After 15 long years with HostGator, I’m finally pulling the plug and moving to InMotion Hosting. Let me tell you why this decision didn’t come lightly, and what you should know before choosing your next hosting provider.
My Journey: From Net4India to HostGator to… InMotion hosting vs HostGator comparison
I started my web hosting journey back in the day with Net4India for my first website, strategyworks.in. Like many beginners, I was just trying to get online without breaking the bank. After two years, I made the jump to HostGator, and honestly, it felt like a smart move at the time.
HostGator was affordable, reliable, and their support team was fantastic. I’m talking about the kind of support where they’d help you with server issues AND give you website advice – pretty rare in the hosting world. Since I’m not particularly tech-savvy, this hand-holding approach was exactly what I needed.
My Hostgator experince
I started with their basic single-domain plan, then upgraded to multi-domain hosting when I expanded to three websites. Everything was smooth sailing for years. I was even recommending HostGator to friends and colleagues.
When Things Started Going Downhill
But then, about two years ago, I noticed the cracks starting to show. The service quality took a nosedive, especially after they “upgraded” their cPanel. Suddenly, all the features I relied on were either gone or hidden behind paywalls.
Here’s where things got really frustrating. I’m currently on HostGator’s Baby Plan, which promises “unlimited” domains, disk space, and bandwidth. Sounds great on paper, right? Well, here’s what they don’t tell you upfront.
The “Unlimited” Myth: My Wake-Up Call: InMotion hosting vs HostGator hosting analysis
Picture this: I’m running three domains and three subdomains, using only 6.66 GB out of what I thought was unlimited space (turns out the real limit is 40 GB, which is still reasonable). But suddenly, my websites stopped working, and cPanel was throwing disk space errors.
The real culprit? Something called inode limits – basically, a cap on the number of files you can have. HostGator’s hard limit is 250,000 files per cPanel account. Cross that line, and your site goes down. No warning, no graceful degradation – just dead websites.
The support team’s solution? Delete files manually via FTP or upgrade to a more expensive plan. But here’s the kicker – even their highest-tier Business plan has the same inode restrictions.
What Are Your Real Options?
If you’re facing similar issues with multi-domain hosting, you basically have three paths:
Reseller Hosting: Each cPanel gets up to 200,000 inodes. It’s designed for people who want to sell hosting services (like training institutes selling to students), but it works for multiple personal sites too.
VPS (Virtual Private Server): No inode limits, better performance than shared hosting, and you get some dedicated server benefits without the full cost.
Dedicated Server: Your own machine, your own rules, no sharing resources with anyone else. But it comes with a premium price tag.
My Search for the Perfect Host
I’ll be honest – finding unbiased hosting reviews online is nearly impossible. Every comparison site seems to be pushing whatever hosting company pays the highest affiliate commissions. It’s incredibly frustrating when you just want straight facts.
The one tool I found helpful was Bitcatcha.com, which actually tests server response times across different locations. That’s when I discovered something important: stay away from any hosting company owned by Endurance International Group (EIG).
The EIG Problem
EIG owns a massive chunk of the hosting industry, including HostGator, Bluehost, and dozens of other brands. Once EIG acquires a company, service quality typically drops while prices stay the same or increase. It’s a pattern I’ve seen repeated across their portfolio.
Why I’m Choosing InMotion Hosting: Based on InMotion hosting vs HostGator comparision
After extensive research, InMotion Hosting emerged as my top choice. Here’s why:
SSD Storage: Much faster than traditional hard drives, which means better website performance across the board.
Free Migration Service: They’ll move up to 5 cPanel accounts with up to 5 GB of data each, completely free. No hassle, no downtime.
Full-Featured cPanel: All the tools and scripts you actually need, without arbitrary limitations or missing features.
Independent Ownership: They’re not part of the EIG empire, which means they’re focused on service quality rather than cost-cutting.
Real Talk: Frequently Asked Questions about InMotion hosting vs HostGator
“What’s the best free hosting for multiple domains?” Honestly, there’s no such thing as truly “free” quality hosting. If you need multiple domains, look into reseller hosting or VPS plans. InMotion offers both, and the investment in good hosting pays off in better SEO and user experience.
Read: The Ultimate SEO Checklist : A Guide for CMOs and Digital Marketing Leaders
“Is HostGator still worth it?” Based on my experience, I can’t recommend them anymore. The quality decline since the EIG acquisition has been significant. There are better options available for the same price.
“What about GoDaddy, SiteGround, or Bluehost?” SiteGround gets my vote among these options, followed by Bluehost (though Bluehost is also EIG-owned, so proceed with caution). I’d avoid GoDaddy for hosting, and definitely skip HostingRaja.
“Wait, does HostGator own Bluehost?” They’re sister companies under the EIG umbrella, so yes, they’re essentially the same parent company.
The Bottom Line: InMotion hosting vs HostGator
Choosing web hosting isn’t just about the cheapest option – it’s about finding a partner who’ll grow with your needs. After 15 years of hosting experience, I’ve learned that the true cost of cheap hosting is the headaches, downtime, and limitations you’ll face down the road.
If you’re struggling with similar hosting issues or need help navigating cPanel features, feel free to reach out. Sometimes a fresh perspective can save you months of frustration.
Your website deserves better than “unlimited” hosting with hidden limits. Choose wisely.
