Webhosting Compared: Testing The Uptime Of 32 Hosts In 2018

(This is a sponsored article.) Many surveys have indicated that uptime is number one factor when choosing a web host and although most, if not all, web hosting services “promise” 99.99% uptime, it’s not the case with our case-study. According to our latest research, the average uptime of 32 shared web hosting providers is 99.59%. That’s approximately 35 hours 32 minutes of downtime per year, per website.

And downtime even happens to online giants. A Dun & Bradstreet study found that nearly 60 percent of Fortune 500 companies experience a minimum of 1.6 hours of downtime every week. As a rule of thumb, if you are experiencing an uptime of 99.90% or below, you should switch your web host. A good web host should provide you with an uptime of at least 99.94%.

To run this series of tests, we have signed up for all of the 32 web hosting providers as a regular user, using the cheapest plan available. After that, we set up a basic WordPress website and start monitoring them with Pingdom.com. (Tools like Pingdom or Appoptics APM let you regularly check if a website or app is available.) Our uptime check interval was set to 1 minute, which means all of the sites are scanned every minute to get the most accurate statistics.

Please note that many hosts don’t define uptime like that, so they will often refuse to pay out on the guarantee because they say it was “planned maintenance” etc.

1. MidPhase.com

Link to detailed MidPhase uptime statistics in 2018

Total downtime: 45 minutes

Total outages: 19

Longest outage: 5 minutes

Test site URL: hostingfacts-mp.com

^{No uptime guarantee:}

Although MidPhase doesn’t mention any uptime guarantee on their website, they are the clear winner of this case-study hitting nearly 100% uptime in 2018.

2. Bluehost.com

Link to detailed Bluehost uptime statistics in 2018

Total downtime: 52 minutes

Total outages: 7

Longest outage: 42 minutes

Test site URL: hostingfacts-bluerock-bluehost.com

^{No uptime guarantee:}

Similarly to MidPhase, Bluehost doesn’t offer any uptime guarantees either (just a.network/server uptime agreement). However, their servers have been working very steadily, with the exception of one bigger outage (42 minutes).

3. DigitalOcean.com

Link to detailed DigitalOcean uptime statistics in 2018

Total downtime: 58 minutes

Total outages: 11

Longest outage: 29 minutes

Test site URL: hostingfacts-do.com

^{Uptime guarantee available:}

DigitalOcean is a cheap cloud hosting that promises 99.99% uptime which they have greatly succeeded in our test. If you see uptime less than 99.99% using DigitalOcean, you can ask your money back.

4. SiteGround.com

Link to detailed SiteGround uptime statistics in 2018

Total downtime: 73 minutes

Total outages: 26

Longest outage: 18 minutes

Test site URL: hostingfacts-siteground.com

^{Uptime guarantee available:}

SiteGround is a hosting provider with an excellent uptime score. They also offer uptime guarantee, providing you with one month of free service if uptime falls below 99.99% and an additional month if uptime falls below 99.90%.

5. Site5.com

Link to detailed Site5 uptime statistics in 2018

Total downtime: 83 minutes

Total outages: 16

Longest outage: 30 minutes

Test site URL: hostingfacts-s5.com

^{Uptime guarantee available:}

99.98% is still decent uptime. What’s even better – Site5 comes with an uptime guarantee of 99.9% – anything below that is eligible for a % of credit back. They even offer 100% credit back when uptime falls below 99.5% on their fully managed VPS

6. HostGator.com

Link to detailed HostGator uptime statistics in 2018

Total downtime: 84 minutes

Total outages: 26

Longest outage: 19 minutes

Test site URL: hostingfacts-hg.com

^{Uptime guarantee available:}

HostGator comes with a decent uptime. On top of that, they even provide an uptime guarantee of 99.9% and you get credit back when it falls below. Just beware that it only applies for the actual server downtime excluding server maintenance.

7. ASmallOrange.com

Link to detailed ASmallOrange uptime statistics in 2018

Total downtime: 125 minutes

Total outages: 52

Longest outage: 29 minutes

Test site URL: hostingfacts-aso.com

^{Uptime guarantee available:}

ASmallOrange offers an uptime guarantee of 99.9%. When it’s below that, you get a refund of one day of service per every 45-min downtime. Beware of the specific clauses. Just note the high number of outages we experienced in the test period.

8. iPage.com

Link to detailed iPage uptime statistics in 2018

Total downtime: 131 minutes

Total outages: 72

Longest outage: 6 minutes

Test site URL: hostingfacts-ip.com

^{No uptime guarantee:}

iPage does not offer an uptime guarantee. Luckily, considering their ranking in overall uptime, we’re pretty sure you wouldn’t need it anyway. One thing to be aware of is the high number of outages we experienced.

