If you’re an Australian looking for a web hosting provider, you may have come across HostGator. However, with concerns about plan pricing, server speeds, and customer support, you’re probably wondering if HostGator is the right choice for you.
This HostGator Australia review will provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision about whether HostGator is the right web hosting provider for your needs, especially if you’re a first-time user.
HostGator Australia Review (A Complete Rundown)
About HostGator
Founded in 2002 by Brent Oxley in his dorm room at Florida Atlantic University, HostGator is a web hosting platform that has grown to become one of the top providers of Shared, Reseller, VPS, and Dedicated web hosting at affordable prices.
Initially, the company had only three servers, and in its first year, it acquired over 100 customers. By the end of the second year, it had ten times that amount, and by 2009, HostGator’s client base expanded to 200,000 customers worldwide.
HostGator’s exponential growth led to the addition of international support in Canada and overseas, including Australia. As a result, HostGator outgrew its original office in Boca Raton, Florida, and moved to a 25,000 square foot office in Houston, Texas, in 2006.
The company grew from having 50 employees at the time of the move to 500 employees and counting by 2014, necessitating a further expansion of their home base in 2010 with the addition of a 100,000 square foot building in Austin, Texas.
In 2012, HostGator joined the team at Endurance International Group (EIG), allowing them to reach even more people with their quality web hosting services. Since then, HostGator has established itself as a top provider of web hosting services and domain registration for personal blogs to commercial websites.
To meet the changing needs of its customers, HostGator added a WordPress hosting package in 2015. The company received numerous awards in 2016, including best Dedicated, Managed, Shared, and Business web hosting. Today, HostGator serves well over 2 million customers worldwide.
- Unlimited Disk Space
- cPanel Interface
- Unlimited Bandwidth
- 99.9% Uptime Guarantee
- Unlimited MySQL Databases
- 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
HostGator Speeds for Australian Websites
In today’s fast-paced world, having a fast website is critical for both you and your visitors, regardless of their location. People’s patience is dwindling, and if your website takes too long to load, they will quickly move on to a faster one. This can have a significant negative impact on your site’s traffic and revenue, particularly if you’re selling products or services.
While one might assume that using an Australian web host is the solution, sadly, this is not the case. The choices available from Australian-based web hosts are limited, and their speeds fall far below industry standards (1.5 seconds). This is largely due to the limited number of undersea cables running throughout the country.
Despite having servers located in the United States, HostGator offers customers an affordable SiteLock add-on that includes a free CDN upgrade. This feature allows your website to use servers from all over the world depending on the visitor’s location.
Additionally, HostGator has recently introduced a WordPress Cloud Hosting package that comes with a CDN at no extra cost. This CDN automatically selects the appropriate server based on the visitor’s location, ensuring that your website consistently loads in just 560 milliseconds, regardless of where your visitors are.
The speed at which your website loads has a significant impact on its search engine ranking. As a result, those few milliseconds can have a huge impact on your site’s success.
Using a website that tests website speeds from various locations, I performed a test for hostgator.com from the Australia region. The test returned a load time of 5 seconds, which is likely due to the amount of traffic HostGator receives and the site’s bandwidth.
HostGator Uptime Results
Uptime is a metric used to measure the percentage of time a web host’s server is running smoothly. Conversely, downtime measures how often the system is not working. The higher the uptime, the better.
Every web hosting company is required to sign a service level agreement (SLA), which measures and reports the web host’s uptime over a 30-day period. Hosting companies offer clients an uptime guarantee through this agreement, sometimes with a credit if uptime falls below a certain threshold.
HostGator guarantees a 99.9% uptime for its shared and reseller web hosting accounts. This guarantee does not include scheduled server maintenance or client site maintenance issues. However, if server uptime falls below 99.9%, HostGator will provide a one-month credit (at its sole discretion).
VPS and Dedicated Servers are not covered by the uptime guarantee.
HostGator Server Location
HostGator’s data centers are strategically located in Houston, TX and Provo, UT to offer clients reliable and speedy services. The Houston center, located at CyrusOne’s Houston West facility, is a state-of-the-art facility covering 300,000 square feet. It’s equipped with top-of-the-line power backup units, power distribution units, and diesel fuel tanks that hold thousands of gallons each. The facility is monitored 24×7 to ensure uninterrupted services.
