HostGator vs DreamHost
DreamHost comes out ahead of HostGator on 4 of the 8 things that decide this, going by what each company publishes and what independent review sites report. The one that matters for you may be one the leader loses.
The verdict
DreamHost takes it, 4–2 on rounds.
On the published figures and the independent review sites, DreamHost takes 4 of 8 rounds. Treat that as a starting point and check the current figures on both pages, because prices and plans move.
Choose HostGator if…
- • You want HostGator's edge on how long you can get your money back and who picks up when your site is down
Choose DreamHost if…
- • You want DreamHost's edge on the uptime promise and how many websites you can host
Round by round
- Round 1How long you can get your money backHostGator winsHostGator8/10
30 days
Money-Back Guarantee
- money-back guarantee, with a full refund of hosting fees in the first 30
Source: hostgator.com ↗
HostGator wins this round on what the company itself publishes.
- Round 2The uptime promiseDreamHost wins
DreamHost wins this round on what the company itself publishes.
- Round 3Who picks up when your site is downHostGator winsHostGator8/10
24/7 phone, email and chat
support every day of the year by telephone, email and live chat
Source: hostgator.com ↗
DreamHost5/1024/7 in-house support
a dedicated in-house team, around the clock
- 24/7 in-house support, against 24/7 phone, email and chat
Source: dreamhost.com ↗
HostGator wins this round on what the company itself publishes.
- Round 4The price on the front pageTieHostGator7/10
$3.75/mo
Hatchling plan introductory price
- Hatchling plan, introductory price
Source: hostgator.com ↗
DreamHost7/10$2.89
Launch plan, first-year price (the old Starter plan is discontinued)
Source: dreamhost.com ↗
Nothing to separate them here.
- Round 5What it costs when it renewsTieHostGator7/10
$10.99
Hatchling renewal at the long-term rate (up to $17.59 on shorter terms)
Source: hostgator.com ↗
Nothing to separate them here.
- Round 6How many websites you can hostDreamHost wins
DreamHost wins this round on what the published sources say.
- Round 7How much storage you getDreamHost wins
DreamHost wins this round on what the published sources say.
- Round 8How many mailboxes you getDreamHost winsHostGator5/10
Pro Email trial only
Hatchling plan
- Pro Email trial only, against 20 mailboxes (free 3 months)
Source: hostgator.com ↗
DreamHost wins this round on what the published sources say.
Side by side
- money-back guarantee, with a full refund of hosting fees in the first 30
- Hatchling plan, introductory price
- $2.75, against $1.99
- $10.99, against $8.99
- Pro Email trial only, against 1 free mailbox
- 99.9%, against 99.99%
- $2.89, against $1.99
- $10.99, against $8.99
- 4.6 out of 5, against 4.9 out of 5
- 30 days, against 45 days