What is HostGator used for?
HostGator is the best hosting companies offering domain names, website builders, SSL certificates, and much more.
If you are planning to create a website, you will need some space where you can host/store your website. HostGator offers web hosting services for that.
You will need a domain name and hosting to make your website come alive. HostGator offers both in the same place. You can buy a domain name (website name), and you can also buy HostGator web hosting services (a space to keep your website).
Furthermore, if you plan to create e-commerce or a transactional website, you will also need an SSL certificate. This will add HTTPS to your domain name instead of HTTP. HostGator also provides it.
Finally, if you don’t know to program, you can install WordPress on your website. If you don’t want to use WordPress, HostGator offers a drag-and-drop builder to create unique websites.
Types of HostGator Web Hosting Offered
The first thing you will need is the domain name. But you don’t have to worry about that. Like when you buy HostGator web hosting, you will be asked if you want to buy a domain with it or not.
So, let’s discuss the types of hosting offered by HostGator.
There are different types of HostGator web hosting that you can get.
- Shared Hosting: Shared hosting is the best hosting for beginners. In just one server, there are many websites hosted. Therefore, it is best for all beginners, whether you want to run an e-commerce or a regular website.
- WordPress Hosting: HostGator also offers managed WordPress hosting. Here, all the backend stuff is handled by HostGator. WordPress can be installed on shared hosting as well. However, if you want better performance, you can use WordPress Hosting.
- VPS Hosting: VPS stands for Virtual Private Server. It’s like owning your server but with lower expenses. It is not recommended for beginners. This is suitable for sites with a large number of visitors and data.
- Dedicated Hosting: Dedicated hosting or a dedicated server is the most expensive hosting you can go for. Here, you will get your server. You can host unlimited websites here. But, again, even a dedicated server is not recommended for beginners.
As a beginner, you can go with shared hosting or WordPress hosting.
Shared Hosting
There are three plans for shared hosting.
- hatching plan
- baby plan
- Action Plan
The starter plan is where you are allowed to host only one website. All programs have uncalculated bandwidth, so you no longer have to worry about limited bandwidth. Also, you will get $100 Bing and Google Ad credits. You can use it for advertising your website. You are allowed to add unlimited subdomains here. The main limitation is that you can only host one website. Furthermore, you cannot add a private SSL for this plan (for e-commerce).
The baby’s plan is almost the same as the hatching plan. The only difference here is that you can host unlimited websites. So, if you have more than one website or are planning to create more websites in the coming months, you can go with the baby plan. Here, you can add a private SSL as well. Also, you are allowed to add a Dedicated IP Address (Extra charge for IP).
A business plan for beginners is not recommended. It is for people who own an agency or are self-employed. Things like free positive SSL, anonymous FTP, etc., are included in this plan.
You can use any hatching plan if you have one website; if you have more than one, you should prefer the hatching plan.
WordPress Hosting
Shared hosting is often confused with WordPress hosting.
You can install and use WordPress on shared hosting as well. The only difference here is that in Managed WordPress hosting, the hosting service manages the website’s performance, speed, and security. So, in simpler words, you will get better performance and safety in your WordPress hosting. But, in the same way, it will cost you more.
Should you go with WordPress hosting or managed hosting? For starters, the answer is no. However, you can use shared hosting, which will cost you less, and you can also try other scripts with WordPress.
HostGator offers three plans in WordPress hosting.
- start plan
- Standard Plan
- Action Plan
Here, most things are limited. However, you will get a free domain and SSL on all plans.
On the starter plan, you can only host one WordPress website with a maximum of 100k visits per month. If you want to add another website, you must follow a standard plan that offers two websites with a visit limit of 200k. Unfortunately, the third plan (Business Plan) does not provide an unlimited number of websites. In the third plan, you can host up to 3 websites with a total limit of 300,000 visits.
For confused people, a visit means one browsing session. If someone visits your website and browses three pages, it will be considered one visit. The limit here is the monthly limit, and it will be renewed every month. On our WordPress hosting plans, you also get free migration, automatic backups, better security, and automatic malware removal. The website will load 2.5x faster than shared hosting. You’ll also get Google credits with all plans.