Similarly, the data center in Provo, UT, hosted by Ace Data Centers, boasts an 8,500 square foot design with an efficient pod design that ensures a power usage effectiveness of under 1.2. The center is equipped with reliable backups, cooling, and enough fuel to keep the servers running continuously. With laser-enabled fire prediction, a misting fire suppression system, and a nitrogen fire suppression system, fires of any kind will be handled swiftly and efficiently.
HostGator prioritizes the care and maintenance of its servers to meet and exceed industry standards, ensuring that clients’ websites operate at peak performance. Australian clients need not worry about slower speeds as HostGator provides excellent server location services. Building your website as close to the server as possible is essential for faster load times, and HostGator ensures that clients receive optimal performance. However, if your target audience is in Australia, it’s advisable to avoid US-based web hosting with only US servers.
If your website requires high bandwidth usage, HostGator’s US-based web hosting provides more bandwidth for lower prices, even if the speeds may not be as fast. In this scenario, HostGator’s CDN (Content Delivery Network) with TrueShield is a cheap and easy upgrade. Additionally, HostGator’s WordPress Cloud Hosting guarantees lightning-fast speeds, regardless of location.
HostGator’s Customer Service & Support
Aside from speed, uptime, and pricing, customer support is a crucial aspect to consider when choosing a web hosting company. HostGator’s award-winning customer support team with a 90% overall customer satisfaction rating ensures that clients’ issues are addressed promptly and satisfactorily.
HostGator’s customer service agents are available 24/7/365 via phone or live chat, making it convenient for clients to seek help, regardless of time zones. Additionally, HostGator provides a comprehensive knowledge base with over 500 video tutorials and 600 articles covering various topics from pricing options to WordPress installation. Clients can also interact with other customers on the HostGator forum to learn from their experiences.
Although no customer service team is perfect, HostGator strives to provide excellent support to all its clients. While some reviews and forum posts may mention agents leaving them hanging or long wait times to speak to someone, the overall customer satisfaction rate is promising. HostGator ensures that it has far more positive experiences with its clients than negative.
HostGator’s Shared Web Host Plans & Prices
HostGator is currently offering an incredible 60% discount on all shared web hosting plans for a three-year period. The plans come with several features, including One Click Installs, Unmetered Bandwidth, and a Free SSL Certificate. Moreover, the plans offer access to HostGator’s 24/7 customer support.
With One Click Installs, you can set up your website quickly and easily. Additionally, Unmetered Bandwidth means that you won’t be charged for the amount of disk space or bandwidth your site uses. However, it is essential to keep in mind that exceeding HostGator’s usage policies will result in a violation of their Terms of Service, and your website’s speed will suffer.
The Free SSL Certificate ensures that your website is secure by encrypting data between your server and your visitors. This is particularly important if you collect credit card payments for your services or products.
HostGator offers three shared hosting plans: Hatchling, Baby, and Business. The Hatchling Plan provides a single domain at $2.75 per month for 36 months (AUD $3.88). The Baby Plan offers unlimited domains for $3.95 per month for 36 months (AUD $5.58). The Business Plan includes everything in the Baby Plan and offers a free upgrade to Positive SSL, a free dedicated IP, and free SEO tools. The Business Plan is available at $5.95 per month for 36 months (AUD $8.40).
If you are a beginner or on a tight budget, the Hatchling Plan is an excellent option, especially if you want to start a personal blog. You can sign up for just one month at $10.99 per month (AUD $15.46) if you are unsure about committing to a 36-month plan. Upgrading to a longer plan is a straightforward process if you decide you like it, and cancelling is just as easy if you don’t.
To learn more about HostGator and other web hosting providers, check out my comprehensive guide to web hosting in Australia.
HostGator: Is it the Right Choice for You?
One of the standout features of HostGator is its seamless integration with WordPress. Regardless of your plan, you can effortlessly install WordPress onto your site through their One Click Install feature. It’s as easy as clicking a button in your control panel, and voila! Your WordPress site is up and running.
WordPress is an excellent platform if you’re new to website building. You can create a static website, an online store with a few products, or a blog. With access to a wide range of free themes and plugins, the possibilities for customization are endless.
The One Click Install feature is particularly advantageous for those who lack technical expertise. If you want to focus on creating content for your website rather than building it from scratch, this feature is the way to go. You can have a fully-functional website up and running in just a few hours, as opposed to days or even weeks.
However, if you prefer to skip the One Click Install step, HostGator’s WordPress Cloud Hosting plan is a great alternative. For just a few extra dollars per month, WordPress is already pre-installed, and you also receive SiteLock for free. With this plan, your website will be the fastest available on the internet, no matter where your visitors are accessing it from.