FatCow vs iPage

FatCow was founded in 1998 in New Mexico and is now headquartered in Burlington, Massachusetts. They built their reputation on simplicity, offering one shared hosting plan with unlimited disk space, unlimited bandwidth, and a free domain name for the first year. Their platform includes practical tools like a point-and-click website builder, one-click app installers, daily backups, unlimited email hosting with spam filtering, and ShopSite eCommerce integration for small business owners. Their WordPress WP Essential plan adds SSD infrastructure for faster performance and SiteLock protection to help prevent security threats. Pricing starts at $4.08 per month for the main shared hosting plan during the first term, with WordPress hosting options starting at $3.75 per month. This competitive pricing makes them appealing to individuals and small businesses looking for a budget-friendly hosting provider. Customer feedback over the years has shifted, with many users praising the easy setup and affordable introductory pricing but raising concerns about limited hosting options, slow support, and billing issues. FatCow’s lack of VPS, dedicated, or cloud hosting plans can be restrictive for larger projects, but for those who need a straightforward, low-cost way to get a website online, they offer a simple and functional solution.

Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Burlington, Massachusetts, iPage is a veteran in the web hosting industry known for offering straightforward, budget-friendly solutions for individuals and small businesses. Their platform integrates hosting, domain registration, email, and a drag-and-drop website builder into one streamlined package, removing much of the complexity often associated with setting up a website. They provide unlimited storage and scalable bandwidth, a free domain for the first year, SSL certificates, and one-click WordPress installation, making them an accessible option for beginners. Now operating under Newfold Digital (formerly Endurance International Group), iPage continues to serve existing customers but has stopped accepting new users as the brand transitions into iPage by Network Solutions. While they’ve long been appreciated for simplicity and low startup costs, user feedback has become mixed, with recurring complaints about slow support and rising renewal rates. Despite these shifts, iPage remains part of Newfold’s extensive hosting network, a portfolio that also includes Bluehost and HostGator. Their legacy stands as a reflection of accessible web hosting for newcomers, even as the company’s focus shifts toward integration within the broader Network Solutions ecosystem.