HostPapa is not a new kid on the block. But, it’s not as popular as Bluehost and Namecheap. Nonetheless, it does compete with these giants.
I have to say that a few years ago, we really struggled to recommend HostPapa in good conscience.
But recently, I was surprised to find quite great improvements in their services. And we decided to put it on my recommendation list.
HostPapa is an affordable hosting provider that gears its marketing toward small business owners, although it offers a pretty standard range of plans that can suit small and large projects alike.
It offers shared, managed, and unmanaged WordPress, VPS, and reseller hosting plans.
Its relatively wallet-friendly hosting plans have a few nice features that could be right for you, especially if there’s a good promotion on offer.
That said, let’s get started with the review.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click on an affiliate link and later make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no additional charge to you. Money earned through affiliate links helps keep this site running.
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What Does Hostpapa Offer?
While HostPapa offers some appealing features, it’s essential to address two upfront realities.
Firstly, many of the premium features are exclusive to higher-tier plans, meaning essential elements like malware protection and automatic backups are reserved for those willing to invest in top-tier packages.
Secondly, it’s important to note that some features may not fully meet expectations.
HostPapa’s purported affordability and beginner-friendliness may be overshadowed by hidden conditions and limitations, challenging its claims.
Some Notable Freebies on Hostpapa
HostPapa doesn’t make you break the bank for everything.
With all of HostPapa’s shared hosting plans, you receive cPanel and Softaculous, enabling one-click installation of your preferred CMS, along with access to hundreds of useful web apps.
The basic plan includes 10 complimentary email addresses, while higher-tier plans offer unlimited addresses.
Additionally, entry-level plans provide a free Let’s Encrypt SSL, whereas premium plans substitute this with a Wildcard SSL certificate.
Every plan includes free site migration for existing websites and complimentary domain registration for new ones.
However, there’s a caveat regarding the domain name: if you cancel before the plan’s term expires, you’ll incur a registration fee – a standard practice among hosting providers.
Pros and Cons of HostPapa
What I like:
- Inclusion of a free domain with all plans
- Utilization of the standard cPanel interface
- Presence of data centers in three locations
Areas that need improvement:
- Server response time may benefit from enhancement
- The native account management panel appears outdated
HostPapa Pricing
HostPapa’s pricing falls within the average range, with shared hosting plans ranging from $2.36/mo to $10.36/mo.
In addition to shared hosting, HostPapa also offers Managed WordPress, VPS, and reseller hosting options.
HostPapa’s hosting options include:
- Shared Hosting: Ideal for small-to-medium websites with no technical knowledge required. Get HostPapa at 79% OFF!
- Managed WordPress Hosting: Suitable for mid-sized WordPress sites without the need for technical expertise.
- VPS Hosting: Geared towards online stores and popular websites, requiring some technical skills.
- Reseller Hosting: Tailored for agencies, designers, or managing multiple websites.
The range of hosting plans suggests HostPapa’s focus on small businesses. Shared hosting provides an affordable starting point, while VPS is aimed at those with popular sites or online stores.
Moreover, the relatively economical reseller hosting plans can serve as a launchpad for establishing a web hosting brand or designing and developing websites for clients.
HostPapa offers four shared hosting plans, all including free domain registration, unlimited bandwidth, Cloudflare CDN, SSL certificates, and numerous free email accounts.
The plans include:
- Start: Connects 1 website, provides 100GB storage, and 10 email accounts. $2.36/mo
- Plus: Connects 10 websites, offers 100GB storage, 100 email accounts, staging, and a free 30-minute training session. $4.76/mo
- Pro: Unlimited websites, storage, and email accounts. Additionally, includes Enhanced SSL certificates, automated server backups, and hosting on servers with fewer accounts. $4.76/mo
- Ultra: Includes everything from the Pro plan, with larger server resources and enhanced security Protection Power Pro package. $10.36/mo
It’s worth noting that while the plans are feature-rich and resourceful, the prices are average, yet offer generous storage and additional features.
However, it’s important to be aware that these promotional prices apply only for the initial billing period. Upon renewal, they revert to the original price, which is three times higher.
HostPapa provides a standard 30-day money-back guarantee, excluding refunds for SSL certificates, domain names, domain privacy, and email services.
Additionally, HostPapa offers free website migration services for added convenience, ensuring a seamless transition for those looking to transfer.
Is HostPapa Easy to Use?
Hostpapa’s cPanel is user-friendly.
This robust tool facilitates easy management of every aspect of your website, from domain and email setup to WordPress installation and security configuration.
In my experience, it took less than 3 minutes to add a domain and install WordPress once we purchased a plan.
