Choosing the right web hosting company is crucial for your online presence.
The right host can ensure your website runs smoothly, loads quickly, and remains secure, which are essential factors for keeping your visitors engaged and satisfied.
HostAfrica and TrueHost are two prominent names in the Kenyan web hosting industry, each offering a range of services designed to meet different needs.
In this comparison, we’ll delve into various aspects of both companies, including their hosting plans and pricing, performance and reliability, customer support, security features, additional tools, and overall user experience.
Hopefully, by the end of this review, you’ll have found the best web hosting company for your website.
Let’s get started.
HostAfrica Vs TrueHost: A Quick Comparison
While HostAfrica is a leading web hosting provider catering to businesses and individuals across Africa, TrueHost is one of the leading web hosting companies in Kenya, known for its extensive array of hosting solutions.
Originally established as Cloud to Machine in 2008 in South Africa, HostAfrica rebranded in 2017 and expanded its presence by acquiring EAC Directory in Kenya in December 2022.
TrueHost, on the other hand, has built a solid reputation and a burgeoning clientele by delivering stable, secure, and high-performance hosting services.
HostAfrica is particularly favored by startups and businesses, with an operational footprint spanning South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya.
TrueHost caters to bloggers, small businesses, and large e-commerce ventures alike, offering a spectrum of services including shared hosting, VPS hosting, dedicated servers, cloud hosting, and domain registration.
While HostAfrica provides dedicated 24/7/365 customer support accessible via phone, email, and chat, TrueHost ensures a seamless hosting experience through its robust infrastructure, leveraging cutting-edge technology and fortified data centers.
Both companies prioritize customer satisfaction, with HostAfrica offering a 30-day money-back guarantee on every hosting plan, and TrueHost guaranteeing peak performance and unwavering reliability through advanced security protocols and dependable network connectivity.
HostAfrica or TrueHost: Which One Has the Best Hosting Plans and Pricing?
Both, Truehost and HostAfrica offer affordable pricing structures. However, TrueHost’s pricing and plans are more elaborate.
While HostAfrica offers a clear structure with increasing resources and prices tailored for different website needs, TrueHost provides a wider range of plans, including highly affordable options like Bronze Hosting at Ksh 58.33 per month and high-end Unlimited Hosting for extensive resource demands.
Even though HostAfrica focuses on robust RAM and storage, TrueHost emphasizes flexibility with unlimited features and additional security like free SSL certificates.
Let’s check out their independent pricing plans.
HostAfrica Hosting Plans and Pricing
1. The Starter Plan
Price: $6.15 / Ksh 420 per month
Features: 1GB RAM, 20GB storage, 5 MySQL databases, 25 email accounts
Ideal for: Smaller websites with minimal storage and processing requirements
2. The Basic Plan
Price: $8.32 / Ksh 630 per month
Features: 2GB RAM, 40GB storage, 50 MySQL databases, 100 email accounts
Ideal for: Businesses or individuals managing up to 5 websites or projects
3. The Power Plan
Price: $14.41 / Ksh 945 per month
Features: 3GB RAM, 100GB storage, 10 domains, unlimited databases, unlimited email accounts
Ideal for: Small to medium-sized websites
4. The Business Plan
Price: $21.21 / Ksh 1,399 per month
Features: 4GB RAM, 200GB storage, 20 domains, unlimited databases, unlimited email accounts
Ideal for: Websites requiring increased computing power
TrueHost Hosting Plans and Pricing
1. Bronze Hosting
Price: Ksh 58.33 per month
Features: 1GB disk space, 1000MB bandwidth, 1 email account, 1 FTP account, 1 database
Ideal for: Domains registered at TrueHost only
2. Silver SSD Hosting
Price: Ksh 187.5 per month
Features: 30GB disk space, 3 domains max, free SSL certificate, unlimited bandwidth, unlimited email accounts
Ideal for: General use with moderate resource needs
3. Gold Hosting
Price: Ksh 393.75 per month
Features: 50GB disk space, 30 domains max, free SSL certificate, unlimited bandwidth, unlimited email accounts
Ideal for: Managing multiple websites with higher resource needs
4. Ecommerce Lite Hosting
Price: Ksh 850.56 per month
Features: 1 vCore CPU, 2GB RAM, 20GB SSD disk, free control panel, 1 IPv4, SSH access
Ideal for: WordPress and Laravel eCommerce sites
5. Platinum Hosting
Price: Ksh 1068.75 per month
Features: 90GB disk space, unlimited domains, free SSL certificate, unlimited bandwidth, unlimited email accounts
Ideal for: High-volume websites needing robust resources
6. Unlimited Hosting
Price: Ksh 1631.25 per month
Features: Free .CO.KE domain (annual plan), unlimited disk space, unlimited domains, unlimited bandwidth, unlimited email accounts
Ideal for: Large websites with extensive resource requirements
HostAfrica or TrueHost: Which One Has the Best Features?
