TL;DR: What We Think of Hostens
Hostens offers reliable hosting with solid features, but its recent price increases make it less competitive in the budget-friendly category. For those specifically in need of an EU-based hosting provider, it remains a viable choice due to its regional advantages. However, beyond this geographical benefit, Hostens no longer stands out as a particularly compelling option.
Suitable for:
Beginners-friendly, or Budget
Hostens Pros & Cons
Hostens Pros
- Support Ruby and Python in all shared hosting plans
- Daily backup included in all shared hosting plans
- Choice of 10 distributed data centers in seven countries
- Reasonable price
Hostens Cons
- Price increase during the renewal
- Limited storage in shared hosting plans
- Hosting upgrade to VPS only (lack higher hosting capacity)
Evaluating Hostens: A Breakdown of Performance, Security, and Other Key Features
Established in 2003 as a division of Lithuanian company ‘Interneto Vizija,’ Hostens swiftly evolved into a prominent player in the web hosting sphere, amassing over 100,000 clients across Europe. Under the leadership of CEO Arvydas Strausas, the company offers an array of services including web hosting, VPS hosting, VPN, and domain registration. Notably, Hostens introduced a free website building tool in 2019, featuring design templates, web fonts, ecommerce support, and diverse payment gateways, further enhancing its appeal to customers.
The web host, once known for its budget-friendly hosting, has shifted towards more higher-priced plans. Their shared hosting now starts at $4.99/month with a 3-year commitment, or $6.99/month for annual billing. Although these prices remain competitive by industry standards, they no longer fall into the ultra-cheap category that Hostens was once famous for.
In the following sections, we’ll take a closer look at how Hostens performs across critical areas like hosting speed, server security, customer support, and overall value.
What Can You Expect from Hostens in Terms of Speed & Uptime Performance?
Hostens provides decent hosting speed and performance thanks to its SSD storage and 99.9% uptime guarantee, but it may not match the performance of higher-end providers, especially as it’s no longer in the budget category and resource allocation varies across plans.
Is Your Website Safe with Hostens’s Security Measures?
Yes, websites hosted at Hostens are safe. The hosting provider implements a range of security measures designed to protect your data and ensure website reliability. Key server security features include:
- DDoS protection, which shields your site from malicious traffic.
- Web Application Firewall (WAF), which blocks potential threats before they reach your site.
- Automatic Malware Scanning, which identifies and removes harmful code to prevent damage.
Daily backups are included as a standard feature, allowing for quick restoration of your website in case of any issues. Additionally, Hostens offers free SSL certificates with an easy installation system, enabling users to secure their websites effortlessly. This encrypts communication and protects the data exchanged between your site and its visitors.
With these measures in place, you can trust that your website is well-protected against online risks.
What Can You Expect from Hostens’s Customer Support?
Hostens offers a range of 24×7 customer support options to ensure users get timely assistance. Help is available via live chat and email. Additionally, you can also access the knowledge base for self-help guides and troubleshooting. User feedback on customer support is overwhelmingly positive, with fast response times and knowledgeable representatives consistently praised for their effectiveness in resolving issues.
Is Hostens’s Pricing Justified by the Value and Features It Offers?
Hostens is reasonable priced when weighed against its feature offerings and long-term cost. At $4.99 per month (renews at $9.99/mo), basic shared hosting allows you to host 10 websites with 24/7 customer support, a free domain name, daily backup, and 30-days money back guarantee. Higher plans with better features like VPS starts at $50.99/mo, cloud hosting at $/mo and dedicated hosting at $/mo.
How is Hostens Rated Based on Overall Market Satisfaction?
Users are generally happy with their hosting experience at Hostens. Responsive customer support, affordability, and reliable server uptime are the three most mentioned plus points. Some users think Hostens is not suitable for larger eCommerce or agency sites, but most think they are a great budget choice for solo-bloggers and beginners.
For additional insights, please refer to the user reviews section below.
Is Hostens Suitable for Beginners?
Hostens shared hosting is extremely cheap and yet comes with all necessary features to host a simple website. We think newbies will find this host a good place to kickstart their journey on the Internet.
Is Hostens Suitable for Small Businesses?
Limited storage space and lack of higher upgrades above shared hosting plans can be problematic for growing businesses.
Is Hostens Suitable for Web Developers?
No, there isn’t many features that benefit web developers at Hostens. We do not recommend them for hosting complex web projects.
Is It Possible to Host Custom Email with Hostens?
Yes, you can host your own email accounts with Hostens. This significantly reduces your costs by eliminating the need for expensive third-party email services.
How Easy Is the Onboarding Process with Hostens?
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Does Hostens Offer a Free Trial?
Yes, Hostens offers a 30-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.
Try now: Visit & Sign Up at Hostens Official Website
Hostens Plans & Pricing
Hostens provides a range of web hosting plans designed to meet the needs of different users, including Shared, and VPS Hosting. The company also offers specialty services such as Email, and Game Server Hosting.
- Shared Hosting: Starting from $4.99 – $11.25 per month
- VPS Hosting: Starting from $50.99 – $90.99 per month
Web hosting prices are subject to change, and promotional rates may only be available for a limited time or for new customers. To ensure you get the most accurate and current pricing details, we recommend visiting the official Hostens website.
Consider Renewal Prices When Choosing
When evaluating hosting options, keep in mind that many providers offer substantial discounts during the initial signup period, but prices can rise significantly upon renewal. It’s crucial to research and compare renewal rates alongside introductory offers to get a clear picture of the long-term cost.
To help you in making an informed decision, we have prepared a summary table below comparing the initial signup and renewal costs of Hostens services with several other providers we monitor.
Compare Hostens’s Signup Cost Against Competitors
Web Host | Shared Hosting Signup Fees | Shared Hosting Renewal Fees | VPS Hosting Signup Fees | VPS Hosting Renewal Fees |
---|---|---|---|---|
Hostens | $4.99 – 11.25/mo | $9.99 – 22.49/mo | $50.99 – 90.99/mo | $50.99 – 90.99/mo |
SiteGround | $3.99 – 10.69/mo | $17.99 – 44.99/mo | $ – /mo | $ – /mo |
OVHcloud | $1.04 – 13.19/mo | $1.04 – 13.19/mo | $0.97 – 36.24/mo | $4.2 – 39.4/mo |
ScalaHosting | $2.95 – 14.95/mo | $9.95 – 29.95/mo | $29.95 – 169.95/mo | $49.95 – 239.95/mo |
Vodien | $6.88 – 71.67/mo | $7.58 – 71.67/mo | $21.44 – 34/mo | $25.25 – 34/mo |
Digital Ocean | $ – /mo | $ – /mo | $ – /mo | $ – /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 Hostens website.
Final Thought: Is Hostens Right for You?
With a cutesy hamster adorning their website masthead and a tagline reading, “Even your hamster can have a website now,” Hostens positions itself as a perfect choice for beginners. While the company is rooted in Lithuania and founded by seasoned tech enthusiasts with extensive server administration skills, it has expanded its global reach with server locations in three EU countries, the USA, and Asia. This network enhances its appeal for users seeking geographically diverse hosting options.
Hostens now offers shared hosting plans starting at $4.99/month for a 3-year commitment or $6.99/month for annual billing, providing a comprehensive set of essential features paired with responsive customer support. Despite the company’s playful branding, they own and operate their infrastructure, ensuring reliability and performance. This makes Hostens a solid option for beginners looking to maximize value.
That said, be mindful of the price hikes upon renewal and the limited storage offered in their shared hosting plans, which may be a consideration for users with more demanding storage needs.