Bluehost or IXweb?

[gearmonkey]

I see a lot of these type of "vs" threads on WF, but most all of them include HostGator. I currently have HostGator and they SUCK. I am desperately trying to find a better hosting service because I am sick and tired of getting screwed by Hostgator.

If Bluehost is owned/associated in any way with HostGator (as some rumors on WF seem to suggest), then I won't waste my time with Bluehost.

My goal is to find a hosting service that allows me to add multiple domains (with separate IPs for SEO purposes) to my account. I only have about 8 websites.

However, I have found a great (cheap) hosting provider at Hostica for single domain with a unique IP for a $1 per month. I have two small websites, well one is decent size as it's an autoblog, and they are great! -- but I wouldn't trust them with my one and only valued site that's worth lots of gold. Also I doubt their technical support would be very good, though I never needed request support as their servers seem to work great. In a nutshell, I love Hostica and would be very happy to transfer my other 7 websites to them while I find a premier hosting service for my high traffic gold website.

One (of the many problems) that I am having with Hostgator is they were constantly suspending my website due to CPU usage with I call bullsh*t on! They forced me to go with a $90 VPS service which totally sucks donkey tail! The downtime has been excruciating and I can't stand paying $90 a month for 4,000 unique visitors per day. And since HostGator forced me to transfer to the VPS servers, my SEO went to crap. I lost 3,100 daily visors and my revenue dropped from $100+ per day to less than $15 per week. HostGator really screwed me BAD!!!

I have been doing lots of research on both Bluehost and IXweb. Bluehost said they won't suspend my account if I use too much CPU, but rather slow my site when the consumption becomes high. Though I really doubt my sites uses much resources. However, the sales person I chatted with at Bluehost sounded very wishy-washy an unsure on lots of questions I was asking. Maybe they were new? Maybe they don't have good support? I don't know. But bad support is a deal breaker for me.

IXweb looks interesting, but it looks like their "Unlimited Pro" package isn't Cpanel. Ouch! I understand Cpanel to a degree, but a different system may be overwhelming. Hostica uses a weird panel that is very confusing, but for a $1 per month, I won't complain and I don't need to go into for those webistes. But for my money site, I need to monitor things and do backups and etc. I don't back up my autoblogs because I don't care about them, but my money site is my baby; it's my retirement someday so I have to take extra good care of it.

I'm also checking into StableHost, but need to do more research. I need a good hosting service that won't try to screw me. I've been with HostGator for 6+ years, and how they are treating me is downright horrible. I don't want to go through this again, I need a reliable hosting service that will take care of me and my needs.

[faceblogger]

I would recomend BlueHost. Had good time with HostGator but not happy with them last couple of months.

I use IXwebhosting just to use their 15 different IPs but it sucks - The control panel ans the WP installation suck

Bluehost is NOT owned/associated in any way with HostGator. They are totally different companies.

BlueHost and HostMonster are owned by the same.

[gearmonkey]

Thank you for your help, faceblogger. I just got of chat with IXweb and they were very helpful, but I did not like how they were trying to push the VPS on me because I told them about the CPU issues I was having with Hostgator. I feel my CPU issues wasn't my site, but rather Hostgator being greedy.

I am going to dig further into bluehost to learn more. I am looking for a server provider for the rest of my online life.

[gearmonkey]

Anyone ever try bluehost's pro package at the extra cost? Wonder how it compares to the cheaper servers.

[epathj]

I think IX would be a better choice if u wanna build some blog for your money site

[Matt Broody]

I like Arvixe because they have quick online support,
however sometimes I have ftp problems

[Ibcontact]

Bluehost is best, Service is best, because my two websites host on bluehost.

[John Williamson]

One of my hosting accounts is still with IX that I opened when I first started out, the Unlimited Pro I believe, and yes it utilizes HSpheres and not CPanel, though I actually prefer installing WP directly via FTP anyway with all my themes and plugins preloaded. I just set the nameservers at GoDaddy when I buy the domain, add the domain via the IX interface, and go straight to FileZilla to install WP. The only bad thing with IX is the server/load speed and lots of downtime in the past, sometimes for days at a time.

[Strangiato]

I've been using IX for almost 5 years now, and can say that outside of a few minor issues, I've never had a problem with them. I used to occasionally notice a bit of server lag, but my sites were migrated to their new server and I've noticed a major upgrade in the speed of my sites.

The HSphere panel takes some getting used to, but all in all it's not a bad interface. I too, upload my WP and Joomla installations through FileZilla, but you will have to create a support ticket to have them unzipped.

Tech support has been very good for me, and they are always quick to respond (an hour tops, and most times under 15 minutes).

I can say that I would recommend them.

[gearmonkey]

With Bluehost you can get shared hosting for $6.95 a month. But at checkout they offered the "PRO" for $19.95. Now I am all confused. I contacted chat and they said PRO has a bunch more features plus run 50% faster than the standard $6.95 server.

Anyone upgrade to PRO at bluehost? Is it worth extra costs?

[John Williamson]

Originally Posted by Strangiato

I've been using IX for almost 5 years now, and can say that outside of a few minor issues, I've never had a problem with them. I used to occasionally notice a bit of server lag, but my sites were migrated to their new server and I've noticed a major upgrade in the speed of my sites.

