NameCheap Web Hosting Review (2024)
Our Research
Is Namecheap Worth Signing Up For?
Other than being known as a juggernaut domain name registrar, Namecheap offers inexpensive web hosting services. Plans come with a free installation of an SSL certificate for the first year and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
While small businesses may love the budget-friendly pricing, it comes at the cost of low storage for its basic tiers and limited customer support. However, those who aren’t looking for complex setups may find Namecheap sufficient.
Namecheap at a Glance 9.0 Editor Score
Simple Setup
9.0
Security Features
9.5
Technical Features
9.2
Servers
9.3
Customer Service
9.1
9.0 Editor Score
Namecheap Pros & Cons
PROS
- Site builder and logo designer
- Free domain privacy protection
- CDN included
CONS
- Hosting may not include a free domain
- Security features cost extra
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Overview
What Is Namecheap?
Namecheap is a web hosting and domain registration company founded in 2000. Its hosting plans include free automatic SSL installation, a free website builder, domain name and privacy protection, and unmetered bandwidth. In addition, the company offers a range of other services such as VPN services, website builders and SSL certificates to help customers build their online presence. The company is a leading ICANN Accredited Domain Registrar, with over 2 million customers and over 16 million domains worldwide.
How Namecheap Works
Namecheap offers a range of web hosting services that provide users with the resources needed to host their website, including server space, bandwidth and technical support. You can choose your preferred service based on different website requirements and budgets, such as:
- Shared hosting: Shared hosting is a type of web hosting where multiple websites are hosted on a single physical server. Thanks to this approach, numerous users can share the resources of a single server and keep costs low. Namecheap’s shared hosting plans come with features such as free domain registration, cPanel, unmetered bandwidth and a free website builder.
- WordPress hosting: Namecheap’s WordPress hosting plans are optimized to provide faster loading times and better performance. The plans include an easy-to-use installer, SSL certificates and automatic backups.
- Reseller hosting: Namecheap’s reseller hosting plans allow users to sell hosting plans to their customers under their brand name, with the option to white label Namecheap’s hosting services.
- VPS hosting: Namecheap’s VPS hosting plans offer dedicated resources and full root access. The solution is completely customizable, allowing users to choose their operating system (Ubuntu, CentOS or Debian), get root access to the server and determine whether the control panel (cPanel) will be installed.
- Dedicated hosting: Namecheap’s dedicated hosting plans provide users with complete control over their server, with dedicated resources and a choice of operating system.
- Email hosting: Namecheap’s email hosting plans provide users with a business email address with their domain name, secure webmail access and spam protection.
What Sets Namecheap Apart
One of the best attributes of Namecheap is its affordable pricing plan, which makes it ideal for small businesses and individuals. It comes with robust security features, including SSL certificates, privacy protection and two-factor authentication (2FA), to protect users’ websites and personal information from online threats.
Namecheap also offers industry-standard cPanel control panels that allow users to manage their website, web hosting account and email account. The cPanel displays features for Namecheap users, files and stats information.
Namecheap Features
While the company may have gotten its start by offering domain names, Namecheap has built a solid web hosting platform as well. Many features that other platforms charge for, such as domain names and SSL certificates, are included for free.
Storage and Bandwidth Limits
Namecheap offers a moderate amount of space to store databases, files and emails. Its most basic plan has a 20GB SSD and its most premium version has a 50GB SSD.
Notably, Namecheap offers unmetered bandwidth, which means it offers users a set amount of bandwidth that they can use. While the server speed is limited, the amount of data that can be transferred between your website and your visitors is not.
By contrast, unlimited bandwidth describes a type of hosting plan that offers an unlimited amount of data transfer between the website and its visitors. Unlike plans with metered or capped bandwidth, users do not face extra charges for exceeding a set limit.
