InterServer

InterServer’s pricing structure is straightforward and differs somewhat from the tiered approach many of its competitors adopt. For standard web hosting, the company offers a single plan priced at a flat rate, which simplifies decision-making for potential customers. This can be appealing to those who prefer clarity and simplicity over sifting through multiple options. However, without a tiered pricing model, it may lack the flexibility that businesses with varying needs might require.

One notable aspect of InterServer's pricing is its price-lock guarantee, which ensures that customers pay the same rate upon renewal as they did initially. This contrasts with many competitors who often lure new customers with low introductory rates that increase significantly upon renewal. This predictability in pricing can be a significant benefit for budget-conscious users planning long-term projects. Additionally, InterServer is transparent about its pricing structure and does not burden users with hidden fees, which adds to its appeal.

Regarding their refund policy, InterServer offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on their shared hosting plans. This aligns with industry standards, granting users a reasonable period to evaluate the service before making a long-term commitment. This policy is relatively straightforward and comparable to those of other hosting providers, ensuring that new customers can test the waters without a significant financial risk. Overall, InterServer's pricing approach is both competitive and transparent, appealing to users who value predictability and simplicity.

InterServer offers a variety of customer support channels to ensure users have access to assistance when needed. Customers can utilize live chat, email, and phone support, providing multiple avenues for resolving any issues. Additionally, a comprehensive knowledge base featuring numerous guides and tutorials is available, enabling users to find solutions to common problems independently.

In terms of responsiveness, the support team at InterServer generally replies within a reasonable timeframe across all channels. The live chat option tends to provide the quickest responses, while email support may take slightly longer, typically within a few hours. Phone support is also prompt and direct, allowing for real-time interaction with support representatives. While the rapidity of responses is commendable, the content of these interactions does not predominantly rely on canned responses, offering more personalized help instead.

The support team at InterServer is noted for their knowledge and helpfulness. They appear well-versed in various technical aspects and are able to troubleshoot effectively. Users have reported positive experiences, indicating that the support representatives are patient and willing to guide them through more complex issues. The availability of detailed guides and tutorials further supplements the live support, providing an additional layer of self-service assistance.

InterServer provides customer support in English.

Uptime

We perform thousands of uptime checks each day to ensure our reviews are accurate and reliable. The statistics below are based on the uptime checks we have performed in the last 30 days.

InterServer offers a 99.9% uptime guarantee on its shared hosting service, which aligns with industry standards for web hosting providers. This guarantee means that, theoretically, your website should experience minimal downtime throughout the year. It's worth noting that while 99.9% uptime sounds impressive, it does allow for roughly 8.76 hours of potential downtime annually.

When comparing InterServer's uptime to those of its competitors, the company holds its ground fairly well. Most leading web hosting providers also offer a similar 99.9% uptime guarantee, so in this aspect, InterServer is neither superior nor inferior. Some competitors might have slightly higher guarantees, such as 99.99%, but these differences often translate to only a few extra minutes of uptime per year. Thus, if uptime is your primary concern, InterServer remains a competitive choice.

As for recent outages, there haven't been any major reports in the latest monitoring periods that would raise red flags. Minor downtimes have occurred occasionally, which is typical for most web hosting services. InterServer seems to handle these incidents efficiently, minimizing disruption to their clients' websites. Overall, the uptime performance of InterServer’s shared hosting service appears to be stable and reliable, matching the expectations set by their guarantee.

Data Center Locations

• United States

InterServer currently operates two data centers, both located in the United States. The primary data center is situated in Secaucus, New Jersey, while the secondary facility is in Los Angeles, California. These strategic locations allow for optimal connectivity and serve as a hub for their web hosting services. Each data center is equipped with top-of-the-line security measures, redundant power supplies, and advanced cooling systems to ensure reliable service and minimal downtime.

Customers who utilize InterServer's web hosting services have the option to migrate their websites between these two data centers. This flexibility can be beneficial for users seeking to optimize their website's performance based on geographical traffic patterns or for those looking to enhance redundancy and disaster recovery plans. InterServer's support team is available to assist with this migration process, ensuring a smooth transition between data centers if needed.

Storage

InterServer's shared hosting service offers storage as part of its all-inclusive package, featuring unlimited storage on SSD drives. This ensures faster data access speeds compared to traditional HDD storage, which can be a significant benefit for website performance. SSD storage is particularly advantageous for websites with high traffic volumes and substantial dynamic content, providing quicker load times and improved responsiveness.

However, despite the promise of "unlimited" storage, it is important to note that InterServer imposes certain I/O and Inode limits to ensure fair usage. These limitations are in place to prevent any single user from overburdening the shared resources, which can affect overall server performance for other users. While the exact I/O limits are not explicitly detailed, the Inode (or file count) limit is capped at 250,000. Potential users should consider these constraints when evaluating whether InterServer's shared hosting service aligns with their website's storage and performance requirements.

Bandwidth

InterServer's shared hosting plans come with an appealing feature: unlimited bandwidth. This means that users do not need to worry about hitting a specific data cap each month, which can be particularly advantageous for websites experiencing fluctuating traffic levels. The provision of unlimited bandwidth aims to ensure that users have a seamless experience without concerns about traffic spikes or additional bandwidth costs.

