DreamHost vs HostGator: Shared Hosting Features & Pricing

This is round 1 of our comparison between DreamHost and HostGator. If you don’t know much about these two web hosting companies, I suggest you read my introduction post here: HostGator vs DreamHost

Shared Hosting Features

Ok so both providers are obviously oversellers and mostly HostGator in this case. What does this mean? It means that they are offering more resources than you’ll be able to use. Sure you’ve got plenty of storage space and bandwidth but they’ll put a cap on how much CPU and memory your website uses as well as the number of file you can host (yes the number of files, not the total disk space used). Anyway I don’t really care if a web host is overselling as long as it doesn’t affect my website’s performance and that I don’t get my account shut down.

That said, let’s compare their shared hosting features:

Both providers offer basically the same features except for HostGator’s Hatchling Plan which does not allow you to host more than a single website.

I have also found out that HostGator provides you with literally hundreds of professional website templates for free which can come in handy if your more or less experienced in web design.

Operating System

Whereas HostGator are using CentOS Linux servers (which is identical to Red Hat Enterprise Linux), DreamHost are running Debian Linux on their servers. No problem there, they are both very good operating system. CentOS might be a little more popular though.

Control Panel

While HostGator uses the ever popular cPanel, DreamHost provides their own custom control panel. In my opinion cPanel is way better than DreamHost’s. I always try to stick with cPanel since it makes it a lot easier to move your website from one host to another.

DreamHost’s web panel could need a redesign (although it’s just been redesigned!) cause it looks sort of messy and lacks intuitivity.

DreamHost Control Panel

HostGator Control Panel

Pricing

HostGator’s Baby Plan is probably the closest plan to DreamHost’s one-size-fits-all plan. And guess what? Their pricing structure is exactly the same except for the monthly billing cycle. Pure coincidence? Anyway I think that it makes no sense on DreamHost’s part to charge a $49.95 setup fee on their monthly billing plan since the account creation is probably all automated.

And if you don’t need to host more than one website, HostGator’s Hatchling Plan is probably the best investment for you.

Conclusion

As far as features goes, I would choose HostGator over DreamHost simply based on the fact that cPanel is way better than DreamHost’s web panel. Less experienced users will also find Fantastico Deluxe really useful and finding support for this script installer is really easy since it’s used by so many web hosts.

As for pricing, I don’t like the fact that DreamHost is charging a $49.95 setup fee which makes this billing cycle pretty useless.

• Visit DreamHost.com
• Visit HostGator.com

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