Extras and Inclusions
Namecheap’s annual shared hosting plan includes a free domain name, a free SSL certificate and automatic backups. For the first year, there are several discounts and offers available for new users. Select plans also offer additional add-ons such as server setup, access to a free website builder and two-month free trials.
Ease of Use
Namecheap has a user-friendly interface and straightforward dashboard for managing domains, hosting and other services. This makes it quick and easy to check renewal dates and purchase products.
Security
Namecheap’s Hosting Guarantee offers regular backups, efficient firewalls and security updates. More importantly, all Shared Hosting plans come with 50 free PositiveSSL certificates for a year.
Free Website Migration
For those who already have a website with another hosting company, Namecheap will help you migrate to its platform for free. The company guarantees it will complete a full cPanel migration within 24 hours and with no more than 15 minutes of downtime. Otherwise, you’ll receive an account credit equivalent to your first year of a shared hosting plan.
Website Builder
Site Maker, Namecheap’s drag-and-drop website builder, doesn’t require any coding skills. Sign up with your email address for free to test it out—select from a variety of designs and add or remove blocks. If you like what you see, you can continue to sign up for a paid plan.
Supersonic CDN
Namecheap’s Content Delivery Network (CDN) offers fast delivery speeds and high bandwidth so that it takes seconds for your website content to update and load. This results in faster load times, helpful for small businesses that want to ensure their website runs smoothly. Though all shared hosting tiers offer this for free with their plans, customers can upgrade to faster servers for an extra fee.
User Dashboard and cPanel
Namecheap’s control panel is specifically designed to manage individual hosting accounts on the server. Users can perform a variety of tasks, including uploading and managing website files, editing DNS records for their domains, and adding or removing add-on domains and subdomains, among others.
Namecheap provides detailed documentation and tutorials on its website via its Knowledge Base. Thanks to its comprehensive resources, users can troubleshoot common issues and learn more about web hosting and website management. Overall, Namecheap is a user-friendly web hosting provider that is well suited for both beginners and experienced users alike.
Namecheap Shared Hosting Pricing and Plans
Namecheap Shared Hosting Pricing and Plans
| Stellar | Stellar Plus | Stellar Business | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introductory Pricing | $18.96 for the first year | $30.96 for the first year | $58.88 for the first year |
| Renewal Pricing | $44.88 per year | $68.88 per year | $108.88 per year |
| Contract Lengths Available | Monthly, yearly and biennial billing cycles | Monthly, yearly, and biennial billing cycles | Monthly, yearly, and biennial billing cycles |
| Storage | 20GB SSD | Unmetered SSD | 50GB SSD |
| Bandwidth | Unmetered | Unmetered | Unmetered |
| Free Domain Name | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Free SSL Certificate | For one year | For one year | For one year |
| cPanel | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Security | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Business Email | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Uptime Guarantee | 100% | 100% | |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days |
| Customer Support | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Stellar
Namecheap’s most basic shared hosting plan lets you host up to three websites with your preferred CMS. It includes a 20GB SSD, as well as unmetered bandwidth. You also get access to its free website builder and email service.
As a bonus, Namecheap also offers a free domain name and a free SSL certificate for one year in all plans. While its introductory pricing is an easily affordable $18.96 for the first year, you’ll have to pay $44.88 to renew it at the end of the term.
Stellar Plus
Starting at $30.96 per year, users can create unlimited websites, automatic backups and unmetered SSD. Unlike the Stellar plan, the Stellar Plus plan offers unlimited hosted domains, parked domains and subdomains. There are also unlimited email accounts, semiweekly backups and auto-backup.
Stellar Business
Similar to its predecessor, this plan offers unlimited websites and unlimited domain-based mailboxes. Notably, you’ll get access to 50GB SSD, auto-backup and cloud storage. Its Business plan is also equipped with PHP accelerators such as eAccelerator and xCache, which are designed to boost the performance of websites and apps.