Both, TrueHost and HosAfrica focus on robust storage and bandwidth plans. HostAfrica offers extensive email services, and advanced security features which are easy to use.
TrueHost offers a wider range of tools tailored for both beginners and developers, including a versatile website builder, generous storage and bandwidth, and comprehensive backup and restore capabilities.
Even though HostAfrica provides streamlined one-click installations and LiteSpeed web hosting for performance, TrueHost emphasizes flexibility and support for various programming languages and developer tools, making it suitable for a broader range of user needs.
Let’s take a look at the features.
HostAfrica Features
HostAfrica boasts of several notable features.
1. Storage and Bandwidth
- Starter Plan: 20GB storage, unlimited traffic, 25 email accounts, 2 domains, 5 subdomains, 1 FTP account
- Basic Plan: 40GB storage, unlimited traffic, 100 email accounts, 5 domains, 100 subdomains, 1 FTP account
- Power Plan: 100GB storage, unlimited traffic, unlimited email accounts, 10 domains, 500 subdomains, 5 FTP accounts
- Business Plan: 200GB storage, unlimited traffic, unlimited email accounts, 20 domains, 1,000 subdomains, 10 FTP accounts
2. Ease of Use
- Simplified website creation and management with Softaculous and a drag-and-drop builder
- WordPress hosting for customized websites
3. One-Click Installation
- Easy installation for over 70 popular applications
- Intuitive dashboard, though advanced customizations may challenge some users
4. Email Services
- Free business email accounts with anti-phishing and anti-spam features
- Email protection through SpamExpert
5. User Dashboard/cPanel
- User-friendly interface, though beginners may face a learning curve
- Familiar tools for those accustomed to cPanel
6. Security
- Free SSL certificate with each plan
- Automatic incremental backups, outgoing spam filtering, and malware protection
7. Additional Features
- LiteSpeed web hosting for high performance and compatibility with various CMSs (WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, Magento).
Check Out More HostAfrica Features
TrueHost Features
Truehost presents a spectrum of features crafted to elevate the hosting experience for its clientele.
1. Generous Storage and Bandwidth
Ample storage space and bandwidth to handle content and traffic without interruptions
2. Website Builder
- Easy-to-use website builder for creating professional websites without coding
- Ideal for beginners seeking a user-friendly interface
3. One-Click App Installation
- Streamlined installation for popular CMSs (WordPress, Joomla, Drupal)
- Saves time and resources with quick deployment
4. Email Hosting
- Professional email accounts using your domain name
- Enhances communication and branding
5. Database Management
- Tools for managing databases like MySQL and PostgreSQL
- Essential for e-commerce and dynamic websites
6. SSL Certificates
- Provides SSL certificates for encrypted data transmission
- Improves security, user trust, and search engine ranking
7. Developer-Friendly Tools
- Supports multiple programming languages (PHP, Python, Ruby, etc.)
- Features like FTP access, SSH access, and Git integration for advanced development
8. Website Backup and Restore
- Regular automated backups for easy data restoration
- Protects against data loss and unforeseen contingencies
Check out More TrueHost Features
HostAfrica or TrueHost: Which One Has the Best Customer Support?
While HostAfrica offers 24/7/365 support through live chat, email, phone, and a comprehensive knowledge base, TrueHost provides a similarly robust support system with multiple contact channels, a detailed knowledge base, a ticketing system, and active community forums.
Even though HostAfrica’s direct phone support may appeal to users who prefer immediate verbal communication, TrueHost’s SLA guarantees and community engagement can enhance the support experience, ensuring reliable service and additional peer assistance.
Both companies emphasize quick response times and user satisfaction, making them strong contenders in customer support.
HostAfrica Customer Support
- Round-the-clock support: Available 24/7, 365 days a year
- Live Chat: Online chat widget on the homepage for immediate inquiries
- Email and Support Tickets: Accessible via the control panel, allowing for detailed query submissions
- Phone Support: Direct communication through the customer support phone number (+254 70 939 9000)7
- Knowledge Base: Comprehensive articles and guides to assist with common issues
TrueHost Customer Support
- Support Channels: Multiple ways to contact support, including live chat, email, and phone support
- Knowledge Base: Extensive resource of articles, tutorials, and guides for self-help and troubleshooting
- Ticketing System: Organized submission and tracking of specific inquiries or technical issues
- Community Forums: Active online community forum for user interaction, advice, and experience sharing
- Service Level Agreement (SLA): Guaranteed uptime and response times for support requests
HostAfrica Vs. TrueHost: Which Hosting Company is More Secure?
Both, HostAfrica and TrueHost prioritize security, offering SSL certificates to ensure data encryption.
While HostAfrica includes automatic incremental backups and outgoing spam filtering to protect data and maintain IP cleanliness, TrueHost implements firewalls and malware scanning for comprehensive threat protection.
HostAfrica’s integrated malware protection adds an extra layer of defense, but TrueHost’s robust security measures, including firewalls, may offer enhanced security against unauthorized access.
Nonetheless, both companies provide strong security features, making either a reliable choice for secure web hosting.
