HostGator was founded in 2002 in a University of Florida dorm room and quickly grew into one of the largest hosting companies in the world. Now part of Newfold Digital (alongside Bluehost and iPage), HostGator hosts millions of websites across its global infrastructure. The company is known for its approachable pricing, comprehensive hosting lineup, and the iconic alligator brand mascot. HostGator offers shared, WordPress, VPS, and dedicated server hosting, all managed through the familiar cPanel interface. Their shared hosting plans come with unlimited bandwidth, free SSL, free domain for the first year, and a website builder with templates. The 45-day money-back guarantee exceeds the industry standard of 30 days. HostGator provides 24/7 support via live chat, phone, and email, though quality can be inconsistent. Their one-click WordPress installer and beginner-friendly approach make them suitable for first-time website owners. For more demanding sites, their VPS plans (powered by OpenStack) and dedicated servers offer significant scalability. HostGator's 99.9% uptime guarantee is backed by one month of credit if they fail to meet it. While no longer the cutting-edge provider it once was, HostGator remains a reliable, affordable option for personal and small business websites.
Add a benchmark URL in admin and run the provider benchmark cron to display measured speed, security, and availability signals here.
Longer than the industry-standard 30 days, giving you more time to evaluate the service risk-free.
All shared hosting plans include unmetered bandwidth, eliminating concerns about traffic spikes or overage charges.
Shared, WordPress, VPS, dedicated, and reseller hosting all available — room to grow without switching providers.
Industry-standard cPanel makes site management familiar and straightforward, with extensive documentation available.
Free domain for the first year and free SSL certificate on all plans reduce initial setup costs.
While available 24/7, support quality varies — some agents are knowledgeable while others follow scripts.
Promotional pricing jumps significantly at renewal, with some plans doubling or tripling in cost.
Server technology and performance haven't kept pace with modern hosts like SiteGround or Hostinger.
Checkout process and dashboard include aggressive add-on promotions for backup, security, and SEO tools.