9. HostPapa.com

Link to detailed HostPapa uptime statistics in 2018

Total downtime: 144 minutes

Total outages: 39

Longest outage: an hour

Test site URL: hostingfacts-hp.com

^{No uptime guarantee:}

Even though they mention under their Terms of Service using “reasonable efforts to maintain 99.9% of uptime”, HostPapa does not exactly provide an uptime guarantee.

10. FastComet.com

Link to detailed FastComet uptime statistics in 2018

Total downtime: 146 minutes

Total outages: 44

Longest outage: 24 minutes

Test site URL: hostingfacts-sl.com

^{No uptime guarantee:}

Even though their live chat agent said that they guarantee a 99% uptime, there is no official uptime guarantee on FastComet’s Terms of Service or refund/credit policy if it falls below what’s promised. The total amount of outages is somewhat concerning.

11. LunarPages.com

Link to detailed LunarPages uptime statistics in 2018

Total downtime: 153 minutes

Total outages: 20

Longest outage: 2 hours

Test site URL: hostingfacts-lp.com

^{Uptime guarantee available:}

For every 15min of downtime, LunarPages credits client’s account with an equal of a full day of service. That guarantee excludes scheduled maintenance.

12. Hostinger.com

Link to detailed Hostinger uptime statistics in 2018

Total downtime: 154 minutes

Total outages: 28

Longest outage: an hour

Test site URL: hostingfacts-hostinger.com

^{Uptime guarantee available:}

Hostinger’s above average uptime is backed up by their uptime guarantee.of 99.9%. As in all cases, scheduled maintenance is excluded.

13. WebHostingBuzz.com

Link to detailed WebHostingBuzz uptime statistics in 2018

Total downtime: 163 minutes

Total outages: 28

Longest outage: 42 minutes

Test site URL: hostingfacts-ls.com

^{No uptime guarantee:}

WHB does not provide any uptime guarantee per se. Based on our experience, you most likely wouldn’t need one anyway.

14. GreenGeeks.com

Link to detailed GreenGeeks uptime statistics in 2018

Total downtime: 167 minutes

Total outages: 11

Longest outage: 2 hours

Test site URL: hostingfacts-greengeeks.com

^{No uptime guarantee:}

GreenGeeks offers a 99.9% uptime guarantee. However, it only applies to their own servers and is not applicable for client errors.

15. JustHost.com

Link to detailed JustHost uptime statistics in 2018

Total downtime: 165 minutes

Total outages: 28

Longest outage: 2 hours

Test site URL: hostingfacts-jh.com

^{No uptime guarantee:}

There’s no uptime guarantee on their website, whatsoever.

16. GoDaddy.com

Link to detailed GoDaddy uptime statistics in 2018

Total downtime: 184 minutes

Total outages: 47

Longest outage: an hour

Test site URL: hostingfacts-gd.com

^{No uptime guarantee:}

Despite their big name, huge client-base and decent service, GoDaddy does not provide any uptime guarantee. You should also beware of their rather high number (compared to other top hosts) of outages.

17. HostRocket.com

Link to detailed HostRocket uptime statistics in 2018

Total downtime: 202 minutes

Total outages: 31

Longest outage: an hour

Test site URL: hostingfacts-hr.com

^{Limited uptime guarantee:}

HostRocket has an official 99.5% uptime guarantee. Like others, it only applies for their own direct services.

18. HostMonster.com

Link to detailed HostMonster uptime statistics in 2018

Total downtime: 235 minutes

Total outages: 40

Longest outage: 36 minutes

Test site URL: hostingfacts-hm.com

^{No uptime guarantee:}

Even though you can find a statement claiming to strive for their best, there is no official uptime guarantee.

19. DreamHost.com

Link to detailed DreamHost uptime statistics in 2018

Total downtime: 239 minutes

Total outages: 40

Longest outage: an hour

Test site URL: hostingfacts-dreamhost.com

^{Uptime guarantee available:}

Finally, there you have it – an official 100% uptime guarantee.” DreamHost guarantees 100% uptime. A failure to provide 100% uptime will result in customer compensation pursuant to guidelines established herein.”

20. Hosting24.com

Link to detailed Hosting24 uptime statistics in 2018

Total downtime: 264 minutes

Total outages: 31

Longest outage: an hour

Test site URL: hostingfacts-h24.com

^{Limited uptime guarantee:}

They offer a service uptime guarantee of 99.9%. It’s solely determined by them and you get 5% of your monthly hosting fee as credit back. It’s only usable to purchase further service of products from Hosting24.

