SITE5 Web Hosting Review: A Look Back at Their Services
Since 1999, Site5 has operated as a hosting company based in Dallas, Texas. They were part of Endurance International Group, alongside HostGator and Bluehost. Their plans offered unlimited bandwidth and storage, a free SSL certificate, and other attractive features for both personal and business use. The following review was written before Site5 was absorbed by Network Solutions.
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Cons
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Quick Stats
At a Glance
Site5 launched in Dallas, Texas, in 1999 as a boutique web hosting company focused on serving designers and developers. They built a reputation for offering unmetered bandwidth and disk space, free site migrations, and multiple global server locations. In 2015, they were acquired by Endurance International Group, which also owns HostGator and Bluehost. Site5 continues to operate under its own name, providing shared, reseller, and fully managed VPS hosting plans.
Site5's Offered Hosting Types
Site5 offers multiple types of hosting, which include:
- Shared hosting: Ideal for individuals and small businesses that want an affordable hosting option. It supports moderate traffic and includes unmetered bandwidth, free migrations, cPanel access, one-click CMS installs, and 24/7 support
- Reseller hosting: Designed for those who want to sell hosting services under their own brand. It offers white-label hosting, separate cPanel accounts for clients, unmetered bandwidth, free migrations, and automated backups
- Fully managed VPS hosting: Best for growing websites that need dedicated server resources without handling server management. It provides full root access, guaranteed performance, 24/7 monitoring, automatic updates, and daily backups
Site5 Shared Hosting
- Host Basic: This plan is best for individuals or small businesses starting with a single website. It includes unmetered disk space and bandwidth, one domain name, one website, backups, and free website migration. The price starts at $8.34 per month with a two-year plan
- Host Pro: A good option for those managing multiple websites. It offers unmetered disk space and bandwidth, unlimited domains and websites, backups, and free website migration. The price starts at $13.14 per month with a two-year plan
- Host Pro + Turbo: Designed for users who want the best performance and flexibility. It includes everything in the Host Pro plan, along with added server resources for faster site speeds. The price starts at $16.74 per month with a two-year plan
Features
Ease of use: Site5 aims to make hosting simple for everyone. Their control panel is straightforward, letting you manage your website without technical hassle. Advanced users can still access all the tools they need.
SSL certificate: All plans include a free SSL certificate, giving your website an extra layer of security. This is especially important for online stores or any site that handles sensitive customer information.
Site backups: Site5 runs nightly backups to protect your data. You can restore previous versions when needed or create manual backups for extra control.
99.9% uptime guarantee: Site5 promises 99.9% uptime and offers a refund if they don’t meet that standard. Their global data centers add an extra layer of reliability.
1-click app installer: Installing apps is quick and easy with Softaculous. You can set up popular tools like WordPress in just a few clicks.
Free website migration: Site5 provides free website migration, making it easy to move your existing site without downtime or extra costs.
Advanced control panels: Depending on the plan, you’ll get access to cPanel/WHM, Backstage, SiteAdmin, or MultiAdmin. The MultiAdmin feature (available with Host Pro) lets you assign multiple hosts to one account for easier management.
Developer-friendly tools: Site5 supports MySQL, phpMyAdmin, FTP, SFTP, and SSH access, giving developers the flexibility to work with different coding languages and configurations.
Malware protection: All hosting plans include malware scanning and protection to keep your website secure from potential threats.
Pros
Spam Assassin protection
Site5 includes built-in spam filtering to keep your inbox safe from malicious emails and potential hacks. This adds an extra layer of security when using your email accounts.
Unlimited storage and bandwidth
All plans come with unmetered resources, giving you the flexibility to grow your website without worrying about storage or traffic limits.
Multiple programming language support
Site5 supports PHP 5 and 7, Ruby on Rails, optional Python 2 and 3, Perl 5.10, and Server Side Includes (SSI). This makes it a good fit for developers working with different technologies.
eCommerce support
Site5 supports popular shopping cart scripts like CubeCart, osCommerce, and Zen Cart. You can install them using the 1-click app installer and even add a dedicated IP for a more professional eCommerce setup.
Cons
Limited server locations
Site5 once offered 19 server locations, but during sign-up, you can now only choose the central US. This can be restrictive for users who want their server closer to their audience.
No SSD storage
Site5 still relies on traditional hard drives instead of SSDs, which can lead to slower website performance compared to many competitors that use faster SSD storage.
Customer Support
If you encounter any issues, Site5 provides 24/7 customer support through email and live chat. Their team can assist with a range of inquiries, including technical issues and troubleshooting. Phone support is also available, although it is limited to Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM EST.
For those who prefer self-service, Site5 offers a knowledge base and a Q&A section on their website. These resources provide step-by-step guides and community support, which can help you resolve many issues without contacting an agent.
Conclusion
Site5 has built a strong presence in the hosting market with shared, reseller, and VPS plans that suit both beginners and advanced users. Their platform offers ease of use, free SSL certificates, malware protection, nightly backups, and reliable uptime. Developers benefit from multiple programming language support and essential tools like MySQL, SSH, and FTP. However, the lack of SSD storage and limited server locations can be drawbacks for those who prioritize speed and reach. Customer support is responsive through chat and email, though phone support is limited to weekdays. Overall, Site5 is a practical option for users who value simplicity and scalability.
If you’re exploring other options, take a look at our list of top hosting companies to compare features and pricing. You can also use our comparison tool to see how different providers stack up. For more insights and tips, browse through our blog for in-depth guides and reviews.
