GreenGeeks is best known for offering excellent web hosting services that are environment-friendly. The company ensures green operations without any compromise on quality. In fact, its primary focus is high technology performance.
While they are smaller than other hosts, they do promise personal attention. To start off, they offer a free domain. Then, you can add unlimited new domains to the hosting plans. The greatest thing is that all this is available at a very reasonable price/month!
Being a full-service host, GreenGeeks promises high performance. Along with that it also offers redundant SSD storage and bonus features to help customers. In this detailed review, you’ll learn everything there is to know about this web host.
GreenGeeks was founded back in 2007 by Trey Gardner. Prior to that, he was involved in the web hosting industry. Based in LA, the web host serves more than 35,000 users. It is no secret that the web hosting industry uses a lot of energy. As a result, it has a huge environmental impact. As an attempt to mitigate this, GreenGeeks purchases wind energy credits. In fact, they buy thrice the amount of power they consume.
While it is relatively new in the hosting industry, its services give serious competition to many other hosts. Apart from top-quality services, you also get reliable customer service at affordable prices.
Since its launch back in 2007, GreenGeeks has seen tremendous growth. With 14 hosting plans, it has hosted 98,936 total domains. These domains include .info, .biz, .com, .org, and .net, etc. Overall, it has also experienced a 2% growth year after year.
For the purpose of this review, we signed up for GreenGeeks’ hosting account. Then, we installed easy WordPress website. Using the default theme, we filled up our website with dummy data including images and media. As a result, our site worked like an actual average WordPress website.
Of course, speed in a crucial element for the success of any site. For this reason, we first tested the speed using Pingdom. As you can see, the load time was less than one second, which is quite impressive.
The easy WordPress website was checked once each minute to check the overall availability of the host. In other words, both response times, as well as downtimes, are tested. As you can see, for the last 30-days, GreenGeeks has been down only for 1 time. Overall, a 99.97% uptime on the server is very remarkable.
Moreover, the speed is impressive too. Reading the graph, it is quite clear that GreenGeeks is generally quick and stable. The response time doesn’t even reach one second at any time of day which is excellent. For reliability and stable performance, this is the right host.
Month | Uptime Stats | Load Time Stats |
---|---|---|
June 2019 | 99.99% | 380 ms |
May 2019 | 99.99% | 371 ms |
April 2019 | 99.97% | 455 ms |
With tools like Pingdom, you basically see how the data on your site loads. This includes images as well that take longer to load as compared to plain text. Thus, for more accurate readings about server response time, we used Bitcatcha. With this tool, it is possible to test the server response time without loading the data.
As seen from the results, GreenGeeks servers in the US performed in just one second. In the other places, the response time was slightly higher, but they are still well below a second. So, if your target audience is US-based, then your website would benefit a lot.
GreenGeeks has various hosting plans to cater to customers of all size. They offer shared, dedicated, reseller, VPS, and managed WordPress hosting.
Type of Hosting | #1 Package | #2 Package | #3 Package | #4 Package |
---|---|---|---|---|
Shared (Basic) | $2.95 / mo | $5.95 / mo | $11.95 / mo | ✖ |
WordPress | $2.95 / mo | $5.95 / mo | $11.95 / mo | ✖ |
VPS | $39.95 / mo | $59.95 / mo | $79.95 / mo | $99.95 / mo |
Dedicated | $169 / mo | $269 / mo | $319 / mo | $439 / mo |
They basically have three plans. The first is the EcoSite Starter. Apart from numerous features, it also includes the free website migration service. This plan is ideal for starting a new site with low traffic. The second plan is the Ecosite Pro. It is a good option for growing websites that require more resources and speed. The third plan is the Ecosite Premium. It is ideally for small-sized businesses with busy websites. Similarly, it is a good option for online stores as well.
Main Features | Ecosite Starter | Ecosite Pro | Ecosite Premium |
---|---|---|---|
Started Price | $2.95/mo | $5.95/mo | $11.95/mo |
Renewal Price | $9.95/mo | $14.95/mo | $24.95/mo |
Websites | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
SSD Disk Space | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Bandwidth | Unmetered | Unmetered | Unmetered |
Email Accounts | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Domain(s) Hosted | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
FREE Domains Included | 1 | 1 | 1 |
FREE SSL Certificate | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
As understood by the name, managed WP hosting has additional features. These are designed particularly for WordPress. There are three plans as well. The first is the Ecosite Starter for small blogs or websites. The second is the Ecosite Pro for growing websites. While the third one, the Ecosite Premium is for small businesses.
This is essentially an upgraded version of shared WordPress hosting. It comes with great features like cPanel and SSL certificates. Migration services and free nightly backups are also included in this plan. There are 5 different plans. Each plan has different RAM, SSD, and bandwidth. Thus, users have the option of selecting the plan with their desired resources.