However, it’s important to note that cPanel isn’t the first interface you encounter. HostPapa initially presents you with its native account management dashboard, which is somewhat rudimentary.
Unfortunately, this dashboard prominently features advertisements prompting you to purchase a domain name, while crucial functions are tucked away in the top menu bar. This design choice left us less than impressed.
Fortunately, accessing cPanel is just a click away – simply press the “My cPanel” button to navigate to it.
This interface also facilitates contacting support (notable by the green “Chat Now” bar at the bottom), managing services, and monitoring HostPapa’s server network status.
Overall, you won’t frequently encounter this native interface, which is a positive aspect of the user experience.
How Does Hostpapa’s cPanel Look Like?
HostPapa relies on a customized version of cPanel for all its hosting management needs, offering an interface that is immediately intuitive for newcomers and always familiar to seasoned users of web hosting services.
Within the cPanel, you’ll handle various tasks such as WordPress installation, backups, domain name addition, email account creation, and more.
In the routine process of purchasing web hosting services, you typically:
- Add a domain name using the “Addon Domains” feature. While we prefer using dedicated domain registrars for our numerous web hosting accounts, taking advantage of free domains is recommended.
- Activate SSL using the “Auto SSL” or other available tools within cPanel. Fortunately, HostPapa automates this process, activating SSL automatically upon domain addition.
- Install WordPress via the Softaculous installer library provided by the host.
- Create email accounts, with the cheapest plan allowing for the creation of up to 10 mailboxes, which is quite beneficial.
This streamlined process reflects the ease and functionality of the hosting provider. If tasks can be completed within a couple of minutes, it indicates smooth operation and ease of navigation. If the process takes longer than five minutes, there may be issues to address.
HostPapa excels in this regard, as tasks are completed in less than three minutes. It’s a testament to the provider’s efficiency and user-friendly approach.
Is It Easy to Install WordPress on HostPapa?
Installing WordPress with HostPapa is remarkably straightforward.
Just navigate to the Softaculous App Installer section located at the bottom of the cPanel and click on the “WordPress” icon.
This action will automatically direct you to the Softaculous installation page. Once there, simply click “Install Now.”
Next, fill in all the necessary information fields to ensure your website is fully prepared. We prefer manual input over the “Quick install” option, as it allows for more accuracy and customization.
And that’s it! It probably took less than a minute, didn’t it? Now your website is live and ready for customization to your heart’s content.
Can I Set up a Professional Email with HostPapa?
Ease of use is undeniably a strong suit of HostPapa. Similar to the WordPress installation process, setting up an email account is a breeze and can be accomplished in just a minute.
Within the cPanel, navigate to the Email section, select “Email Accounts,” and proceed to add a new email account.
While there may be a bit more field-filling involved, it’s a simple process that wraps up in no time.
Before you know it, you’ll have a professional email account ready to use. However, it’s worth noting that as these email accounts are hosted on your server, they may not be suitable for extensive marketing campaigns or frequent mailing.
In summary, HostPapa offers a highly intuitive user experience. The platform functions seamlessly, and navigating cPanel is a hassle-free experience.
You’ll find all the essential tools for domain, email, database management, and more right at your fingertips.
Performance Evaluation: Is HostPapa Fast?
Throughout this HostPapa review, I conducted three tests focused on reliability and speed.
While the provider maintained a flawless 100% uptime over two weeks of examination, its response time left room for improvement. Nonetheless, HostPapa demonstrated commendable speed.
Let’s delve into a closer examination of the reliability, speed, and stability test findings.
HostPapa Uptime and Response Time
In the initial phase of testing, we assessed HostPapa’s reliability.
Over approximately two weeks, the provider exhibited an impressive track record of zero outages, translating to a perfect 100% uptime.
This result is particularly noteworthy considering HostPapa officially guarantees a 99.9% uptime.
However, the response time presents a different narrative. With an average response time of 1.19s, it falls short of optimal performance. While not the slowest in the market, it’s notably higher than the industry average of around 600ms.
Overall, HostPapa showcased reliability with flawless uptime, albeit with room for improvement in response time.
HostPapa’s Speed
The second test focuses on website speed and the experience for visitors. Initially, we evaluated the loading speed of a bare site from the US, the UK, and India.
Given that our website is hosted in the US, unsurprisingly, the best results were observed in this location, with the Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) registering at 434ms. While the UK and India exhibited higher LCP, the results remained satisfactory.
Why does LCP matter?
Google considers LCP among various factors when ranking websites. As long as this metric stays below 2.5s, the site stands a better chance of ranking higher.