Despite the unlimited bandwidth promise, it is important to note that InterServer's terms of service indicate a "fair use" policy. This means that while most average users will not encounter issues, websites with excessively high traffic or resource usage might still face limitations or require an upgrade to a more suitable plan. However, there are no explicit overage charges mentioned, which can provide some peace of mind for website owners in monitoring their site's bandwidth.

Migrating to InterServer

InterServer offers a website migration service tailored to users looking to switch their hosting platform without the hassle of extensive downtime or data loss. One key advantage of InterServer’s service is that it provides free website migration for new customers, which can be a considerable benefit for those looking to manage costs during the transition. The company’s technicians handle the entire migration process, ensuring that all files, databases, and email accounts are seamlessly transferred from the old hosting provider to InterServer’s servers.

The migration process generally starts with the customer providing their current hosting account details to InterServer’s support team. The team then schedules and executes the migration during off-peak hours to minimize any potential impact on website traffic and user experience. Customers are kept informed throughout the process and can usually expect full migration to be completed within 24 to 72 hours, depending on the complexity and size of the website. InterServer’s team also performs post-migration checks to ensure that the website is functioning correctly on its new server.

There are some limitations to be aware of when using InterServer's migration service. While the company strives to support a wide range of websites, certain very large or highly complex sites might exceed their free migration service's scope. In such cases, additional fees or customized solutions may be required. Additionally, websites based on unusual or proprietary technologies could encounter compatibility issues during the migration. Overall, InterServer’s migration service is a robust option for most websites, offering a smooth and cost-effective way to transition to their hosting platform.

Backups

InterServer's shared hosting service offers a backup feature, though it comes with certain limitations worth noting. Firstly, the company does perform backups, but they are not explicitly marketed as a part of the standard package, meaning customers should not solely rely on this service for their data protection needs. Backups are executed on a weekly basis, which provides a minimal safety net for data recovery. However, it's prudent for users needing more frequent backups to consider additional methods or services to ensure their data is consistently safeguarded.

As for restoration, customers of InterServer's shared hosting service do not have the liberty to initiate the backup recovery process autonomously. Instead, they must reach out to support for the restoration of their data. While the staff is generally responsive, the lack of an on-demand, self-service restoration option may be a drawback for users who require immediate access to their backups. Thus, while the backup feature is a helpful addition, it might not fully meet the needs of all users, particularly those looking for more control and frequent backup intervals.

Email

InterServer's email service included with their shared hosting plans offers a range of features designed to support small to medium-sized businesses. Users can create an unlimited number of email accounts, providing flexibility for growing teams. The included features encompass POP3, IMAP, and SMTP support, enabling users to access their emails through various email clients and devices seamlessly. Additionally, InterServer offers spam filtering and virus protection, which are valuable for maintaining security and reducing unwanted emails.

As for the specifics, the mailbox size is generous, with each individual mailbox offering up to 2GB of storage. This should be adequate for most users, although it may not suffice for those with extensive email storage needs. Concerning sending and receiving limits, InterServer has a policy to deter bulk emailing which caps outbound emails to 200 per hour. This limit ensures that the service remains reliable and prevents potential abuse, making it a solid choice for standard business communications. Overall, InterServer provides a capable email service that complements its web hosting offerings without any major shortcomings.

SSL Certificates

InterServer provides several SSL certificate options to meet different security needs for websites. One of the notable features is that the company offers free SSL certificates through Let's Encrypt, which are straightforward to install and renew automatically. This is a significant perk for small businesses or personal websites looking for basic encryption without additional costs. The free SSL certificates are viable for many scenarios but may not be sufficient for enterprises requiring more robust security features.

For those needing advanced security, InterServer also offers paid SSL certificates from recognized authorities like Comodo and RapidSSL. These premium options include additional features such as warranty coverage and higher levels of validation, including Domain Validation (DV), Organization Validation (OV), and Extended Validation (EV). There don't appear to be stringent limitations on the number of SSL certificates you can install, giving users the flexibility to secure multiple domains or subdomains as necessary. Overall, InterServer provides a range of SSL certificates catering to both basic and advanced security needs.

InterServer's website presents a straightforward and organized layout, making it relatively simple to navigate and find relevant information. The main sections are clearly segmented, allowing users to quickly locate details about their various hosting plans, pricing, and features. However, some users might find the sheer amount of information slightly overwhelming at first glance.

Signing up for InterServer's hosting services is a standard process, with clear instructions guiding users through the setup. The registration and payment steps are uncomplicated, ensuring that even those who are not particularly tech-savvy can complete the process without much difficulty. Additionally, InterServer offers a range of shared hosting plans, and managing these plans is facilitated by the inclusion of cPanel, a widely used and intuitive control panel. This enables users to handle their hosting needs, such as setting up email accounts and managing domains, with relative ease.

InterServer also supports one-click installers via Softaculous, which allows users to effortlessly install popular applications like WordPress, Joomla, and many others. This feature significantly reduces the effort required to get a website up and running. While the control panel is not custom-made, cPanel provides a reliable and familiar interface for most users, ensuring that the learning curve is minimal for those with previous hosting experience. Overall, InterServer's web hosting services and website layout offer a user-friendly experience, although there may be a brief adjustment period for those entirely new to web hosting.