Compare InMotion Hosting with SiteGround Hosting – Are you trying to choose between InMotion hosting and SiteGround WordPress?
When it comes to choosing a web host, you want to consider everything when you make any commitments. Understanding what each provider offers and what you need is the key to a long-term relationship.
In this article, we take a close look at both servers and compare InMotion with SiteGround using five different criteria: features, user experience, performance, support, price.
Finally, choose the best server for the specific situation.
Which company offers the best features?
Both SiteGround and InMotion are famous names for hosting. They offer similar types of plans, including shared hosting, managed WordPress options. Both web hosts also boast of highly competitive prices, so we need to dig deeper into the features they offer.
InMotion
For this article, it's mostly focused on WordPress dedicated plan with two vendors. When it comes to InMotion, the scope of their managed WordPress packages is almost the same as the usual shared option with them, although you cannot host unlimited websites like the regular plan allows.
Here is what you get with their WordPress service:
- Free domain name for 1 year
- Free SSL certificate
- WordPress is preinstalled, automatically updated
- Automatic backup (users of WP-2000S package and above)
- Free website migration (if required)
- Support for multiple websites (with users planning WP-2000S or later)
- Staging function
- Custom BoldGrid page builder
- Access with Jetpack Personal package (with users of WP-2000S or higher package)
As usual, the amount of storage and bandwidth you get varies depending on the package you choose. With the WP-1000S boot floor, you get 40 GB of storage, it supports about 20,000 visitors per month. InMotion offers a solid set of features at competitive prices.
SiteGround
SiteGround does not provide as wide a scope as InMotion. However, the WordPress service hosted by them offers more functionality. Here's what you get with WordPress hosting on SiteGround:
- Free SSL certificate
- WordPress is preinstalled, access the setup wizard to configure your settings
- Update WordPress automatically
- Free website migration
- Integration with the Cloudflare content distribution network (CDN)
- Automatic backup every day
- Staging function (on GrowBig packages and above)
- Support WP-CLI
You see, SiteGround provides a few more features to WordPress users via InMotion, just outside the portal. Free integrated CDN, in particular, greatly increases your loading time. However, keep in mind that you must activate this integration manually.
Also, it's important to mention that SiteGround offers all of these features for less than InMotion, especially if you need to host multiple websites.
Is InMotion or SiteGround easier to use?
InMotion user experience
The InMotion side panel, at first glance, is somewhat messy. Most options available to you. From this screen, you can check payment information, updates, domain management, add new hosting packages, and more:
When you get past the outdated interface, the InMotion side panel is fairly easy to navigate. There is also the option to manage your current website from the main screen:
For most users, you don't need to search further here to find the tools you need to manage your website. However, you can also use dedicated cPanel with you if you need more detailed control or more advanced.
As far as setting up your new website, InMotion offers you several software options with your project, including WordPress:
You have subscribed to a managed WordPress package, InMotion installs WordPress for you. However, if you want to install it manually, you need to use the Softacificent installer:
In general, navigating the InMotion side panel is very simple, although the interface implements the same update.
See more: How to create a form in wordpress
SiteGround user experience
Web server with modern design, easy to navigate:
If you go to the Website tab, you check your existing project, access the website dedicated tool and add a new website with just one click:
The Site Tool provides you with detailed information about the status of each website. From this section, you also enable features such as automatic updates on SiteGround with WordPress:
The favorite aspect from SiteGround is the integrated wizard available with the new WordPress website. If you want to add a new website to your account, choose which apps to use, including the option to set up a WooCommerce store:
Once your website is ready, SiteGround will take you through several plugin options, the theme of your choice, so you can start customizing your website immediately:
Comparing InMotion with SiteGround, SiteGround takes advantage of ease of use. However, InMotion gives you access to almost every tool you need at the main page on the control panel.
Which vendor scores higher on performance tests?
Both InMotion and SiteGround have a reputation for top performance. With this in mind, testing InMotion with SiteGround when it comes to performance has occurred.
We set up identical websites on both platforms and then used the Pingdom tool to track load times with them on multiple servers.
InMotion
Washington DC: 363 ms
San Francisco: 677 ms
London: 761 ms
Sao Paulo: 1.08 seconds
SiteGround
Washington DC: 243 ms
San Francisco: 733 ms
London: 987 ms
Sao Paulo: 961 ms
We entered this test with high expectations, we were not disappointed. Both InMotion and SiteGround are pretty fast when it comes to loading time. In general, any result that is less than 1 second is what we call 'really fast'.
However, a fast website does not work if the web server on your side has continuous downtime.
We tracked some of the most popular web servers out there to see what uptime ratios are with them.
Both InMotion and SiteGround have 100% perfect uptime percentage
Does InMotion or SiteGround better support customers?
With InMotion and SiteGround, you get 24/7 support via phone, email, live chat, so all your facilities are protected regardless of your preferred method.
Over the past few years, we've conducted a comprehensive WordPress hosting survey that included support team scores per vendor from hundreds of respondents. Here are the InMotion side results with SiteGround:
InMotion: 3.78
SiteGround: 4.45
The results are clear – SiteGround party scores are significantly higher when it comes to user satisfaction with their support team.
Which supplier will be more affordable?
InMotion plans to launch WordPress hosting (WP-1000S) which costs $ 4.99 per month. However, to get this price, you must sign up for a three-year contract upfront. That's $ 179.64, if you choose a 1-year contract, the price will go up to $ 6.99 per month:
In addition, the promotional price is only available with your original contract and then increased after the grace period.
SiteGround makes things a bit different. They will offer you the advertised price with any payment cycle, from 1 month to three years.
However, when the first payment cycle on your side ends, the price of SiteGround will nearly triple. For example, the cheapest StartUp package costs $ 3.95 per month with your first billing cycle, but $ 11.95 per month thereafter.
In general, when comparing InMotion to SiteGround, SiteGround is a bit cheaper if you are willing to sign up for 1 to 3 years.
Another thing to consider is that the GrowBig package with GoGeek on SiteGround you are allowed to host unlimited websites, when the more advanced package on InMotion only supports two or three websites.
If you need to host multiple websites separately, that's another factor that makes SiteGround cheaper.
Should you choose InMotion or SiteGround for your website?
InMotion and SiteGround are relatively even when it comes to performance. However, SiteGround provides better support services and more features for power users, such as WP-CLI support, integrated CDN, daily backup.
SiteGround is also a cheaper option than InMotion. With them you are allowed to sign up for a 1-year contract from the minimum of two years at InMotion, to save you money, you get better overall service.
Both InMotion and SiteGround are great hosting options. They offer great prices, performance, and features.
When you look at the small print, SiteGround beats InMotion in every category. They offer better support, more functionality and all for a cheaper price, which makes them a better choice for the majority of users.
If you are interested in a few other options, take a look at our collection of cheap managed WordPress servers by us.