HostPapa Review

HostPapa offers a decent number of web hosting plans for independent creators and business owners, including a free domain name, a free SSL certificate, and unlimited disk space in some higher-tier solutions.

Its server performance stands high on our list, and the critically acclaimed uptime seemed to check out during our testing period. Still, 99.9% is not something we could adequately measure in our testing.

The most affordable plans are an easy way for someone to create their first website, allowing them to upgrade in the long run if needed. Their four shared hosting plans are Start, Plus, Pro, and Ultra, and while Start might seem limited for some, it still has everything a newcomer could want from their web host.

Another important factor contributing to HostPapa’s performance is the uptime of 99.9%. This means that customers can always depend on their websites being available and running smoothly. While this claim is the golden standard of many web hosts out there, we didn’t have any issues with server performance.

Additionally, if there is downtime, HostPapa supports the Cloudflare content delivery network (CDN), allowing every user to visit the site, even if it goes offline for a brief moment. With that said, and with the multiple server locations spread worldwide, HostPapa seems to offer a very robust deal to small and medium businesses.

HostPapa’s customer service team has plenty of experience, and they have plenty of awards to back that claim. They can assist with domain name registration, website building and hosting, email setup, troubleshooting, technical support, and anything related to keeping your site in great shape. 

Customer service is accessible via email, phone, or live chat for any questions or concerns. They also have a knowledge base with helpful tutorials and a community forum where customers can ask and answer questions (though we suggest just reaching out to support if you’re unsure, they’re really quick to reply).

In our testing, these were the average support wait/response times:

If you’re looking for premium support, you’ll need to spend an additional $50 for the PapaCare+ service. This service provides priority support and assistance when it comes to installing popular software like WordPress or Joomla and Drupal etc. If you’re at home with typical online services (registering domain names, setting up email, etc.),  you’ll be able to set everything up yourself easily, but if not, PapaCare+ will feel like having your own IT person to do everything for you – just a chat (or call) away.

When choosing a web hosting provider, a pleasant and easy-to-use experience is vital.

Fortunately, HostPapa offers a straightforward control panel from which you can access the cPanel to configure your website. From the centralized control panel, you can access all your additional services, domains, and websites and open a support ticket.

On shared plans, you still have plenty of options to configure your account however you like, although it might sometimes feel overwhelming. You also get a one-click installer courtesy of Softaculous, which makes it incredibly easy to install applications such as WordPress and other popular CMS.

Four shared web hosting plans are offered by HostPapa, each tailored to the size and requirements of your website. For most people, the Start plan is often the best and, in this case, the most affordable choice, so if you’re eager to sink your teeth into your first site – that’s the one.

These are the prices HostPapa offers to their clients:

• Start: Designed for small sites or blogs, this plan costs $2.95/month and includes one website, 10GB of SSD storage, unlimited bandwidth, and free domain registration. 
• Plus: Currently on sale for $5.95/month, this plan offers 10 websites, free domain registration, 100GB SSD storage, advanced features, and 100 email addresses. 
• Pro: Offering enhanced speed and performance, Pro is also on sale for $5.95/month, and comes with unlimited websites, bandwidth, and disk space, focusing on performance enhancement and security measures. 
• Ultra: A powerful plan with more server resources, enhanced security features and support for unlimited websites. For $12.95, you also gain access to the company’s website builder, free domain registrations, website staging, and unlimited storage to host your website’s files.

All these hosting plans are just the ones that most people will opt for. HostPapa, though, has a few more solutions to offer for more demanding use case scenarios. Managed WordPress hosting comes with many additional features, such as malware scanning and more disk space, for example. These additions do cost much more than a shared hosting plan, making them a niche product.

The VPS hosting solutions and the additional email plans make a complete package for professional use. Advanced email services will complement your shared hosting plan, and by connecting it with your custom domain name, all you’re left with is a more professional image for your business.

Whatever the requirement, if you’re looking to build and maintain a website, HostPapa is a great choice. Stable and robust platform paired with great (and knowledgeable) customer support, all bundled for a good price – it just ticks all the boxes. HostPapa nails the value/price ratio, which is why they’re recommended by so many.