HostGator vs DigitalOcean Hosting Comparison 2020: Which is Best?

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In this article, I will compare two web hosts that target completely different groups. HostGator is a hosting provider that targets beginners. DigitalOcean web hosting, on the other hand, is a provider that targets experienced developers.
The offers they have are tailored for the specific group they target, but it is time to pit them against each other.

How reliable is HostGator? What is the best DigitalOcean yearly plan? HostGator vs DigitalOcean which is better overall? To find out answers to those and many other questions, read on and don’t forget to use the switch that toggles between the two hosting providers.

I will compare their pricing, customer support, features, website builders, and all other factors that might be important in choosing the right hosting provider.

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HostGator vs DigitalOcean

DigitalOcean web hosting offers a greater variety of cloud servers; those servers also have better response time compared to HostGator. However, DigitalOcean’s focus on experienced developers results in a lack of some basic features (like 24/7 support), so HostGator is the best choice for most.

HostGator discounts DigitalOcean discounts

DigitalOcean vs HostGator comparison

OK, let’s compare HostGator and DigitalOcean:

HostGator or DigitalOcean ease of use

HostGator advantages
Easy setup
cPanel
One-click WordPress installation

Cloud hosting plan comparison

DigitalOcean advantages
Starts at $5/month
More options

Compare DigitalOcean vs HostGator server locations

DigitalOcean advantages
12 data centers
Data centers on 3 continents

DigitalOcean vs HostGator website builder

HostGator advantages
Beginner-friendly
100+ templates
Drag-and-drop

DigitalOcean vs HostGator features

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DigitalOcean vs HostGator security

Compare DigitalOcean vs HostGator domains, migration & site transfer

HostGator advantages
Offers domain registration
Free transfer service

DigitalOcean vs HostGator customer support

DigitalOcean vs HostGator speed, uptime, and reliability

HostGator vs DigitalOcean pricing comparison

Other considerations: DigitalOcean versus HostGator

Some details don’t fit any of the categories above, but I find them important to mention. The first one concerns the amount of control you get. DigitalOcean gives you root access, which lets you configure servers as you like. While this isn’t important for most of the users, some developers with intricate desires might find this useful.

Another thing to consider is the content you want to host. With HostGator, you can host websites. With DigitalOcean, you can host almost everything, from game servers to applications. This option makes DigitalOcean an excellent host for those who need multipurpose hosting. The possibility to host other content besides websites is the answer to the question “Why use Digital Ocean hosting?”

If you are concerned by the environmental impact of your website, you will be happy to know that both providers take care to stay green. HostGator offsets its carbon footprint by 130%. DigitalOcean’s environmental impact is different for each data center they have. However, only the two New York data centers aren’t carbon neutral. The centers in Europe use only renewable energy. In their other centers they offset their carbon footprint by 100%.

HostGator hosting vs DigitalOcean hosting conclusion

The winner is HostGator!

HostGator is the option with a better value for your money. They are a beginner-friendly hosting provider with professional 24/7 support, excellent security, and an option to register a domain with them. The only problems that I find with HostGator are the lack of transparency with prices and limited locations of their data centers.

HostGator versus DigitalOcean final score

Host Final web host ranking Discounts?
HostGator
Overall Score: 42.5/ 50
DigitalOcean
Overall Score: 33/ 50

Hostgator versus DigitalOcean FAQs

DigitalOcean targets experienced developers. They lack most of the features that make a hosting provider beginner-friendly. With DigitalOcean, you have to configure your server and website from scratch without live customer support and a website builder. There is hardly any beginner that could use DigitalOcean hosting without help.
DigitalOcean has twelve data centers on three continents. They are located in eight different cities. They have three servers in New York, two servers in San Francisco, and two in Amsterdam. They also have one server in Frankfurt, London, Singapore, Toronto, and Bangalore.
It all depends on what you need. If you are an experienced developer with specific cloud hosting needs, you will probably find that DigitalOcean web hosting is a more suitable option. They offer a variety of cloud hosting, and host basically everything, not just websites. For all other options, HostGator is better.
HostGator is one of the most popular hosting providers for a reason. Their security is excellent. In addition to protection from DDoS attacks, brute force attacks and various malware, they help their users improve security on the user end as much as possible.

HostGator has developed a website builder named Gator Web Builder. It is an easy to use drag-and-drop website builder. With Gator Web Builder, any beginner can create their website. The builder has hundreds of templates to choose from and requires no technical or coding knowledge to use.

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