With dedicated hosting, you get all the resources of the server. GreenGeeks dedicated hosting plans use server-grade Intel processors. The equipment, memory, and hard drives used are also high-quality. There are four different servers available at various price points. The higher the prices, the more the resources.
With GreenGeeks, you get 100% white label hosting platforms. Apart from numerous features, you also get to use private name servers.
GreenGeeks shared hosting plan, the Ecosite Starter, is optimized for hosting. In fact, it has all those features that 99.9% of hosting clients desire. For the same reason, they offer clients a direct path for signing up for this plan from the website.
Let’s look at the features included in the basic plan and the price you will have to pay. There are two upgrade options available as well for those who need them. They are the Ecosite Pro and the Ecosite Premium plan.
Ecosite Starter (Basic Package): It includes unlimited disk space, email accounts, and bandwidth. Moreover, it comes with CloudFlare CDN and an SSL certificate. Moreover, physical memory included is 768MB. The plan starts from $2.95/month and the renewal prices are $9.95/month.
Ecosite Pro: It includes unlimited disk space, email accounts, and bandwidth. Other features include CloudFlare CDN, unlimited MySQL databases, and 1024 MB physical memory. Moreover, an SSL Certificate is included as well. For first time users, the plan starts from $6.95 and the renewal prices are $14.95.
Ecosite Premium: Like other plans, the Ecosite Premium also includes unlimited domains hosted, email accounts, bandwidth, and disk space. It also includes an SSL certificate and the CloudFlare CDN. Meanwhile, the physical memory included is 1500MB. The starting price of this plan is $16.95. The renewal price is $24.95/month.
Main Features | Ecosite Starter | Ecosite Pro | Ecosite Premium |
---|---|---|---|
Started Price | $2.95/mo | $5.95/mo | $11.95/mo |
Renewal Price | $9.95/mo | $14.95/mo | $24.95/mo |
Websites | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
SSD Disk Space | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Bandwidth | Unmetered | Unmetered | Unmetered |
Email Accounts | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Domain(s) Hosted | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
FREE Domains Included | 1 | 1 | 1 |
FREE SSL Certificate | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Premium Wildcard SSL | Yes, with Addon | Yes, with Addon | ✔ |
FREE Site Builder | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
FREE Website Transfer | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
cPanel & Softaculous | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Nightly Backups | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
MySQL Databases | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Cloudflare CDN | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Performance | Standard | 2X | 4X |
PowerCacher Technology | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ |
E-mails Per Hour | 100 | 300 | 500 |
PCI Compliance | Yes with Addons | Yes with Addons | ✔ |
Money Back Guarantee | 30-day | 30-day | 30-day |
The pricing for a shared basic hosting plan is discounted as the time period increases. So while the regular (renewal) monthly rate is $9.95/month, it increases if you opt for a longer plan. Thus, a 12-month plan costs for new customers $4.95, and a 24-month term costs $3.95/month. Similarly, the 36-month term costs $2.95/month.
Payment Period / Plan (for new users only) |
Ecosite Starter | Ecosite Pro | Ecosite Premium |
---|---|---|---|
1 month | $9.95/mo | $14.95/mo | $24.95/mo |
12 month | $4.95/mo | $7.95/mo | $13.95/mo |
24 month | $3.95/mo | $6.95/mo | $12.95/mo |
36 month | $2.95/mo | $5.95/mo | $11.95/mo |
After the initial sign-up duration, their basic plan renews at $9.95/month. Meanwhile, the Ecosite Pro renews at $14.95/month. Similarly, the renewal price for Ecosite Premium is $24.95/month.
Let’s take a closer look at some main features that this web host has to offer. Knowing these features is essential to determine if this is the most suitable web host for you.
You won’t have to pay anything to register for a new domain name. Similarly, transferring an existing domain from a different registrar is free. Moreover, GreenGeeks continues to renew the domain for as long as you use their services. Note that other hosts usually only offer the free domain for a year. The host also offers unlimited email accounts in its plans.
The shared hosting plan comes with unlimited bandwidth as well as SSD web space. So, there are no constraints when it comes to spacing.
The host includes the one-click installation tool. So, you can get access to more than 150 ready-to-install applications. Such one-click installation apps also include WordPress.
For an existing website, GreenGeeks provides free migration services. So, you won’t have any problems. In fact, the services are easy to use as well. For those who aren’t tech savvy, the free site transfer is fantastic. It makes switching web hosts quite easy. Moreover, experts at GreenGeeks handle the transfer in a professional manner. So, you won’t need to worry about major downtime.
