My favorite host, can't recommend HostGator enough!

[TheSickBoy]

I have been a customer of HostGator for almost 5 years now. I started with shared hosting, upgrading packages once, and eventually moving into a dedicated server (which I'm about to upgrade to another dedicated server package). As I do freelance web development work, I have also created sites for customers on HostGator packages.

The short of it is that I have had nothing but absolutely superb experiences with HostGator.

When I first came to HostGator I was with another host. HostGator's prices, packages, and general features were amazing in comparison. Not only that, but HostGator transferred all the data from my old host to my new HostGator package for free!

While on shared hosting my scripts exceed the resource allotment a few times, causing the site to be temporarily suspended. While many people are angered when this happens (and the host stands idly by), HostGator support actually assisted in troubleshooting where the problem was, allowing me to quickly optimize/fix the scripts and get the site back up ASAP. I also wasn't bombarded with fees when this occurred, which was the case on a few hosts I've had in the past. Accidents happen, and HostGator seems to understand that.

When it came time to transfer from shared to dedicated hosting, HostGator assisted in moving all the data over yet again for free! This was an invaluable service (as the site had grown very large and complex) that, on other hosts, I would have never even dreamed of. It saved me hours of frustration and panic so that when it was done, all I had to do was verify it was working and change my nameservers. It doesn't get much easier than that!

Throughout my time on the dedicated server, the support has been amazing. I'm no expert when it comes to hardware and backend configuration, and it was extremely helpful when I was able to get assistance (for free) on something I messed up or didn't understand.

Uptime on both my shared and dedicated packages has been great! The only downtime I ever seem to have on my dedicated plan is from my own screw-ups with accidentally infinitely looping scripts that I didn't proofread well enough first. And even then the server booted back up without a hitch. As for the shared plan, the only downtime was from very rare scheduled maintenance.

The amount of features and software the various shared/dedicated packages come with is staggering. I don't use a lot of it (how could you?! It's a massive list!), but the option is there if I ever want to. There's really no other host that I have found with this amount of pixely goodies right at your fingertips.

Price-wise it seems that some hosts can be a bit cheaper for dedicated servers, but with all the free scripts and software you get, the support system that doesn't cost you a fortune for a simple issue, and the awesome data transferring... it all seems to at least break even, if not give HostGator the upper hand in being the better deal.

Finally, the Terms of Service were what helped me find HostGator in the first place. I have never seen a website host that gives so many freedoms in the content that is hosted. I primarily operate a very large community site and I don't like to constantly worry that something I believe should be acceptable to post can lead to account suspension/removal, and HostGator's ToS alleviates that quite a bit. There are obviously things you can't do, but they're common sense. The things you'd normally believe you should be allowed to do, you can! Oddly enough, many other hosts restrict run-of-the-mill content with an unnecessary iron fist.

The rundown (in no particular order):

PROS
+ Knowledgeable, nice, helpful support staff
+ Fantastic uptime on both shared and dedicated servers
+ Amazing amount of pre-packaged scripts and software
+ A ToS that will make you weep with joy in the freedom it gives
+ Free data transfers from your old host or from old HostGator packages (within 30 days of purchase of the new package, I believe)
+ No hidden/ridiculous fees for support, etc.
+ Great server specs without reaping havoc on your wallet

CONS
- Slightly more expensive, but it's more than worth it unless you're on an incredibly tight budget!
- No free ponies? I can't honestly think of any.

[GatorDougB]

TheSickBoy,

Thank you for the awesome review! This was a great read and I thank you greatly for taking the time to write it. If we were giving out free ponies you'd be the first to get one.