Hostinger VS InterServer – Close Match, but Only One Winner!

Both Hostinger and InterServer are popular web hosting companies offering various hosting services. Hostinger, founded in 2004, is known for its budget-friendly plans and global presence, with data centers in multiple locations. They have a user-friendly custom control panel called hPanel and offer a built-in website builder. InterServer, established in 1999, stands out with its “price lock guarantee,” ensuring consistent hosting costs over time. They own their data centers, primarily in Secaucus, New Jersey, and offer InterShield Security for protection against threats. Both companies provide various hosting services, emphasizing performance, security, and customer support, but their pricing structures and additional features differ.

What is Hostinger?

Hostinger is a web hosting company that was established in 2004. Over the years, it has grown into one of the most well-known hosting providers in the industry. Here are some key points about Hostinger:

1. Affordable Plans: Hostinger is known for its budget-friendly hosting plans. They offer various hosting services, including shared, cloud, and VPS.
2. Global Presence: The company has data centers in multiple locations worldwide to ensure better site performance and loading times for a worldwide audience.
3. hPanel: Instead of using the typical cPanel that most hosting companies use, Hostinger has developed its control panel called hPanel. This panel is designed to be user-friendly and provides all the essential features needed to manage web hosting.
4. Website Builder: Hostinger offers a built-in builder for users who want to create a website without diving into code. This drag-and-drop tool allows users to design a website visually.
5. Customer Support: They provide 24/7 customer support and have a library of tutorials and articles to assist users in troubleshooting and building their websites.
6. Domains: Beyond hosting, Hostinger also offers domain registration services, allowing users to purchase and manage domains directly through them.
7. Performance: The company uses LiteSpeed web servers which are known to be faster than the traditional Apache servers. This can lead to improved website loading times.
8. Security: Hostinger provides free SSL certificates, daily backups, and other security features to protect hosted websites.
9. Growth and Acquisitions: Hostinger has expanded its reach through acquisitions and operates multiple other hosting brands.
10. Pricing: One of Hostinger’s primary selling points is its competitive pricing, especially for those just starting or looking for budget-friendly hosting solutions.

As with all hosting providers, it’s a good idea to research and read reviews to determine if Hostinger fits your needs and requirements.

What is InterServer?

InterServer is another web hosting company similar to Hostinger in that it offers a range of hosting services with distinct features and offerings. Here’s an overview of InterServer:

1. Establishment: InterServer was founded in 1999, making it one of the older web hosting companies in the industry. Its longevity speaks to its ability to adapt to the rapidly changing world of web hosting and internet technologies.
2. Hosting Services: InterServer provides various hosting solutions, including shared hosting, VPS (Virtual Private Server), dedicated servers, and cloud hosting.
3. Price Lock Guarantee: One unique feature of InterServer is its “price lock guarantee.” This means that the price you sign up for is the price you’ll continue to pay for the life of the account, ensuring no surprise cost hikes.
4. Data Centers: InterServer owns and operates its data centers in Secaucus, New Jersey. Owning their data centers gives them more control over the quality and reliability of their hosting infrastructure.
5. Control Panel: Like many hosting companies, InterServer offers the popular cPanel for its shared hosting services. For its VPS and dedicated server options, customers can choose among various control panels or even opt for no control panel.
6. Customer Support: InterServer boasts a robust customer support system, offering 24/7 support via phone, live chat, and tickets.
7. Security: The company offers InterShield Security, which provides services like web app firewalls, malware detection, and blocking harmful traffic. Additionally, they provide free SSL certificates for websites.
8. Performance: InterServer uses LiteSpeed servers for its shared hosting, which is known for fast performance compared to traditional Apache servers.
9. Additional Features: InterServer also offers services like domain registration, a website builder, and an array of software scripts that can be auto-installed.
10. Reputation: InterServer has built a reputation for reliable uptime and good customer service.

Like any hosting provider, potential customers should assess their needs and then look into user reviews and expert opinions to determine if InterServer would fit their projects well.

Hostinger vs. InterServer: which is better?

“Better” can be subjective and depends on specific requirements. When comparing web hosting providers like Hostinger and InterServer, evaluating several factors is essential to determine which is best suited to your needs. Let’s break down some of the key differences and attributes of each as of my last update in September 2021:

Whether Hostinger or InterServer is “better” depends on specific needs, preferences, and priorities. Here’s a comparison to guide your decision:

1. Price:

• Hostinger: It is known for its budget-friendly plans, especially for basic hosting solutions. They offer discounts on longer-term projects. Single share hosting plans of Hostinger starts at $0.99 per month. VPS hosting starts at a few dollars and reaches more than $20 per month. Cloud hosting is typically more expensive than shared hosting. Its prices start around $10/month and up.
• InterServer: They offer a fixed-price promise, meaning the cost of your hosting won’t increase when renewing. As of 2021, their shared hosting was priced at $5/month with the assurance that the price won’t increase upon renewal. Interserver offers a wide range of VPS configurations. Prices start as low as a few monthly dollars and expand based on the resources selected. Dedicated servers of InterServer are more expensive, with prices starting at around $50/month and going up based on configuration.

