In the bustling world of web hosting, standing out requires something truly special. InMotion Hosting, with its impressive array of features, manages to do just that. Catering to both personal and business web hosting needs, InMotion offers competitively priced and comprehensive plans across shared, dedicated, reseller, VPS, and WordPress hosting. With excellent uptime and customer support, it’s no surprise that InMotion Hosting is a top contender alongside DreamHost, HostGator, and Hostwinds.
Exploring InMotion’s Shared Hosting Plans
Creating a website doesn’t have to break the bank. For those interested in budget-friendly options, shared hosting is worth considering. This type of hosting is akin to sharing an apartment with multiple roommates, splitting the server cost and resources among various sites. Although shared hosting isn’t the most powerful option, it is ideal for websites with modest traffic expectations.
InMotion provides four Linux-based shared hosting plans. Unfortunately, three out of four require an annual or longer commitment, with no month-to-month option. The entry-level Core plan is priced at $3.49 per month with an annual subscription, renewing at $9.99 per month. It supports two websites, provides 100GB of SSD storage, 10 email addresses, and unlimited monthly data transfers. The Launch plan, at $6.99 per month annually (renewing at $13.99), offers unlimited websites, email accounts, and NVMe SSD storage, along with a 6x UltraStack server configuration for enhanced speed and performance.
Moving up, the Power plan includes the same unlimited features but with a 12x UltraStack configuration and advanced caching, priced similarly to the Launch plan but renewing at $15.99 per month. The Pro tier, InMotion’s top shared hosting plan, features a 20x UltraStack configuration and a 99.99% uptime guarantee. Unlike other tiers, Pro offers a flexible month-to-month option starting at $19.99 per month, with an annual discount at $14.99 per month (renewing at $24.99). All shared hosting plans include unlimited data transfers, free SSL, and a free domain, though HostGator remains the PCMag Editors’ Choice due to its added flexibility with Linux- or Windows-based servers.
Diving into VPS Hosting
VPS hosting offers significantly more power than shared hosting by placing your site on a server with fewer neighbors, ensuring a guaranteed minimum of resources. This makes VPS hosting more expensive but also much more reliable and powerful, akin to having your own apartment.
InMotion offers both managed and unmanaged cloud VPS hosting. Managed VPS starts at $79.99 per month ($59.99 with a one-year plan), while unmanaged, scalable cloud VPS begins at $6 per month. Managed plans include impressive specs like 16GB of RAM, unlimited data transfers, 10 dedicated IPs, and 360GB of NVMe SSD storage. The scalable cloud VPS can reach up to 32GB of RAM, 32 CPU cores, 540GB of SSD storage, and 12TB of monthly data transfer for $192 per month. Despite InMotion’s solid offerings, Hostwinds remains the PCMag Editors’ Choice for its more scalable and robust VPS plans.
Dedicated Hosting Options
Dedicated hosting provides the ultimate power and reliability, with your website residing on its own server. InMotion’s dedicated hosting plans utilize the latest Intel Xeon technology and offer various Linux OS options like CentOS, Debian, and Ubuntu. Plans start at $129.99 per month and include 16GB of DDR3 RAM, 1TB SSD storage, 10TB of monthly data transfers, and a dedicated IP. The top-tier Elite plan, at $299.99 per month, offers 128GB of DDR4 RAM, 2x2TB SSD, unmetered data transfers, and 15 dedicated IPs. For even greater customization, InMotion provides custom build services.
Still, AccuWeb, the Editors’ Choice for dedicated hosting, offers more comprehensive packages starting at $105 per month, with options for up to 8TB of SSD storage and 128GB of RAM, along with 20TB of monthly data transfers, and a choice between Linux- or Windows-based servers.
Optimized WordPress Hosting
WordPress powers nearly 30% of the internet, making it a vital service for many. InMotion’s WordPress hosting ensures your site benefits from a WordPress-only environment, enhancing load times and reliability. The servers are preconfigured for WordPress, with optimized settings and automatic updates for core software and third-party plugins.
The WP Core plan, at $4.49 per month with an annual subscription (renewing at $11.99), offers 100GB of SSD storage, two websites, 10 email addresses, and unlimited data transfers. The WP Launch plan, priced at $8.99 per month (renewing at $16.99), includes unlimited NVMe SSD storage, Jetpack Personal, unlimited emails, and websites. The WP Power plan, also $8.99 (renewing at $21.99), provides dedicated Opcode caching for improved performance. The top-tier WP Pro plan starts at $39.99 month-to-month ($16.99 annually, renewing at $30.99) and includes all previous benefits, a dedicated IP, and Jetpack Professional. For more robust needs, WordPress VPS and Dedicated hosting plans are available.
Despite InMotion’s strong WordPress offerings, A2, Bluehost, and WP Engine are co-Editors’ Choice winners, offering top-tier WordPress plans.
Reseller Hosting Packages
InMotion’s reseller hosting is ideal for those looking to enter the web hosting market without managing their own servers. The six Linux-based plans, starting at $35.99 per month, offer up to 1600GB in data transfers, unlimited email, and multiple cPanel accounts, backed by 24/7/365 customer support. While respectable, Hostwinds’ reseller plans remain the Editors’ Choice for their robust features.
Setting Up and Managing Your Website
Setting up a website with InMotion is straightforward, albeit with a required phone call to complete the setup process. The website builder offers options for creating Sites, Blogs, or Photo Galleries, with various themes and page types. Although the builder’s aesthetics could be improved, WordPress integration allows for enhanced customization and functionality.
E-commerce and Security Options
InMotion provides solid e-commerce solutions, though these are limited to the Power and Pro plans. Options include free OpenCart or PrestaShop downloads, offering comprehensive dashboards and multiple payment and shipping options. Security features include free remote backups for accounts under 10GB, the Sucuri Security plugin for WordPress sites, and optional McAfee spam and virus protection. SSL certificates are available for $99.99 per year, plus a $25 installation fee.
Dependable Uptime and Customer Support
Uptime is critical, and InMotion excels in this area with reliable performance during testing. Customer support is also a highlight, with responsive 24/7 web chat and phone support. InMotion’s 90-day money-back guarantee is generous, though DreamHost edges it out with a 97-day guarantee.
A Top Contender in Web Hosting
InMotion Hosting offers a versatile array of hosting solutions, excellent customer service, and reliable uptime, making it a strong choice for both personal and business hosting needs. While it lacks Windows server options and month-to-month flexibility for most plans, InMotion’s overall package is compelling and worthy of consideration.