HostMonster vs. HostClear
HostMonster and HostClear are easily amongst the top 10 web hosting providers consistently, and are routinely candidates for various web hosting industry awards. While HostMonster has been in business since 1996 and currently serves more than 1,700,000 websites, HostClear is a bit newer, being a subsidiary of JustHost, which was founded only three years ago in 2008. Even so, both hosting providers have a ton of positive customer feedback, and are known for providing a refined selection of hosting plans that are suitable for small business owners. Both hosting companies focus on providing affordable services, and are therefore suitable solutions for aspiring webmasters on a budget. If you’re having trouble choosing between these hosts, the following comprehensive comparison should lend some assistance.
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Comparing Products and Services
Unlike other hosting providers that offer a plethora of hosting types such as shared hosting, VPS hosting, dedicated hosting (managed), cloud hosting, and reseller hosting, HostMonster and HostClear specialize in providing a small selection of all-inclusive, affordable hosting plans. Aside from their reseller hosting program, HostClear offers just three main hosting plans – Home, Business, and Business Pro. All of these plans operate within the shared hosting environment, and are therefore not as powerful as more expensive plans that operate within the dedicated, cloud or VPS hosting environments. Similarly, HostMonster is known for providing one robust hosting plan that can be used by nearly any webmaster for basic hosting needs. Thus, while both hosting providers do not offer an extensive selection of plans, it appears that HostClear has more plans on offer.
Comparing Main Features
HostMonster hosting plans include a plethora of unlimited features, including unlimited disk space, bandwidth allowance, e-mail accounts, MySQL databases, and the ability to host unlimited amount of domains at any time. HostMonster also includes the famous cPanel control panel, $75 worth of advertising credits for Google AdWords, and simple installation utilities that help you quickly and easily install content management systems like WordPress, Joomla!, and Drupal. HostClear also offers various unlimited features, including unlimited disk space, bandwidth, POP3 secure e-mail accounts, FTP accounts, MySQL databases, and the ability to park and create subdomains for an unlimited amount of domains. In fact, both companies have very similar feature lists, with the only apparent difference being that HostClear offers less advertising credits ($30 credit for Google and $25 worth of credits for Yahoo).
Comparing Prices and Making a Decision
The all-inclusive plan offered by HostMonster costs only $5.95 per month, however a minimum of 12 months must be purchased in advance. Thus, the overall startup cost for a HostMonster plan is approximately $70. On the other hand, HostClear has more options to choose from, with their Home plan starting at $4.95 a month, the Business plan starting at $5.95 per month, and the Business Pro plan costing $9.95 per month. If you’re interested in reseller web hosting, HostClear also offers this hosting type at a discounted rate of $19.95 per month. Another appealing aspect of HostClear is the fact that they allow you to pay on a monthly basis (with the cheapest monthly plan starting at $7.95 per month). Therefore, if you are on a budget or need a more extensive selection of hosting plans, then HostClear would be the clear decision.
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