2. Control Panel:

• Hostinger: Uses a proprietary hPanel which is user-friendly and intuitive. Hostinger’s control panel is celebrated for its modern and user-friendly interface, designed to cater to beginners and seasoned web developers. With its intuitive layout, users can easily navigate through various functions, from website setup to email management, all in a contemporary design.
• InterServer: Uses the popular cPanel for its shared hosting, with other options available for VPS and dedicated hosting. cPanel is renowned for its robustness and comprehensive feature set, offering various tools and applications for in-depth website management. However, it comes with a slight learning curve, especially for newcomers.

3. Data Centers:

• Hostinger: Hostinger boasts a global footprint with data centers spread across multiple regions, including the USA, Europe, and Asia. This extensive reach ensures reduced latency, allowing users to choose a data center closer to their target audience, and optimizing website speed and performance. The company also emphasizes advanced redundancy, top-tier hardware, and regular backups in its facilities, striving to achieve optimal uptime and reliability.
• InterServer primarily centers its data center operations in the USA, particularly in Secaucus, New Jersey. With its state-of-the-art infrastructure, InterServer focuses on redundancy, high-quality server hardware, and advanced cooling systems to maintain peak performance. They also highlight their in-house staff, ensuring immediate response to hardware issues.

4. Security:

• Hosting: This hosting company has implemented various security protocols, such as BitNinja or Imunify360, to protect websites from malware, DDoS attacks, and other malicious threats. Additionally, they offer free SSL certificates for websites, ensuring encrypted data transmission. Regular backups, both automated and on-demand, further provide a safety net for data recovery.
• InterServer: InterServer places a strong focus on its InterShield Security. This suite incorporates machine learning, web application firewall, and malware detection to ward off threats. Moreover, InterServer provides free automatic virus scanning of emails and employs ModSecurity to safeguard web applications.

5. Performance:

• Hostinger’s edge largely stems from its global presence with data centers in multiple regions, including the USA, Europe, and Asia. This geographic diversity ensures that websites are served swiftly to a worldwide audience, reducing latency. Additionally, Hostinger employs advanced caching, SSD storage, and the latest PHP versions to enhance speed and responsiveness further.
• InterServer, headquartered in the USA, emphasizes its high-quality server hardware, ensuring consistent and reliable performance. Their infrastructure relies on SSDs for faster data retrieval and LiteSpeed caching for accelerated web page delivery. Another notable aspect of InterServer’s performance strategy is its promise not to overcrowd servers, which can significantly improve website load times and stability.

6. Support:

• Hostinger: Customer support is a critical pillar in the web hosting domain, and both Hostinger and InterServer recognize its importance. Hostinger prides itself on its 24/7/365 support, accessible via live chat. They emphasize rapid response times, often under a minute, and have cultivated a multilingual support team to assist a global clientele. Furthermore, Hostinger’s extensive knowledge base, filled with tutorials and guides, facilitates self-help, allowing users to troubleshoot common issues or understand features in-depth.
• InterServer: It offers round-the-clock support but with a broader range of access points: live chat, email, tickets, and phone. Their emphasis on a US-based support team ensures localized expertise, which can be pivotal for specific technical challenges. InterServer’s decades of experience in the hosting landscape manifest in their deep-rooted knowledge and ability to tackle various technical issues.

7. Reputation:

• Hostinger, over the years, has carved out a niche for itself as an affordable and user-friendly hosting solution, especially catering to beginners and small businesses. Its modern control panel and aggressive pricing strategy have earned it accolades among users looking for cost-effective hosting without a steep learning curve. However, like many rapidly growing companies, Hostinger has faced occasional criticisms, particularly concerning customer support wait times and rare service outages.
• InterServer, on the other hand, has been in the hosting business for over two decades and has developed a reputation for stability and consistency. Its key selling point is its “price lock guarantee,” ensuring users that their hosting prices won’t hike upon renewal. This transparency in pricing, coupled with robust performance and security features, has garnered a loyal customer base. However, their lesser emphasis on global market penetration might not be as instantly recognizable as Hostinger to an international audience.

8. Additional Services:

Both offer domain registration and website builder tools, but the quality, features, and prices may vary.

Neither is definitively “better” than the other. Your choice should be based on your specific needs:

• If you prioritize budget-friendly options and a user-friendly control panel, Hostinger might be more suitable.
• If you value consistent pricing over time and a company that owns its data infrastructure, InterServer might be the better choice.

Consider your needs and budget, and check recent reviews before deciding.

Bottom lines

Both provide robust security features and emphasize performance. Your choice should hinge on specific needs: Hostinger for affordability and user-centric tools and InterServer for consistent pricing and infrastructure control.

Always check the most recent reviews and feedback for both providers, as the hosting industry can change rapidly, and what was true in 2021 might not necessarily be the case in 2024.