GreenGeeks provides Sitepad as its website builder. It is a drag-and-drop website builder that is a little more difficult to use than the average ones. However, you don’t need any coding skills to use it. Plus, it is also more comprehensive than the average website builders. It also includes more than 300 pre-designed templates. Plus, numerous widgets are also included to modify these. The basic plan starts from $2.95/month. Sitepad is a third-party website editor that has been integrated into the control panel. So, the original developers continue to update the builder with new tools and technology.
There are many other features that ensure excellent performance such as free CDN integration. Plus, all the servers run on SSD Raid-10 local arrays and quad-core processors. Thus, users get to enjoy reliability and fast website performance. Moreover, the data centers are under restricted access. They are also served with UPS systems in case of power failures.
Domain privacy protection is necessary to hide your private information from being publicly displayed. If your data is displayed in the global database, then data miners and spammers will bombard you wit scams and ads. Domain privacy protection takes your personal information and protects it from the public. Resultantly, the public will only see anonymous information.
GreenGeeks offers this service at $9.95/year. You can purchase it after or even during your domain name registration.
One feature that users enjoy is the free Wildcard SSL certificate. This certificate allows you to secure numerous subdomains. In other words, it will be set on your main domain. In return, all of its subdomains will also be SSL-secured.
SiteLock scans the website daily to identify any vulnerabilities present. It also saves websites against different threats like email blacklisting, viruses, and cross-site scripting. Once SiteLock is done scanning, it gives a report. This report includes advice for items worth looking into. With the help of this service, you can keep your software secure and up to date.
GreenGeeks offers four SiteLock plans. Each has its own pricing and features. The basic one starts at $1.25/month while the enterprise plan costs $14.99/month.
Dedicated IP’s are assigned to the customer’s hosting account. The host offers the dedicated IP as an addon. You will have to pay $48/year for one IP address.
One must always be prepared in case bad things take place. For this reason, the host offers free nightly backups apart from SSH access. Each night, all your data is backed up to avoid any major mishap. Plus, users also get one restoration per month for free. Any additional restorations will be charged for.
To further ensure that no data loss takes place, you can opt for the host’s full cPmove backups. These will cost you $5/cPanel account.
The company does its best to ensure security for which it has taken additional measures. They offer features like SSL secure server and real-time security scanning. Spam Assassin protection and automatic brute force detection are included too.
There are three server locations. These are the United States, Europe, and Canada. Selecting the correct server location has a positive impact on your site’s SEO. Moreover, choosing a server near you means faster speeds. In addition, each data center has many features. For instance, they include key card and biometric security system. Along with that, a rack-level locking mechanism is also included. Moreover, automatic temperature and climate control system is also installed. Thus, the temperature throughout the facility is controlled to avoid mishaps.
GreenGeeks is quite beginner-friendly. One reason for this is because of its ease of use. Let’s see the features incorporated in these services that make them so user-friendly!
The account manager portal has a light and streamlined design. At the same time, it is quite functional. So, users won’t have any problems in signing up. Similarly, they can easily register a domain name or adjust their billing information.
There are hardly any payment options available. Users can’t pay with PayPal, Bitcoin, or wire transfers. Payment is possible via credit cards only.
Like many other Linux-based hosting providers, GreenGeeks also offers cPanel as the primary control panel. It includes two script installers; Softaculous and Fantastico. With such tools, you can easily install famous third-party blogging platforms like WordPress. Similarly, you can install content management systems like Drupal too.
While customer support is not too remarkable, it is still pretty decent. The following channels are available for support:
Customer support agents are available through live chat 24/7 throughout the year.
An efficient email ticketing system is also set up. They claim that you’ll only have to wait for 15-20 minutes when you get in touch via email.
Phone support is also available during business hours. These are from 9 AM to 12 AM EST on weekdays. While on weekends, the timings are 9 AM to 8 PM EST.
What makes the customer support different is the knowledge base for quick DIY assistance. There are various categories that have answers to almost all questions you might have. These resources are not only extremely detailed but quite helpful too. Plus, you can also use the search bar to enter a word that relates to your problem for quick retrieval. So, even if the live chat feature is unavailable, you can still get help. The knowledge base is also supplemented by many basic tutorials.
The company offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you have a problem in the first 30 days, then you can ask for a refund. No questions will be asked.
However, there are some things that will not be included in your refunds. These include domain registration fees, setup fees, and the cost of add-on features.
Considering the pricing and the features included in their plans, we do recommend GreenGeeks. Moreover, its ability to give personal attention to all users makes it even better. In case of problems, you won’t face too much of a loss. Instead, experts will handle everything professionally. Plus, their services are green, thus helping to save the climate. Overall, the performance, speed, and reliability make it a good choice.
We hope this detailed review helps you come to an informed decision. What do you think about it? Do you have any experience with GreenGeeks? Let us know!