1. What is Hostwinds?

Hostwinds is a US-based web hosting provider that mostly flies under the radar but actually has more than 10 years of experience under its belt.

Hostwinds is a web hosting provider offering a range of services including shared hosting, VPS, dedicated servers, and cloud hosting. They cater to both individual website owners and businesses of varying sizes.

2. Hosting management: is it easy to use?

Hostwinds provides a custom dashboard with cPanel integration for management. Both interfaces are well-organized, beginner-friendly, and (most importantly) have a wide range of tools and features you need to run your site.

Upon login, you'll encounter Hostwinds' custom dashboard. This is what it looks like:

As you can see, the native dashboard is clean and orderly. So, even if this is your first foray into web hosting, you shouldn't have any difficulties navigating the interface. Instead, you should be able to intuitively find your ways to the features you need for account and service management. For instance, billing, support, and domain management.

For advanced functionalities, make your way to cPanel. This is where you can install WordPress via Softaculous one-click installer, set up email addresses, add subdomains, access file manager and databases, and more.

But, if you're expecting a familiar face for cPanel, you'll be surprised. This is because Hostwinds has the latest cPanel, which features Glass as its default style.

The makeover gives cPanel a cleaner and fresher look but still retains much of its old appeal and with the same advanced tools. Uncluttered and without distracting icons, both rookies and experienced users can easily and swiftly find their way.

Straightforward, intuitive, and with all the needed tools and key features, Hostwinds' combo of custom dashboard and cPanel is an easy win. Good user experience is a given.

3. Is Hostwinds right for me?

Hostwinds can be a suitable choice if you:

• Prioritize affordability: They often offer competitive pricing plans.
• Need reliable performance: Hostwinds emphasizes server uptime and speed.
• Require versatile hosting options: They provide a wide range of hosting solutions.
• Value customer support: Hostwinds offers 24/7 support

However, if you require specialized features or extensive technical support, you might consider other providers.

4. What makes Hostwinds different?

Hostwinds distinguishes itself by:

• Strong focus on customer satisfaction: They prioritize user experience and support.
• Commitment to performance: Hostwinds invests in server hardware and network infrastructure.
• Flexible pricing plans: They offer various options to suit different budgets and needs.

5. Hostwinds features

Hostwinds provides a standard set of hosting features, including:

• Control panels: cPanel or WHM for easy management.
• SSD storage: For faster website loading speeds.
• Free website builder: To create a basic website without coding.
• Email accounts: For professional email addresses.
• SSL certificates: To secure website data.
• One-click installs: For popular applications like WordPress.
• Daily backups: To protect your website data.

6. Pricing and plans

As with most providers, Hostwinds' most in-demand solution is shared hosting, where plans start from $5.24/mo. Beyond that, it also offers a range of other hosting packages, including VPS, cloud, and dedicated.

Details at: https://hostwinds/pricing

Overall Impression

Hostwinds is a solid web hosting provider that offers a good balance of price, performance, and features. Their focus on customer satisfaction is commendable.

Related comparisons: See how Hostwinds stacks up against the competition:

• Best Cloud & VPS Hosting: DigitalOcean vs Vultr vs Cloudways vs Kamatera vs Hostwinds
• Kamatera vs Cloudways vs Hostwinds: Best Cloud Hosting for Value?

Or browse all comparisons & best-of guides.