HostAfrica Security Features
Here’s what HostAfrica offers:
1. SSL Certificates
Every HostAfrica hosting plan includes a free SSL certificate, ensuring data encryption and enhanced security for websites.
2. Data Protection
HostAfrica offers automatic incremental backups to safeguard data, allowing for easy recovery in case of data loss.
Outgoing spam filtering helps maintain IP cleanliness, preventing spam-related issues.
3. Malware Protection
Integrated malware protection is included in HostAfrica’s hosting services, providing an additional layer of security against malicious threats.
TrueHost Security Features
Here’s what TrueHost offers:
1. SSL Certificates
TrueHost also provides SSL certificates to encrypt data and protect websites from online threats, ensuring secure data transmission.
2. Enhanced Security Measures
TrueHost employs robust security measures, including firewalls to block unauthorized access and malware scanning to detect and remove threats.
3. Comprehensive Security
TrueHost’s security features create a safe hosting environment, protecting both the website and the sensitive data associated with it.
TrueHost or HostAfrica: Which One is More Reliable?
Both TrueHost and HostAfrica offer reliable hosting services, aiming to ensure minimal downtime and fast loading times.
TrueHost’s robust infrastructure and optimized server configurations provide efficient and reliable hosting solutions.
HostAfrica, however, enhances reliability with high uptime guarantees and LiteSpeed web server technology for improved performance.
Nonetheless, while TrueHost focuses on robust infrastructure, HostAfrica’s advanced server technology and regular maintenance make it an even better option for those seeking consistent uptime and optimized performance.
Both companies are reliable, but HostAfrica’s additional performance features give it a slight edge in reliability.
HostAfrica vs.TrueHost: Which One is the Best Web Hosting Company in Kenya?
HostAfrica excels with its high-performance LiteSpeed technology, robust security features, and comprehensive customer support.
However, it may present a learning curve for beginners and has some limitations in its starter plan.
TrueHost stands out with its flexible and developer-friendly plans, enhanced security measures, and reliable performance, though it may be complex for beginners and has varied pricing across plans.
Both companies offer strong hosting solutions, but the choice between them may depend on specific needs and preferences, such as ease of use, security requirements, and budget.
HostAfrica Pros
- Comprehensive Plans: Offers a variety of hosting plans tailored to different needs, from small websites to large businesses.
- Robust Security: Includes free SSL certificates, automatic incremental backups, outgoing spam filtering, and malware protection.
- Ease of Use: Simplified website creation and management with Softaculous and a drag-and-drop website builder.
- Customer Support: 24/7/365 support via live chat, email, phone, and a comprehensive knowledge base.
- High Performance: Utilizes LiteSpeed web server technology for enhanced speed and reliability.
HostAfrica Cons
- Learning Curve: Beginners may face a learning curve with the user dashboard and cPanel.
- Starter Plan Limitations: The Starter plan has limited email accounts and domains, which may be restrictive for some users.
- Advanced Customization: Tech-savvy users may encounter challenges with advanced customizations.
TrueHost Pros
- Flexible Plans: Offers a wide range of hosting solutions, including affordable entry-level plans and high-end unlimited plans.
- Enhanced Security: Implements robust security measures such as firewalls, malware scanning, and SSL certificates.
- Developer-Friendly: Supports multiple programming languages and provides developer tools like FTP access, SSH access, and Git integration.
- Customer Support: Multiple support channels, including live chat, email, phone support, a knowledge base, ticketing system, and community forums.
- Reliable Performance: Ensures minimal downtime and fast loading times with robust infrastructure and optimized server configurations.
TrueHost Cons
- Complexity for Beginners: Some advanced features and tools may be overwhelming for beginners.
- Service Level Agreement (SLA): The SLA terms and conditions may be complex and require careful review to understand the guarantees provided.
- Price Variation: While offering a wide range of plans, some high-end plans may be more expensive compared to competitors.
Final Thoughts
Choosing between HostAfrica and TrueHost depends on your specific needs.
HostAfrica excels with high-performance LiteSpeed technology, robust security, and comprehensive support, making it ideal for users who prioritize performance and ease of use.
TrueHost offers flexible plans, enhanced security measures, and developer-friendly tools, which are perfect for those needing a variety of hosting solutions and strong performance.
Both companies provide reliable and efficient hosting services, making them top choices in Kenya.
However, if you have advanced technical needs or are seeking a broader global reach, you might consider alternatives like HostPapa or ScalaHosting.
They offer a wider range of hosting options and a global presence, catering to more diverse and expansive hosting requirements.
Read More Reviews:
HostPapa Review 2024: Is It the Right Hosting Provider for You?
ScalaHosting Review 2024: Features, Pros and Cons
HostAfrica Review 2024: Features, Pros & Cons
TrueHost Review 2024: Services, Features, Pros & Cons
Share this Post
Pingback: WeHostAfrica Review 2024: Is It the Best Web Hosting Company in Africa? – Mercy Maiyo