Customer Service and Support
Namecheap offers 24/7 Live Chat or Ticket System for all paid plans. It also has a comprehensive knowledge base with how-to videos and detailed step-by-step instructions. However, it does not offer phone support at this time.
Namecheap Alternatives and How They Compare
Namecheap Alternatives and How They Compare
| Namecheap | MochaHost | HostGator | Bluehost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forbes Advisor Rating | ||||
| Starting Price | $1.58 per month for the first year | $2.29 per month | $11.95 per month | $2.95 per month |
| Contract Length | Monthly, yearly and biennial billing cycles | Monthly, yearly | One, three or six months; and one, two or three years | One year and three years |
| Storage Limit | From 20 GB SSD | Unlimited | From 10 GB | From 10 GB SSD |
| Bandwidth Limit | Unmetered | From 50 GB bandwidth | Unmetered | Unmetered |
| Free Domain Name | ✔ | Free domain name on premium plan | Free domain for one year | Free domain for one year |
| Free SSL Certificate | For one year | For life | For life | Free SSL for one year |
| Business Email | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Uptime Guarantee | 100% (Stellar Plus plans and above) | 99.90% | 99.90% | No claim stated |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days |
| Customer Support | Live chat, knowledge base and ticket system | 24/7 technical support | Live chat, phone, and email | Phone, live chat and Knowledge Base |
Namecheap vs. MochaHost
MochaHost offers a range of hosting plans, including shared hosting, VPS hosting and dedicated servers, as well as specialized plans for e-commerce, WordPress and reseller hosting. Each plan offers free SSL certificates for life. However, a free domain name only becomes available from its more premium Business plan—unlike Namecheap, which offers this service on every plan.
MochaHost offers a variety of options for customer service such as phone support and a knowledge base. In terms of uptime guarantee, Namecheap narrowly wins with its 100% uptime guarantee on Stellar Plus plans, compared to MochaHost’s 99.9% uptime.
Namecheap vs. HostGator
HostGator is known for its reliable hosting, user-friendly interface and excellent customer support. It offers a variety of hosting plans to fit different needs, including shared hosting, VPS hosting and dedicated servers. HostGator also provides a range of domain services, including domain registration, transfer and management.
Unlike Namecheap’s remarkable 100% uptime on Stellar Plus plans, Hostgator offers a 99.9% uptime guarantee.
Is Namecheap Right for Me?
Namecheap offers competitive pricing for its basic shared hosting plans, and those plans include enough to get your small website up and running—with twice-weekly automatic backups, a free SSL certificate and a 100% uptime guarantee. These starter plans are where Namecheap shines.
Namecheap Is Best For:
- Users looking for a budget-friendly option: Namecheap offers competitive pricing for its web hosting services, making it an affordable option for individuals and small businesses.
- Customers seeking multiple hosting options: Namecheap offers a range of web hosting options, including shared hosting, VPS hosting, dedicated servers and managed WordPress hosting, allowing users to choose the option that best suits their needs.
Namecheap Is Not Recommended For:
- International users seeking nearer data center locations: Namecheap’s data centers are located primarily in the U.S. and U.K. If you’re a user based in Asia or other regions, you’ll find better options elsewhere for performance or regulatory reasons.
- Medium-sized businesses and companies looking for premium features: While Namecheap provides excellent basic features for web hosting and domain registration, it may not have all the advanced features that larger businesses or more technically advanced users may require.
- Customers seeking low renewal rates: While Namecheap offers cheap pricing for new users, its renewal rates increase significantly after one year. This is a downside for users looking to host their website in the long term.
Bottom Line
Namecheap is great for small businesses and freelancers that need a robust hosting service at an affordable price. It offers affordable hosting plans with a range of features, including a user-friendly interface, a robust website builder and an easy-to-use installer for CMS platforms.
While Namecheap has an easily affordable starting rate for the first year, the cost of renewal doubles over time. Despite this drawback, it remains a solid web hosting provider with a good reputation in the industry.
