Description
When your business grows, your website hosting must grow too – that’s why we offer multiple seamless upgrades within our website hosting product line. Trust in the KnownHost experts because we know hosting. Our experts will evaluate your web hosting needs as you grow to maximize your hosting experience.
When it comes to web hosting, KnownHost may not be a household name, but it’s a hidden gem worth your consideration if you prioritize exceptional performance, quality, and value.
With years of hands-on experience in the web hosting landscape, we’ve meticulously evaluated numerous hosting providers.
In this meticulously researched KnownHost review, we’ll provide you with an in-depth look at KnownHost’s offerings, from pricing to performance, and demonstrate how it stands head and shoulders above most competitors.
Review –
Established in 2006, KnownHost is a U.S. based web hosting vendor that specializes in providing fully managed hosting services to businesses of all sizes with data centers in various locations across the globe, including Seattle, Dallas, Baltimore, and Amsterdam.
KnownHost is one of the leading hosting infrastructure providers. It prides itself on providing secure and reliable hosting solutions operated on SSD cloud servers with RAID 10 protection.
Features and Ease of Use
KnownHost hosting solutions come with some of the following standard features:
- Softaculous 300+ one-click script installs
- DDoS protected servers
- LiteSpeed web server with LSCache
- Free SSL certificates
- Pure SSD-based IO operations & caching
- WHM and cPanel
- Root access
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Free CloudFlare CDN
KnownHost cloud servers, dedicated servers, and fully managed VPS servers all run on SSD drives. KnownHost hosting servers use isolated containers technology to deliver better security to its clients’ websites.
It has optimized every element of its hosting solutions for improved loading speeds of the websites it hosts. This includes employing a range of caching techniques which ensure the servers record top speeds and are better able to absorb peak loads.
KnownHost offers an enterprise-grade KVM Cloud VPS Hosting package. The package is a cost-effective substitute for businesses that want flexible and scalable shared, reseller, or even dedicated server solutions. What’s more, this package includes full Kernel control and free DDoS protection.
CMS users would be delighted to learn that the vendor’s hosting solutions are specially tuned for top content management systems.The vendor offers free offsite data backups and data restoration points.
That said, it insists that the backup services are complementary, thus encouraging its customers to always maintain copies of their data backups. This hosting provider’s control panel enables clients to generate and download website backups.
Pricing and Support
KnownHost has found a way to deliver pocket-friendly hosting plans packed with high quality features with few limitations. The vendor offers flexible billing cycles that include monthly, biannual, annual, and triennial subscriptions. The prices are listed in U.S. dollars. This hosting firm offers its customers free setups and free migration. It also offers free SSL certificates for every one of the domains you host with them.
In addition, the hosting provider has a time-tested uptime guarantee of 99.996% and a 30-day money-back guarantee. That said, a number of customers have expressed frustration with the vendor’s failure to keep its word regarding its 100% money back guarantee, no questions asked. Apparently, you will have to answer some questions before the vendor can release your refund.
The Pros and Cons of KnownHost
Pros
- 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee: KnownHost provides a risk-free experience with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Tested (and Proven) 99.99% Uptime: KnownHost’s track record of uptime reliability is nothing short of impressive.
- Free Daily Backups: Backups are essential for website security, and KnownHost offers free daily backups on various hosting plans.
- Flexible Billing Cycles: KnownHost offers flexible billing options, allowing you to choose the payment schedule that suits you.
- Free Website Migrations: KnownHost simplifies the transition process by offering free website migrations.
- Round-the-Clock Customer Support: KnownHost’s support team is available 24/7/365, ensuring assistance whenever you need it.
- Expert Customer Support Agents: Their support staff is highly knowledgeable and capable of assisting with any hosting-related issues.
- Top-Tier Data Centers: KnownHost’s hosting infrastructure is underpinned by world-class data centers, ensuring your website’s optimal performance.
Cons
- Steep Learning Curve for Beginners: Some novices might find KnownHost’s services a bit challenging to navigate, given the range of options available.
- Plan Selection Complexity: The process of selecting the most suitable plan can be confusing for some users.
- No Website Builder Included: KnownHost doesn’t offer a built-in website builder, which might be a drawback for those seeking an all-in-one solution.
Key Features to Consider When Choosing a Hosting Provider
1. Disk Storage Space
Storage is a crucial factor for ensuring the smooth operation of your website.
KnownHost offers a variety of hosting packages, with lower-priced options offering sufficient storage for small websites and unlimited storage for higher-tier plans.
The amount of storage you need depends on your website’s nature and requirements.
2. Backups
Backups are a fundamental feature in web hosting. KnownHost goes above and beyond by providing free daily backups on various hosting plans.