With this in mind, HostPapa’s performance is commendable. However, it’s crucial to evaluate a fully developed site’s performance as well.
Testing a site with an Astra theme and Startup template, the LCP increased to 1.2s, still within the recommended threshold.
Moreover, considering the Fully Loaded Time, which clocks in at 1.5s, HostPapa excels in providing a smooth browsing experience. This time frame aligns with the optimal range for visitor interaction.
In summary, HostPapa demonstrates impressive speed, loading efficiently and smoothly. However, further testing under increased traffic conditions would provide valuable insights into its scalability.
Is HostPapa Secure?
In our assessment for this HostPapa review, we found the provider’s security measures to be satisfactory, though not flawless.
Essential security features such as SSL certificates, server-level firewall, and DDoS protection are included for free in lower-tier plans, while more advanced functionalities are either available with the highest-tier plan or as paid add-ons.
Here’s a breakdown of the default security features:
- SSL Certificates: Crucial for all websites, ensuring a secure connection between your site and external clients.
- Server Firewall and Monitoring: While information about this is limited on HostPapa’s website, it filters incoming data and prevents suspicious activity from entering the network.
- ModSecurity: A web application firewall that filters traffic, offering brute force detection to thwart common malicious attacks.
- DDoS Attack Prevention: HostPapa implements multiple layers of protection against DDoS attacks, further enhanced by enabling the free Cloudflare CDN included in all plans.
Additional security features, available with the Business Pro plan or for an extra fee, include:
- Automated Website Backups: Providing a safety net in case of emergencies, though at a cost of $19.95 for the first year and $35.88 annually upon renewal. Alternatively, users can opt for free backups through WordPress plugins or manual cPanel backups.
- Protection Power Security Software: Priced at $19.95 for the first year and $35.88/year upon renewal, this software offers automatic daily malware scans, removal assistance, and 24/7 support for manual malware removal, along with DDoS protection.
- Domain Privacy: An optional security service priced at $9.99 per year, safeguarding personal data stored in publicly accessible databases during domain registration.
All in all, HostPapa offers a comprehensive array of security measures, though some crucial features like automated backups come at an additional cost.
Nevertheless, whether you’re managing a personal blog or a small business website, the included security features should provide adequate protection against common threats.
HostPapa Customer Support
HostPapa offers various avenues for customer support, including live chat, phone support, ticketing system, and even fax, all accessible 24/7/365. Additionally, their knowledge base comprises over 2600 articles and guides.
Known as PapaSquad, HostPapa’s support team is available in English, Spanish, and French, showcasing their commitment to accessibility and inclusivity.
Eager to put their support to the test, we opted for live chat, our preferred option. When inquiring about changing our primary domain, we encountered no wait time and received prompt assistance from a polite and knowledgeable agent.
The agent guided us through the procedure, promptly created a ticket for our request, and astonishingly, we received the ticket while still in the chat session—a testament to their efficiency.
The entire process, from inquiry to implementation, took less than 30 minutes, leaving us thoroughly impressed with the speed and effectiveness of both live chat and ticket support.
However, it’s important to note the human factor involved in customer support interactions. While our experience was exceptional, others may encounter variations in the quality of support received.
In addition to direct support channels, HostPapa boasts an extensive knowledge base featuring well-categorized articles, step-by-step guides, and tutorials, available in multiple languages. This resource serves as a valuable self-help tool for users seeking information on hosting-related topics.
Overall, HostPapa’s support is knowledgeable, efficient, and diverse in its offerings, ensuring users have ample options for assistance.
The inclusion of a one-on-one training session with a professional, available with select shared plans, further enhances their support services, offering personalized guidance and resources for users of all expertise levels—an invaluable feature that sets HostPapa apart in the hosting industry.
Final Thoughts
After conducting a comprehensive evaluation of HostPapa’s features, pricing, customer support, and additional facets, we have arrived at an informed conclusion regarding its applicability for diverse users and businesses.
HostPapa emerges as a reputable web hosting provider, offering a versatile array of hosting solutions tailored to meet various needs.
With its localized expertise, consistent performance, robust security protocols, and competitive pricing, HostPapa presents itself as a compelling option for individuals and businesses alike, particularly within the region it serves.
It is worth acknowledging that HostPapa’s suitability may vary based on specific requirements and preferences.
While it excels in several areas, users should carefully assess their unique needs to determine if HostPapa aligns with their objectives.
In summary, HostPapa’s combination of dependable performance, competitive pricing, and unwavering commitment to customer support positions it as a viable choice for individuals and businesses seeking reliable web hosting services.
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