A Small Orange vs SITE5

A Small Orange launched in 2003 and became known for offering simple hosting plans designed for both beginners and growing businesses. They provided shared, VPS, reseller, and dedicated hosting, giving users flexible options based on site size and performance needs. Their shared hosting plans stood out for including cPanel, SSD storage, unlimited email accounts, and Weebly’s drag-and-drop builder, which helped users create and manage websites without technical experience. WordPress-optimized servers, one-click installs, and a wide app marketplace added convenience for personal and business sites. Security features were solid, with password-protected directories, spam filtering, hotlink protection, and daily backups included across plans. Developers also had access to multiple coding languages, MySQL databases, and custom error page tools. Customer support was available through 24/7 live chat and email, though some users found responses brief and missed having phone support. Pricing tended to run higher than many competitors, and users needed to buy SSL certificates separately, which increased total costs. While A Small Orange is no longer active, their review offers context for what customers valued and where the service fell short. Readers can use these insights to compare today’s hosting providers and choose an option that matches their budget and website goals.

Site5 launched in 1999 in Dallas as a hosting provider geared toward designers, developers, and small businesses. Before becoming part of Network Solutions, they offered shared, reseller, and managed VPS hosting with unmetered bandwidth, free SSL certificates, nightly backups, and free site migrations. Their platform was easy to manage, supported multiple programming languages, and included tools like cPanel, SSH, and Softaculous. Users appreciated the reliable uptime and developer-friendly setup, though limited server locations and the use of traditional hard drives were notable downsides. This quick overview reflects Site5’s services before their transition under Network Solutions.