Scalahosting Review
Scalahosting is a web hosting provider that has gained attention for its focus on high-performance hosting solutions, especially for businesses and developers looking for advanced security features and cloud solutions. Founded in 2007, Scalahosting has been innovative in offering proprietary technologies like SPanel, designed as an alternative to cPanel. Their services cater to a range of users, from small personal blogs to larger enterprise-level businesses, and they aim to provide a balance of cost-effectiveness, performance, and security.
Shared Hosting
Scalahosting offers standard shared hosting plans with SSD storage, free SSL certificates, and daily backups. While this is a common offering, their edge lies in higher resource allocation compared to many competitors, allowing for more traffic and server power without the need to upgrade quickly.
Managed VPS Hosting
One of their flagship services is Managed VPS Hosting. The plans come with their proprietary SPanel, which includes advanced features like a built-in security suite (SShield). Scalahosting’s VPS plans are designed to provide robust control without the complexity, making it suitable for businesses looking to scale.
Cloud Hosting
Their cloud hosting services are highly scalable and customizable. You can choose the exact specifications (RAM, CPU, and storage) for your hosting needs. This service is particularly valuable for websites that need high availability and faster load times.
Reseller Hosting
Scalahosting also offers a competitive reseller hosting solution. With white-label features and SPanel, it’s attractive to agencies and developers who need control over their clients’ hosting environments.
Scalahosting Features
SPanel
One of the standout innovations from Scalahosting is SPanel, a proprietary control panel designed as an alternative to cPanel. It is lightweight, faster, and integrates better with cloud solutions. SPanel is also free on their VPS plans, which provides significant savings compared to the recurring license fees associated with cPanel.
SShield Security
Scalahosting takes security seriously with SShield, a real-time cybersecurity solution that claims to block 99.998% of attacks. It continuously monitors websites, making it ideal for businesses concerned about security breaches.
Automatic Daily Backups
Free daily backups are a standard feature across their plans. These are automatically stored, ensuring that in case of a failure or issue, users can restore their website with ease.
Free Website Migration
Scalahosting offers free migration services, making it convenient for businesses or individuals moving from another hosting provider.
Performance
Scalahosting performs well in terms of speed and reliability, thanks in part to the combination of SSD storage and their proprietary infrastructure. Additionally, their global data centers (USA and Europe) offer users more control over where their website is hosted, which can improve latency and load times depending on target audiences.
The inclusion of LiteSpeed web servers on their higher-tier plans further boosts performance, as LiteSpeed is known for its faster load times compared to Apache.
Pricing
Shared Hosting starts at around $3.95 per month, which is competitive compared to other providers like Hostinger and Bluehost. Managed VPS Hosting is available from $14.95 per month, which includes SPanel and SShield.
This pricing is more affordable than many competitors like Liquid Web or Kinsta, especially considering the features and security included in the package.
Cloud Hosting starts at $18/month with customizable resources, making it a flexible choice for growing businesses. Pros
SPanel and Cost Savings
The SPanel alternative to cPanel is a game changer for users looking to reduce costs associated with third-party licenses.
Advanced Security
SShield provides robust protection, making it an excellent choice for security-conscious users.
Flexibility and Customization
VPS and Cloud hosting plans offer high levels of customization, suitable for developers and businesses with specific resource needs.
Daily Backups
Many hosts either charge for backups or offer less frequent options. Scalahosting’s free daily backups are a strong selling point.
Cons 👎
- Limited Data Centers: Compared to giants like AWS, Google Cloud, or DigitalOcean, Scalahosting’s two primary data centers (US and Europe) may limit choices for businesses looking to target customers in other regions like Asia or Australia.
- Brand Recognition: While Scalahosting is a solid competitor, it lacks the brand recognition that providers like GoDaddy, Bluehost, or SiteGround enjoy. This could be a factor for users looking for a well-established, globally recognized provider.
Comparison with Competitors
Scalahosting vs. SiteGround
SiteGround is well-known for its excellent customer support and strong performance, particularly in shared hosting. While SiteGround also offers advanced security, Scalahosting’s proprietary tools like SPanel and SShield provide a more cost-effective and customizable solution. For users looking to avoid high cPanel costs and needing VPS solutions, Scalahosting may offer better value.
Scalahosting vs. DigitalOcean
DigitalOcean is a cloud-first hosting provider that offers extensive control and scalability, but it is more developer-centric. Scalahosting, with its Managed VPS plans, provides a more user-friendly experience with included security features, making it ideal for businesses without an in-house developer team. On pricing, Scalahosting is more affordable in managed services than DigitalOcean’s managed plans, which often require more setup.
Scalahosting vs. Hostinger
Hostinger is often seen as one of the most budget-friendly hosting providers. While Scalahosting’s pricing is slightly higher, it offers superior security and VPS hosting solutions. Hostinger is great for beginners, but businesses or developers looking for long-term scalability and robust features may find Scalahosting’s offering more appealing.
Scalahosting vs. Kinsta
Kinsta is a high-end managed WordPress hosting provider, known for performance and support, but it comes at a premium price. Scalahosting is a more affordable alternative for those who need managed hosting but do not want to be tied exclusively to WordPress. Additionally, Kinsta uses Google Cloud infrastructure, which offers more global data center options, whereas Scalahosting’s infrastructure is more limited in terms of geographical reach.
Final Verdict
Scalahosting provides a solid, feature-rich hosting experience that is particularly attractive to small to mid-sized businesses and developers who need scalable, secure, and customizable hosting without breaking the bank. Their proprietary innovations like SPanel and SShield set them apart in a crowded market, and their VPS solutions are particularly impressive when considering price vs. performance. However, the limited data center options and lower brand visibility may be drawbacks for businesses needing global reach or seeking a well-known brand.
For users looking for a balance between cost, performance, and security, Scalahosting offers an excellent alternative to many mainstream providers.