The HSphere panel takes some getting used to, but all in all it's not a bad interface. I too, upload my WP and Joomla installations through FileZilla, but you will have to create a support ticket to have them unzipped.

Tech support has been very good for me, and they are always quick to respond (an hour tops, and most times under 15 minutes).

I can say that I would recommend them.

Just unzip the Wordpress install, your themes, plugins, etc. right on your desktop and then upload the unzipped folders and files to the root directory via Filezilla; no support ticket involved.

[Judith Caillier]

I am using IX and would recommend it - got good support on more than one occasion, and I didn't find their system long or complicated to learn after having used CPanel.

[UMS]

I used to have an IXweb hosting account, but was only with them for a couple of months before moving to Bluehost. Main reasons were the poor quality support and lack of flexibility.

[pjman]

I love Wiredtree. Been with them for years. I had Gator back in the day, but they blew for support. Their VPS gives you 4 IPS, but you can get more.

[skooja]

As far to my experience you go with Bluehost. But webmaster who looking for cheap but still efficient hosting you can opt for hostwinds.com I have lately hosted few of my private networks in it with unique ip. They are doing good.

[mnov5534]

Can anyone who uses IX please explain the main difference between IX's control panel and Cpanel? I'm looking to get my first hosting account and I'd prefer Cpanel because it seems a lot more straight forward for Wordpress, but is there much difference between it and what IX uses?

I like the sound of IX's Unlimited Pro package with 3 free domains and 15 IP's, sounds miles ahead of anything any other provider offers. Is this because Cpanel is more expensive for the host and by not offering it, they can offer more added extras??

[eaglesflamenco]

i own both for now,but personally,i prefer bluehost cos its quite steady than ix.and the speeds are totally different

[guynboston]

I signed up with IXwebhosting for 2 years and paid them in full. I only stayed for one year as their server is always down. I become very frustrated and moved to hostgator and bluehost had wonderful experience there!

[micksss]

I was with IX for 3 years and towards the end experienced way too much downtime and issues with my scripts on their server so I had to leave. Not sure how they are now though.

[mnov5534]

Originally Posted by guynboston

I signed up with IXwebhosting for 2 years and paid them in full. I only stayed for one year as their server is always down. I become very frustrated and moved to hostgator and bluehost had wonderful experience there!

Wow, that's definitely unacceptable! I guess it could be a case of their offer sounding too good to be true...

Out of Hostgator and Bluehost, which do you prefer and any major pros or cons of either that you've discovered? Thanks for the feedback, really appreciate it.

[mnov5534]

Originally Posted by micksss

I was with IX for 3 years and towards the end experienced way too much downtime and issues with my scripts on their server so I had to leave. Not sure how they are now though.

How long has it been since you left IX? Seems like yet another reason to NOT go with them!

[micksss]

Originally Posted by mnov5534

How long has it been since you left IX? Seems like yet another reason to NOT go with them!

I checked my financial records and found that I received a pro-rated refund from IXWebHosting on April 18th 2011. So about 10 months ago I left IX...

[mnov5534]

Thanks for the confirmation. I wonder if they've improved since then, but I think I'm still more inclined to go with Hostgator. Seems like a safer option with so many satisfied customers on here!

[sportmans]

I haven't tried either of the two, but from my friends who have. They prefer Blue host of the two choices, and hostgator ultimately.

Originally Posted by mnov5534

Thanks for the confirmation. I wonder if they've improved since then, but I think I'm still more inclined to go with Hostgator. Seems like a safer option with so many satisfied customers on here.

[micksss]

Originally Posted by mnov5534

Thanks for the confirmation. I wonder if they've improved since then, but I think I'm still more inclined to go with Hostgator. Seems like a safer option with so many satisfied customers on here!

No problem glad to help. HostGator is definitely the safer and better option.

[mnov5534]

Originally Posted by micksss

No problem glad to help. HostGator is definitely the safer and better option.

After days of reading about hosting, I'm about to sign up with Hostgator! Thanks for your help, I'll use your 25% off coupon

[martworld]

I would recommed bluehost as I have myself used it and found very reliable

[mnov5534]

Originally Posted by martworld

I would recommed bluehost as I have myself used it and found very reliable

At the end of the day it seems both Bluehost and Hostgator get plenty of positive feedback on here. I ended up going with Hostgator and now have my first ever hosting account!

So far so good, hopefully things stay that way and I don't run into too many issues!

[micksss]

Originally Posted by mnov5534

After days of reading about hosting, I'm about to sign up with Hostgator! Thanks for your help, I'll use your 25% off coupon

Thanks! Best of luck to you

[karismasand07]

Hi,

I have the same problem with my article directory and i will move from hostgator to hxxp://siteground.com/semi_dedicated_hosting.htm

They have semi dedicated hosting to a reasonable price and allow you 3x more CPU from a shared hosting.

Please post if you find somthing better.

Thanks!

[mnov5534]

Originally Posted by micksss

Thanks! Best of luck to you

Thanks, I got myself a HG account and domain from Namecheap after many great recommendations on here. I found a coupon online to get discount too which sweetened the deal. Namecheap isn't the cheapest but I've got piece of mind now for when my site starts making good money!

I'm currently setting up my site on Hostgator, so far so good!