21. WestHost.com

Link to detailed WestHost uptime statistics in 2018

Total downtime: 271 minutes

Total outages: 48

Longest outage: 37 minutes

Test site URL: hostingfacts-wh.com

^{Uptime guarantee available:}

At close investigation, we found a 99.9% service uptime guarantee. When outages happen which are directly related to WestHost, you get a credit of 5-100% of your monthly hosting fee depending on the total downtime.

22. WebHostingHub.com

Link to detailed WebHostingHub uptime statistics in 2018

Total downtime: 278 minutes

Total outages: 76

Longest outage: 36 minutes

Test site URL: hostingfacts-hub.com

^{No uptime guarantee:}

WHH claims on their front page to have a 99.9% uptime guarantee. Unfortunately, we did not find an official guarantee under their terms of service and other binding policies.

23. inMotionHosting.com

Link to detailed inMotion uptime statistics in 2018

Total downtime: 341 minutes

Total outages: 90

Longest outage: an hour

Test site URL: hostingfacts-in.com

^{Limited uptime guarantee:}

Uptime guarantee only applies to Business Pro accounts. Even though it’s a really sweet one (99.999%), there is no uptime guarantee for other hosting plans.

24. A2Hosting.com

Link to detailed A2Hosting uptime statistics in 2018

Total downtime: 375 minutes

Total outages: 64

Longest outage: 3 hours

Test site URL: hostingfacts-a2.com

^{No uptime guarantee:}

A2 comes with a 99.9% uptime commitment. Similarly to other hosting providers, when it comes to credit, there are clauses related to server maintenance and the outage being not-their-responsibility.

25. HostMetro.com

Link to detailed HostMetro uptime statistics in 2018

Total downtime: 763 minutes

Total outages: 247

Longest outage: 28 minutes

Test site URL: hostingfacts-hmo.com

^{Limited uptime guarantee:}

When the total uptime in a year is less than 99%, you get a 1-month service for free.

26. MDDHosting.com

Link to detailed MDDHosting uptime statistics in 2018

Total downtime: 874 minutes

Total outages: 76

Longest outage: 10 hours

Test site URL: hostingfacts-mdd.com

^{Uptime guarantee available:}

They have an official 1000% service uptime guarantee (it’s not as cool as it sounds). “If your server has a physical downtime of more than 1 hour, you can request for 10 times (1000%) the actual amount of downtime. This means that if your server has a physical downtime of 1 hour, you will receive 10 hours of credit.”

27. FatCow.com

Link to detailed FatCow uptime statistics in 2018

Total downtime: 899 minutes

Total outages: 377

Longest outage: 3 hours

Test site URL: hostingfacts-fc.com

^{No uptime guarantee:}

It doesn’t seem that uptime is one of the strengths of FatCow – despite our research, we did not find any uptime guarantee.

28. NameCheap.com

Link to detailed NameCheap uptime statistics in 2018

Total downtime: 917 minutes

Total outages: 453

Longest outage: 40 minutes

Test site URL: hostingfacts-1a1.com

^{Uptime guarantee available:}

NameCheap offers one full day of service for every 1h that your server is down in a month. Beware that the first 45min are not applicable.

29. HostNine.com

Link to detailed HostNine uptime statistics in 2018

Total downtime: 1,448 minutes

Total outages: 241

Longest outage: 2 hours

Test site URL: hostingfacts-h9.com

^{No uptime guarantee:}

An uninspiring total uptime is even further disappointing as there is no uptime guarantee under their ToS.

30. One.com

Link to detailed One.com uptime statistics in 2018

Total downtime: 2,132 minutes

Total outages: 419

Longest outage: 6 hours

Test site URL: hostingfacts-one.com

^{No uptime guarantee:}

A day without service is a serious issue by itself. Despite our serious efforts, we could not find any uptime guarantee either that would make you eligible for at least some credit.

31. WebHostingPad.com

Link to detailed WebHostingPad uptime statistics in 2018

Total downtime: 9 days

Total outages: 1,655

Longest outage: 44 minutes

Test site URL: hostingfacts-whp.com

^{Limited uptime guarantee:}

There is a 99% official uptime guarantee. However, it’s most likely that you wouldn’t really care about the few free days you get when the service performance is this bad.

32. Arvixe.com

Link to detailed Arvixe uptime statistics in 2018

Total downtime: a month

Total outages: 20,051

Longest outage: 14 hours

Test site URL: hostingfacts-arv.com

^{Uptime guarantee available:}

Despite their bad performance (the worst ever, by far, anywhere…), Arvix actually.does.have an official uptime guarantee of 99.9%. But does it really matter to get a refund or some credit when your website has lost all its traffic because of its non-existent performance?