Combell Web Hosting Review

Combell is a Belgium-based web hosting provider that has been in business since 1999. Over the years, it has grown into one of the leading web hosting companies in the Benelux region. Combell offers a range of hosting solutions designed to cater to a variety of needs, from individual projects to large-scale businesses. Their services are known for reliability, excellent support, and a focus on the European market.

Shared Hosting

Combell offers robust shared hosting plans for small websites and projects. These plans come with unlimited data traffic, free SSL certificates, and daily backups. They also include support for PHP and MySQL, along with a control panel that simplifies website management.

VPS Hosting

Combell provides virtual private servers (VPS) with SSD storage for faster performance. VPS hosting is suitable for businesses that need more control and resources than shared hosting can offer. These servers come with root access, allowing developers more freedom in configuring the server environment.

Cloud Hosting

Their cloud hosting service is scalable, with high availability and the option to choose between Linux or Windows environments. It’s targeted at larger projects that require reliability, performance, and flexibility. Pay-as-you-go pricing makes it an attractive option for those looking to manage costs effectively.

Dedicated Hosting

Combell’s dedicated hosting offers high-performance servers with a focus on security, reliability, and expert support.

Their dedicated hosting plans include fully managed services, meaning Combell handles server maintenance, updates, and monitoring, making it ideal for businesses seeking a hassle-free hosting experience. They also offer top-tier security features, such as DDoS protection and regular backups.

While Combell’s pricing is on the higher side, the premium support, robust infrastructure, and strong uptime guarantee make it a great choice for businesses that prioritize stability and security for their websites or applications.

Managed Hosting

Combell specializes in managed hosting solutions, where they take full responsibility for managing your server. This includes server monitoring, security patches, and performance optimization. Managed hosting is ideal for businesses that want a hands-off approach and need a trusted partner to manage their server infrastructure.

Domain Registration & Email Hosting

Combell offers domain registration services alongside their hosting options, allowing businesses to centralize their online presence. They also provide [professional email hosting](/email-hosting/, ensuring that businesses have reliable and secure email communication services.

Microsoft 365 & Collaboration Tools

The integration of Microsoft 365 services allows businesses to use professional collaboration tools. This is a value-added service for companies looking to improve productivity through Microsoft’s suite of applications.

Combell’s Key Features

  • 99.9% Uptime Guarantee: Combell promises a high uptime, critical for businesses that rely on their website’s availability.
  • Daily Backups: Automatic daily backups provide an added layer of security, ensuring that businesses do not lose critical data in case of an emergency.
  • Free SSL Certificates: Security is emphasized with free SSL certificates on all plans, something that is becoming standard in the hosting industry.
  • 24/7 Customer Support: Combell boasts of its Belgian-based support team, available around the clock. Their support is known for being responsive and knowledgeable.

Pricing

Combell’s services are positioned as premium offerings, with pricing reflecting the high-quality infrastructure and support they provide. Their pricing tends to be higher than many of the more internationally-known competitors, especially for shared and VPS hosting, but it comes with added benefits like better support and reliability.

How Combell Compares to Competitors

Shared Hosting

  • Combell vs. SiteGround: Both offer excellent shared hosting with great customer support. However, SiteGround tends to have more global recognition and is slightly more affordable. Combell may appeal more to businesses targeting the European market due to its focus on local regulations and compliance.
  • Combell vs. Bluehost: Bluehost offers cheaper shared hosting plans, but Combell provides more advanced features like daily backups and better performance in terms of uptime. For a Belgium or Netherlands-based business, Combell’s localized support would be a key advantage.

VPS Hosting

  • Combell vs. DigitalOcean: DigitalOcean is known for its low-cost and developer-friendly approach, making it more appealing for tech-savvy users. Combell, on the other hand, offers a more managed and hands-on VPS experience, with added support that would appeal to businesses looking for less technical involvement.
  • Combell vs. Linode: Similar to DigitalOcean, Linode offers a budget-friendly VPS solution with excellent performance. Combell’s advantage here lies in its managed offerings and localized support, which might justify the higher cost for some users.

Cloud Hosting

  • Combell vs. Amazon Web Services (AWS): AWS is the industry leader for cloud hosting with a vast array of features and global reach. However, Combell’s cloud hosting is easier to manage and more focused on the European market. For businesses that don’t need the complexity of AWS, Combell provides a more straightforward, managed solution.
  • Combell vs. Cloudways: Cloudways offers a highly flexible and affordable cloud hosting solution, managing services on various cloud providers (like AWS, Google Cloud, etc.). Combell’s cloud services, though less flexible in terms of infrastructure options, come with superior local support and are ideal for businesses that value a European partner.

Managed Hosting

  • Combell vs. Kinsta: Kinsta is known for its WordPress-specific managed hosting, offering optimized performance for WordPress sites. Combell, in contrast, provides a more general managed hosting service. If a business is looking for non-WordPress solutions, Combell’s offering might be more suitable.
  • Combell vs. Liquid Web: Both companies offer high-quality managed hosting services, but Liquid Web focuses more on the U.S. market. Combell stands out with its European support and localized services, which can make a difference for businesses based in Europe.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths 💪

  • Localized Support: Combell’s 24/7 support is Belgian-based and tailored to the local market, offering a distinct advantage for businesses in the region.
  • High Performance and Uptime: Their services are reliable, with a focus on high performance, supported by their uptime guarantee and daily backups.
  • Comprehensive Managed Services: Businesses that prefer not to handle technical server management can benefit from Combell’s fully managed hosting options.

Weaknesses 👎

  • Pricing: Combell’s prices are on the higher side compared to some global competitors, especially for shared and VPS hosting.
  • Limited Global Reach: Combell’s services are highly Europe-focused. Businesses with a more global presence might find it challenging to justify the cost compared to providers with data centers worldwide.

Conclusion

Combell is a reliable and reputable web hosting provider with a strong focus on the European market. Their premium pricing is justified by the high quality of their services, localized support, and excellent uptime guarantees. Businesses that require top-tier performance and support, especially those based in Europe, will find Combell a strong choice. However, for more budget-conscious users or those with global needs, competitors like DigitalOcean, SiteGround, and AWS might offer better options at a lower price point.