It’s essential to check the fine print, as some hosting providers may offer free backups but charge for access.
3. Security
KnownHost excels in the realm of security. They offer managed hosting services with state-of-the-art security infrastructure.
The inclusion of Imunify360, DDoS protection, brute force protection, and a dedicated security team ensures the safety of your website.
You have the flexibility to customize security features when opting for unmanaged hosting.
4. Servers & Data Centers
KnownHost boasts three top-notch data centers in Seattle, Atlanta, and Amsterdam.
These data centers are fully redundant and equipped with robust physical security measures. This infrastructure plays a pivotal role in maintaining KnownHost’s remarkable uptime track record.
KnownHost Performance: Putting It to the Test
We didn’t just rely on claims when evaluating KnownHost’s performance. Our team conducted extensive tests to provide you with accurate insights.
Speed
To assess KnownHost’s speed, we conducted tests using GT Metrix and Pingdom, measuring the loading times of a sample website.
While KnownHost demonstrated decent performance in the US and Europe, loading times were slower in Australia and Asia.
However, KnownHost still met industry benchmarks, with loading times well below the 200ms threshold for Time to First Byte (TTFB) and under 2–3 seconds for full page loading.
For even better speed performance across various locations, we recommend checking out our article on the fastest web hosting providers.
Uptime
KnownHost’s claims of having the “proven best uptime on the planet” are substantiated by their 99.90% uptime guarantee.
In practice, their uptime consistently exceeds 99.99%, showcasing their commitment to delivering reliability.
KnownHost not only meets industry benchmarks but also offers a refund for any month in which they fall short of their uptime guarantee.
KnownHost Hosting Plans
KnownHost offers a diverse range of hosting plans to cater to a wide spectrum of hosting needs.
1. Web Hosting
KnownHost’s shared hosting plans are competitively priced, starting as low as $3.47 per month.
What sets these plans apart is their abundance of features. With unlimited resources, including domains, cloud storage, email accounts, MySQL databases, and premium bandwidth, you get a comprehensive hosting solution.
KnownHost’s commitment to security, uptime, and support makes these shared hosting plans a compelling choice.
2. WordPress Hosting
KnownHost provides two managed WordPress hosting plans: Entry Level and Business Level. With ample SSD storage and substantial monthly visitors, these plans outshine shared hosting for WordPress users.
The added benefits of one-click staging, tailored servers, and DDoS protection make these plans a powerful choice for WordPress enthusiasts.
3. VPS Hosting
KnownHost truly shines with its VPS hosting services. The unmanaged VPS plans offer generous resources at affordable prices, while the managed VPS plans provide hassle-free hosting.
With high-frequency NVMe VPS options available, you can harness the power of fast storage and robust performance.
4. Dedicated Hosting
KnownHost’s fully customizable dedicated servers cater to users with diverse requirements.
Whether you need an unmanaged or semi-managed solution, KnownHost offers budget and premium dedicated server options.
These servers, backed by up to 30TB bandwidth and 2x 1TB NVMe storage, ensure optimal performance and uptime.
Additional Hosting Plans
KnownHost extends its hosting offerings to include reseller hosting, cloud services, analytics hosting, application hosting, email hosting, and more.
Whatever your hosting needs, KnownHost likely has a solution to meet them.
Domains
KnownHost also offers domain registration services. While their domain pricing may be slightly higher than some competitors, the convenience of managing both your hosting and domains with the same provider can be an attractive proposition.
Stellar Support: KnownHost’s Commitment to Customer Assistance
KnownHost takes immense pride in its round-the-clock support team. With 24/7/365 availability, you can count on timely assistance no matter where you are in the world.
Support requests through email, chat, and web tickets are met with a guaranteed response time of under 5 minutes. US customers can also access phone support via a toll-free number.
Our experience with KnownHost’s customer support was highly positive. Their pre-sale support team was knowledgeable and provided valuable insights to help us make informed decisions.
The responses were not scripted, and they demonstrated a lack of aggressive sales tactics.
Additionally, we were impressed with the swift response times, even outside regular business hours.
Is KnownHost Your Ideal Hosting Partner in ?
KnownHost predominantly offers fully-managed hosting plans, making them suitable for both beginners and experienced users.
If you prefer a hands-off approach to server management, KnownHost’s expert team has you covered.
However, for small business owners or beginners seeking simplicity, there are alternative hosting providers that offer more straightforward solutions.
If top-notch performance is your priority, considering Namecheap Hosting might be worthwhile, as they consistently rank among the best in the industry.
In conclusion, KnownHost’s hosting plans offer an array of benefits, making them a competitive choice in today’s hosting market.
Whether you’re a novice or an experienced webmaster, KnownHost has hosting solutions to meet your diverse needs.
