $18.75 – 75.00/mo |
| Cloudways | $ – /mo | $ – /mo | $ – /mo | $11.00 – 1056.00/mo | $14.00 – 487.00/mo | $ – /mo |
| Webempresa | $118.8 – 358.8/mo | $ – /mo | $718.8 – 1318.8/mo | $94.8 – 142.8/mo | $118.8 – 358.8/mo | $ – /mo |
| Hostgator | $9.99 – 19.99/mo | $79.95 – 149.95/mo | $179.99 – 279.00/mo | $8.95 – 17.95/mo | $8.95 – 17.95/mo | $12.99 – 21.99/mo |
Caution: Prices May Vary Web hosting prices can change frequently. For the most accurate and up-to-date pricing information, please visit the official HostWinds website.
Is HostWinds the Right Choice for You?
HostWinds blows in with a reputation for speed and reliability, offering a sanctuary of support that’s hard to overlook. Yes, you might find their prices leaning towards the higher side, but what you’re paying for is quality that often exceeds expectations. If you’re all about investing in top-tier service and features that make a difference, this web host stands ready to impress. However, if your budget is tight or your needs skew towards very specific business solutions, you might want to weigh your options a bit more carefully.
Summary of HostWinds Pros and Cons
HostWinds Pros
- Fast and reliable services
- Sterling reputation and support
- Lots of automated services
- Weebly website builder included
HostWinds Cons
- Shortest money-back guarantee period in market (3 days)
- No extra business services
- Slightly higher than usual starting prices
HostWinds Alternatives to Consider
In case HostWinds is not right for you, below are some alternatives to consider. You can also find more options in our hosting reviews page (full list).